LIfe Science CAST Practice

Scientists are studying how water clarity affects the number of fish species in a large lake. They focus on two areas in the lake, one containing clear water and the other containing cloudy water resulting from human activities surrounding a portion of the lake.

The number of fish species in each area is shown in the graph.

Which evidence best supports the student's claim that clear water sustains a larger number of fish species compared to cloudy water?

• At depths between 10 to 20 meters, the number of fish species decreases in cloudy water.

• At all depths, the number of fish species is higher in the clear water compared to the cloudy water.

• As depth increases, the number of fish species in clear water decreases faster than the number in cloudy water.

• As depth increases from 40 to 60 meters, the number of fish species remains constant for both clear and cloudy water.

Answer explanation

If you look at the graph the solid line (clear) is always higher than the dotted(cloudy).

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Group behavior in some animal species can increase the likelihood of survival for individuals. Generally, group behavior benefits all members of the group; however, a particular behavior may increase the risk for some individuals in the group.

Which two behaviors are most likely to increase the survival of the group but may increase the risk for some individuals in the group?

• A wolf joins a pack of wolves to hunt for prey.

• A honey bee defends the hive containing a queen.

• A fish swims in a school which confuses a predator.

• A ground squirrel makes a loud call alerting the group to the presence of a hawk.

• A wildebeest joins a group of other wildebeests to avoid attacks by predators in open areas.

Answer explanation

The honey bee: if the queen dies the whole cast dies.

Squirrel on the ground making a loud noise will draw the predator toward them increasing his chance of getting caught

The others are beneficial for the individual

Students are studying cellular respiration. They write the net reaction of cellular respiration as shown in this diagram.

During cellular respiration, energy is ​ (a)   when chemical bonds of molecules are broken, and new ​ (b)   are formed.

• Created
• Destroyed
• Transferred
• molecules
• atoms
• organelles

Answer explanation

Energy cannot be created or destroyed!

It can be transferred.

Matter cannot be created or destroyed atoms can be rearranged to make new molecules.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-7

A researcher is investigating population growth of an organism under two different sets of environmental conditions ( the graph shows the data collected).

Which statement best explains the difference in growth between the two populations depicted in the graph?

• Environment 1 is warmer than environment 2. This leads to a higher metabolic rate in the organisms in environment 1.

• There is a competitor in environment 2 that is not present in environment 1. This lowers the carrying capacity of environment 2.

• Environment 2 contains smaller organisms than environment 1. This means fewer organisms can fit into environment 2.

• The organisms in environment 1 reproduce at a younger age. This causes the population in environment 1 to grow faster than that of environment 2.

Answer explanation

Limiting Factors: Limit the size of a population's carrying capacity.

They are based on the a population's size.

Tags

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Based on the data from the USFWS, the condor population in the wild grew at an average rate of 24 individuals per year between 2014 and 2016.

Select numbers from the lists to complete these sentences.

If the average rate of population growth remains constant, there will be​ (a)   Condors by the year 2020. This represents an approximate ​ (b)   increase in the condor population compared to 2016 (initial) population.

• 324
• 300
• 372
• 50%
• 10%
• 33%

Answer explanation

Each year it raises 24 condors. There are 4 years from 2016-2020. 4 * 24 = 96. 96+276=372.

For % increase. Subtract 2020 condor count from 2014. Change Final -Initial = 114.

A couple of ways: Look at 114 and know that's half of 228, or 50%.

Multiply 228 * 50% =114

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NGSS.MS-LS2-1

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Which parameter could the scientists add to the simulation to best help improve it?

• The presence of potential predators

• The cost to raise condors in captivity

• The incubation period of the eggs in a nest

• The age of the oldest condor living in captivity

Answer explanation

Remember that predation is a limiting factor that can limit the size of a population

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

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Photosynthesis and cellular respiration are both important processes in the carbon cycle. You are modeling these two processes in order to better understand the carbon cycle. Your first idea is to gather information in a table to help you generate your model.

Categorize the descriptions into the correct processes

Groups:

(a) Photosynthesis

,

(b) Cellular Respiration

• Takes place in chloroplasts

• Occurs in all organisms

• Produces ATP as a byproduct

• Breaks down glucose to release energy

• One product is glucose (carbohydrate)

• Oxygen and glucose are reactants

• Produces oxygen as a byproduct

• Carbon Dioxide is required (reactant)

• Occurs only in plant

• Captures solar energy and converts it to chemical energy

Answer explanation

All organisms (even plants) use the product (glucose) from photosynthesis, to fuel their cells. The products of photosynthesis are the reactants of cellular respiration.

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Based on the graph, what primarily influences the rate of photosynthesis between points X and Y?

• CO2 concentration because at point Y there is a greater CO2 concentration than at point X.

• CO2 concentration because the maximum rate of photosynthesis occurs when the CO2 concentration is greater than what it is at point Y.

• Light intensity because the rate of photosynthesis decreases as the light intensity increases.

• Light intensity because the rate of photosynthesis is greater at point Y compared to point X regardless of the CO2 concentration.

Answer explanation

On the graph X and Y are two radom points. There is no distinction between CO2 % at these points However, there are different levels of light and rates of photosynthesis, and Y is higher.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

Human blood type is a trait that is determined by multiple alleles. The ABO blood group has three alleles: I^A, I^B, and i. Alleles I^A and I^B are co-dominant to each other, while allele i is recessive to alleles I^A and I^B. The genotypes and phenotypes of the ABO blood group are summarized in the table.

A child born to a mother with AB blood and a father who is heterozygous for type A blood has a ​ (a)   of having A blood

• 0%
• 25%
• 50 %

Answer explanation

AB (mother) * Ai (Father)

Create a Punnet square

AA (Ablood), AB (AB blood)

Ai (A blood), Bi (B blood)

2/4 or 50%

Tags

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Human blood type is a trait that is determined by multiple alleles. The ABO blood group has three alleles: I^A, I^B, and i. Alleles I^A and I^B are co-dominant to each other, while allele i is recessive to alleles I^A and I^B. The genotypes and phenotypes of the ABO blood group are summarized in the table.

A child born to a mother with AB blood and a father who is heterozygous for type A The probability this child will be homozygous for A blood is ​ (a)  

• 0%
• 50%
• 25 %

Answer explanation

AB (mother) * Ai (Father)

Create a Punnet square

AA (Ablood), AB (AB blood)

Ai (A blood), Bi (B blood)

2/4 or 50%

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS3-2