3rd Grade Science - Earth System Questions

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 —
(2008 test question)
1. high and low tides
2. seasons changing
3. day and night
4. phases of the Moon
Which of the following describes the motion of Earth shown in this picture?
(2007 test question)
1. Vibrating
2. Rotating
3. Revolving
4. Falling
Which of these causes the MOST evaporation of water from a lake?
(2007 test question)
1. Freezing of the lake
2. Heat from the Sun
3. Melting snow forming streams
4. Volcanic activity near the lake
Which of these warms most of the air, water, and land on Earth?
(2007 test question)
1. Coal
2. Electricity
3. Sunlight
4. Wind
From what source does almost all heat energy on Earth come?
(2009 test question)
1. Wind
2. Water
3. The Sun
4. The Moon
Where will a sidewalk feel hottest on a warm, clear day?
(2008 test question)
1. Under a picnic table
2. In direct sunlight
3. Under a puddle
4. In the shade
The BEST way to make a shadow on a living room wall is to —
(2009 test question)
1. hold a lamp near the floor
2. turn off the lights in the room
3. sit close to the wall near a window
4. stand between a light and the wall
Which of these can make a shadow on the ground during the day?
(2010 test question)
1. River
2. Air
3. Thunder
4. Cloud
Students used thermometers to compare temperatures around their school. Which of these is MOST likely the reason it was cooler under a tree than on the playground?
(2010 test question)
1. The tree blocked the cold wind.
2. A student blocked the wind.
3. Tree leaves blocked some of the sunlight.
4. A cloud blocked the Sun.
A summer day begins with a clear, sunny sky. Then, dark clouds form in the afternoon. What type of weather will MOST likely happen next?
(2007 test question)
1. Sleet and snow
2. Rain and thunder
3. Wind and snow
4. Fog and wind
Having dry, hot weather for a long time can cause a —
(2010 test question)
1. drought
2. thunderstorm
3. tornado
4. flood
Which of these is the BEST reason to study weather?
(2008 test question)
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
What does a weather vane show?
(2010 test question)
1. Wind direction
2. Air temperature
3. Cloud cover
4. Air pressure
Which of these shows the day when this thermometer was left outside?
(2007 test question)
Both hurricanes and tornadoes always —
(2009 test question)
1. cause flooding
2. are hundreds of miles wide
3. have high winds
4. produce light snow
Which of these BEST describes this leaf?
(2010 test question)
1. Long
2. Square-shaped
3. Round
4. Star-shaped
A company plants trees on a bare hillside. Which of these is the BEST reason for planting the trees?
(2010 test question)
1. The trees provide oxygen for the soil.
2. The trees prevent soil from washing away.
3. The trees make shade for animals living there.
4. The trees cause animals to move to other places.
Which thing near this house will wash away the MOST during a heavy rain?

(2008 test question)
1. Gravel driveway
2. Dirt pile
3. Stepping stones
4. Soil under grass
If water gets into the crack of a rock and then freezes, the rock will MOST likely —
(2007 test question)
1. break apart
2. be able to float
3. become larger
4. change colors
Which of these may have caused the boulders to break away from the cliff?
(2010 test question)
1. Weathering
2. Evaporating
3. Depositing
4. Grinding
A sand dune is shown. Which of these causes sand dunes to form?
(2009 test question)
1. Winds blowing
2. Plants growing
3. Animals digging
4. Temperatures rising
Soil is important to a forest because the soil —
(2008 test question)
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
Why is it important to protect soil?
(2010 test question)
1. It covers the bedrock layer in the earth.
2. It has nutrients used by plants to grow.
3. It holds many harmful pollutants.
4. It dries quickly in sunlight.
Which job is done in Virginia only during the fall season?
(2009 test question)
1. Picking apples
2. Feeding animals
3. Selling clothes
4. Building houses
Which of these is the BEST sign that the fall season has begun?
(2009 test question)
1. Plants forming new buds
2. Sun shining on flowers
3. Grass being wet in the morning
4. Leaves changing color on trees
Which of the following BEST shows the order of events in the lifecycle of a bean plant?
(2009 test question)
1. 2, 3, 4, 1
2. 3, 4, 2, 1
3. 1, 2, 4, 3
4. 1, 4, 3, 2
Which of these will take the LONGEST time to observe?
(2010 test question)
1. One moon-phase cycle
2. One ocean-tide cycle
3. An acorn growing into an adult tree
4. A caterpillar becoming a butterfly
Which of these lists has only products that come from plants?
(2009 test question)
1. Paper, spices, and fibers
2. Wool, lumber, and butter
3. Medicines, leather, and milk
4. Cotton, rubber, and eggs
Which of these is made from a plant?
(2010 test question)
Which would help conserve water?
(2009 test question)
1. Turn off water while brushing teeth
2. Wash the car every day
3. Water the lawn every day
4. Run the dishwasher after each meal
Which of these does the MOST harm to the air?
(2007 test question)
1. Chopping down trees with an ax in the backyard
2. Collecting fall leaves
3. Cutting grass with a gas-powered lawnmower
4. Picking colorful wildflowers along the highway
A wetland habitat can continue to support the birds and fish that live there if people —
(2007 test question)
1. drain the water away
2. The air will become polluted.
3. Weather patterns will change.
4. Underground streams will get polluted.
If a wooded area is cleared and corn is planted, what will MOST likely happen?
(2007 test question)
1. Animal habitats will be destroyed.
2. The air will become polluted.
3. Weather patterns will change.
4. Underground streams will get polluted.
Martina only washes her sweater after she has worn it several times. Martina is helping the environment by —
(2008 test question)
1. wasting water
2. reusing water
3. recycling water
4. conserving water
An old T-shirt can be ripped into smaller pieces and used as rags. An empty milk jug can be used to water houseplants. Both of these are examples of how —
(2009 test question)
1. saving water conserves future resources
2. using old materials can waste money
3. plants need water to be healthy
4. everyday materials can be reused
Which will have a bad effect on the air people breathe?
(2008 test question)
Which of these is an example of something being recycled?
(2008 test question)
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 activities makes the MOST air pollution?
(2009 test question)
1. Storing trash bags
2. Reusing trash bags
3. Burning trash bags
4. Recycling trash bags
People can help keep a forest a good place for birds to live by —
(2010 test question)
1. dumping garbage in a small part of the forest
2. building a road through the middle of the forest
3. burning dead trees to make smoke in the air
4. preventing too many trees from being cut down
Which of these is the BEST way to save animals and trees?
(2010 test question)
1. Ride bikes more
2. Make more farmland
3. Take care of forests
4. Move to the city