5th Science STAAR Review: Reporting Category 3 (Earth and Space)

• The dead plants sink to the bottom of the pond and get
  buried by sediment for millions of years.
• The dead plants get buried for millions of years and form fossils that attract carbon.
• The dead plants sink to the bottom of the pond and are consumed by decomposers.
• The dead plants produce carbon that is consumed by fish, which form fossils.

• Sedimentary rock is made of layers.
• Sedimentary rock is cemented bits of rock.
• Sedimentary rock is often limestone.
• Sedimentary rock is common in Texas.

The diagram shows layers of sedimentary rock and examples of the fossils each layer contains, Which layer contains the oldest fossils? 

• A. Layer 2
• B. Layer 4
• C. Layer 1
• D. Layer 3

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Where are most fossils found?

• A. In sand dunes
• B. In volcanoes
• C. In igneous rocks 
• D. In sedimentary rocks 

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

The surface of the land displays a mountain range and rivers. What might a scientist conclude about about the environment, based on the fossils in the sedimentary layers? 

• A. The land was once a rainforest. 
• The area was once covered by a desert. 
• C. The area was once a grassy plain. 
• D. The area was once near or covered by an ocean. 

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Dew also forms directly onto items, as water droplets.  What part of the water cycle is this?

• run-off 
• condensation
• evaporation
• precipitation

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

What is it called when plants give off water vapor as a waste product?

• condensation
• evaporation
• sublimation
• transpiration

During which stage do clouds form?

• condensation
• evaporation
• precipitation

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Some scientists measured and recorded local rainfall amounts and water levels at several local lakes over the summer. They compared their measurements with data from the past 30 years. What characteristic of the area are the scientists studying?

• Climate, because they are making more than one type of measurement

• Climate, because they are comparing rainfall amounts over a long period of time

• Weather, because they are tracking changes only to their local environment

• Weather, because they expect rainfall amounts and water levels to continue to decrease

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Each school year for 30 years, the amount of rain that fell at a school was measured and recorded. Tracking rainfall over a long period provides the most information about which characteristic of an area?

• Climate

• Temperature of one day

• Weather

• Type of soil

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4