PSSA Grade 5 Science Quiz

Leafcutter ants live underground in groups. Which statement explains one way that leafcutter ants can survive?

• The larger ants can compete with the smaller ants for food.

• The worker ants have the most important job in providing food.

• The smallest ants use leaves for food when the fungus becomes moldy.

• The ants each have a different job to do to provide food for the whole colony.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Which claim about recycling in St. Maarten is best supported by this information?

• People in rural areas should not have to recycle, because their trash is not collected for them.

• Recycling is more important in urban (city) areas than in rural areas because more people live there.

• The amount of recycling is high enough so that people do not need to bring their trash to a drop-off area.

• Most people in St. Maarten have access to recycling, even if the material can be brought to a drop-off area.

Which question about magnets could best be answered by this investigation?

• In which position are the magnets most useful?

• At which distances do the magnets generate electricity?

• How do the positions of the magnets affect the motion of the magnets?

• How does the distance between the magnets affect the strength of the magnetic force?

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-3

A student rolled a bowling ball toward a bowling pin at three different speeds during an investigation. The ball hit the pin each time the ball was rolled. The student measured the distance the pin traveled after being hit. Which statement explains the relationship between the speed of the ball and the distance the pin traveled?

• The pin traveled farthest when the ball had the most mass.

• The pin traveled farthest when the ball had the most energy.

• The pin traveled farthest when the ball traveled the least distance.

• The pin traveled farthest when the ball traveled the greatest distance.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

NGSS.MS-PS3-1

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

The graph shows the average temperature for each of nine months in Towanda, Pennsylvania. It is missing data for the spring months. The table shows the average monthly temperature for each of the missing months. Based on the table, which statement best describes the bars that should be added to complete the graph?

• The bar for each month should be the same height as the bar for June.

• The bar for each month should be taller than the bar for the month before.

• The bar for each month should be the same height as the bar for February.

• The bar for each month should be shorter than the bar for the month before.

The table shows the height of a river on different dates in March, April, and May. Floods happen when the river is higher than 11 meters. People in the surrounding area want to build a wall to help prevent flood damage. Which claim about building a wall is best supported by data in the table?

• A wall is not needed, because this river rarely floods.

• A wall is not needed, because a flood is a natural event.

• A wall that is 1 meter tall will help prevent flood damage.

• A wall that is 4 meters tall will help prevent flood damage.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ETS1-2

NGSS.MS-ESS3-2

NGSS.MS-ETS1-1

The graph shows the amount of carbon dioxide given off into the air while electricity is being produced. How could the amount of carbon dioxide released into the air be reduced?

• by increasing the amount of electricity produced by burning coal

• by decreasing the amount of electricity produced by hydropower

• by producing more electricity from biomass than from solar farms

• by producing more electricity from rooftop solar panels than from natural gas

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS3-2

NGSS.HS-ESS3-4

A student wants to race toy paddleboats. The student designed two paddleboats and tested them in a tub of water. Then the student changed the designs and repeated the test. The table shows the test results. Which statement best evaluates the paddleboat designs?

• Design 1A floated in the water better than design 1B.

• Design 1A used stronger materials than design 2B.

• Design 2B was an improvement over design 2A.

• Design 2B was an improvement over design 1B.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ETS1-2

NGSS.MS-ETS1-3

The list shows some information about what happens to cell phones that are not recycled and become waste. The table describes four actions a person can take with old and new cell phones. Which actions would decrease cell phone waste the most?

• actions 1 and 4

• actions 1 and 3

• actions 2 and 3

• actions 2 and 4

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-3

A student compares information about natural rubber and a human-made material called silicone rubber. When would silicone rubber most likely be used instead of natural rubber to make a product?

• when the product needs to be used outside

• when the product needs to hold a heavy load

• when the product needs to break down outside

• when the product needs to be soft and bend easily

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-3