Science Assessment ~ Topics ~ Matter and Energy in Living Systems ~ Item ME039002 ~ Student Performance

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.*

Distribution of responses
Answer Choice		Overall	Grades		Gender		Primary Language
		n = 377	6–8 n = 377	9–12 n = 0	Male n = 207	Female n = 170	English n = 349	Other n = 28
A.	Most of the mass of the wood came from soil that the trees took up through their roots.	10%	10%	NAN%	9%	11%	10%	11%
B.	Most of the mass of the wood came from oxygen that the trees took in from the air.	5%	5%	NAN%	5%	5%	5%	11%
C.	Most of the mass of the wood came from carbon dioxide that the trees took in from the air.	17%	17%	NAN%	19%	15%	17%	14%
D.	Most of the mass of the wood came from minerals that the trees took in from the soil.	68%	68%	NAN%	67%	69%	68%	64%

Distribution of responses
Answer Choice		Overall	Grades		Gender		Primary Language
		n = 378	6–8 n = 378	9–12 n = 0	Male n = 207	Female n = 171	English n = 350	Other n = 28
A.	Most of the mass of the wood came from soil that the trees took up through their roots.	4%	4%	NAN%	4%	4%	4%	7%
B.	Most of the mass of the wood came from oxygen that the trees took in from the air.	4%	4%	NAN%	5%	3%	4%	7%
C.	Most of the mass of the wood came from carbon dioxide that the trees took in from the air.	45%	45%	NAN%	45%	44%	45%	43%
D.	Most of the mass of the wood came from minerals that the trees took in from the soil.	47%	47%	NAN%	45%	49%	47%	43%

Science Assessment