School Improvement in Maryland

Public Release Item: Public Release items have appeared on HSA 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 core learning goals are assessed on the HSA.

Goal 1 Skills And Processes

Expectation 1.2 The student will pose scientific questions and suggest investigative approaches to provide answers to questions.

Indicator 1.2.5 The student will select appropriate instruments and materials to conduct an investigation.

Selected Response Item - Released in 2003

A student wants to examine chromosomes from animal cells. Which of these would be the best tool for the student to use?

  1. litmus paper
  2. thermometer
  3. dissecting microscope
  4. compound microscope
/share/clg/xml/public_release/science/2003_125_bio01.xml

Correct Answer:
D

Selected Response Item - Released in 2009

Use the information and the food web below to answer the following item.

Shallow coastal waters provide an essential habitat to a variety of plants and animals. A small part of a coastal food web is shown below.

Students want to compare fish diversity in two different areas of the coast. Which of these sets of items would be most useful for the students to gather for this study?





/share/clg/xml/public_release/science/2009_125_bio29.xml

Correct Answer:
A