Inquiry and Research: Refining Research Questions (TEKS.ELA.7.12.C)
Help Questions
Texas 7th Grade ELA › Inquiry and Research: Refining Research Questions (TEKS.ELA.7.12.C)
Major research question: What causes frequent flooding in coastal cities? Secondary questions:
- How does sea-level rise contribute to higher tides and storm surge near cities?
- What role do heavy rainfall events and city drainage systems play in flooding?
- How has the loss of nearby wetlands changed how much water the land can absorb?
- Do stronger winds in hurricanes increase flooding, and how?
- Are volcanic eruptions related to urban coastal flooding?
- How do mountain avalanches happen?
Which revision of the major research question best reflects the guidance of the most relevant secondary questions?
What are all the different types of natural disasters in coastal areas and how do they affect people?
How did sea-level rise affect one block of a coastal city last summer?
How do sea-level rise, intense rainfall, drainage design, and wetland loss combine to make flooding more frequent in coastal cities, and which factors matter most?
How do volcanic eruptions cause flooding in coastal cities around the world?
Explanation
The relevant secondary questions focus on sea-level rise, heavy rainfall and drainage, wetland loss, and storm winds. Choice C integrates these key factors and asks which matter most, refining the broad question without becoming too narrow. The other options are too broad, off-topic, or focused on only one small case.
Major research question: How has cattle ranching shaped Texas over time? Secondary questions:
- How did the move from open-range ranching to fenced ranches with barbed wire change land use?
- How did the spread of railroads affect cattle drives and market access?
- What economic effects did ranching have on small Texas towns?
- How have grazing practices affected Texas grasslands and water resources?
- What cultural traditions (such as rodeos) grew out of ranching?
- How does commercial fishing affect Gulf shrimp populations?
- What role did space exploration play in the growth of a large Texas city?
Which revision of the major research question best reflects the guidance of the most relevant secondary questions?
How did the shift from open range to barbed wire and the spread of railroads change Texas ranching, and what were the effects on local economies, land use, and culture?
How has agriculture affected the United States and the world since ancient times?
How do modern rodeos entertain tourists in one Texas city today?
How did commercial fishing change Gulf Coast ports?
Explanation
The relevant secondary questions point to fencing, railroads, economic effects on towns, environmental impacts, and cultural traditions. Choice A synthesizes these into a focused, Texas-specific inquiry. The other choices are either too broad, too narrow, or off-topic.
Major research question: Why do some wildfires spread much faster than others? Secondary questions:
- How do wind speed and direction influence a fire's spread?
- How does fuel type and dryness affect intensity and rate of spread?
- How does terrain (slope and aspect) impact fire movement?
- How do long droughts change fuel moisture levels?
- What strategies, like firebreaks, can slow a fire's spread?
- How do ocean tides change daily?
- How do blizzards form?
Which revision of the major research question best reflects the guidance of the most relevant secondary questions?
What are the causes and effects of all natural disasters?
How does wind speed alone determine how fast a wildfire spreads?
How have wildfires changed over the last 200 years around the world?
How do wind, fuel dryness, and terrain interact to determine wildfire spread rates, and under which conditions does spread accelerate most?
Explanation
The most relevant secondary questions emphasize wind, fuel dryness, terrain, and drought effects. Choice D integrates these variables and focuses on their interaction and impact on spread rate. The other options are overly broad, ignore key factors, or focus on only one factor.
Major research question: How do drought policies affect life in Texas towns? Secondary questions:
- How do limits on residential lawn watering change overall water use?
- How do irrigation rules affect local farms and food prices?
- How do factories and other industries adjust their water use during restrictions?
- How do cities communicate restrictions and encourage conservation?
- Do differences among Texas river basins influence policy choices?
- How do ski resorts make artificial snow?
- How do polar animals adapt to sea ice loss?
Which revision of the major research question best reflects the guidance of the most relevant secondary questions?
How do governments make environmental policies across the world?
In Texas towns during drought, how do limits on residential watering and on agricultural and industrial use affect total water consumption and community response?
How did one neighborhood's lawn-watering ban work last July?
How do winter tourism industries adapt to less snow?
Explanation
The relevant secondary questions point to residential, agricultural, and industrial water use and community communication. Choice B integrates these factors in a focused Texas context. The other choices are too broad, too narrow, or unrelated.
Major research question: How did the Dust Bowl change the United States? Secondary questions:
- What farming practices on the Great Plains contributed to soil erosion?
- How did severe drought conditions intensify dust storms?
- How did federal responses (like New Deal programs) influence migration and farm recovery?
- What were fashion trends in big cities during the 1930s?
- How did dust storms affect families in Texas and neighboring states compared to other regions?
- How do modern rainforest climates differ from temperate grasslands?
Which revision best focuses the major research question using the most relevant secondary questions?
How did the Dust Bowl change the United States? (no change)
How did drought, farming practices, and federal responses interact to shape migration and farm recovery in the Great Plains, especially Texas, during the Dust Bowl?
How did the drought of 1934 cause migration from Texas? (focus on one year only)
How have weather disasters changed the world over time?
Explanation
B uses the relevant secondary questions about farming practices, drought, federal responses, and regional impact to refine and focus the inquiry. A ignores the guidance and remains too broad. C narrows too much to a single year and one aspect. D makes the question broader than the original.
Major research question: How do hurricanes affect coastal communities and environments? Secondary questions:
- How do storm surge, wind damage, and rainfall interact to impact recovery?
- What role do wetlands play in buffering coastal areas?
- How do effects differ between weaker and stronger storms on the Gulf Coast?
- What is the structure of a volcano?
- How have recent hurricanes influenced fisheries along the Texas coast?
- How do tornadoes form in the Midwest?
Which revision best focuses the major research question using the most relevant secondary questions?
How do extreme weather events affect the planet?
How does wind speed determine whether roofs are damaged?
How do hurricanes affect coastal communities and environments? (no change)
In Gulf Coast communities, how do storm surge, wind, rainfall, and wetland loss together shape ecological and economic recovery, including effects on Texas fisheries?
Explanation
D synthesizes key relevant secondary questions (storm surge, wind, rainfall, wetlands, Gulf Coast/Texas impacts) into a focused, integrated question. A is overly broad. B narrows to a single factor. C ignores the guidance and remains too general.
Major research question: How should schools improve their lunch programs? Secondary questions:
- How do nutrition standards relate to student health outcomes and participation?
- What are the cost and staffing impacts for school districts?
- How do student preferences influence waste and menu choices?
- What is the training schedule of professional athletes?
- Could local farms or gardens support menu options in a cost-effective way?
- What color should cafeteria walls be?
Which revision best focuses the major research question using the most relevant secondary questions?
How can schools balance nutrition standards, costs, and student preferences—possibly using local sourcing—to improve lunch participation and health outcomes?
How can schools make the most delicious pizza possible?
How should schools improve their lunch programs? (no change)
How can one school add a garden next semester?
Explanation
A integrates the relevant secondary questions (nutrition standards, cost, student preferences, and local sourcing) into a focused, actionable research question. B ignores the guidance and is off-topic. C remains too broad. D narrows to a single short-term action at one school.
Major research question: How did the cattle industry shape life in Texas? Secondary questions:
- How did railroads change cattle transport and markets?
- What was the impact of cattle drives and key trails on towns and labor?
- How did the shift from open range to fenced ranching (barbed wire) affect land use and conflict?
- How accurate are popular myths about cowboys compared to daily work?
- What caused the California Gold Rush?
- How did the 20th-century oil boom change aviation?
Which revision best focuses the major research question using the most relevant secondary questions?
How did industry shape life in America from the 1800s to today?
How did barbed wire affect one ranch in 1883?
How did rail expansion, cattle drives, and the move from open range to fenced ranching influence Texas's economy, towns, and daily life in the late 1800s, beyond cowboy myths?
How exciting were cattle town legends in dime novels?
Explanation
C blends the key relevant secondary questions (railroads, cattle drives, barbed wire, and myth vs. reality) into a focused Texas-specific inquiry about economic and social change. A is far too broad. B is too narrow and ignores other factors. D focuses on legend rather than the broader, evidence-based impacts.