MC	Biology	Standard: 01
Objective: 02. Explain relationships between matter cycles and organisms.
ILO:

1. In the water cycle, what is the conversion of liquid water to a gas or vapor?

a. Evaporation

b. Condensation

c. Precipitation

d. Seepage (could also use other words like infiltration. Whatever you thought was more appropriate).

2. What process do plants use to covert carbon dioxide to sugar and oxygen?

a. Photosynthesis

b. Respiration

c. Condensation

d. Denitrification

3. What process do animals use to convert sugar and oxygen to carbon dioxide and energy?

a. Photosynthesis

b. Respiration

c. Condensation

d. Denitrification

4. Decomposers, such as bacteria, return which nutrient from dead plants and animals to the soil?

a. Nitrogen

b. Oxygen

c. Carbon

d. Water

Correct Answers:

1. a

2. a

3. b

4. a

MC	Biology	Standard: 01
Objective: 02. Explain relationships between matter cycles and organisms.
ILO:

Abiotic Factors	Ecosystems	Biotic Factors	Populations
Water		Fungi	Black Oak Trees in a forest
Light		Grasses	Bullfrogs in a pond
Temperature		Plants	Brook trout in a stream
Soil		Animals	E. coli in the intestine
Nutrients		Humans
Gases		Decomposers

1. During the nitrogen cycle, nitrogen from the air is converted to nitrates by plants, which is then used by living organisms to make proteins and nucleic acids. Under what category does the nitrogen cycle belong?

a. Abiotic factors

b. Ecosystems

c. Biotic factors

d. Populations

2. If the nitrogen cycle was interrupted at any stage, which of the following would be the MOST affected?

a. Production of energy

b. Protection of body organs

c. Formation of carbohydrates

d. Growth/repair of cells

Correct Answers:

1. b

2. d

MC	Biology	Standard: 01
Objective: 02. Explain relationships between matter cycles and organisms.
ILO:

If carbon dioxide (CO2) were withdrawn from the biosphere, which organism would first experience negative biological effects?

a. Primary consumers

b. Producers

c. Second-level consumers

d. Third-level consumers

Correct Answer: b

MC	Biology	Standard: 01
Objective: 02. Explain relationships between matter cycles and organisms.
ILO:

Water has always been scarce in the Middle East. Israel, Jordan, Syria, the West Bank, Iraq and Turkey have fought over water and continually threaten war when the flow of water is reduced. Where the flow of water has slowed down, we see problems obtaining clean drinking water, difficulty growing crops, and problems in producing electricity. Where water is plentiful, we see large economic growth of Middle Eastern cities.

How does this scenario describe water?

a. Variable

b. Biotic component

c. Producer

d. Limiting factor

Correct Answer: d

MC	Biology	Standard: 01
Objective: 02. Explain relationships between matter cycles and organisms.
ILO:

What ecological problem will result if individuals use automobiles instead of car-pooling or using scheduled public transportation?

a. convenience in traveling when and where each individual chooses.

b. greater air pollution than from any other cause.

c. higher employment in automobile and fuel industries.

d. lower accident and injury rate than in scheduled transportation.

e. all of these.

Correct Answer: b

MC	Biology	Standard: 01
Objective: 02. Explain relationships between matter cycles and organisms.
ILO:

How can we lessen the impact of agriculture on the biosphere?

a. rotate and alternate crops.

b. select crops for less irrigation.

c. use organic instead of inorganic fertilizers.

d. use biological pest control instead of insecticides.

e. all of these.

Correct Answer: e

MC	Biology	Standard: 01
Objective: 02. Explain relationships between matter cycles and organisms.
ILO:

The greenhouse effect is caused chiefly by the presence of excess carbon dioxide in the air. This traps the heat energy of sunlight and daily activities in the earthÕs atmosphere. What personal choices would NOT help to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?

a. Reduce the use of aerosols

b. Carpool instead of driving alone.

c. Recycle plastics, aluminum, and paper.

d. Cutting down trees to make farms.

Correct Answer: d

MC	Biology	Standard: 01
Objective: 02. Explain relationships between matter cycles and organisms.
ILO:

JohnÕs family has owned and operated a farm for over seventy years. They raise feed corn and alfalfa on over 80 acres of land. They use flood irrigation to water their crops, utilize fertilizers, and apply pesticides to control destructive insect populations. Their land is located approximately one half mile from a river that supplies water to the local town. JohnÕs father knows that occasionally the chemicals he uses on his crops end up in the river. He also knows that there are other products, which are not harmful to humans but are much more expensive to purchase, are available. Which of the following statements best describes what you think JohnÕs father should do when he makes decisions about the purchase of chemicals for his farming operation?

In the selection above, underline evidence that could affect the decision.

_____1. JohnÕs father should continue to purchase the less expensive chemicals. It is important for him to make a profit on his operation.

_____2. JohnÕs father should purchase the more expensive, less harmful chemicals. His farming practices could affect the health of people in the community.

_____3. JohnÕs father should continue farming the way his family has in the past. It is not likely that the chemicals in the river affect humans.

_____4. JohnÕs father should work with the city to determine if the chemicals are getting into the water supply and affecting human health before making his decision.

_____5. JohnÕs father should ask the city to reimburse him for the purchase of the more expensive chemicals.

_____6. JohnÕs father should stop using any chemicals in his farming operation.

_____6. Write your own idea about what you think JohnÕs father should do and why.

Note to teacher:

There is no correct answer for the question. The statements indicate possible positions that students make take. This assessment question gives teachers an indication of studentsÕ beliefs about the impact of personal choices on the cycling of matter in ecosystems.

I	Biology	Standard: 01
Objective: 02. Explain relationships between matter cycles and organisms.
ILO:

Read the following before answering the questions:

The forest is calm and serene until a lumberjack presses his chain saw into the bark of a 200-year-old Douglas fir. The searing steel saw rips through the bark and past the thin cells of living tissue. In less than two minutes the noble giant succumbs and crashes to the earth. Life is extinguished as tree after tree is severed from the earth. Acre after acre is destroyed with wanton abandon. As the carnage grows, habitat for vulnerable species is lost forever.

1. What is the tone of the article?

a. Antagonistic towards the lumber industry.

b. Supportive of the lumber industry.

c. A factual account of lumber industry practices

d. A neutral, and objective look at the lumber industry.

2. According to the article, what consequences could continual logging cause?

a. Depletion of habitat and increased number of species

b. Destruction of habitat and decreased number of species

c. Creation of new habitat and a continuation of existing species.

d. Creation of new habitat and an increase in species diversity

3. According to the article, what atmospheric changes could result from increased logging?

a. Decreased atmospheric CO2

b. Increased atmospheric CO2

c. Decreased atmospheric CFCs

d. Increased atmospheric CFCs

4. In a brief paragraph, indicate possible motives that led to the writing of the article and indicate what prior experience may have contributed to the perspective held by the author.

Correct Answers & Scoring Guide:

1. a

2. b

3. b

4.The motive appears to be preservation of our forests; stop clear cutting or other extensive forest depletion. Writer may have had experience as a logger or a botanist.

I	Biology	Standard: 01
Objective: 02. Explain relationships between matter cycles and organisms.
ILO:

The following key is to be used to identify each statement in the paragraph. Identify each statement using the key, then answer the questions that follow. (Hint: read the entire paragraph before answering the questions.)

KEY:

a. Problem (stated or implied)

b. Hypothesis (possible solution to the problem)

c. Statement of observations

d. A prediction from a hypothesis

e. An inference

(1) How bees can smell at a distance has interested many people. When the antennae are coated with various substances, bees cannot find food. (2) Do vaporized chemical substances carried in the air stimulate the sense organs on the antennae of the bees? Mr. X suggested that (3) if this were the case covering the antennae should prevent the bees from going toward a plate of honey. Antennae were covered; (4) the bees did not go toward the honey. Ms. Y suggested that (5) if vaporized chemical substances stimulated sense organs then bees kept in an airtight glass cage would not go toward honey. Honey was smeared on the glass of one side of an airtight cage. (6) All the bees crawled over the side with the honey but not on the other sides of the cage.

1. _____ 2. _____ 3. _____ 4. _____ 5. _____ 6. _____

7. The experiment suggested by Mr. X was

a. Satisfactory.

b. Unsatisfactory because it was unrelated tot he problem.

c. Unsatisfactory because it did not test the hypothesis.

d. Unsatisfactory because the results were not what was expected.

8. The experiment suggested by Ms. Y was

a. Satisfactory.

b. Unsatisfactory because it was unrelated to the problem.

c. Unsatisfactory because it did not test the hypothesis.

d. Unsatisfactory because the results were not what was expected.

9.The data obtained from the experiment suggested by Ms. Y

a. Supported the hypothesis.

b. Failed to support the hypothesis.

c. Neither supported nor failed to support the hypothesis.

d. Was totally unrelated tot eh hypothesis.

10.What recommendation would you make to Mr. X and Ms. Y?

a. Keep trying the same experiments.

b. Conclude that bees smell a vaporized chemical substance.

c. Conclude that no one knows how bees can smell.

d. Make a new hypothesis.

Correct Answers:

1. a

2. b

3. d

4. c

5. d

6. c

7. c

8. a

9. b

10. d

I	Biology	Standard: 01
Objective: 02. Explain relationships between matter cycles and organisms.
ILO:

Some scientists have been concerned about the greenhouse effect. This effect occurs when carbon dioxide traps the sunÕs heat causing a gradual increase in the earthÕs temperature. Carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere by automobiles, making cement, combustion in factories, and the burning of forests. In addition to carbon dioxide, there are other gases that seem to contribute to global warming. These include methane and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). Methane is produced as a waste product by animals like cows, pipeline leaks, decaying wastes in landfills, and coal mining. CFCs are found in many spray propellants, degrading agents, and refrigeration agents such as in air conditioning. These scientists worry that global warming may lead to changes in the water cycle causing drought, violent storms, famine, melting of ice caps, and flooding of costal cities. They worry not only about human suffering, but the loss of thousands, even millions, of organisms that would become extinct because they could not adapt quickly enough.

1. Which of the following would help to reduce the greenhouse effect the MOST?

a. Decreasing car emission

a. Planting more trees

b. Stop the use of spray cans

c. Reducing cow ranches

2. Which of the following governmental regulations would NOT help reduce global warming?

a. Reducing the movement of people to costal cities.

a. Increasing the miles per gallon requirements for cars and SUVs.

a. Mandating recycling in all areas.

a. Reforestation and sustained-tree farming.

3. What chemical compound seems to be the MOST responsible for global warming?

a. Methane

b. Chlorofluorocarbons

c. Carbon Dioxide

d. Sodium Chloride

4. How could the global warming best be studied?

a. Measure the amount of carbon dioxide in the air in one area.

b. Measure the temperatures around the world for several years.

c. Measure the thickness of the polar ice caps in the Arctic.

d. Measure the amount of methane produced by a cow in one day.

Correct Answers:

1. a

2. a

3. c

4. b

P	Biology	Standard: 01
Objective: 02. Explain relationships between matter cycles and organisms.
ILO:

Title: Is Nitrogen Necessary?

Time required: 6 to 8 weeks.

Materials: Stock solutions (some complete and some complete minus nitrogen)

Directions:

1. Design and carry out a controlled experiment to determine if nitrogen is required for normal growth of plants.

a. After researching the question, write an essay describing how plants use nitrogen and make a prediction describing plants grown in the absence of nitrogen. List at least three references.

b. State a hypothesis

c. Describe your experimental design for testing your hypothesis.

Describe the control

Describe the experimental group

Describe variables

Indicate all materials and methods used in detail so that someone else can duplicate your experiment.

d. Set up and carry out your experiment

e. Collect data and provide a copy of all raw data you obtain.

f. Analyze data in form of graphs, charts, etc.

g. Provide a detailed, typed report of your results and conclusions.

h. Report your results to the class.

i. Indicate new questions resulting from your work and/or your suggestions for future research on this topic.

j. How can this information be helpful to others in a practical way? How can this information be used in our lives? Convince others that it is important!

Questions:

1. What should be done if the results of an experiment do not support the hypothesis?

a.

b.

c.

d.

e.

2. What if a legume was used as the experimental plant? What influence might that have on the results?

3. List some reasons why plants need nitrogen.

4. Indicate the symptoms of nitrogen deficiency in plants.

5. Are nitrogen deficiency symptoms more obvious in the older leaves o