STAAR Biology High School 2014 - Past Paper
Quiz by TEKS Biology High School
High School - Biology
Science (2010) (Archived)
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)
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Measures 35 skills from
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- Q 1/54Score 0The opossum, which is native to North America, and the kangaroo, which is native to Australia, are marsupials. The fact that both these mammals incubate their immature offspring in a pouch provides evidence that they —29are descended from a common ancestormust range great distances to eatbelong to the same specieshave very similar skeletal structures
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- Q1The opossum, which is native to North America, and the kangaroo, which is native to Australia, are marsupials. The fact that both these mammals incubate their immature offspring in a pouch provides evidence that they —are descended from a common ancestormust range great distances to eatbelong to the same specieshave very similar skeletal structures30sB.7.A: Common Ancestry
- Q2Some students are instructed to put a celery stalk in a red dye solution for a lab activity. First the students carefully cut the bottom of the stalk with a scalpel. Then they put the stalk in the beaker with the solution and place the beaker on a shelf in the lab room. The next day they check the stalk and make observations. The students note that the leaves at the end of the stalk have changed color from green to red. The students cut across the celery stalk and use a hand lens to see that the small tube openings along the edge of the celery stalk are also red. The cross section is shown below. How do the plant systems work together to make this movement of liquid possible?The roots anchor the plant in the soil, and the stem holds the leaves upThe roots absorb their own water and minerals, while the stem absorbs its water and minerals through the leavesThe roots lose water vapor to the soil, and the stem loses water vapor through the leavesThe roots absorb water and minerals and move them up to the stem, while the stem moves food produced in the leaves down to the roots in tiny tubes30sB.10.B: Plant Systems
- Q3The table below provides some information about the feeding methods of the five rhinoceros species. Which rhinoceros species is best adapted for feeding in the large open grasslands of Africa’s Serengeti ecosystem?Sumatran rhinocerosJavan rhinocerosBlack rhinocerosWhite rhinoceros30sB.12.B: Variation & Adaptation
- Q4Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease affects people under the age of 65. Less than five percent of people who are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease have this type. Many cases of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease are inherited, a type known as familial Alzheimer’s disease (FAD). Which statement is best supported by this information?FAD is the result of a genetic change in one or more chromosomesFAD affects only the genes of middle-aged peopleDeletion of one amino acid causes FADNatural selection will continue to reduce the incidence of FAD30sB.6.E: Changes In DNA
- Q5The cladogram shows the evolution of land plants as indicated by fossil records.Which discovery would challenge the validity of this cladogram?A species of algae that has existed for less than one million yearsA fossil of a fern more than 425 million years oldA large aquatic vascular plant about 200 million years oldA moss species that has existed for less than 380 million years30sB.7.B: Fossil Records
- Q6Atherosclerosis is a disease that obstructs blood flow and, therefore, oxygen supply to target organs. A major component of atherosclerosis is the excessive reproduction of smooth muscle cells of the blood vessels. Certain drugs may have the potential to reverse or prevent the unregulated reproduction of the diseased blood-vessel cells. Which of these processes is the most likely target of these drugs?DNA transcriptionErythroblast differentiationCellular respirationCell division30sB.5.D: Diseases
- Q7The outermost layer of plant stems in dicotyledons consists of epidermal cells and guard cells that surround openings called stomata. The epidermal cells are usually covered with a waterproof layer that provides protection from injury and water loss. The stomata allow gas exchange. The epidermal cells and stomata have functions similar to those of which two human body systems?Cardiovascular and integumentarySkeletal and respiratoryIntegumentary and respiratoryCardiovascular and skeletal30sB.10.B: Plant Systems
- Q8Carbohydrates are more easily metabolized than lipids. However, on a gram-for-gram basis lipids provide cells with more —energynitrogenproteinsstructure30sB.9.A: Biomolecules
- Q9Lord Howe Island is a volcanic island in the Tasman Sea that is about 11 km long and 2.8 km wide. The island has two species of palm trees, Howea forsteriana and the more abundant Howea belmoreana. The two species do not interbreed even when they grow very close to each other. Which evolutionary process fails to occur?Natural selection of adaptive traits in both speciesMutations in Howea belmoreanaGene flow between the two speciesGenetic drift of Howea forsteriana30sB.7.F: Evolutionary Mechanisms
- Q10Dead zones are low-oxygen areas that develop on the seafloor. Scientists hypothesize that phytoplankton blooms cause these dead zones. Phytoplankton blooms occur when excess nutrients are introduced by pollution from fertilizers, sewage plants, and the burning of fossil fuels. Which of the following would most likely cause an increase in these contributors to dead zones?Farming practices that reduce nitrate and phosphate applicationsReplacing coal-fired power plants with windmillsConstructing efficient water-recovery and treatment plantsRainfall patterns that increase freshwater runoff from terrestrial ecosystems30sB.12.F: Environmental Change
- Q11Using a light microscope, a student identified the following characteristics of four organisms found in a sample of pond water. Based on the observations of the student, which organisms most likely belong to the taxonomic group for bacteria?Organisms 1 and 4Organisms 1 and 2Organisms 3 and 4Organisms 2 and 330sB.8.B: Hierarchical Classification
- Q12Sexual reproduction in animals depends on the production of gametes. Which of these processes produces gametes in animals?MeiosisBinary fissionMitosisFertilization30sB.6.G: Meiosis
- Q13What two human systems work together to provide body cells with a constant supply of oxygen while removing carbon dioxide waste products?Respiratory and circulatoryExcretory and integumentaryNervous and endocrineMuscular and skeletal30sB.10.A: Animal Systems
- Q14Some fungi secrete substances that are toxic to bacteria that compete with them for food. Scientists have used their knowledge of this ability of fungi in order to produce which of the following substances?PlasticAntibioticsYogurtFertilizers30sB.11.C: Microorganisms
- Q15A person infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) may not have any symptoms for a period of time. During this period the virus affects the body by doing which of the following?The virus produces toxins that weaken immune cells and prevent them from reproducingThe virus damages immune cells while using their machinery to produce copies of itselfThe virus uses nutrients meant for immune cells to fuel its own cellular respirationThe virus changes the identity of the nucleotides of immune cells to prevent the immune system from functioning normally30sB.4.C: Viruses
