School Improvement in Maryland

Public Release Items: 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.

Standard 6.0 Environmental Science

Topic A. Natural Resources and Human Needs

Indicator 1. Recognize and explain how renewable and nonrenewable natural resources are used by humans in Maryland to meet basic needs.

Objective c. Describe how humans use nonrenewable natural resources, such as oil, coal, natural gas, minerals, including metals

Selected Response Item

Scientists estimate that Maryland contains more than 850 million tons of coal.

Coal is most commonly used to produce

  1. electricity
  2. medicine
  3. metals
  4. water
/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_science_5_019.xml

Correct Answer:
A

Selected Response Item

Students are learning about the natural resources in Maryland. One group of students researches information about renewable natural resources in the state. The other group researches information about nonrenewable natural resources in the state. The resources the students investigate include plants, animals, soil, minerals, water, coal, and oil.

Which nonrenewable natural resource heats homes?

  1. sunlight
  2. aluminum
  3. natural gas
  4. ocean waves
/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_science_5_032.xml

Correct Answer:
C