Grade 5 Science - 2011 Released Test

Which of these is a natural resource of Virginia?
1. A dam
2. A glacier
3. A river
4. A power plant
According to the picture, which of these is an inference rather than an observation?
1. This animal has hair.
2. This animal has a tail.
3. This animal is arching its back.
4. This animal is frightened.
To make an electromagnet, a conductor should be coiled around —
1. a glass tube
2. an iron nail
3. a roll of paper
4. a wooden stick
Early scientists most likely saw a discharge of electricity for the first time when observing a —
1. waterfall
2. rainbow
3. lightning storm
4. volcano erupting
Acorn barnacles are seashore animals found on rocks. They live 1 to 2 meters above low-tide level. These rocks are the acorn barnacles’ —
1. ecosystem
2. community
3. food web
4. habitat
Which of these will most likely happen to the balloon as the chemicals react?
1. It will float.
2. It will break.
3. It will inflate.
4. It will change color.
The great horned owl has a sharp beak and claws used for catching prey and tearing meat. It has good eyesight to see in low light. Which of these most likely describes the niche of the great horned owl?
1. Hunts small animals at night
2. Grazes on grass during the day
3. Comes out at dusk to sweep the sky for insects
4. Comes out at dawn to get worms from the ground
Which picture shows a dormant tree branch?
An object is traveling north at a speed of 12 kilometers per hour. Which characteristic of the object is being described?
1. Matter
2. Motion
3. Volume
4. Temperature
The diagram shows a model of the ocean floor. Which number identifies the continental slope?
1. 1
2. 2
3. 3
4. 4
A student designed an investigation to test the effect of light color on plant growth. What was the manipulated (independent) variable in the investigation?
1. Color of light
2. Height of plant
3. Hours of light
4. Size of pot
Which of the following is the best observation of the refraction of light?
1. Looking at oneself in a mirror
2. Looking at a shadow of an object
3. Viewing an object through an open window
4. Viewing an object partially in water
Which picture shows an object that has kinetic energy?
A student wants to compare the masses and volumes of three marbles. Which two instruments should be used?
1. Balance and graduated cylinder
2. Centimeter ruler and thermometer
3. Graduated cylinder and centimeter ruler
4. Thermometer and balance
Which of these is a function of a leaf?
1. Carrying nutrients throughout the plant
2. Converting solar energy into sugar
3. Creating shade for the plant
4. Absorbing water from the ground
A scientist found a fossil of an organism that had gills. When the organism was living, the area in which it lived was most likely covered by —
1. forest
2. grassland
3. bare rock
4. water
On a graph, students recorded how quickly bacteria reproduced over two hours. If the rate of reproduction stayed the same, how many bacteria would be present after 2 1/2 hours?
1. 8
2. 16
3. 32
4. 64
Gallium is a metal that melts at about 30°C. If a person, whose body temperature is 37°C, held a cube of gallium for five minutes, what will most likely happen to the gallium?
1. It will change to a gas.
2. It will change to a liquid.
3. It will become a solution.
4. It will become a mixture.
Sonar helps people find which information about an object?
1. Color
2. Weight
3. Location
4. Temperature
Which of these often occur as the Earth’s crustal plates move?
1. Hurricanes
2. Floods
3. Tornadoes
4. Earthquakes
Which line graph best shows the data in the table?
Which energy transformation most likely occurs in a steam iron?
1. Electrical energy changes to heat energy.
2. Electrical energy changes to sound energy.
3. Mechanical energy changes to heat energy.
4. Mechanical energy changes to light energy.
Which of these human activities in a forest has a positive effect on the ecosystem?
1. Clearing the land to build new homes
2. Planting new trees where old ones were cut down
3. Building a new highway through the area
4. Cutting down trees to make farmland
Which part of an automobile is transparent?
1. Door Handle
2. Side Mirror
3. Hubcap
4. Windshield
All of the populations of species in an area make up a —
1. region
2. niche
3. family
4. community
Pumice is formed when lava from a volcano cools. Which rock type is pumice?
1. Gaseous rock
2. Igneous rock
3. Sedimentary rock
4. Metamorphic rock
Based on the information in the table, the best way to tell gold from pyrite is by which property?
1. Color
2. Transparency
3. Luster
4. Hardness
The diagram above shows the changes to a land surface caused by a river flowing through the area for many years. Which process caused the changes to the surface?
1. Condensation
2. Erosion
3. Evaporation
4. Pollution
Which statement is supported by the data on this map?
1. Emporia is colder than Bedford at the time of these measurements.
2. Bedford is the hottest city in the state of Virginia.
3. LaCrosse will become cooler over the next few days.
4. Richmond, Farmville, and LaCrosse are all colder than Emporia.
In this food web, which two organisms could be harmed if the mouse population were to decline?
1. Deer and caterpillar
2. Wolf and snake
3. Oak and grass
4. Hawk and songbird
The school garden club planted sunflower seeds in 6-inch pots. Each pot was watered the same amount every two days. At the end of one month, the number of sprouts was counted. Which pot had an unusual number of sprouts?
1. 1
2. 2
3. 3
4. 4
Which of these organisms has cells with cell walls?
1. A bluebird
2. A pine tree
3. A ladybug
4. A fox squirrel
Which of these is a difference between tadpoles and adult frogs?
1. Only frogs are eaten by predators.
2. Only frogs can survive on land.
Which layer of Earth is the thinnest?
1. Inner core
2. Crust
3. Outer core
4. Mantle
The surface of the Moon is made up of —
1. craters, highlands, and flat areas
2. swirling gases
3. large bodies of water
4. a mixture of gases and water
Which is the best tool for measuring the temperature of lake water?
1. Meter stick
2. Balance
3. Graduated cylinder
4. Thermometer
The box would be easier to move if the surface of the ramp was smoother because there would be less —
1. mass in the box
2. friction opposing the box
3. gravity pulling on the box
4. distance to push the box
Which of these is the most important product of Virginia forests?
1. Pecan trees
2. Pine cones
3. Hardwood lumber
4. Maple leaves
Which of these would best describe the tube worms shown?
1. Mammals
2. Vertebrates
3. Amphibians
4. Invertebrates
Based on information in the diagram, about how tall is the tree?
1. 10 feet
2. 20 feet
3. 40 feet
4. 80 feet