Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System

2018, Grade 8 Science and Technology/Engineering

Question 42: Open-Response

Reporting Category: Life Science
Standard: 15 - Explain how dead plants and animals are broken down by other living organisms and how this process contributes to the system as a whole.
Standard: Sci.7.LS.2.03 - Develop a model to describe that matter and energy are transferred among living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem and that both matter and energy are conserved through these processes. Clarification Statements: Cycling of matter should include the role of photosynthesis, cellular respiration, and decomposition, as well as transfer among producers, consumers (primary, secondary, and tertiary), and decomposers. Models may include food webs and food chains. State Assessment Boundary: Cycling of specific atoms (such as carbon or oxygen), or the biochemical steps of photosynthesis, cellular respiration, and decomposition are not expected in state assessment.

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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 dead plants and animals are broken down by other living organisms and how this process contributes to the system as a whole. The response correctly identifies and clearly describes what happens over time to ground-up grass clippings spread on a lawn. The response also clearly describes two advantages of spreading ground-up grass clippings on a lawn.
4
3	The response shows a general understanding of how dead plants and animals are broken down by other living organisms and how this process contributes to the system as a whole.
2	The response shows a limited understanding of how dead plants and animals are broken down by other living organisms and how this process contributes to the system as a whole.
1	The response shows a minimal understanding of how dead plants and animals are broken down by other living organisms and how this process contributes to the system as a whole.
0	The response is incorrect or contains work that is irrelevant to the skill or concept being measured.

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

Grade 8 Science and Technology/Engineering

Question 21: Physical Science

Question 42: Life Science

Return to the MCAS 2018 Student Work Directory

Last Updated: March 11, 2024