2016 STAAR Grade 5 Science

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1

Two wires carrying electricity can create a spark if they come too close together. This spark can start a fire. Wires carrying electricity are usually covered with plastic to keep them from starting a fire. Why does the plastic keep the electricity from starting a fire?

SCI.5.5a

1

A student draws a model showing the movements of Earth, the moon, and the sun.

Which arrow shows the movement that causes day and night on Earth?

SCI.5.8c

1

Lasers produce a beam of light that can be focused on a small area. A teacher uses two mirrors to shine a beam of light from a laser onto a box. Which diagram shows how the teacher should position the two mirrors?

SCI.5.6c

1

A partial food web of a pond ecosystem is shown below.

Which type of organism is missing from this food web?

SCI.5.9b

1

Which list best describes a landslide?

SCI 3.7B

1

For a science assignment a student was asked to observe some organisms and then make a table to classify the organisms’ traits as inherited or learned. The student’s table is shown below.

How many of these observations describe learned behaviors and how many describe inherited traits?

SCI.5.10b

1

All the lightbulbs in this circuit are lit.

Which change would cause all the bulbs to go out?

SCI.5.6b

1

Erosion is one of the processes involved in the formation of sedimentary rock. Which of these best describes the process of erosion?

SCI.5.7a

1

A student conducts an investigation using caramel candy, paper plates, and a stopwatch. The student places a piece of the caramel candy on each of three plates. The student puts the plates in different locations around the school. The student will record the time it takes for each piece of caramel candy to change state and other observations in the table below.

Which question is the student most likely trying to answer with this investigation?

SCI 3.5C

1

A student observing birds in a park records some ways that birds interact with living and nonliving parts of their environment. All the following observations are ways that a bird interacts with nonliving parts of its environment except —

SCI.5.9a

1

A student made a list of activities that involve energy.

Which activities on the list are examples of the use of mechanical energy?

SCI.5.6a

1

A student combined powdered paint with water to make a small amount of a blue liquid paint mixture. The student left the paint mixture in an open container. Several days later the student found the container and observed that changes had occurred. What most likely happened to the mixture?

SCI.5.5d

1

The shells of sea turtles are flatter than the shells of land turtles.

Sea turtles are also different from land turtles because sea turtles cannot pull their head or limbs into their shell to protect themselves from predators. Instead, the head, shell shape, and flippers of sea turtles help them escape from predators mainly by allowing them to —

SCI.5.10a

1

Citizens in a community were surveyed about the type of energy resource they would like for a new power plant. The results of the survey are shown in the table.

How many citizens chose alternative energy resources? Record your answer and fill in the bubbles on your answer document. Be sure to use the correct place value.

SCI.5.7c

1

Two students are playing on a swing set. Student 1 is leaning back and extending her legs as she moves upward. Student 2 is sitting on the swing with his feet on the ground.

Which statement describes how position and work are related in this picture?

SCI 3.6B

1

Tropical climates have warm temperatures and abundant sunlight all year. What must be available for plants in these climates to make their own food throughout the year?

SCI.5.9a

1

Students constructed this model of a hill by covering sugar cubes with clay. The students placed the model in a large pan and poured hot water over it every day for a week.

What does the model best represent?

SCI.5.7b

1

A student puts four objects in a bucket filled with water. The objects are listed below.

Which two objects are most likely less dense than the water?

SCI.5.5a

1

Some students are investigating the life cycle of the spotted salamander. They learn that these salamanders must live close to water and lay their eggs in water. After 20–60 days the eggs hatch as larvae that must stay in the water until they mature into adult salamanders. The students infer that the life cycle of the spotted salamander is similar to the life cycle of the frog because both animals —

SCI 3.10C

1

Which of these is a renewable resource?

SCI.4.7c

1

In parts of the East Texas Piney Woods ecosystem, there are forests with many tall pine trees. These thick forests have few other types of tall trees besides pine trees. The other plants growing in the ecosystem are usually small shrubs, grasses, and other short trees. A student wants to know what type of birds live in the Piney Woods region. The student reads the table shown below about four different birds.

Based on the table, which bird is most likely to live in Texas’s Piney Woods region?

SCI 3.9A

1

An old-fashioned metal toy is shown below. When the candle is lit, the carousel of horses begins to turn.

Which of these correctly describes the energy that makes the carousel turn?

SCI.5.6a

1

Many types of grazing animals live in Africa. The pictures show two of these animals that have about the same mass and height at the shoulder.

Based on observations of the pictures of these animals, which statement describes an advantage that only one of these animals has in obtaining food?

SCI.5.10a

1

A student was asked to compare the masses of four blocks that were all the same size but made of different materials. The student used a balance to compare the masses of two blocks at a time. The student repeated this process three more times with different pairs of blocks and recorded observations.

Which list shows the blocks in order from least to greatest mass?

SCI.5.5a

1

Students constructed a circuit using different-colored lightbulbs.

What will happen if Switch 3 is closed and the other switches are left open?

SCI.5.6b

The pictures show a sidewalk at three different times on the same day. The changes  were caused by the weather.

1

SCI.4.8b

1

A farmer is reading a nature guide to learn how to make changes to a pond so that it will attract and support wildlife. The guide gives the suggestions listed below.

Which suggestion involves interactions between two groups of living organisms?

SCI.5.9a

1

Asteroids are large bodies of rock that are too small to be planets. An asteroid belt has many asteroids. The diagram shows the asteroid belt located between Mars and the first outer planet.

Which outer planet is closest to this asteroid belt?

SCI 3.8D

1

The table lists some properties of four different samples of matter.

Which two samples could be glass and saltwater?

SCI.5.5a

1

Some traits of living organisms are inherited, while some behaviors must be learned. Which statement related to inherited traits or learned behaviors is not correct?

SCI.5.10b

1

Most alternative energy resources produce more energy at certain times. Which combination can produce a steady flow of energy from only alternative resources 24 hours a day year-round?

SCI.5.7c

1

The diagrams below represent the life cycles of four different insects. Which of these insects goes through a complete metamorphosis?

SCI.5.10c

1

A teacher takes the top and a side off a box. She cuts a hole in another side and puts a candle outside the box, as shown below.

When the teacher lights the candle in a dark room, some of the candlelight shines through the hole. Which diagram best shows how the light appears on the opposite wall of the box?

SCI.5.6c

1

What would most likely happen to the carbon dioxide–oxygen cycle if Earth’s large forests were all cut down?

SCI.5.9d

1

This circuit has three lightbulbs and a bell.

Which procedure will result in only the blue lightbulbs operating?

SCI.5.6b

1

A teacher asks six students to design and build solar ovens that could be used to boil water. After the ovens are complete, the students record the maximum temperatures that can be reached inside their ovens in 1 hour.

Which list identifies all the ovens that must be redesigned in order to reach temperatures that will boil water in 1 hour?

SCI.5.5b

1

A partial forest food web is shown.

In this food web, energy is transferred directly between —

SCI.5.9b

1

This photograph shows a beach on a partly sunny day.

Which of the following is an interaction between the sun and the ocean that results in clouds forming near the beach?

SCI.5.8b

1

Students drop the same heavy ball onto identical blocks of soft clay from different heights. For each height they measure the depth of the dent the ball makes in the clay.

Why is the depth of the dent different in each trial?

SCI.5.6d

1

Which of these is not soluble in water?

SCI.5.5a

1

Data for four animal populations in a wooded area were collected before and after a shopping mall was constructed near the area. The graph shows changes in the populations.

Which animal’s food sources most likely increased after the mall opened?

SCI.5.9c

1

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. The scientists concluded that the area was drier this summer than in previous years. They plan to continue recording these measurements each summer for the next decade. What characteristic of the area are the scientists studying?

SCI.5.8a

1

A student uses a set of headphones to listen to music. Which of these objects uses the same source of energy as the headphones?

SCI.5.6a

1

This photograph shows plants growing on the surface of a pond.

How do plants like these form fossil fuels?

SCI.5.7a

2016 STAAR Grade 5 Science

Two wires carrying electricity can create a spark if they come too close together. This spark can start a fire. Wires carrying electricity are usually covered with plastic to keep them from starting a fire. Why does the plastic keep the electricity from starting a fire?

A student draws a model showing the movements of Earth, the moon, and the sun.Which arrow shows the movement that causes day and night on Earth?

Lasers produce a beam of light that can be focused on a small area. A teacher uses two mirrors to shine a beam of light from a laser onto a box. Which diagram shows how the teacher should position the two mirrors?

A partial food web of a pond ecosystem is shown below.Which type of organism is missing from this food web?

Which list best describes a landslide?

For a science assignment a student was asked to observe some organisms and then make a table to classify the organisms’ traits as inherited or learned. The student’s table is shown below.How many of these observations describe learned behaviors and how many describe inherited traits?

All the lightbulbs in this circuit are lit.Which change would cause all the bulbs to go out?

Erosion is one of the processes involved in the formation of sedimentary rock. Which of these best describes the process of erosion?

A student observing birds in a park records some ways that birds interact with living and nonliving parts of their environment. All the following observations are ways that a bird interacts with nonliving parts of its environment except —

A student made a list of activities that involve energy.Which activities on the list are examples of the use of mechanical energy?

A student combined powdered paint with water to make a small amount of a blue liquid paint mixture. The student left the paint mixture in an open container. Several days later the student found the container and observed that changes had occurred. What most likely happened to the mixture?

Two students are playing on a swing set. Student 1 is leaning back and extending her legs as she moves upward. Student 2 is sitting on the swing with his feet on the ground.Which statement describes how position and work are related in this picture?

Tropical climates have warm temperatures and abundant sunlight all year. What must be available for plants in these climates to make their own food throughout the year?

Students constructed this model of a hill by covering sugar cubes with clay. The students placed the model in a large pan and poured hot water over it every day for a week.What does the model best represent?

A student puts four objects in a bucket filled with water. The objects are listed below.Which two objects are most likely less dense than the water?

Which of these is a renewable resource?

An old-fashioned metal toy is shown below. When the candle is lit, the carousel of horses begins to turn.Which of these correctly describes the energy that makes the carousel turn?

Many types of grazing animals live in Africa. The pictures show two of these animals that have about the same mass and height at the shoulder.Based on observations of the pictures of these animals, which statement describes an advantage that only one of these animals has in obtaining food?

Students constructed a circuit using different-colored lightbulbs.What will happen if Switch 3 is closed and the other switches are left open?

A farmer is reading a nature guide to learn how to make changes to a pond so that it will attract and support wildlife. The guide gives the suggestions listed below.Which suggestion involves interactions between two groups of living organisms?

Asteroids are large bodies of rock that are too small to be planets. An asteroid belt has many asteroids. The diagram shows the asteroid belt located between Mars and the first outer planet.Which outer planet is closest to this asteroid belt?

The table lists some properties of four different samples of matter.Which two samples could be glass and saltwater?

Some traits of living organisms are inherited, while some behaviors must be learned. Which statement related to inherited traits or learned behaviors is not correct?

Most alternative energy resources produce more energy at certain times. Which combination can produce a steady flow of energy from only alternative resources 24 hours a day year-round?

The diagrams below represent the life cycles of four different insects. Which of these insects goes through a complete metamorphosis?

What would most likely happen to the carbon dioxide–oxygen cycle if Earth’s large forests were all cut down?

This circuit has three lightbulbs and a bell.Which procedure will result in only the blue lightbulbs operating?

A partial forest food web is shown.In this food web, energy is transferred directly between —

This photograph shows a beach on a partly sunny day.Which of the following is an interaction between the sun and the ocean that results in clouds forming near the beach?

Students drop the same heavy ball onto identical blocks of soft clay from different heights. For each height they measure the depth of the dent the ball makes in the clay.Why is the depth of the dent different in each trial?

Which of these is not soluble in water?

Data for four animal populations in a wooded area were collected before and after a shopping mall was constructed near the area. The graph shows changes in the populations.Which animal’s food sources most likely increased after the mall opened?

A student uses a set of headphones to listen to music. Which of these objects uses the same source of energy as the headphones?

This photograph shows plants growing on the surface of a pond.How do plants like these form fossil fuels?

Two wires carrying electricity can create a spark if they come too close together. This spark can start a fire. Wires carrying electricity are usually covered with plastic to keep them from starting a fire. Why does the plastic keep the electricity from starting a fire?

A student draws a model showing the movements of Earth, the moon, and the sun.Which arrow shows the movement that causes day and night on Earth?

Lasers produce a beam of light that can be focused on a small area. A teacher uses two mirrors to shine a beam of light from a laser onto a box. Which diagram shows how the teacher should position the two mirrors?

A partial food web of a pond ecosystem is shown below.Which type of organism is missing from this food web?

Which list best describes a landslide?

For a science assignment a student was asked to observe some organisms and then make a table to classify the organisms’ traits as inherited or learned. The student’s table is shown below.How many of these observations describe learned behaviors and how many describe inherited traits?

All the lightbulbs in this circuit are lit.Which change would cause all the bulbs to go out?

Erosion is one of the processes involved in the formation of sedimentary rock. Which of these best describes the process of erosion?

A student observing birds in a park records some ways that birds interact with living and nonliving parts of their environment. All the following observations are ways that a bird interacts with nonliving parts of its environment except —

A student made a list of activities that involve energy.Which activities on the list are examples of the use of mechanical energy?

A student combined powdered paint with water to make a small amount of a blue liquid paint mixture. The student left the paint mixture in an open container. Several days later the student found the container and observed that changes had occurred. What most likely happened to the mixture?

Two students are playing on a swing set. Student 1 is leaning back and extending her legs as she moves upward. Student 2 is sitting on the swing with his feet on the ground.Which statement describes how position and work are related in this picture?

Tropical climates have warm temperatures and abundant sunlight all year. What must be available for plants in these climates to make their own food throughout the year?

Students constructed this model of a hill by covering sugar cubes with clay. The students placed the model in a large pan and poured hot water over it every day for a week.What does the model best represent?

A student puts four objects in a bucket filled with water. The objects are listed below.Which two objects are most likely less dense than the water?

Which of these is a renewable resource?

An old-fashioned metal toy is shown below. When the candle is lit, the carousel of horses begins to turn.Which of these correctly describes the energy that makes the carousel turn?

Many types of grazing animals live in Africa. The pictures show two of these animals that have about the same mass and height at the shoulder.Based on observations of the pictures of these animals, which statement describes an advantage that only one of these animals has in obtaining food?

Students constructed a circuit using different-colored lightbulbs.What will happen if Switch 3 is closed and the other switches are left open?

Which table best describes the changes that most likely occurred between 6:00 A.M. and noon?

A farmer is reading a nature guide to learn how to make changes to a pond so that it will attract and support wildlife. The guide gives the suggestions listed below.Which suggestion involves interactions between two groups of living organisms?

Asteroids are large bodies of rock that are too small to be planets. An asteroid belt has many asteroids. The diagram shows the asteroid belt located between Mars and the first outer planet.Which outer planet is closest to this asteroid belt?

The table lists some properties of four different samples of matter.Which two samples could be glass and saltwater?

Some traits of living organisms are inherited, while some behaviors must be learned. Which statement related to inherited traits or learned behaviors is not correct?

Most alternative energy resources produce more energy at certain times. Which combination can produce a steady flow of energy from only alternative resources 24 hours a day year-round?

The diagrams below represent the life cycles of four different insects. Which of these insects goes through a complete metamorphosis?

What would most likely happen to the carbon dioxide–oxygen cycle if Earth’s large forests were all cut down?

This circuit has three lightbulbs and a bell.Which procedure will result in only the blue lightbulbs operating?

A partial forest food web is shown.In this food web, energy is transferred directly between —

This photograph shows a beach on a partly sunny day.Which of the following is an interaction between the sun and the ocean that results in clouds forming near the beach?

Students drop the same heavy ball onto identical blocks of soft clay from different heights. For each height they measure the depth of the dent the ball makes in the clay.Why is the depth of the dent different in each trial?

Which of these is not soluble in water?

Data for four animal populations in a wooded area were collected before and after a shopping mall was constructed near the area. The graph shows changes in the populations.Which animal’s food sources most likely increased after the mall opened?

A student uses a set of headphones to listen to music. Which of these objects uses the same source of energy as the headphones?

This photograph shows plants growing on the surface of a pond.How do plants like these form fossil fuels?

A student draws a model showing the movements of Earth, the moon, and the sun.

Which arrow shows the movement that causes day and night on Earth?

A partial food web of a pond ecosystem is shown below.

Which type of organism is missing from this food web?

For a science assignment a student was asked to observe some organisms and then make a table to classify the organisms’ traits as inherited or learned. The student’s table is shown below.

How many of these observations describe learned behaviors and how many describe inherited traits?

All the lightbulbs in this circuit are lit.

Which change would cause all the bulbs to go out?

A student made a list of activities that involve energy.

Which activities on the list are examples of the use of mechanical energy?

Two students are playing on a swing set. Student 1 is leaning back and extending her legs as she moves upward. Student 2 is sitting on the swing with his feet on the ground.

Which statement describes how position and work are related in this picture?

Students constructed this model of a hill by covering sugar cubes with clay. The students placed the model in a large pan and poured hot water over it every day for a week.

What does the model best represent?

A student puts four objects in a bucket filled with water. The objects are listed below.

Which two objects are most likely less dense than the water?

An old-fashioned metal toy is shown below. When the candle is lit, the carousel of horses begins to turn.

Which of these correctly describes the energy that makes the carousel turn?

Many types of grazing animals live in Africa. The pictures show two of these animals that have about the same mass and height at the shoulder.

Based on observations of the pictures of these animals, which statement describes an advantage that only one of these animals has in obtaining food?

Students constructed a circuit using different-colored lightbulbs.

What will happen if Switch 3 is closed and the other switches are left open?

A farmer is reading a nature guide to learn how to make changes to a pond so that it will attract and support wildlife. The guide gives the suggestions listed below.

Which suggestion involves interactions between two groups of living organisms?

Asteroids are large bodies of rock that are too small to be planets. An asteroid belt has many asteroids. The diagram shows the asteroid belt located between Mars and the first outer planet.

Which outer planet is closest to this asteroid belt?

The table lists some properties of four different samples of matter.

Which two samples could be glass and saltwater?

This circuit has three lightbulbs and a bell.

Which procedure will result in only the blue lightbulbs operating?

A partial forest food web is shown.

In this food web, energy is transferred directly between —

This photograph shows a beach on a partly sunny day.

Which of the following is an interaction between the sun and the ocean that results in clouds forming near the beach?

Students drop the same heavy ball onto identical blocks of soft clay from different heights. For each height they measure the depth of the dent the ball makes in the clay.

Why is the depth of the dent different in each trial?

Data for four animal populations in a wooded area were collected before and after a shopping mall was constructed near the area. The graph shows changes in the populations.

Which animal’s food sources most likely increased after the mall opened?

This photograph shows plants growing on the surface of a pond.

How do plants like these form fossil fuels?

A student draws a model showing the movements of Earth, the moon, and the sun.

Which arrow shows the movement that causes day and night on Earth?

A partial food web of a pond ecosystem is shown below.

Which type of organism is missing from this food web?

For a science assignment a student was asked to observe some organisms and then make a table to classify the organisms’ traits as inherited or learned. The student’s table is shown below.

How many of these observations describe learned behaviors and how many describe inherited traits?

All the lightbulbs in this circuit are lit.

Which change would cause all the bulbs to go out?

A student made a list of activities that involve energy.

Which activities on the list are examples of the use of mechanical energy?

Two students are playing on a swing set. Student 1 is leaning back and extending her legs as she moves upward. Student 2 is sitting on the swing with his feet on the ground.

Which statement describes how position and work are related in this picture?

Students constructed this model of a hill by covering sugar cubes with clay. The students placed the model in a large pan and poured hot water over it every day for a week.

What does the model best represent?

A student puts four objects in a bucket filled with water. The objects are listed below.

Which two objects are most likely less dense than the water?

An old-fashioned metal toy is shown below. When the candle is lit, the carousel of horses begins to turn.

Which of these correctly describes the energy that makes the carousel turn?

Many types of grazing animals live in Africa. The pictures show two of these animals that have about the same mass and height at the shoulder.

Based on observations of the pictures of these animals, which statement describes an advantage that only one of these animals has in obtaining food?

Students constructed a circuit using different-colored lightbulbs.

What will happen if Switch 3 is closed and the other switches are left open?

A farmer is reading a nature guide to learn how to make changes to a pond so that it will attract and support wildlife. The guide gives the suggestions listed below.

Which suggestion involves interactions between two groups of living organisms?

Asteroids are large bodies of rock that are too small to be planets. An asteroid belt has many asteroids. The diagram shows the asteroid belt located between Mars and the first outer planet.

Which outer planet is closest to this asteroid belt?

The table lists some properties of four different samples of matter.

Which two samples could be glass and saltwater?

This circuit has three lightbulbs and a bell.

Which procedure will result in only the blue lightbulbs operating?

A partial forest food web is shown.

In this food web, energy is transferred directly between —

This photograph shows a beach on a partly sunny day.

Which of the following is an interaction between the sun and the ocean that results in clouds forming near the beach?

Students drop the same heavy ball onto identical blocks of soft clay from different heights. For each height they measure the depth of the dent the ball makes in the clay.

Why is the depth of the dent different in each trial?

Data for four animal populations in a wooded area were collected before and after a shopping mall was constructed near the area. The graph shows changes in the populations.

Which animal’s food sources most likely increased after the mall opened?

This photograph shows plants growing on the surface of a pond.

How do plants like these form fossil fuels?