8th Grade Science PSSA Test

Monday, 3/4/13

Brief Overview & Biology Preparation with Sample Questions!

What is the Science PSSA?

It is a state test based on state science standards. It helps the state determine if a schools science curriculum meets the standards.

It helps the school determine if students are meeting those standards.

What Types of Questions Will Be on the Test?

Most questions are Multiple Choice with four answer choices Science Scenario with 4 Multiple Choice questions

Short Open-Ended Questions worth 2 points

Multiple Choice Questions

Most of the assessment consists of multiple choice questions. Some questions are content-based, such as: Which one of the following describes a way scientists use seismographs? Some questions involve analyzing a data table or diagram. Many questions refer to the scientific method.

Mondays Objectives:
We are going to focus on Biology Preparation:
Compare similarities and differences in internal structures of organisms Explain the concept of order in a system Explain that adaptations are developed over long periods of time and are passed from one generation to another. Apply knowledge of characteristic structures to identify or categorize organisms Identify and explain differences between inherited and acquired traits. Identify major biomes and describe abiotic and biotic components. Explain the flow of energy through an ecosystem (e.g., food chains, food webs). Explain that adaptations are developed over long periods of time and are passed from one generation to another.

Cells:
Cells: All organisms are composed of one or more cells.
Unicellular Organism: an organism made up of a single cell Multicellular Organism: an organism made up of multiple cells

Cells perform many functions that are needed to sustain life:

Cells grow and divide Cells take in nutrients and excrete wastes Cells acquire energy from nutrients

Cell Theory:
All living things are made up of one or more cells Cells are the basic units of living things All cells come from pre-existing cells

PSSA SAMPLE QUESTION

During science class, a group of students went on a field trip to a nearby pond where they collected samples of pond water and pond plants. The students used a microscope to study cells in their samples. They also took samples of their own cheek cells and studied them using the microscope. The results are shown in the following table.

Looking at the chart provided, the students need to develop a classification scheme to distinguish plant and animal cells. The presence of which of the following structures/organelles would be most useful for this purpose? A. plasma membrane B. nucleus C. cell wall D. vacuole

NOTE: See next slide for correct answer.

PSSA SAMPLE QUESTION

During science class, a group of students went on a field trip to a nearby pond where they collected samples of pond water and pond plants. The students used a microscope to study cells in their samples. They also took samples of their own cheek cells and studied them using the microscope. The results are shown in the following table.

Looking at the chart provided, the students need to develop a classification scheme to distinguish plant and animal cells. The presence of which of the following structures/organelles would be most useful for this purpose? A. plasma membrane B. nucleus C. cell wall D. vacuole

Living Systems:
Basic building block of any organism is the cell
Cell Tissue Organ Organ System Interacting organ systems make up a whole organism

Cells within multicellular organisms are shaped differently, so they can perform specialized functions Circulatory System: transports nutrients and oxygen brought in by the respiratory system throughout the body. Excretory System: eliminates waste materials from the body Nervous System: provides the impulses that cause muscles to contract

PSSA SAMPLE QUESTION

The pictures below show some of the many cells that exist in the human body.

Which of the following statements can be supported by these pictures?

I. Cells within multicellular organisms look different. II. The organisms that are made up of these cells are identical. III. Cells within a multicellular organism all perform the same functions. IV. Cells are shaped differently so they can perform specialized functions.

A.I and II only B.I, II, III, and IV C.I and IV only D.II and III only

NOTE: See next slide for correct answer.

PSSA SAMPLE QUESTION

The pictures below show some of the many cells that exist in the human body.

Which of the following statements can be supported by these pictures?

I. Cells within multicellular organisms look different. II. The organisms that are made up of these cells are identical. III. Cells within a multicellular organism all perform the same functions. IV. Cells are shaped differently so they can perform specialized functions.

A.I and II only B.I, II, III, and IV C.I and IV only D.II and III only

NOTE: See next slide for correct answer.

While visiting the Galapagos Islands, Charles Darwin noticed several species of birds, which he called finches. These finches were similar in some ways but different in others. Some of the finches that Charles Darwin observed on the Galapagos Islands fed on tiny insect parasites living on the skin of tortoises and lizards. These finches would reach their beaks into small, narrow folds in the animals' skin to catch their insect prey. Which finch below most likely fed on the smallest insects?

Structures, Functions, & Adaptations: PSSA SAMPLE QUESTION

A. B. C. D.

Finch Y Finch X Finch W Finch Z

NOTE: See next slide for correct answer.

While visiting the Galapagos Islands, Charles Darwin noticed several species of birds, which he called finches. These finches were similar in some ways but different in others.

Structures, Functions, & Adaptations: PSSA SAMPLE QUESTION

Some of the finches that Charles Darwin observed on the Galapagos Islands fed on tiny insect parasites living on the skin of tortoises and lizards. These finches would reach their beaks into small, narrow folds in the animals' skin to catch their insect prey. Which finch below most likely fed on the smallest insects?

A. B. C. D.

Finch Y Finch X Finch W Finch Z

PSSA SAMPLE QUESTION

The pictures below show some of the many cells that exist in the human body.

Which of the following statements can be supported by these pictures?

I. Cells within multicellular organisms look different. II. The organisms that are made up of these cells are identical. III. Cells within a multicellular organism all perform the same functions. IV. Cells are shaped differently so they can perform specialized functions.

A.I and II only B.I, II, III, and IV C.I and IV only D.II and III only

NOTE: See next slide for correct answer.

PSSA SAMPLE QUESTION

The pictures below show some of the many cells that exist in the human body.

Which of the following statements can be supported by these pictures?

I. Cells within multicellular organisms look different. II. The organisms that are made up of these cells are identical. III. Cells within a multicellular organism all perform the same functions. IV. Cells are shaped differently so they can perform specialized functions.

A.I and II only B.I, II, III, and IV C.I and IV only D.II and III only

Organism Classification
Taxonomy: the study of how organisms are classified
Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species

PSSA SAMPLE QUESTION

A scientist discovers a new organism. The organism is multicellular, eats other organisms for food, and moves freely from place to place. This organism most likely belongs to_______.

A. B. C. D.

The plant kingdom The animal kingdom The protist kingdom All of these

NOTE: See next slide for correct answer.

Organism Classification
Taxonomy: the study of how organisms are classified
Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species

PSSA SAMPLE QUESTION

A scientist discovers a new organism. The organism is multicellular, eats other organisms for food, and moves freely from place to place. This organism most likely belongs to_______.

A. B. C. D.

The plant kingdom The animal kingdom The protist kingdom All of these

Genetics & Heredity

The behavior of an organism is influenced by both its heredity and its environment. All of the cells in a particular organism have the same genetic information Gene: all of the information about the different structures in the body and how they are put together Selective breeding: process by which human breed plants or animals for a particular genetic trait Inherited Behaviors: behaviors that are genetically passed down from offspring in plants & animals

PSSA SAMPLE QUESTION

Ecosystems & Biomes Which of the following bodies of water are included in the freshwater biome? I. rivers II. oceans III. lakes IV. Streams A. B. C. D. II only II and III only I, II, and IV only I and IV only
NOTE: See next slide for correct answer.

PSSA SAMPLE QUESTION

Ecosystems & Biomes Which of the following bodies of water are included in the freshwater biome? I. rivers II. oceans III. lakes IV. Streams A. B. C. D. II only II and III only I, II, and IV only I and IV only

PSSA SAMPLE QUESTION

Ecosystems & Biomes The picture shows part of a savanna ecosystem. Which of the following lists only biotic components of this ecosystem? A. B. C. D. elephant, bird, grass water, dirt, air elephant, bird, water bird, water, grass

NOTE: See next slide for correct answer.

PSSA SAMPLE QUESTION

Ecosystems & Biomes The picture shows part of a savanna ecosystem. Which of the following lists only biotic components of this ecosystem? A. B. C. D. elephant, bird, grass water, dirt, air elephant, bird, water bird, water, grass

Energy in Ecosystems
Population: a group of organisms of the same species living in the same area at the same time Food webs are diagrams that show how matter and energy flow through ecosystems by showing feeding relationships between producers and consumers Consumer: organisms that consume, or eat, other organisms in order to obtain energy Producers: think plants, organisms that produce their own food

PSSA SAMPLE QUESTION

Which of the following is a producer in the food web shown above? A. B. C. D. Snake Sunlight Grass Decayed matter

NOTE: See next slide for correct answer.

PSSA SAMPLE QUESTION

Which of the following is a producer in the food web shown above? A. B. C. D. Snake Sunlight Grass Decayed matter

Organism Interactions
Cooperation: organisms work together for a common purpose or benefit Symbiosis: a close interaction between individuals of different biological species Predator: an animal that kills and consumes other animals for food Parasitism: one organism received a benefit and the other organism is harmed by the interaction Prey: an animal that is killed and consumed for food Parasite: the organism that received a benefit in a parasitic relationship Mutualism: both organisms involved benefit

The graph below shows the population size of a predator and its prey in a community.

PSSA SAMPLE QUESTION

Look at the prey's population size at the end of the graph. How will this population size most likely change next? A. The population will shrink in size. B. The population will increase in size. C. There is no way to predict how the population size will change. D. The population size will remain the same.

NOTE: See next slide for correct answer.

The graph below shows the population size of a predator and its prey in a community.

PSSA SAMPLE QUESTION

Look at the prey's population size at the end of the graph. How will this population size most likely change next? A. The population will shrink in size. B. The population will increase in size. C. There is no way to predict how the population size will change. D. The population size will remain the same.

Natural Selection, Evolution, & Extinction

Natural Selection: the changes in the characteristics within a population that lead to survival Organisms that do not have adaptations will either migrate to new areas or die out (become extinct).

PSSA SAMPLE QUESTION

Which of the following statements is true about adaptations? I. A species can adapt over the course of many generations. II. A single organism can adapt throughout its lifetime. A. B. C. D. I only Neither I nor II II only Both I and II
NOTE: See next slide for correct answer.

Natural Selection, Evolution, & Extinction

Natural Selection: the changes in the characteristics within a population that lead to survival Organisms that do not have adaptations will either migrate to new areas or die out (become extinct).

PSSA SAMPLE QUESTION

Which of the following statements is true about adaptations? I. A species can adapt over the course of many generations. II. A single organism can adapt throughout its lifetime. A. B. C. D. I only Neither I nor II II only Both I and II

Open-Ended Questions
2 -point questions which involve a written response

OPEN ENDED QUESTION

NOTE: See next slide for correct answer.

How are the ecosystems pictured below similar?

EXIT TICKET!

A. Grasses are the main form of vegetation. B. The soil is very fertile. C. Precipitation is distributed evenly throughout the year. D. They are home to the same species of organisms.
NOTE: See next slide for correct answer.

How are the ecosystems pictured below similar?

EXIT TICKET!

A. Grasses are the main form of vegetation. B. The soil is very fertile. C. Precipitation is distributed evenly throughout the year. D. They are home to the same species of organisms.