Copy of APES: Point, No Point FRQ (Released 2023 #1 Set 1) First Attempt (2/7/2025)

Last updated 8 months ago

18 questions

Attestation

1 point

Question 1

The difference between a students' qualification or lack of qualification on the AP exam does not come down to answering FRQs correctly during practice. It comes down to honestly attempting FRQS and then learning from them.

True

False

1 point

Question 2

I need to earn around 80% of the points on the FRQs to qualify on the exam.

True

False

1 point

Question 3

I am allowed to talk during the free-response writing portion of this activity.

True

False

1 point

Question 4

I am graded for accuracy for the free-response writing portion of this activity.

True

False

FRQ

Researchers interested in sustainability developed three new varieties of genetically modified green beans designed to produce higher yields in arid regions. Four plots (A-D) were set up on a floodplain of a river to grow beans. Plots A, B, and C were each planted with seeds of different types of genetically modified strains of green beans. Plot D was planted with seeds of unmodified green beans. Each plot was given equal amounts of fertilizer, which contains phosphorus and nitrogen, and water and was irrigated using spray irrigation for one hour per day. Throughout the growing season, researchers measured the amount of green beans harvested within each plot. The plots with genetically modified beans had higher crop yields than the plot with unmodified beans. 

(a) Identify the control group in this experiment. 

(b) Identify the scientific question for the investigation.
 
(c) Researchers repeated the experiment by modifying the length of time for the spray irrigation to 20 minutes per day. Explain how the results of the experiment could be altered with this modification. 

Researchers also monitored the amount of sediment and fertilizer washing into the river from each plot in the original study. The soil temperature was also measured in each plot at the same depth and at the same time each day approximately 0.05 meters below the surface of the soil. 

(d) Based on the data in the table, identify the plot with the lowest soil temperature. 

(e) Describe how sediment runoff and fertilizer runoff compare between the unmodified green beans and the genetically modified green beans.

(f) The Type 2 GMO beans in Plot B were developed to grow more quickly than the unmodified beans in Plot D. Researchers have hypothesized that the Type 2 beans would use fertilizer more completely than the other varieties. Based on the data in the table and the experimental design, explain whether the researchers' hypothesis was supported or refuted. 

Once the experiment was concluded, the researchers burned the plots to remove the crops that had been planted. After a few years, the researchers returned to the plots and observed a variety of plants, insects, and bird species living there. 

(g) Describe the ecological process that occurred on the plots after the crops were burned.

A survey indicated that one of the plots had twice the plant diversity that the other plots had. Over the next five years, the river occasionally flooded the plots, killing off many of the species that inhabited the plots. 

(h) After each flooding event, the plot with twice the plant diversity returned to its prior level of biodiversity more quickly than the other plots did. Explain why a community with more plant diversity will recover more quickly from the flooding. 

(i) After the last flooding event, a beetle not previously known in the area appeared in one of the plots with less plant diversity. Over a period of a few months, the new beetle population increased, whereas the existing beetle species in the plot had declining populations. Explain why the new beetle species could be better able to successfully populate this plot than the existing beetle species could. 

(j) Describe one realistic method to prevent the new beetle from spreading beyond the experimental plot.

1 point

Question 5

Complete your responses here.

1 point

Question 6

I think I earned the point for

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

1 point

Question 7

I am ready to move on to independent point/no point.

Completely ready; I am wasting my time here

Maybe: I could revise or complete more

Not ready at all, please give me more time

Point, No Point Exercise

Researchers interested in sustainability developed three new varieties of genetically modified green beans designed to produce higher yields in arid regions. Four plots (A-D) were set up on a floodplain of a river to grow beans. Plots A, B, and C were each planted with seeds of different types of genetically modified strains of green beans. Plot D was planted with seeds of unmodified green beans. Each plot was given equal amounts of fertilizer, which contains phosphorus and nitrogen, and water and was irrigated using spray irrigation for one hour per day. Throughout the growing season, researchers measured the amount of green beans harvested within each plot. The plots with genetically modified beans had higher crop yields than the plot with unmodified beans. 

(a) Identify the control group in this experiment. 

(b) Identify the scientific question for the investigation.
 
(c) Researchers repeated the experiment by modifying the length of time for the spray irrigation to 20 minutes per day. Explain how the results of the experiment could be altered with this modification. 

Researchers also monitored the amount of sediment and fertilizer washing into the river from each plot in the original study. The soil temperature was also measured in each plot at the same depth and at the same time each day approximately 0.05 meters below the surface of the soil. 

(d) Based on the data in the table, identify the plot with the lowest soil temperature. 

(e) Describe how sediment runoff and fertilizer runoff compare between the unmodified green beans and the genetically modified green beans.

(f) The Type 2 GMO beans in Plot B were developed to grow more quickly than the unmodified beans in Plot D. Researchers have hypothesized that the Type 2 beans would use fertilizer more completely than the other varieties. Based on the data in the table and the experimental design, explain whether the researchers' hypothesis was supported or refuted. 

Once the experiment was concluded, the researchers burned the plots to remove the crops that had been planted. After a few years, the researchers returned to the plots and observed a variety of plants, insects, and bird species living there. 

(g) Describe the ecological process that occurred on the plots after the crops were burned.

A survey indicated that one of the plots had twice the plant diversity that the other plots had. Over the next five years, the river occasionally flooded the plots, killing off many of the species that inhabited the plots. 

(h) After each flooding event, the plot with twice the plant diversity returned to its prior level of biodiversity more quickly than the other plots did. Explain why a community with more plant diversity will recover more quickly from the flooding. 

(i) After the last flooding event, a beetle not previously known in the area appeared in one of the plots with less plant diversity. Over a period of a few months, the new beetle population increased, whereas the existing beetle species in the plot had declining populations. Explain why the new beetle species could be better able to successfully populate this plot than the existing beetle species could. 

(j) Describe one realistic method to prevent the new beetle from spreading beyond the experimental plot.

1 point

Question 8

For notes on your answers/reflections as you go, if you would like to do so:

4 points

Question 9

(a). Identify the control group in this experiment.

The control group in the experiment would be Plot D.

 The control group is the plot of unmodified beans.

Plot D

The control would be the amount of water.

4 points

Question 10

10.

(b) Identify the scientific question for the investigation.

View the hint only after you have done your identifications.

How will green beans grown in the same environment be affected by different genetic modifications in terms of crop yields?

The scientific question would be which new variety of green beans produce a higher yield in arid regions.

Do GMO green beans affect crop yield?

Do genetically modified green beans yield a higher amount of beans than unmodified beans in arid regions?

4 points

Question 11

11.

(c) Researchers repeated the experiment modifying the length of time for the spray irrigation to 20 minutes per day. Explain how the results of the experiment could be altered with this modification.

By reducing irrigation there will be fewer beans collected in the plots.

Shorter irrigation time would mean less water to the plots which could create longer growing time.

By reducing the time for spray irrigation to 20 minutes this can effect the rate of which the experiment changes.

The crops would receive less water, which would help beans that can survive on little water thrive, while the other types wither, changing the results of the experiment,

4 points

Question 12

12.

(d) Based on the data in the table, identify the plot with the lowest soil temperature.

The plot with the lowest temperature would be plot D (unmodified beans).

Plot C

D (unmodified beans)

Plot D, the unmodified beans has the lowest temperature.

4 points

Question 13

13.

(e) Describe how sediment runoff and fertilizer runoff compare between the unmodified green beans and the genetically modified green beans.

Sediment and fertilizer runoff are greater in the plot of unmodified beans in comparison to the genetically modified green beans.

The sediment runoff may harm the growth of the green beans.

The unmodified beans have more sediment and fertilizer runoff than the GMO beans.

The sediment runoff and the fertilizer runoff compares to the green beans because it effects the way they grow. The unmodified beans had a higher effect from sediment runoff than the GMO beans.

4 points

Question 14

14.

(f) The Type 2 GMO beans in Plot B were developed to grow more quickly than the unmodified beans in Plot D. Researchers have hypothesized that the Type 2 beans would use fertilizer more completely than the other varieties. Based on the data in the table and the experimental design, explain whether the researchers’ hypothesis was supported or refuted.

The hypothesis is correct because the table shows lower amounts of runoff from plot B which indicates there is less waste from the fertilizer.

The researcher’s hypothesis was refuted because the results show that plot D used the fertilizer more completely than plot B.

The hypothesis is supported because plot B utilized fertilizer more effectively than the other plots as evidenced by the lack of nutrients in the runoff from plot B (even though they all received the same amount of fertilizer).

The researcher’s hypothesis is supported because the levels of fertilizer runoff were lowest in plot 2, which is seen by the relatively small amount of nitrogen and phosphorus runoff, in comparison with the other varieties.

6 points

Question 15

15.

(g) Describe the ecological process that occurred on the plots after the crops were burned.

Secondary succession.

After the crops were burned, their nutrients leached back into the soil as they decayed, which opened up the plot to pioneer species, which began growing. This was the first step in the succession process, and as the habitat was restored and covered by vegetation, this makes the habitat available for animal species to survive there.

The ecological process that occurred is called secondary succession. This is when plants regrow or recolonize an area after a disturbance in which soil and plants were already established.

Primary succession.

The ecological process that occurred when burning the crop cause those nutrients to go back into the dirt giving the dirt a new life and materials to be renewed.

Primary succession occurred because of the burning, which led to initial removal of the plants, but led to an increase in biodiversity after the regrowth

4 points

Question 16

16.

(h) After each flooding event, the plot with twice the plant diversity returned to its prior level of biodiversity more quickly than the other plots did. Explain why a community with more plant diversity will recover more quickly from the flooding.

A community with more plant diversity would recover from the flood quicker, because the diversity in the gene pool would allow plants with flood-resistant genes to survive, as opposed to a community with low diversity, where if the dominant gene isn’t flood resistant, more of the community will be wiped out.

A community with higher plant diversity will recover quicker because each plant or species has a higher tolerance to different conditions and can adapt quickly.

The plot of land that has more diversity has a lot of different types of plants and animals. Statistically, a flood will harm a smaller proportion in that area than in an area with less plants and animals.

A community with more plant diversity will recover more quickly from the flooding because the different plants have different roles helping in a flood.

4 points

Question 17

17.

(i) After the last flooding event, a beetle not previously known in the area appeared in one of the plots with less plant diversity. Over a period of a few months, the new beetle population increased, whereas the existing beetle species in the plot had declining populations. Explain why the new beetle species could be better able to successfully populate this plot than the existing beetle species could.

A new beetle species could be better to populate the plot due to adapting to a new environment. It’s harder for an existing beetle because they are already used to the environment and everything in it.

The beetle can better survive in the new environment because it has better traits than the other beetle.

The introduction of the invasive beetle species caused competition with the other beetle species for food and survival which led to the decline of the native beetle species.

The new beetle species could be a generalist species, so that its sources for food are increased, and it does not need to compete for a specific plant species or other food source. This would allow the new beetle type to have more available resources and populate the plot more than the original beetle species could.

4 points

Question 18

18.

(j) Describe one realistic method to prevent the new beetle from spreading beyond the experimental plot.

You could introduce a limited amount of the beetles’ predator to the area in order to keep the beetle population low and not allow it to spread beyond the experimental plot.

One realistic method could be the introduction of a new species that is a predator to the beetle, which will slowly decline the beetle species.

One method to prevent the new beetle from spreading would be to plant more plants to the beetles liking.

One realistic method could be to fence off the beetles to keep them contained.

Copy of APES: Point, No Point FRQ (Released 2023 #1 Set 1) First Attempt (2/7/2025)

The difference between a students' qualification or lack of qualification on the AP exam does not come down to answering FRQs correctly during practice. It comes down to honestly attempting FRQS and then learning from them.

I need to earn around 80% of the points on the FRQs to qualify on the exam.

I am allowed to talk during the free-response writing portion of this activity.

I am graded for accuracy for the free-response writing portion of this activity.

Complete your responses here.

I think I earned the point for

I am ready to move on to independent point/no point.

For notes on your answers/reflections as you go, if you would like to do so:

(a). Identify the control group in this experiment.

(b) Identify the scientific question for the investigation.View the hint only after you have done your identifications.

(c) Researchers repeated the experiment modifying the length of time for the spray irrigation to 20 minutes per day. Explain how the results of the experiment could be altered with this modification.

(d) Based on the data in the table, identify the plot with the lowest soil temperature.

(e) Describe how sediment runoff and fertilizer runoff compare between the unmodified green beans and the genetically modified green beans.

(g) Describe the ecological process that occurred on the plots after the crops were burned.

(h) After each flooding event, the plot with twice the plant diversity returned to its prior level of biodiversity more quickly than the other plots did. Explain why a community with more plant diversity will recover more quickly from the flooding.

(j) Describe one realistic method to prevent the new beetle from spreading beyond the experimental plot.

(b) Identify the scientific question for the investigation.

View the hint only after you have done your identifications.