Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System

2018, High School Biology

Question 23: Open-Response

Reporting Category: Anatomy and Physiology
Standard: 4.4 - Explain how the nervous system (brain, spinal cord, sensory neurons, motor neurons) mediates communication between different parts of the body and the body's interactions with the environment. Identify the basic unit of the nervous system, the neuron, and explain generally how it works.

A student in a kitchen does the following:

smells something cooking in the oven
walks to the oven
sees a pizza
takes the pizza out of the oven
starts chewing the pizza
tastes the pizza

The student’s nervous system has a role in all these actions.

Describe the function of sensory neurons.
Identify two specific actions from the list above that require sensory neurons.
Describe the function of motor neurons.
Identify two specific actions from the list above that require motor neurons.

Scoring Guide and Sample Student Work

Select a score point in the table below to view the sample student response.

Score	Description
4	The response demonstrates a thorough understanding of how the nervous system mediates communication among different parts of the body and mediates the body's interactions with the environment. The response clearly describes the function of sensory neurons and correctly identifies two specific actions that require sensory neurons. The response also clearly describes the function of motor neurons and correctly identifies two specific actions that require motor neurons.
4
3	The response demonstrates a general understanding of how the nervous system mediates communication among different parts of the body and mediates the body's interactions with the environment.
2	The response demonstrates a limited understanding of how the nervous system mediates communication among different parts of the body and mediates the body's interactions with the environment.
1	The response demonstrates a minimal understanding of how the nervous system mediates communication among different parts of the body and mediates the body's interactions with the environment.
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.

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Return to the MCAS 2018 Student Work Directory

Last Updated: March 11, 2024