XVII. Science and Technology/Engineering, Grade 8

436

Grade 8 Science and Technology/Engineering Test

The spring 2008 grade 8 MCAS Science and Technology/Engineering test was based on learning standards in the Massachusetts Science and Technology/Engineering Curriculum Framework (2006). The Framework identifies four major content strands listed below. Page numbers for the grades 6–8 learning standards appear in parentheses.

■ Earth and Space Science (Framework, pages 32–33)

■ Life Science (Biology) (Framework, pages 51–53)

■ Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) (Framework, pages 67–68)

■ Technology/Engineering (Framework, pages 87–89)

The Science and Technology/Engineering Curriculum Framework is available on the Department Web site at www.doe.mass.edu/frameworks/current.html.

In Test Item Analysis Reports and on the Subject Area Subscore pages of the MCAS School Reports and District Reports, Science and Technology/Engineering test results are reported under four MCAS reporting categories, which are identical to the four Curriculum Framework content strands listed above.

Test Sessions

The MCAS grade 8 Science and Technology/Engineering test included two separate test sessions. Each session included multiple-choice and open-response questions.

Reference Materials and Tools

The use of bilingual word-to-word dictionaries was allowed for current and former limited English proficient students only, during both Science and Technology/Engineering test sessions. No other reference tools or materials were allowed.

Cross-Reference Information

The table at the conclusion of this chapter indicates each item’s reporting category and the Framework learning standard it assesses. The correct answers for multiple-choice questions are also displayed in the table.

437

DIRECTIONSThis session contains seventeen multiple-choice questions and two open-response questions. Mark your answers to these questions in the spaces provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

ID:246381 B Common

●1 Whichof the following causes a ship’siron anchor to sink to theoceanfloorwhen it is releasedoverboard?

A. chemical forces

B. gravity

C. magnetism

D. nuclear forces

ID:227993 B Common

●2 Whichof the following tools is mostuseful for tightening a smallmechanicalfastener?

A. chisel

B. pliers

C. saw

D. sander

ID:265264 D Common

●3 Whichof the following is the bestestimate of thenumberof stars in a typical galaxy?

A. tens

B. hundreds

C. thousands

D. billions

ID:273677 C Common

●4 Ifaneworganismwerediscovered,whichof the followingwouldmost likely beused to classify it into the appropriatekingdom?

A. the color of theorganism

B. theorganism’snatural habitat

C. the structure of theorganism’sanatomy

D. the locationwhere theorganism was found

Science and Technology/EngineeringSeSSion 1

438

ID:265227 B Common

●5 Whichof the following is formedwhentwo elements combine chemically?

A. an atom

B. a compound

C. an electron

D. amixture

ID:246371 C Common

●6 After awindstorm,Niko called theelectric company to report that hehadno electricity.His phone call isan exampleofwhichof the followingelements of a universal systemsmodel?

A. designing a process

B. generatingoutput

C. giving feedback

D. setting a goal

ID:265272 1538.tif C Common

●7 Thefourpicturesbelowshowhowapondenvironmentchangedfrom1900to2000.

1900

1933

1966

2000

Whichof the followingprocesseswasmostdirectly responsible for thechanges that occurred in thepondenvironment?

A. freezing

B. evaporation

C. sediment deposition

D. chemicalweathering

Science and Technology/Engineering Session 1

439

ID:246285 1054.eps D Common

●8 Thediagrambelow shows the evolutionary relationshipof several primates.

Lemur

Primate ancestor

Spider monkey Baboon Gorilla Chimpanzee

Basedon thediagram,whichof the following statements is true?

A. Lemurswere themost recent to evolve.

B. Gorillas evolveddirectly fromchimpanzees.

C. Spidermonkeys and lemurs evolved at the same time.

D. Gorillas andbaboons evolved froma commonancestor.

Science and Technology/Engineering Session 1

440

ID:229391 3189014_AR1.eps, 3189014_ C Common

●10 Thediagramsbelow represent formsof reproduction. Inwhich formofreproductionwill theoffspringdiffermost from theparent?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID:265255 B Common

●9 Whichof the following statementsbestexplainswhy the tilt ofEarthon itsaxis causes summer to bewarmer thanwinter in theNorthernHemisphere?

A. Thewarmocean currentsflow from the tropics to theNorthernHemisphere in the summer.

B. The raysof theSun strike theNorthernHemispheremoredirectlyin the summer.

C. Thegreenhouse effect increases in theNorthernHemisphere in the summer.

D. TheNorthernHemisphere is closer to theSun in the summer.

Science and Technology/Engineering Session 1

441

ID:246353 1430.eps, [opt_a01, b01, D Common

●11 Whichof the followingpictures showstheappearanceof theMoonwhena solareclipseoccurs?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID:274908 3227044_AR1.eps A Common

●12 Thenumbereddrawingsbelow showtheorganizationwithin amulticellularorganism from simple to complex.

1

2

3

4

Complex

Simple

1

2

3

4

Complex

Simple

Whichof thesenumbereddrawingsrepresents a tissue?

A. 1

B. 2

C. 3

D. 4

Science and Technology/Engineering Session 1

Waning Moon

Quarter Moon

Full Moon

New Moon

442

ID:265233 C Common

●13 Whenbedrock inMassachusetts isexamined, it often appears scraped andpolished.Whichof the followingmost likely caused thebedrock to appearscraped andpolished?

A. crustal deformation

B. frequent earthquakes

C. glacialmovement

D. volcanic eruptions

ID:229379 3189017_AR1.eps A Common

●14 Thediagramsbelow illustrate twoblockscomposedof differentmaterials.

25grams

Block A

25grams

Block B

IfBlockA is locatedon theMoonand BlockB is locatedonEarth,whatpropertydo these twoblockshave in common?

A. Theyhave the samemass.

B. Theyhave the sameweight.

C. Theyhave the samevolume.

D. Theyhave the same surface area.

Science and Technology/Engineering Session 1

443

ID:227985 C Common

●15 Ms.Bristolmeasuredthemassofaclosedbeakercontainingseveralicecubes.Themasswas100g.Anhourlater,aftertheicecubeshadmelted,Ms.Bristolmeasuredthemassofthebeakeragain.

Whatwasthemassofthebeakerofwaterthesecondtime?

A. 50g

B. 75g

C. 100g

D. 125g

ID:265250 B Common

●16 For a technologyproject,Kyle cameupwith an idea to build amodel bridge.Hewants his bridge to span50 cmandto support a 1 kgobject.

According to the engineeringdesignprocess,whichof the following shouldbeKyle’s next step?

A. construct prototypesof differentkindsof bridges

B. research thedifferent designsofbridges

C. gather thematerials needed to build thebridge

D. make a drawing to showhow to build thebridge

ID:229434 C Common

●17 The complete removal of decomposersfromanecosystemwillhave thegreatesteffect onwhichof the following?

A. the spreadof disease

B. the availability ofwater

C. the recyclingof nutrients

D. thedistributionof organisms

Science and Technology/Engineering Session 1

444

ID:265297 Common

●18 Drewwantstoputoakcabinetsinhisnewkitchen.Heisdecidingwhethertoselectcustom-builtcabinetsormass-producedcabinets.

a. Describeone advantageof selecting custom-built cabinets.

b. Describeone advantage and one disadvantageof selectingmass-produced cabinets.

c. Describeone waythatmass-producedproductsaremadedifferentlythancustom-builtproducts.

Questions 18 and 19 are open-response questions.

• BE SURE TO ANSWER AND LABEL ALL PARTS OF EACH QUESTION.• Show all your work (diagrams, tables, or computations) in your Student Answer Booklet.• If you do the work in your head, explain in writing how you did the work.

Write your answer to question 18 in the space provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

Science and Technology/Engineering Session 1

445

ID:246367 0150.eps Common

●19 Thepicture below shows a company’s design for a nightlight.Thenightlight is designed to plug into an electrical outlet.Thenightlight is alsodesigned to turnon automatically when it is dark and to turnoffwhen it is light.

Cover

Lightsensor

Base

Plug

Light bulb

a. Name two differentmaterials that couldbeused in thenightlight. Identify a part of thenightlight that eachmaterial couldbeused tomake.

b. For eachmaterial that younamed in part (a), describeone propertyof thatmaterial thatmakes it appropriate to beused tomake thepart you identified.

Write your answer to question 19 in the space provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

Science and Technology/Engineering Session 1

446

ID:265277 1472.eps B Common

●20 During a remodelingproject,homeownerswant to remove awall thatseparates two rooms in their house.Thewall and the two rooms are shown inthediagrambelow.

Room 1 Room 2

WallDoor

According to building codes, thehomeownersmust add a beam in theceilingwhen they remove the existingwall.Which statementbest explainswhythehomeownersmust do this?

A. Thewall provides heat insulation forthe rooms.

B. Thewall provides structural supportfor thehouse.

C. Thewall provides a soundbarrierbetween the rooms.

D. Thewall provides a place to hangobjects in thehouse.

ID:229402 B Common

●21 Newcarpet isbeingmeasured for a roomthat is5.5mby4.6m.Onameasuringtape,what is the smallestunit that is necessary tomeasure the roomaccuratelyfor thecarpet?

A. millimeters

B. centimeters

C. meters

D. kilometers

ID:265289 C Common

●22 Whichof the following statementsbestdescribes oneway that theMoon isdifferent fromEarth?

A. TheMoon is not solid.

B. TheMoonhas nogravity.

C. TheMoonhas almost noatmosphere.

D. TheMoon receives almost no solar light.

DIRECTIONSThis session contains seventeen multiple-choice questions and three open-response questions. Mark your answers to these questions in the spaces provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

Science and Technology/EngineeringSeSSion 2

447

ID:227899 A Common

●23 A shoemanufacturer randomly selects10% of theproduction fromeach shift.Eachof these shoes is checked to ensurethat it is correctlymade.

What is this process called?

A. quality control

B. product distribution

C. production selection

D. research anddevelopment

ID:265240 1503.tif A Common

●24 Thediagrambelow showshowa changein temperature affects thephysical stateof a substance.Eachof the labeledpoints represents the same substance ata different temperature.

TemperatureLow

W X Y Z

Solid

Freezingpoint

Boilingpoint

Liquid Gas

High

Whichpoint represents the substancein thephysical statewith theparticlesmoving the least?

A. pointW

B. pointX

C. pointY

D. pointZ

ID:274912 3189011_AR1.eps D Common

●25 Theorganisms shownbeloware bothfound in aquatic environments.

Hydra VolvoxHydra Volvox

Whichof the following is common tobothof theseorganisms?

A. They containblood.

B. They containnerves.

C. They are bothproducers of food.

D. They are both composedof cells.

Science and Technology/Engineering Session 2

448

ID:265246 C Common

●26 Tobias rodehisbikeona road for a2hrperiod.On average, hepassed a 1 kmmarker every3minduring this period.

Whichof the followingwashis averagespeed for this 2 hr period?

A. 10km/hr

B. 15km/hr

C. 20km/hr

D. 25km/hr

ID:246309 D Common

●27 Whichof the followingorganismsproduces energy from sunlight?

A. worm

B. rabbit

C. hawk

D. grass

ID:265270 B Common

●28 Sugar is composedof carbon, hydrogen,andoxygen.Sugar is an exampleofwhichof the following?

A. an atom

B. a compound

C. an electron

D. amixture

Science and Technology/Engineering Session 2

449

ID:226410 D Common

●29 The surfaceof a heatedmetal objectmeasures120°C. It isdropped intoabucketfilledwithwatermeasuring10°C.

Whichof the following ismost likely tooccur?

A. Both thewaterandmetalwilladjust tothe same temperature below10°C.

B. Thewater andmetalwill adjust todifferent temperatures above120°C.

C. Thewaterwill remain the sametemperature, but themetalwill coolto 10°C.

D. Thewaterandmetalwilladjust to thesame temperature between10°C and120°C.

ID:265224 B Common

●30 Thepresenceofwhichof the followinggeological features provides thebestevidence that glaciers once covered an area?

A. wide riverbeds

B. U-shapedvalleys

C. underground caves

D. groundwater springs

ID:265291 A Common

●31 Whichof the followingbest describesthepurposeof the chromosomes in thenucleusof a cell?

A. tostore thegenetic instructionsneededto specify traits

B. to release energybybreakingdownfoodmolecules

C. to transport nutrients into and out of the cell

D. to protect the cell frommicroorganisms

ID:265220 B Common

●32 Apot of coldwaterwasheatedon astoveuntil thewater boiled.Whichofthe followingbest explainswhy thewaterwas able to boil?

A. Thehot stove absorbed cold from thepot.

B. The coldwater absorbedheat from thepot.

C. Thehot stovegaveoff heat to thesurrounding air.

D. The coldwater gaveoff cold to thesurrounding air.

Science and Technology/Engineering Session 2

450

ID:227935 C Common

●33 A layer of solid brittle rock comprisestheouter 100kilometers ofEarth.Thislayer,which containsboth the crust andtheuppermantle, is called the

A. core.

B. sediment.

C. lithosphere.

D. hemisphere.

ID:246341 B Common

●34 Whichof the following structures isnotpresent in animal cells?

A. cellmembrane

B. cellwall

C. mitochondrion

D. nucleus

ID:246358 A Common

●35 What is theprimary energy source that drives allweather events, includingprecipitation, hurricanes, and tornados?

A. theSun

B. theMoon

C. Earth’s gravity

D. Earth’s rotation

ID:274913 3316993_AR1.eps D Common

●36 Thedrawingsbelow showa turtleembryo and a chicken embryo.

Turtle Chicken

Whichof the following statements issupportedby the similarities betweenthese embryos?

A. The turtle ismore advanced than the chicken.

B. The chickenhasmoreoffspring thanthe turtle.

C. The turtle and thechickenare similaras adults.

D. The chicken and the turtle share acommonancestor.

Science and Technology/Engineering Session 2

451

Questions 37 through 39 are open-response questions.

• BE SURE TO ANSWER AND LABEL ALL PARTS OF EACH QUESTION.• Show all your work (diagrams, tables, or computations) in your Student Answer Booklet.• If you do the work in your head, explain in writing how you did the work.

Write your answer to question 37 in the space provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

ID:246272 Common

●37 Someof thegeologic features foundonEarth’s surfacewere causedby themovement ofEarth’s crustal plates.

a. Name two geologic features foundonEarth’s surface thatwere causedby themovement ofcrustal plates.

b. Foreach of the features younamed in part (a), describehow themovement of crustalplates caused the feature to form onEarth’s surface.

Science and Technology/Engineering Session 2

452

Write your answer to question 38 in the space provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

ID:246355 1421.eps Common

●38 Jorgewasgiven thecube shownbelowandasked todetermine thedensityof thecube.Thematerial that thecube ismade from isunknown.

a. Identify the two properties of the cube thatmust beknown inorder for Jorge to determinethedensity of the cube.

b. Describehow Jorge couldmeasureeach of theproperties of the cubeyou identified in part (a).Be sure to identifyany tools Jorgewoulduseanddescribehowhewoulduse them.

c. Explainhow themeasurements youdescribed in part (b) canbeused to determine thedensity of the cube.

ID:265222 Common

●39 A forest ecosystem inNewHampshire contains a large areawhereberry plants grow naturally.Theberryplants help someorganisms in the forest survive andgrow.Other organisms in theforest help theberryplants survive andgrow.

a. Describe two differentways that theberry plants help someorganisms in the forest surviveandgrow.

b. Describe two differentways that other organisms in the forest help theberry plants surviveandgrow.

Write your answer to question 39 in the space provided in your Student Answer Booklet.

Science and Technology/Engineering Session 2

453

Grade 8 Science and Technology/Engineering Spring 2008 Released Items:

Reporting Categories, Standards, and Correct Answers*

Item No. Page No. Reporting Category StandardCorrect Answer

(MC)*

1 437 Earth and Space Science 8 B

2 437 Technology/Engineering 1.2 B

3 437 Earth and Space Science 12 D

4 437 Life Science (Biology) 1 C

5 438 Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) 5 B

6 438 Technology/Engineering 2.6 C

7 438 Earth and Space Science 6 C

8 439 Life Science (Biology) 18 D

9 440 Earth and Space Science 11 B

10 440 Life Science (Biology) 9 C

11 441 Earth and Space Science 9 D

12 441 Life Science (Biology) 5 A

13 442 Earth and Space Science 7 C

14 442 Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) 1 A

15 443 Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) 4 C

16 443 Technology/Engineering 2.1 B

17 443 Life Science (Biology) 15 C

18 444 Technology/Engineering 4.1

19 445 Technology/Engineering 1.1

20 446 Technology/Engineering 5.1 B

21 446 Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) 3 B

22 446 Earth and Space Science 10 C

23 447 Technology/Engineering 4.4 A

24 447 Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) 15 A

25 447 Life Science (Biology) 2 D

26 448 Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) 11 C

27 448 Life Science (Biology) 14 D

28 448 Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) 7 B

29 449 Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) 16 D

30 449 Earth and Space Science 7 B

31 449 Life Science (Biology) 7 A

32 449 Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) 14 B

33 450 Earth and Space Science 2 C

34 450 Life Science (Biology) 3 B

35 450 Earth and Space Science 4 A

36 450 Life Science (Biology) 11 D

37 451 Earth and Space Science 5

38 452 Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) 2

39 452 Life Science (Biology) 13

*Answersareprovidedhereformultiple-choiceitemsonly.Sampleresponsesandscoringguidelinesforopen-responseitems,whichareindicatedbyshadedcells,willbepostedtotheDepartment’sWebsitelaterthisyear.