Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System

2019, High School Biology

Question 12: Open-Response

Reporting Category: Ecology
Standard: 6.2 - Analyze changes in population size and biodiversity (speciation and extinction) that result from the following: natural causes, changes in climate, human activity, and the introduction of invasive, non-native species.
Standard: Sci.HS.LS.2.06 - Analyze data to show ecosystems tend to maintain relatively consistent numbers and types of organisms even when small changes in conditions occur but that extreme fluctuations in conditions may result in a new ecosystem. Construct an argument supported by evidence that ecosystems with greater biodiversity tend to have greater resistance to change and resilience. Clarification Statement: Examples of changes in ecosystem conditions could include modest biological or physical changes, such as moderate hunting or a seasonal flood; and extreme changes, such as volcanic eruption, fires, the decline or loss of a keystone species, climate changes, ocean acidification, or sea level rise.
Item Description: Explain how changing fur color in a population is an advantage, describe how warming temperatures could cause the size of that population to decrease, and describe how fur color in that population will change over time as temperatures increase.

View Reading Selection

The fur color of collared lemmings changes to white at a certain time of the year.

a. Explain how the change in fur color is an advantage to collared lemmings.

When temperatures rise above freezing, snow melts, which causes changes in the collared lemmings' habitat.

b. Describe two ways warming temperatures could cause the size of the collared lemming population to decrease.

c. Describe how fur color in the collared lemming population will likely change over time as temperatures increase because of climate change. Explain your answer using the principles of natural selection.

Scoring Guide for Idea Development

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 changes in population size and biodiversity can result from climate change. The response clearly explains how changing fur color in collared lemmings is an advantage for them. The response clearly describes two ways warming temperatures could cause the collared lemming population to decrease. The response also clearly describes how fur color in the collared lemming population will likely change over time as temperatures increase because of climate change and clearly explains the answer using principles of natural selection.
4
3	The response demonstrates a general understanding of how changes in population size and biodiversity can result from climate change.
2	The response demonstrates a limited understanding of how changes in population size and biodiversity can result from climate change.
1	The response demonstrates a minimal understanding of how changes in population size and biodiversity can result from climate change.
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.

Grade 4 Mathematics

Question 3: Number and Operations-Fractions

Question 4: Ratios and Proportional Relationships

Question 4: Measurement and Data

Question 4: Technology/Engineering

Question 5: Earth and Space Science

Question 5: Functions

Question 6: Operations and Algebraic Thinking

Question 6: Technology/Engineering

Question 6: Measurement and Data

Question 8: Expressions and Equations

Question 8: Language and Writing

Question 8: Reading

Question 8: Language and Writing

Question 9: Language and Writing

Question 9: Number and Quantity

Question 12: Ecology

Question 12: Waves and Radiation

Question 12: Expressions and Equations

Question 13: Number and Operations in Base Ten

Question 14: Statistics and Probability

Question 15: Operations and Algebraic Thinking

Question 15: Statistics and Probability

Question 16: Language and Writing

Question 16: Life Science

Question 17: Physical Science

Question 17: Language and Writing

Question 18: Earth and Space Science

Question 18: Language and Writing

Question 23: Motion and Forces

Question 23: Anatomy and Physiology

Question 30: Geometry

Question 32: Biochemistry and Cell Biology

Question 32: Motion and Forces

Question 35: Algebra and Functions

Question 44: Heat and Heat Transfer

Question 44: Evolution and Biodiversity

Question 45: Electromagnetism

Question 45: Genetics

Return to the MCAS 2019 Student Work Directory

Last Updated: May 5, 2020