Biology STAAR

Snowshoe hares change coat color during the year. In the summer, when there is no snow on the ground, their coat is brown. In the winter when there is snow, their coat is white. Which describes the genetic basis for seasonal changes in coat color?

• The snow causes mutations in the genes

• The genes are regulated by hormone signals that are altered by changes in the environment

• Sunlight causes cancer cells to develop

• The genes are deleted during the summer

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

The DEFENSES of 2 flightless birds that live in different habitats are shown. How do the wings of the Gentoo penguin and the legs of the ostrich provide an advantage in their habitat?

• Allows them to find prey

• Allows them to escape from predators

• Allows them to control body temperature

• Allows them to be camouflaged in their environments

Answer explanation

You can narrow down the answer choices to either "finding prey" or "escaping predators." Note that the question says the birds need DEFENSES and are FLIGHTLESS. Defenses are used to escape predators, not to hunt.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

Overfishing is when fish are caught faster than they can reproduce, causing the decline of fish populations. Overfishing ​ (a)   the stability of the ecosystem by ​ (b)   .

• increases

• disrupting food chains

• decreases

• increasing competition for limited resources

• allowing prey populations to overproduce

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Reorder the following traits from oldest to youngest.

• sharp teeth

• retractable claws

• hair

• vertebral column

• four limbs

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Cellular respiration takes in ​ (a)   and spits out ​ (b)   .

• chemical energy

• light energy

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS1-7

Based on the cladogram, the ancestral species most likely had...

• a vertebral column

• a vertebral column and hair

• sharp teeth and retractable claws

• ability to purr

Answer explanation

Ancestral = oldest species that gives rise to the rest of the species. The ancestral species would lie to the far left, where only the vertebral column is.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Eukaryotic cells have ​ (a)   and DNA in the ​ (b)   . Prokaryotic cells have ​ (c)   and DNA in the ​ (d)   .

• membrane-bound nuclei or organelles

• nucleus

• NO membrane-bound nuclei or organelles

• cytoplasm

Two plants are grown together for a time and then separated. Plant 2 is a parasite of Plant 1. Which graph depicts the growth of Plant 1 and Plant 2 during the experiment?

• 
• 
• 
• 

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

When multiple transitional fossils are found in many rock layers, they provide evidence of -

• seasonal variation in the diet of a species

• gradual change of a species over time

• DNA functioning as the genetic material of organisms

• an unchanging environment

Answer explanation

transitional = CHANGE. Look for the answer choice talkig about change occurring.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Match the following

• speed up

• enzyme

• region of an enzyme where reactants bind

• transition

• organism that lives and feeds on another organism for food

• parasite

• changing from one state to another

• active site

• proteins that speed up chemical reactions

• catalyze

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-7