MS-LS4-2 | Comparative Anatomy and Evolution · NYS standard · Grade 8 test questions
Apply scientific ideas to construct an explanation for the anatomical similarities and differences among modern organisms and between modern and fossil organisms to infer evolutionary relationships.
Clarification statement: Emphasis is on explanations of the evolutionary relationships among organisms in terms of similarity or differences of the gross appearance of anatomical structures as evidence of common ancestry.
Grade 8 Science Test Questions
Released New York State Grade 8 science test questions that assess MS-LS4-2 are listed here by test and question cluster. Each link opens the question with its answer key.
Vocabulary
Terms from the Middle School Science Glossary that come from this standard or from the released Grade 8 Science Test questions that assess it.
- anatomical difference
- anatomical similarity
- anatomical structure
- anatomy
- common ancestor
- common ancestry
- evidence
- evolution
- evolutionary descent
- evolutionary history
- evolutionary relationship
- explanation
- fossil
- fossil organism
- gross appearance
- inference
- line of descent
- modern organism
- qualitative data
- quantitative data
- scientific idea
- ancestor – Spring 2026
- beak – Spring 2024
- body structure – Spring 2025
- bone structure – Spring 2026
- claim – Spring 2026
- dinosaur – Spring 2024
- diversity – Spring 2026
- egg – Spring 2024
- embryo – Spring 2024
- embryological development – Spring 2025
- extinction – Spring 2026, Spring 2025
- eye socket – Spring 2024
- fossil evidence – Spring 2025
- fossilized skeleton – Spring 2026
- genetic variation – Spring 2026
- habitat – Spring 2025
- mammal – Spring 2026
- natural habitat – Spring 2025
- paleontologist – Spring 2024
- skeleton – Spring 2026, Spring 2024
- skull – Spring 2024
- species – Spring 2026, Spring 2025
- spine – Spring 2026
- survival – Spring 2025
- tail – Spring 2024
- variation – Spring 2025
- vertebra – Spring 2024
- homologous structures – implied by "anatomical similarities and differences among modern organisms" as "evidence of common ancestry"
Performance Level Descriptions
Every Grade 8 Science Test question on MS-LS4-2 is written to match one of the performance level descriptions (PLDs) below.
Resources
Examples and discussion of resources for the learning, teaching, and assessment of MS-LS4-2.
This section could be expanded upon. You can help out by adding to this section.
NGSS Dimensions
Performance expectation MS-LS4-2 was developed using the following elements from the NRC document A Framework for K-12 Science Education:
- Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions
- Apply scientific ideas to construct an explanation for real-world phenomena, examples, or events.
- LS4.A: Evidence of Common Ancestry and Diversity
- Anatomical similarities and differences between various organisms living today and between them and organisms in the fossil record, enable the reconstruction of evolutionary history and the inference of lines of evolutionary descent.
- Patterns
- Patterns can be used to identify cause and effect relationships.
- Similarities and differences in patterns can be used to sort and classify organisms.