2019 STAAR Biology Test

A new predator of rabbits has been introduced within an ecosystem. This new predator runs faster than the native predators of rabbits.

Which statement describes what will most likely occur in the rabbit population due to the introduction of the predator?

• The rabbits will mutate their genes and express genes that increase their speed.

• Slower rabbits will develop stronger legs and pass this trait to their offspring.

• Rabbits will mate and produce offspring with a different species that has faster runners.

• Faster rabbits will survive and reproduce increasing the average speed of the rabbit population.

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS4-2

NGSS.HS-LS4-4

NGSS.HS-LS4-5

Which answer choice best describes a community?

• Praying mantises caring for their young

• Three-spined sticklebacks living in estuaries

• Different species of lizards occupying the same niche in a desert

• Roosting mother bats recognizing their offspring

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS2-2

Eight components present in nucleic acids are listed in the box.

Which components bond with adenine in a section of double-stranded DNA?

• 1, 3, 5, and 6 only

• 3 and 5 only

• 2 and 4 only

• 3, 4, 7, and 8 only

What would be the most likely effect of a wildfire that burned a large area of a forest?

• More sugars and starches would be available for animals in the area.

• The availability of fossil fuels for use by industries in the area would be reduced.

• Less carbon dioxide would be removed from the atmosphere in the area by plants.

• An increase in animal respiration would increase the release of carbon dioxide in the area.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Which four body systems interact to allow a person to sneeze?

• Muscular, immune, nervous, respiratory

• Nervous, respiratory, circulatory, skeletal

• Respiratory, endocrine, skeletal, circulatory

• Lymphatic, skeletal, respiratory, muscular

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS1-2

Students use a microscope to look for structures present in four different cells. The students placed an X for each structure that was viewed for each cell on the table shown.

Which cell that was viewed is most likely a prokaryote?

• Cell W

• Cell X

• Cell Y

• Cell Z

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-1

NGSS.MS-LS1-2

A dichotomous key for identifying fish is shown.

Based on this key, which two fish have eyes located on either side of their head and are not spotted?

• Glassy sweeper and squirrelfish

• Glasseye snapper and spotted eagle ray

• Spotted goatfish and bandtail puffer

• Peacock flounder and glassy sweeper

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Students are modeling mRNA during the process of protein synthesis.

Which answer choice correctly describes the model of the mRNA strand being transcribed?

• The mRNA strand is complementary to the DNA template strand; however, uracil instead of adenine is paired with thymine.

• The mRNA strand is complementary to the DNA template strand; however, uracil instead of thymine is paired with adenine.

• The mRNA strand is an exact copy of the DNA template strand; however, uracil instead of adenine is paired with thymine.

• The mRNA strand is an exact copy of the DNA template strand; however, uracil instead of thymine is paired with adenine.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS3-1

The karyotype, or chromosomal profile, for humans is shown. A karyotype can be used to investigate genetic disorders.

The chemical colchicine is used in the production of karyotypes. Colchicine prevents spindle fibers from forming during the cell cycle.

What is a result of preventing spindle fibers from forming?

• The cell cycle skips G₁ phase and repeats G₀ phase.

• Mitotic division is skipped, and the cell cycle proceeds to cytokinesis.

• Mitotic division stops in metaphase and cannot proceed to anaphase.

• The cell cycle skips S phase and proceeds to G₂ phase.

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS1-4

A team of students encounters an unknown organism in a field while conducting a biodiversity study. Some students think the organism is a plant, while others think it is a fungus.

Which question should the students investigate to classify the organism correctly?

• Is there a cell wall around the cells of the organism?

• Does the organism perform photosynthesis?

• Is there nervous tissue present in the organism?

• Does the organism reproduce sexually?

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-1

NGSS.MS-LS1-6