Grade 5 Science Practice Test

States of Matter and Phase Changes

Matter exists in three common states: solid, liquid, and gas. In a solid, particles are tightly packed and vibrate in place, giving the solid a fixed shape and volume. In a liquid, particles are close together but can move past one another, allowing liquids to flow and take the shape of their container while keeping a fixed volume. In a gas, particles move rapidly and spread far apart, filling whatever container they occupy. Matter can change from one state to another when energy is added or removed. Melting occurs when a solid gains heat and becomes a liquid. Evaporation occurs when a liquid gains heat and becomes a gas. Condensation occurs when a gas loses heat and becomes a liquid. Freezing occurs when a liquid loses heat and becomes a solid.

1. What distinguishes a liquid from a gas?

A) A liquid has a fixed shape; a gas does not. B) A liquid has a fixed volume; a gas expands to fill its container. C) A liquid cannot be compressed; a gas can be. D) A liquid always contains water; a gas does not.

2. What process occurs when a gas loses heat energy and becomes a liquid?

A) Evaporation B) Melting C) Freezing D) Condensation

3. Why do particles in a gas spread far apart?

A) Gas particles have less mass than liquid particles. B) Gas particles move rapidly and do not stay close to one another. C) Gas particles are repelled by gravity. D) Gas particles are too large to pack closely together.

4. When ice absorbs heat from the air on a warm day, what phase change occurs?

A) Condensation B) Evaporation C) Melting D) Freezing

Question 5. 1-credit Explain what happens to the particles of a substance when it changes from a liquid to a gas.

Ecosystems and Populations

An ecosystem includes all the living organisms in an area and the nonliving factors they interact with — soil, water, air, sunlight, and temperature. A population is a group of individuals of the same species living in the same area. Populations grow when birth rates exceed death rates and when more individuals move into the area than leave. Populations are limited by resources — food, water, shelter, and space. These limits are called limiting factors. When a population grows beyond what its environment can support, competition for resources increases, causing death rates to rise and birth rates to fall until the population stabilizes. The maximum population size a habitat can support indefinitely is called its carrying capacity.

6. What is a population in an ecosystem?

A) All the different species living in one area B) All the nonliving factors in an environment C) A group of individuals of the same species living in the same area D) The total number of organisms in the entire world

7. What is carrying capacity?

A) The amount of food available to top predators in an ecosystem B) The maximum number of individuals a habitat can support indefinitely C) The number of species needed to maintain a stable ecosystem D) The rate at which a population reproduces each year

8. What happens when a population grows beyond the carrying capacity of its habitat?

A) The habitat automatically expands to support more individuals. B) Competition increases, causing death rates to rise and birth rates to fall. C) All members of the population migrate to a new habitat. D) Predators from outside the area move in to reduce the population.

9. Which of the following is an example of a limiting factor for a rabbit population?

A) The number of different rabbit species in an area B) The age of individual rabbits in the population C) The availability of grass and other food sources D) The color of fur in different rabbit breeds

Question 10. 1-credit Explain how a limiting factor can affect the size of a population.

Renewable and Nonrenewable Energy

Energy sources can be classified as renewable or nonrenewable. Nonrenewable resources, such as coal, oil, and natural gas (fossil fuels), formed over millions of years from the remains of ancient organisms. They are burned to release energy, but once used, they cannot be replaced within a human lifetime. Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide and other gases that contribute to climate change. Renewable energy sources are replaced naturally in a short time. Solar energy captures sunlight using photovoltaic panels. Wind energy uses turbines to convert wind into electricity. Hydroelectric power generates energy from flowing water. Geothermal energy uses heat from within Earth. Biomass energy comes from burning organic materials like wood or crops. While renewable sources produce little or no greenhouse gas emissions during operation, they also have limitations — solar panels need sunlight, wind turbines need wind, and both require land and materials to build.

11. What makes fossil fuels nonrenewable resources?

A) They are found only in certain parts of the world. B) They cannot be replaced within a human lifetime once they are used. C) They produce no useful energy when burned. D) They are too expensive for most countries to use.

12. Which of the following is a renewable energy source?

A) Coal B) Natural gas C) Oil D) Solar energy

13. Why is burning fossil fuels a concern for Earth's environment?

A) It releases carbon dioxide and other gases that contribute to climate change. B) It uses up all of Earth's available oxygen. C) It creates too much water vapor, causing flooding. D) It produces radiation that harms living organisms.

14. What is one limitation of renewable energy sources?

A) They always produce large amounts of greenhouse gases. B) They produce energy that cannot power homes or businesses. C) They require specific conditions — such as sunlight or wind — that are not always available. D) They cannot be built in developed countries.

Question 15. 1-credit Explain why scientists and engineers are developing more renewable energy sources.

Weathering, Erosion, and Deposition

Earth's surface is constantly being shaped by weathering, erosion, and deposition. Weathering is the breakdown of rock into smaller pieces. Physical weathering occurs when rock is broken by physical forces — freezing and thawing of water in cracks, the action of plant roots, or the grinding of rocks against each other. Chemical weathering occurs when rock is changed by chemical reactions, such as when acid rain reacts with limestone to dissolve it. Erosion is the movement of weathered rock and sediment by water, wind, or ice. Rivers carry sediment from mountains to the sea. Glaciers slowly scrape rock from valley walls as they flow. Wind carries fine particles great distances. Deposition occurs when eroded material is dropped in a new location, building up layers of sediment that eventually may become new rock.

16. What is the difference between weathering and erosion?

A) Weathering breaks rock down; erosion moves the broken pieces to a new location. B) Weathering moves rock; erosion breaks it down. C) Weathering is caused by wind; erosion is caused by water. D) Weathering builds rock up; erosion breaks it apart.

17. Which of the following is an example of chemical weathering?

A) Water freezing in a rock crack and splitting the rock B) Plant roots growing into cracks and breaking rock apart C) Acid rain dissolving limestone rock D) A river carrying sand and gravel downstream

18. What is deposition?

A) The breakdown of rock into smaller pieces B) The movement of sediment by wind or water C) The dropping of eroded material in a new location D) The chemical reaction that changes rock composition

19. How do glaciers cause erosion?

A) They dissolve rock using acidic meltwater. B) They scrape and grind rock from valley walls as they slowly flow. C) They cause frost to form on rocks, cracking them apart. D) They evaporate and carry rock particles into the atmosphere.

Question 20. 1-credit Describe how water can cause both weathering and erosion.

Earth's Layers and Plate Tectonics

Earth is composed of layers. The innermost layer, the inner core, is solid iron and nickel and extremely hot. Surrounding it is the outer core, which is liquid. Above that is the mantle, a layer of hot rock that can flow very slowly over millions of years. The outermost layer is the crust — the thin layer of solid rock on which we live. Earth's crust is broken into large sections called tectonic plates that move very slowly — just a few centimeters per year — driven by heat currents in the mantle. Where plates collide, mountains form or one plate dives under the other, causing earthquakes and volcanic activity. Where plates separate, new crust is created as magma fills the gap. Most of Earth's major mountain ranges, ocean trenches, and volcanic zones are found at plate boundaries.

21. What is the state of matter of Earth's inner core?

A) Liquid B) Gas C) Solid D) Plasma

22. What causes tectonic plates to move?

A) Gravity from the moon pulling on Earth's crust B) Heat currents in the mantle C) The rotation of Earth on its axis D) Tidal forces from ocean water

23. What happens where two tectonic plates collide?

A) New crust forms as magma fills the gap between the plates. B) Mountains form or one plate dives under the other, causing earthquakes and volcanoes. C) The plates merge into a single, larger plate. D) Erosion removes rock at exactly the same rate as mountains form.

24. Which of the following best describes the crust of Earth?

A) A thick layer of liquid rock surrounding the core B) The deepest layer of Earth, composed of iron and nickel C) The thin outermost layer of solid rock on which we live D) A layer of slowly flowing rock between the core and crust

Question 25. 1-credit Explain why most earthquakes and volcanoes occur at tectonic plate boundaries.

Plant Life Cycles and Pollination

Flowering plants reproduce through pollination and seed dispersal. Pollination occurs when pollen from the male part of a flower (the stamen) is transferred to the female part (the pistil) of the same or another flower. Pollinators — including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds — visit flowers to collect nectar and accidentally carry pollen from one flower to another. Wind can also carry pollen long distances. Once pollinated, flowers develop seeds inside a fruit or seed pod. Seeds are dispersed — carried to new locations — by wind, water, animals, or the force of the plant itself. When a seed lands in a suitable environment with enough water, warmth, and soil nutrients, it germinates and grows into a new plant. This cycle of growth, reproduction, and new growth is the plant life cycle.

26. What is pollination?

A) The process by which seeds germinate in soil B) The transfer of pollen from the stamen to the pistil of a flower C) The growth of a new plant from a seed D) The process of a plant converting sunlight into food

27. Why are pollinators such as bees important to flowering plants?

A) They provide water to plants through their body moisture. B) They eat harmful insects that would otherwise damage the plant. C) They carry pollen from flower to flower, enabling fertilization. D) They dig into soil and help plant roots grow deeper.

28. What must be present for a seed to germinate successfully?

A) High temperatures and no moisture B) Suitable conditions including water, warmth, and soil nutrients C) The presence of pollinators nearby D) Direct sunlight for at least 12 hours per day

29. Why is seed dispersal important for plant survival?

A) It prevents seeds from drying out before they germinate. B) It helps seeds avoid competing with the parent plant for resources by landing in new locations. C) It protects seeds from being eaten by animals. D) It ensures seeds only land in soil with the right nutrients.

Question 30. 1-credit Explain one way that seeds are dispersed and why this benefits the plant.

Animal Adaptations to Extreme Environments

Animals that live in extreme environments have developed remarkable adaptations. In the Arctic, polar bears have two layers of fur — an outer layer of hollow, translucent guard hairs and a dense undercoat — plus a layer of fat beneath the skin. These adaptations provide insulation and retain body heat in temperatures that can reach −40°F. Camels in desert environments can survive for weeks without water. They store fat in their humps (not water, as commonly believed), which can be converted to energy and water when food is scarce. Their wide, padded feet distribute their weight on sand. Deep-sea fish must survive in near-freezing, high-pressure darkness. Many produce their own light (bioluminescence) to attract prey or communicate. Their bodies are adapted to withstand pressures hundreds of times greater than at the surface.

31. How does a polar bear's fur help it survive in the Arctic?

A) It absorbs heat from sunlight and converts it to energy. B) It acts as camouflage in the snow to help the bear hunt. C) It provides insulation that retains the bear's body heat. D) It reflects light to warn predators away.

32. What does a camel actually store in its hump?

A) Water for use in dry periods B) Salt to balance its diet C) Fat that can be converted to energy and water D) Air to help regulate body temperature

33. How does bioluminescence help deep-sea fish survive?

A) It warms their bodies in the near-freezing deep ocean. B) It allows them to see sunlight from the surface. C) It helps them attract prey or communicate in total darkness. D) It provides camouflage against the dark ocean floor.

34. What do a camel's wide padded feet help it do?

A) Dig into sand to find underground water B) Distribute its weight across the sand surface C) Store heat from the desert sun D) Run faster than predators on desert terrain

Question 35. 1-credit Choose one animal from the passage and explain how one of its adaptations helps it survive in its extreme environment.

The Sun as a Source of Energy

The sun is the primary source of energy for almost all life on Earth. Plants capture sunlight through photosynthesis and store its energy in chemical form as sugars. This energy passes through the food web as animals eat plants and other animals. The sun also drives the water cycle by providing the heat that causes evaporation. Solar radiation heats Earth's atmosphere unevenly, creating temperature differences that drive wind. Wind and ocean currents redistribute heat around the planet, shaping weather and climate. Fossil fuels — coal, oil, and natural gas — are essentially stored solar energy from ancient organisms that captured sunlight millions of years ago. Even hydroelectric power indirectly relies on the sun, since the water cycle that fills reservoirs is powered by solar energy.

36. How do plants capture energy from the sun?

A) They absorb heat from the sun through their roots. B) They use sunlight in photosynthesis to produce sugars. C) They convert sunlight directly into electricity. D) They store sunlight in their seeds for later use.

37. How are fossil fuels connected to solar energy?

A) Fossil fuels are burned using concentrated sunlight. B) Fossil fuels are made from ancient organisms that captured solar energy through photosynthesis. C) Fossil fuels release sunlight that was reflected by Earth millions of years ago. D) Fossil fuels form only in regions that receive the most sunlight.

38. How does the sun contribute to the formation of wind?

A) The sun pushes air molecules away from it with solar wind. B) The sun causes air in the upper atmosphere to freeze, creating pressure differences. C) Uneven heating of the atmosphere by the sun creates temperature differences that drive wind. D) The sun pulls warm air upward, leaving behind cold wind near the ground.

39. Why is hydroelectric power described as indirectly relying on the sun?

A) Sunlight powers the turbines that generate electricity. B) The sun's heat drives the water cycle that fills the reservoirs used by hydroelectric plants. C) Hydroelectric plants use solar panels to supplement water power. D) The sun heats water in dams, increasing water pressure.

Question 40. 1-credit Explain how energy from the sun reaches a person who eats a hamburger.

Grade 5 Science Practice Test — Version B