VIRGINIA STANDARDS OF LEARNING
Spring 2010 Released Test
GRADE 5
SCIENCE
Form S0110, CORE 1
Property of the Virginia Department of Education
Copyright ©2010 by the Commonwealth of Virginia, Department of Education, P.O. Box 2120, Richmond, Virginia
23218-2120. All rights reserved. Except as permitted by law, this material may not be reproduced or used in any form or
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system, without written permission from the copyright owner. Commonwealth of Virginia public school educators may
reproduce any portion of these released tests for non-commercial educational purposes without requesting permission.
All others should direct their written requests to the Virginia Department of Education, Division of Student Assessment
and School Improvement, at the above address or by e-mail to [email protected].
Science
Directions
Read each question and choose the best answer. Then fill in the circle on your answer
document for the answer you have chosen.
SAMPLE
When Earth is seen from outer space, it looks mainly blue. This is because
most of Earth is covered with —
A
B
C
D
ice
mountains
oceans
deserts
3
1
Which of these human activities most relies on high-quality soil?
A
B
C
D
Hiking
Hunting
Coal mining
Growing crops
2
Mineral Identification Chart
Mineral
Color
Hardness
Amphibole
Green to
black
Feldspar
White, pink, Harder than
gray, green glass
Garnet
Dark red
Harder than
glass
Quartz
Colorless,
gray, white
Harder than
glass
Less hard
than a nail
A student observes a mineral that is colorless and harder than glass. Based on
the chart, which mineral is the student observing?
F
G
H
J
Amphibole
Feldspar
Garnet
Quartz
4
3
In this picture, the iron filings show the shape of the magnetic —
A
B
C
D
axis
core
field
pole
5
4
Average Temperature (˚F)
Average Monthly Temperatures
70
60
50
40
32
l
y
y
ar uar arch pri May
u
A
r M
n
Ja Feb
Month
Temperatures normally increase every month from January through August.
During which month was the average temperature most unusual?
F
G
H
J
5
January
February
March
April
For the native birds and mammals of Virginia to survive, plant life must be
conserved. What do plants provide directly to all animals?
A
B
C
D
Oxygen
Minerals
Light
Hydrogen
6
6
Which of these makes a sound with the slowest vibration?
F
Drum
G
Whistle
H
Flute
J
Harmonica
7
7
Which of these animals is least likely a member of the pond community?
A
Crayfish
B
Alligator
C
Carp
D
Shark
8
10
10
8
9
9
Razor
clam
cm
0
cm
0
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
6
6
7
7
8
Jackknife
clam
11
11
12
12
8
About how much longer is the jackknife clam than the razor clam?
F
G
H
J
5 centimeters
7 centimeters
10 centimeters
12 centimeters
9
9
Which structure does a plant cell have that an animal cell does not have?
A
B
C
D
10
Vacuole
Cytoplasm
Cell membrane
Cell wall
Which of these objects in the solar system has been visited by people from
Earth?
F
G
H
J
Moon
Sun
Mars
Asteroid
10
11
Virginia Long-Term Average Temperature
and Precipitation (1895–1998)
Month
Average
Average
Temperature Precipitation
(ºF)
(inches)
January
35.9
3.13
February
37.2
3.08
March
45.5
3.86
April
54.9
3.29
May
64.0
3.99
June
71.5
3.69
A teacher asked his class to help plan their science field trip schedule from
January to June. Based on the table, which month with an average
temperature above 50°F has the least amount of average precipitation?
A
B
C
D
March
April
May
June
11
12
6:00 A.M.
6:00 P.M.
The process shown would be classified as —
F
G
H
J
13
precipitation
condensation
transpiration
evaporation
Max is doing an experiment on tomato plants. His hypothesis is, “A tomato
plant will not grow in a shady area.” On which of these relationships did Max
base his hypothesis?
A
B
C
D
Warm temperature causes plant growth.
Sunlight causes plant growth.
Tall plants cause shade.
New plants need fresh water.
12
14
Snake
Mouse
Salamander
Insect
Acorn
Pine Tree
Which describes energy through this food web?
F
G
H
J
Salamanders get energy from snakes and mice.
Acorns get energy from insects and pine trees.
Mice get energy from salamanders and insects.
Snakes get energy from salamanders and mice.
13
15
Which do meteorologists use to measure the amount of precipitation that falls
during a storm?
A
B
C
D
16
Anemometer
Barometer
Rain gauge
Weather vane
Which of these transmits sound the fastest?
F
G
H
J
Water in a pool
A metal rod
Air in a balloon
Empty space
14
17
Air
Soil
Up
Fossil A
Fossil B
When comparing fossil A to fossil B, which is most likely correct?
A
B
C
D
18
Fossil B is older.
Fossil B is larger.
Only fossil B is metamorphic.
Only fossil B was once an organism.
Photosynthesis occurs in which of these organisms?
F
G
H
J
Sunflower plant
Mushroom
Sunfish
Luna moth
15
19
Part of a coral reef is shown. A coral reef is —
A
B
C
D
a rock
an ecosystem
an ocean current
an underwater cave
16
20
Pistil
Stamen
Ovary
Sepal
In a flower, what most likely happens when pollen from the stamen gets into
the ovary?
F
G
H
J
The plant dies.
A seed develops.
The flower closes.
The sepals fall off.
17
21
Cup 1
Cup 2
Students planted bean seeds in the same kind of soil in separate cups. The
cups were put next to each other on a sunny windowsill. Cup 1 was given
10 mL of water every other day. Cup 2 was given no water. Which of these is
the independent (manipulated) variable in the experiment?
A
B
C
D
The
The
The
The
type of soil
type of seed
amount of water
amount of sunlight
18
22
Diagram of Photographs
N
W
3:00 P.M.
E
S
Boat 1
Boat 2
3:15 P.M.
Boat 1
Boat 2
Two moving boats are photographed from above at 3:00 p.m. and 3:15 p.m.
Which statement correctly compares their motion?
F
G
H
J
They
They
They
They
are
are
are
are
traveling
traveling
traveling
traveling
in
in
in
in
the same direction at equal speeds.
opposite directions at equal speeds.
the same direction, and boat 2 has a greater speed.
opposite directions, and boat 2 has a slower speed.
19
23
According to the picture, which measurement best identifies the length of
the leaf?
A
B
C
D
24
5.0 cm
6.0 cm
6.5 cm
7.0 cm
Which of these is a way the people of Virginia can help restore a
natural ecosystem?
F
G
H
J
Burn their trash
Plant native plants
Feed leftover meals to deer
Drain automobile oil into the grass
20
25
Which of these is the most responsible for the changes of the seasons
on Earth?
A
B
C
D
Position of the Moon
Tilt of Earth on its axis
Temperature of the Sun
Distance to Mars
26
a
d
Ri
Va
ll e
y
Appalachian Plateau
nd
Piedmont
y
e Ba
Chesapeak
ge
Geographic Regions of Virginia
Coastal
Plain
Blue Ridge Mountains
Which geographic region of Virginia has the least impact on the water quality
of Chesapeake Bay?
F
G
H
J
Coastal Plain
Piedmont
Blue Ridge Mountains
Appalachian Plateau
21
27
Light
X
Y
Battery
A fifth-grade class constructed this circuit. Which of these objects most likely
made the light glow when connected to points X and Y?
A
B
C
D
28
Plastic straw
Cotton string
Aluminum foil
Rubber eraser
Earth is composed of four layers. Many scientists believe that as Earth cooled,
the denser materials sank to the center and the less dense materials rose to
the top. The least dense layer is the —
F
G
H
crust
mantle
outer core
J
inner core
22
29
In which chart are all the organisms sorted correctly?
Vertebrates
Invertebrates
Vertebrates
Invertebrates
Vertebrates
Invertebrates
Vertebrates
Invertebrates
A
B
C
D
23
30
Which best describes the part of the ocean called the continental shelf?
F
G
H
J
31
A
A
A
A
flat underwater valley
region of mountains in the deep ocean
shallow area of sediment near the shore
region with a higher water pressure
Which item is designed to change electrical energy into heat energy?
A
B
C
D
Alarm clock
Hand dryer
Fan
Telephone
24
32
Which of these takes about one year to complete?
F
G
H
J
33
Earth to orbit the Sun
The Sun to orbit Earth
Earth to rotate on its axis
The Moon to orbit Earth
Roger Bacon is credited for developing the magnifying glass. His
understanding of which of these was most useful for this development?
A
B
C
D
Light
Sound
Gravity
Electricity
25
34
Paper Pieces Stuck to Balloon
Bits of paper are attracted to the surface of this balloon. What attracts the
paper pieces to the balloon?
F
G
H
J
Friction
Magnetism
Potential energy
Static electricity
26
35
25 mL
25
20
15
10
5
Students filled a graduated cylinder with the amount of water shown. How
much more water needs to be added to the cylinder to measure 25 mL?
A
B
C
D
36
2
4
6
9
mL
mL
mL
mL
Moss is best classified as —
F
G
H
J
a type of mold
an evergreen plant
a species of fungus
a nonvascular plant
27
37
Which explains why the fork looks different under water?
A
B
C
D
Light is refracted at an angle.
The wavelength of light lengthens.
Light cannot pass through the glass.
The amount of light increases when going through water.
28
38
Which of these apple trees is dormant?
F
G
H
J
29
39
The distance between Richmond and Norfolk is best measured in —
A
B
C
D
40
kilometers
meters
centimeters
millimeters
Which tools are best used to determine the speed of a turtle as it walks along
a path?
F
G
H
J
Meter stick and graduated cylinder
Stopwatch and meter stick
Balance and metric ruler
Balance and stopwatch
30
Answer Key-5005-S0110
Test Sequence
Number
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
Correct Answer
D
J
C
H
A
F
D
F
D
F
B
J
B
J
C
G
A
F
B
G
C
H
C
G
B
J
C
F
C
H
B
F
A
J
C
J
A
H
A
G
Reporting
Category
004
001
002
001
003
002
003
001
003
004
001
002
001
003
004
002
004
003
004
003
001
002
001
003
004
004
002
004
003
004
002
004
002
002
001
003
002
003
001
001
Reporting Category Description
Earth/Space Systems and Cycles
Scientific Investigation
Force, Motion, Energy, and Matter
Scientific Investigation
Life Processes and Living Systems
Force, Motion, Energy, and Matter
Life Processes and Living Systems
Scientific Investigation
Life Processes and Living Systems
Earth/Space Systems and Cycles
Scientific Investigation
Force, Motion, Energy, and Matter
Scientific Investigation
Life Processes and Living Systems
Earth/Space Systems and Cycles
Force, Motion, Energy, and Matter
Earth/Space Systems and Cycles
Life Processes and Living Systems
Earth/Space Systems and Cycles
Life Processes and Living Systems
Scientific Investigation
Force, Motion, Energy, and Matter
Scientific Investigation
Life Processes and Living Systems
Earth/Space Systems and Cycles
Earth/Space Systems and Cycles
Force, Motion, Energy, and Matter
Earth/Space Systems and Cycles
Life Processes and Living Systems
Earth/Space Systems and Cycles
Force, Motion, Energy, and Matter
Earth/Space Systems and Cycles
Force, Motion, Energy, and Matter
Force, Motion, Energy, and Matter
Scientific Investigation
Life Processes and Living Systems
Force, Motion, Energy, and Matter
Life Processes and Living Systems
Scientific Investigation
Scientific Investigation
Grade 5 Science, Core 1
If you get this
many items
correct:
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
Then your
converted scale
score is:
000
175
211
233
249
262
273
282
291
299
306
313
320
326
332
338
344
350
355
361
367
372
378
383
389
395
401
407
413
420
427
435
443
451
461
472
485
501
523
559
600
A total raw score (left
column) is converted to
a total scaled score
(right column). The
total scaled score may
range from 0 to 600.
A scaled score of 400
or more means the
student passed the
SOL test, while a scaled
score of 399 or less
means the student did
not pass the test. A
scaled score of 500 or
more indicates the
student passed the
SOL test at an
advanced level.