Sci 20 Midtermcd

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Students name:_____________________________
Units C and D Midterm
Science 20
Science 20
Midterm
Units C and D
This document is intended for

Students
Teachers
Administrators
Home Instructors
General Public
Other
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This resource was developed by or for Alberta Education. It may be reproduced in any form, including photocopying, without written
permission from Alberta Education provided that associated copyright notices are also reproduced.
THIS RESOURCE IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE TERMS OF A LICENCE FROM A COLLECTIVE OR LICENSING
BODY, SUCH AS ACCESS COPYRIGHT.
Science 20
Description
Instructions
Time: 1 hour
Total possible marks: 42
Use only an HB pencil for the answer sheet.

You are expected to provide your own
calculator. You may use any scientific
calculator or a graphing calculator
approved by Alberta Education.
This is a closed-book test consisting of

24 multiple-choice and 6 numericalresponse questions, each with a value of
one mark
You are expected to have cleared your

calculator of all information that is stored in
the programmable or parametric memory.
1 short-answer question with a value

of four marks
You may use a ruler and a protractor.

Read each question carefully.
1 long-answer question with a value

of eight marks
Consider all numbers used in the test to be

the result of a measurement or an
observation.
This test contains sets of related questions.

A set of questions may contain multiplechoice and/or numerical-response
questions.
When performing calculations, use the

values of the constants provided in the
data booklet.
A science data booklet is provided for

your reference.
If you wish to change an answer, erase

all traces of your first answer.
Do not fold the answer sheet.
Now turn this page and read the detailed
instructions for answering machine-scored
questions.
Science 20 2006 Alberta Education (www.education.gov.ab.ca)
Multiple Choice
Numerical Response
Decide which of the choices best

completes the statement or answers
the question.
Record your answer on the answer sheet

provided by writing it in the boxes and
then filling in the corresponding circles.
Locate that question number on the

separate answer sheet provided and
fill in the circle that corresponds to
your choice.
If an answer is a value between 0 and 1

(e.g., 0.25), then be sure to record the 0
before the decimal place.
Enter the first digit of your answer in the
left-hand box. Any boxes on the right
that are not needed are to remain blank.
Example
This test is for the subject of
A.
B.
C.
D.
Examples
science
biology
physics
chemistry
Calculation Question and Solution

The average of the values 21.0, 25.5, and 24.5 is
_________.
Answer Sheet
A
(Record your three-digit answer in the numericalresponse section on the answer sheet.)
Average = (21.0 + 25.5 + 24.5)/3

= 23.666
= 23.7 (rounded to one decimal
place)
ii
Written Response
Correct-Order Question and Solution

Four Subjects
1
2
3
4
Write your responses in the test booklet as

neatly as possible.
physics
biology
science
chemistry
For full marks, your responses must address

all aspects of the question.
Descriptions and/or explanations of
concepts must include pertinent ideas,
calculations, formulas, and correct units.
When the subjects above are arranged in

alphabetical order, the order is ______, ______,
______, and ______.
Your responses must be presented in a

well-organized manner. For example,
you may organize your responses in
paragraphs or point form.
(Record all four digits of your answer in the

numerical-response section on the answer sheet.)
Answer: 2413
Record 2413 on the
answer sheet
2413
. .
iii
An ecologist conducts a range of experiments to collect observations on aspects of

an ecosystem.
Use the following information to answer the first question.

The ecologist analyzes a sample of soil.
Characteristics of Soil
I
II
III
IV
1.
The characteristics of soil listed above that are abiotic factors of an ecosystem are
A.
B.
C.
D.
2.
pH
Nutrient content
Moisture content
Bacteria populations present
I and II
I, II, and III
II and IV
III and III
The decomposed remains of plants and animals form an important component of

soil called
A.
strata
B.
C.
D.
humus
lichens
lithosphere
Science 20: Midterm
Units C and D
Use the following diagram to answer the next question.

Based on observations of the organisms present in an ecosystem, the ecologist
constructs the food web depicted below.
Owl
Fox
Mouse
Rabbit
Grass and seeds
3.
The relationship between a rabbit and a mouse living within the food web shown
above is called
A.
predation
B.
C.
symbiosis
parasitism
D.
competition
Science 20: Midterm
Units C and D
Use the following information to answer the next two questions.

A forest fire damages a forest in northern Alberta. In the years following
the fire, the ecologist observes that different types of organisms grow in the
damaged area.
4.
The changes that occur in the ecosystem after the forest fire are called
A.
secondary succession
B.
C.
D.
habitat reclamation
primary succession
climaxation
Use the following additional information to answer the next question.

Organisms in an Ecosystem
1
2
3
4
shrubs
grasses
mosses
coniferous trees
Numerical Response
1.
The order in which the organisms listed above appear in an ecosystem after the
forest fire is _______, _______, _______, and _______.
first
last
(Record all four digits of your answer in the numerical-response section on the answer sheet.)
Science 20: Midterm
Units C and D
Use the following information to answer the next three questions.

Nitrogen is important for the growth of plants. Nitrogen can exist in many
forms within an ecosystem.
N2(g) in atmosphere
Animal waste
Plants
Nitrogen-fixing bacteria in
roots of legume plants
NO3
Protein
Nitrogen-fixing
soil bacteria
Soil Decomposers
NO2
Ammonia NH3
5.
Dentrifying
bacteria
Nitrifying
bacteria
As indicated in the diagram above, the form of nitrogen that can be directly used
by plants is
A.
nitrite, NO2
B.
C.
D.
nitrate, NO3
nitrogen, N2(g)
ammonia, NH3
Science 20: Midterm
Units C and D
Use the following additional information to answer the next two questions.
The ecologist suspects that a nearby farm may be affecting the area she is
studying.
Farm Activities
1
2
3
4
Composting plant and animal waste

Spraying fertilizers that contain nitrates
Spraying chemicals to kill insects and rodents
Spraying chemicals to kill soil bacteria
Numerical Response
2.
The two farm activities listed above that harm the nitrogen cycle are
_____ and _____.
(Record the two digits of your answer in the numerical-response section on the answer sheet.)
Use the following additional information to answer the next question.

The ecologist observes that a pond in the study area is covered with a thick
layer of algae and contains few fish.
6.
The most likely cause for the conditions observed at the pond is the
A.
inability of sunlight to reach the pond bottom
B.
C.
use of herbicides by the farm nearby

use of fertilizers by the farm nearby
D.
predation of pond fish by birds
Science 20: Midterm
Units C and D

Ecological Pyramid
7.
In the ecological pyramid above, herbivores are positioned in trophic level

i
and producers are positioned in trophic level
ii
.
The statement above is completed by the information in row
8.
Row
ii
A.
B.
C.
D.
The sequence for the transfer of energy through the trophic levels indicated in the
pyramid above is
A.
1, 2, 3, 4
B.
C.
D.
2, 3, 4, 1
3, 1, 4, 2
4, 3, 2, 1
Science 20: Midterm
Units C and D

Population Graph for Bighorn Sheep
350
Population size
300
250
200
150
100
50
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
Year
Factors That Influence the Population Size

of Bighorn Sheep Within an Ecosystem
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Disease affecting bighorn sheep

Increase in wolf population
Increased parasitism of wolves
Habitat destruction
Drought
Immigration of bighorn sheep from neighbouring ecosystems
Increase in survival rate of young bighorn sheep
Numerical Response
3.
Four factors listed above that could have caused the population change between
1977 and 1984 shown on the graph are _____, _____, _____, and _____.
9.
The ideal population size for the environment to support the bighorn sheep
population in the ecosystem shown on the graph above is
A.
25
B.
125
C.
D.
200
350
Science 20: Midterm
Units C and D
An undersea volcano erupts, resulting in the production of an island. The island

eventually develops into an ecosystem.

A few members of a population of birds arrive on the island by chance and
find that the ecosystem has plentiful resources that support their needs.
10.
Which of the following graphs represents the change in the population of the birds
described above over their first few years on the island?
Arrival
on island
Population
B.
Population
A.
Arrival
on island
Time
D.
Population
Population
C.
Time
Arrival
on island
Arrival
on island
Time
Time
Science 20: Midterm
Units C and D
11.
With respect to the ecosystems history, the first birds that arrive at the island are
i . Because the birds have the ability to interbreed,
considered to be
they are considered to be a
ii .
The statements above are completed by the information in row
Row
ii
A.
pioneers
species
B.
pioneers
community
C.
predators
species
D.
predators
community
Science 20: Midterm
Units C and D
Use the following information to answer the next question.

An ecologist investigates the many bird species now living on the island and
prepares the diagram below to represent the possible ways that the species
could have developed.
Evolutionary Processes
Numerical Response
4.
Match a number on the diagram above with its label given below. Use each
number only once.
Change in time
Gradualism
Punctuated equilibrium
Development of new species
_____
_____
_____
_____
(Record in the first column)

(Record in the second column)
(Record in the third column)
(Record in the fourth column)
(Record your answer in the numerical-response section on the answer sheet.)
Science 20: Midterm
10
Units C and D
12.
Variation within a population of birds on the island can be the result

i
of genes or
ii
reproduction.
of
The statement above is completed by the information in row
Row
ii
A.
cloning
sexual
B.
cloning
asexual
C.
mutation
sexual
D.
mutation
asexual
Science 20: Midterm
11
Units C and D

Descriptions
1
2
3
4
5
A group of peppered moths that includes individuals that are coloured

black, grey, or white
A litter of kittens that have black fur
A lamb that is a clone of an adult sheep
A group of finches that have different beak lengths
The seeds from one sunflower plant that germinate earlier than the
seeds from another sunflower plant
Numerical Response
5.
The three descriptions above that demonstrate variation of a trait within a

population of organisms of the same species are _____, _____, and _____.
(Record all three digits of your answer in the numerical-response section on the answer sheet.)

Statements
1
2
3
4
5
6
All populations produce more offspring than can survive.

Competition for resources occurs among members of a population.
Variation exists within a population.
If a trait is not used by an organism, its function is lost.
The strongest members of a population are best able to collect resources.
Organisms that live to reproduce pass their traits to their offspring.
Numerical Response
6.
Evolutionary theory can be used to explain the diversity of bird populations on

the island. The statements above that are associated with the theory of natural
selection are _____, _____, _____, and _____.
Science 20: Midterm
12
Units C and D
Regions of Earth have undergone considerable change. Earths history is a record of

these changes and their effects.
Use the following diagram to answer the next four questions.
Ocean
Settling sediment
moved by earthquake
Snail shell
13.
The diagram above depicts the fossilization of a snail. The process depicted would
result in the formation of which of the following types of fossil?
A.
Mold
B.
C.
D.
Track
Burrow
Actual remains
Science 20: Midterm
13
Units C and D
Use the following additional information to answer the next three questions.
The layer of rock containing the fossil is analyzed for parent and daughter
material percentages:
Parent:
Daughter:
14.
Radioisotope
Percentage in Sample
Uranium-235
Lead-207
75.0%
25.0%
The percentages of radioisotopes shown above indicate that the number of half-lives
elapsed by uranium-235 is
A.
0.25
B.
C.
D.
0.50
1.0
2.5
Use your recorded answer from Multiple Choice 14 to answer Multiple Choice 15.*
15.
Based on the data obtained in the analysis, the age of the rock layer containing
the fossil is
A.
1.76 108 years
B.
C.
D.
3.52 108 years

7.04 108 years
1.76 109 years
*You can receive marks for this question even if the previous question was answered incorrectly.
Use your recorded answer from Multiple Choice 15 to answer Multiple Choice 16.*
16.
Based on the age of the rock layer, during which era of geologic time was the
trilobite formed?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Precambrian
Paleozoic
Mesozoic
Cenozoic
*You can receive marks for this question even if the previous question was answered incorrectly.
Science 20: Midterm
14
Units C and D
17.
The Burgess Shale on the upper slopes of the Rocky Mountains contains marine
fossils. The process that formed the Rocky Mountains and resulted in the
movement of these fossils is
A.
B.
C.
D.
18.
erosion
foliation (folding)
glaciation
fossilization
The surface features of Earths crust in the Canadian prairie provinces were
mainly caused by
A.
glaciation
B.
C.
D.
earthquakes
meteorite impacts
foliation of tectonic plates
Science 20: Midterm
15
Units C and D

A research program involved mapping the geological features along the
bottom of the Pacific Ocean.
Land
Ocean
3
Sea floor
19.
20.
The layer of Earth that is responsible for the motion of the tectonic plates sampled
at location 1 is the
A.
crust
B.
C.
D.
mantle
inner core
outer core
On the diagram above, subduction is shown at location

A.
B.
C.
D.
2
3
5
Science 20: Midterm
16
Units C and D
21.
The type of seismic wave that travels with the greatest speed and causes solid rock
to compress and expand is
A.
a shear wave
B.
C.
D.
a primary wave
a secondary wave
an electromagnetic wave
Use the following diagram to answer the next two questions.

A section of a fault moves as shown in the diagram below and causes an
earthquake.
IV
III
V
II
22.
23.
In the diagram shown above, the earthquakes focus is labelled

A.
B.
C.
I
II
III
D.
The area that would most likely suffer the greatest damage as a result of ground
vibrations caused by the earthquake is labelled
A.
II
B.
C.
D.
III
IV
V
Science 20: Midterm
17
Units C and D
Use the following diagram to answer the next question.
I
II
III
IV
24.
The oldest rock layer shown in the diagram above is

A.
B.
C.
II
III
D.
IV
Science 20: Midterm
18
Units C and D
Answer Sheet
Multiple Choice
1.
9.
17.
2.
10.
18.
3.
11.
19.
4.
12.
20.
5.
13.
21.
6.
14.
22.
7.
15.
23.
8.
16.
24.
Numerical Response
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Science 20: Midterm
19
Units C and D

The extinction of the dinosaurs occurred at the end of the Cretaceous Period.
Circumstances Believed to Have Caused the Extinction of Dinosaurs
Climate Change
Disease
Competition
Short Answer4 marks
1. Define extinction. Describe how an extinction of a species appears within the
fossil record. Select one of the circumstances listed above and briefly explain,
using scientific principles, how it could have contributed to the extinction of the
dinosaurs.
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Science 20: Midterm
20
Units C and D

A tsunami is a large ocean wave that is created by an undersea earthquake.
The large amount of water that moves in a tsunami, in addition to the large
populations that live near coastlines, results in a very high potential for
destruction and loss of life. To prevent wide-scale destruction, many countries
have a tsunami warning system.
Long Answer8 marks
2. a. Describe the tectonic events that lead to a tsunami.
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b. Describe the process used by scientists to identify the location and magnitude
of an undersea earthquake.
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Science 20: Midterm
21
Units C and D
c. Explain the importance of knowing both the location and the magnitude of an
undersea earthquake to the development of a tsunami warning system.
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d. List some advantages and some disadvantages of a warning system for

tsunamis. Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages listed, and state your
opinion as to whether countries that are positioned beside oceans should invest
in tsunami warning systems.
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You have now completed the examination.

You may wish to review and revise your written work.
Science 20: Midterm
22
Units C and D

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Units C and D Midterm

Units C and D Midterm

This document is intended for

You may find the following Internet sites useful:

Use only an HB pencil for the answer sheet.

This is a closed-book test consisting of

You are expected to have cleared your

1 short-answer question with a value

You may use a ruler and a protractor.

1 long-answer question with a value

Consider all numbers used in the test to be

This test contains sets of related questions.

When performing calculations, use the

A science data booklet is provided for

If you wish to change an answer, erase

Science 20 2006 Alberta Education (www.education.gov.ab.ca)

Decide which of the choices best

Record your answer on the answer sheet

Locate that question number on the

If an answer is a value between 0 and 1

Calculation Question and Solution

Average = (21.0 + 25.5 + 24.5)/3

Science 20 2006 Alberta Education (www.education.gov.ab.ca)

Correct-Order Question and Solution

Write your responses in the test booklet as

For full marks, your responses must address

When the subjects above are arranged in

Your responses must be presented in a

(Record all four digits of your answer in the

Science 20 2006 Alberta Education (www.education.gov.ab.ca)

Science 20 2006 Alberta Education (www.education.gov.ab.ca)

An ecologist conducts a range of experiments to collect observations on aspects of

Use the following information to answer the first question.

The decomposed remains of plants and animals form an important component of

Science 20 2006 Alberta Education (www.education.gov.ab.ca)

Science 20: Midterm

Use the following diagram to answer the next question.

Grass and seeds

Science 20 2006 Alberta Education (www.education.gov.ab.ca)

Science 20: Midterm

Use the following information to answer the next two questions.

Use the following additional information to answer the next question.

Science 20 2006 Alberta Education (www.education.gov.ab.ca)

Science 20: Midterm

Use the following information to answer the next three questions.

Science 20 2006 Alberta Education (www.education.gov.ab.ca)

Science 20: Midterm

Composting plant and animal waste

Use the following additional information to answer the next question.

inability of sunlight to reach the pond bottom

use of herbicides by the farm nearby

predation of pond fish by birds

Science 20 2006 Alberta Education (www.education.gov.ab.ca)

Science 20: Midterm

Use the following information to answer the next two questions.

In the ecological pyramid above, herbivores are positioned in trophic level

Science 20 2006 Alberta Education (www.education.gov.ab.ca)

Science 20: Midterm

Use the following information to answer the next two questions.

Factors That Influence the Population Size

Disease affecting bighorn sheep

Science 20: Midterm