Item EB056001: When a mouse grows, its increased mass comes from atoms of molecules from its food that were incorporated into its body structures.
Over the course of 7 weeks, a baby mouse with a mass of 0.5 grams grows into an adult mouse with a mass of 19 grams. Where does the additional 18.5 grams of mass in the animal’s body come from?
- The mouse gains mass from atoms it creates. As it grows, its body uses energy from the molecules that make up its food to create these atoms.
- The mouse gains mass from the atoms of newly created cells. As it grows, its cells divide, increasing the total number of atoms.
- The mouse gains mass from the atoms that make up the molecules in its food. As it grows, these atoms become part of body structures.
- The mouse gains mass from the atoms that make up the molecules in its food. As it grows, these molecules are kept inside the mouse’s body but do not become a part of it.
Pre-Test
Answer Choice |
Overall |
Grades |
Gender |
Primary Language |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n = 259 |
6–8 n = 0 |
9–12 n = 226 |
Male n = 134 |
Female n = 91 |
English n = 213 |
Other n = 11 |
||
| A. | The mouse gains mass from atoms it creates. As it grows, its body uses energy from the molecules that make up its food to create these atoms. | 17% | NAN% | 15% | 13% | 21% | 16% | 9% |
| B. | The mouse gains mass from the atoms of newly created cells. As it grows, its cells divide, increasing the total number of atoms. | 28% | NAN% | 28% | 31% | 25% | 27% | 36% |
| C. | The mouse gains mass from the atoms that make up the molecules in its food. As it grows, these atoms become part of body structures. | 37% | NAN% | 39% | 40% | 36% | 38% | 45% |
| D. | The mouse gains mass from the atoms that make up the molecules in its food. As it grows, these molecules are kept inside the mouse’s body but do not become a part of it. | 18% | NAN% | 17% | 16% | 18% | 19% | 9% |
Post-Test
Answer Choice |
Overall |
Grades |
Gender |
Primary Language |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n = 298 |
6–8 n = 0 |
9–12 n = 270 |
Male n = 151 |
Female n = 115 |
English n = 251 |
Other n = 15 |
||
| A. | The mouse gains mass from atoms it creates. As it grows, its body uses energy from the molecules that make up its food to create these atoms. | 20% | NAN% | 20% | 25% | 15% | 20% | 13% |
| B. | The mouse gains mass from the atoms of newly created cells. As it grows, its cells divide, increasing the total number of atoms. | 18% | NAN% | 17% | 17% | 18% | 18% | 7% |
| C. | The mouse gains mass from the atoms that make up the molecules in its food. As it grows, these atoms become part of body structures. | 49% | NAN% | 50% | 45% | 55% | 49% | 67% |
| D. | The mouse gains mass from the atoms that make up the molecules in its food. As it grows, these molecules are kept inside the mouse’s body but do not become a part of it. | 13% | NAN% | 13% | 13% | 12% | 13% | 13% |