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The teacher understands the relationships between organisms and the environment.

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The teacher understands the relationships between organisms and the environment.

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The beginning teacher:

1. Understands the levels of organization within an ecosystem (organism, population, community) and identifies the abiotic and biotic components of an ecosystem.

2. Analyzes the interrelationships (food chains, food webs) among producers, consumers and decomposers in an ecosystem.

3. Identifies factors that influence the size and growth of populations in an ecosystem.

4. Analyzes adaptive characteristics that result in a population's or species' unique niche in an ecosystem.

5. Describes and analyzes energy flow through various types of ecosystems.

6. Knows how populations and species modify and affect ecosystems (e.g., succession), and how biodiversity affects the sustainability of ecosystems.

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The teacher understands adaptations of organisms and the theory of evolution.

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The teacher understands adaptations of organisms and the theory of evolution.

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The beginning teacher:

1. Describes similarities and differences among various types of organisms and methods of classifying organisms (e.g., presence of a nucleus determines if a cell is prokaryotic and eukaryotic).

2. Describes traits in a population or species that enhance its survival and reproductive success.

3. Describes how populations and species change through time.

4. Applies knowledge of the mechanisms and processes of biological evolution (e.g., variation, mutation, environmental factors, natural selection).

5. Describes evidence that supports the theory of evolution of life on Earth.

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The teacher understands reproduction and the mechanisms of heredity.

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The teacher understands reproduction and the mechanisms of heredity.

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The beginning teacher:

1. Compares and contrasts sexual and asexual reproduction.

2. Understands the organization of hereditary material (e.g., DNA, genes, chromosomes).

3. Describes how an inherited trait can be determined by one or many genes and how more than one trait can be influenced by a single gene.

4. Distinguishes between dominant and recessive traits and predicts the probable outcomes of genetic combinations.

5. Evaluates the influence of environmental and genetic factors on the traits of an organism.

6. Describes current applications of genetic research (e.g., related to cloning, reproduction, health, industry, agriculture).

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The teacher understands the structure and function of living things.

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The teacher understands the structure and function of living things.

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The beginning teacher:

1. Describes characteristics of organisms from the major taxonomic groups, including domains and kingdoms and uses these characteristics to construct a dichotomous key.

2. Analyzes how structure complements function in cells.

3. Analyzes how structure complements function in tissues, organs, organ systems and organisms including both plants and animals.

4. Identifies human body systems and describes their functions (e.g., digestive, circulatory).

5. Describes how organisms, including producers, consumers and decomposers obtain and use energy and matter.

6. Applies chemical principles to describe the structure and function of the basic chemical components (e.g., proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids) of living things and distinguishes between organic and inorganic compounds.

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The teacher understands regulatory mechanisms and behavior.

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The teacher understands regulatory mechanisms and behavior.

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The beginning teacher:

1. Describes how organisms respond to internal and external stimuli.

2. Applies knowledge of structures and physiological processes that maintain stable internal conditions.

3. Demonstrates an understanding of feedback mechanisms that allow organisms to maintain stable internal conditions.

4. Understands how evolutionary history affects behavior.

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18. Which of the following groups of organisms have gills at some point in their life after birth?

1. Reptiles

2. Amphibians

3. Birds

4. Earthworms

Answer is B

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19. In animals, which of the following cell structures is most directly associated with the production of chemical energy?

1. Plasma membrane

2. Nucleus

3. Golgi apparatus

4. Mitochondrion

Answer is D

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20. An organism that is homozygous for the dominant allele (SS)
open paren capital S capital S close paren of the gene for skin color has green skin color. An individual of the same species that is homozygous for the recessive allele (ss)
open paren lowercase s lowercase s close paren of the gene for skin color has gray skin color. When a homozygous individual with green skin mates with a heterozygous individual (Ss)
open paren capital S lowercase s close paren
, which of the following is expected?

1. A 100% probability that the offspring will have green skin

2. A 75% probability that the offspring will have green skin

3. A 50% probability that the offspring will have green skin

4. A 100% probability that the offspring will have gray skin

Answer is A

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21. Which of the following is a true statement about nucleic acids?

1. They produce sugar molecules using light energy.

2. They transport materials from one cell to another.

3. They provide a protective barrier between a cell and the environment.

4. They store and transmit genetic information.

Answer is D

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22. Which of the following is an example of homologous structures?

1. A human hand and a human foot

2. A wing flap of a sugar glider and a wing flap of a flying squirrel

3. A bat wing and a human arm

4. A butterfly wing and a bird wing

Answer is C

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23. Of the following statements, which best describes natural selection?

1. Natural selection is the process by which adaptations acquired by individuals during their lives are passed down to the next generation.

2. Natural selection is the process by which environmental changes cause mutations to occur.

3. Natural selection is the process by which better-adapted individuals in a population leave more descendants than do less well-adapted individuals.

4. Natural selection is the process by which one species competes with another species for the same natural resource.

Answer is C

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25. Certain birds that forage for insects on the ground around grazing animals exhibit much greater success in capturing prey than when they forage alone. The observation described is an illustration of which of the following?

1. Parasitism

2. Mutualism

3. Competition

4. Commensalism

Answer is D

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26. Which of the following is a primary producer in a food chain?

1. Grass

2. Cow

3. Sparrow

4. Fox

Answer is A

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q FROM 2013 8TH GRADE STARR TEST  answer B

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q FROM 2013 8TH GRADE STARR TEST  answer B

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1 Some dairy farmers want to increase the amount of milk produced by their cows. How can the farmers use selective breeding to increase milk production?
A By increasing the age of the cows that are bred
B By choosing cows that are high milk producers
C By limiting the number of offspring per cow
D By choosing cows that can produce milk after eating the most food

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Wild Soay sheep live in a cold environment on a small Scottish island. The sheep used to be large because they gained extra weight during the summers in order to survive the harsh winters. A recent change in the island’s climate has caused grass to be available for a longer period each year, so survival conditions for the sheep have become less challenging. Researchers who study these sheep have most likely observed a decrease in the wild Soay’s —

F size

G  life expectancy

H  reproduction rates

J body temperature

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The graph below shows the percent of seeds from two plant species that sprout when grown in water containing different amounts of salt. Which of the following best summarizes the effect of saltwater on these plant species?

F  Species 1 can sprout only in freshwater, and Species 2 can sprout only in saltwater.

G  Both species can sprout in freshwater and saltwater, but Species 2 can sprout in a higher salt concentration than Species 1.

H  Both species need salt in their water, but Species 2 needs more salt than Species 1.

J Species 1 can sprout only in water with a low salt concentration, but Species 2 is not

affected by the salt concentration.

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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?

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.

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How many organisms in this food web eat only producers? Record your answer and fill in the bubbles on your answer document. Be sure to use the correct place value.

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A teacher asks a student to write the chemical equation for photosynthesis. The student’s response is shown below.

CO2 + H2O light C6H12O6 + O2
The equation is not balanced correctly. Which of these is a balanced equation for

photosynthesis?
A 12CO2 + H2O light C6H12O6 + O2

B CO2 + 9H2O light C6H12O6 + O2
C CO2 + H2O light 3C6H12O6 + O2
D 6CO2 + 6H2O light C6H12O6 + 6O2

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Some students collected leaf samples. The students used the leaf identification key shown below to identify a leaf sample.Based on the identification key, which type of tree is this sample from?

F Ginkgo

G  Honey locust

H  Horse chestnut

J Black maple

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Which organisms in the food web shown above compete for the same food source in this environment?

A  Grasshoppers and snakes

B  Hawks and frogs

C  Frogs and snakes

D  Decomposers and grasses

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While exploring a lake in Argentina, Laguna del Diamante (Diamond Lake), scientists found rocks covered with mats made of photosynthetic microbes. Flamingos in the area filter the nutrient-rich microbes by pumping the lakewater through their bill. What is the relationship between the photosynthetic microbes and the flamingos in the Laguna del Diamante ecosystem?

A  The microbes are parasites, and the flamingos are hosts.

B  The microbes are carnivores, and the flamingos are predators.

C  The microbes are herbivores, and the flamingos are carnivores.

D  The microbes are producers, and the flamingos are consumers.

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Some students take care of a vegetable garden. When it is time to plant in the spring, the students leave part of the garden empty in order to observe ecological succession. Which of these will most likely occur first?

F  Development of topsoil

G  Growth of weeds and grasses

H  Growth of trees and shrubs

J Development of a stream

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Plants use energy from sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to produce sugar. Which structure is found only in plant cells and helps plants capture energy from sunlight?

F Vacuole
G Nucleus
H Chloroplast
J Cell membrane

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24. Marine birds use salt glands to remove excess salt from the seawater they drink. The maintenance of a balance between water and salt in marine birds is an example of

1. metabolism.

2. homeostasis.

3. translation.

4. conservation of energy.

Answer is B

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Lake Victoria in East Africa is home to many species of fish called cichlids. In 1954 the predatory Nile perch was introduced to Lake Victoria. The Nile perch became the dominant fish species in the lake by the mid-1980s. The number of cichlid species in the lake decreased as the Nile perch population increased. The perch preyed heavily on cichlid species that fed on algae and debris on the bottom of the lake. Algae in the lake increased, and oxygen levels decreased. The surface area of the gills of some cichlid species has increased in just over 20 years.

Which statement explains the increase in gill surface area seen in some of Lake Victoria’s cichlids?

A Increased gill surface area has allowed the cichlids to change their diet and avoid competing with the Nile perch.

B Increased gill surface area has allowed the cichlids to be camouflaged and avoid being eaten by the Nile perch.

C Increased gill surface area has allowed the cichlids to leave Lake Victoria and establish populations in nearby bodies of water.

D Increased gill surface area has allowed the cichlids to better absorb the limited oxygen in the water.

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A partial grassland food web is shown.

Which of the following best describes a relationship in this grassland?

A Badgers are top predators because they eat upland sandpipers and beetles.

B A producer–consumer relationship exists between lupines and ants.

C A predator–prey relationship exists between beetles and ground squirrels.

D Upland sandpipers are primary and secondary consumers because they eat grasses and grasshoppers.

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To fight a bacterial infection, a patient was given an antibiotic to take for 10 days. After the patient finished taking the antibiotics as directed, almost all the bacteria were killed. After another 10 days, the patient was sick again with the same type of infection. What most likely happened?

A A few bacteria survived the antibiotics and stopped reproducing.

B The patient’s high fever inactivated the antibiotic, allowing the surviving bacteria to grow rapidly.

C The antibiotic slowed the life cycle of the bacteria.

D Some of the bacteria were resistant to the antibiotic, and they reproduced.

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What is the primary function of this body system?

F The protection of vital organs from injury

G The chemical breakdown of food into smaller pieces

H The transport of nutrients, water, and oxygen to body cells

J The production of hormones that regulate growth and metabolism

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An ecosystem that is not sustainable can break down when a natural disaster occurs. This can lead to organisms in the ecosystem either leaving the area or dying off. Increased biodiversity results in a more sustainable ecosystem because —

F a greater number of plant species means that there is less barren land

G a greater variety of species present allows more organisms to adapt after changes occur

H the transition area between two ecosystems is narrower

J there are fewer species to be affected by environmental stresses

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Lions and cheetahs prey on wildebeests that graze in the grasslands of the African savanna. What likely effect would increased rainfall over several rainy seasons have on the populations of wildebeests, lions, and cheetahs?

A All three populations would increase.

B The wildebeest population would decrease, and the lion and cheetah populations would increase.

C The wildebeest population would increase, and the lion and cheetah populations would decrease.

D All three populations would decrease.

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Darwin’s finches are a group of seed-eating bird species found on the Galápagos Islands. Nest flies are a type of insect that has become a threat to the finches. The diagram shows the life cycle of the nest fly.

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Based on the life-cycle information, which statement best describes the relationship between the nest fly larvae and the young birds?

F The larvae are prey for the young birds. G The larvae are predators of the young birds.

H The young birds are hosts for the larvae. J The young birds are consumers of the larvae.

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The house sparrow was first introduced to New York in 1851. It is now distributed across most of North America. As the species expanded its range, it began to live in environments that were different from its original habitat. The birds now vary in size, depending on their geographic location. The map shows the distribution of house sparrows by size.

What is the most likely explanation for the body-size distribution of house sparrows shown on the map?

A Cold temperatures in the North favored the survival of populations of larger sparrows over populations of smaller sparrows.

B High elevations in the West provided a survival advantage for populations of larger sparrows over populations of smaller sparrows.

C Warm temperatures in the South allowed populations of larger sparrows to survive over populations of smaller sparrows.

D Coastal environments in the East tended to give a survival advantage to populations of larger sparrows over populations of smaller sparrows.

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Both the esophagus and the small intestine are involved in the digestion of food. The esophagus squeezes food into the stomach by wave-like muscle contractions. Peptidase enzymes in the small intestine break food molecules into smaller molecules. Which statement best describes changes to food during digestion?

F The muscle contractions result in physical changes, while the action of the peptidase results in chemical changes.

G The muscle contractions and the action of the peptidase both result only in physical changes.

H The muscle contractions result in chemical changes, while the action of the peptidase results in physical changes.

J The muscle contractions and the action of the peptidase both result only in chemical changes.

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Wheat was one of the first plant crops that humans domesticated. In the process of domestication, the wild form of wheat was eventually changed into a form more suited to human agricultural practice.

Early farmers most likely used seeds only from wheat plants with —

F larger grains that could produce more food per plant

G taller stems that could block sunlight from weeds growing at ground level

H larger flowers that could be sold for additional income

J thinner stems that could endure heavy winds

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An energy pyramid is shown. Which sentence best describes how energy flows through this pyramid?

A Energy is transferred down each level of the energy pyramid.

B The energy lost at each level is consumed by organisms in the top level.

C Energy is transferred from organisms in one level to those in the level above.

D The organisms at the bottom level provide energy directly to organisms in all the other levels.

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Whitetip reef sharks spend most of the day lying on the ocean floor. While remaining still, these sharks pump water across their gills. The movement of water across their gills is necessary for —

F staying cool

G accessing food

H obtaining oxygen

J avoiding predators

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The Couch’s spadefoot lives in Texas and has the characteristics listed below. The Couch’s spadefoot is adapted to a certain type of environment. Which of these resources is most likely scarce in this environment?

A Soil

B Sunlight

C Water

D Oxygen

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Baleen whales eat zooplankton by taking a large amount of water into their mouth. These whales use special structures in their mouth to separate zooplankton from the water. Because baleen whales eat zooplankton, they are classified as —

A producers

B predators

C parasites

D hosts

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The characteristics of a particular organism are listed below. In which kingdom should this organism be classified?

A Fungi

B Eubacteria

C Plantae

D Animalia

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Some scientists studying aquatic plants notice that flooding often leads to a decrease in the rate of photosynthesis among aquatic plants. Flooding causes more sediment to be suspended in the water. The increased sediment concentration decreases the amount of light that reaches the plants. Why does a decreased rate of photosynthesis lead to a decrease in a plant population?

F Less water is available for absorption.

G Less tissue is available for plant growth.

H Less energy is available for reproduction.

J Less soil is available for leaf development.

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Before the Industrial Revolution in England, the peppered moth was commonly found on tree trunks that had light-colored lichen on the bark. Most of the peppered moths were a light gray-brown color similar to that of the lichen. A few of the moths had a mutation that made them a dark gray-brown color.

During the Industrial Revolution, coal-burning factories produced black soot that covered the trees and killed the lichen in and near cities. In these areas the number of dark peppered moths increased, while the number of light peppered moths decreased. What contributed to this change?

A The soot-covered trees camouflaged the dark moths.

B The dark moths preyed on the light moths.

C Bird populations increased in the areas near the factories.

D The dark moths laid fewer eggs than the light moths.

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The Prairies Region and the Cross Timbers are located in north-central Texas. The graph below shows information about eating habits of white-tailed deer in these regions. A Cross Timbers rancher is concerned about competition between the ranch animals and the deer. Based on the graph, which ranch animals compete for the most food with white-tailed deer?

A Cattle that eat grass and feed

B Goats that eat weeds and shrubs

C Turkeys that eat seeds and fruit

D Hogs that eat fruit, seeds, and feed

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When Charles Darwin visited the Galápagos Islands in the 1800s, he observed many types of organisms that were similar but lived on different islands. The four species of mockingbirds found on the Galápagos Islands are shown below. Each species lives on a different island.

These species are very similar, but the Hood mockingbird has a longer beak than the other three species. Which of the following best explains this difference?

A The Hood mockingbird needs a longer beak for defense against predators.

B The Hood mockingbird originated from a different type of bird than the other species.

C The Hood mockingbird’s longer beak is an adaptation to the food available in the bird’s habitat.

D The Hood mockingbird’s beak stretched to reach its food, and the longer beak was passed down to its offspring.

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When a lion eats a zebra and then uses the energy from the zebra to run, the lion’s body converts —

A chemical energy to mechanical energy

B electrical energy to chemical energy

C chemical energy to light energy

D mechanical energy to chemical energy

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Which of these correctly describes a relationship between organisms in the soil food web below?

A Protozoa get nutrients from small arthropods.

B Mammals are predators of birds.

C Nematodes prey on arthropods.

D Bacteria get nutrients from organic matter.

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Galveston Bay, an estuary in Southeast Texas, is shown below. The amount of salt in the water changes with the tides. Sometimes the water is mostly freshwater, and sometimes it is mixed with saltwater. Various plant species live in this environment and provide a habitat for other organisms.

To successfully live in an estuary, a plant species must have an adaptation that allows it to —

A produce large amounts of food

B absorb large amounts of water

C store excess gases

D filter excess salt

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The flow of energy in some Australian food chains is modeled in the energy pyramid below. Based on the model, which consumers would receive the greatest amount of energy captured by the producers in their food chains?

F Wedge-tailed eagles

G Chuditch

H Ring-tailed opossums

J Eucalyptus trees

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In the aquatic food web below, which two organisms have a predator-prey relationship?

F Shad and sturgeons

G Sturgeons and blue crabs

H Blue crabs and rangia clams

J Copepods and amphipods

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When people run long distances, their muscles require increased amounts of oxygen. Which system is responsible for carrying this oxygen to the muscles?

A Nervous

B Respiratory

C Digestive

D Circulatory

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In 1838 botanist Matthias Schleiden determined that all plants are composed of cells. In 1839 anatomist Theodor Schwann proposed that all animals are composed of cells. In 1855 biologist Rudolph Virchow added to Schleiden’s and Schwann’s observations and proposed that all living things are composed of cells. Which statement is also part of Virchow’s cell theory?

F All cells have a cell wall.

G All cells arise from pre-existing cells.

H All cells are capable of photosynthesis.

J All cells can develop into any other type of cell.

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Fish in a lake have to compete for space. Different fish have different optimal temperature ranges. The graph below shows the temperature ranges of four fish species.

At which temperature range will there be the most competition for space among these fish species?

F 5°C to 10°C

G 10°C to 15°C

H 15°C to 20°C

J 25°C to 30°C

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The types of small organisms that live on the bottom of streams can be good indicators of water pollution. The table below groups some organisms by their tolerance of pollution.

A certain stream that was historically clear and clean has become increasingly polluted with fertilizer waste over the years. Which of these describes a likely result of this pollution?

F Mayflies that were previously abundant are no longer present in the stream.

G Stone flies and midges thrive and compete for the same food source.

H Large numbers of crayfish have suddenly died.

J Riffle beetles have become more abundant in the stream.

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The African savanna is a grassland scattered with shrubs and small trees. Some of the organisms that live in the savanna are shown below.

Which two types of organisms have a producer-consumer relationship in this African savanna?

A Zebras and hyenas

B Hyenas and cheetahs

C Trees and elephants

D Fungi and dung beetles

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The hydra is a very small, simple animal that lives in water. Hydras reproduce asexually by budding, a process in which a bud breaks off an adult hydra and floats away.

Which of the following best describes a hydra bud?

F A hydra bud contains genetic material from its two parents.

G A hydra bud is genetically identical to the parent hydra.

H A hydra bud has different mutations than the parent hydra.

J A hydra bud has half as much genetic material as the parent hydra.

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The food webs below model relationships among the organisms in two ecosystems.

Which ecosystem would be more likely to survive if a disease killed the grasses?

A The forest ecosystem, because most of the animals can eat other organisms

B The grassland ecosystem, because several predators compete for food

C The forest ecosystem, because it has three top predators D The grassland ecosystem, because it has many herbivores

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The Guam rail is a flightless bird found on the island of Guam. It builds a shallow nest on the ground and lays eggs throughout the year. There are no native species of snakes on Guam, so the Guam rail had no experience with snake predators until the brown tree snake was accidentally introduced sometime between 1944 and 1952. These snakes, which eat a wide variety of animal species, quickly established a large population on Guam.

How was the Guam rail most likely affected by the introduction of the brown tree snake?

A The brown tree snake ate only species that lived in trees, so it had no effect on the Guam rail.

B The Guam rail quickly developed the ability to fly in order to escape from the brown tree snake.

C The population of the Guam rail declined, and the species nearly became extinct.

D The Guam rail began to build its nests in trees.

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Which list of characteristics describes organisms classified as animals?

F Unicellular, prokaryotic, autotrophic

G Multicellular, eukaryotic, heterotrophic

H Unicellular, eukaryotic, heterotrophic

J Multicellular, eukaryotic, autotrophic

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A student drew the picture of a human body system shown below. The student labeled some of the organs of the system.

The main function of this human body system is to —

F sense odors in the environment

G exchange gases with the environment

H chew food as it enters the mouth

J trap particles that enter the nose

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Many Texas caves provide a habitat for animals that live in total darkness. The caves are damp and cool, and most of the caves are rich in the mineral calcite. The diagram below shows the relationships of some organisms involved in a cave ecosystem.

Based on the diagram, which of the following statements is valid?

F Owls are predators of bats, and bats are predators of moths.

G Beetles compete with bats and cave spiders.

H Snakes prey on bats and owls.

J None of the above

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Which of these human activities is most likely to cause the excessive growth of phytoplankton in the world’s oceans?

F The use of chemical fertilizers that are carried by runoff into rivers

G The logging of old-growth forests, which results in erosion

H The spraying of chemical herbicides that reduce carbon dioxide in the air

J The mining of fossil fuels, which requires digging underground tunnels

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The partial food web shown below is found in an aquatic environment. This type of environment has many organisms in the same trophic levels.

Which two types of organisms in this aquatic food web have a producer–consumer relationship?

A Microscopic algae and white suckers

B Small invertebrates and amphipods

C Phytoplankton and mummichogs

D Amphipods and channel catfish

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The graph below shows the range of water conditions preferred by three species of fish in an Ozark stream.

Water with which of these conditions would cause the most competition for resources among all three species of fish?

A Very cold, very clear, and very fast

B Very warm, very clear, and very slow

C Mild temperatures, some suspended particles, flows very fast

D Mild temperatures, some suspended particles, flows at a medium speed

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A student examines the winged insect shown below.

Based on the dichotomous key, in what order should this insect be classified?

F Mantodea

G Raphidioptera

H Coleoptera

J Lepidoptera

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Scientists are studying the effects of climate change on the Baltic Sea. Some scientists predict that if current trends continue, the Baltic Sea will become less salty, and it will contain less dissolved oxygen. As a result of these changes, the Baltic Sea will have less biodiversity. The location of the Baltic Sea is shown on the map below.

Which statement best explains why biodiversity in the Baltic Sea could decrease if these changes occur?

A Fewer types of plants and animals are found in warm water than in cool water.

B Plants and animals adapted for living in saltwater will grow more slowly in water that has less salt.

C Plants and animals adapted for living in saltier conditions will not be able to survive and reproduce.

D Animals adapted for living in warm water will eat all the plants and animals adapted for living in cool water.

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Copper compounds are used in large amounts to control the growth of algae and other aquatic plants. Copper interferes with photosynthesis in these organisms. What would be the most likely result of an accidental spill of these compounds in an aquatic environment?

F The fish would grow larger than usual.

G The zooplankton population would increase.

H The plants would increase in size but decrease in number.

J The plant populations would be reduced.

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Barnacles are marine organisms that live attached to surfaces as adults. A scientist studies two barnacle species that live on rocks on a coast in Scotland. In some rocky areas Species A is found alone. In other rocky areas Species B is found alone. In still other rocky areas both species are found together. The diagram below shows the two barnacle species on rocks in their habitats.

If Species B were removed from the rocky areas it shares with Species A, Species A would most likely inhabit —

F Zone I only

G Zones I and II only

H Zone III only

J Zones I, II, and III

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Some students are studying the relationships between organisms in a food web.

How many predators shown in this food web are omnivores?

Record your answer and fill in the bubbles on your answer document. Be sure to use the correct place value.

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Tropical rain forests have the greatest biodiversity of any type of land ecosystem. How does biodiversity contribute to the sustainability of an ecosystem?

F The presence of more species with different adaptations makes it more likely that some organisms will survive an ecological disaster.

G Greater genetic variation within species makes it more likely that some individuals will survive a disease outbreak.

H The presence of a variety of herbivore species that can feed on a large number of different producer species helps ensure abundant prey for predators in the ecosystem.

J All of the above

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Three cousins have a similar appearance but different face shapes.

Which of these cell components are most involved in determining the basic shape of each girl’s face?

A Genes, chromosomes, and nucleus

B Cytoplasm, chloroplasts, and genes

C Vacuoles, nucleus, and chromosomes

D Chromosomes, chloroplasts, and vacuoles

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A partial marine food web is shown.

Green crabs carry a parasitic worm that can infect organisms that prey on the crabs. Which organism is most likely to be infected by this parasite?

A Gulls

B Barnacles

C Marsh periwinkles

D Blue mussels

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Both primary and secondary succession begin with pioneer species that —

A change the area and make it safer from predatory organisms

B invade the area so that new organisms cannot be established

C modify the area and allow larger and more complex organisms to appear

D use up all the existing resources and prevent establishment of non-native organisms

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The white-tailed ptarmigan lives at high elevations on mountains that receive a lot of snow in the winter. During the summer, the ptarmigans’ feathers are mottled brown. The birds lose the brown feathers and grow a new set of white feathers during the winter. Scientists are concerned that rising global temperatures will affect the white-tailed ptarmigan.

If global climate change leads to the elimination of snow in the habitat of white-tailed ptarmigans, which adaptation is most likely to occur over many generations?

F Birds with white feathers in areas without winter snow will be easier for predators to find. Over time this could lead to white-tailed ptarmigans that have brown feathers throughout the year.

G Birds with brown feathers in areas without winter snow will be easier for predators to find. Over time this could lead to white-tailed ptarmigans that have white feathers throughout the year.

H Birds with white feathers will be easier to see on the ground in the summer. Over time this could lead to white-tailed ptarmigans that have white feathers throughout the year.

J Birds with brown feathers will be easier to see on the ground in the winter. Over time this could lead to white-tailed ptarmigans that have brown feathers throughout the year.

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A group of students prepared a table listing the types of reproduction that occur in several organisms.

Based on this information, which of the organisms can produce offspring that are genetically identical to the parent organism? F Ferns only

G Amoebas and yeasts only

H Cats, hydras, frogs, and ferns only

J Amoebas, yeasts, hydras, and ferns only

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Four students were asked to create a graph representing a typical predator–prey relationship. Which graph shows a situation in which the number of predators in a population depends on the number of prey?

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This satellite photograph shows an area in Alaska after a fire occurred.

Which statement best describes the most likely effect the fire had on the river in the 12 months after it occurred?

A Less sediment flowed into the river because the fire heated up the soil and made it drier.

B The amount of vegetation increased and less sediment flowed into the river because the fire produced ash that mixed with the soil.

C More sediment flowed into the river because the fire destroyed most of the vegetation holding the sediment in place. D More sediment flowed into the river because the fire disrupted animal habitats and caused animals to leave the area.

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The organism in the photo is a daphnia, or water flea. Daphnia are tiny aquatic organisms that live in most freshwater habitats. Adults range from less than 1 to 5 mm in length. They are good swimmers and eat mostly algae. Daphnia become mature at 5 to 10 days, and an adult female can produce up to 100 eggs every 3 or 4 days during its 2-month life span. When harmful algae rapidly increase in the daphnia’s environment, daphnia can develop adaptations to tolerate the negative effects of the algae within 10 years.

What characteristic of the daphnia allows the population to adapt to environmental change?

F Its small size

G Its short generation time

H Its freshwater environment

J Its herbivorous diet

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A partial food web is shown. The numbers in the boxes represent animals in the food web.

Which organisms have three carnivorous predators and a consumer–producer relationship with at least one organism?

A The organisms that fit in boxes 2, 3, and 7 B The organisms that fit in boxes 5 and 7

C The organisms that fit in boxes 4 and 6

D The organisms that fit in boxes 2 and 7 only

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Black walnut trees produce a nontoxic chemical that becomes highly toxic when it is exposed to air or soil. How does this chemical help black walnut trees compete with plants growing nearby?

A By attracting herbivores to the other plants

B By suppressing the growth of the other plants

C By increasing the photosynthesis rates in the other plants

D By limiting the amount of water available to the other plants

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A student researching a northern forest ecosystem learns the following information about feeding relationships in the ecosystem.

Which food web best represents the flow of energy in these feeding relationships?

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Which table best shows some functions of the circulatory, respiratory, digestive, and endocrine systems?

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Which table correctly describes the functions of the cell structures listed?

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A partial food web is shown. The mourning dove is a bird that is often part of this food web.

Which of these describes the mourning dove when it is part of the food web shown?

A It has a parasite–host relationship with the robin because it uses the robin’s nest.

B It has a predator–prey relationship with tent caterpillars because they both use the same resources from the sugar-maple tree. C It has a producer–consumer relationship with sugar-maple trees because it gets food from the trees.

D It has a producer–consumer relationship with its young because it feeds its young regurgitated food.

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After researching the diets of several birds inhabiting a nearby pond, a student goes on a field investigation to observe the feeding habits of the birds. The student records information from research and observations in the table.

The student observes a great blue heron catching fish near the edge of the pond. Based on the information the student collected, which bird will compete with the great blue heron for the same hunting spots and similar prey?

A The mallard, because it hunts for fish while wading near the edge of the pond

B The pied-billed grebe, because it dives in open water to get crayfish on the bottom of the pond

C The great egret, because it hunts in water near the edge of the pond for fish and other prey

D None of these

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In the 1800s two scientists, Theodor Schwann and Matthias Schleiden, studied different types of organisms. After many years of studying a great variety of organisms, they drew similar but independent conclusions about their observations.

What statement was developed most directly from these conclusions and is part of the modern cell theory?

A The functions of living things occur in cells.

B Cells exist only in multicellular organisms. C Living things are composed of cells.

D Cells contain hereditary information.

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Part of a human body system is pictured.

The main function of this system is to —

F control reproduction

G transport oxygen

H produce hormones

J remove waste

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A partial mountain forest food web is shown.

Which statement does NOT describe a relationship shown in the food web?

F Elk are prey for mountain lions.

G Mice are herbivores that consume grasses and are preyed on by snakes.

H Owls prey on rabbits and frogs.

J Rabbits consume shrubs and are parasites of grasses.

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A student’s model of an area near a city depicts many activities that affect the quality of the water in the area.

How does the agricultural activity most likely affect the surface water of the area?

F Excess crop fertilizer is carried by runoff into the river, causing excess growth of water plants.

G Excess crop material accumulates on the riverbanks, slowing the movement of the river water.

H Crops reduce erosion, increasing the amount of soil entering the river.

J Crops absorb pure water from soil, causing the remaining water to contain more salt.

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The diagram below shows parts of a cell.

Which organelle stores the information that determines an individual’s blood type?

F Organelle 1

G Organelle 2

H Organelle 3

J Organelle 4

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A few years ago the population of male blue moon butterflies on the island of Samoa declined. One hypothesis for the decline of the male butterflies is that a parasite infected the cells of female butterflies. The parasite was passed to offspring through the females’ eggs and killed the male butterfly embryos. At one point during the decline, nearly all the butterflies in the population were females, but after five years the number of males in the population increased significantly.

Which explanation most likely accounts for the increase in the number of male butterflies in the five years after the initial parasite problem?

A Male butterflies in the population that survived were able to prey on the parasites living in the females’ egg cells.

B Female butterflies in the population that survived had a genetic adaptation that allowed them to transform into male butterflies.

C Male butterflies in the population that survived had a gene that made them resistant to the parasite, and they passed the gene on to their offspring.

D Female butterflies in the population that survived were able to protect the male eggs from the parasite and provide extra care for the male offspring.

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Students in a science class made ball-and-stick models of the substances they were studying. The key shows the elements the students used in their models.

Which model represents an organic compound?

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DDT is a pesticide that was once widely used to control agricultural pests and mosquitoes. However, this pesticide caused the eggshells of certain birds, including the brown pelican, to become fragile and thin. The adults would then accidentally crush the eggs while trying to incubate them. What happened to brown pelican populations as a result of DDT use by humans?

A The populations increased much more slowly.

B The populations decreased as fewer eggs survived long enough to hatch.

C The populations remained stable over time.

D The populations increased as pelicans laid more eggs so that more offspring would survive.

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A student listed how different parts of the body work to aid in the digestion of food.

Which of the following is a chemical change that occurs to the food?

A The reduction in size of food particles as food is chewed

B The movement of food to the stomach after food is swallowed

C The breakdown of molecules of food by enzymes and acid in the stomach

D None of the above

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Students in a science class visited four local ecosystems. The students observed the species present in each ecosystem and recorded their observations in the table.

Based on these observations, which ecosystem is likely to be the least sustainable?

A Ecosystem 1, because it has the fewest species

B Ecosystem 2, because it includes both aquatic and terrestrial species

C Ecosystem 3, because it has few predators

D Ecosystem 4, because it supports many animals

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Which of the following is most likely to cause a change in the genetic traits in an isolated population of a ground-dwelling lizard species?

A The exposure of an individual lizard in the population to radiation that causes a mutation that is not passed on to its offspring

B An unusually dry summer in the lizard population’s ecosystem

C The introduction of an invasive predator that preys on the brightest-colored individuals in the lizard population

D A fast-moving wildfire that burns the canopy of the trees in the lizard population’s ecosystem

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A coastal area that once supported a thriving fishing industry is overfished. The number of species found living in the marine ecosystem decreases.

Which of these activities is most likely to increase the natural biodiversity in the area?

A Building artificial reefs and limiting fishing activity

B Introducing non-native species to fill unoccupied habitats and banning fishing

C Building artificial reefs and increasing fishing activity

D Eliminating non-native species and encouraging fishing for large predatory fish

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A partial marine food web is shown.

Which organisms all consume the same producer?

F Crabs, pilchards, blennies

G Euphausiids, sweeps, water fleas

H Tiger sharks, dolphins, octopuses

J Sea urchins, crabs, octopuses

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The strangler fig is a vine that starts out as a seed in the tree canopy of the rain forest. It drops its roots down from the canopy to the forest floor.

By sprouting in the rain-forest canopy, the strangler fig seedling is exposed to more — A sunlight

B soil

C nutrients

D consumers

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The chart lists organisms in five different categories living near the Texas Gulf Coast.

Based on the chart, which food chain best models a flow of energy in this ecosystem? A Sun--->Mosquitoes--->Shrimp---> Coyotes

B Sun--->Algae--->Shrimp--->Red drum

C Sun--->Pygmy sunfish--->Shrimp--> Wood ducks

D Sun--->Willow oaks--->Algae---> River otters

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Primary succession occurs when pioneer species move into an area that has no plants. Which organisms are common pioneer species?

A Conifer trees and tall grasses with roots that loosen the soil

B Mosses and lichens that can grow on rocky surfaces

C Grasses and weeds that arrive as seeds carried by the wind and then germinate in rich soil

D Vines and shrubs that help prevent the erosion of shallow soil