1. Benchmark Most Missed Questions
4. As continents formed, Earth’s climate changed and exposed more land. How did climate changes make the environment more favorable for reptiles than amphibians?
Less water was available as the climate became drier, which favored reptiles.
Less water was available as the climate became cooler, which favored reptiles.
More water became available as the climate became wetter, which favored reptiles.
More water became available as the climate became warmer, which favored reptiles.

2. Benchmark Most Missed Questions
5. Which best explains how a watershed compares to a river basin?
A watershed is a ridge of land separating bodies of water, and a river basin flows over the ground surface like runoff.
A watershed is a river connecting to a larger river, and a river basin is a land area supplying water to the watershed.
A watershed is a land area supplying water to small rivers, and a river basin is comprised of many interconnected watersheds and their tributaries.
A watershed flows over the ground surface runoff, and a river basin is a layer of permeable rock and soil in which water fills the cracks and pores.

3. Benchmark Most Missed Questions
9. Which is the source of most drinking water in North Carolina?
Lakes
Rivers
Springs
Aquifers

4. Benchmark Most Missed Questions
14. Which best describes an important benefit of upwelling to marine ecosystems?
Upwelling increases the biological productivity of the ecosystem.
Upwelling decreases the need for light in deeper areas of the ecosystem.
Upwelling decreases the need for decomposers in the food web of the ecosystem.
Upwelling increases the chance of photosynthesis in deeper parts of the ecosystem.

5. Benchmark Most Missed Questions
17. What is being checked if a scientist is testing a stream’s turbidity?
Salinity
Vegetation
Water flow
Sediment load

6. Benchmark Most Missed Questions
21. Which best describes how turbid water can negatively affect the health of a water system?
Turbid water can result in extremely elevated oxygen and pH levels.
Turbid can clog fish gills and prevent egg and larval development.
Turbid water can increase growth rates of fish and other aquatic life forms.
Turbid water can promote resistance to disease while increasing algae production.

7. Benchmark Most Missed Questions
25. A flask holds 500mL of nutrient liquid containing a mixture of foods consumed by protists. Ten organisms each of five different protist species are placed into the flask. The table shows the protist population sizes over a 15- day period.
Species
Day 1
Day 3
Day 5
Day 7
Day 9
Day 11
Day 13
Day 15 V 10 15 25 38 51 68 79 99 W 14 19 28 41 58 72 96 X 13 20 24 37 48 55 64 Y 16 23 9 3 Z 17 26 39 59 65 76
Which species most likely competed with species V for food? W X Y Z

8. Benchmark Most Missed Questions
29. Which is the primary benefit of protecting and preserving a river basin?
To ensure safe levels of groundwater
To promote healthy aquatic ecosystems
To drain water falling on surrounding land
To slow the rapid growth of land development