4th Grade PSSA Review 2009-2010
1. Which tool is used to measure the volume of a liquid?
A. balance
B. ruler
C. thermometer
D. graduated cylinder
2. Which tool should a student use to compare the masses of two small rocks?
A. balance
B. hand lens
C. ruler
D. measuring cup
3. Why is it easier for the man to move the same box using the ramp?
A.
B.
C.
D.
He uses less force.
He moves the box a shorter distance.
The box is lighter.
The truck is lower.
4. Which human activity most often has a harmful effect on the environment?
A. breathing
B. growing
C. planting
D. polluting
4th Grade PSSA Review 2009-2010
5. In the diagram below, letters A, B, C, and D show processes in the water cycle. Which letter shows
runoff?
A.
B.
C.
D.
A
B
C
D
6. A student is growing some plants for an experiment. She notices small white spots on the leaves.
Which tool should she use to get a better look at the spots?
A. thermometer
B. hand lens
C. graduated cylinder
D. balance
7. The diagram below shows a plastic cup floating in a container of water. If some marbles are placed in
the cup, the water level will
A. decrease
B. increase
C. remain the same
4th Grade PSSA Review 2009-2010
8. A simple machine that helps move a flag up a flagpole is
A. a bar magnet
B. an inclined plane
C. a pulley
D. a lever
9. The diagrams show the same piece of land in the summer of 2002 and the summer of 2003 after the
trees were cut down. Describe one positive thing that might result from cutting down the trees.
10. Students use tools to measure the properties of objects. The chart below shows some properties,
tools, and metric units of measurement.
Complete the chart by filling in the three shaded boxes with the correct property, tool, and metric unit of
measurement.
4th Grade PSSA Review 2009-2010
11. Which thermometer shows a temperature of 65°F?
12. Which instrument should a student use to measure exactly 10 milliliters (mL) of water?
A. graduated cylinder
B. pan balance
C. ruler
D. thermometer
4th Grade PSSA Review 2009-2010
13. The diagram below shows a girl in a wheelchair using a ramp to enter a building.
The ramp she is using is an example of which simple machine?
A. pulley
B. lever
C. wheel
D. inclined plane
14. Base your answer to this question on the diagram of the water cycle below and on your knowledge
of science.
Runoff is best described as water that
A. condenses into a cloud
B. flows on the ground
C. evaporates into a gas
D. moves downward into the ground
4th Grade PSSA Review 2009-2010
15. Base your answers to questions 18 and 19 on the diagram below. The diagram shows some living
and nonliving things in a fish tank.
After several weeks, a student observes that the water level in the tank is lower. What process caused
this to happen?
A condensation
B erosion
C evaporation
D precipitation
16. A student uses a pan balance to compare the masses of an orange, an apple, and a pear. Using the
same orange, the student compared its mass to the mass of the pear and then to the mass of the apple.
The results are shown in the diagrams below.
List the three fruits in order from the least mass to the greatest mass.
4th Grade PSSA Review 2009-2010
17. Many owls live in a forest. Each year, more of the trees in the forest are cut down. Describe one
way this change in the environment might affect these owls.
18. Pat has two kinds of plant food,"Quickgrow" and "Supergrow." What would be the best way for Pat
to find out which plant food helps a particular type of houseplant grow the most?
A. Put some Quickgrow on a plant in the living room, put some
Supergrow on a plant of the same type in the bedroom, and see
which one grows the most.
B. Find out how much each kind of plant food costs, because the
more expensive kind is probably better for growing plants.
C. Put some Quickgrow on a few plants, put the same amount of
Supergrow on a few other plants of the same type, put all the
plants in the same place, and see which group of plants grows
the most.
D. Look at the advertisements for Quickgrow, look at the
advertisements for Supergrow, and see which one says it helps
plants grow the most.
19. Look at the picture above, which shows some of the organs that can be found inside the human
body. What is the main job of the organ labeled 1 ?
A. Carrying air
B. Carrying food
C. Carrying blood
D. Carrying messages from the brain
4th Grade PSSA Review 2009-2010
20. Think about where rain comes from and explain why the Earth never runs out of rain.
21.
A teacher brings a branch from a tree into a science classroom. The students need to observe the leaf
buds on the branch. Which statement correctly describes the best tool to use for these observations?
A. A compass can magnify the leaf buds.
B. A hand lens can magnify the leaf buds.
C. A telescope can allow leaf buds to be viewed from across the classroom.
D. A pair of binoculars can allow leaf buds to be viewed from across the classroom.
22. Which diagram correctly shows the life cycle of some insects?
23. The diagram shows a glass containing some ice. The ice in the glass represents what state of
matter?
For the following question, see: Contents of the glass.
24. The diagram shows a glass containing some ice. In the glass below, draw how the contents of the
glass would look after sitting in a warm kitchen for 45 minutes. Label the contents of the glass.
25. The diagram shows four blocks on a balance beam. All four blocks have the same mass. How can
4th Grade PSSA Review 2009-2010
the four blocks shown be rearranged on the beam so side A and side B will balance?
26. Diagrams A and B below show the same bar magnet attracting the same paper clip from two
different distances. Explain why the bar magnet attracts the paper clip with more force in diagram B than
in diagram A.
27. Germination happens between which two stages?
28. Which organisms in this food chain are needed for all the other organisms to survive?
4th Grade PSSA Review 2009-2010
A.
B.
C.
D.
caterpillars
frogs
plants
snakes
29. Which organisms in this food chain are predators?
A. plants and caterpillars
B. caterpillars and frogs
C. frogs and snakes
D. snakes and plants
30. The diagram below shows three plants hanging over a table. A student watered the plants and
observed water on the top of the table. The next day, the student noticed that there was no water on the
table.
What process had occurred?
A. condensation
B. erosion
C. evaporation
D. precipitation
31. An electrical circuit is shown below. Which object at X will complete the circuit?
4th Grade PSSA Review 2009-2010
A.
B.
C.
D.
a metal paper clip
a plastic bottle
a rubber band
a wooden stick
32. Place a number (2, 3, or 4) on the line below each diagram to show the order of the four stages in
the life cycle of a butterfly. Stage 1 is already numbered.
33. The diagram below shows three parts of a plant.
34. A student planted twenty identical flower seeds, ten seeds in pot A and ten seeds in pot B. Both
4th Grade PSSA Review 2009-2010
pots had the same type and amount of soil. Both pots received equal amounts of sunlight and water.
When the plants started to grow, the student pulled out all but two plants in pot A. She left all ten plants
in pot B. The graph shows the average height of the plants in each pot after 30 days.
Explain why there is a difference in average height between the plants in pot A and pot B.
35. The data table below shows the temperature, type of precipitation, and sky condition for three cities
in New York State at noon on November 15.
Explain why the precipitation in Massena is snow.
36. The diagram below shows the stages of development of a plant.
At which stage has germination begun?
A. A
B. B
C. C
D. D
37. Base your answer to this question on the diagram of a flashlight below and on your knowledge of
science.
4th Grade PSSA Review 2009-2010
When the flashlight is turned on, electrical energy is changed to which type of energy?
38. The diagrams below show a dog and a fish.
Identify two body structures the fish has that the dog does not have.
39. Which characteristic helps a fox find food?
A. sense of smell
B. thick fur
C. long tail
D. pointed teeth
40. Which eye color was most common in this group of students?
4th Grade PSSA Review 2009-2010
For the following question, see: Data Table & Bar Graph.
41. Use the results in the data table to complete the bar graph.
42. Monarch butterflies migrate from New York State at a certain time of the year. Explain how
migration helps butterflies survive.
43. Which characteristic is inherited rather than learned?
A. telling a story
B. saluting the flag
C. having blue eyes
D. riding a bicycle
44. What is the main function of scales on a fish?
A. to protect the fish
B. to attract predators
C. to help the fish find food
D. to help the fish breathe
45. During which season of the year would a rabbit's fur be thickest?
A. fall
B. spring
C. summer
D. winter
4th Grade PSSA Review 2009-2010
46. Which animal is preparing for a seasonal change in the environment?
A. a bat flying at night
B. a deer drinking water
C. an owl eating a mouse
D. a squirrel storing nuts
47. What is the main function of the spines on the prickly cactus plant shown in the diagram below?
A. to make food
B. to provide shade
C. to attract animals
D. to protect the plant
48. The diagram below shows the seed of a maple tree.
How is this seed most likely dispersed?
A. It is carried by the wind.
B. It floats in moving water.
C. It passes through an animal's digestive system.
D. It sticks to an animal's fur.
49. The diagram below shows a baby giraffe with its parents.
4th Grade PSSA Review 2009-2010
The long neck on the baby giraffe is
A. a learned trait
B. an inherited trait
C. a seasonal adaptation
D. an environmental condition
50. Which adaptation often helps an animal attract a mate?
A. hibernation
B. camouflage
C. coloration
D. migration
51. Explain why camouflage helps an animal survive in a forest environment.
52. It is a cloudless, sunny day. A student measures the temperature of the air outside every hour. She
4th Grade PSSA Review 2009-2010
collects the following data.
What will the air temperature outside most likely be at 12:00 noon?
A. 18°C
B. 21°C
C. 25°C
D. 32°C
53.
Use the pictures below to answer this question.
A hover fly looks like a honey bee. Which statement best explains how this adaptation helps the hover fl
y survive?
A. Looking like a honey bee keeps other animals away from the hover fly's food.
B. Looking like a honey bee allows the hover fly to collect more pollen.
C. Looking like a honey bee allows the hover fly to blend with its environment.
D. Looking like a honey bee keeps some predators from trying to eat the hover fly.
54.
4th Grade PSSA Review 2009-2010
Use the picture below to answer this question.
Which statement describes the location of the bird in the picture?
A. The bird is on the rock.
B. The bird is under the dandelion.
C. The bird is to the right of the rock.
D. The bird is to the left of the dandelion.
55. The diagram below shows liquid in a container and an empty container.
A.
B.
C.
D.
color
odor
shape
volume
56. One way animals usually respond to a sudden drop in temperature is by
A. sweating
B. shivering
C. blinking
D. salivating
57. Which organism is a producer?
4th Grade PSSA Review 2009-2010
A.
B.
C.
D.
grasshopper
raccoon
grass
frog
58. If all the frogs died, the raccoon population would most likely
A. decrease
B. increase
C. remain the same
59. An example of a poor health habit is
A. taking a bath or shower regularly
B. handwashing after using the bathroom
C. playing on a soccer team
D. eating candy instead of lunch
60. After walking in a field, a student found seeds stuck to his clothing. He knows this is one way seeds
can be dispersed. Explain one other way that seeds can be dispersed.
61. A decrease in air temperature from 60°F to 35°F would most likely cause a person to
4th Grade PSSA Review 2009-2010
A. shiver
B. sweat
C. blink his eyes
D. feel sleepy
62. A decomposer is an organism that
A. preys on other animals
B. eats only plants
C. recycles nutrients
D. uses sunlight to make food
63. The diagrams below are part of a food chain. Place a number from 1 to 4 on the line below each
diagram to show the order in which energy flows through this food chain.
For the following question, see: Pond Ecosystem
64. In the pond, small fish eat algae. What two predators might eat the small fish in the pond system?
For the following question, see: Pond Ecosystem
4th Grade PSSA Review 2009-2010
65. You will now finish a diagram of a food web in the pond. The food web shows what eats what in the
pond system. Draw arrows in the diagram below from each living thing to the things that eat it. (The first
arrow is drawn for you.)
For the following question, see: Pond Ecosystem
66. Tell why it is important for dead animals and plants in the pond system to be broken down.
For the following question, see: Pond Ecosystem
67. Suppose that one spring a new type of large fish was put into the pond. So many were put in that
there were twice as many fish as before. By the end of the summer, what would happen to the large fish
that were already in the pond?
Explain why you think these new large fish would have this effect.
For the following question, see: Pond Ecosystem
68. If a rainstorm washed some fertilizer from a nearby field into the pond, what would happen to the
algae in the pond system after one month? Why do you think the fertilizer would affect the algae this
way?
69.
Which example is a physical feature that is passed on to offspring?
A. talking
B. walking
C. sharp beak
D. loose tooth
70. The diagram below shows a block of wood.
4th Grade PSSA Review 2009-2010
A.
B.
C.
D.
color
odor
shape
texture
71. Which object is the best conductor of electricity?
A. metal fork
B. rubber boot
C. plastic spoon
D. wooden bat
72. Which is the best example of evaporation?
A. raindrops freezing
B. an ice cube melting
C. a puddle drying in the sun
D. a sponge soaking up water
73. Which substance is usually found in nature as a liquid, solid, and gas?
A. water
B. rock
C. metal
D. glass
74. When a person speaks into a telephone, sound energy is changed mostly into which form of
energy?
A. heat
B. light
C. electrical
D. chemical
75. A car skids along the road and smoke appears to be coming from under the tires. The heat that
4th Grade PSSA Review 2009-2010
produces the smoke is caused by
A. magnetism
B. sound
C. light
D. friction
76. In which example could a thermometer be used to show that heat energy is being transferred?
A. A piano is played by striking the keys.
B. A shovel is used to move dirt from one place to another.
C. A ball is thrown into the air.
D. A stove is used to boil water in a pan.
77. When a baby shakes a rattle, it makes a noise. Which form of energy was changed to sound
energy?
A. electrical
B. light
C. mechanical
D. heat
78. A ball is tossed up in the air and it comes back down. The ball comes back down because of
A. gravity
B. friction
C. erosion
D. magnetism
79. What form of energy causes an ice cube to melt?
A. mechanical
B. magnetic
C. sound
D. heat
80. An object’s hardness, taste, and texture are examples of
4th Grade PSSA Review 2009-2010
A. principles
B. stages
C. properties
D. processes
81. Base your answer to this question on the diagram below and on your knowledge of science.
The diagram shows two containers, A and B. Container A contains 150 milliliters of water. Container B is
empty.
If all the water from container A is poured into container B, which property of the water will change?
A. mass
B. color
C. shape
D. state
82. A student put some sand, clay, and water into a bottle and shook the bottle. Then he put the bottle
4th Grade PSSA Review 2009-2010
down.
After two hours, the bottle looked like the drawing above. What can the student conclude based on what
he sees in the bottle?
A. The water is heavier than the grains of clay and the grains of
sand.
B. The grains of clay are heavier than the grains of sand and the
water.
C. The grains of sand are heavier than the water and the grains
of clay.
D. The water, grains of clay, and grains of sand are all of equal
weight.
83.
Use the picture below to answer this question.
Choose two of the physical properties listed below. Use these two properties to describe the steel
paperclip.
Physical Properties
• mass
• shape
• magnetism
• state
• conductivity
4th Grade PSSA Review 2009-2010
84. Complete the chart below by identifying the state of matter of each substance.
85. Where does water in a lake get most of its energy to evaporate?
A. The sun heating the lake
B. Green plants living in the lake
C. Streams entering the lake
D. Cold springs under the lake
86. The table below shows information about the weather in four cities on the same day.
In which city could children wear just T-shirts and shorts and be most comfortable playing outside all
day?
A.
B.
C.
D.
87.
City 1
City 2
City 3
City 4
4th Grade PSSA Review 2009-2010
Which is an example of water condensing?
A.
B.
C.
D.
A puddle disappearing on a hot
summer afternoon
Sweat forming on your forehead after
you do a lot of exercise
Ice cubes melting when you put them
out in the sun
Dew forming on plants during a cold
night
88. Answer:
Tara put an ice cube in a jar, put the lid on the jar, then placed the jar on a scale. The jar and the ice
cube weighed 3 units as shown in Diagram A above. Tara came back one hour later and the ice cube
had melted. Draw an arrow on Diagram B below to show the weight of the jar and melted ice cube.
Explain why the weight did or did not change.
89. Omar and Norma are planning to go on a picnic today. They look out of the window and see some
4th Grade PSSA Review 2009-2010
high, thin clouds. Is it likely it will rain on their picnic today?
(A) Yes
(B) No
Explain your answer.
90.
Which statement best describes the motion of Earth?
A. It spins as it orbits the Sun.
B. It spins as it orbits the Moon.
C. It makes one complete turn as it orbits the Sun.
D. It makes one complete turn as it orbits the Moon.
91.
What is one way that humans can use water resources for recreation?
A. They ride in boats on rivers.
B. They raise fish to sell in stores.
C. They spray water on crops in fields.
D. They build dams to make electricity.
92.
4th Grade PSSA Review 2009-2010
Which tool is used to measure the speed of the wind?
93.
Some water moves through a watershed as a part of the water cycle.
Part A: Describe one way water moves into a watershed. In your answer, identify the source of the
water.
Part B: Describe one way water moves out of a watershed. In your answer, explain where the water
goes.
94.
4th Grade PSSA Review 2009-2010
Which example requires one Earth year to complete?
A. Earth rotating once on its axis
B. Earth revolving once around the Sun
C. the Sun rotating once on its axis
D. the Sun revolving once around Earth
95.
A thermometer is one instrument that is used to study weather. A thermometer measures the
temperature of the air.
A. Identify one other instrument that can be used to study weather.
B. Describe what the instrument you identified in part A measures.
96. List two things green plants need to grow and thrive.
97. If the population of snakes increases, the population of frogs will most likely
A. decrease
4th Grade PSSA Review 2009-2010
B. increase
C. remain the same
For the following question, see: Pond Ecosystem
98. Which living things in the pond system break down dead plants and animals?
A. Green algae
B. Bacteria
C. Rushes
D. Frogs
For the following question, see: Pond Ecosystem
99. If all of the small fish in the pond system died one year from a disease that killed only the small fish,
what would happen to the algae in the pond?
Explain why you think so.
What would happen to the large fish? Explain why you think so.
100. A marble is dropped in a glass of water. Which force pulls the marble to the bottom of the glass?
A. electricity
B. friction
C. gravity
D. magnetism
4th Grade PSSA Review 2009-2010
Reading Passages
Reading Passage:
Data Table & Bar Graph.
Reading Passage:
Contents of the glass.
4th Grade PSSA Review 2009-2010
Reading Passage:
Pond Ecosystem
The picture below shows a pond ecosystem. Use this picture and what you know about the things in it
to answer the questions in this section.