Science

Unit Test Name ________________________________

Date _________________________________

Grade: 8

Unit 7: Biodiversity

1. The clearing of rain forests for agricultural use has led to a decrease in biodiversity in many areas.
One potential consequence of deforestation is
a. An increase in the amount of atmospheric oxygen.
b. The loss of plants with potential medicinal uses.
c. A decrease in soil erosion.
d. Improved habitat for wildlife.





















Unit 7 Exam 1



2. A picture of a fungus and a classification key are shown below.

Based on the key, which fungus is shown?
a. Turkey tail
b. Beefsteak
c. Golden chanterelle
d. Common morel










Unit 7 Exam 2

3. Two fossils that appear to be from the same type of organism are found in two different layers of
rock. They layers of rock are shown below.

Which can be determined from the location of the fossils?
a. The prey of the organisms
b. The predators of the organism
c. The cause of death for each organism
d. The relative age of each organism






Unit 7 Exam 3
 4. An Arctic environment has temperatures that range between 22C and 6C with snow covering
some of the area. Which adaptation would most likely help a population of organisms
survive this environment?
a. Long necks and tall legs
b. Large shell and leathery skin
c. Light colored fur and layers of blubber
d. Brightly colored feathers and webbed feet

5. The graph below represents the amount of rabbits in a population that have different running
speeds. A new predator is introduced to the area that has a running speed represented by the
dashed line.

Which rabbits will most likely have a survival advantage after the introduction of this new predator?
a. Rabbits that run slower than 10 kilometers per hour
b. Rabbits that run between 20 and 30 kilometers per hour
c. Rabbits that run between 30 and 40 kilometers per hour
d. Rabbits that run faster than 40 kilometers per hour

Unit 7 Exam 4


6. A classification key for an organism is shown below.

To what class does the organism belong?
a. Cestodoa
b. Gastropoda
c. Trematoda
d. Bivalvia

7. A student observes a tree with small needle-like leaves that stay green year round. Which conclusion
can the students draw from the shape of the leaves?
a. The leaves of the tree do not perform photosynthesis
b. The leaves of the tree have an illness that stunts their growth
c. The leaves of the tree are nonfunctional.
d. The leaves of the tree are introduced to reduce water loss.



8. A nuclear power plant has recently been built to generate electricity for a town located near several
small lakes. Which is not a benefit of this nuclear plant being built?
a. The cost of the electricity will decrease.
b. The loss of habitat for local wildlife.
c. The heating of homes will be easier.
d. The nuclear power plant will provide jobs.

Unit 7 Exam 5


9. Chipmunks are little rodents that live in the forest. The graph below illustrates how a chipmunk
population changed over time.

Which most likely happened in 2009?
a. An illness hit the chipmunk population.
b. There was an increased food source for the chipmunks.
c. An illness hit the chipmunks predator population.
d. The chipmunk population evolved over time.














Unit 7 Exam 6
 10. A cross section of rock layers is shown below.

Which fossil is found in the oldest layer?
a. Dinosaur
b. Fish
c. Shell
d. Leaf

11. Which statement describes a possible consequence if biodiversity were to decrease in the Arctic due
to the extinction of polar bears?
a. Changes in the food web, leading to a loss of food resources for native people
b. An increase in the number of producers after a herbivore population boom
c. A decrease in the number of herbivores due to natural predators being gone.
d. Disturbances in weather patterns, leading to a higher average water temperature

Unit 7 Exam 7
 12. Which adaptation of black bears best helps them survive cold winters?
a. Having a large home range
b. Being able to hibernate
c. Eating both plants and animals
d. Having sharp teeth and claws

13. An organism and a classification key are shown below

Based on the key, what organism is shown?
a. Earthworm
b. Centipede
c. Water penny
d. Horseshoe crab

Unit 7 Exam 8

14. The picture below shows male stag beetles that have different mandible types.

Male beetles with large mandibles are best at guarding burrows where females have laid eggs. Males
whose mandibles are absent are best at digging alternate entrances to a guarded burrow to reach
females. The table below shows the number of male stag beetles with different mandible types in
one population.

Based on this information, which two mandible types will probably become less common in this
population over time?
a. Absent and Small
b. Absent and Medium
c. Large and Medium
d. Small and Medium

Unit 7 Exam 9


15. The graph below illustrates the change in turtle population.

Which most likely occurred between November and February?
a. There was a decrease in the predator population.
b. There was a decrease in available food.
c. There was an illness in the turtle population.
d. There was a natural disaster.



16. A scientist was digging for fossils along a rocky cliff. The scientist discovered trilobite fossils in rocks
at two different depths in the cliff. What can be determined about the fossils based on their
locations?
a. The relative age of the trilobite fossils
b. The diet of the trilobites
c. The number of trilobite predators
d. The size of trilobite population



17. Many people depend on food caught in the ocean. Which action best helps people maintain the
oceans as a food source?
a. Adding garden fertilizers to oceans
b. Exploring new parts of oceans
c. Preventing a loss of biodiversity in oceans
d. Building more sportfishing areas near oceans


Unit 7 Exam 10

18. Two geological columns are shown below. The columns are from areas about 1 kilometer apart.

Which layers were most likely deposited at the same time?
a. Layers 1 and 4
b. Layers 2 and 3
c. Layers 3 and 4
d. Layers 2 and 6











Unit 7 Exam 11

19. A fish and a dichotomous key are shown below.

According to the dichotomous key, which fish is pictured?
a. Smallmouth bass
b. Yellow perch
c. Goby
d. Lantern fish









Unit 7 Exam 12

20. A muskox is a large, heavy mammal. It has short legs and is covered in long, thick hair. A muskox is
shown in the picture below.

Based on its characteristics, in which environment is a population of muskox best suited to live?
a. Tundra
b. Desert
c. Wetland
d. Rainforest


21. Which population would best be adapted to maneuver in a rocky, mountainous region?
a. A population of organisms with hooves
b. A population of organisms with thick fur
c. A population of organisms with gills
d. A Population of organisms with moist skin

Unit 7 Exam 13

22. The graph below illustrates the growth of a rabbit population.

Which most likely occurred between 1987 and 1988?
a. There was a decrease in the available amount of food.
b. There was an increase in competition.
c. There was a decrease in the predator population.
d. There was an illness among the population.

23. Fertilizers containing phosphorous and nitrogen are leached into a pond. The nutrients from the
fertilizer cause algae colonies in the pond to grow rapidly. As large quantities of algae die, the pond
water becomes depleted of oxygen. What will most likely happen to the pond next?
a. A greater number of organisms will love in the pond.
b. There will be less biodiversity in the pond.
c. The water will become more clear.
d. The depth of the pond will increase.

Unit 7 Exam 14


24. The diagram below shows three substrate layers with fossils.

Which statement is best supported by the diagram?
a. The fossil in Layer 1 is older than the fossil in Layer 2.
b. The fossil in Layer 3 is older than the fossil in Layer 2.
c. The fossils in Layers 2 and 3 are from closely related organisms.
d. The fossils in Layers 1 and 3 are from closely related organisms.

Unit 7 Exam 15


25. An organism like the one shown in the picture below is caught in a net.

Using the classification key above, identify the organisms class.
a. Class Insecta
b. Class Reptilia
c. Class Mammalia
d. Class Chondrichthes

Unit 7 Exam 16