Biology STAAR Review - Reporting Category 4

Biting flies can transmit diseases and cause loss of blood for animals in nature. Horses have developed behaviors to repel biting flies such as ear twitching, head tossing, leg stomping and tail swishing.

Which statement best describes the interaction between body systems that allows horses to repel biting flies?

• The nervous system senses the biting flies and sends a signal to the muscular system to move.

• The circulatory system senses the biting flies and sends a signal to the nervous system to move.

• The muscular system senses the biting flies and sends a signal to the integumentary system to move.

• The integumentary system senses the biting flies and sends a signal to the circulatory system to move.

Answer explanation

The nervous and muscular systems in horses help the animal repel biting flies by ear twitching, head tossing, leg stomping, and tail swishing. This response is a result of the nervous system sensing the biting flies and sending a signal to the muscular system of the animal.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-3

Positive thigmotropism is a response in plants in which they move and grow toward an object the plant comes into physical contact with, usually curling around the object.

This response of the shoot system benefits the plant by allowing the plant to —

• produce more pollen for pollinators

• take in more carbon dioxide to convert into glucose

• absorb more water to transport to the leaves

• reach more sunlight for photosynthesis

Answer explanation

This response of the shoot system benefits the plant by providing added support for the plant to grow and allowing the plant to put more energy into growing toward sunlight to perform photosynthesis.

Students studying the interaction among the reproductive parts of flowering plants make the graphic organizer shown.

Which terms best complete the numbered

blanks in the flowchart?

• (1) filaments (2) petals

  (3) stigma

• (1) petals (2) ovule

  (3) stigma

• (1) filaments (2) petals (3) ovule

• (1) petals (2) stigma (3) ovule

Answer explanation

Petals attract pollinators, pollinators deposit pollen on the stigma, and the pollen grain must grow and fuse with an ovule to complete fertilization.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-4

Which sequence best describes an interaction between the integumentary and excretory systems that helps maintain homeostasis?

• Heart rate increases -> Blood vessels constrict -> Blood pressure increases

• Blood vessel is damaged -> Platelets begin to clump -> Blood vessel ruptures

• Blood sugar levels rise -> Pancreas secretes insulin -> Blood sugar continues to rise

• Body temperature increases -> Glands release sweat -> Body temperature decreases

Answer explanation

Sweat glands are part of the excretory system that is located within the integumentary system. When body temperature increases, the glands release sweat, and body temperature decreases.

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS1-3

A model of an enzyme and its corresponding substrate is shown.

Which model best represents the molecule at the end of the reaction?

• 
• 
• 
• 

Answer explanation

At the end of this chemical reaction, the enzyme remains unchanged, and the substrate has been broken down.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-5

Which statements best compare a function of proteins and lipids in a human cell?

• Proteins provide energy for cellular processes. Lipids catalyze chemical reactions inside the cell.

• Proteins catalyze chemical reactions inside the cell. Lipids allow for the transport of certain molecules into and out of the cell.

• Proteins allow for the transport of certain molecules into and out of the cell.

  Lipids store genetic information for cells.

• Proteins store genetic information for cells. Lipids provide energy for cellular processes.

Answer explanation

Proteins in the form of enzymes catalyze chemical reactions inside the cell. Lipids make up the cell membrane, which allows certain molecules to be transported into and out of the cell.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-2

Both the respiratory system and the digestive system involve the uptake of necessary molecules from an animal’s surroundings. Alveoli are tiny sacs that aid in the exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the lungs. Intestinal villi are tiny projections along the lining of the intestines used to take in nutrients from food passing through.

Which system must interact with the respiratory and digestive systems to transport gases and nutrients throughout the body?

• Endocrine

• Integumentary

• Immune

• Circulatory

Answer explanation

The circulatory system transports blood to and from the heart and the rest of the body. Nutrients and gases, such as oxygen, are dissolved in the blood. The circulatory system must interact with the respiratory and digestive systems to transport the nutrients and gases in the blood throughout the body.

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS1-2

A model of two structures that perform cellular processes is shown.

What are the products of the cellular process in these organelles?

• I: glucose and carbon dioxide II: oxygen and water

• I: carbon dioxide and oxygen II: glucose and water

• I: oxygen and glucose II: water and carbon dioxide

• I: carbon dioxide and water II: glucose and oxygen

Answer explanation

Organelle I is mitochondria, where carbon dioxide and water are the products of the process of cellular respiration. Organelle II is a chloroplast, where glucose and oxygen are the products of the process of photosynthesis.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-2

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS1-7

Water, sugar, and other important nutrients need to be transported from one part of a plant to another. Which statement correctly describes the interaction of the root and shoot systems during nutrient transport?

• The leaves take in water and sugar, which are then transported to the rest of the plant through vascular tissues.

• The roots take in water and sugar, which are then transported to the rest of the plant through vascular tissues.

• The leaves take in water and the roots produce sugar that are transported to the rest of the plant through vascular tissues.

• The roots take in water and the leaves produce sugar that are transported to the rest of the plant through vascular tissues.

Answer explanation

The roots take in/absorb water from the ground, and the leaves produce sugar through the process of photosynthesis. Water and sugar are transported throughout the plant via vascular tissues.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Which sequence represents the levels of organization found in a multicellular organism, from smallest to largest?

• Cell, Tissue, Organ, Organ System

• Organ System, Organ, Tissue, Cell

• Tissue, Organ, Organ System, Cell

• Cell, Organ System, Organ, Tissue

Answer explanation

The order of cell, tissue, organ, and organ system represents the smallest to largest levels of cellular organization.

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS1-2