Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System

2018, High School Biology

Question 44: Open-Response

Reporting Category: Ecology
Standard: 6.1 - Explain how birth, death, immigration, and emigration influence population size.

The graph below shows the birth rate and the death rate of a mouse population over a three-year period. The immigration rate and the emigration rate of the population are equal.

Describe what happens to the size of the population for each year shown on the graph. Explain your answers.
Identify three factors that could affect the death rate of the mouse population, and explain why each factor affects the death rate.

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 birth and death rates influence population size. The response clearly describes what happens to the size of the population for each year shown on the graph and explains each answer. The response also correctly identifies three factors that could affect the death rate of the mouse population and clearly explains why each factor affects the death rate.
4
3	The response demonstrates a general understanding of how birth and death influence population size.
2	The response demonstrates a limited understanding of how birth and death influence population size.
1	The response demonstrates a minimal understanding of how birth and death influence population size.
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: Evolution and Biodiversity

Question 23: Anatomy and Physiology

Question 32: Biochemistry and Cell Biology

Question 44: Ecology

Question 45: Genetics

Return to the MCAS 2018 Student Work Directory

Last Updated: March 11, 2024