VIRGINIA STANDARDS OF LEARNING
Spring 2009 Released Test
GRADE 3
SCIENCE
©2009 by the Commonwealth of Virginia, Department of
Education, P.O. Box 2120, Richmond, Virginia 23218-2120
Directions
Read each question and choose the best
answer.
SAMPLE
When Earth is seen from outer space, it looks
mainly blue. This is because most of Earth is
covered with
A
B
C
D
ice
mountains
oceans
deserts
1. What units would you use to measure the
length of this pencil?
A
B
C
D
Grams
Kilometers
Centimeters
Liters
1. What units would you use to measure the
length of this pencil?
A
B
C
D
Grams
Kilometers
Centimeters
Liters
2. Which of these is MOST likely the hardest
to bend?
F
G
H
J
Rubber band
Cloth ribbon
Leather shoe
Wooden board
2. Which of these is MOST likely the hardest
to bend?
F
G
H
J
Rubber band
Cloth ribbon
Leather shoe
Wooden board
3. Which of these lists has only products that
come from plants?
A
B
C
D
Paper, spices, and fibers
Wool, lumber, and butter
Medicines, leather, and milk
Cotton, rubber, and eggs
3. Which of these lists has only products that
come from plants?
A
B
C
D
Paper, spices, and fibers
Wool, lumber, and butter
Medicines, leather, and milk
Cotton, rubber, and eggs
4. Which shape is MOST like the one made by
connecting the bases on the baseball field?
F
G
H
J
Circle
Square
Triangle
Oval
4. Which shape is MOST like the one made by
connecting the bases on the baseball field?
F
G
H
J
Circle
Square
Triangle
Oval
5 Tony is studying ladybugs in a garden. Which of
these would BEST help Tony to count the spots
on a ladybug?
A
B
C
D
Stopwatch
Thermometer
Measuring cup
Magnifying glass
5 Tony is studying ladybugs in a garden. Which of
these would BEST help Tony to count the spots
on a ladybug?
A
B
C
D
Stopwatch
Thermometer
Measuring cup
Magnifying glass
6. What causes fewer plants to grow on the
rocky side of the river?
F
G
H
J
There is not enough sunlight.
There is not enough soil.
There is not enough water.
There is not enough air.
6. What causes fewer plants to grow on the
rocky side of the river?
F
G
H
J
There is not enough sunlight.
There is not enough soil.
There is not enough water.
There is not enough air.
7. Which would help conserve water?
A
B
C
D
Turn off water while brushing teeth
Wash the car every day
Water the lawn every day
Run the dishwasher after each meal
7. Which would help conserve water?
A
B
C
D
Turn off water while brushing teeth
Wash the car every day
Water the lawn every day
Run the dishwasher after each meal
8. Which of these is needed in all stages of the
butterfly’s life cycle?
F
G
H
J
Wings
Eyes
Soil
Air
8. Which of these is needed in all stages of the
butterfly’s life cycle?
F
G
H
J
Wings
Eyes
Soil
Air
9. How are a tree and grass alike?
A
B
C
D
Both make wood.
Both have roots.
Both need moonlight.
Both have short lives.
9. How are a tree and grass alike?
A
B
C
D
Both make wood.
Both have roots.
Both need moonlight.
Both have short lives.
10. Which of these most likely has the
GREATEST mass?
F
G
H
J
Chicken
Puppy
Lizard
Horse
10. Which of these most likely has the
GREATEST mass?
F
G
H
J
Chicken
Puppy
Lizard
Horse
11. What type of plant is MOST likely
described?
A
B
C
D
A flowering plant
A pine tree
Grass
Cactus
11. What type of plant is MOST likely
described?
A
B
C
D
A flowering plant
A pine tree
Grass
Cactus
12. The BEST way to make a shadow on a living
room wall is to —
F
G
H
J
hold a lamp near the floor
turn off the lights in the room
sit close to the wall near a window
stand between a light and the wall
12. The BEST way to make a shadow on a living
room wall is to —
F
G
H
J
hold a lamp near the floor
turn off the lights in the room
sit close to the wall near a window
stand between a light and the wall
13. Which of these is a nonliving part of a
forest?
A
B
C
D
Tree
Soil
Worm
Mushroom
13. Which of these is a nonliving part of a
forest?
A
B
C
D
Tree
Soil
Worm
Mushroom
14. A sand dune is shown. Which of these causes
sand dunes to form?
F
G
H
J
Winds blowing
Plants growing
Animals digging
Temperatures rising
14. A sand dune is shown. Which of these causes
sand dunes to form?
F
G
H
J
Winds blowing
Plants growing
Animals digging
Temperatures rising
15. What is the mass of the bottle shown in the
picture?
A
B
C
D
47 grams
53 grams
103 grams
150 grams
15. What is the mass of the bottle shown in the
picture?
A
B
C
D
47 grams
53 grams
103 grams
150 grams
16.Which kind of work is made easier by the
wheels of a wagon?
F
G
H
J
Pulling a heavy load
Lifting a wide load
Dividing a large load
Holding a small load
16.Which kind of work is made easier by the
wheels of a wagon?
F
G
H
J
Pulling a heavy load
Lifting a wide load
Dividing a large load
Holding a small load
17. Both hurricanes and tornadoes
always —
A
B
C
D
cause flooding
are hundreds of miles wide
have high winds
produce light snow
17. Both hurricanes and tornadoes
always —
A
B
C
D
cause flooding
are hundreds of miles wide
have high winds
produce light snow
18. In picture 4, what will take the place of
the flowers in picture 3?
F
G
H
J
Buds
Fruit
Leaves
Roots
18. In picture 4, what will take the place of
the flowers in picture 3?
F
G
H
J
Buds
Fruit
Leaves
Roots
19. Students in a class count their pets. All together,
they have seven cats, nine dogs, and three fish. Which
graph shows the correct number of pets?
19. Students in a class count their pets. All together,
they have seven cats, nine dogs, and three fish. Which
graph shows the correct number of pets?
20. Which machine uses a wheel and axle?
20. Which machine uses a wheel and axle?
21. From what source does almost all heat
energy on Earth come?
A
B
C
D
Wind
Water
The Sun
The Moon
21. From what source does almost all heat
energy on Earth come?
A
B
C
D
Wind
Water
The Sun
The Moon
22. A sign that an apple tree is going
to start growing apples is when the tree
has —
F
G
H
J
roots
seeds
leaves
flowers
22. A sign that an apple tree is going
to start growing apples is when the tree
has —
F
G
H
J
roots
seeds
leaves
flowers
23. Which picture BEST shows a learned
behavior in a dog?
23. Which picture BEST shows a learned
behavior in a dog?
24 . While a sailor was out fishing, he got
lost at sea. Which object would help him
direct the boat back to shore?
F
G
H
J
Rope
Magnetic compass
Blanket
Measuring tape
24 . While a sailor was out fishing, he got
lost at sea. Which object would help him
direct the boat back to shore?
F
G
H
J
Rope
Magnetic compass
Blanket
Measuring tape
25. Which two senses would BEST
help a person measure hair length?
A
B
C
D
Taste and smell
Touch and sight
Sight and hearing
Smell and hearing
25. Which two senses would BEST
help a person measure hair length?
A
B
C
D
Taste and smell
Touch and sight
Sight and hearing
Smell and hearing
26. Which of these is MOST flexible?
F
G
H
J
Broom handle
Wooden ruler
Drinking straw
Sewing needle
26. Which of these is MOST flexible?
F
G
H
J
Broom handle
Wooden ruler
Drinking straw
Sewing needle
27. After winter, which of these will MOST
likely make a tree start to bud?
A
B
C
D
More wind
Fewer clouds in the sky
Less rainfall
More hours of daylight
27. After winter, which of these will MOST
likely make a tree start to bud?
A
B
C
D
More wind
Fewer clouds in the sky
Less rainfall
More hours of daylight
28. 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?
F
G
H
J
Air is solid.
Air has heat.
Air has mass.
Air is energy.
28. 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?
F
G
H
J
Air is solid.
Air has heat.
Air has mass.
Air is energy.
29. Which thing near this house will wash
away the MOST during a heavy rain?
A
B
C
D
Gravel driveway
Dirt pile
Stepping stones
Soil under grass
29. Which thing near this house will wash
away the MOST during a heavy rain?
A
B
C
D
Gravel driveway
Dirt pile
Stepping stones
Soil under grass
30. For a plant to stay alive indoors,
where does it need to be placed?
F
G
H
J
In a dry area
In a dark room
On a plant stand
Near a sunny place
30. For a plant to stay alive indoors,
where does it need to be placed?
F
G
H
J
In a dry area
In a dark room
On a plant stand
Near a sunny place
31. Which of these is an example of a
lever?
31. Which of these is an example of a
lever?
32. 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 —
F
G
H
J
read a story
use a ruler
cut up some leaves
use a magnifying glass
32. 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 —
F
G
H
J
read a story
use a ruler
cut up some leaves
use a magnifying glass
33. Soil is important to a forest because
the soil —
A
B
C
D
stores sunlight in the leaves
attracts insects that eat leaves
provides nutrients to the trees
warms the air around the trees
33. Soil is important to a forest because
the soil —
A
B
C
D
stores sunlight in the leaves
attracts insects that eat leaves
provides nutrients to the trees
warms the air around the trees
34. A student is asked to bring something
that feels rough to class.
Which would be BEST for him to bring?
F
G
H
J
Pillow
Marble
Sandpaper
Trading card
34. A student is asked to bring something
that feels rough to class.
Which would be BEST for him to bring?
F
G
H
J
Pillow
Marble
Sandpaper
Trading card
35. 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?
A
B
C
D
Omnivore
Carnivore
Herbivore
Producer
35. 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?
A
B
C
D
Omnivore
Carnivore
Herbivore
Producer
36. About how wide is this pinecone?
F
G
H
J
1 inch
2 inches
3 inches
4 inches
36. About how wide is this pinecone?
F
G
H
J
1 inch
2 inches
3 inches
4 inches
37. Which of the following is one nonliving part
in the habitat of a bluebird?
A
B
C
D
Insects they eat
Air they breathe
Hawks that eat them
Plants they use for nests
37. Which of the following is one nonliving part
in the habitat of a bluebird?
A
B
C
D
Insects they eat
Air they breathe
Hawks that eat them
Plants they use for nests
38. Ice cubes are an example of which
form of water?
F
G
H
J
Gas
Liquid
Solid
Natural
38. Ice cubes are an example of which
form of water?
F
G
H
J
Gas
Liquid
Solid
Natural
39. Martina only washes her sweater after
she has worn it several times. Martina is
helping the environment by —
A
B
C
D
wasting water
reusing water
recycling water
conserving water
39. Martina only washes her sweater after
she has worn it several times. Martina is
helping the environment by —
A
B
C
D
wasting water
reusing water
recycling water
conserving water
40. Which graph shows the correct type and number
of fish in the fish tank?
40. Which graph shows the correct type and number
of fish in the fish tank?