STAAR Success - Grade 5 Science - Practice #1
Read each question carefully. Choose the best answer to each question. For open-response questions, determine the best answer to the question.
Group 1
This question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B.
Question 1a
Part A: A student observes that the moon is in its full moon phase. Which phase will occur approximately 15 days later?
First Quarter
Third Quarter
New Moon
Waxing Crescent
Question 1b
Part B: Which statement BEST explains the changes in the moon's appearance during these 15 days?
The moon orbits Earth, and sunlight illuminates different portions of the moon's surface.
The moon moves closer to the sun, changing its brightness.
Earth's rotation causes different sides of the moon to become visible.
Shadows from other planets cover the moon at different times.
Question 2a
A student pours water through samples of sand, clay, and silt to test water retention. The clay holds the most water. Explain why clay retains water better than sand and silt.
Question 3a
A sample has a mass of 20 grams and a volume of 10 cm³. Based on its density, which material is the sample MOST LIKELY made of?
Aluminum
Glass
Rubber
Plywood
Question 3b
A graph shows the growth of two plants over time. Plant A (red line) receives sunlight daily, while Plant B (green line) is kept in darkness. Which conclusion can be drawn from the graph?
Both plants grow at the same rate regardless of light.
Plant A grows faster because sunlight provides energy for photosynthesis.
Plant B grows faster because darkness prevents water loss.
Both plants stop growing after two weeks.
Question 3c
What process is occurring as light passes through the prism?
Reflection
Refraction
Absorption
Transmission
Question 4a
How many planets in the solar system are farther from the Sun than Jupiter?
One
Two
Three
Four
Question 4b
Which process causes fog to form on a student’s eyeglasses after washing dishes with hot water?
Evaporation
Condensation
Melting
Freezing
Question 4c
A forest fire clears an area of all trees and vegetation. Over time, small plants begin to grow, followed by shrubs and eventually trees. What is this process called?
Weathering
Erosion
Succession
Deposition
Question 4d
A student is mixing salt into water. Which observation indicates that the salt has dissolved?
The water becomes cloudy.
The salt remains visible at the bottom.
The salt disappears, and the water looks clear.
The water changes to a solid.
Question 4e
Which statement BEST explains why black asphalt feels hotter than green grass on a sunny day?
Grass absorbs more sunlight.
Asphalt reflects more sunlight.
Asphalt absorbs and retains more heat.
Grass releases heat into the air faster.
Question 4f
What type of rock is formed when lava cools and solidifies?
Sedimentary
Igneous
Metamorphic
Fossil
Question 4g
A student wants to use a magnet to separate materials in a mixture. Which material can the student MOST LIKELY separate using the magnet?
Plastic pieces
Aluminum foil
Iron nails
Glass beads
Question 4h
A student compares the energy flow in a food web. Which correctly shows the flow of energy in a desert ecosystem?
Grass → Rabbit → Coyote
Coyote → Rabbit → Grass
Rabbit → Grass → Coyote
Grass → Coyote → Rabbit
Question 5
An old-growth forest has many tall trees and smaller shrubs growing beneath them. Why do smaller shrubs struggle to grow in this environment?
Question 6
A student is investigating how the amount of force applied to an object affects its motion. They use a spring scale to measure force and a ruler to measure distance traveled. Describe how the student can make sure that the results of their investigation are reliable.
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