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 1.4 The student will demonstrate that data analysis is a vital aspect of the process of scientific inquiry and communication.

Indicator 1.4.2 The student will analyze data to make predictions, decisions, or draw conclusions.

Selected Response Item - Released in 2004

A scientist is comparing the bird sound patterns among three species of sparrow. He uses a machine to produce an image of their sounds. His data are shown in the figure below.

Which of these is an accurate statement about the data?

  1. The beginning and the end of the song sparrow's sound pattern are identical.
  2. The swamp sparrow's sound pattern is similar to the white-crowned sparrow's sound pattern.
  3. The end of the white-crowned sparrow's sound pattern is very different from its beginning.
  4. The end of the swamp sparrow's sound pattern is identical to the end of the song sparrow's sound pattern.
/share/clg/xml/public_release/science/2004_142_bio39.xml

Correct Answer:
C

Selected Response Item - Released in 2004

A student performed an experiment to determine the relationship between air temperature and growth in plants. She divided 36 seedlings into six groups and grew each group at a different temperature. She recorded the average height of the plants in each group after a four-week period. Her results are shown below.

Which of these statements best describes the results shown in the graph?

  1. As temperature increases, the average height of the plants continually increases.
  2. Temperature only affects average height between 18°C and 24°C.
  3. As temperature increases, the average height of the plants first increases and then decreases.
  4. Average height levels off at a temperature of 18°C.
/share/clg/xml/public_release/science/2004_142_bio41.xml

Correct Answer:
C

Selected Response Item - Released in 2003

Scientists wanted to study the effect of water temperature on the swimming speed of goldfish. They set up an experiment in which they raised populations of goldfish in two different aquariums. Population 1 was raised at 5°C. Population 2 was raised at 25°C. All other variables were constant in both aquariums. The results of this experiment are shown in the graph below.

According to the graph, both populations of goldfish swim at the same speed at which of these temperatures?

  1. 12°C
  2. 17°C
  3. 22°C
  4. 27°C
/share/clg/xml/public_release/science/2003_142_bio20.xml

Correct Answer:
B

Selected Response Item - Released in 2006

The graphs below show the effects of temperature and pH on the reaction rate of an enzyme.

Food will stay fresh longer when enzyme activity is slowed. Which of the following conditions would most likely slow enzyme activity?

  1. reducing pH from 8 to 7 by adding a weak acid
  2. increasing pH from 5 to 6 by adding a weak base
  3. reducing temperature from 30°C to 20°C by refrigeration
  4. increasing temperature from 30°C to 40°C by heating
/share/clg/xml/public_release/science/2006_142_bio47.xml

Correct Answer:
C

Selected Response Item - Released in 2009

Use the information below to answer Numbers 36 and 37.

Use the information below to answer the following item.

Methyl mercury is a toxic substance that can harm the nervous system. Some fish are contaminated with high levels of methyl mercury. In many places, these fish are an important food source. Experiments are being conducted to determine how many meals of contaminated fish can be safely consumed. The table below shows the concentration of methyl mercury in the fish and the number of meals that can be safely consumed per month.

The table below shows the mean mercury concentrations in fish.

According to this table, which fish would be safest to eat?

  1. common carp
  2. channel catfish
  3. largemouth bass
  4. yellow perch
/share/clg/xml/public_release/science/2009_142_bio36.xml

Correct Answer:
B