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.

This question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B.

Part A: A student observes that the moon is in its full moon phase. Which phase will occur approximately 15 days later?

Part B: Which statement BEST explains the changes in the moon's appearance during these 15 days?

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.

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?

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?

What process is occurring as light passes through the prism?

How many planets in the solar system are farther from the Sun than Jupiter?

Which process causes fog to form on a student’s eyeglasses after washing dishes with hot water?

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?

A student is mixing salt into water. Which observation indicates that the salt has dissolved?

Which statement BEST explains why black asphalt feels hotter than green grass on a sunny day?

What type of rock is formed when lava cools and solidifies?

A student wants to use a magnet to separate materials in a mixture. Which material can the student MOST LIKELY separate using the magnet?

A student compares the energy flow in a food web. Which correctly shows the flow of energy in a desert ecosystem?

An old-growth forest has many tall trees and smaller shrubs growing beneath them. Why do smaller shrubs struggle to grow in this environment?

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.