School Improvement in Maryland

Public Release Items: Science Grades 8

Public release items have appeared on MSA forms and then are released for public viewing and use. Releasing items is one step to ensuring that schools, districts, and other stakeholders understand how the content standards are assessed on the MSA.

 (1) Selected Response Public Release

An electromagnet is shown below.



Which change would decrease the strength of the electromagnet?

  1. using an iron nail
  2. using an additional battery
  3. using more wire coils around the nail
  4. using fewer wire coils around the nail

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_6_023.xml

View scoring information

 
 (2) Selected Response Public Release

The diagram below shows the moon in one of its crescent phases.



Which statement best explains the cause of the phases of the moon?

  1. The sun hides part of the surface of the moon.
  2. The sun, the moon, and Earth are in a straight line in space.
  3. Only part of the illuminated moon is visible from Earth.
  4. Only the light from the back side of the sun is reflected by the moon.

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_8_035.xml

View scoring information

 
 (3) Selected Response Public Release

A student pushed a large rubber ball on a flat, frictionless surface. The ball rolled at a speed of 1 meter per second.



Which statement best describes the motion of the ball when the student stopped pushing the ball?

  1. The ball accelerated.
  2. The ball did not move.
  3. The ball changed direction.
  4. The ball continued to move in the same direction.

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_8_036.xml

View scoring information

 
 (4) Selected Response Public Release

Use the technical passage 'Fill 'Er Up… With Soybeans and Corn' to answer the following question.



Which human activity has the most positive impact on the environment?

  1. using cropland to feed cattle
  2. selling soybeans at a high price
  3. recycling cooking oils to produce biofuels
  4. reducing the number of acres of corn planted

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_6_024.xml

View scoring information

 
 (5) Selected Response Public Release

Use the technical passage 'Fill 'Er Up… With Soybeans and Corn' to answer the following question.



If the demand for biofuels increases, how might the environment be positively affected?

  1. There would be less air pollution.
  2. Farming equipment would produce more pollution.
  3. Carbon dioxide levels in the air would increase.
  4. Natural habitats would be converted to cropland.

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_8_037.xml

View scoring information

 
 (6) Brief Constructed Response Public Release

Use the technical passage 'Fill 'Er Up… With Soybeans and Corn' to answer the following question.

A city might switch from buses that burn fossil fuel to buses that burn B20 diesel fuel. The data table below shows the average kilometers per liter (kpL) of a bus burning B20 diesel and of a bus burning fossil fuel for a seven-month period. The B20 diesel fuel costs more than the fossil fuel.

Fuel Type Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb.
B20 2.0 kpL 1.8 kpL 1.9 kpL 1.9 kpL 1.9 kpL 2.0 kpL 1.9 kpL
Fossil 2.0 kpL 2.0 kpL 1.9 kpL 2.0 kpL 1.9 kpL 2.0 kpL 1.9 kpL


Evaluate the best type of fuel to use in the city buses. In your evaluation, be sure to include

  • advantages and disadvantages for each fuel
  • supporting evidence from the data table and the technical passage

B20 fuel

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Fossil Fuel

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_8_038.xml

View scoring information

 
 (7) Selected Response Public Release

Use 'The Periodic Table of the Elements' and the information below to answer the following.

In class, students investigated patterns of elements in The Periodic Table of the Elements. Their teacher pointed out a few properties of some common elements. Helium is the lightest inert gas in air. Magnesium burns with a bright white flame. Gold and silver are dense metals.Table salt (sodium chloride) is a combination of two reactive elements. Some properties of common elements are shown in the data table below.

PROPERTIES OF SOME COMMON ELEMENTS

Element Symbol Atomic Number State of Matter at Room Temperature
Helium He 2 Gas
Chlorine Cl 17 Gas
Gold Au 79 Solid
Magnesium Mg 12 Solid
Silver Ag 47 Solid
Sodium Na 11 Solid


Which of these elements is a highly reactive metal like sodium (Na)?

  1. silver (Ag)
  2. helium (He)
  3. chlorine (Cl)
  4. magnesium (Mg)

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_7_011.xml

View scoring information

 
 (8) Selected Response Public Release

Use The Periodic Table of the Elements and the information below to answer the following.

In class, students investigated patterns of elements in The Periodic Table of the Elements. Their teacher pointed out a few properties of some common elements. Helium is the lightest inert gas in air. Magnesium burns with a bright white flame. Gold and silver are dense metals.Table salt (sodium chloride) is a combination of two reactive elements. Some properties of common elements are shown in the data table below.

PROPERTIES OF SOME COMMON ELEMENTS

Element Symbol Atomic Number State of Matter at Room Temperature
Helium He 2 Gas
Chlorine Cl 17 Gas
Gold Au 79 Solid
Magnesium Mg 12 Solid
Silver Ag 47 Solid
Sodium Na 11 Solid


Which statement correctly describes a pattern in the data table, based on the state of matter of the elements at room temperature?

  1. Gases are usually nonmetals.
  2. Reactive elements are usually gases.
  3. Solids always have large atomic numbers.
  4. Metals always have large atomic numbers.

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_8_039.xml

View scoring information

 
 (9) Selected Response Public Release

Use The Periodic Table of the Elements and the information below to answer the following.

In class, students investigated patterns of elements in The Periodic Table of the Elements. Their teacher pointed out a few properties of some common elements. Helium is the lightest inert gas in air. Magnesium burns with a bright white flame. Gold and silver are dense metals.Table salt (sodium chloride) is a combination of two reactive elements. Some properties of common elements are shown in the data table below.

PROPERTIES OF SOME COMMON ELEMENTS

Element Symbol Atomic Number State of Matter at Room Temperature
Helium He 2 Gas
Chlorine Cl 17 Gas
Gold Au 79 Solid
Magnesium Mg 12 Solid
Silver Ag 47 Solid
Sodium Na 11 Solid


Which statement best explains what happens to the atoms in gold (Au) when the temperature of the metal increases?

  1. The atoms move more slowly.
  2. The atoms move more quickly.
  3. The motion of the atoms stays the same.
  4. The motion of the atoms becomes very orderly.

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_8_040.xml

View scoring information

 
 (10) Selected Response Public Release

Use the information below to answer the following.

Fossils of tree ferns as old as 400 million years have been found in rocks. These ancient ferns lived in swampy, lowland forests and reproduced asexually by producing spores. The ferns were much taller than other plants living at the same time. These extinct tree ferns have modern-day relatives that grow in the tropics.

Ancient ground plants competed with ancient tree ferns for resources in swampy areas.



For which resource were the tree ferns best able to compete?

  1. air
  2. shelter
  3. sunlight
  4. water

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_6_025.xml

View scoring information

 
 (11) Selected Response Public Release

Use the information below to answer the following.

Fossils of tree ferns as old as 400 million years have been found in rocks. These ancient ferns lived in swampy, lowland forests and reproduced asexually by producing spores. The ferns were much taller than other plants living at the same time. These extinct tree ferns have modern-day relatives that grow in the tropics.

Today, many tree ferns have a life cycle that now includes a sexual phase as well as an asexual phase. An egg and a sperm unite to form a fertilized egg.



In a fertilized egg, what percentage of the genetic information comes from the sperm?

  1. 25%
  2. 50%
  3. 75%
  4. 100%

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_7_012.xml

View scoring information

 
 (12) Selected Response Public Release

Kidneys are bean-shaped organs that filter waste from the bloodstream.



Which model best demonstrates how a kidney functions?





/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_8_041.xml

View scoring information

 
 (13) Selected Response Public Release

The solar system containing Earth consists of a sun and planets.



Which statement best describes the motion of the planets in our solar system?

  1. The planets rotate around the sun.
  2. The sun rotates around the planets.
  3. The planets revolve around the sun.
  4. The sun revolves around the planets.

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_6_026.xml

View scoring information

 
 (14) Brief Constructed Response Public Release

A student mixed two substances together and concluded that a chemical reaction had taken place.



Explain how the student was able to conclude that a chemical reaction occurred. In your explanation, be sure to include

  • evidence that would support the student's conclusion

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_8_042.xml

View scoring information

 
 (15) Selected Response Public Release

Use the information and the picture below to answer the following.

Engineers tested the safety of a new model of car. The engineers designed safety tests and collected data from those tests. One test is pictured below.

An apple was placed on the back seat of the car. The car was then accelerated toward the barrier at 60 kilometers per hour (kph).



Which statement best describes the motion of the apple immediately after the car hit the barrier?

  1. The apple moved forward at 30 kph.
  2. The apple moved forward at 60 kph.
  3. The apple moved backward at 30 kph.
  4. The apple moved backward at 60 kph.

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_8_043.xml

View scoring information

 
 (16) Selected Response Public Release

Use the information and the picture below to answer the following.

Engineers tested the safety of a new model of car. The engineers designed safety tests and collected data from those tests. One test is pictured below.



How do engineers accurately predict what would happen in a real car crash?

  1. Engineers review one trial on a computer.
  2. Engineers do one trial using many cameras.
  3. Engineers do several trials to verify the results are consistent.
  4. Engineers do several trials at a speed faster than the posted speed limit.

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_8_044.xml

View scoring information

 
 (17) Selected Response Public Release

Use the information and the picture below to answer the following.

Engineers tested the safety of a new model of car. The engineers designed safety tests and collected data from those tests. One test is pictured below.



Which part of a car transforms chemical energy into electrical energy?

  1. the brakes
  2. the battery
  3. the wheels
  4. the accelerator

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_8_045.xml

View scoring information

 
 (18) Selected Response Public Release

Elements X and Y react to form compound XY.



How is compound XY different from elements X and Y?

  1. The mass of compound XY is greater than the combined masses of elements X and Y.
  2. The volume of compound XY is less than the combined volumes of elements X and Y.
  3. The physical properties of compound XY have changed from those of elements X and Y.
  4. The reactivity of compound XY is greater than the reactivity of elements X and Y.

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_8_046.xml

View scoring information

 
 (19) Selected Response Public Release

Students conducted an investigation to determine if mold grows on only certain types of bread. The students dripped water on four types of bread and covered the damp bread with plastic wrap. Each piece of bread was placed in a different dark area. The data table below shows the information the students collected after four days.

BREAD MOLD GROWTH

Type of Bread Water (milliliters) Temperature (°Celsius) Presence of Mold
Rye 5 1 No
Sourdough 5 22 Yes
White 5 24 Yes
Wheat 5 40 Yes


Which of these changes should the students make to their investigation to develop a valid conclusion?

  1. Use only two types of bread.
  2. Drip more water on each piece of bread.
  3. Keep all the bread at the same temperature.
  4. Place some of the pieces of bread in a lighted area.

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_8_047.xml

View scoring information

 
 (20) Selected Response Public Release

Heat is transferred from one object to another object.



What is an example of heat transferred by radiation?

  1. coffee warming a cup
  2. hot air warming a room
  3. the sun warming the moon
  4. a hot plate warming a beaker

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_8_048.xml

View scoring information

 
 (21) Selected Response Public Release

Use the information below to answer the following.

The data table below shows the time of sunrise and sunset in four different cities on May 2. Each city is located within the same time zone of the United States.

TIMES OF SUNRISE AND SUNSET ON MAY 2

City Sunrise Sunset Total Daylight Minutes
1 6:43 A.M. 7:53 P.M. 790
2 5:38 A.M. 7:45 P.M. 847
3 5:14 A.M. 10:24 P.M. 1,030
4 6:12 A.M. 7:58 P.M. 826


On which of these days will the total hours of daylight be the greatest in each of the four cities?

  1. January 28
  2. March 21
  3. June 21
  4. November 30

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_8_049.xml

View scoring information

 
 (22) Selected Response Public Release

Use the information below to answer the following.

The data table below shows the time of sunrise and sunset in four different cities on May 2. Each city is located within the same time zone of the United States.

TIMES OF SUNRISE AND SUNSET ON MAY 2

City Sunrise Sunset Total Daylight Minutes
1 6:43 A.M. 7:53 P.M. 790
2 5:38 A.M. 7:45 P.M. 847
3 5:14 A.M. 10:24 P.M. 1,030
4 6:12 A.M. 7:58 P.M. 826


Which fact best explains why the four cities will have different sunrise times on May 3?

  1. The tilt of the axis in Earth's orbit affects sunrise times.
  2. The rotation of Earth causes the cycle of days and nights.
  3. The rotation of Earth causes seasonal differences in the northern latitudes.
  4. The distance of Earth from the sun results in differences in sunrise times.

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_8_050.xml

View scoring information

 
 (23) Selected Response Public Release

Use the information below to answer the following.

The data table below shows the time of sunrise and sunset in four different cities on May 2. Each city is located within the same time zone of the United States.

TIMES OF SUNRISE AND SUNSET ON MAY 2

City Sunrise Sunset Total Daylight Minutes
1 6:43 A.M. 7:53 P.M. 790
2 5:38 A.M. 7:45 P.M. 847
3 5:14 A.M. 10:24 P.M. 1,030
4 6:12 A.M. 7:58 P.M. 826


Which statement best describes the sunlight that affects the Northern Hemisphere on May 2?

  1. Earth is positioned on the hottest side of the sun during the spring.
  2. Earth is closer to the sun on this date than at any other time of year.
  3. The tilt of Earth on its axis causes sunlight to strike this area most directly.
  4. The position of Earth in its orbit causes sunlight to strike the area indirectly.

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_8_051.xml

View scoring information

 
 (24) Selected Response Public Release

Use the information below to answer the following.

Over the last 150 years, the use of fossil fuels has increased, resulting in more carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Some scientists think that these atmospheric gases will result in global warming. Scientists have recorded data on global temperature changes and have predicted possible changes in sea level that may affect Maryland residents.



Which action helps reduce global warming?

  1. developing highways
  2. driving large vehicles
  3. using renewable power sources
  4. using electricity from coal burning power plants

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_6_027.xml

View scoring information

 
 (25) Selected Response Public Release

Use the information below to answer the following.

Over the last 150 years, the use of fossil fuels has increased, resulting in more carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Some scientists think that these atmospheric gases will result in global warming. Scientists have recorded data on global temperature changes and have predicted possible changes in sea level that may affect Maryland residents.



Using fossil fuels in the United States will most likely contribute to rising sea levels globally by

  1. increasing oxygen levels
  2. decreasing oxygen levels
  3. increasing carbon dioxide levels
  4. decreasing carbon dioxide levels

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_6_028.xml

View scoring information

 
 (26) Selected Response Public Release

Use the information below to answer the following.

Over the last 150 years, the use of fossil fuels has increased, resulting in more carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Some scientists think that these atmospheric gases will result in global warming. Scientists have recorded data on global temperature changes and have predicted possible changes in sea level that may affect Maryland residents.



Which result of global warming will most negatively affect coastal residents in Maryland?

  1. loss of shore land
  2. erosion of mountains
  3. decrease in average temperature
  4. increase in the size of the polar ice caps

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_7_013.xml

View scoring information

 
 (27) Selected Response Public Release

Rossby waves are slow-moving, long ocean waves.



What feature of a Rossby wave would change if the wavelength was doubled?

  1. The amplitude would double.
  2. The frequency would double.
  3. The amplitude would decrease by half.
  4. The frequency would decrease by half.

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_6_029.xml

View scoring information

 
 (28) Brief Constructed Response Public Release

Erosion is responsible for a constant transfer of sediment in a river from locations upstream to locations downstream.



Explain how sediment affects a river. In your explanation, be sure to include how

  • flooding might affect sediment
  • sediment might affect the river habitat

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_8_052.xml

View scoring information

 
 (29) Selected Response Public Release

Leaf cells are one type of tree cell.



Which process occurs in a growing leaf cell?

  1. evolution
  2. adaptation
  3. sugar production
  4. sexual reproduction

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_7_014.xml

View scoring information

 
 (30) Selected Response Public Release

Use the picture below to answer the following.

Each spring, a crevice in the cliff wall widens and deepens.



What is the best explanation for how physical weathering causes the crevice to widen and deepen?

  1. Winds deposit sand into the crevice.
  2. Water freezes and expands in the crevice.
  3. Snow melts and evaporates between the rocks in the crevice.
  4. Air pollution in the area causes a reaction that widens the crevice.

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_6_030.xml

View scoring information

 
 (31) Selected Response Public Release

Use the picture below to answer the following.

The picture shows a close–up view of fossils found within the cliff wall.



This cliff is most likely composed of

  1. igneous rock
  2. molten rock
  3. metamorphic rock
  4. sedimentary rock

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_6_031.xml

View scoring information

 
 (32) Selected Response Public Release

Use the picture below to answer the following.



Why do scientists study fossils?

  1. to learn how the planet was formed
  2. to study how organisms changed over time
  3. to observe how drought affected the landscape
  4. to understand how weathering affected rock layers

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_8_053.xml

View scoring information

 
 (33) Selected Response Public Release

Silver nitrate (AgNO3) a colorless powder, consists of the metallic element silver (Ag) and two non–metallic elements, nitrogen and oxygen (N and O). Silver nitrate mixed with water (H2O) forms a clear solution. When a piece of copper wire (Cu) is put into a silver nitrate solution, the clear solution turns blue. A silvery white substance forms on the wire and falls to the bottom of the solution.



What is the best method for separating the silvery white substance from the liquid in the beaker?

  1. absorption
  2. chromatography
  3. condensation
  4. filtration

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_6_032.xml

View scoring information

 
 (34) Selected Response Public Release

Use the information below to answer the following item.

Silver nitrate (AgNO3) a colorless powder, consists of the metallic element silver (Ag) and two non–metallic elements, nitrogen and oxygen (N and O). Silver nitrate mixed with water (H2O) forms a clear solution. When a piece of copper wire (Cu) is put into a silver nitrate solution, the clear solution turns blue. A silvery white substance forms on the wire and falls to the bottom of the solution.



Which statement best explains why silver nitrate (AgNO3) is classified as a compound?

  1. Silver nitrate contains a metal.
  2. Silver nitrate chemically reacts with copper.
  3. Silver nitrate forms when three elements chemically combine.
  4. Silver nitrate forms a solution when mixed with water.

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_8_054.xml

View scoring information

 
 (35) Selected Response Public Release

Biologists conduct investigations to learn about living organisms.



Which method helps reduce bias during an investigation?

  1. developing a hypothesis after collecting data in the investigation
  2. limiting the amount of background research before the investigation
  3. designing an investigation with repeated trials during the investigation
  4. obtaining other opinions concerning what should happen during the investigation

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_8_055.xml

View scoring information

 
 (36) Selected Response Public Release

Use the information below to answer the following.

The hair dryer in the cross section diagram below transforms one type of energy into other types of energy.

Wire coils in the hair dryer become hot when in use.



What energy transformation occurs in the wire coils?

  1. electrical to heat
  2. heat to mechanical
  3. chemical to mechanical
  4. mechanical to electrical

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_6_033.xml

View scoring information

 
 (37) Selected Response Public Release

Use the information below to answer the following.

The hair dryer in the cross section diagram below transforms one type of energy into other types of energy.



What part of the hair dryer changes electrical energy into mechanical energy?

  1. motor
  2. switch
  3. wire coils
  4. fan blades

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_6_034.xml

View scoring information

 
 (38) Selected Response Public Release

Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur both on land and in water.



Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions most often occur

  1. near plate boundaries
  2. on large pieces of land
  3. in large bodies of water
  4. in regions near the equator

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_6_056.xml

View scoring information

 
 (39) Selected Response Public Release

Students are investigating the physical properties of three solid mixtures by placing each solid mixture in liquid water.



What physical property are the students testing?

  1. solubility
  2. conductivity
  3. boiling point
  4. melting point

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_6_035.xml

View scoring information

 
 (40) Selected Response Public Release

Use the technical passage 'The Good, the Bad, and the Algae' to answer the following question.



Why might the animals in a bay be affected by large numbers of dead algae?

  1. The animals have less oxygen.
  2. The animals have less nutrients.
  3. The animals are at risk of algal infections.
  4. The animals are at risk of freezing in the winter.

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_6_057.xml

View scoring information

 
 (41) Selected Response Public Release

Use the technical passage 'The Good, the Bad, and the Algae' to answer the following question.



Which human activity would most likely reduce the number of algae blooms in a bay?

  1. converting marshland to cropland
  2. adding trees along stream banks
  3. building shopping centers on paved areas
  4. increasing the amount of fertilizers used for growing crops

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_6_036.xml

View scoring information

 
 (42) Brief Constructed Response Public Release

Use the technical passage 'The Good, the Bad, and the Algae' to answer the following question.

During one year the algae population decreases in the Chesapeake Bay. Below is a partial Chesapeake Bay food chain.



Explain how a large decrease in the algae population will most likely impact the bay ecosystem. In your explanation, be sure to include

  • the roles of the organisms in the partial Chesapeake Bay food chain
  • the possible effects of a decrease in the algae population on the plant and animal populations

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_6_038.xml

View scoring information

 
 (43) Selected Response Public Release

Hikers often use a compass and a map to determine their location. The needle on a compass moves and aligns with the magnetic field of Earth because the needle is magnetized.



Which action most likely affects the accuracy of a compass?

  1. changing hiking speed
  2. moving to a high altitude
  3. changing hiking speed and direction
  4. moving close to overhead power lines

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_6_037.xml

View scoring information

 
 (44) Selected Response Public Release

Use the information and diagrams below to answer the following.

Astrammina rara is a unicellular organism that is several millimeters long. This organism lives on the ocean floor of Antarctica in an area called Explorer's Cove. Astrammina rara builds a shell by cementing grains of sand from the ocean floor together. The organism either absorbs nutrients from the water or eats other organisms on the ocean floor. The offspring of Astrammina rara have genes identical to the parent. Below is a diagram of an Astrammina rara and a map showing where the organism lives.



Asexual reproduction by Astrammina rara

  1. involves an egg and a sperm
  2. requires a male and a female
  3. reduces the variation in the offspring
  4. increases the variation in the offspring

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_7_016.xml

View scoring information

 
 (45) Selected Response Public Release

Use the information and diagrams below to answer the following.

Astrammina rara is a unicellular organism that is several millimeters long. This organism lives on the ocean floor of Antarctica in an area called Explorer's Cove. Astrammina rara builds a shell by cementing grains of sand from the ocean floor together. The organism either absorbs nutrients from the water or eats other organisms on the ocean floor. The offspring of Astrammina rara have genes identical to the parent. Below is a diagram of an Astrammina rara and a map showing where the organism lives.



Which statement best describes how genetic information is passed to the offspring of Astrammina rara?

  1. The genetic information comes from the egg.
  2. The genetic information comes from the sperm.
  3. All of the genetic information comes from one parent.
  4. Half of the genetic information comes from one parent.

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_7_017.xml

View scoring information

 
 (46) Selected Response Public Release

Use the information and diagrams below to answer the following.

Astrammina rara is a unicellular organism that is several millimeters long. This organism lives on the ocean floor of Antarctica in an area called Explorer's Cove. Astrammina rara builds a shell by cementing grains of sand from the ocean floor together. The organism either absorbs nutrients from the water or eats other organisms on the ocean floor. The offspring of Astrammina rara have genes identical to the parent. Below is a diagram of an Astrammina rara and a map showing where the organism lives.



Which of the following reasons best explains why Astrammina rara builds a shell?

  1. to grind food
  2. to attract a mate
  3. to absorb sunlight
  4. to blend with the ocean floor

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_7_018.xml

View scoring information