Q1 L1 · Quiz
Weekly quiz · Learning to Test Ideas: Controlled Experiments
Assessment Appendix — AP Environmental Science · Week 1 Quiz
Quarter 1, Week 1 · Lessons 1.1–1.2 · Learning to Test Ideas: Controlled Experiments; Introduction to Ecosystems: Who Lives in Our Garden?
| # | Item | Answer / look-fors / scoring | Pts | Lesson · standards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Which term best matches this description? A procedure in which a researcher deliberately changes one variable to see its effect on another; without manipulation it is an observation. | (B) experiment. | 1 | L1.1 · CED Topic 5.10; LO EIN-2.M; Skill 4.A, 4.B, 4.C |
| 2 | Which term best matches this description? A comparable neighborhood that did not get trees, measured over the same summer with the same instruments; it shows what would have happened anyway. | (D) control group. | 1 | L1.1 · CED Topic 5.10; LO EIN-2.M; Skill 4.A, 4.B, 4.C |
| 3 | Choose the word or phrase that best completes the sentence: An experiment changes one thing on purpose and compares the result to a ________ that is identical in every other way. Without the control, we cannot claim cause and effect. | (D) control group. | 1 | L1.1 · CED Topic 5.10; LO EIN-2.M; Skill 4.A, 4.B, 4.C |
| 4 | Average soil moisture under mulch changed from 20% to 30% over one month. What was the percent change? | (D) +50%. Percent change = (new − old) ÷ old × 100 = (30 − 20) ÷ 20 × 100. | 1 | L1.1 · CED Topic 5.10; LO EIN-2.M; Skill 4.A, 4.B, 4.C; item skill 6.B |
| 5 | A garden food web captures 50,000 kcal/m²/yr of energy in its producers. Using the 10 percent rule, approximately how much energy is available to tertiary consumers? (Illustrative data.) | (C) 50 kcal/m²/yr. Each trophic level keeps about 10%: 50,000 × 0.1^3 = 50. Most energy is lost as heat from respiration. | 1 | L1.2 · CED Topic 1.1; LO ERT-1.A; Skill 1.A, 1.B, 4.D; item skill 6.B |
| 6 | Short Free Response: Answer each part using evidence from this week’s garden investigations. | 4 | L1.1, 1.2 · CED Topic 5.10; LO EIN-2.M; Skill 4.A, 4.B, 4.C; CED Topic 1.1; LO ERT-1.A; Skill 1.A, 1.B, 4.D | |
| (a) What is the difference between an experiment and an observation? | An experiment deliberately changes a variable; an observation records what happens without manipulation. | 1 | ||
| (b) Why is a control group essential? | It provides a baseline that shows what would happen without the treatment, so a difference can be attributed to the treatment. | 1 | ||
| (c) A sports drink company surveyed 50 athletes who drink its product and 80% said they felt stronger. Identify two problems with this study and describe a better design. | Problems: no control group, self-report bias, no random assignment, athletes already chose the drink. Better: randomly assign athletes to the drink or a look-alike placebo, measure a performance variable (sprint time), keep training constant, and use a large sample. | 1 | ||
| (d) Name one biotic and one abiotic factor you recorded and describe how they interact. | Example: radish (biotic) depends on soil moisture (abiotic). | 1 |