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Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System

2016, High School Biology

  Question 12: Open-Response  
Reporting Category: Anatomy and Physiology
Standard: 4.2 - Explain how the circulatory system (heart, arteries, veins, capillaries, red blood cells) transports nutrients and oxygen to cells and removes cell wastes. Describe how the kidneys and the liver are closely associated with the circulatory system as they perform the excretory function of removing waste from the blood. Recognize that kidneys remove nitrogenous wastes, and the liver removes many toxic compounds from blood.

  View Reading Selection
Blood carries oxygen to body cells.
  1. Identify the process in body cells that directly requires oxygen and identify the structure in blood that transports oxygen to body cells.
Individuals monitor their total cholesterol levels to try to assess their risk of atherosclerosis.
  1. Describe the effect of atherosclerosis on the amount of oxygen supplied to body cells. Explain your answer.
Additional health problems such as heart attacks and strokes cause cells to become damaged or die due to lack of oxygen.
  1. Explain why cells die if they cannot perform the process you identified in part (a) because they do not receive oxygen for an extended period of time.

Scoring Guide and Sample Student Work
Select a score point in the table below to view the sample student response.

ScoreDescription
4 The response demonstrates a thorough understanding of how the circulatory system transports oxygen to cells and the importance of cellular respiration in cells. The response correctly identifies the process in body cells that directly requires oxygen and correctly identifies the structure in blood that transports oxygen to body cells. The response clearly describes and explains the effect of atherosclerosis on the amount of oxygen supplied to body cells, and clearly explains why cells die if they cannot perform cellular respiration for an extended period of time.
4
3 The response demonstrates a general understanding of how the circulatory system transports oxygen to cells and the importance of cellular respiration in cells.
2 The response demonstrates a limited understanding of how the circulatory system transports oxygen to cells and the importance of cellular respiration in cells.
1 The response demonstrates a minimal understanding of how the circulatory system transports oxygen to cells and the importance of cellular respiration in cells.
0 The response is incorrect or contains some correct work that is irrelevant to the skill or concept being measured.

Note: There are 2 sample student responses for Score Point 4.

High School Biology

Question 12: Anatomy and Physiology
Question 23: Evolution and Biodiversity
Question 32: Biochemistry and Cell Biology
Question 44: Genetics
Question 45: Ecology

Return to the MCAS 2016 Student Work Directory



Last Updated: April 10, 2017
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