STAAR High School Biology - 2024 Past Paper
Quiz by Biology - Texas Education Agency
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- Q1
Humans have thousands of genes that combine in different ways to help create unique individuals. Where is the genetic code primarily located?
Ribose sugars in RNA
Phosphates in DNA
Nucleotides in DNA
Exons in RNA
30sB.6.A - Q2
The table shows the relationships of some organisms that live in a Texas Hill Country habitat.
Based on the data in the table, which food chain depicts a correct flow of energy through the Texas Hill Country habitat?
30sB.12.C - Q3
A large part of Texas is made up of open areas covered in grasses. Together these areas form a grassland biome. There are multiple levels of organization that help form a biome. One of these levels is a community.
Which example BEST represents a community in the grassland biome?
A cottontail rabbit interacting with other cottontail rabbits in the biome.
All the different kinds of plants, animals, and microorganisms in the biome interacting with each other
A single switchgrass plant growing in the biome.
All the plants and animals in the biome using air and water to survive.
30sB.10.C - Q4
The graph shows a change in a population of cacti.
Which claim is supported by the graph?
Having more spines is an adaptation, and it increases reproductive fitness.
Having more spines is an adaptation, and it decreases reproductive fitness.
Having more spines is not an adaptation, and it increases reproductive fitness.
Having more spines is not an adaptation, and it decreases reproductive fitness.
30sB.7.E - Q5
Curly hair and the ability to taste the chemical PTC are inherited traits. Curly hair (H) is always dominant to straight hair (h). The ability to taste PTC (P) is always dominant to not being able to taste PTC (p). The alleles for straight hair and a non-taster for PTC are recessive.
If both parents are heterozygous for both traits, what would be the genotype of an offspring with straight hair and the ability to taste PTC?
HhPp
hhPp
Hhpp
hhpp
30sB.6.F - Q6
On the Edwards Plateau in Texas, shrubs grow in arid areas with relatively thin limestone soils. Although these shrublands may transform into forests, the transformation is very slow and never occurs in some places. The image shows an arid area with shrubs and some trees growing.
Which factor MOST LIKELY slows or prevents this ecosystem’s progression from shrublands into forests?
Limestone soils stimulate plant growth.
Moving water dissolves limestone rocks.
Shrubby plants dominate the area.
The ecosystem has low rainfall and periodic fires.
30sB.11.B - Q7
Dogs have 39 pairs of chromosomes in their somatic cells. In which part of the cell are these chromosomes replicated during the cell cycle?
Users enter free textType an Answer30sB.5.A - Q830sB.10.B
- Q9
Scientists have reported that more than 95% of the factors that lead to some types of cancers are caused by random DNA-copying errors. During which phase of the cell cycle do these DNA-copying errors most likely occur?
30sB.5.C - Q10
The diagram shows changes in blood pressure over time.
Vasodilation and vasoconstriction occur because blood —
flows through veins and arteries
is a necessary component for life
flows through the heart at various rates
pressure is controlled by a feedback mechanism
30sB.10.A - Q11
Nitrogen is an essential component of all living things. However, atmospheric nitrogen is unavailable for organisms to use. Through various processes and chemical changes, nitrogen moves through the biosphere, atmosphere, and geosphere in different forms, making it available for all organisms. Atmospheric nitrogen is deposited in the soil and surface waters primarily through precipitation. Once in the soil, microorganisms break down the nitrogen into different forms, which is then taken up by plants. Nitrogen eventually makes its way back into the atmosphere.
What would happen within the nitrogen cycle if a bactericide, a substance that kills bacteria, was added to the soil?
The rate at which nitrogen is broken down would increase, resulting in faster absorption by plants.
Microorganisms would not be present to break down the nitrogen into a usable form for plants.
More nutrients would be added to the soil, increasing the amount of nitrogen available to plants.
Nitrogen would be blocked from entering the soil, making it unavailable for plants to use.
30sB.12.D - Q12
A student claims that the influenza virus replicates in the air and then infects people. Which statement BEST describes the claim?
The claim is true because viruses can infect cells without direct contact.
The claim is true because viruses replicate within the particles of the air.
The claim is false because viruses require host cells in order to replicate.
The claim is false because viruses cannot survive in the air.
30sB.4.C - Q13
A DNA mutation results in a protein that is the same as the initial protein synthesized before the mutation. Which statement BEST explains this outcome?
One amino acid substitution does not affect protein synthesis.
Different codons can be translated into the same amino acid, so some mutations do not affect protein synthesis.
Only mutations that occur at the chromosomal level change protein function.
Amino acids have similar functions, so their corresponding proteins are unaffected by mutations.
30sB.6.E - Q14
Giant salvinia is a floating fern native to Brazil introduced to Texas as an aquarium plant and is now found in large bodies of water across the state. The invasive plant may be carried to new bodies of water by fishing and recreational boats. It grows quickly, covering large areas of the water’s surface. When the plant dies and decomposes, the oxygen content in the water declines.
Part A
Which statement BEST describes how giant salvinia affects a Texas ecosystem?
It promotes the growth of new types of plants.
It increases the stability of the ecosystem.
It provides an energy source for the ecosystem.
It inhibits the growth of native plant species.
30sB.12.E - Q15
Giant salvinia is a floating fern native to Brazil introduced to Texas as an aquarium plant and is now found in large bodies of water across the state. The invasive plant may be carried to new bodies of water by fishing and recreational boats. It grows quickly, covering large areas of the water’s surface. When the plant dies and decomposes, the oxygen content in the water declines.
Part B
Which evidence supports the answer to Part A?
(It inhibits the growth of native plant species.)
Giant salvinia is poisonous to other plants that grow on the water’s surface.
Giant salvinia produces waste products that are used by other plants.
Giant salvinia releases carbon dioxide that other plants cannot use.
Giant salvinia prevents light from reaching plants that grow underwater.
30sB.12.E
