Regents Living Environment Test Preparation Practice

    Scientific Inquiry

    1

    Base your answers to questions 2 on the information and graphs below and on your knowledge of biology. The graphs represent the results of two investigations using leaf disks from spinach plants.

    Small disks were cut from spinach leaves that had been treated to remove any air from inside the leaf. The disks were placed in a solution that allowed them to carry out photosynthesis. At first, all the disks sank to the bottom of the container. These disks were then used for two different investigations.

    Investigation 1

    The disks were divided into five groups. Each group was exposed to light of a different intensity, measured in watts per meter squared (W/m2). Some of the disks began to float. The results of the first investigation are shown in the graph below.

    scientific inquiry, data organization, plot and interpretation, scientific inquiry, data organization, plot and interpretation fig: lenv62016-examw_g20.png

    2

    Base your answers to questions 3 on the information and data table below and on your knowledge of biology.

    Illinois Greater Prairie Chicken on the Rise

    As pioneers moved west in the mid-1800s, the greater prairie chicken population in Illinois was estimated to number in the millions. Since then, their population has drastically declined.

    Evidence of the rapidly declining population was obtained from studying the number of eggs that hatched over several years. In Jasper County, Illinois, the number of prairie chickens fell from 2,000 to less than 50 in under 35 years. Researchers compared the DNA from feather samples from the living Illinois chickens to the DNA from feather samples dating from the year 1930 found in a museum. It was found that the living Illinois chicken population had a very low level of genetic diversity.

    In 1992, researchers attempted to increase genetic variation by transporting more than 500 healthy prairie chickens into Illinois from the states of Minnesota, Kansas, and Nebraska. The data table below shows the changes in the percent of eggs that hatched from samples taken in different years. Researchers documented that this increase in the percent of eggs that hatched was not influenced by environmental events.

    labs, lab, appendix A, laboratory check list, scientific inquiry, data organization, plot and interpretation fig: lenv62017-exampcw_g22.png

    Directions: Using the information given, construct a bar graph on the grid following the directions below.

    3

    Base your answer to question 4 on the information and diagram below and on your knowledge of biology.

    In the early 1600s, a scientist planted a willow tree that weighed 5 pounds in 200 pounds of dry soil. He placed it outside and watered it for 5 years. At the end of that time, he observed that the tree had gained 164 pounds 3 ounces, while the soil had lost just 2 ounces.

    scientific inquiry, observations, inquiries, inferences fig: lenv62018-examw_g13.png

    4
    5

    Base your answers to questions 6 on the information below and on your knowledge of biology.

    Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a toxic compound that is produced by plant and animal cells. These cells also produce the enzyme catalase, which converts H2O2 into water and oxygen gas, preventing the buildup of H2O2.

    A student designed an experiment to test the effect of an acidic pH on the rate of the reaction of H2O2 with catalase. The data below summarize the outcome of the experiment.

    scientific inquiry, observations, inquiries, inferences fig: lenv82018-exampw_g10.png

    6

    Base your answer to question 7-9 on the passage below and on your knowledge of biology.

    Green Tea & Acne

    Green tea might be an effective treatment for acne, according to a study by researchers from Memorial Medical Center in the Philippines, reported by United Press International (UPI). The study showed that 3 percent green tea cream is comparable to 4 percent benzoyl peroxide in the treatment of moderate to severe acne.

    Green tea has been shown to fight bacteria, reduce inflammation and decrease hormone activity — three characteristics that make the ancient tea an excellent candidate for an acne therapy.

    In the study, one group of subjects applied benzoyl peroxide cream twice daily for 12 weeks and another used green tea extract cream twice daily for the same period. Patients received identical bottles of cream and were unaware of the type of treatment they were assigned. The researchers noted the green tea cream seemed to lighten patients’ [acne] and improve the overall appearance of their complexion.

    The preliminary data suggest green tea extract cream causes fewer side effects than benzoyl peroxide treatment. Patients in the green tea group reported fewer cases of dry skin, itching and allergic responses. Azucena Arguelles, MD, a private practice dermatologist from Mountain View, CA, told UPI that the findings, while promising, are not yet substantial enough to change clinical practice.

    Advance for Nurses, Nov. 10, 2003, “Green Tea & Acne,” www.advanceweb.com

    7-9

    Base your answers to questions 10 on the information below and on your knowledge of biology.

    Transgenic Salmon

    Transgenic Atlantic salmon have been produced using DNA from other species of related fish. These genetically modified fish have an altered DNA “switch” that causes them to overproduce growth hormone. The transgenic Atlantic salmon grow to normal size, but they reach market size in half the time of conventional Atlantic salmon. As with most of the salmon consumed by people, the transgenic Atlantic salmon would be grown using aquatic farming methods. Scientists have expressed concern that transgenic fish can have undesirable effects on the natural environment. Fish growers would be expected to take steps to ensure that the transgenic salmon do not escape into the wild.

    10

    Base your answers to questions 11 on the information and data table below and on your knowledge of biology.

    Invasive species have damaged agricultural crops all over the world. One study, completed in Japan, calculated the number of invasive insect species present in Japan from 1880 to 1990. Some of the data are recorded in the table below.

    scientific inquiry, data organization, plot and interpretation fig: lenv12019-examw_g12.png

    Directions: Using the information in the data table, construct a line graph on the grid provided, following the directions below.

    11

    Base your answers to questions 12 on the information below and on your knowledge of biology.

    The line graphs below represent trends in prey fish populations for each of the five Great Lakes.

    scientific inquiry, observations, inquiries, inferences fig: lenv12020-examw_g18.png

    12

    Base your answer to question 13-16 on the information below and on your knowledge of biology.

    Artificial Placenta

    It is estimated that every year more than 15 million babies are born too early. The lungs of these premature infants are often immature and easily damaged. Premature births happen for a variety of reasons—some known and some unknown. Those that are known include infections and conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Scientists are researching what causes premature births, in an attempt to develop solutions to prevent them.

    Scientists are also working on the development of an artificial placenta. At the University of Michigan, five premature lambs were placed in artificial placentas and kept alive for weeks. During this time, each lamb’s blood was circulated through its artificial placenta.

    13-16

    Base your answer to question 17-20 on the information below and on your knowledge of biology.

    Scientists have been experimenting with different forms of alternate energy to help reduce the amount of fossil fuels that are burned. They studied yeast, which convert plant materials into ethanol, a form of alcohol that can be used in automobiles. These experi- ments were carried out at room temperature. The scientists wondered whether more ethanol would be produced at different temperatures.

    17-20

    Base your answer to question 21-22 on the information below and on your knowledge of biology.

    Indian blue peacocks live in dense forests and scrubland. Males use their colorful eye-spotted tail feathers and strutting display along with a loud mating call to attract females. This behavior, known as a hoot-dash, is made by the male before dashing toward a female to mate. Few species of other animals use loud courtship calls as the call attracts predators and uses energy.

    21-22
    23

    Base your answers to questions 24 on the passage below and on your knowledge of biology.

    Lead Poisoning

    Two pathways by which lead can enter the human body are ingestion and inhalation. Once in the bloodstream, lead is distributed to parts of the body including the brain, bones, and teeth.

    One reason that lead is toxic is that it interferes with the functioning of a variety of enzymes. It acts like metals such as calcium and iron and replaces them, changing the molecular structure of these enzymes. In the case of calcium, lead is absorbed through the same cell membrane channels that take in calcium.

    Lead affects children and adults in different ways. Even low lead levels in children can cause many different problems, including nervous system damage, learning disabilities, decreased intelligence, poor bone growth, and death. In adults, high levels of lead can cause hearing problems, memory and concentration problems, muscle and joint pain, brain damage, and death. It wasn’t until 1971 that steps were taken against the use of lead with the passage of the Lead Poisoning Prevention Act. However, lead is still a public health risk today.

    24