2017 PSSA Science Grade 4

Which process has increased the availability of fresh food to many people all over the United States?

• boiling and storing food in glass jars

• packing meat in salt to remove water

• transporting food in refrigerated trucks

• using stoves powered by natural gas to cook food

Cold temperature reduced the snake population in this food web. How will the hawks MOST LIKELY respond to this change in their environment?

• The hawks will hibernate.

• The hawks will eat more deer mice.

• The hawks will feed on wheat plants.

• The hawks will use sunlight to produce energy.

Breakfast cereals are usually packaged in one of two ways. Which statement best compares these two types of packaging?

• Type X produces less waste than type Y.

• Type X costs more to produce than type Y.

• Type X helps keep cereal fresh longer than type Y.

• type X protects cereal better during shipping than type Y.

When is the next time that the shadow will look most similar to the shadow at 7:00 A.M.?

• 5:00 A.M. the next morning

• 7:00 A.M. the next morning

• 5:00 P.M. the next evening

• 7:00 P.M. the next evening

Bird watchers at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Pennsylvania Recorded the number of hawks observed during four days in August. Which conclusion can best be made from the data?

• The greatest number of hawks was observed on day 4.

• Broad-winged hawks fly faster than other types of hawks.

• More red-tailed hawks were observed than sharp-shinned hawks

• Migrating hawks prefer Hawk Mountain Sanctuary over other bird sanctuaries.

Which part of the pond ecosystem is correctly described in the chart?

• water

• algae

• snail

• fish

A student builds a model to show some of the steps in the water cycle. Which steps in the water cycle is the student most likely modeling?

• precipitation and runoff

• runoff and condensation

• evaporation and precipitation

• condensation and evaporation

About how much will the diameter of the tree's trunk most likely increase between year 200 and year 230?

• 1 cm

• 10 cm

• 25 cm

• 50 cm

Which physical characteristic can be passed on to offspring?

• long beard

• strong arm

• pierced ear

• brown hair

Erie National Wildlife Refuge has many creeks, ponds, and marshes. It attracts over 200 types of birds. Which birds depend most on the water in the refuge?

• birds that eat fish

• birds that hibernate

• birds that eat snakes

• birds that build nests