4th Science Leap Practice-1

After the drought ended, the U.S. government encouraged farmers to change their farming

practices to prevent this from happening again.

Which practice would best help the soil stay in place?

• planting only natural grasses and corn in the field

• planting soybeans and corn in fields next to fields with cattle

• planting trees and grasses in areas between fields with crops

• building pipelines to carry large amounts of water to use in sprinklers in the fields

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Part A:

Which statement best describes the pattern of where volcanoes are found and

earthquakes occur?

• Most volcanoes are found on land, and most earthquakes occur in the ocean.

• Most volcanoes are found and most earthquakes occur on the edges of continents.

• Most volcanoes are found and most earthquakes occur on islands near continents.

• Most volcanoes are found far from the edges of continents, and most earthquakes occur at the edges of continents.

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Part B:

How can scientists best use the pattern identified in Part A?

• to prevent future earthquakes

• to predict where volcanoes will erupt

• to stop damage from volcanic eruptions

• to design homes that will survive earthquakes

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Part A

A student wants to investigate how the beaver is different from most other mammals in

the wild.

Which question should the student investigate?

• How many other mammals eat trees or other plants to survive?

• How many other mammals live in an environment that includes water?

• Do most other mammals have body structures adapted to the places where they live?

• Do most other mammals change the environment to meet their survival needs?

Part B

Which information would best support the answer to Part A?

Select the two correct answers.

• A The beaver cuts down trees for food.

• B The beaver builds dams to form ponds.

• C The beaver has thick fur to keep warm.

• D The beaver uses its tail to steer in the water.

• E The beaver has special teeth for chewing through wood.

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Part A

Which claim best explains how one body structure helps the beaver survive?

• A The beaver’s tail helps the beaver build a home.

• B The beaver’s feet can be used to fight off predators.

• C The beaver’s fur helps it hide during winter weather.

• D The beaver’s teeth can be used to eat a special kind of food.

Part B

Which evidence best supports the answer to Part A?

• A The beaver has thick, warm fur.

• B The beaver’s back feet are webbed.

• C The beaver’s front teeth keep growing.

• D The beaver slaps the water with its tail.

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In which ways do two body structures of the beaver work together to help the beaver

survive?

Select the two correct answers.

• A The tail helps steer while the webbed feet help the beaver swim.

• B The tail sounds a warning while the teeth are used to fight predators.

• C The tail helps the beaver stand upright while the teeth are used to cut trees down.

• D The feet are used for walking while the tail keeps the beaver balanced when walking on all four.

• E The fur keeps the beaver warm while the teeth are used to clean the fur.

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Which statement best describes a way that a beaver causes a change to its environment?

• A Habitat for other animals in the area is greatly reduced.

• B Faster water flow past a dam helps clean the water.

• C A dam increases downstream flooding during times of heavy rainfall.

• D Higher water levels provide more water for trees during dry periods.

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Beavers make changes that harm farmland.

Make a claim about a problem that beavers may cause for a farmer. In your response,

be sure to:

• use evidence to support your claim

• explain at least two ways that the problem can be solved

Answer explanation

-Beavers build dams that block streams. This can cause flooding of farm land

near the dam because water cannot flow downstream.

-Beavers kill crops to build dams. This removes food sources for humans.

• Humans can build levees to prevent flooding.

• Humans can relocate beavers to an area that will not be affected by the dams.

• Humans can hunt beavers so there are not too many beavers in an area.

• Humans can plant more crops so there is enough food.

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