MCAS Science Review Metric

Katydids are insects that live on plants. Their bodies are adapted to look like leaves. Which of the following best explains why katydids adapted this trait?

• Katydids with this trait were better able to make their own food.

• Katydids with this trait were better able to store nutrients and hibernate.

• Katydids with this trait were better able to blend into their environment and survive.

• Katydids with this trait were better able to communicate with other insects around them.

Which of the following objects would reflect the greatest amount of light from a flashlight?

• A. a brick wall

• B. a glass window

• C. a bathroom mirror

• D. a sheet of black paper

Sandstone is a sedimentary rock. Which of the following statements best describes how sandstone is formed?

• A. Minerals left behind by dripping water harden and form rock over time.

• B. Weathered rock particles form layers and are cemented over time.

• C. Volcanic eruptions force molten rock to the surface, where it cools and solidifies.

• D. Underground heat and pressure cause existing rock to change and form new rock.

Which of the following properties must be the same for two tables made from the same sample of wood?

• A. hardness

• B. shape

• C. size

• D. weight

Some students are trying to determine whether a material is a mineral. They ask the questions shown in the table below.

Questions

1. Does the material occur naturally?

2. Will the material break if hit with a hammer?

3. Does the material have a crystal structure?

4. How much does the material weigh?

Which two questions would most help the students determine whether the material is a mineral?

• A. questions 1 and 2

• B. questions 1 and 3

• C. questions 2 and 4

• D. questions 3 and 4

Which of the following animal behaviors most likely helps to change an open meadow area into an area with many trees?

• A. deer feeding on new plant growth in the area each spring

• B. beavers creating ponds in the area by damming up streams

• C. rabbits digging burrows underground and loosening up hard soil

• D. squirrels burying seeds for winter and leaving them in the ground

Which of the following statements best describes the climate of an area rather than its weather conditions?

• A. The summers are hot and humid.

• B. The temperature at noon was 86°F.

• C. Total rainfall on April 9 was 2 inches.

• D. Strong winds are expected tomorrow evening.

• A. Plant Y’s roots were damaged by insects, so it cannot make as much food as plant X can.

• B. Plant Y’s flowers were damaged by insects, so it cannot store as many minerals as plant X can.

• C. Plant Y’s fruit was damaged by insects, so it cannot attract pollinating insects as well as plant X can.

• D. Plant Y’s stem was damaged by insects, so it cannot move as much water to its leaves as plant X can.

A student uses the two containers shown below to investigate the properties of a liquid.

The student fills container 1 with a liquid and then pours all the liquid from container 1 into container 2. Based on the student’s investigation, which of the following statements best describes a property of a liquid?

• A. It takes the shape of its container.

• B. It expands to completely fill its container.

• C. It stays the same shape in different containers.

• D. It has different weights in different containers.

The compass is brought close to several objects. Which of the following objects is most likely to make the needle of the compass point in a direction other than magnetic north?

• A. a wooden picnic table

• B. a steel swing set

• C. a glass window

• D. a plastic chair