Utah Science Core Curriculum

Biology

2003 TEST ITEM POOL

 

 

The items in this pool represent the work of many Utah science teachers.  The items are aligned to the 2003 Biology Core Curriculum.  All rights to this pool are the property of the Utah State Office of Education.  Permission is granted to teachers, districts, or state agencies to use these items, provided they are not used in a manner that results in the distribution of items or instructional materials for profit.

 

The items in this pool will be refined each year.  If you find errors in the pool, we wish to correct them.  Please contact us. If you are interested in working with the refinement of this item pool, please contact USOE via email.

 

            Kevin King, Science Assessment Specialist                        kking@usoe.k12.ut.us

            Brett Moulding, Science Education Specialist                    bmouldin@usoe.k12.ut.us

 

 

 

Biology Core Curriculum

Standards and Objectives

 

 

STANDARD I:  Students will understand that living organisms interact with one another and their environment.

 

Objective 1:  Summarize how energy flows through an ecosystem.

Objective 2:  Explain relationships between matter cycles and organisms.

Objective 3:  Describe how interactions among organisms and their environment help shape ecosystems.

 

 

STANDARD II:  Students will understand that all organisms are composed of one or more cells that are made of molecules, come from preexisting cells, and perform life functions.

 

Objective 1:  Describe the fundamental chemistry of living cells.

Objective 2:  Describe the flow of energy and matter in cellular function.

Objective 3:  Investigate the structure and function of cells and cell parts.

 

 

STANDARD III:  Students will understand the relationship between structure and function of organs and organ systems.

 

Objective 1:   Describe the structure and function of organs.

Objective 2:  Describe the relationship between structure and function of organ systems in plants and animals.

 

 

STANDARD IV:  Students will understand that genetic information coded in DNA is passed from parents to offspring by sexual and asexual reproduction.  The basic structure of DNA is the same in all living things.  Changes in DNA may alter genetic expression.

 

Objective 1:  Compare sexual and asexual reproduction.

Objective 2:  Predict and interpret patterns of inheritance in sexually reproducing organisms.

Objective 3:  Explain how the structure and replication of DNA are essential to heredity and protein synthesis.

 

 

STANDARD V:  Students will understand that biological diversity is a result of evolutionary processes.

 

Objective 1:  Relate principles of evolution to biological diversity.

Objective 2:  Cite evidence for changes in populations over time and use concepts of evolution to explain these changes.

Objective 3:  Classify organisms into a hierarchy of groups based on similarities that reflect their evolutionary relationships.

 

 

END OF COURSE:  Items that can be used to assess studentsÁ attitudes toward science and their understanding of the nature of science.