XVII.

Science and Technology/Engineering, Grade 8

Grade 8 Science and Technology/Engineering Test

The spring 2008 grade 8 MCAS Science and Technology/Engineering test was based on learning standards in the Massachusetts Science and Technology/Engineering Curriculum Framework (2006). The Framework identifies four major content strands listed below. Page numbers for the grades 68 learning standards appear in parentheses.  Earth and Space Science (Framework, pages 3233)  Life Science (Biology) (Framework, pages 5153)  Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) (Framework, pages 6768)  Technology/Engineering (Framework, pages 8789) The Science and Technology/Engineering Curriculum Framework is available on the Department Web site at www.doe.mass.edu/frameworks/current.html. In Test Item Analysis Reports and on the Subject Area Subscore pages of the MCAS School Reports and District Reports, Science and Technology/Engineering test results are reported under four MCAS reporting categories, which are identical to the four Curriculum Framework content strands listed above.

Test Sessions
The MCAS grade 8 Science and Technology/Engineering test included two separate test sessions. Each session included multiple-choice and open-response questions.

Reference Materials and Tools

The use of bilingual word-to-word dictionaries was allowed for current and former limited English proficient students only, during both Science and Technology/Engineering test sessions. No other reference tools or materials were allowed.

Cross-Reference Information
The table at the conclusion of this chapter indicates each items reporting category and the Framework learning standard it assesses. The correct answers for multiple-choice questions are also displayed in the table.

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Science and Technology/Engineering

Session 1
DIRECTIONS This session contains seventeen multiple-choice questions and two open-response questions. Mark your answers to these questions in the spaces provided in your Student Answer Booklet.
ID:246381 B Common

ID:265264 D Common

Which of the following causes a ships iron anchor to sink to the ocean floor when it is released overboard? A. chemical forces B. gravity C. magnetism D. nuclear forces

Which of the following is the best estimate of the number of stars in a typical galaxy? A. tens B. hundreds C. thousands D. billions

ID:227993 B Common

ID:273677 C Common

Which of the following tools is most useful for tightening a small mechanical fastener? A. chisel B. pliers C. saw D. sander

If a new organism were discovered, which of the following would most likely be used to classify it into the appropriate kingdom? A. the color of the organism B. the organisms natural habitat C. the structure of the organisms anatomy D. the location where the organism was found

437

Science and Technology/Engineering

ID:265227 B Common

Session 1
The four pictures below show how a pond environment changed from 1900 to 2000. 1900

ID:265272 1538.tif C Common

Which of the following is formed when two elements combine chemically? A. an atom B. a compound C. an electron D. a mixture

ID:246371 C Common

1933

After a windstorm, Niko called the electric company to report that he had no electricity. His phone call is an example of which of the following elements of a universal systems model? A. designing a process B. generating output C. giving feedback D. setting a goal 1966

2000

Which of the following processes was most directly responsible for the changes that occurred in the pond environment? A. freezing B. evaporation C. sediment deposition D. chemical weathering

438

Science and Technology/Engineering

ID:246285 1054.eps D Common

Session 1

The diagram below shows the evolutionary relationship of several primates.

Lemur

Spider monkey

Baboon

Gorilla

Chimpanzee

Primate ancestor Based on the diagram, which of the following statements is true? A. Lemurs were the most recent to evolve. B. Gorillas evolved directly from chimpanzees. C. Spider monkeys and lemurs evolved at the same time. D. Gorillas and baboons evolved from a common ancestor.

439

Science and Technology/Engineering

ID:265255 B Common

Session 1
The diagrams below represent forms of reproduction. In which form of reproduction will the offspring differ most from the parent? A.

ID:229391 3189014_AR1.eps, 3189014_ C Common

Which of the following statements best explains why the tilt of Earth on its axis causes summer to be warmer than winter in the Northern Hemisphere? A. The warm ocean currents flow from the tropics to the Northern Hemisphere in the summer. B. The rays of the Sun strike the Northern Hemisphere more directly in the summer. C. The greenhouse effect increases in the Northern Hemisphere in the summer. D. The Northern Hemisphere is closer to the Sun in the summer.

10

B.

C.

D.

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Science and Technology/Engineering

ID:246353 1430.eps, [opt_a01, b01, D Common

Session 1
The numbered drawings below show the organization within a multicellular organism from simple to complex.
Simple 1

11

ID:274908 3227044_AR1.eps A Common

Which of the following pictures shows the appearance of the Moon when a solar eclipse occurs? A.

12

Waning Moon
3

B.

4 Complex

Quarter Moon C.

Which of these numbered drawings represents a tissue? A. 1 B. 2 C. 3 D. 4

Full Moon D.

New Moon

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Science and Technology/Engineering

ID:265233 C Common

Session 1
The diagrams below illustrate two blocks composed of different materials.
Block A Block B

13

ID:229379 3189017_AR1.eps A Common

When bedrock in Massachusetts is examined, it often appears scraped and polished. Which of the following most likely caused the bedrock to appear scraped and polished? A. crustal deformation B. frequent earthquakes C. glacial movement D. volcanic eruptions

14

25 grams

25 grams

If Block A is located on the Moon and Block B is located on Earth, what property do these two blocks have in common? A. They have the same mass. B. They have the same weight. C. They have the same volume. D. They have the same surface area.

442

Science and Technology/Engineering

ID:227985 C Common

Session 1
The complete removal of decomposers from an ecosystem will have the greatest effect on which of the following? A. the spread of disease B. the availability of water C. the recycling of nutrients D. the distribution of organisms

15

ID:229434 C Common

Ms. Bristol measured the mass of a closed beaker containing several ice cubes. The mass was 100 g. An hour later, after the ice cubes had melted, Ms. Bristol measured the mass of the beaker again. What was the mass of the beaker of water the second time? A. 50 g B. 75 g C. 100 g D. 125 g

17

ID:265250 B Common

16

For a technology project, Kyle came up with an idea to build a model bridge. He wants his bridge to span 50 cm and to support a 1 kg object. According to the engineering design process, which of the following should be Kyles next step? A. construct prototypes of different kinds of bridges B. research the different designs of bridges C. gather the materials needed to build the bridge D. make a drawing to show how to build the bridge

443

Science and Technology/Engineering

Questions 18 and 19 are open-response questions.

Session 1

BE SURE TO ANSWER AND LABEL ALL PARTS OF EACH QUESTION. Show all your work (diagrams, tables, or computations) in your Student Answer Booklet. If you do the work in your head, explain in writing how you did the work. Write your answer to question 18 in the space provided in your Student Answer Booklet.
ID:265297 Common

18

Drew wants to put oak cabinets in his new kitchen. He is deciding whether to select custom-built cabinets or mass-produced cabinets. a. Describe one advantage of selecting custom-built cabinets. b. Describe one advantage and one disadvantage of selecting mass-produced cabinets. c. Describe one way that mass-produced products are made differently than custom-built products.

444

Science and Technology/Engineering

Session 1

Write your answer to question 19 in the space provided in your Student Answer Booklet.
ID:246367 0150.eps Common

19

The picture below shows a companys design for a nightlight. The nightlight is designed to plug into an electrical outlet. The nightlight is also designed to turn on automatically when it is dark and to turn off when it is light.

Cover

Light bulb

Light sensor Base

Plug

a. Name two different materials that could be used in the nightlight. Identify a part of the nightlight that each material could be used to make. b. For each material that you named in part (a), describe one property of that material that makes it appropriate to be used to make the part you identified.

445

Science and Technology/Engineering

Session 2
DIRECTIONS This session contains seventeen multiple-choice questions and three open-response questions. Mark your answers to these questions in the spaces provided in your Student Answer Booklet.
ID:265277 1472.eps B Common

20

ID:229402 B Common

During a remodeling project, homeowners want to remove a wall that separates two rooms in their house. The wall and the two rooms are shown in the diagram below.

21

New carpet is being measured for a room that is 5.5 m by 4.6 m. On a measuring tape, what is the smallest unit that is necessary to measure the room accurately for the carpet? A. millimeters B. centimeters C. meters D. kilometers

Room 1 Wall

Room 2 Door

ID:265289 C Common

22 According to building codes, the homeowners must add a beam in the ceiling when they remove the existing wall. Which statement best explains why the homeowners must do this? A. The wall provides heat insulation for the rooms. B. The wall provides structural support for the house. C. The wall provides a sound barrier between the rooms. D. The wall provides a place to hang objects in the house.

Which of the following statements best describes one way that the Moon is different from Earth? A. The Moon is not solid. B. The Moon has no gravity. C. The Moon has almost no atmosphere. D. The Moon receives almost no solar light.

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ID:227899 A Common

Session 2
The organisms shown below are both found in aquatic environments.

23

ID:274912 3189011_AR1.eps D Common

A shoe manufacturer randomly selects 10% of the production from each shift. Each of these shoes is checked to ensure that it is correctly made. What is this process called? A. quality control B. product distribution C. production selection D. research and development

25

ID:265240 1503.tif A Common

24

The diagram below shows how a change in temperature affects the physical state of a substance. Each of the labeled points represents the same substance at a different temperature. Temperature X Y Liquid Freezing point Boiling point Z Gas High

Hydra

Volvox

Which of the following is common to both of these organisms? A. They contain blood. B. They contain nerves. C. They are both producers of food. D. They are both composed of cells.

Low W Solid

Which point represents the substance in the physical state with the particles moving the least? A. point W B. point X C. point Y D. point Z

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Science and Technology/Engineering

ID:265246 C Common

Session 2
Sugar is composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Sugar is an example of which of the following? A. an atom B. a compound C. an electron D. a mixture

26

ID:265270 B Common

Tobias rode his bike on a road for a 2 hr period. On average, he passed a 1 km marker every 3 min during this period. Which of the following was his average speed for this 2 hr period? A. 10 km/hr B. 15 km/hr C. 20 km/hr D. 25 km/hr

28

ID:246309 D Common

27

Which of the following organisms produces energy from sunlight? A. worm B. rabbit C. hawk D. grass

448

Science and Technology/Engineering

ID:226410 D Common

Session 2
Which of the following best describes the purpose of the chromosomes in the nucleus of a cell? A. to store the genetic instructions needed to specify traits B. to release energy by breaking down food molecules C. to transport nutrients into and out of the cell D. to protect the cell from microorganisms

29

ID:265291 A Common

The surface of a heated metal object measures 120C. It is dropped into a bucket filled with water measuring 10C. Which of the following is most likely to occur? A. Both the water and metal will adjust to the same temperature below 10C. B. The water and metal will adjust to different temperatures above 120C. C. The water will remain the same temperature, but the metal will cool to 10C. D. The water and metal will adjust to the same temperature between 10C and 120C.

31

ID:265220 B Common

32

ID:265224 B Common

A pot of cold water was heated on a stove until the water boiled. Which of the following best explains why the water was able to boil? A. The hot stove absorbed cold from the pot. B. The cold water absorbed heat from the pot. C. The hot stove gave off heat to the surrounding air. D. The cold water gave off cold to the surrounding air.

30

The presence of which of the following geological features provides the best evidence that glaciers once covered an area? A. wide riverbeds B. U-shaped valleys C. underground caves D. groundwater springs

449

Science and Technology/Engineering

ID:227935 C Common

Session 2
The drawings below show a turtle embryo and a chicken embryo.

33

ID:274913 3316993_AR1.eps D Common

A layer of solid brittle rock comprises the outer 100 kilometers of Earth. This layer, which contains both the crust and the upper mantle, is called the A. core. B. sediment. C. lithosphere. D. hemisphere.

36

ID:246341 B Common

34

Which of the following structures is not present in animal cells? A. cell membrane B. cell wall C. mitochondrion D. nucleus

Turtle

Chicken

Which of the following statements is supported by the similarities between these embryos? A. The turtle is more advanced than the chicken. B. The chicken has more offspring than the turtle.

ID:246358 A Common

35

What is the primary energy source that drives all weather events, including precipitation, hurricanes, and tornados? A. the Sun B. the Moon C. Earths gravity D. Earths rotation

C. The turtle and the chicken are similar as adults. D. The chicken and the turtle share a common ancestor.

450

Science and Technology/Engineering

Questions 37 through 39 are open-response questions.

Session 2

BE SURE TO ANSWER AND LABEL ALL PARTS OF EACH QUESTION. Show all your work (diagrams, tables, or computations) in your Student Answer Booklet. If you do the work in your head, explain in writing how you did the work. Write your answer to question 37 in the space provided in your Student Answer Booklet.
ID:246272 Common

37

Some of the geologic features found on Earths surface were caused by the movement of Earths crustal plates. a. Name two geologic features found on Earths surface that were caused by the movement of crustal plates. b. For each of the features you named in part (a), describe how the movement of crustal plates caused the feature to form on Earths surface.

451

Science and Technology/Engineering

Session 2

Write your answer to question 38 in the space provided in your Student Answer Booklet.
ID:246355 1421.eps Common

38

Jorge was given the cube shown below and asked to determine the density of the cube. The material that the cube is made from is unknown.

a. Identify the two properties of the cube that must be known in order for Jorge to determine the density of the cube. b. Describe how Jorge could measure each of the properties of the cube you identified in part (a). Be sure to identify any tools Jorge would use and describe how he would use them. c. Explain how the measurements you described in part (b) can be used to determine the density of the cube.

Write your answer to question 39 in the space provided in your Student Answer Booklet.
ID:265222 Common

39

A forest ecosystem in New Hampshire contains a large area where berry plants grow naturally. The berry plants help some organisms in the forest survive and grow. Other organisms in the forest help the berry plants survive and grow. a. Describe two different ways that the berry plants help some organisms in the forest survive and grow. b. Describe two different ways that other organisms in the forest help the berry plants survive and grow.

452

Grade 8 Science and Technology/Engineering Spring 2008 Released Items: Reporting Categories, Standards, and Correct Answers*
Item No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 Page No. 437 437 437 437 438 438 438 439 440 440 441 441 442 442 443 443 443 444 445 446 446 446 447 447 447 448 448 448 449 449 449 449 450 450 450 450 451 452 452 Reporting Category Earth and Space Science Technology/Engineering Earth and Space Science Life Science (Biology) Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) Technology/Engineering Earth and Space Science Life Science (Biology) Earth and Space Science Life Science (Biology) Earth and Space Science Life Science (Biology) Earth and Space Science Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) Technology/Engineering Life Science (Biology) Technology/Engineering Technology/Engineering Technology/Engineering Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) Earth and Space Science Technology/Engineering Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) Life Science (Biology) Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) Life Science (Biology) Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) Earth and Space Science Life Science (Biology) Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) Earth and Space Science Life Science (Biology) Earth and Space Science Life Science (Biology) Earth and Space Science Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) Life Science (Biology) Standard 8 1.2 12 1 5 2.6 6 18 11 9 9 5 7 1 4 2.1 15 4.1 1.1 5.1 3 10 4.4 15 2 11 14 7 16 7 7 14 2 3 4 11 5 2 13 B B C A A D C D B D B A B C B A D Correct Answer (MC)* B B D C B C C D B C D A C A C B C

*  Answers are provided here for multiple-choice items only. Sample responses and scoring guidelines for open-response items, which are indicated by shaded cells, will be posted to the Departments Web site later this year.

453