1.11 Test Study Guide: The Science of Biology

How does eye location best represent the relationship between structure and function?

• It indicates the maximum height an organism can reach

• It determines how much of the surroundings an organism can see

• It affects how an organism interacts with others in its population

 Hemlocks are a common type of tree in the northern forests of the United States. In studying one forest, a forester noticed that mature hemlocks were abundant but there were very few young hemlocks. She wondered why there were so few young hemlocks.

     By reading the records that other foresters in that area had kept, she learned that the population of deer living in the forest had doubled in the last five years. By reading studies on forests that other scientists had performed, she also learned that deer in similar forests like to eat young hemlocks and the young trees of other species.

Which question most closely relates to the forester's observations and the collected scientific data on forests?

• Did a lack of rain cause the hemlocks to stop reproducing?

• Are deer eating most of the young hemlocks?

• Why are there so many deer in the forest?

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

An ecologist was studying freshwater wetlands across the southeastern United States. While studying one wetland, the ecologist noticed that native wetland shrubs and trees were dying. The ecologist also observed that young shrubs and trees were stunted in growth and very sparse. At the same time, the ecologist counted new growth in an invasive reed. The ecologist wondered why so many native plants were dying.

By reading surveys of the surrounding land, the ecologist learned that the freshwater wetland bordered a saltmarsh along the coast. The ecologist also learned that the invasive reed observed intruding into the wetland was very common in the nearby saltmarsh. Geological surveys also revealed a gradual increase in sea level along the coastline and an increase in salinity in the soil.

Which question most closely relates to the ecologist's observations and collected data?

• Are the wetland trees and shrubs dying due to an increase in soil salinity?

• What kinds of wildlife live in the freshwater wetland compared to the saltmarsh?

• What is the average age of trees in the freshwater wetland?

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Hemlocks are a common type of tree in the northern forests of the United States. In studying one forest, a forester noticed that mature hemlocks were abundant but there were very few young hemlocks. She wondered why there were so few young hemlocks.

     By reading the records that other foresters in that area had kept, she learned that the population of deer living in the forest had doubled in the last five years. By reading studies on forests that other scientists had performed, she also learned that deer in similar forests like to eat young hemlocks and the young trees of other species.

Which statement is a hypothesis that would best address the question "Are deer eating the young hemlocks and preventing them from growing?

• Deer are eating young hemlocks.

• If the hemlocks are tasty to the deer, the deer will eat them.

• If deer are eating young hemlocks, then keeping deer away from the young trees will allow the trees to grow.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

An ecologist is studying the ecosystems on a mountain slope following a volcanic eruption. In the first year, the ecologist observes that most of the slope is covered in ash and debris and very few trees and shrubs survived. The ecologist also observes no wildlife in the area. The ecologist wonders if the ecosystem can recover.

The ecologist reads records of primary succession following other volcanic eruptions and learns that certain organisms tend to colonize the land first. In the following years, the ecologist observes a few lichens growing on bare rocks and then a few hardy grasses. Ten years after the eruption, the ecologist surveys the landscape and finds small wildflowers, grasses, and insects.

Which question most closely relates to the ecologist's observations and collected data?

• How many years will it take for the mountainside ecosystem to return to its original state?

• Where did all of the mammals go?

• Do the plants on the mountainside have a disease?

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

An ecologist was studying lake ecosystems in and around a major city. The ecologist regularly observed periods of fish kills in the lakes, where fish would die suddenly and in large numbers. The ecologist wondered what was causing these fish kills.

By investigating and comparing observations to lakes further from the city, the ecologist noticed that lakes around the city had significant algae growth and reduced oxygen levels in the water.

Which question most closely relates to the ecologist's observations and collected data on lakes in and around the city?

• Do the fish have a disease?

• Are fish dying due to reduced oxygen in the water?

• Are the lakes polluted?

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Hemlocks are a common type of tree in the northern forests of the United States. In studying one forest, a forester noticed that mature hemlocks were abundant but there were very few young hemlocks. She wondered why there were so few young hemlocks.

     By reading the records that other foresters in that area had kept, she learned that the population of deer living in the forest had doubled in the last five years. By reading studies on forests that other scientists had performed, she also learned that deer in similar forests like to eat young hemlocks and the young trees of other species.

In the scenario, the forester wonders why one forest had mature hemlocks and very few young hemlocks.

Which part of a scientific method does this best illustrate?

• setting up an experiment

• communicating the results of a study

• making an observation and asking a question

An ecologist was studying freshwater wetlands across the southeastern United States. While studying one wetland, the ecologist noticed that native wetland shrubs and trees were dying. The ecologist also observed that young shrubs and trees were stunted in growth and very sparse. At the same time, the ecologist counted new growth in an invasive reed. The ecologist wondered why so many native plants were dying.

By reading surveys of the surrounding land, the ecologist learned that the freshwater wetland bordered a saltmarsh along the coast. The ecologist also learned that the invasive reed observed intruding into the wetland was very common in the nearby saltmarsh. Geological surveys also revealed a gradual increase in sea level along the coastline and an increase in salinity in the soil.

Which part of the scientific method is best illustrated by the ecologist creating a plot of wetland and altering the salinity of the soil to different levels?

• setting up an experiment

• collecting data

• forming a hypothesis

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

A biologist is studying golden frogs that live in cool streams running through the rain forests of Central America. The biologist conducts a survey of the population and counts over 100 frogs in one mile of stream. The biologist returns to the same location one year later and counts only 20 frogs in that same stretch of stream. The biologist wonders why there are suddenly so few golden frogs.

The biologist also observes that a mining company has set up a copper mine only a few miles from the stream. By reading studies on copper mining operations in other parts of the world, the biologist learns that the wastewater runoff from the mines is highly acidic and contains potentially toxic compounds.

Which part of the scientific method is best illustrated by the biologist wondering why there were so few frogs in the second year compared to the first?

• making an observation and asking a question

• setting up an experiment

• collecting data

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

A scientist sets up an experiment to see how colored lights affect the height of plant growth. He grows one group of plants in full sunlight, one group under red lights, one group under blue lights, and one group under green lights.

     All the plants are exactly that same type and all receive an equal intensity (brightness) of light. At the end of the experiment he measures all the plants.

What is the dependent variable?

• intensity of light

• color of light

• height of the plant

• sunlight

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5