Eighth Grade Science 1 2 3 4 QUARTERLY ASSESSMENT Zanesville City Schools 1
1. [LS 1] [R3] Scientists found fish fossils in the desert. What do the fossils tell about this environment when the fish were alive? A. There was a forest with large trees. B. There were lakes with water plants C. There were mountains with glaciers. D. There was a desert with large rocks. 2. [LS 2] [K1] A bacterium reproduces by binary fission. Assuming no mutations have occurred, what is true about the offspring that result from this process? A. They are genetically different from the parent cell. B. They are genetically identical to the parent cell. C. They have no characteristics of the parent cell. D. They have some characteristics of the parent cell. 3. [LS 1] [R3] While studying the fossils of an extinct plant-eating salamander, scientists determine that the salamander population began to decrease near the beginning of an ice age. Which statement is the most likely explanation for the salamander s extinction? A. The salamanders ate all the plants and grew larger as the climate changed. B. Salamander fossils cannot reliably predict population trends because they are just too small to evaluate. C. Salamanders could survive only in tropical climates, so they became extinct when the climate grew cooler. D. Colder weather decreased the size of the plant population that the salamanders ate and led to a decrease in the salamander population. 4. [LS 3] [K2] Some peppered moths have light-colored wings, while others have dark-colored wings. What term describes this difference? A. mutation B. variation C. behavioral adaptation D. evolution Zanesville City Schools 2
5. [LS 1] [R1] The paleontologist examined 10 sites in all. She made detailed drawings of these sites and removed sample fossils. She labeled the sample fossils with the site number, location and layer in which the fossil was found. The paleontologist returned to the lab and discovered that some of the fossil samples were missing labels. In your Answer Document, describe two different ways the lack of labels for these samples will affect the interpretation of the data. (2 points) 6. [LS 3] [K1] When confronted by a predator, an opossum often collapses and lies motionless for a moment before running off. Which term best describes this defense strategy? A. behavioral adaptation B. mutation C. physical adaptation D. extinction 7. [LS 2] [R1] If an organism has a characteristic that limits its chances of survival, which process will tend to increase the chances of its offspring s survival? 8. [LS 3] [K1] Which of the following contain hereditary information? A. Chromosomes and genes B. Chromosomes but not genes C. Genes but not chromosomes D. Neither chromosomes nor genes 9. [LS 3] [R 1] [R 2] In sexually reproducing organisms, such as humans, which of the following statements is TRUE about the DNA found in the cells of the children? A. All of the DNA in the cells of the children contains genetic information from just one of the parents. B. Half of the DNA in the cells of the children contains genetic information from one parent, and half of the DNA contains genetic information from the other parent. C. Some of the DNA in the cells of the children contains genetic information from each parent, but the amount of DNA containing information from each parent cannot be predicted. D. Most of the DNA in the cells of the sons contains genetic information from the father, and most of the DNA in the cells of the daughters contains genetic information from the mother. A. sexual reproduction B. asexual reproduction C. mitosis D. binary fission Zanesville City Schools 3
9740; 8S0223ESEXC0002D 10. LS 1] [R1] Based on observations, the paleontologist concluded that the layers had been undisturbed by geological activity. Which layer should have the oldest fossils? A. layer 8 B. layer 6 C. layer 4 D. layer 2 Zanesville City Schools 4
Use the graph to answer questions 11. 35 Number of Endangered Animal Species 30 25 1980 1990 2000 20 15 10 5 0 Crustaceans Snails Insects Arachnids Animal Groups 11. [LS 1] [PS 3] (2 points) In the space provided on your Answer Document, tell which animal group shows the largest increase in the number of endangered species from 1980 to 2000. Explain how you determined this. 12. [LS 2] [K1] Which of the following is not a characteristic of asexual reproduction? A. Individuals have the same genetic makeup across many generations. B. The main source of variation stems from random mutations. C. Harmful traits are kept out of the general population of the species. D. The daughter cells have half the chromosomes of the parent cell Zanesville City Schools 5
13. [LS 3] [K 1] What is the process of cell division that produces sperm or egg cells with half as many chromosomes as body cells? A. binary fission B. budding C. meiosis D. mutation 14. [LS 3] [R 2] In a certain species of plant, the color purple (P) is dominant to the color white (p). According to the Punnett Square, what is the probability of an offspring being white? 15. [LS 2] [R 1] Charles Darwin observed different finch species on the Galapagos Islands. The different finches had evolved to have beaks of varying size and shape that allowed them to eat certain kinds of food. Type of Finch Tree finch Vegetarian finch Cactus finch Food Source Insects Fruits and hard seeds Cactus fruits and insects inside cactus flowers. Type of Beak Choose the answer below that lists the beak adaptations in the correct order to fill in column 2 of the table. A. 25% B. 100% C. 0% A. Strong, stout beak; Small, short beak; Long, thin beak B. Small, short beak; Long, thin beak; Strong, stout beak C. Small, short beak; Strong, stout beak; Long, thin beak D. Long, thin beak; Small, short beak; Strong, stout beak D. 50% Zanesville City Schools 6
16. [LS 2] [PS 3] Some rabbits have white fur while other rabbits in the same area have brown fur. If the climate of the area changed so that there was increased snow in winter, which would be most likely to happen? 18. [LS 2] [PS 3] What is the best explanation for the variety of birds feet shown? A. The proportion of white and brown rabbits would stay about the same. B. More brown rabbits would survive than white rabbits because they would find each other more quickly. C. More white rabbits would survive than brown rabbits because they are better able to withstand cold temperatures. D. More white rabbits would survive than brown rabbits because predators would not see them as easily against the snow. 17. [LS 2] [K 1] Paramecia usually reproduce asexually. Fish reproduce sexually. Suppose the environmental conditions in the lagoon change. What advantage will the fish population have over the paramecium population? A. Sexual reproduction produces offspring that are identical to the parents. B. Sexual reproduction decreases the genetic variability in the fish population. C. Sexual reproduction limits the spread of harmful characteristics in fish populations. D. Sexual reproduction allows populations to adapt to new conditions over fewer generations. A. They represent stages in the evolution of webbed feet. B. They have evolved as a result of successful variations. C. They are feet of birds that evolved from different species. D. They are feet of the same type of bird at different stages in life. 19. [LS 2] [PS 3] A Burmese python, like other snakes, has a loosely hinged jaw. Which of these best describes the advantage of this adaptation. A. This type of jaw allows the snake to scoop up water from ponds and rivers. B. This type of jaw allows the snake to climb and live in trees. C. This type of jaw provides no advantage. D. This type of jaw can be stretched wide, allowing the python to swallow animals that are larger than its head. Zanesville City Schools 7
20. [LS 2] [K 1] (2 points) In the space provided on your Answer Document, describe one advantage of asexual reproduction over sexual reproduction. Zanesville City Schools 8