Ohio Grade 5 Achievement Test for Science – May 2007
Annotated Item 42
Standard and Benchmark Assessed:
Standard:
Benchmark:
Earth and Space Sciences
C. Describe Earth’s resources including rocks, soil, water, air, animals and
plants and the ways in which they can be conserved.
Multiple Choice Question:
Use the information in the table to answer questions 41-44.
A teacher gives students five rock samples to describe and sketch. The students record their
observations in the table below.
Source: Ohio Department of Education
August 07
Ohio Grade 5 Achievement Test for Science – May 2007
Annotated Item 42
42.
How is conglomerate different from the other rock samples?
A.
B.
C.
D.
It contains pebbles.
It has visible layers.
It has a rough texture.
It is all the same color.
Commentary:
This multiple choice question asks students to identify how the conglomerate rock sample is
different from the other rock samples in a Rock Sample table. Students must read and interpret
the Rock Sample table observations and note similarities and differences in the rock samples.
Students should observe that the conglomerate rock sample has other rocks and pebbles in it.
Answer choice A is correct because the conglomerate sample is described and depicted as
containing rocks and pebbles of different colors. Answer choice B is incorrect because the table
describes only the limestone sample as having layers, not the conglomerate. Answer choice C
is incorrect because only the pumice and granite samples are described as having a rough
texture, whereas the conglomerate sample is described as being lumpy. Answer choice D is
incorrect because the only rock sample described as having a uniform color is the obsidian
sample. The conglomerate sample has different colored pieces of rocks and pebbles in it, and
other rock samples (like granite) have different colored parts to them.
This question is classified as Communicating Understanding / Analyzing Science Information
because the task requires students to interpret a data table of observations of different types of
rocks and identify which statement correctly describes how a conglomerate sample is different
from the other rock samples.
Performance Data:
The percent of public school students selecting answer choice A for question 42 on the May
2007 Ohio Grade 5 Achievement Test for Science was 74%.
Keywords:
sedimentary, igneous, rocks, minerals, layers, Properties of Rocks
Source: Ohio Department of Education
August 07