Ecological Evidence & Environmental Design — Chapter quiz · Life Science & Scientific Inquiry, Grade 7

Five focused units, a three-session investigation, chapter review, and chapter quiz.

Problem 1

What observation could strengthen a predation explanation?
Answer and explanation

Relevant feeding evidence and repeated population records, considered with alternative resources and conditions, can strengthen it.

Problem 2

A student labels every insect on a plant a parasite. Why is that premature?
Answer and explanation

Different insects can feed, pollinate, shelter, or interact in other ways. Identify effects and resource relationships before classifying the interaction.

Response criteria

  • Explain the relevant biological process accurately.
  • Use the supplied evidence and show calculation steps with units where needed.
  • Connect a labeled model or mechanism with the claim.
  • State an assumption, evidence limitation, or useful next observation.

Problem 3

Why is diversity not a guarantee against complete habitat loss?
Answer and explanation

Varied organisms still depend on habitat and resources; a sufficiently broad disturbance can remove those conditions.

Problem 4

A longer survey finds more species than a shorter one. Must true biodiversity have increased?
Answer and explanation

No. Greater detection effort can reveal previously missed species. Standardize effort before interpreting it as a biological change.

Response criteria

  • Explain the relevant biological process accurately.
  • Use the supplied evidence and show calculation steps with units where needed.
  • Connect a labeled model or mechanism with the claim.
  • State an assumption, evidence limitation, or useful next observation.

Problem 5

Why distinguish planted area from surviving cover?
Answer and explanation

Planting is an action; later survival and cover are outcomes requiring observations.

Problem 6

A project reports 100 planted seedlings. What should be measured before claiming habitat function was restored?
Answer and explanation

Survival, developing cover, relevant species use, and defined ecosystem functions over time would test outcomes beyond the initial planting count.

Response criteria

  • Explain the relevant biological process accurately.
  • Use the supplied evidence and show calculation steps with units where needed.
  • Connect a labeled model or mechanism with the claim.
  • State an assumption, evidence limitation, or useful next observation.

Problem 7

Why can equal plot counts differ in density?
Answer and explanation

Plot areas can differ; count per area accounts for that boundary.

Problem 8

A team uses four 1 m² plots in one habitat and four 2 m² plots in another. Can mean counts alone compare density?
Answer and explanation

No. Different plot areas require count-per-area calculations or an appropriately weighted comparison using comparable detection methods.

Response criteria

  • Explain the relevant biological process accurately.
  • Use the supplied evidence and show calculation steps with units where needed.
  • Connect a labeled model or mechanism with the claim.
  • State an assumption, evidence limitation, or useful next observation.

Problem 9

Does a lower-cost design automatically win?
Answer and explanation

No. Cost is one criterion and feasibility limit; outcomes and other requirements also matter.

Problem 10

Plan C achieves the largest reduction but costs 130 tokens under the same 100-token limit. Is it currently feasible?
Answer and explanation

No. It exceeds the stated constraint unless the budget or plan changes. A desirable result does not remove a feasibility limit.

Response criteria

  • Explain the relevant biological process accurately.
  • Use the supplied evidence and show calculation steps with units where needed.
  • Connect a labeled model or mechanism with the claim.
  • State an assumption, evidence limitation, or useful next observation.

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