Science Assessment ~ Items ~ SB039002

The wood from trees can be used to make things, like the table shown below.

Where did the tree get most of the mass it used to make the wood?

Most of the mass of the wood came from soil that the trees took up through their roots.
Most of the mass of the wood came from oxygen that the trees took in from the air.
Most of the mass of the wood came from carbon dioxide that the trees took in from the air.
Most of the mass of the wood came from minerals that the trees took in from the soil.

Describe the process by which the answer choice you selected (soil, oxygen, carbon dioxide, or minerals) becomes part of the wood.*

Topic

Matter and Energy in Living Systems

Correct Answer

Explanation Scoring Rubric

Reasoning – States the relevant general principles and links them to the claim (4 points)

States or uses the general principle that plant body structures are made of large carbon-containing molecules (polymers).
States or uses the general principle that plants use carbon dioxide molecules and water molecules to form small carbon-containing molecules (monomers), such as glucose, and oxygen molecules. (Photosynthesis)
States or uses the general principle that plants react small carbon-containing molecules (monomers), such as glucose, to form large carbon-containing molecules (polymers), and water molecules. (Polymer formation)
Provides a mechanism that links the general principles to the answer choice selected (claim): Carbon (and oxygen) atoms from carbon dioxide molecules that the trees took in from the air are rearranged into large carbon-containing molecules (polymers) that become part of plant body structures, and hence the wood. (Atom rearrangement and incorporation)

*The prompt shown for the explanation tier reflects revision following its use in the Year 3 study for which student results are shown.

Misconceptions

Answer Choice: D: MEM121: Minerals are food for plants (Horizon, n.d.; Vaz et al., 1997).

Pre-Test

Post-Test

Group	Correct	Total	Percent
Overall	64	377	17%
Grades
6–8	64	377	17%
9–12	N/A	N/A	N/A
Gender
Male	39	207	19%
Female	25	170	15%
Primary Language
English	60	349	17%
Other	4	28	14%

Group	Earned	Possible	Percent
Overall	9	1512	1%
Grades
6–8	9	1512	1%
9–12	N/A	N/A	N/A
Gender
Male	6	828	1%
Female	3	684	0%
Primary Language
English	9	1400	1%
Other	0	112	0%

Group	Correct	Total	Percent
Overall	169	378	45%
Grades
6–8	169	378	45%
9–12	N/A	N/A	N/A
Gender
Male	93	207	45%
Female	76	171	44%
Primary Language
English	157	350	45%
Other	12	28	43%

Group	Earned	Possible	Percent
Overall	114	1512	8%
Grades
6–8	114	1512	8%
9–12	N/A	N/A	N/A
Gender
Male	66	828	8%
Female	48	684	7%
Primary Language
English	109	1400	8%
Other	5	112	4%

Disciplinary Core Ideas: LS1.C Plants, algae (including phytoplankton), and many microorganisms use the energy from light to make sugars (food) from carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and water through the process of photosynthesis, which also releases oxygen. These sugars can be used immediately or stored for growth or later use.

Science Assessment