1. A bat flies three kilometers. A scientist wants
to find the bat’s speed. Which other information
does the scientist need?
A. the bat’s starting position
B. the bat’s mass while flying
C. the direction the bat flies
D. the amount of time the bat flies
2. Four shoppers are pushing identical shopping
carts through a store at the same speed. Each cart
contains a different object. Which cart will require
the least force to stop its motion?
A. the cart containing an object with a mass of 700 g
B. the cart containing an object with a mass of 530 g
C. the cart containing an object with a mass of 390 g
D. the cart containing an object with a mass of 180 g
3. A student observes and records changes in some
materials. Which is an example of a new substance
forming?
A.A puddle of water evaporates.
B.An iron nail rusts.
C.An ice cream bar melts.
D.A drinking glass breaks.
4. Which diagram shows how energy from the sun
changes water on Earth’s surface to produce runoff?
A. Snow melts and flows
as water.
C. Snow forms and falls.
B. Water vapor condenses
and freezes.
D. Moisture evaporates, and
clouds of water droplets
form.
5. Which is an example of heat being transferred by
radiation?
A. an ice cube melting in a hot bowl of soup
B. sunlight warming a puddle of water
C. a mug of hot coffee warming a person’s hands
D. hot water moving from the bottom of a kettle to
the top
6. Spoons made of steel, wood, copper, and plastic
are placed in a pot of hot water. Which spoon or
spoons will most likely heat up easily?
A. steel spoon
B. steel and copper spoons
C. steel, wood, and copper spoons
D. steel, wood, and plastic spoons
7. When does heat stop flowing between two
objects?
A. when the objects reach the same temperature
B. when one object gains enough heat to melt
C. when one object loses enough heat to freeze
D. when one object loses all of its heat
8. During January and February, which most likely
helps keep weather mild along the coast of North
Carolina?
A.El Niño
B.La Niña
C.the Gulf Stream
D. the jet stream
9.If a wind vane points south, which is the best
conclusion?
A.The wind is blowing toward the south.
B.A storm is coming from the north.
C.The wind is blowing from the south.
D. The wind is increasing in speed.
10. A girl is conducting an investigation in which
she will predict the weather.
Which tool will she most likely need?
A.spring scale
B.Barometer
C.pan balance
D. meterstick
11. Which best describes single-celled organisms,
such as amoebas?
A.They take in nutrients directly from their
surroundings.
B.They have body systems for transporting
nutrients.
C.They have tubes for transporting nutrients.
D. They do not need nutrients.
12. Which is the smallest part of a mouse that can
get rid of wastes?
A. Atom
B. Element
C. System
D. Cell
13. Which of the human body systems is most
responsible for taking in oxygen from the air?
A. circulatory system
B. respiratory system
C. skeletal system
D. muscular system
14.Which best compares lakes and oceans?
A.Both are large bodies of freshwater.
B.Both are large bodies of salt water.
C.Only lakes include fish.
D. Only oceans include corals.
15. An organism gets the nutrients it needs by
breaking down dead leaves. Which is the best way to
classify the organism?
A. as a producer
B. as a decomposer
C. as an herbivore
D. as a consumer
16. Which is a living part of both a grassland and a
forest ecosystem?
A. Soil
B. pine tree
C. Shrub
D. rocks
17. Which best explains why a population of
cactuses in a desert all have bright red flowers?
A.The population members got this trait from the
desert ecosystem.
B.The parents inherited this trait from their offspring.
C.The offspring learned this trait from their parents.
D. The offspring inherited this trait from their
parents.
18. In the table below, a student recorded different
characteristics she observed.
Which characteristic did the student record in the wrong
column of the table?
A. A dog knows how to sit on command.
B. A goldfish knows how to swim.
C. A woman can read German.
D. An eagle has two legs.
19. José and Sarah both leave school for the library
at 3 p.m. José rides his bike at a speed of 16
kilometers per hour. Sarah rides her bike at a speed
of 14 kilometers per hour. Which will most likely
happen?
A. They will ride in two different directions.
B. José will arrive at the library before Sarah.
C. Sarah will arrive at the library before José.
D. They will arrive at the same time.
20. A student forms a ball out of clay. Then he
pushes the ball and observes its motion along his
desk. If he repeats the activity, what should he do to
make the ball move faster?
A. change the ball’s starting position
B. change the ball’s shape
C. make the ball heavier
D. push the ball harder
21. In the water cycle, energy warms water on the
surface of the Atlantic Ocean. Some of the water
moves into the atmosphere. Which source of energy
causes this change?
A.the sun
B.ocean waves
C.Electricity
D. Earth’s interior
22. If a girl mixes 6 ounces of walnuts, 4 ounces of
shredded coconut, and 8 ounces of raisins together,
how much snack food will she have?
A.6 ounces
B.18 ounces
C.48 ounces
D. 64 ounces
23.Which is an example of transpiration?
A. Hail falls from the atmosphere onto a field.
B. Cloud droplets form from water vapor in the air.
C. A corn plant’s leaves release water vapor into the
air.
D. Dew drops on an oak leaf change to water vapor.
24. A small beaker of liquid is placed inside a large
beaker of liquid. The temperature of the liquid in
the small beaker begins to increase. Which is the
best explanation for this change?
A. A chemical change occurred between the two
liquids.
B. Radiation from the sun reached the small beaker.
C. Heat flowed from the large beaker to the small
beaker.
D. Heat flowed from the small beaker to the large
beaker.
25.Which object would best conduct thermal energy?
A.silver spoon
B.glass bottle
C.wood bowl
D. plastic cup
26. Local weather changes daily. Which of these
would not be part of a daily
weather report?
A.wind speed
B.air pressure
C. amount of precipitation
D. location of the Gulf Stream
27. Which type of weather will most likely result if a
cold front approaches in
the month of February?
A. Thunderstorm
B.sunny skies
C.Snowstorm
D. rising temperatures
28. A student is conducting an investigation in which
she observes and records weather conditions. If she
observes high, wispy clouds that look a little like
feathers, which should she record in her data table
under “Clouds”?
A. Fog
B. Cirrus
C. Stratus
D. cumulus
29. Which would most likely be the result after an
injury to the muscular system of the human body?
A. The body would not be able to move as easily.
B. The body would not be able to carry blood to the
heart.
C. The body would not break down food as easily.
D. The body would not be able to absorb nutrients.
30. Which best describes a human fat cell?
A. It is an organism made up of only one cell.
B. It is one of a group of cells that have a certain job.
C. It is an organism made up of many cells.
D. It is one of a group of cells that have many jobs.
31. Which best describes an ecosystem?
A. all the living and nonliving things in an area
B. all the organisms of the same kind in an area
C. a large area, such as a forest
D. a place where many organisms live
32.Which describes one way that energy is
transferred in a food chain?
A.from one producer to another producer
B.from a consumer to a producer
C.from a producer to a consumer
D. from a producer to the sun
33. Eelgrass is a major source of food for birds and turtles in
an estuary. What will most likely happen to the bird and
turtle populations if people remove the eelgrass to build a
bridge?
A. The turtle population will increase, but the bird
population will decrease.
B. Both the bird population and the turtle population will
increase.
C. The bird population will increase, but the turtle
population will decrease.
D. Both the bird population and the turtle population will
decrease.
34. How do bacteria most likely affect birch trees in
a forest?
A.Bacteria add nutrients to soil that birch trees need.
B.Bacteria help birch trees reproduce by spreading
pollen.
C.Bacteria provide energy that birch trees need.
D. Bacteria help birch trees reproduce by spreading
seeds.
35. When a fern plant is placed near a window, the
fern grows toward the sunlight. Where did the fern
get this trait?
A.from its location
B.from the soil
C.from its food
D. from its parents
36. Which is an example of a learned behavior?
A. A bear looks for food in the trash.
B. A human baby cries.
C. A tiger cares for its young.
D. A blue jay eats seeds.
37.Which best explains why a certain horse has longer
legs than its father?
A.The horse inherited traits only from its mother.
B.The horse learned different behaviors than its
father.
C.The horse acquired more traits during its lifetime.
D. The horse inherited traits from both its parents.
38. A student rolls a ball down a smooth wooden
ramp and observes what happens. Then he puts
sandpaper on the ramp and rolls the ball again.
What is the student most likely investigating?
A.the effect of a change in gravity on the ball’s motion
B.the effect of a change in mass on the ball’s motion
C.the effect of a change in friction on the ball’s
motion
D. the effect of a change in a ball’s motion on the
ramp
39.Which is the best way to use the x-axis on a
distance-time graph?
A.to represent the position of an object that travels
B.to represent the period of time that an object
travels
C.to represent the speed at which an object travels
D. to represent the distance that an object travels
40.Which process describes water flowing downhill
over the land surface?
A. Precipitation
B. Transpiration
C. Runoff
D. condensation
41.An orange is cut into four equal parts. Each part
weighs 2.5 ounces. How much did the orange
weigh before it was cut?
A. 2.5 ounces
B. 5 ounces
C. 10 ounces
D. 40 ounces
42. A student is investigating how water changes
from a liquid to a solid. Which
information would be best for the student to record in
a data table?
A . changes in the water’s temperature
B.changes in the water’s weight
C.changes in the water’s shape
D. changes in the water’s color
43. Michael measures the temperatures of copper,
silver, steel, and gold wires before and after placing
them in hot water. Which idea is Michael most likely
testing in his investigation?
A . Many types of materials besides metals are good
conductors.
B. Many types of metals are good conductors.
C. Copper is a better conductor of heat than plastic.
D. Plastic is a better conductor than gold.
44. A pot of soup heats on a hot plate. Which occurs
as a result of convection?
A. Heat gets transferred to the pot.
B. Heat gets transferred to the pot and some of the
soup.
C. Heat gets transferred throughout the soup.
D. Heat gets transferred to the hot plate.
45. On Tuesday, the weather is cold and cloudy. On
Wednesday, the weather is sunny and warm. Which
change most likely occurred from Tuesday to
Wednesday?
A.from high to low temperature
B.from low to high air pressure
C.from low to high wind speed
D. from low to high precipitation
46. Which best explains why the area near the
North Pole tends to be colder all year than areas at
lower latitudes?
A.The North Pole is in a temperate zone.
B.Areas in lower latitudes are farther from the ocean.
C.Polar zones get the least energy from the sun.
D. Polar zones get less snow than temperate zones.
47. Which are low, gray clouds that seem to blanket
the sky?
A.Cirrus
B.Stratus
C.Cumulus
D. atmosphere
48. A local weather forecaster predicts that a
hurricane will begin to affect the Outer Banks of
North Carolina in the next 24 hours. Which weather
conditions will the hurricane most likely bring?
A. heavy snow and cold temperatures
B. clouds and light rain
C. sunshine and warm temperatures
D. strong winds and heavy rain
49. A child has a toothache and has trouble chewing
food. Which system in the child’s body does this affect
most directly?
A.Circulatory
B.Digestive
C.Muscular
D. respiratory
50.Which best compares bacteria and sharks?
A.Bacteria are unicellular, and sharks are multicellular.
B.Bacteria are multicellular, and sharks are unicellular.
C.Bacteria have transport systems, while sharks do
not.
D. Bacteria reproduce, while sharks do not.
51.Which organism is the best example of a
consumer?
A. Algae
B. Fungus
C. Raccoon
D. Pine tree
52.Which organism most likely lives in a grassland
ecosystem?
A. Trout
B. Bison
C. Bear
D. Crab
53. Which best explains why a puppy and its parents
all have white fur with
black spots?
A.The puppy inherited its fur color from its parents.
B.The parents inherited their fur color from their
puppy.
C.The puppy learned how to get its fur color from its
parents.
D. The puppy and its parents got their fur color from
their ecosystem.
54. A boy and his father each have a small scar on
one arm. Which best describes the boy’s scar?
A. learned behavior
B. inherited trait
C. acquired trait
D. inherited behavior
55. A pole is located north of a tree. If a boy walks
from the pole to the tree,
in which direction does the boy travel?
A.West
B.East
C.North
D.South
56. The motion of a bird is shown in the graph.
During which time period did the bird move the fastest?
A. period 1
C. period 3
B. period 2
D. Period 4
57. A girl lets go of her backpack, and it falls toward
the ground. Which is the best explanation for why the
backpack moves toward the ground?
A . Friction pulls on the backpack.
B.Gravity pulls on the backpack.
C.The girl exerts a force on the backpack.
D. The backpack’s mass increases.
58. If salt and iron shavings are stirred into a beaker
of water, which will most
likely happen?
A.The salt and the iron will both change state.
B.The salt and the iron will both dissolve.
C.The salt will change state.
D. The salt will dissolve.
59. Early on a summer morning, drops of water have
collected on the grass even though it has not rained
for days. Which most likely caused the drops to form?
A.The sun warmed and melted frozen water on the grass.
B. Blowing wind carried and dropped liquid water on the
grass.
C. Water vapor in the air cooled enough to turn into liquid
water.
D. Water drops fell from the atmosphere to the ground
as precipitation.
60. Which best describes what happens when
newspaper burns?
A. New substances form.
B. Substances get mixed together.
C. Substances stay the same.
D. Substances change state.
61. If two solid objects are stacked one on top of the
other, how will heat flow
between them?
A.from the top object to the bottom object
B.from the larger object to the smaller object
C.from the warmer object to the cooler object
D. from the lighter object to the heavier object
62.Which is an example of heat transfer by
conduction?
A.Sunlight heats the sand on a beach.
B.A metal spoon gets hot in a pot of boiling water.
C.A campfire warms the campers sitting near it.
D. A radiator warms the air throughout a room.
63. How would the weather conditions most likely
change from summer to fall in most parts of the
United States?
A. from cloudy to sunny
B. from snowy to rainy
C. from cool to cold
D. from warmer to cooler
64. Weather forecasters predict that the polar jet
stream will dip south into North Carolina. Which will
most likely be the result in North Carolina?
A.The wind speed will decrease.
B.The air pressure will increase.
C.The temperature will increase.
D.The temperature will decrease.
65. Which is most likely to cause cooler than normal
temperatures along the coast of California?
A.the jet stream
B.the Gulf Stream
C.La Niña
D. El Niño
66. Which best describes a part of the skeletal system
and its function?
A.The nerves carry messages.
B.The muscles move the body.
C.The skull protects the brain.
D. The lungs take in oxygen.
67.Which structures are part of the same body
system as the trachea?
A.Intestines
B.Veins
C.Lungs
D. bones
68. Which statement best describes one-celled
organisms?
A. They carry out all the basic processes of life.
B. They do not get rid of wastes.
C. They do not need to take in nutrients.
D. They work together to do certain jobs.
69. A certain multicellular organism has no muscular
system. The organism uses a system of tubes to carry
water throughout its body. Which is the best way to
classify this organism?
A.as an animal
B.as a bacterium
C.as a plant
D. as an amoeba
70. In a lake ecosystem, how would people catching
too many minnows most likely affect the minnows’
predators?
A.The predators would lose much of their food
source.
B.The predators would move to a new lake.
C.The predators would not be affected.
D.The predators would reproduce more.
71.Which describes how a consumer uses a producer
to get energy?
A.A mouse eats green sprouts.
B.An alligator consumes a duck.
C.Fungus grows in soil under a tree.
D.A vulture feeds on a dead fox.
72.A hamster has brown and white fur, short legs,
small ears, and a scar on one of its legs. Which trait
did the hamster most likely not inherit from its
parents?
A. brown and white fur
B. short legs
C. small ears
D. scar on its leg
73. Lauren records four observations about her
friend. In which observation does Lauren describe an
inherited trait?
A.Red is Josh’s favorite color.
B.Josh’s eyes are green.
C.Josh knows how to speak Spanish.
D. Josh likes to ride his bike.
74. A pet monkey can grunt and fetch toys on
command. The monkey has black fur and a scratch on
one of its limbs. Which of the monkey’s traits is a
learned behavior?
A. its ability to grunt
B. its ability to fetch toys
C. the scratch on its limb
D. its black fur
75.Which trait will a man’s children most likely inherit
from him?
A.being able to ride a bike
B.having a cut on a toe
C.knowing how to read
D.being able to laugh