5th-Grade Science STAAR Review

A student helped his father prepare soup for dinner. His father asked him to use a wooden spoon to stir the soup as it heated.

Why would the student's father ask him to use a wooden spoon?

• The wooden spoon is able to float in the soup

• the wooden spoon is able to sink in the soup

• the wooden spoon is a good conductor of thermal energy

• The wooden spoon is a good insulator of thermal energy

Answer explanation

The wooden spoon is a good insulator of thermal energy

When using a solar-powered calculator, what source of energy is being used to power the calculator?

• Electrical Energy

• Light Energy

• Mechanical Energy

• Sound Energy

Answer explanation

When using a solar-powered calculator, light energy is being converted into electrical energy to power the calculator, making light energy the source of power.

The arrows in the diagrams below represent light. Which diagram best shows how a glass mirror would reflect light?

• 
• 
• 
• 

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

Which of the following statements best describes the effect of solar energy absorbed by water in the ocean?

• The color of the ocean water becomes light blue

• the temperature of the water decreases

• The water changes state from liquid to gas

• The ocean water becomes less salty.

Answer explanation

The correct statement is that the water changes state from liquid to gas when solar energy is absorbed by water in the ocean.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

If a person is describing the daily changes in temperature and perception, they are referring to an area's--

• weather

• climate

• geography

• geology

Answer explanation

Describing daily changes in temperature and perception refers to an area's weather, not climate, geography, or geology.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Over a period of 40 years, the amount of rain that fell in the central Texas area was measured and recorded. Monitoring and tracking rainfall over a long period gives the most accurate information about--

• amount of humidity

• weather

• climate

• high temperature

Answer explanation

Monitoring and tracking rainfall over a long period provides the most accurate information about climate, not just short-term weather patterns or specific weather events.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

What is one difference between weather and climate?

• weather describes conditions near the ground, but climate does not.

• Climate describes energy from the sun, but weather does not.

• weather includes precipitation, but climate does not.

• Climate describes long-term conditions over an entire region, but weather does not.

Answer explanation

The correct answer highlights that climate describes long-term conditions over an entire region, while weather focuses on short-term atmospheric conditions near the ground.

Which event best describes an example of evaporation?

• Water flows downhill after a storm

• Dark clouds form in the sky

• Rain water oaks into the ground

• Solar energy heats water at the ocean's surface.

Answer explanation

Evaporation is the process where liquid water turns into vapor due to heat. Solar energy heating water at the ocean's surface is the best example of evaporation.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

In the water cycle, the Sun's energy is directly responsible for causing the process at location---

• A

• B

• C

• D

Answer explanation

The Sun's energy is directly responsible for causing the process at location A in the water cycle.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

What process is represented by letter B?

• Evaporation, because the water vapor is in the air

• Precipitation, because rain comes from clouds

• Condensation, because water is changing states to form clouds

• Transpiration, because water is transforming

Answer explanation

Condensation, because water is changing states to form clouds

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4