School Improvement in Maryland

Public Release Item: Public Release items have appeared on HSA forms and then are released for public viewing and use. Releasing items is one step to ensuring that schools, districts, and other stakeholders understand how the core learning goals are assessed on the HSA.

Goal 1 Skills And Processes

Expectation 1.5 The student will use appropriate methods for communicating in writing and orally the processes and results of scientific investigation.

Indicator 1.5.6 The student will read a technical selection and interpret it appropriately.

Selected Response Item - Released in 2005

Use the technical passage Shortage of Honeybees to answer the following.

According to the passage, which of these is most responsible for the decline of honeybee populations?

  1. an increase in pollution
  2. the use of bees to harvest honey
  3. the introduction of foreign species
  4. the use of bees to pollinate crops
/share/clg/xml/public_release/science/2005_156_bio10.xml

Correct Answer:
C

Selected Response Item - Released in 2007

Use the technical passage “Exotic Species Versus Native Species, Who’s Winning?” to answer the following:

Which of these explains why the number of exotic organisms is increasing in ecosystems around the world?

  1. The amount of global travel is increasing.
  2. Increasing temperatures favor non-native organisms.
  3. Native organisms are migrating to more remote locations.
  4. The number of prey organisms is increasing worldwide.
/share/clg/xml/public_release/science/2007_156_bio03.xml

Correct Answer:
A

Selected Response Item - Released in 2007

Use the technical passage “Exotic Species Versus Native Species, Who’s Winning?” to answer the following:

Which of these is a false statement about exotic species?

  1. They often out-compete native species.
  2. They often lead to the extinction of other species.
  3. They usually have predators in their new environments.
  4. They are transported to new areas by airplanes and boats.
/share/clg/xml/public_release/science/2007_156_bio04.xml

Correct Answer:
C