Biology MCA 4: Organize, Analyze, and Communicate Data

The population of a certain species of invasive beetle has been shown by scientists to undergo an exponential doubling growth trend for every year it is in a new location.

When the beetle first arrives in Caprica Forest, scientists estimate the total initial population at 4,000 beetles.

If, three years later, scientists estimate that there are 18,000 beetles in Caprica Forest, which of the following is true about the new data?

• The recorded data is higher than the expected trend.

• The recorded data is lower than the expected trend.

• The recorded data fits the expected trend.

• The trend has been proven accurate.

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS2-2

Fatima is doing an experiment to determine the specific heat of several different substances. The specific heat of a substance is the amount of heat energy required to increase 1 kg of the substance by 1°C.

Which of the following data tables would be best for her to use to record the data from her experiment?

• Z

• X

• Y

• D

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

About 400 million years ago the first multicellular land plants appear in the fossil record. These plants were leafless, spike-shaped organisms that were only a couple of inches tall.

Just 40 million years later, the fossil record shows the existence of forests, with trees tens of meters tall.

What trend does this evidence from the fossil record suggest?

• The earliest land plants came in many different shapes and sizes.

• Dinosaurs tended to feed on plants that were lower to the ground.

• Taller land plants were favored during this time period.

• Over this time period, there were no selective pressures.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Oscar set up an experiment to measure the growth of a flower every three days while giving it plant fertilizer. The data table below shows the results of his experiment. Which of the following line graphs best corresponds with the data in the table?

Day 0 = 1 cm

Day 3 = 3 cm

Day 6 = 5 cm

Day 9 = 7 cm

Day 12 = 9 cm

Day 15 = 11 cm

• W

• X

• Y

• Z

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

A biologist conducted an experiment to determine the rate at which DNA mutations occur. The biologist was careful to record the steps of her experiment, as well as her observations and results. What should the biologist do next?

• Ask the local newspaper to publish her results.

• Come up with a new hypothesis that she can test.

• Report her results in a scientific journal.

• Hide her results from other scientists so that they won't steal her idea.

Jake is performing an experiment to test the effectiveness of a specific brand of fertilizer.

Jake plants 25 rosebushes into five equal groups and gives each group a different amount of the fertilizer every week. He measures the initial height of the rosebushes and then measures their growth after two months. He averages the growth of each group and records this data in the table below.

Jake incorrectly constructs his graph. Which of following is wrong with Jake's graph?

• The graph's axes are not labeled.

• The variables are on the wrong axes.

• The graph does not have a title.

• One or both of the graph's axes are missing units.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

To enhance oral and written presentations, scientists often use

• graphs

• charts

• tables

• all of these

A Paramecium culture was observed for eight days, and daily population counts were recorded in the table shown below.

Day 1 = 3 paramecium

Day 2 = 27 Paramecium

Day 3 = 98 paramecium

Day 4 = 260 paramecium

Day 5 = 387 paramecium

Day 6 = 460 paramecium

Day 7 = 485 paramecium

Day 8 = 485 paramecium

Which graph represents the data in the table?

• W

• X

• Z

• Y

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

Emily is studying how a person's breathing rate is affected by aerobic and anaerobic exercise. To do this, she measures the breathing rate of her test subject while the subject engages in 10 minutes of aerobic exercise. She then measures the breathing rate of her test subject while the subject engages in 10 minutes of anaerobic exercise.

Which of the following graphs would be best for Emily to use to display the data she collects?

• a bar graph

• a circle graph

• a single line graph

• a double line graph

Jamie's biology teacher gave him an assignment to study growth of the dandelion population in the field outside the classroom. Jamie counted the number of dandelion plants on the first day of the month for six months and then recorded his results in a chart.

Month 1 = 1 plant

Month 2 = 3 plants

Month 3 = 27 plants

Month 4 = 81 plants

Month 5 = 243 plants

Month 6 = 729 plants

Which graph correctly represents the population growth based on the chart Jamie made?

• X

• Y

• Z

• W

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1