7.10AB
The Mesosaurus was a small, freshwater reptile that lived millions of years ago. Fossils of the Mesosaurus have been found only in eastern South America and western Africa.
Which statement best explains how these fossils provide evidence that Earth has changed over time?
A. The reptiles swam across the wide Atlantic Ocean to populate both continents.
B. South America and Africa were once joined as part of a single large landmass before being separated by plate tectonics.
C. Volcanic eruptions carried the fossils across the ocean from one continent to the other.
D. The two continents have always been in their current positions, but they shared identical freshwater river paths.
B. South America and Africa were once joined as part of a single large landmass before being separated by plate tectonics.
Under the updated Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) framework utilized by Dallas ISD, the 7.11 standards focus entirely on Human Impact on the Hydrosphere.
Note: In previous years, 7.11 covered energy flow and ecosystems. Under the current standards, energy flow shifted to TEKS 7.12, while TEKS 7.11A and 7.11B focus purely on water systems, watersheds, and the oceans.
Understand the Blueprints
TEKS 7.11A: Analyze the beneficial and harmful influences of human activity on groundwater and surface water in a watershed.
TEKS 7.11B: Describe human dependence and influence on ocean systems and explain how human activities impact these systems.
Category 1: Human Activity in a Watershed (TEKS 7.11A)
Question 1: Multiple Choice (Surface vs. Groundwater Impact)
The map below displays a local Texas watershed containing a river system that recharges an underground aquifer.
A new industrial manufacturing plant is built near the headwaters of the river. Over a year, the plant accidentally spills toxic liquid chemicals onto the surrounding permeable ground. How will this human activity most likely influence the watershed?
A. It will only affect the surface water of the river because the ground acts as a complete filter for all toxins.
B. It will pollute the surface water through runoff and contaminate the groundwater as the toxins seep through the soil into the aquifer.
C. It will have a beneficial influence by adding vital minerals to the local drinking water supply.
D. It will completely stop the evaporation phase of the water cycle across the entire county.
Correct Answer: B
Justification: Pollutants spilled on permeable ground affect both surface water (via storm runoff) and groundwater (via percolation into the aquifer).
Question 2: Multi-Part Question (Beneficial vs. Harmful Actions)
Part A
A city council along the Trinity River watershed introduces a program that restores native wetlands and mandates the use of permeable pavement in new parking lots. What is the intended positive influence of this human activity?
A. To increase the speed of surface runoff to cause controlled downstream flooding.
B. To decrease the amount of water that reaches underground aquifers.
C. To filter out pollutants naturally and increase groundwater recharge.
D. To eliminate the need for a local water cycle.
Part B
Conversely, if a neighboring farming community allows livestock to overgraze near the riverbanks, causing massive soil erosion, how does this harmful activity directly impact the surface water quality?
A. It increases dissolved oxygen levels, making the water clearer.
B. It increases turbidity (cloudiness) by dumping sediment into the water, which blocks sunlight for aquatic plants.
C. It lowers the water temperature drastically, causing a microhabitat freeze.
D. It prevents groundwater from ever rising to the surface.
Part A -
C. To filter out pollutants naturally and increase groundwater recharge.\
Part B- B. It increases turbidity (cloudiness) by dumping sediment into the water, which blocks sunlight for aquatic plants.
If the producers (grasses) at the base of the ecosystem capture $22,000\text{ kJ}$ of energy from the Sun, approximately how much energy will be available to the secondary consumers (snakes)?
A. $22,000
B. $2,200
C. $220
D. $22
C. $220
A student runs up a flight of stairs to get to their next class at a Dallas ISD middle school. As a result, the student's muscular system requires a rapid delivery of oxygen and a quick removal of carbon dioxide waste.
Which two body systems must interact directly to fulfill this requirement for the muscular system?
A. Urinary and Endocrine
B. Integumentary and Immune
C. Respiratory and Circulatory
D. Digestive and Skeletal
C. Respiratory and Circulatory
The scientific classification of a domestic dog and a gray wolf is shown below:
Domestic Dog: Domain Eukarya, Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Chordata, Class Mammalia, Order Carnivora, Family Canidae, Genus Canis, Species lupus
Gray Wolf: Domain Eukarya, Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Chordata, Class Mammalia, Order Carnivora, Family Canidae, Genus Canis, Species lupus
Which of the following conclusions about the taxonomic system is best supported by this data?
A. Family is the most specific level of classification because it includes the fewest types of organisms.
B. Dogs and wolves are highly related because they share every taxonomic level up to the Genus and Species levels.
C. The level of Domain contains fewer total organisms than the level of Genus.
D. Organisms are classified strictly by their physical size rather than genetic or structural similarities.
B. Dogs and wolves are highly related because they share every taxonomic level up to the Genus and Species levels.
Part A
The diagram below shows a boundary where an oceanic plate is colliding with and sliding underneath a continental plate.
Which geologic features are most likely to form at this specific boundary?
A. Mid-ocean ridges and rift valleys
B. Deep ocean trenches and volcanic mountain ranges
C. Transform faults and earthquakes only
D. Hot spot island chains
Which statement best supports the mechanical cause of the answer selected in Part A?
A. Convection currents in the mantle push the plates apart, allowing magma to rise and cool.
B. The plates slide past one another horizontally, building up friction that releases as volcanic ash.
C. The denser oceanic plate subducts under the less dense continental plate, melting into magma that rises to form volcanoes.
D. A mantle plume remains stationary while the continental plate moves over it.
Part A- B. Deep ocean trenches and volcanic mountain ranges
Part B- C. The denser oceanic plate subducts under the less dense continental plate, melting into magma that rises to form volcanoes.
Humans rely heavily on global ocean systems for survival and economic stability. Which of the following statements does not accurately describe a way humans depend on the ocean?
A. Marine phytoplankton and algae generate more than 50% of the oxygen in Earth’s atmosphere.
B. Ocean currents regulate global climate patterns by storing and distributing solar heat energy.
C. The ocean serves as a primary global transportation route and a major source of protein for billions of people.
D. The ocean is the primary source of fresh groundwater pumped directly into inland residential water wells.
D. The ocean is the primary source of fresh groundwater pumped directly into inland residential water wells.
Part A
Look at the forest food web provided below.
A localized disease outbreak drastically reduces the population of frogs in this ecosystem. Which of the following immediate effects would most likely occur?
A. The grasshopper population will increase, and the snake population will decrease.
B. The plant population will decrease, and the hawk population will increase.
C. The grasshopper population will decrease, and the snake population will increase.
D. No changes will occur because food webs are completely insulated from population drops.
Part B
What is the primary scientific function of the arrows displayed in a food web diagram?
A. To show which organism is larger and physically stronger.
B. To show the direction of the flow of energy from the organism being consumed to the consumer.
C. To track the migration paths of the animals during seasonal changes.
D. To show which animals hunt together in packs.
Part A- A. The grasshopper population will increase, and the snake population will decrease.
Part B- B. To show the direction of the flow of energy from the organism being consumed to the consumer.
Which of the following correctly sequences these structures from the least complex level to the most complex level?
A. Muscle tissue - Organism -Bone cell -Heart -Circulatory system
B. Bone cell - Muscle tissue -Heart - Circulatory system- Organism
C. Heart - Bone cell -Muscle tissue - Organism - Circulatory system
D. Organism -Circulatory system- Heart - Muscle tissue -Bone cell
B. Bone cell - Muscle tissue -Heart - Circulatory system- Organism
An unknown organism is discovered in a soil sample collected near Dallas, Texas. Scientists analyze its cells under a microscope and record the following characteristics:
Cell Type: Eukaryotic (has a distinct nucleus)
Cell Number: Multicellular
Mode of Nutrition: Heterotrophic (absorbs nutrients from dead organic matter)
Cell Wall: Present, made of chitin
To which of the recognized kingdoms does this organism belong?
A. Eubacteria
B. Plantae
C. Fungi
D. Animalia
C. Fungi
The Hawaiian Islands were formed by volcanic activity, but they are located right in the middle of the Pacific Plate, thousands of miles away from any tectonic plate boundary.
What causes the formation of this type of volcanic island chain?
A. A divergent boundary creating a rift valley on the seafloor.
B. The movement of an oceanic plate over a stationary hot spot in the mantle.
C. Intense earthquakes that cracked the center of the plate open.
D. A supervolcano eruption that pushed the boundary inward.
B. The movement of an oceanic plate over a stationary hot spot in the mantle.
When excess synthetic fertilizers from inland agricultural fields wash into rivers, they are eventually carried out into the ocean, such as where the Mississippi River empties into the Gulf of Mexico.
What is the severe ecological impact of this human influence on the marine ecosystem?
A. The fertilizer causes massive algal blooms; when the algae die and decompose, oxygen is depleted from the water, creating a "dead zone" where marine life suffocates.
B. The fertilizer turns the saltwater into freshwater, forcing marine fish to adapt to a river environment.
C. The fertilizer causes the ocean floor geography to shift, creating new underwater mountain ranges.
D. The marine animals use the fertilizer to build stronger shells, drastically increasing biodiversity.
A. The fertilizer causes massive algal blooms; when the algae die and decompose, oxygen is depleted from the water, creating a "dead zone" where marine life suffocates.
Which statement correctly describes the relationship between energy and matter in this system?
A. Both energy and matter flow in a straight line and are eventually lost to space.
B. Energy cycles continuously through the food web, while matter flows in one direction from producers to decomposers.
C. Energy flows in a one-way path entering from the Sun and leaving as heat, while matter and nutrients are continuously recycled back into the system.
D. Decomposers recreate lost energy, but they destroy dead matter so it cannot be used again.
C. Energy flows in a one-way path entering from the Sun and leaving as heat, while matter and nutrients are continuously recycled back into the system.
Part A
An agricultural scientist is comparing two fields of potato plants. Field 1 contains potatoes that reproduced asexually through tubers (cuttings of a single parent plant). Field 2 contains potatoes that reproduced sexually through pollination and seeds.
If a severe fungal disease introduces itself to both fields, which outcome is most likely to occur over time?
A. Field 1 will completely survive because asexual offspring have higher genetic diversity.
B. Field 2 will completely die out because sexual reproduction produces genetic clones with the same exact weaknesses.
C. Field 1 is at a higher risk of total destruction because the uniform offspring share identical DNA, meaning if the fungus kills one, it can kill them all.
D. Both fields will adapt instantly during their lifetimes because plants can change their own DNA when stressed.
Part B
Which statement accurately contrasts the genetic results of these two reproductive methods?
A. Asexual reproduction involves two parents and creates diverse offspring; sexual reproduction involves one parent and creates uniform offspring.
B. Asexual reproduction results in a genetically uniform population (clones), while sexual reproduction results in a genetically diverse population.
C. Both asexual and sexual reproduction produce offspring that are completely unrelated to the parent organisms.
D. Sexual reproduction yields fewer changes in a population over time compared to asexual reproduction.
Part A- C. Field 1 is at a higher risk of total destruction because the uniform offspring share identical DNA, meaning if the fungus kills one, it can kill them all.
Part B- B. Asexual reproduction results in a genetically uniform population (clones), while sexual reproduction results in a genetically diverse population.
While many people associate bacteria and fungi purely with disease, organisms within these kingdoms provide vital benefits that sustain Texas ecosystems. Which of the following correctly pairs an organism from one of these kingdoms with its correct ecological importance?
A. Kingdom Plantae: Acts as a primary consumer to reduce the amount of oxygen gas in the atmosphere.
B. Kingdom Eubacteria: Bacteria living inside a mammal’s digestive tract break down complex molecules, aiding in digestion and nutrient absorption.
C. Kingdom Fungi: Mushrooms actively hunt small insects to control pest populations in agricultural fields.
D. Kingdom Archaea: Forms dense underground roots that prevent soil erosion along rivers.
B. Kingdom Eubacteria: Bacteria living inside a mammal’s digestive tract break down complex molecules, aiding in digestion and nutrient absorption.
Unlike standard volcanoes, a supervolcano like the one beneath Yellowstone National Park is characterized by its capacity to produce an eruption with a Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) of 8. Which statement correctly describes the formation or location of supervolcanoes?
A. They only form at transform boundaries where plates slide past each other.
B. They can form either along tectonic plate boundaries or above intraplate hot spots.
C. They are small features that only happen in schoolyard microhabitats.
D. They form strictly where two continental plates pull apart to create a mid-ocean ridge.
B. They can form either along tectonic plate boundaries or above intraplate hot spots.
The map below displays a local Texas watershed containing a river system that recharges an underground aquifer.
A new industrial manufacturing plant is built near the headwaters of the river. Over a year, the plant accidentally spills toxic liquid chemicals onto the surrounding permeable ground. How will this human activity most likely influence the watershed?
A. It will only affect the surface water of the river because the ground acts as a complete filter for all toxins.
B. It will pollute the surface water through runoff and contaminate the groundwater as the toxins seep through the soil into the aquifer.
C. It will have a beneficial influence by adding vital minerals to the local drinking water supply.
D. It will completely stop the evaporation phase of the water cycle across the entire county.
B. It will pollute the surface water through runoff and contaminate the groundwater as the toxins seep through the soil into the aquifer.
Part A
A biologists sets up a completely sealed glass terrarium containing soil, plants, water, insects, and decomposers (bacteria and fungi). After several months, the decomposers are completely removed from the soil.
What will be the most direct, long-term impact on the sustainability of this ecosystem?
A. The plants will grow much larger because they no longer have to compete with fungi for sunlight.
B. The recycling of vital nutrients will stop, causing the soil to lose its fertility and the food web to eventually collapse.
C. The water cycle will stop completely, preventing rain from falling inside the terrarium.
D. The plants will start using heat energy from the insects instead of solar energy.
Part B
Which ecological process performed by the plants in the terrarium serves as the primary entry point for both energy and carbon matter into the biotic food web?
A. Transpiration
B. Selective Breeding
C. Photosynthesis
D. Cellular Respiration
Part A- The recycling of vital nutrients will stop, causing the soil to lose its fertility and the food web to eventually collapse.
Part B- Photosynthesis
A population of wild wildcats originally has a wide variety of tail lengths, ranging from very short to very long. Over many generations, a new climbing predator enters the ecosystem. Bobcats with longer tails are much better at balancing in the trees to escape this predator, while short-tailed wildcats are frequently caught. Eventually, nearly all the wildcats in the forest have long tails.
Separately, a group of scientists working at an agricultural facility selectively breeds only the gentlest, shortest-tailed wildcats over several decades to create a unique line of docile, short-tailed house pets.
Which of the following statements accurately classifies the processes that changed these two animal populations?
A. Both the forest wildcats and the house pets changed due to artificial selection because their physical traits were modified over generations.
B. The forest wildcats changed due to natural selection because environmental pressures drove the survival of certain traits, while the house pets changed due to artificial selection because humans explicitly chose which traits to pass on.
C. The forest wildcats changed due to artificial selection because the predator forced them to change, while the house pets changed due to natural selection because the animals reproduced naturally.
D. Both populations changed due to natural selection because traits can only be altered by natural genetic mutations during an organism's lifetime.
B. The forest wildcats changed due to natural selection because environmental pressures drove the survival of certain traits, while the house pets changed due to artificial selection because humans explicitly chose which traits to pass on.
Which cell has a cell wall?
Plant cell
What does a divergent boundary creates?
mid ocean ridges
rift valleys
seafloor spreading
What is ground water?
Water that seeps through the ground that is found in particles of rocks and soil.
The carbon atoms that make up the trunk of a live oak tree in Dallas, Texas, were once part of the atmosphere as carbon dioxide gas.
How do these carbon atoms eventually return to the abiotic environment to sustain the biosphere?
A. The tree destroys the carbon atoms as it grows to make room for new mass.
B. The carbon atoms evaporate directly into clouds during heavy rainstorms.
C. When the tree drops its leaves or eventually dies, decomposers break down the organic tissue, releasing the carbon back into the soil and atmosphere.
D. The carbon is permanently locked in the soil and can never be recycled.
C. When the tree drops its leaves or eventually dies, decomposers break down the organic tissue, releasing the carbon back into the soil and atmosphere.
Which statement best describes the fundamental difference between the mechanisms of natural selection and artificial selection?
A. Natural selection causes changes in a population over multiple generations, whereas artificial selection alters the genetic makeup of an individual organism within its own single lifetime.
B. Natural selection always results in completely new species, while artificial selection only changes the physical color of an animal.
C. In natural selection, environmental factors determine which traits provide a reproductive advantage; in artificial selection, human choices determine which traits are passed to the next generation.
D. Natural selection only applies to animal populations in wild environments, while artificial selection only applies to crops, plants, and bacteria.
C. In natural selection, environmental factors determine which traits provide a reproductive advantage; in artificial selection, human choices determine which traits are passed to the next generation.
Which cell has the bigger vacuole ?
Plants