HS-LS4-4 - Revision history

Conrad: PLD table: tag each question chip with its exam discipline for color coding

2026-10-18T13:47:03Z

PLD table: tag each question chip with its exam discipline for color coding

Conrad: PLD table: abbreviate question labels to match the questions-by-performance-level pages (e.g. "Aug 2026 · Q14")

2026-10-18T13:33:56Z

PLD table: abbreviate question labels to match the questions-by-performance-level pages (e.g. "Aug 2026 · Q14")

Conrad: PLD table: list all released questions at each level, matching the questions-by-performance-level pages

2026-10-18T12:05:47Z

PLD table: list all released questions at each level, matching the questions-by-performance-level pages

Conrad: PLDs: add example released question per level (editor judgment)

2026-10-16T06:38:25Z

PLDs: add example released question per level (editor judgment)

Conrad: Section order: Vocabulary now comes before Performance Level Descriptions

2026-10-13T17:27:22Z

Section order: Vocabulary now comes before Performance Level Descriptions

Conrad: SEO: topic in title, description, exam names in link text, standard template now sets the title

2026-10-13T17:00:58Z

SEO: topic in title, description, exam names in link text, standard template now sets the title

Conrad: Add Vocabulary section (Biology)

2026-09-27T21:48:04Z

Add Vocabulary section (Biology)

Conradrichman: Reorder sections: Assessment, then Performance Level Descriptions, then Resources

2026-09-21T02:35:57Z

Reorder sections: Assessment, then Performance Level Descriptions, then Resources

Conradrichman: Assessment section: table of all tagged exam and sample-cluster questions, grouped by subject and exam (most recent first)

2026-09-21T02:22:37Z

Assessment section: table of all tagged exam and sample-cluster questions, grouped by subject and exam (most recent first)

Carolineleonard at 14:20, 10 May 2025

2025-05-10T14:20:13Z

@@ Line 157: / Line 157: @@
 | Level5 = Construct an explanation based on evidence obtained from a variety of reliable sources that identifies cause and effect relationships for how natural selection leads to adaptation of populations and predicts changes relating to gene or trait frequencies.
 | Level4 = Construct an explanation based on evidence for how natural selection leads to adaptation of populations.
-| Example4 = [[Questions:Colorful Guppies#q2|Aug 2026 · Q18]] [[Questions:Green and Black Frogs#q5|June 2026 · Q14]] [[Questions:Organisms of the Tibetan Plateau#q1|June 2025 · Q17]] [[Questions:Organisms of the Tibetan Plateau#q4|June 2025 · Q20]]
+| Example4 = <span class="pld-chip pld-chip-bio">[[Questions:Colorful Guppies#q2|Aug 2026 · Q18]]</span> <span class="pld-chip pld-chip-bio">[[Questions:Green and Black Frogs#q5|June 2026 · Q14]]</span> <span class="pld-chip pld-chip-bio">[[Questions:Organisms of the Tibetan Plateau#q1|June 2025 · Q17]]</span> <span class="pld-chip pld-chip-bio">[[Questions:Organisms of the Tibetan Plateau#q4|June 2025 · Q20]]</span>
 | Level3 = Construct and/or identify an explanation based on evidence that natural selection leads to adaptation of populations.
-| Example3 = [[Questions:How Do Kangaroo Rats Survive in the Desert?#q2|Aug 2025 · Q30]]
+| Example3 = <span class="pld-chip pld-chip-bio">[[Questions:How Do Kangaroo Rats Survive in the Desert?#q2|Aug 2025 · Q30]]</span>
 | Level2 = Identify an evidence-based explanation that an environmental factor could affect a population (due to a change in gene frequency).
-| Example2 = [[Questions:Frog Development#q3|Aug 2026 · Q28]] [[Questions:Australian Adaptations#q4|June 2026 · Q45]] [[Questions:Baboon Evolution#q4|Jan 2026 · Q36]] [[Questions:Driving the Florida Panther to Extinction#q1|Aug 2025 · Q42]] [[Questions:Coral Reefs Sample Cluster#q5|June 2025 · Q5]]
+| Example2 = <span class="pld-chip pld-chip-bio">[[Questions:Frog Development#q3|Aug 2026 · Q28]]</span> <span class="pld-chip pld-chip-bio">[[Questions:Australian Adaptations#q4|June 2026 · Q45]]</span> <span class="pld-chip pld-chip-bio">[[Questions:Baboon Evolution#q4|Jan 2026 · Q36]]</span> <span class="pld-chip pld-chip-bio">[[Questions:Driving the Florida Panther to Extinction#q1|Aug 2025 · Q42]]</span> <span class="pld-chip pld-chip-bio">[[Questions:Coral Reefs Sample Cluster#q5|June 2025 · Q5]]</span>
 | Level1 = Identify the evidence that an environmental factor can cause a change in a population (gene frequency).
-| Example1 = [[Questions:Green and Black Frogs#q3|June 2026 · Q12]] [[Questions:Ivory and Elephants#q3|Aug 2025 · Q17]] [[Questions:Strategies for Survival in Different Animal Species#q6|Aug 2025 · Q10]] [[Questions:Dinosaurs Evolution Sample Cluster#q4|June 2025 · Q4]]
+| Example1 = <span class="pld-chip pld-chip-bio">[[Questions:Green and Black Frogs#q3|June 2026 · Q12]]</span> <span class="pld-chip pld-chip-bio">[[Questions:Ivory and Elephants#q3|Aug 2025 · Q17]]</span> <span class="pld-chip pld-chip-bio">[[Questions:Strategies for Survival in Different Animal Species#q6|Aug 2025 · Q10]]</span> <span class="pld-chip pld-chip-bio">[[Questions:Dinosaurs Evolution Sample Cluster#q4|June 2025 · Q4]]</span>
 }}

@@ Line 157: / Line 157: @@
 | Level5 = Construct an explanation based on evidence obtained from a variety of reliable sources that identifies cause and effect relationships for how natural selection leads to adaptation of populations and predicts changes relating to gene or trait frequencies.
 | Level4 = Construct an explanation based on evidence for how natural selection leads to adaptation of populations.
-| Example4 = [[Questions:Colorful Guppies#q2|August 2026 Question 18]], [[Questions:Green and Black Frogs#q5|June 2026 Question 14]], [[Questions:Organisms of the Tibetan Plateau#q1|June 2025 Question 17]], [[Questions:Organisms of the Tibetan Plateau#q4|June 2025 Question 20]]
+| Example4 = [[Questions:Colorful Guppies#q2|Aug 2026 · Q18]] [[Questions:Green and Black Frogs#q5|June 2026 · Q14]] [[Questions:Organisms of the Tibetan Plateau#q1|June 2025 · Q17]] [[Questions:Organisms of the Tibetan Plateau#q4|June 2025 · Q20]]
 | Level3 = Construct and/or identify an explanation based on evidence that natural selection leads to adaptation of populations.
-| Example3 = [[Questions:How Do Kangaroo Rats Survive in the Desert?#q2|August 2025 Question 30]]
+| Example3 = [[Questions:How Do Kangaroo Rats Survive in the Desert?#q2|Aug 2025 · Q30]]
 | Level2 = Identify an evidence-based explanation that an environmental factor could affect a population (due to a change in gene frequency).
-| Example2 = [[Questions:Frog Development#q3|August 2026 Question 28]], [[Questions:Australian Adaptations#q4|June 2026 Question 45]], [[Questions:Baboon Evolution#q4|January 2026 Question 36]], [[Questions:Driving the Florida Panther to Extinction#q1|August 2025 Question 42]], [[Questions:Coral Reefs Sample Cluster#q5|June 2025 Question 5]]
+| Example2 = [[Questions:Frog Development#q3|Aug 2026 · Q28]] [[Questions:Australian Adaptations#q4|June 2026 · Q45]] [[Questions:Baboon Evolution#q4|Jan 2026 · Q36]] [[Questions:Driving the Florida Panther to Extinction#q1|Aug 2025 · Q42]] [[Questions:Coral Reefs Sample Cluster#q5|June 2025 · Q5]]
 | Level1 = Identify the evidence that an environmental factor can cause a change in a population (gene frequency).
-| Example1 = [[Questions:Green and Black Frogs#q3|June 2026 Question 12]], [[Questions:Ivory and Elephants#q3|August 2025 Question 17]], [[Questions:Strategies for Survival in Different Animal Species#q6|August 2025 Question 10]], [[Questions:Dinosaurs Evolution Sample Cluster#q4|June 2025 Question 4]]
+| Example1 = [[Questions:Green and Black Frogs#q3|June 2026 · Q12]] [[Questions:Ivory and Elephants#q3|Aug 2025 · Q17]] [[Questions:Strategies for Survival in Different Animal Species#q6|Aug 2025 · Q10]] [[Questions:Dinosaurs Evolution Sample Cluster#q4|June 2025 · Q4]]
 }}

@@ Line 157: / Line 157: @@
 | Level5 = Construct an explanation based on evidence obtained from a variety of reliable sources that identifies cause and effect relationships for how natural selection leads to adaptation of populations and predicts changes relating to gene or trait frequencies.
 | Level4 = Construct an explanation based on evidence for how natural selection leads to adaptation of populations.
-| Example4 = [[Questions:Organisms of the Tibetan Plateau#q1|June 2025 Question 17]]
+| Example4 = [[Questions:Colorful Guppies#q2|August 2026 Question 18]], [[Questions:Green and Black Frogs#q5|June 2026 Question 14]], [[Questions:Organisms of the Tibetan Plateau#q1|June 2025 Question 17]], [[Questions:Organisms of the Tibetan Plateau#q4|June 2025 Question 20]]
 | Level3 = Construct and/or identify an explanation based on evidence that natural selection leads to adaptation of populations.
 | Example3 = [[Questions:How Do Kangaroo Rats Survive in the Desert?#q2|August 2025 Question 30]]
 | Level2 = Identify an evidence-based explanation that an environmental factor could affect a population (due to a change in gene frequency).
-| Example2 = [[Questions:Baboon Evolution#q4|January 2026 Question 36]]
+| Example2 = [[Questions:Frog Development#q3|August 2026 Question 28]], [[Questions:Australian Adaptations#q4|June 2026 Question 45]], [[Questions:Baboon Evolution#q4|January 2026 Question 36]], [[Questions:Driving the Florida Panther to Extinction#q1|August 2025 Question 42]], [[Questions:Coral Reefs Sample Cluster#q5|June 2025 Question 5]]
 | Level1 = Identify the evidence that an environmental factor can cause a change in a population (gene frequency).
-| Example1 = [[Questions:Green and Black Frogs#q3|June 2026 Question 12]]
+| Example1 = [[Questions:Green and Black Frogs#q3|June 2026 Question 12]], [[Questions:Ivory and Elephants#q3|August 2025 Question 17]], [[Questions:Strategies for Survival in Different Animal Species#q6|August 2025 Question 10]], [[Questions:Dinosaurs Evolution Sample Cluster#q4|June 2025 Question 4]]
 }}

@@ Line 157: / Line 157: @@
 | Level5 = Construct an explanation based on evidence obtained from a variety of reliable sources that identifies cause and effect relationships for how natural selection leads to adaptation of populations and predicts changes relating to gene or trait frequencies.
 | Level4 = Construct an explanation based on evidence for how natural selection leads to adaptation of populations.
 | Level3 = Construct and/or identify an explanation based on evidence that natural selection leads to adaptation of populations.
 | Level2 = Identify an evidence-based explanation that an environmental factor could affect a population (due to a change in gene frequency).
 | Level1 = Identify the evidence that an environmental factor can cause a change in a population (gene frequency).
 }}

@@ Line 63: / Line 63: @@
 | style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:Coral Reefs Sample Cluster#q5|Question 5]]
 |}
 == Vocabulary ==
@@ Line 161: / Line 152: @@
 * selection pressure (environmental pressure) – implied by "biotic and abiotic differences in ecosystems"
 </div>
 == {{Resourcesheading}} ==

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Navlinks|HS-LS4-3|HS-LS4-5|← HS-LS4-3|HS-LS4-5 →}}
 {{learningstandard
 | ls = Construct an explanation based on evidence for how natural selection leads to adaptation of populations.
 | cs = Emphasis is on using data to provide evidence for how specific biotic and abiotic differences in ecosystems (such as ranges of seasonal temperature, long-term climate change, acidity, light, geographic barriers, or evolution of other organisms) contribute to a change in gene frequency over time, leading to adaptation of populations.
@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 ! style="padding: 0.5em 1.5em;" | Question
 |-
-| rowspan="2" style="background-color:white;" | [[August 2026 Life Science: Biology Exam|August 2026]]
+| rowspan="2" style="background-color:white;" | [[August 2026 Life Science: Biology Exam|August 2026 Biology Regents]]
 | style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:Colorful Guppies|Colorful Guppies]]
 | style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:Colorful Guppies#q2|Question 18]]
@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 | style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:Frog Development#q3|Question 28]]
 |-
-| rowspan="3" style="background-color:white;" | [[June 2026 Life Science: Biology Exam|June 2026]]
+| rowspan="3" style="background-color:white;" | [[June 2026 Life Science: Biology Exam|June 2026 Biology Regents]]
 | style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:Green and Black Frogs|Green and Black Frogs]]
 | style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:Green and Black Frogs#q3|Question 12]]
@@ Line 32: / Line 32: @@
 | style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:Australian Adaptations#q4|Question 45]]
 |-
-| style="background-color:white;" | [[January 2026 Life Science: Biology Exam|January 2026]]
+| style="background-color:white;" | [[January 2026 Life Science: Biology Exam|January 2026 Biology Regents]]
 | style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:Baboon Evolution|Baboon Evolution]]
 | style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:Baboon Evolution#q4|Question 36]]
 |-
-| rowspan="4" style="background-color:white;" | [[August 2025 Life Science: Biology Exam|August 2025]]
+| rowspan="4" style="background-color:white;" | [[August 2025 Life Science: Biology Exam|August 2025 Biology Regents]]
 | style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:Strategies for Survival in Different Animal Species|Strategies for Survival in Different Animal Species]]
 | style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:Strategies for Survival in Different Animal Species#q6|Question 10]]
@@ Line 49: / Line 49: @@
 | style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:Driving the Florida Panther to Extinction#q1|Question 42]]
 |-
-| rowspan="2" style="background-color:white;" | [[June 2025 Life Science: Biology Exam|June 2025]]
+| rowspan="2" style="background-color:white;" | [[June 2025 Life Science: Biology Exam|June 2025 Biology Regents]]
 | style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:Organisms of the Tibetan Plateau|Organisms of the Tibetan Plateau]]
 | style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:Organisms of the Tibetan Plateau#q1|Question 17]]
@@ Line 56: / Line 56: @@
 | style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:Organisms of the Tibetan Plateau#q4|Question 20]]
 |-
-| rowspan="2" style="background-color:white;" | [[Biology Sample Questions|Sample clusters]] (Spring 2024)
+| rowspan="2" style="background-color:white;" | [[Biology Sample Questions|Biology sample clusters]] (Spring 2024)
 | style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:Dinosaurs Evolution Sample Cluster|Dinosaurs-Evolution]]
 | style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:Dinosaurs Evolution Sample Cluster#q4|Question 4]]
@@ Line 194: / Line 194: @@
 | TOPIC = HS. Natural Selection and Evolution
 }}

@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 | ab =
 }}
 == {{Assessmentheading}} ==
@@ Line 78: / Line 64: @@
 |}
 == {{Dimensionsheading}} ==

@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 {{assessmentmessage}}
-* [[Questions:Coral Reefs Sample Cluster#q5|Coral Reefs Q5]]
+{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; text-align:center"
-* [[Questions:Dinosaurs Evolution Sample Cluster#q4|Dinosaurs Evolution Q4]]
+! style="padding: 0.5em 1.5em;" | Exam

@@ Line 32: / Line 32: @@
 {{Dimensionstable
-| SEP1 = Constructing explanations and designing solutions: Construct an explanation based on valid and reliable evidence obtained from a variety of sources (including students’ own investigations, models, theories, simulations, peer review) and the assumption that theories and laws that describe the natural world operate today as they did in the past and will continue to do so in the future.
+| SEP1 = Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions
-| DCI1 = Adaptation: Natural selection leads to adaptation that is, to a population dominated by organisms that are anatomically, behaviorally, and physiologically well suited to survive and reproduce in a specific environment. That is, the differential survival and reproduction of organisms in a population that have an advantageous heritable trait leads to an increase in the proportion of individuals in future generations that have the trait and to a decrease in the proportion of individuals that do not.
+* Construct an explanation based on valid and reliable evidence obtained from a variety of sources (including students’ own investigations, models, theories, simulations, peer review) and the assumption that theories and laws that describe the natural world operate today as they did in the past and will continue to do so in the future.
-| CC1 = Cause and effect: Empirical evidence is required to differentiate between cause and correlation and make claims about specific causes and effects.
+| DCI1 = LS4.C: Adaptation
 }}
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