School Improvement in Maryland

Using the State Curriculum: Science, Grade 8

Skills and Processes | Earth/Space | Life | Chemistry | Physics | Environmental

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Standard 1.0 Skills and Processes

Topic B. Applying Evidence and Reasoning

Indicator 1. Review data from a simple experiment, summarize the data, and construct a logical argument about the cause-and-effect relationships in the experiment.

Objective d. Describe the reasoning that lead to the interpretation of data and conclusions drawn.

Selected Response Item

Use the technical passage "New 'Time Machine' from Ice" to answer the following.

How do humans contribute most to an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?

  1. Public transportation is used in larger cities.
  2. Trees are planted when forests are harvested.
  3. Carbon dioxide is expelled when people breathe.
  4. Fossil fuels are burned as a source of energy.
/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_8_024.xml

Correct Answer:
D

Brief Constructed Response (BCR) Item

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

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Fossil Fuel

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/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_8_038.xml

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