4th Grade Science Assessment

Students observed ice cubes in a bowl. The ice slowly melted away and only water was left. Then after a few days, the water also was gone. This was a model of —

• the water cycle

• the weather

• the seasons

• the clouds

Which step of the water cycle is MORE LIKELY to happen during the night than during the day near the Earth's surface?

• Water droplets in the air form a rainbow.

• Water falls as rain and soaks in to the soft topsoil.

• Water in a pond forms water vapor that remains near the surface as fog.

• Water vapor in the air forms water drops in a cloud.

The energy which drives the water cycle comes from —

• the ocean

• the Sun

• the wind

• the Earth

The water cycle represents the movement of water throughout the atmosphere. Which of the following parts of the water cycle is a result of the absorption of heat energy from the sun?

• formation of clouds through condensation

• evaporation of ocean water

• precipitation of water as snow

• runoff of water to the ocean

The model below is a representation of the water cycle. In the model, the ice cubes cool down the water vapor in the tank and the water vapor turns back into a liquid. What part of the water cycle does this represent?

• Evaporation

• Condensation

• Precipitation

• Runoff

What is erosion?

• movement of soil and sediment from one place to another

• rocks moving over one another and grinding each down to smaller rocks

• heat from inside the Earth melting rock

• breaking down of rock by wind, water, or ice

A variety of events and processes act on the Earth’s surface and cause change. Some of these changes happen in seconds and others take years. Which of the following takes the longest time to change the Earth’s surface?

• volcanic activity

• weathering

• rock slide

• earthquake

The above picture shows a beach as it was 50 years ago and how it looks today. Which process MOST LIKELY caused the changes?

• Floods caused by rainfall carried sand over the rocks.

• Ocean waves are depositing sand onto the beach.

• Warm ocean water melted the rocks on the beach.

• Weathering from the ocean waves is breaking the rocks into smaller pieces.

A student places rocks, sand, water and vinegar in a bucket. The student seals the bucket. The student shakes the bucket once a day for two weeks. When the student opens the bucket, the rocks seem smoother. What did the student model in this experiment?

• weathering

• the water cycle

• an earthquake

• states of matter

Deposition occurs when:

• the temperature increases and causes melting.

• the material is weathered, transported and then left in a new location through the action of ice, wind, water, or mechanical means.

• the pressure increases and causes a liquid to turn into a gas.

• the pressure decreases and causes a solid to turn into a liquid.