Download Science Grade 7 2015 - HSS-High

Science
Grade 7
2015
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Questions
7.5A - Recognize that radiant energy from the Sun is transformed into chemical energy through the process of photosynthesis;
The Sun emits radiant energy towards Earth’s surface. Some
of this radiant energy is in the form of light. Photosynthesis is
a chemical reaction that occurs in plants. During this reaction,
carbon dioxide absorbs from the atmosphere and water
absorbs from the soil. The chemical energy produced from
the reaction is in the form of sugar also referred to as
glucose. Oxygen also produces and releases into the
atmosphere. The chemical energy or glucose stores in plants,
which sustains life on Earth.
Essential Questions
2
• What is photosynthesis?
• What role does the Sun play in the interaction of matter
and energy during photosynthesis?
• What forms of energy conversions occur during the
process of photosynthesis?
7.5B - Demonstrate and explain the cycling of matter within living systems such as in the decay of biomass in a compost bin
2
Soil contains decomposers, such as bacteria and fungus,
which break down decayed biomass. This process produces
thermal energy, gases (such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen),
and simple molecules (such as water). This matter is released
back into the soil and atmosphere to be reused by producers
to make food and to grow. Carbon is essential to life and
cycles in many forms within living systems. Carbon dioxide in
the atmosphere enters the leaves of plants and is used in the
process of photosynthesis to make glucose. Some animals
eat plants and use the carbon of the glucose for energy and
daily functions. When animals breathe, carbon dioxide is
released into the air. When animals die, organic compounds
which contain carbon in their body are broken down by
decomposers and returned to the soil to be used by other
plants and microorganisms. Nitrogen is another element
essential to life. It is cycled from the atmosphere to living
things and back into the atmosphere. Nitrogen in the
atmosphere enters soil and is broken down by bacteria into a
usable form that is absorbed by the roots of plants. Plants use
nitrogen for growth and productivity. Animals eat plants and
also use nitrogen to grow and function. Decomposers break
down nitrogen compounds within decaying plants and
animals, which returns to the soil and atmosphere. Water is a
simple molecule that is cycled throughout living systems and
the atmosphere. Plants absorb water from soil through their
roots and use it for photosynthesis. During this chemical
reaction, water molecules are broken down into oxygen atoms
that are released into the atmosphere and hydrogen atoms
that are used to form glucose, the energy stored in plants.
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Summer Promotion Test Blueprint
Science, Grade 7
• How can the decay of biomass be explained and related to
the carbon, nitrogen and water cycles?
• How can you use a food web example to demonstrate and
explain the cycling of carbon within living systems?
• How can you use the decay of biomass in a compost bin to
demonstrate and explain the cycling of nitrogen within living
systems?
• Why is the water cycle a key component in the cycling of
matter within living systems?
The Sun is our ultimate source of energy. Producers are able
to transform the energy of the Sun to make food, and
consumers eat producers or other consumers to obtain
energy. Decomposers break down plant and animal remains
and waste into molecules that producers can reuse to make
energy. Food chains show how energy is transformed as it
flows from the Sun to producers to primary consumers
(herbivores), to secondary consumers (carnivores that eat
herbivores) to tertiary consumers (carnivores that eat
carnivores). Food webs show the complex relationships of
energy flow in an ecosystem that contains a variety of
producers and consumers. Energy pyramids show how the
amount of energy decreases as it flows from producers at the
bottom of the food chain to tertiary consumers at the top of
the food chain. As energy flows up the pyramid, some energy
is transformed into heat.
Essential Questions
2
• How do matter and energy interact in a food web or energy
pyramid model?
• Why is energy flow a key component in a food web or
energy pyramid model?
• Why is the energy flow in a food web diagram more
complex than in a food chain?
• What is a trophic level in a food pyramid diagram?
• Why is the amount of energy available in a trophic level
different from the levels that precede and follow it?
7.6A - Identify that organic compounds contain carbon and other elements such as hydrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, nitrogen, or
sulfur;
Compounds that contain carbon are called organic
compounds. Many organic compounds often contain
hydrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, nitrogen and sulfur, in
addition to carbon. All living things are made up of organic
compounds.
Essential Questions
2
• What are some common properties of organic compounds
as they are naturally formed and as they are changed during
the digestive process in organisms?
• What element most commonly distinguishes organic
compounds from inorganic compounds?
• What combination of elements commonly form organic
compounds?
7.6B - Distinguish between physical and chemical changes in matter in the digestive system;
2
Physical changes include processes that change the size of a
particle of a substance or its phase, but not the identity of the
substance. Physical changes during digestion include teeth
cutting and crushing food into smaller pieces and food churning in
the stomach. A chemical change is one during which a substance
is transformed into a different substance. Physical and chemical
changes in matter occur in the human digestive system. Food is
broken down and transformed into nutrients that the body can
use. Signs of a chemical change are production of a gas, a color
change, formation of a precipitate and the production of heat or
light. The change is not reversible in the digestive system. Signs
of a physical change also include heat production or absorption
and a change in the size or phase of the substance. Mechanical
digestion begins in the mouth, where your teeth break down food
particles. It continues in the stomach, where your stomach
muscles squeeze and break up your food. Chemical digestion of
food also starts in the mouth then continues into the stomach and
small intestines. This is where food is chemically broken down
into essential nutrients keeping your body healthy and functioning
normally. Chemical digestion changes food into fuel for your body.
Mechanical digestion breaks down food particles so it is
chemically digested faster. Both chemical digestion and
mechanical digestion take place in the mouth and stomach.
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7.5C - Diagram the flow of energy through living systems, including food chains, food webs, and energy pyramids.
• How are physical changes different from chemical changes
of matter in the digestive system?
• What are some examples of physical changes that occur
during the digestive process?
• What evidence indicates that a physical change in matter
has occurred?
• What are some examples of chemical changes that occur
during the digestive process?
• What evidence indicates that a chemical change in matter
has occurred?
A molecule is formed when two or more atoms join together.
Molecules can consist of two or more atoms of the same
element or from more than one type of element. Large
molecules are made of chains of smaller units. Our bodies
take larger molecules and break them down through chemical
changes during digestion to create smaller molecules that can
be absorbed by the body. Carbohydrate chains are broken
into simple sugars. Protein chains are broken into amino
acids. Lipid chains (fats) are broken into fatty acids.
Essential Questions
2
• What is a molecule?
• How are large organic molecules that provide nutrients
classified?
• What are the molecules that result during the digestion of
carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids (fats)?
7.7A - contrast situations where work is done with different amounts of force to situations where no work is done such as
moving a box with a ramp and without a ramp, or standing still
Work is performed when a force causes an object to move. If
an object does not move, no work is done upon that object.
Work is calculated by multiplying the force exerted on an
object by the distance it moves in the direction of the force
(W=fd). Ramps, or inclined planes and other simple machines
can reduce the amount of work force needed to move an
object, but they do not change the amount of work done.
When the force is reduced, the distance is increased, so that
the amount of work done remains the same. Friction is a force
that interacts between an object and its surface and acts as
an additional force that needs to be overcome to move an
object.
Essential Questions
2
• What is the scientific meaning of work?
• What units are used to measure work?
• How is work calculated?
• How does the use of simple machines affect force and
distance when work is done?
• How can situations where force is applied but no work is
done be demonstrated?
7.7B - Illustrate the transformation of energy within an organism such as the transfer from chemical energy to heat and thermal
energy in digestion
Organisms transform chemical energy in the food they eat
into other forms of energy. Organisms break down food
during digestion, transforming chemical energy in food to
thermal energy. In digestion, chemical energy is also
transformed to mechanical energy as an organism uses its
muscles to move.
Essential Questions
2
• How can transformations of energy in the body system be
illustrated?
• What processes during digestion transform energy stored
in food to energy forms needed for bodily functions?
7.7C - Demonstrate and illustrate forces that affect motion in everyday life such as emergence of seedlings, turgor pressure,
and geotropism.
2
Forces affect motion in plants as shown by an ability to
overcome or respond to the force of gravity or turgor
pressure, or when seedlings push upward through soil,
exerting an upward force on the soil greater than the
downward force of gravity. Plants grow upward against the
downward force of gravity in a process known as geotropism.
Even when turned, plants will recognize the force of gravity
and reorient their stems upward and their roots downward.
Water within a plant cell exerts a force, called turgor pressure,
that pushes outward on the cell wall. The ability of a plant to
maintain a strong upright position and to return to the upright
position when blown by the wind is the result of the force
exerted by water within each plant cell.
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7.6C - Recognize how large molecules are broken down into smaller molecules such as carbohydrates can be broken down
into sugars.
• Can tugor pressure be used to illustrate and demostrate
the effect of force and motion in a plant?
• What forces can affect motion in plants?
• How can the upward push of a seedling through soil as a
result of geotropism be used to illustrate and demonstrate
the effect of force and motion in a plant?
Extreme weather events such as floods, hurricanes and
tornadoes, are classified by the extent and intensity of their
impact on the ecosystem. Floods result when rainfall exceeds
the holding capacity of a drainage system. For example,
water overflows the banks of a river and spreads out across
its floodplain. The energy of the moving water and the layers
of sediment carried by the water can uproot or bury plants,
reshape the topography, and destroy roads and buildings.
Hurricanes develop over warm ocean waters as an area of
low pressure in the atmosphere. Over time, as more ocean
water evaporates into the weather system, the air pressure in
the hurricane’s eye decreases, and the intensity of the wind
increases. When hurricanes move onshore, they impact the
ecosystem in a variety of ways, including a storm surge of
seawater along the coast. As it moves across land, intense
wind damage and excess flooding events occur all along the
path of the storm. Frequently, tornadoes form within
hurricanes. Tornadoes are violent, rotating columns of air
extending from the base of intense storm clouds. Although
affecting an area much smaller in width and distance than
that covered by a hurricane, tornadoes have much stronger
wind speeds. Objects in the path of a tornado are totally
destroyed, leaving a scar of devastation to the ecosystem. As
a result of the careful study of atmospheric patterns
associated with catastrophic storms, meteorologists have
been able to forecast the probability, intensity, and paths of
heavy rainstorms, flooding, hurricanes, and tornadoes.
Essential Questions
2
• How can natural events such as floods, hurricanes, and
tornadoes be predicted?
• What are some catastrophic impacts on the ecosystem
caused by floods?
• What are some catastrophic impacts on the ecosystem
caused by hurricanes?
• What are some catastrophic impacts on the ecosystem
caused by tornadoes?
7.8B - Analyze the effects of weathering, erosion, and deposition on the environment in ecoregions of Texas;
2
There are 10 ecoregions in Texas and each of these regions
support a wide range of ecosystems, soil types and land
features. These ecoregions are: East Texas Pineywoods, Gulf
Coast Prairies and Marshes, Post Oak Savannah, Blackland
Prairie, Crosstimbers and Prairies, South Texas Plains,
Mountains and Basins, Edwards Plateau, Rolling Plains, and
High Plains. Weathering is the gradual wearing down of a
geological formation due physical or chemical changes to the
surface of rocks. Erosion occurs when the rock or soil of
Earth’s surface is moved to another location by the flow of
water, ice or wind, as well as the constant pull of gravity.
Deposition occurs as sediment, which is created by
weathering and erosion, then moved by gravity, settles in a
different location. Weathering, erosion, and deposition shape
the characteristic soil and topography of each ecoregion of
Texas.
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7.8A - predict and describe how different types of catastrophic events impact ecosystems such as floods, hurricanes, or
tornadoes;
• How do the unique topography and other characteristics in
different Texas ecoregions reflect the natural forces of
weathering, erosion, and deposition?
• What are the primary weathering agents?
What evidence indicates that weathering processes have
affected the Texas ecoregions?
• What are the primary erosional agents?
What evidence indicates that erosional processes have
affected the Texas ecoregions?
• What are the primary deposition agents?
What evidence indicates that deposition processes have
affected the Texas ecoregions?
Essential Questions
Biodiversity, or biological diversity, is the variety of life and the
intricate interactions that support and link organisms together
in a geographical region. Biodiversity includes a variety of
genes, species, and ecosystems. The higher the biodiversity
of an ecosystem, the better that ecosystem can withstand
environmental stress. Hence, if biodiversity is lost, that
ecosystem has less ability to withstand the same
environmental stress. The biodiversity of an ecosystem
depends on limiting factors, or factors that limit the ability of
that habitat to sustain a population.
Ecological succession is the dynamic and predictable
transition of organisms that make up a community after a
disturbance (either natural or human-caused) as it reaches its
climax community. Succession can be primary, beginning with
rock exposed by geologic activity, or secondary, where the
existing community’s soil is intact. A microhabitat’s transition
over time can be observed and recorded to identify the role of
ecological succession as new habitats and niches are
created.
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• How might the interdependency of organisms in a specific
habitat be helped or harmed as a result of changes in the
ecosystem over time?
• How might the biodiversity of the populations in a habitat
affect organism interdependency?
• What is a microhabitat?
• What is a biome and what abiotic factors characterize each
biome?
• How might biodiversity within and between trophic levels in
a habitat affect sustainability of an ecosystem?
• How does the concept of ecological succession explain
changes in an ecosystem?
7.11A - Examine organisms or their structures such as insects or leaves and use Dichotomous keys for identification;
2
To organize and classify large amounts of information, like
plant and animal species, dichotomous keys are created and
utilized. The use of and construction of dichotomous keys
relies on binomial classification and observation of structures
of organisms. Dichotomous keys are used for identification of
organisms, such as birds, trees, insects, vertebrates,
invertebrates, and flowering plants.
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7.10A - observe and describe how different environments, including microhabitats in schoolyards and biomes, support different
varieties of organisms;
7.10B -Describe how biodiversity contributes to the sustainability of an ecosystem
7.10C - observe, record, and describe the role of ecological succession such as in a microhabitat of a garden with weeds.
• What tool is used to classify and identify the vast number
of living organisms from one another?
• How can dichotomous keys be used to classify organisms?
• What are the characteristics of a dichotomous key and
how do you use it?
Essential Questions
An adaptation is a genetic characteristic, either physical or
behavioral, that allows organisms to survive and reproduce.
Adaptations occur to populations, not individual organisms.
How populations respond to their environment, physically or
behaviorally, is diverse. For instance, some migrate, others
hibernate. Additionally, others may store fat and energy in
order to stay through a cold winter.
Natural selection is possible because of genetic variation
among individual organisms within a population. Over
generations, traits that enhance survival of a species are
selected over those that do not. When all members of a
population have the favorable trait, it is called an adaptation.
Natural selection has occurred to change virtually every
species found on Earth. In the Galapagos Islands off the
coast of Ecuador, the Galapagos Medium Ground Finch has
developed a beak shape that is very different from other
finches found in the same islands.
4
• How have changes in inherited traits over generations
enhanced the survival of a species?
• How can structural changes over time in living organisms
enhance the survival of a species?
• What is natural selection and how can it change a species
over time?
• How has the process of selective breeding changed food
crops and domestic animals?
7.12A - Investigate and explain how internal structures of organisms have adaptations that allow specific functions such as gills
in fish, hollow bones in birds, or Xylem in plants
2
Adaptations to the shape of a bird’s beak occurs due to
different food sources. Some adaptations are structural, like
the long neck of a giraffe, the large ears of an elephant, or the
floating leaves found in lily pads. Other adaptations are
behavioral such as the unique songs of humpback whales,
hibernation of squirrels, or the migration pattern of the
monarch butterfly. Adaptations can also be found in internal
structures. The gills of a fish, the presence of hollow bones in
birds, and the xylem used to transport water in plants are all
examples of internal adaptations. In selective breeding, the
favorable traits to be passed on to the next generation are
chosen by the breeder. Careful breeding of food crops like
corn and wheat have resulted in plants that yield more food
per acre. Selective breeding of domestic animals like dogs
have led to incredible diversity from their wolf ancestors.
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7.11B - Explain variation within a population or species by comparing external features, behaviors, or physiology of organisms
that enhance their survival such as migration, hibernation, or storage of food in a bulb
7.11C - Identify some changes in genetic traits that have occurred over several generations through natural selection and
selective breeding such as the Galapagos Medium Ground Finch (Geospiza fortis) or domestic animals.
• What are some physical and behavioral adaptations that
have enhanced a species survival?
• How have the internal structures of organisms adapted
over time to meet specific functional needs of animals?
The circulatory system circulates blood through the body,
supplies cells with oxygen and nutrients and removes waste
products. The respiratory system supplies blood with oxygen
in the lungs and removes carbon dioxide. The skeletal system
holds organs in place, provides a structural support for the
body and its muscles, stores minerals and contains materials
to make new blood cells. The muscular system allows the
body to move when attached to bone, and allows movement
in internal organs such as the heart and intestines. The
digestive system converts food into simpler substances for
the body to absorb as nutrients. Breakdown of food also
provides energy for all body functions.
Essential Questions
2
• What are the different systems of the human body and why are
they classified as systems?
• What is the main function(s) of the circulatory system?
• What is the main function(s) of the respiratory system?
• What is the main function(s) of the skeletal system?
• What is the main function(s) of the muscular system?
• What is the main function(s) of the digestive system?
• What is the main function(s) of the excretory system?
• What is the main function(s) of the reproductive system?
• What is the main function(s) of the integumentary system?
• What is the main function(s) of the nervous system?
• What is the main function(s) of the endocrine system?
Groups of cells, the smallest living units of a plant or animal,
form tissues. Tissues with similar structures and functions
form organs. Organ systems are the result of various organs
working together. Organisms are the sum of all levels of
organization operating together.
Essential Questions
7.12C - Recognize levels of organization in plants and animals, including cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, and organisms;
2
• What are the levels of organization in the structure of
plants and animals in order from the simplest to the most
complex.
• Why is it important to discuss levels of organization in
living systems in terms of both structure and function of
each level?
• What are the relationships among cells, tissues, organs,
and organ systems in plant and animal organisms?
7.12D - Differentiate between structure and function in plant and animal cell organelles, including cell membrane, cell wall,
nucleus, cytoplasm, mitochondrion, chloroplast, and vacuole;
2
Eukaryotic plant and animal cells contain organelles that
perform specific tasks for the cell’s metabolism and growth.
Both plant and animal cells contain cell membranes, a
nucleus that contains the chromosomes, mitochondrion
(creates energy), and cytoplasm (structure and metabolism).
In addition to the organelles also found in animal cells, plant
cells contain chloroplasts for photosynthesis, a large central
vacuole (chemical storage) and a cell wall (protection and
structure).
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7.12B - Identify the main functions of the systems of the human organism, including the circulatory, respiratory, skeletal,
muscular, digestive, excretory, reproductive, integumentary, nervous, and endocrine systems;
• What are the relationships among cells, tissues, organs,
and organ systems in plant and animal organisms?
• What is a cell membrane and what function does it serve in
the cell? Is it found in plant cells, animal cells or both?
• What is a cell wall and what function does it serve in the
cell? Is it found in plant cells, animal cells or both?
• What is a nucleus and what function does it serve in the
cell? Is it found in plant cells, animal cells or both?
• What is cytoplasm and what function does it serve in the
cell? Is it found in plant cells, animal cells or both?
• What is a mitochondrion and what function does it serve in
the cell? Is it found in plant cells, animal cells or both?
• What is a chloroplast and what function does it serve in the
cell? Is it found in plant cells, animal cells or both?
• What is a vacuole and what function does it serve in a
cell? Is it found in plant cells, animal cells or both?
• Why is the cell theory considered a core idea in biology?
• How are the functions of a cell similar to the functions of an
organism?
• How does the cell theory relate to the structure and
function of cells in living organisms?
Essential Questions
7.13A - Investigate how organisms respond to external stimuli found in the environment such as phototropism and fight or flight
7.13B - Describe and relate responses in organisms that may result from internal stimuli such as wilting in plants and fever or
vomiting in animals that allow them to maintain balance.
Organisms respond to changes in the external environment in
order to maintain balance. We call this balance homeostasis.
The change in the external environment is called a stimulus,
and the resulting reaction of the organisms is called a
response. Plants may respond to an external stimulus such
as touch, gravity (gravitropism), and light (phototropism). An
animal may respond to an external stimulus, such as the
presence of a predator by becoming aggressive or running
away. Organisms have an internal announcement system to
alert them of hunger, thirst, and temperature extremes to
maintain homeostasis. Plants may respond to an internal
stimulus such lack of water or other nutrients by either wilting
or changing its growth/development. Animals respond to
internal stimuli in various ways. Animals will vomit when food
is spoiled or contaminated. When pathogens like bacteria or
virus invade humans, the body responds by releasing
chemicals to raise the core body temperature, causing a
fever.
4
• What is homeostasis? How does an organism’s response
to external or internal conditions relate to homeostasis?
• How do plants and animals respond to external stimuli?
• How do plants and animals respond to internal stimuli?
7.14A - Define heredity as the passage of genetic instructions from one generation to the next generation
7.14C - Recognize that inherited traits of individuals are governed in the genetic material found in the genes within
chromosomes in the nucleus.
Heredity is the process by which characteristics are
transmitted from parents to their offspring. The units of
inheritance are genes and are stored within the chromosomes
in the nucleus of a cell. Genetic information is inherited from
both parents in sexual reproduction. Inherited traits include
expressed external characteristics such as eye color and hair
color and internal characteristics such as blood type. Inherited
traits are not affected by the organism’s surroundings.
Alleles are possible variations of a gene. Alleles occur in
pairs, and individuals inherit one allele from each parent. The
combination of inherited alleles is the genotype of an
individual. Traits that are visibly apparent are an individual’s
phenotype. Both alleles are not always expressed in the
offspring’s phenotype. Some alleles are dominant (always
expressed) and recessive (only expressed in the absence of a
dominant allele). Selective breeding is also called artificial
selection. Like in natural selection, a population changes over
time, and certain traits become more common.
2
Essential
Questions
Each organelle has a different and specific job that the others
rely on for the total survival of the cell, like the waste removal
role of the lysosome. The function of each organelle’s
essential task can be compared with the functions of
organisms to obtain energy, such as the “power factories” of
mitochondria and the “storage facilities” of endoplasmic
reticulum.
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7.12E - Compare the functions of a cell to the functions of organisms such as waste removal
7.12F - recognize that according to cell theory all organisms are composed of cells and cells carry on similar functions such as
extracting energy from food to sustain life.
• What two factors directly affect the traits of an organism?
• What is the process of asexual reproduction? How does it
produce uniform offsprin+D43g?
• Why does sexual reproduction result in unique
combinations of DNA in each offspring?
3
1
In asexual reproduction of prokaryotic cells, DNA is replicated
from the parent resulting in uniform offspring. These cells
divide by binary fission. Organisms composed of eukaryotic
cells can also reproduce asexually by forming spores, by
budding, or by vegetative propagation. In sexual reproduction
of eukaryotic organisms, DNA is combined and unique
combinations of dominant and recessive traits from two
parents create diverse offspring.
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7.14B - Compare the results of uniform or diverse offspring from sexual reproduction or asexual reproduction
• What two factors directly affect the traits of an organism?
• What is the process of asexual reproduction? How does it
produce uniform offspring?
• Why does sexual reproduction result in unique
combinations of DNA in each offspring?
Sample Questions: Science Grade 7
1. Which best describes a process of photosynthesis? Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert ___
A radiant energy into chemical energy.
B heat energy into mechanical energy.
C heat energy into chemical energy.
D chemical energy into mechanical energy.
2. What role do decomposers have in contributing to the survival of other organisms in their environments? Decomposers ____
F use sunlight to make food for other organisms.
G release nutrients from plants into the soil.
H exhale oxygen through the process of respiration.
J give off water vapor into the air during transpiration.
3. Energy obtained by an organism when it consumes food is ___
A absorbed into the bloodstream.
B transformed into other forms of energy.
C completely used during digestion.
D passed through the body as waste.
4. A wilted plant is given water and it becomes tall and strong because of ___
F Turgor pressure
G Buoyancy
H Density
J Osmosis
5. The map shows the various ecoregions of Texas. Which ecoregion is most vulnerable to wind erosion from hurricanes that start in
the Gulf of Mexico?
A Post Oak Savannah
B Blackland Prairies
C Edwards Plateau
D Gulf Prairies and Marshes
6. Xylem is a plant tissue made up of long cells stacked end to end through the length of the plant’s stem. Which function is xylem
specifically adapted to perform in plants?
F Help prevent water loss
G Exchange gases with the atmosphere
H Capture sunlight for photosynthesis
J Transport water from roots to leaves
https://ali2.acceleratelearning.com/teacher_assessments/29/print
1. A test tube is filled with water and a green plant called elodea. When the plant is
exposed to sunlight, it begins to produce bubbles. Which of the following is the most
likely conclusion for the identity of the gas in the bubbles?
A Carbon dioxide
B Oxygen
C Nitrogen
D Hydrogen
2. The diagram provided illustrates the process of photosynthesis, including the substances
used by and produced by plants. What is the identity of the chemical represented by the
question mark in the diagram?
A Hydrogen
B Water
C Carbon
D Nitrogen
3. Which of the following describes an example of biomass decay in a habitat?
A Bacteria break down dead plants and add nutrients to the soil
B Mountain lions hunt and kill smaller mammals to get energy
C Plants use sunlight to produce glucose during photosynthesis
D Hot and cold temperatures weather and break down rocks
5/15/2015 9:33 AM
https://ali2.acceleratelearning.com/teacher_assessments/29/print
4. Which of the following materials in a compost bin will be
recycled into soil-enriching nutrients?
A Aluminum cans
B Plastic bottles
C Old newspapers
D Iron nails
5. Some students used the setup shown to model the cycling of water in a habitat. In the
model, which part of a natural habitat is represented by the water droplets collecting on
the bottom of the pan?
A Sun’s thermal energy drying up a lake
B Moisture given off by plants through leaves
C Rain, snow, and other forms of precipitation
D The formation of clouds in the atmosphere
6. In a food web, primary consumers get their energy by A engaging in photosynthesis.
B breaking down dead organisms.
C eating other primary consumers.
D eating organisms known as producers.
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7. A diagram of a food web is provided. Using the diagram, provide three examples of
interactions where energy flows from one organism to another.
8. Which of the following correctly shows how energy flows through a food chain?
A
B
C
D
9. Part of the Periodic Table is provided. Which of the following compounds is inorganic?
A Fe2O3
B CH3COOH
C C15H31CO2C30H61
D C8H10N4O2
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10. A portion of the Periodic Table is duplicated here.
All of the following are organic compounds EXCEPT –
A CH3CO2H.
B C6H12O6.
C Ca3(PO4)2.
D C7H9PO3.
11. Compounds are different than elements because compounds are –
A combinations of two or more elements
B not able to be broken down into parts
C made from the same type of atoms
D a pure substance, elements are not
12. Illustrations of four compounds are provided. How many of the compounds illustrated
here are organic?
A1
B2
C3
D4
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13. In digestion, evidence of a chemical change can be observed when A chocolate, in solid form, melts in the mouth.
B crackers gets chewed into smaller pieces.
C meat is churned and squeezed in the stomach.
D vegetables broken down in the intestines produce gas.
14. Which of the following is an example of a physical change in
the digestive system?
A Within the mouth, thermal energy melts solid food
B Pepsin in the stomach breaks down protein
C Saliva breaks down carbohydrates into sugars
D In the intestines, fatty acids are produced from lipids
15. Which of the following is an example of a chemical change during digestion?
A Muscles in the esophagus move food towards the stomach.
B Protein is broken down into amino acids in the stomach.
C Water is absorbed into the blood stream in the large intestine.
D Teeth tear and grind food in the mouth into smaller pieces.
16. Which of the following products do carbohydrates become
during digestion?
A Amino acids
B Fatty acids
C Lipids
D Sugars
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17. The table provides information about common foods and the smaller molecules they are
broken into by digestion. Which list below correctly matches the substance to the large
molecules of which it is composed?
A
B
C
D
18. Which of the following are the smaller units which make proteins?
A Amino acids
B Fatty acids
C Carbohydrates
D Sugars
19. Which of the following is made of a chain of amino acids?
A Carbohydrates
B Lipids
C Proteins
D Starches
20. A student lifts an object to a certain height with no tools. Another student lifts the same
object to the same height using a ramp. Which of the following remains the same for
both students?
A The friction acting against the object
B The amount of work done on the object
C The horizontal distance the object travels
D The force used to move the object
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21. An object is at rest on a level surface. The forces acting on it are illustrated. Which of the
following correctly describes the resultant change to the object?
A The object will start to accelerate towards the west.
B The object will move at a constant speed to the west.
C The object will start to accelerate towards the east.
D The object will move at a constant speed to the east.
22. Three situations in which force is applied to a box are illustrated here.
Which of the following correctly describes a comparison of these situations?
A More work is done in Situation 1 than in Situation 3. No work is done in Situation 2.
B
The amount of work done in Situations 1 and 3 is the same. No work is done in
Situation 2.
C
The work done in Situations 1 and 3 is the same. The most work is done in Situation
2.
D More work is done in Situation 3 than in Situation 1. No work is done in Situation 2
23. Mammals maintain a constant body temperature by
converting A
B
C
D
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24. Which of the following energy transformations takes place
during digestion?
A
B
C
D
25. Images of a shark tail and a dolphin tail are provided. How does the difference in the
orientation of a dolphin’s tail affect how the dolphin swims?
A A dolphin can swim much faster than a shark, because its tail is symmetrical.
B A shark cannot swim in a straight line due to the orientation of its tail.
C A dolphin moves its tail up and down and the shark moves its tail from side to side.
D A shark is limited to shallow water where the density of the water is less.
26. Geotropism is a force that affects certain organisms. This force will result in which of the
following?
A A flower to die due to lack of water
B The roots of a plant to grow downward
C Animals to seek shelter on high ground
D Fish to float to the surface when they die
27. A plant’s roots will always grow in a downward direction. The downward direction of root
growth is a response to what force?
A Friction
B Gravity
C Wind
D Heat
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28. The strong, elastic tendons in a kangaroo’s hind legs help it travel by doing which of the
following?
A When compressed, the tendons store large amounts of energy for jumping.
B The tendons help reduce the friction between the kangaroo and the ground.
C The tendons help stabilize the kangaroo while it is in mid-air.
D The kangaroo uses its tendons to control the direction in which it jumps.
29. Which of the following adaptations of a penguin contributes most to how it utilizes forces
to propel itself through the water?
A The coloration of a penguin exhibits high contrast.
B Penguins have a layer of blubber beneath their skin.
C The feathers on a penguin’s wings are densely packed.
D The overall shape of a penguin is streamlined.
30. In the Edwards Plateau, the limestone rocks are highly
vulnerable to chemical and physical weathering. Which of the following land formations
would be expected in this area?
A Canyons
B Lakes
C Rivers
D Caves
31. In a marsh ecosystem that experiences a hurricane, which of the following would be the
most likely effect?
A A loss of plant life from saltwater brought in by storm surge
B More burrowing animals living in the deeper soil layers
C Death of most organisms due to fires from lightning strikes
D Increase in diversity of organisms due to more competition
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32. The map shows the various ecoregions of Texas. Which ecoregion is most vulnerable to
wind erosion from hurricanes originating in the Gulf of Mexico?
A Post Oak Savannah
B Blackland Prairies
C Edwards Plateau
D Gulf Prairies and Marshes
33. Which of the following will most likely increase the amount of erosion that occurs on the
banks of a river?
A Heavy rains on the mountain that is the river’s water source
B High winds over the ocean to which the river flows
C High temperatures increasing evaporation from the river
D Ice formation at the source of the river
34. Canyons are formed by A earthquakes breaking rock layers apart.
B wind smoothing out rock formations.
C lava flowing from nearby volcanoes.
D rivers carrying sediments that erode land.
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35. A valley will take on a U-shape as a result of the movement
of A glaciers.
B wind.
C lava.
D sand.
36. The illustration provided shows exposed layers of
sedimentary rock in the High Plains region of Texas. Which of the following best explains
the uneven nature of the exposed rock layers?
A Different types of rock weather at different rates when exposed.
B Wind speeds vary greatly over time in this region of Texas.
C An ancient river deposited sediments at different rates over time.
D Glacier movement always creates uneven rock formations.
37. The ocean ecosystem has a high sustainability because of A strong, persistent currents.
B predator/prey relationships.
C green plants growing on the bottom.
D the large variety of different organisms.
38. A habitat that receives little or no precipitation will most likely be suitable for organisms
that A hibernate for long periods of time.
B are covered in thick fur to keep warm.
C spend most of the day in the sunlight.
D store large quantities of water internally.
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39. The ecosystem with the greatest sustainability will be the one that has the A greatest variety of different organisms.
B highest annual precipitation.
C lowest population of harmful insects.
D fastest growing season for green plants.
40. A forest is most sustainable when it has A tall trees only.
B small shrubs only.
C flowering plants only.
D a variety of plant species.
41. In a rainforest ecosystem, some plants are able to grow attached to the sides of the
tallest trees. This adaptation benefits these plants by allowing them to better compete for
what resources that are limited on the forest floor?
A Sunlight
B Water
C Nutrients
D Air
42. Primary succession takes place in an area where A no soil or organisms were previously present.
B wildfires removed existing prairie grass species.
C large organisms outcompete smaller organisms.
D weeds grow in a garden next to vegetables.
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43. An abandoned garden has been cleared of all vegetation and only a layer of
nutrient-poor soil remains. Which of the following will most likely be observed in the
garden area first?
A Squirrels building nests in trees
B Weeds sprouting out of the soil
C Butterflies competing for flower nectar
D Beetles feeding on leaves of shrubs
44. Which of the following characteristics will most likely be helpful in identifying a butterfly
using a dichotomous key?
A Migrates north every spring
B Hangs on branches to rest
C Flutters wings faster on hot days
D Hind wings have tail extensions
45. A table of arachnid and insect characteristics is shown. Which characteristic could be
used to distinguish between
arachnids and insects?
A Jointed legs
B Body segments
C Presence of eyes
D Presence of antennae
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46. A drawing of a leaf and a dichotomous key are provided.
What leaf is shown in the drawing?
A Liquidambar
B Magnolia
C Pine
D Redbud
47. A new organism was discovered and the following observations were recorded:
The organism seems to be absorbing nutrients from a rotting log. Under the microscope,
the organism appears to be multicellular with nucleated cells.
Based on this information, how should this organism be classified?
A Kingdom Fungi
B Kingdom Plantae
C Kingdom Eubacteria
D Kingdom Archaeabacteria
48. Mountain lions are large cats and the top predator in their
habitat. A population of mountain lions may vary in several
characteristics. If prey becomes more scarce, which
variation would provide an advantage to the individuals that
possessed it?
A A spotted coat
B Short fur
C Long legs
D Abundant whiskers
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49. Illustrations of four antlers from four specimens in a population of moose, along with
other data, are provided in the table. To support antlers, male moose must expend large
amounts of energy stored up from food. All other factors being equal, male moose with
which antlers are best adapted to survive a particularly cold and barren winter?
A Moose A
B Moose B
C Moose C
D Moose D
50. Galapagos finches are birds that live on islands off the coast of South America. The
finches on the various islands are very different from each other. As a result of the
different food resources on the islands, which of the following structures of the
Galapagos finches experienced the greatest change through natural selection?
A Head size
B Eye shape
C Feather color
D Beak shape
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51. A table of physical traits of chickens is provided. A breeder records the average data on
three generations of chicken populations that have been bred. For which trait is the
breeder most likely selectively breeding these chickens?
A Longer beaks
B Heavier bodies
C More tail feathers
D More white feathers
52. Xylem is a plant tissue made up of elongated cells stacked
end to end the length of the plant’s stem. Which function is
xylem specifically adapted to perform in plants?
A Help prevent water loss
B Exchange gases with the atmosphere
C Capture sunlight for photosynthesis
D Transport water from roots to leaves
53. Which internal structures of animals are specifically adapted to use contraction to cause
movement?
A Blood cells
B Bones
C Glands
D Muscles
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54. Which internal structure is an adaptation that provided
organisms with the function to perform gas exchange on
land?
A Gills
B Lungs
C Hollow bones
D Chambered heart
55. The digestive system’s main function is to A protect the body against infectious diseases.
B support and protect the body’s organs.
C store nutrients until they are absorbed into the bones.
D break down food to be absorbed in the bloodstream.
56. The main function of the excretory system is to A convert food into simpler substances for the body to absorb as nutrients.
B
exchange gases, mostly carbon dioxide and oxygen, between the body and the
atmosphere.
C
send signals in the form of hormones to the body to control growth, reproduction, and
metabolism.
D filter water and fluids from the blood and remove waste products from the body.
57. The main function of the circulatory system is to A support and protect delicate organs such as the brain, lungs, and heart.
B protect the body against invading organisms and infectious diseases.
C pump oxygen and nutrients through the blood to every part of the body.
D coordinate all actions and reactions of the body using electrical signals.
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58. Which body system converts food into simpler substances for the body to absorb?
A Endocrine system
B Skeletal system
C Digestive system
D Muscular system
59. The liver is a collection of tissues that metabolize nutrients in the body. The liver is an
example of A an organism.
B a cell.
C an organ.
D an organ system.
60. The smallest units of life that make up all living things are A tissues.
B cells.
C organs.
D organ systems.
61. Hepatocytes are the main type of cells in the liver. Hepatocytes combine to form the next
more complex level of organization, called A an organ.
B a tissue.
C an organism.
D an organ system.
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62. Chloroplasts are oval disks containing green chlorophyll and usually arrange near the
outside of a plant cell. What cellular function do they support?
A Photosynthesis
B Locomotion
C Reproduction
D Fat storage
63. The diagram illustrates some of the organelles found in a cell. Which statement best
describes the central organelle indicated by the arrow in the diagram?
A It is a nucleus and is found in both plant and animal cells.
B It is a cell wall and is found in both plant and animal cells.
C It is a central vacuole and is only found in animal cells.
D It is a mitochondrion and is only found in plant cells.
64. Which two parts of the cell are unique to plant cells?
A Cell membrane and cytoplasm
B Cell wall and cytoplasm
C Cell wall and chloroplasts
D Cell membrane and chloroplasts
65. Animals exhale to get rid of carbon dioxide in the body. In
what way do cells function the same?
A They transport needed nutrients to various cell parts.
B They break down food to obtain energy.
C They remove waste created by cellular activities.
D They sense stimuli and respond to their environments.
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66. The lysosomes of a cell help to break down larger food
molecules into smaller molecules. What organ system
functions in this manner?
A Digestive system
B Nervous system
C Lymphatic system
D Integumentary system
67. Photosynthesis in plant cells and cellular respiration in animal cells perform a similar
function, which is to A obtain energy for cellular activities.
B remove waste resulting from cellular activities.
C respond to stimuli from the environment.
D provide oxygen to the cells.
68. Cell membranes have each of the following functions EXCEPT A giving the cell a rigid, inflexible shape.
B allowing water to pass into the cell.
C protecting the cell from the outer environment.
D regulating movement of materials in and out of the cell.
69. While sitting in a room, a person notices that the
temperature has become uncomfortably warm. The body will respond by A shivering.
B sweating.
C twitching.
D vomiting.
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70. A predator chases a prey animal. The prey is likely
experiencing all of the following EXCEPT A rapid heartbeat.
B dilated pupils.
C increased sweating.
D onset of fever.
71. Which of the following is a likely cause of vomiting?
A Ingesting spoiled food
B Cold temperatures
C Lack of water
D Excessive sunlight
72. Which of the following is a response of the body when
infected with a virus?
A Decreased heart rate
B Craving salty foods
C Blood diverted to muscles
D Increased body temperature
73. Which of the following is a response to smelling food?
A Rapid blinking
B Excessive sweating
C Increased hunger
D Sensitivity to sound
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74. Which of the following statements accurately denotes the frequency of expression of
dominant and recessive traits?
A Dominant traits = always / Recessive = never
B Dominant traits = never / Recessive = sometimes
C Dominant traits = always / Recessive = sometimes
D Dominant traits = sometimes / Recessive = sometimes
75. The inherited traits of an organism are governed by –
A leukocytes.
B genes.
C cytoplasm.
D enzymes.
76. Genes are located in which part of the cell?
A Endoplasmic reticulum
B Chromosome
C Lysosome
D Cytoplasm
77. The hydra is a freshwater organism that is related to the sea anemone. It reproduces by
growing an offshoot of the parent organism called a bud. The evidence that budding is a
form of asexual reproduction comes from the fact that the offspring -
A is smaller than the parent.
B is genetically identical to the parent.
C feeds in the same manner as the parent.
D lives in the same habitat as the parent.
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78. Certain species of whiptail lizards have only female individuals and no males. These
lizards reproduce asexually. What is one disadvantage of asexual reproduction for these
lizards? (2013 STAAR Q13)
A
A new population can be established by a single individual in a relatively short period
of time.
B
All the members of a population are genetically very similar and less able to survive
environmental changes.
C They are smaller than lizards that reproduce sexually.
D They are more likely to develop a variety of tail lengths.
79. Recessive traits are expressed A in one quarter of all offspring produced.
B always, in all members of the population.
C only when the dominant gene is not present.
D if the trait is carried by the male parent.
80. The peppered moth (Biston betularia) has two forms, a white-bodied and a dark-bodied
form. The table provided shows the percentages of each type in a population of these
moths over several years. What change to the habitat best explains the shift in the
population?
A Construction of new homes reduced the available habitat of the peppered moth.
B The trees on which the moths lived became less covered with black soot.
C The plants on which the moth feed experienced a population explosion.
D Hunting reduced the number of birds that preyed on the peppered moth.
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Answer Key for: Summer Review
1. B (Standards: 7.5A)
2. B (Standards: 7.5A, 7.3B(i))
3. A (Standards: 7.5B, 7.5B(i))
4. C (Standards: 7.5B, 7.5B(ii))
5. D (Standards: 7.5B, 7.3B(i), 7.5B(i))
6. D (Standards: 7.5C, 7.5C(iii))
7. Answers could include: Energy flows from the trees and grasses to the deer and then to
the mountain lion. Energy flows from the trees and grasses to the rabbit and then the
snake and then the hawk, etc. (Standards: 7.5C(ii))
8. B (Standards: 7.5C, 7.5C(i))
9. A (Standards: 7.6A)
10. C (Standards: 7.6A)
11. A (Standards: 6.5C, 7.6A)
12. B (Standards: 7.6A)
13. D (Standards: 7.6B)
14. A (Standards: 7.6B)
15. B (Standards: 7.6B, 8.5E)
16. D (Standards: 7.6C)
17. C (Standards: 7.6C, 7.2E(ii))
18. A (Standards: 7.6C)
19. C (Standards: 7.6C)
20. B (Standards: 7.7A, 7.7A(i))
21. C (Standards: 7.7A, 8.6A)
22. B (Standards: 7.7A, 7.7A(i))
23. D (Standards: 7.7B, 7.7B(i))
24. A (Standards: 7.7B, 7.7B(i))
25. C (Standards: 7.7C, 7.3B(i), 7.7C(i))
26. B (Standards: 7.7C, 7.7C(i))
27. B (Standards: 7.7C, 7.7C(i))
28. A (Standards: 7.7C, 7.7C(i))
29. D (Standards: 7.7C, 7.7C(i))
30. D (Standards: 7.8A, 7.8B(i))
31. A (Standards: 7.8A, 7.2E(i), 7.8A(i))
32. D (Standards: 7.8A, 7.8B(ii))
33. A (Standards: 7.8B, 7.8B(ii))
34. D (Standards: 7.8B, 7.8B(ii))
35. A (Standards: 7.8B, 7.8B(ii))
36. A (Standards: 7.8B, 7.8B(i))
37. D (Standards: 7.10A(iii))
38. D (Standards: 7.10A(i))
39. A (Standards: 7.10B(i))
40. D (Standards: 7.10B(i))
41. A (Standards: 7.10C, 8.11B)
42. A (Standards: 7.10C(i))
43. B (Standards: 7.10C, 8.11B)
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44. D (Standards: 7.11A(i))
45. D (Standards: 7.11A(ii))
46. A (Standards: 7.2E(ii), 7.11A(ii))
47. A (Standards: 6.12D, 7.11A)
48. C (Standards: 7.11B(i))
49. C (Standards: 7.2E(i), 7.11B(i))
50. D (Standards: 7.11C(i))
51. B (Standards: 7.11C, 7.14C)
52. D (Standards: 7.12A(ii))
53. D (Standards: 7.12A(i))
54. B (Standards: 7.12A(i))
55. D (Standards: 7.12B(v))
56. D (Standards: 7.12B(vi))
57. C (Standards: 7.12B(i))
58. C (Standards: 7.12B)
59. C (Standards: 7.12C(viii))
60. B (Standards: 7.12C(vi))
61. B (Standards: 7.12C(vii))
62. A (Standards: 7.12D(vi))
63. A (Standards: 7.12D, 7.12F)
64. C (Standards: 7.12D)
65. C (Standards: 7.12E(i))
66. A (Standards: 7.12E(i))
67. A (Standards: 7.12F(ii))
68. A (Standards: 7.12D, 7.12F)
69. B (Standards: 7.13A(i))
70. D (Standards: 7.13A(i))
71. A (Standards: 7.13B(i))
72. D (Standards: 7.13B(ii))
73. C (Standards: 7.13B(i))
74. C (Standards: 7.14A, 7.14C)
75. B (Standards: 7.14A, 7.14C)
76. B (Standards: 7.14A, 7.14C)
77. B (Standards: 7.14B)
78. B (Standards: 7.14B)
79. C (Standards: 7.14A, 7.14C)
80. B (Standards: 7.11C, 7.14C)
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