4th Grade Animal Studies Assessment
Name: _______________________________Date:____________________
1. Lamar's strong legs can climb rocks, swim, and ride a bike. Which best
describes how our body helps us adapt to different activities?
A. Lamar wears a jacket while riding his bike.
B. Our body parts move in many different ways.
C. We have special shoes for the pool.
D. Sunshine warms our body so we can climb.
2. Many kinds of birds in the Northern Hemisphere fly south in the winter.
They return to the north in the spring.
Why do birds migrate like this?
A. to avoid predators
B. to build up strength
C. to find mates
D. to avoid a cold winter
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4th Grade Animal Studies Assessment
3. The picture below shows the relationship between organisms that live near
a river.
minnows eaten by salmon
salmon eaten by bears
Suppose the river that the fish live in becomes polluted and all of the fish
die. What will most likely happen to the bear population?
A. The number of bears will increase.
B. The number of bears will decrease.
C. The number of bears will stay the same.
D. The number of bears will increase at first, then decrease.
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4th Grade Animal Studies Assessment
4. The picture below shows the relationship between organisms that live in a
forest.
grass eaten by rabbits
rabbits eaten by foxes
Suppose all of the foxes in this forest are killed by hunters. What will most
likely happen to the rabbit population?
A. The number of rabbits will stay the same.
B. All of the rabbits will die.
C. The number of rabbits will decrease.
D. The number of rabbits will increase.
5. In order to be classified as "food," a substance must be a source of _____.
A. vitamins and nutrients
B. protein
C. calories
D. all of these
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4th Grade Animal Studies Assessment
6. In the picture below, one mouse has white fur and the other has brown
fur.
Which of the mice is most likely suited for climbing and living in a tree?
A. The white mouse
B. Neither mouse
C. The brown mouse
D. Both the brown mouse and the white mouse
7. The Sun provides energy. Plants use the energy to make food. How do
animals get energy?
A. Animals absorb the Sun's energy and make their own food.
B. Animals get energy by eating the plants.
C. Animals do not need energy.
D.
A person would likely spit out food that was spoiled and could make them sick because it
would not taste good.
8. Anna's baby brother eats very often. Since he was born, he has grown
several inches and gained a lot of weight. He has more skin, larger bones,
and more muscle now than when he was born. This is an example of _____.
A. food contributing to the growth of an organism.
B. food providing energy for an organism.
C. food being stored in an organism for future use.
D. food supporting the repair of an organism.
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4th Grade Animal Studies Assessment
9. Grizzly bears can eat both plants and animals.
One summer, a grizzly bear is unable to find enough plants to eat. How
would the bear be most likely to respond?
A. try to grow plants
B. stop eating animals
C. go to sleep until winter
D. eat more animals
10. Ground squirrels are small rodents that eat seeds, nuts, berries, and
insects.
During the winter, the food sources that ground squirrels depend on become
hard to find. Ground squirrels are able to respond to winter conditions
by______.
A. shivering
B. sweating
C. hibernating
D. exercising
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4th Grade Animal Studies Assessment
11. The sense of taste can bring people much pleasure. For example, many
people like birthday cake because they think it tastes delicious.
But the sense of taste can serve another purpose. Which of the following is a
true statement about another use for the sense of taste?
A. A person can tell how many important nutrients a food contains by the way it tastes.
B. If a food tastes bad, it usually means it should not be eaten because it is very healthy.
C.
A person would likely spit out food that was spoiled and could make them sick because it
would not taste good.
D.
If someone has lost the sense of hearing, the sense of taste can help them to hear sounds
again.
12. Look at the two hummingbirds pictured below. Hummingbirds feed on
liquid nectar from the insides of flowers. Which hummingbird has the best
features to help it survive?
A
A. Hummingbird B
B. Hummingbird A
C. Both hummingbird A and B
D. Neither hummingbird A nor B
B
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4th Grade Animal Studies Assessment
13. Most of the fish in a freshwater lake produce a certain number of eggs
each spring. However, one fish has the ability to carry and lay more fish
eggs. This is a ________ advantage that allows for ________.
A. reproductive; the fish to produce more offspring.
B. survival; the fish to love longer.
C. reproductive; the fish to swim faster.
D. survival; the fish to produce offspring more often.
14. The table below lists several vitamins and minerals that are found in
different foods.
Nutrient
Benefits
Food Sources
Vitamin A
maintains good vision and healthy
skin, hair, and nails
carrots, sweet potatoes,
apricots, milk, eggs, liver
Vitamin C
helps form collagen, keeps teeth
and gums healthy, and maintains
proper iron absorption
broccoli, green peppers,
pineapple, strawberries,
citrus fruits
Potassium
helps to keep muscles and the
heart functioning properly
bananas, raisins,
mushrooms, peas, beans,
peanuts
Calcium
maintains healthy bones and teeth,
helps blood clot
dairy products, broccoli,
tofu, salmon
How do bananas, raisins, and peanuts help the body?
A. They contain nutrients that help blood clot.
B. They contain nutrients that keep muscles and the heart functioning properly.
C. They contain nutrients that help maintain good vision and healthy skin.
D. They contain nutrients that keep bones healthy.
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4th Grade Animal Studies Assessment
15. In a certain habitat, there is a large number of rabbits which graze upon
grass. Rabbits are herbivores, which means they only eat plant material.
Later, a population of wolves is introduced into this habitat. Wolves are
carnivores, which means they only eat meat. How will the introduction of
wolves into this habitat affect the other organisms?
A. The change will be helpful to the rabbits and to the grass.
B. The change will be helpful to the rabbits but harmful to the grass.
C. The change will be harmful to the rabbits but helpful to the grass.
D. The change will be harmful to the rabbits and to the grass.
16. In 1980 Mount St. Helens, a volcano in Washington, erupted causing
hundreds of square miles around the volcano to be destroyed. Plants, trees,
and animals were destroyed. It took several years for animals to be able to
survive in the area again. Why couldn't the animals come back the next day?
A. It was too dirty for them to come back.
B. The plants used up all the good air.
C. The animals were scared.
D. The plants and trees were destroyed, so the animals had no food.
17. A severe drought has dried up a river and caused the land to crack.
The drought will most likely affect _____.
A. plants, but not animals.
B. animals, but not plants.
C. both plants and animals.
D. neither plants nor animals.
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4th Grade Animal Studies Assessment
18. The table below lists several vitamins and minerals that are found in
different foods.
Nutrient
Benefits
Food Sources
Vitamin A
maintains good vision and
healthy skin, hair, and nails
carrots, sweet potatoes,
apricots, milk, eggs, liver
Vitamin C
helps form collagen, keeps teeth
and gums healthy, and
maintains proper iron
absorption
broccoli, green peppers,
pineapple, strawberries, citrus
fruits
Potassium
helps to keep muscles and the
heart functioning properly
bananas, raisins,mushrooms,
peas, beans, peanuts
Calcium
maintains healthy bones and
teeth, helps blood clot
dairy products, broccoli, tofu,
salmon
How do citrus fruits, such as oranges, help the body?
A. Citrus fruits contain nutrients that help blood clot.
B. Citrus fruits contain nutrients that keep muscles functioning.
C. Citrus fruits contain nutrients that help people have good vision.
D. Citrus fruits contain nutrients that help to keep teeth and gums healthy.
19. A species of plant lives in a warm, wet climate. Plants of this species have
adaptations that help them survive in wet places. What will most likely
happen to plants of this species if the environment where the plants live
changes to become hot and dry?
A. Many plants of this species will die out.
B. Many plants of this species will grow faster.
C. Many plants of this species will grow larger.
D. The plants of this species will not be affected.
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4th Grade Animal Studies Assessment
20. A population of termites lives in the forest, and uses four different types
of trees for food and resources.
If all four of these types of trees are damaged by a large wildfire, how will
this likely affect the population of termites?
A. The population of termites will decrease in size.
B. The population of termites will remain the same.
C. The population of termites will slightly increase in size.
D. The population of termites will double in size.
21. Shakita lives in Raleigh, NC. She is moving to the town of Boone in the
NC mountains. It is the winter season. Which best tells how she might adapt
to her new habitat?
A. Shakita will drink less water.
B. Shakita will carry fewer books.
C. Shakita will eat less food.
D. Shakita will wear warmer clothing.
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4th Grade Animal Studies Assessment
22. Look at the picture below. Gazelle 2 has short legs instead of the normal
long legs that Gazelle 1 has.
Which best describes how having shorter legs will affect Gazelle 2?
A.
Shorter legs will have a negative effect because the gazelle will not be able to run as fast and
will be easier for predators to catch.
B.
Shorter legs will have a positive effect because the gazelle will be able to drink and store
more water.
C.
Shorter legs will have a positive effect because the gazelle will be able to run faster to escape
from predators.
D.
Shorter legs will have a negative effect because the gazelle will not be able to drink enough
water to survive.
23. Lungfish are kinds of fish that can breathe air. If the ponds they live in
dry up, lungfish bury themselves in the mud. Their bodies produce a liquid
that keeps the inside of their mud burrows from drying out. Lungfish can
stay dormant like this for up to six months while they wait for the water to
come back.
What change in the weather would most likely bring lungfish out of
dormancy?
A. shorter days
B. heavy rains
C. higher temperatures
D. lower temperatures
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4th Grade Animal Studies Assessment
24. What might happen to many plants and animals in the Neuse River Basin
if a hurricane caused severe flooding?
A. Plants and animals may die from the effects of the flood.
B. Plants and animals may help one another survive.
C. There will be less polluted water.
D. Plants and animals may move to other areas and survive there.
25. Some animals have senses that humans do not have. These senses may
have come about because they help the animals adapt to different
environments and ways of life.
Which of the following is an example of an animal using a sense that
humans do not have?
A. A bird uses its sense of hearing to find its family.
B. A monkey uses its sense of taste to decide which fruit is ripe.
C. A dog uses its sense of smell to find a bone.
D. A bat uses echolocation to catch a flying insect.
26. Squirrels eat nuts, seeds, and fruit. During the warm parts of the year,
most squirrels bury extra nuts in the ground.
How does storing nuts help squirrels survive?
A. The squirrels can eat the stored nuts during the winter when there is less food.
B. The squirrels can grow their own trees so that they don't have to search for food.
C. The squirrels can throw the nuts away so that other squirrels can't eat them.
D. The squirrels can eat the stored nuts during the summer when there is too much food.
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4th Grade Animal Studies Assessment
27. Wild polar bears have thick coats to keep them warm.
Suppose a polar bear is moved to a zoo where it is warm. Which of the
following describes a way in which the bear's body would likely change in
response to the warmer conditions?
A. The polar bear will drink less water.
B. The polar bear will stop eating.
C. The polar bear will become more active.
D. The polar bear would develop a thinner coat.
28. There are many different vitamins that the human body needs. What is
the best way for a person to get all of the vitamins that his or her body
needs?
A. eating foods from all of the food groups
B. getting lots of exercise
C. eating only foods in the vegetable group
D. drinking lots of water
29. Jack, Tasha, and Ruby are doing different things:



Jack is sitting on the couch watching a cartoon.
Tasha is outside jumping on a trampoline.
Ruby is riding in the car with her mom.
Which one of them is exercising?
A. Tasha only
B. Jack, Tasha, and Ruby
C. Ruby only
D. Jack only
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4th Grade Animal Studies Assessment
30. If all the plants in a habitat suddenly died, what would happen to the
animals?
A. The animals would start eating rocks.
B. The animal population would grow because they would have more space.
C. The animals would plant new plants.
D. Animals that could not leave would also die after some time.
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