2011 Final Exam Questions

Science 7 Final Exam

2011 - 2012

You will be allowed to use any original notes on this final exam. None of the worksheets or note packets provided by Mr. Viker will be permitted. All notes must be handwritten. Photocopied notes are not acceptable. Typed notes must be initialed by your parent / guardian on each page. Notes that will be allowed on the final exam must be turned in the day prior to the final. This sheet must be brought to the testing date, or you will not be allowed to take test – earning a zero.

The questions listed below are the complete set of questions for the final exam. You will not be expected to answer all of the questions on the day of the final, only 10 of them. At the start of the final, we will randomly draw numbers for which questions will be on the final. Those are the questions that will be graded. You are expected to give very detailed answers to these questions. One word / one sentence answers will not be sufficient. These are major topics and require complete answers.

Students who are successful on this final usually work on the final as we complete each unit and do not wait until the end of the semester. I would advise you to keep a separate section in your notebook for your answers. You will find that these answers will also help you with the pre-tests. If you turn in your answers during the year, I will check your answers to see if they are acceptable. This will give you the opportunity to make improvement on answers that are inadequate.

Science Essentials and Life Science Intro

Given two readings, interpret which is scientific evidence and which is personal opinion. Give reasoning for your answer.
Give a complete definition for scientific law.
Explain why it is important to repeat an investigation or experiment.
Explain in detail what volume, mass and density are and how they are related.
What is the difference between a constant and a variable in an experiment.
Explain the steps in the scientific procedure / inquiry process.
Give five examples of individuals in history that made discoveries & contributions in science and technology.
Explain the phases of matter as related to temperature – use water in your explanation.

Botany and Classification

Make a dichotomous key by using 8 items that will be assigned during the final.
Identify the differences between vascular and non-vascular plants.
What are the differences between angiosperms and gymnosperms?
List and explain the differences between monocots and dicots.
Correctly identify a Minnesota tree using a dichotomous key.
Describe the functions for each of the following: leaf, stem, root, flower
Completely describe the process of photosynthesis.
What are the seven levels of classification? Also, list and give an example for each of the six kingdoms.

Classification and Animals

List and describe the four major qualities that all animals share.
Explain how biologists categorize animals.
Describe animals’ adapatations for getting food and escaping predators.
Describe the seven types of invertebrates by listing three qualities of each.
Identify five main characteristics of fishes, amphibians and reptiles.
Describe the characteristics that birds and mammals share.
Describe and give examples of animal behavior cycles and explain how they are important for an animal’s survival.
Explain the difference between instinct and learned behavior.

Biology and Anatomy

Detail the relationship between the skeleton and the muscular system.
Completely explain the process that oxygen enters the body and is distributed throughout it.
Does the excretory system just work with the digestive system? Explain.
List your five senses along with the body part (with proper terminology) that assists the sense. Also, what organ system does this question pertain to?
Explain how fertilization occurs and the stages that follow – until birth.
Differentiate between the terms reproduction and development.
What are the four levels of organization in the human body? Give an example of each.
List the four types of tissue found in the human body and explain their functions.
Choose eight organs and list their locations and functions in the body.

Genetics and Heredity

Explain each stage of the cell cycle.
Is DNA and genes the same thing? Explain.
Describe Mendel’s findings regarding heredity. Use the terms alleles and genes correctly.
Give all of the information that would be necessary to have a purebred offspring. Include phenotypes, genotypes.
Differentiate between homozygous and heterozygous genotypes.
Make a Punnett square for a trait of your choice. State the characteristic, make a key and explain the probabilities.
What is the chromosome theory of inheritance? What are chromosomes?
Explain what codominance is.

Ecosystems

State three examples of potentially irreversible effects of human activity on ecosystems.
Explain what a population is as opposed to what an ecosystem is.
Using St. Peter as an example, pick three separate relationships and explain how each organism is dependant on the other.
Explain how natural selection works.