Benchmark Review Questions

The photo shows a flock of snow geese migrating in response to a change in temperature in their habitat. Which phrase best describes the behavior that is shown by the snow geese?

• auditory reception

• inherited trait

• instinct response

• taste reception

Answer explanation

The snow geese's migration in response to temperature changes is an instinct response, as it is a natural behavior driven by their biological instincts rather than learned behavior or sensory reception.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

How does this sensory organ help the catfish?

• It helps the catfish swim fast in water.

• It helps the catfish find prey in muddy water.

• It helps the catfish breathe air dissolved in water.

• It helps the catfish burrow into the bottom of the pond.

Answer explanation

The sensory organ, specifically the barbels, helps the catfish detect vibrations and chemical cues in the water, allowing it to find prey even in muddy environments where visibility is low.

A chipmunk can gather and store up to 165 acorns per day during peak gathering periods in the fall. Which statement best explains why a chipmunk demonstrates this behavior?

• The chipmunk has learned it is difficult to find food for energy in the winter months.

• The chipmunk wants to have plenty of acorns to share with other organisms in the community.

• The chipmunk knows the acorns will sprout into new trees if they remain on the forest floor.

• The chipmunk uses the acorns to fill its nest to keep out other organisms.

Answer explanation

The chipmunk gathers acorns to prepare for winter when food is scarce, demonstrating learned behavior to ensure it has enough energy during the cold months.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

The evening bat is most active during the last half hour of night before daylight due to an increased amount of insects. Which term best describes why the evening bat is most active during this time?

• A. environmental interaction

• B. inherited trait

• C. instinct response

• D. stored memory

Answer explanation

The evening bat's activity during this time is due to its stored memory of when insects are most abundant, allowing it to optimize foraging. This behavior is not purely instinctual but relies on learned experiences.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

The table shows the distances of the Sun and Alpha Centauri from Earth and their relative brightness. A student claims that the Sun is brighter than Alpha Centauri. Is the claim correct, and why?

• A. No. Alpha Centauri is closer to Earth than the Sun.

• B. Yes. The Sun is closer to Earth than Alpha Centauri.

• C. No. The Sun has a higher relative brightness than Alpha Centauri.

• D. Yes. Alpha Centauri has a lower relative brightness than the Sun.

Answer explanation

The claim is correct. The Sun is indeed brighter than Alpha Centauri because it has a higher relative brightness, despite Alpha Centauri being closer to Earth.

If the student represents Earth, which basketball most likely represents the Sun?

• basketball J

• basketball K

• basketball L

• basketball M

Answer explanation

Basketball J most likely represents the Sun because it is typically larger than the other basketballs, symbolizing the Sun's massive size compared to Earth. This size difference is crucial in representing the scale of the solar system.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

The image and table show the relative sizes and distances of different stars from Earth. A student argues that the Sun appears brightest among the other stars listed. Which statement supports the student’s argument?

• A. The Sun is the biggest star.

• B. The Sun is the closest star to Earth.

• C. The Sun emits less light than other stars.

• D. The Sun burns hot gases that make it brighter.

Answer explanation

The Sun appears brightest because it is the closest star to Earth. Its proximity means that the light it emits reaches us more directly and intensely than light from more distant stars.

A student reads that the star Vega is much brighter and farther from Earth than the Sun. It is twice as large as the Sun. The student observes that Vega appears smaller and dimmer than the Sun from the surface of Earth.

Which difference between the stars best explains the student’s observation?

• the difference in the brightness of the stars

• the difference in the sizes of the stars

• the difference in the distance of the stars from each other

• the difference in the distances of the stars from Earth

Answer explanation

Vega is much farther from Earth than the Sun, which significantly reduces its apparent brightness and size when viewed from Earth, despite being intrinsically brighter and larger.

A student concludes an experiment to test the rate for dissolving 10 grams of sugar in water. The diagram shows two setups, and the table shows the results.

Based on the data in the table, what can be concluded about the rate for sugar to dissolve?

• It is fastest when the temperature is low, and the particle size is small.

• It is fastest when the temperature is high, and the particle size is large.

• It is slowest when the temperature is high, and the particle size is small.

• It is slowest when the temperature is low, and the particle size is large.

Answer explanation

The data indicates that sugar dissolves more slowly at low temperatures and with larger particle sizes, confirming that it is slowest when the temperature is low and the particle size is large.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

A student performs an experiment to test how stirring speed affects the amount of time it takes sugar to dissolve in water. The student pours the same amount of sugar and the same amount of water into each beaker and places a mixer in each beaker. The student tests each mixer at a different speed. Which test will cause the sugar to take the longest amount of time to dissolve?

• Test A

• Test B

• Test C

• Test D

Answer explanation

Test A will cause the sugar to take the longest time to dissolve because it is assumed to have the slowest stirring speed, which reduces the agitation and mixing, leading to slower dissolution compared to the other tests.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4