STAAR Biology Testing Strategies

Positive thigmotropism is a response in plants in which they move and grow toward an object the plant comes into physical contact with, usually curling around the object. This response of the shoot system benefits the plant by allowing the plant to —

• produce more pollen for pollinators

• take in more carbon dioxide to convert into glucose

• absorb more water to transport to the leaves

• reach more sunlight for photosynthesis

Answer explanation

This response of the shoot system benefits the plant by providing added support for the plant to grow and allowing the plant to put more energy into growing toward sunlight to perform photosynthesis.

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS1-5

What are the products of the cellular process in these organelles?

• I: glucose and carbon dioxide II: oxygen and water

• I: carbon dioxide and oxygen II: glucose and water

• I: oxygen and glucose II: water and carbon dioxide

• I: carbon dioxide and water II: glucose and oxygen

Answer explanation

Organelle I is mitochondria, where carbon dioxide and water are the products of the process of cellular respiration. Organelle II is a chloroplast, where glucose and oxygen are the products of the process of photosynthesis.

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS1-7

NGSS.HS-LS2-5

Which sequence represents the levels of organization found in a multicellular organism, from smallest to largest?

• Cell, Tissue, Organ, Organ System

• Organ System, Organ, Tissue, Cell

• Tissue, Organ, Organ System, Cell

• Cell, Organ System, Organ, Tissue

Answer explanation

The order of cell, tissue, organ, and organ system represents the smallest to largest levels of cellular organization.

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS1-2

Which component can be added to the flask to reduce the concentration of carbon dioxide in the model atmosphere created by the disks?

• Bacteria to use carbon during nitrification

• Plants to absorb carbon in the process of photosynthesis

• Snails to use carbon through cellular respiration

• Mushrooms to absorb carbon during decomposition

Answer explanation

Plants absorb carbon in the process of photosynthesis.

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS1-5

NGSS.HS-LS2-5

In a recent study, scientists investigated the effects of microorganisms naturally found in the body. They raised mice in two different environments and compared their immune system functions in response to a bacterial infection. Their data are shown. Which conclusion about the microorganisms naturally found in the body is most likely supported by these data?

• All microorganisms are harmful to the body.

• Microorganisms are important in promoting healthy

  immune systems.

• All bacteria in the body increase the effectiveness of the immune system.

• Bacteria that cause infections decrease the number and variety of immune cells in the body.

Answer explanation

The microorganisms found in the body are important in promoting a healthy immune system because they keep the immune system strong, aid in digestion, and neutralize toxins.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Some relationships between species found in the Texas Gulf Coast are shown in the food web.

Which energy pyramid best models energy flow in the Texas Gulf Coast community?

• 
• 
• 
• 

Answer explanation

Stone crabs consume gulf pipefish, and gulf pipefish consume aquatic plants.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Which of the following is a primary strategy for approaching STAAR Biology questions?

• Read all answer choices before selecting one

• Choose the first answer that seems correct

• Skip difficult questions and return later

• Eliminate obviously wrong answers first

What is the best way to interpret data from a graph on the STAAR Biology test?

• Look for trends and patterns

• Focus only on the title

• Ignore the axes labels

• Memorize the data points

When conducting an experiment, what is the importance of a control group?

• To provide a standard for comparison

• To introduce new variables

• To ensure the experiment is biased

• To increase the number of trials

Which of the following is a key concept in understanding cell theory?

• All living things are composed of cells

• Cells can spontaneously generate

• Cells are only found in plants

• Cells do not contain DNA