PSSA SCIENCE 4th GRADE

Which physical characteristic can be passed on to offspring?

• long beard

• strong arm

• pierced ear

• brown hair

Use the drawing above to answer the question.

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

Use the table above to answer the question.

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

Use the graph to answer the question.

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

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

Use the diagram above to answer the question.

Which change is necessary for this circuit to work?

• add a source of power

• add a second light bulb

• move the switch farther away from the light bulb

• replace the copper wire with a different type of metal wire

Use the drawing above to answer the question below.

Some bicycles have brake pads that squeeze the sides of the wheels. Which statement best describes how the motion of a bicycle changes when the brakes are used?

• The bicycle speeds up due to the friction between the brake pad and the wheel

• The bicycle slows down due to the friction between the brake pad and the wheel

• The bicycle speeds up due to the magnetism between the brake pad and the wheel

• The bicycle slows down due to the magnetism between the brake pad and the wheel

Use the drawing and chart above to answer the question.

Which student correctly labeled the environmental features?

• student 1

• student 2

• student 3

• student 4

Which statement best describes a pond?

• It is made of salt water that is frozen

• It is made of salt water that is flowing

• It is made of fresh water that does not flow

• It is made of fresh water that does not freeze

In the late spring, a student notices very tall, puffy clouds forming quickly in the sky. The clouds seem to be getting taller and are turning dark grey. Which weather forecast can best be made from these observations?

• Cirrus clouds are forming and fair weather is expected

• Cumulus clouds are forming and dry, cold weather is expected

• Cumulonimbus clouds are forming and a thunderstorm is likely

• Stratus clouds are forming and a late-season snowstorm is likely