4th Grade Science PSSA Prep

Over the past hundred years, people have built new and better roads in Pennsylvania. What is one possible negative effect of this technology?

• Transportation has become less expensive.

• Traveling greater distances is more difficult.

• Wildlife habitats are separated into smaller areas.

• Mail delivery services take longer to reach people.

Which change occurred between January 1 and May 1?

• The amount of daylight increased.

• The average air temperature decreased.

• Earth rotated more quickly around its axis.

• Earth made one revolution around the Sun.

A student wants to measure the depth of each snowfall in January. Which tools are most helpful for gathering and recording the data?

• shovel and calculator

• beaker and stopwatch

• balance and computer

• meterstick and calendar

A student wants to compare how long a flashlight will continue to shine using different brands of

batteries. How can the student make sure that the test is fair?

• Test the same brand of batteries in two flashlights.

• Test each brand of batteries in the same flashlight.

• Test different sizes of batteries in the same flashlight.

• Test whether some flashlights can work with only one battery.

Name the variable that matches the definition:

1 thing/step that can change in your experiment

• Independent

• Dependent

• Controlled

Name the variable that matches the definition:

What you are measuring

• Independent

• Dependent

• Controlled

Name the variable that matches the definition:

The things/steps that stay the same

• Independent

• Dependent

• Controlled

A student observes the first day merganser ducks arrive at a lake each year during their migration. When will the merganser ducks most likely arrive at the lake in year 5?

• February 15 to 22

• around February 15

• mid-April to late April

• late February to mid-March

Give an example of a system is partly natural and partly human-made?

• a pen that writes in blue ink

• a tree that produces edible fruit

• a mountain that erodes over time

• a coral reef that grows on old train cars

A student described human-made systems and natural systems.

Which characteristic was most likely used to describe both systems?

• grows larger

• needs oxygen

• has multiple parts

• is powered by electricity