3rd Grade Science - 2008 Released Test

A student holds a model of Earth that can rotate on a stick. Another student shines a flashlight on the model as it turns. This model is MOST likely used to show —
1. high and low tides
2. seasons changing
3. day and night
4. phases of the Moon
Which of these dissolve in water?
1. Sand grains
2. Sugar cubes
3. Plastic straws
4. Wooden spoons
Which will have a bad effect on the air people breathe?
A kazoo is a toy that makes a sound when a person hums into it. Sound comes out of the kazoo because it —
1. is shiny
2. can float
3. is plastic
4. can vibrate
Most plants begin their life cycle as —
1. leaves
2. flowers
3. roots
4. seeds
Which of these is the BEST title for the picture?
1. How Magnets Attract
2. Using the Sense of Touch
3. How to Measure Distance
4. Using a Magnetic Compass
Students grew some seeds in a plastic bag. They then took a picture each day to have a record of growth. Which of these is probably the first picture the students took?
Where will a sidewalk feel hottest on a warm, clear day?
1. Under a picnic table
2. In direct sunlight
3. Under a puddle
4. In the shade
Which is one way the young male cardinal will change as it grows up?
1. It will grow more toes.
2. Its tail feathers will become shorter.
3. It will grow a pointed crest.
4. Its beak will become long and narrow.
Which of these contains the coldest water?
These living things are in a pond food chain. Which of these are producers?
1. Algae
2. Dragonflies
3. Frogs
4. Snakes
Which animal looked MOST like its parents when it hatched?
On her vacation, Mrs. Smith saw a snake. The snake was a solid color and had dark rings around its head. Which is MOST like the snake Mrs. Smith saw?
Which of these is the BEST reason to study weather?
1. To be prepared for storms
2. To learn how fossils are formed
3. To see changing phases of the Moon
4. To find ways for animals to live longer
Based on the chart, which pickle will MOST likely taste sweet?
1. Dill pickles
2. Zesty pickles
3. Candied pickles
4. Pickled peppers
Which of these is MOST likely a behavior of tame animals that is different from wild animals?
1. Moving to a warmer climate in winter
2. Eating out of the hands of humans
3. Hunting for their own food
4. Staying away from people
An ice cube placed in sunlight melts quickly. Which BEST explains this event?
1. The Sun is far away.
2. The Sun makes heat.
3. The ice cube is a solid.
4. The ice cube looks clear.
Which picture shows objects with shapes MOST alike?
A student looks at a leaf and writes down how it looks. Which of these BEST matches the leaf the student looked at?
Which of these is an example of something being recycled?
1. Taking glass bottles to a place that makes them into new bottles
2. Using the same foil to cover food several times
3. Wrapping glasses with newspaper to put them in a moving box
4. Carrying lunch to school every day in the same plastic bag
Which of these is MOST likely made from only one material?
1. A pencil
2. A bicycle
3. A paper clip
4. A pair of shoes
A sign that an apple tree is going to start growing apples is when the tree has —
1. roots
2. seeds
3. leaves
4. flowers
Which picture BEST shows a learned behavior in a dog?
While a sailor was out fishing, he got lost at sea. Which object would help him direct the boat back to shore?
1. Rope
2. Magnetic compass
3. Blanket
4. Measuring tape
Which two senses would BEST help a person measure hair length?
1. Taste and smell
2. Touch and sight
3. Sight and hearing
4. Smell and hearing
Which of these is MOST flexible?
1. Broom handle
2. Wooden ruler
3. Drinking straw
4. Sewing needle
After winter, which of these will MOST likely make a tree start to bud?
1. More wind
2. Fewer clouds in the sky
3. Less rainfall
4. More hours of daylight
The picture shows a balance. One side of the balance holds an empty balloon. The other side holds the same kind of balloon full of air. Which of these is shown by the balance?
1. Air is solid.
2. Air has heat.
3. Air has mass.
4. Air is energy
Which thing near this house will wash away the MOST during a heavy rain?
1. Gravel driveway
2. Dirt pile
3. Stepping stones
4. Soil under grass
For a plant to stay alive indoors, where does it need to be placed?
1. In a dry area
2. In a dark room
3. On a plant stand
4. Near a sunny place
Which of these is an example of a lever?
Students want to know how big the leaves of an oak tree are. The BEST way to measure the size of the leaves is to —
1. read a story
2. use a ruler
3. cut up some leaves
4. use a magnifying glass
Soil is important to a forest because the soil —
1. stores sunlight in the leaves
2. attracts insects that eat leaves
3. provides nutrients to the trees
4. warms the air around the trees
A student is asked to bring something that feels rough to class. Which would be BEST for him to bring?
1. Pillow
2. Marble
3. Sandpaper
4. Trading card
A black bear eats many different things, including grasses, roots, and berries. It also eats insects, fish, and other small animals. Which of these BEST describes a black bear?
1. Omnivore
2. Carnivore
3. Herbivore
4. Producer
About how wide is this pinecone?
1. 1 inch
2. 3 inches
3. 4 inches
4. 5 inches
Which of the following is one nonliving part in the habitat of a bluebird?
1. Insects they eat
2. Air they breathe
3. Hawks that eat them
4. Plants they use for nests
Ice cubes are an example of which form of water?
1. Gas
2. Liquid
3. Solid
4. Natural
Martina only washes her sweater after she has worn it several times. Martina is helping the environment by —
1. wasting water
2. reusing water
3. recycling water
4. conserving water
Which graph shows the correct type and number of fish in the fish tank?