SSA: LIFE SCIENCE 7th-8th GRADE

Open Ended

Why is it important for a species to be able to adapt to its environment in the context of evolution?

Multiple Choice

How does natural selection contribute to the process of evolution?

• By causing organisms to become extinct immediately

• By allowing better-adapted organisms to survive and reproduce

• By preventing any genetic changes in organisms

• By making all organisms identical

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT one of the four processes that drive natural selection?

• Overproduction

• Variation

• Mutation

• Adaptation

Multiple Select

Which of the following statements about alleles and traits are correct?

• Alleles are different versions of a gene.

• Genotype refers to inherited alleles.

• Phenotype refers to the physical trait expressed from alleles.

• All alleles result in visible traits.

Open Ended

Explain the relationship between genes, alleles, and traits using examples from the images.

Multiple Choice

What is the genotype of an individual who is heterozygous dominant according to the Punnett Square?

• PP

• Pp

• pp

• pP

Open Ended

How can pedigrees be used to determine the inheritance pattern of a genetic trait in a family?

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of a biotic factor in an ecosystem?

• Water

• Soil

• Animals

• Light

Multiple Select

Which of the following are roles that organisms can have in an ecosystem?

• Producer

• Decomposer

• Consumer

• Abiotic factor

Open Ended

Explain how energy moves through an ecosystem using the concepts of food chains, food webs, and energy pyramids.

Multiple Choice

In an energy pyramid, which group is found at the base?

• Tertiary consumers

• Primary consumers

• Producers

• Secondary consumers

Multiple Choice

Which process is responsible for breaking down food to provide energy and release carbon dioxide in living organisms?

• Photosynthesis

• Cellular respiration

• Transpiration

• Fermentation

Open Ended

Explain how the law of conservation of matter and energy applies to the carbon cycle.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following processes are involved in the carbon cycle as described in the images?

• Photosynthesis, Cellular respiration, Combustion, Decomposition

• Photosynthesis, Fermentation, Combustion, Decomposition

• Photosynthesis, Cellular respiration, Nitrogen fixation, Decomposition

• Photosynthesis, Cellular respiration, Combustion, Nitrogen fixation

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes the relationship between natural selection and evolution?

• Natural selection is a process that drives evolution by favoring organisms with advantageous traits.

• Evolution is a process that drives natural selection by favoring organisms with advantageous traits.

• Natural selection and evolution are unrelated processes.

• Evolution only occurs when natural selection leads to extinction.

Open Ended

Explain how natural selection can lead to the extinction of a species. Provide an example to support your explanation.