5th Grade Science

Earth Science

100

Scientists found fish fossils in the desert. What do the fossils tell about this environment when the fish were alive? A. There was a forest with large trees. B. There were lakes with water plants. C. There were mountains with glaciers. D. There was a desert with large rocks.

D. There was a desert with large rocks.

200

Sand dunes often have a wavy surface. What creates this kinds of surface? A. raindrops falling on the sand B. wind blowing across the surface of the dune C. tracks left in the sand as animals look for food D. vibrations caused by earthquakes

B. wind blowing across the surface of the dune

300

Natural processes can break large rocks into smaller pieces. In your answer document, identify and describe two processes that can break rocks apart. (2 points)

1. Water freezes in the cracks of rocks. Water expands when it freezes and breaks up the rock. 2. Wind blows sand and small rocks against big rocks. This can wear rocks down and make them break into pieces.

400

How do these plants slow soil erosion caused by heavy rains? A. Plants absorb water from the wet soil. B. Plant roots hold soil particles together. C. Plant leaves release water from the soil into the air. D. Plants decrease moisture evaporation from the soil.

B. Plant roots hold soil particles together.

500

Some processes that shape Earth's surface are slow. Other processes are rapid. Which statement describes a rapid change? A. Glaciers melt and for rivers. B. Wind weathers rocks into sand. C. Earthquakes move land and rocks. D. Rivers carry sediment and build deltas.

C. Earthquakes move land and rocks.

Physical Science

100

Students observe the liquid in the thermometer rising as the temperature increases. What is the effect of the transfer of thermal energy that explains this observation? A. The liquid expands. B. The liquid contracts. C. The glass around the liquid expands. D. The glass around the liquid contracts.

A. The liquid expands.

200

A student pushes a wooden block across a sheet of sandpaper. Which characteristic of the block increases? A. hardness B. mass C. size D. temperature

D. temperature

300

A student wraps a wire around an iron nail. The student then connects the wire to a battery. The nail attracts another nail and they stick together. What force holds the two nails together? A. gravitational force B. magnetic force C. electric force D. friction force

B. magnetic force

400

A student plays his trumpet on the stage of an empty auditorium. He hears the sound echo back to the stage. Later, the auditorium is full of people. He does not hear an echo. In your Answer Document, explain why sound echoes in anempty auditorium. Then, describe what happens to the sound that prevents an echo from being heard in the full auditorium. (2 points)

He hears the echo because sound bounces off the walls and ceiling that are far away. There is very little to absorb the sound in an empty auditorium. When people are in the auditorium, they get in the way of the sound bouncing off the walls and some of the sound is absorbed.

500

Which property of air does a barometer measure? A. speed B. pressure C. humidity D. temperature

B. pressure

Life Science

100

Mosquito Life Cycle: Egg, Larva, Pupa, Adult Larva and Pupa are in water. Egg and Adult are on land. Grasshopper Life Cycle: Egg, Nymph, Nymph, Nymph, Adult All stages are on land. What is one correct comparison of the mosquito and grasshopper life cycles? A. Mosquito larvae develop on land, and grasshopper nymphs develop in water. B. Grasshopper eggs are laid in water, and mosquito eggs are laid in the ground. C. Mosquitoes change habitats during their lives, and grasshoppers develop in the same habitat. D. Grasshoppers change shape as they develop, and mosquitoes do not change shape as they develop.

C. Mosquitoes change habitats during their lives, and grasshoppers develop in the same habitat.

200

Nectar is a sweet liquid that some flowering plants produce. A hummingbird drinks nectar from a flower. When a hummingbird drinks nectar, pollen from the flower sticks to the hummingbird’s beak. Which statement explains the role of a hummingbird in the life cycle of a flowering plant? A. A hummingbird carries food to the plant. B. A hummingbird helps the plant reproduce. C. A hummingbird protects the plant from predators. D. A hummingbird makes the flowers produce nectar.

B. A hummingbird helps the plant reproduce.

300

Plants often store food and water in their roots. Which plant has roots that are often eaten by mammals? A. Pumpkin B. Lettuce C. Carrot D. Celery

C. Carrot

400

In the forest, one type of tree produces special seeds. These seeds start to grow only after going through a fire. In the fire, the adult trees are destroyed. Which resources, needed for growth, are now available to the newly growing seeds? A. sunlight and wind B. sunlight and space C. soil and pollen producers D. pollen producers and space

B. sunlight and space

500

What is the main function of a plant stem? A. to collect pollen from other plants to make seeds B. to absorb water and plant nutrients from the soil C. to carry food and water to the rest of the plant D. to make food for the plant

C. to carry food and water to the rest of the plant

Experiments

100

A group of students separated the objects in the list into two groups. Group 1: Coin, Nail, Tack, Wire Group 2: Candle, Crayon, Match, Pencil According to this information, what physical characteristics did the students use to group the objects? A. melts/does not melt B. wood/not wood C. metal/not metal D. sharp/not sharp

C. metal/not metal

200

A student provides the following directions for brushing teeth: • Turn on the water. • Fill the glass with water and leave the water running. • Put toothpaste on the toothbrush. • Brush for two minutes. • Rinse mouth with the water from the glass. • Rinse the toothbrush with the running water. • Turn off the water. Which change in these directions would conserve the most water? A. Brush for three minutes. B. Turn the water off before brushing. C. Rinse mouth with the running water. D. Use less toothpaste on the toothbrush.

B. Turn the water off before brushing.

300

A group of students does an experiment to see if different colors of light affect the number of flowers a plant produces. Their teacher gives them seeds, pots, soil, water, and three light bulbs of different colors. The students decide to divide the materials equally. What should be different for each group of plants? A. the type of soil they use B. the amount of water they use C. the color of the pots they use D. the color of light bulb they use

D. the color of light bulb they use

400

Which motion causes the pattern of day and night on Earth? A. Earth rotates on its axis B. Earth orbits around the sun C. the moon rotates on its axis D. the moon orbits around Earth

A. Earth rotates on its axis

500

Popcorn kernels contain a solid material called starch and a small amount of water at room temperature. When the temperature of the kernels of popcorn increase, they explode or pop. Which change in the state of the water takes place inside the kernel, causing the volume to increase? A. solid to gas B. liquid to gas C. solid to liquid D. liquid to solid

B. liquid to gas

General Science

100

The Colorado potato beetle can be found in gardens in Ohio. Potato beetles destroy many crops, such as potatoes and tomatoes. Some farmers spray chemicals on their crops to control the potato beetles. Other farmers think chemicals are bad for the environment. In your Answer Document, describe one positive effect and one negative effect of using chemicals on the crops and/or the environment. (2 points)

A positive effect of using the chemicals is that controlling the potato beetles will protect crops and make more food for people. A bad reason is that chemicals are poison and might kill more animals than the potato beetle.

200

In which direction do weather fronts move? A. from north to south B. from south to west C. from east to north D. from west to east

D. from west to east

300

A student sets a block at the top of a wooden ramp. The student pushes the block. As the block slides down the ramp, it slows down and then comes to a stop. What force causes the block to slow down? A. the force of gravity B. the force of friction C. the force of magnetism D. the force of the student’s push

B. the force of friction

400

In a food web, which organism captures the sun's energy? A. plant B. hawk C. mouse D. grasshopper

A. plant

500

Corals are animals that live in tropical oceans. Fossils of corals are found in Ohio. What does the presence of coral fossils suggest about how the environment of Ohio has changes over time? A. Ohio was once covered by warm seas. B. A large glacier once passed over Ohio. C. The average rainfall in Ohio is now much more than it once was. D. The average temperature in Ohio is now much warmer than it once was.

A. Ohio was once covered by warm seas.