PSSA 5th Grade Science Review Part 1

Leafcutter ants live underground in groups. Which statement explains one way that leafcutter ants can survive?

• The larger ants can compete with the smaller ants for food.

• The worker ants have the most important job in providing food.

• The smallest ants use leaves for food when the fungus becomes moldy.

• The ants each have a different job to do to provide food for the whole colony.

Answer explanation

Having different ways to contribute to the process of providing food can help the ants in the colony survive.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Which claim is best supported by the data from the pond?

• Litter had both helpful and harmful effects on pond life.

• Removing litter from the pond helped organisms survive.

• Invasive species do not survive when habitats are restored.

• An environment can be restored to its original condition within a year.

Answer explanation

The data indicates that removing litter from the pond directly contributed to the survival of organisms, making this claim the best supported by the evidence.

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Students in Pennsylvania are learning about recycling programs in their state. About 94% of the state’s population has access to recycling programs. About 79% of those people have their recyclables collected. Some people in rural areas need to bring their recyclable trash to a drop-off area.

Which claim about recycling in Pennsylvania is best supported by the information?

• People in rural areas should not have to recycle, because their trash is not collected for them.

• Recycling is more important in urban areas than in rural areas because more people live there.

• The amount of recycling is high enough so that people do not need to bring their trash to a drop-off area.

• Most people in Pennsylvania have access to recycling, even if the material must be brought to a drop-off area.

Answer explanation

The correct claim highlights that most people in Pennsylvania have access to recycling options, even if they need to take materials to a drop-off area, indicating a widespread availability of recycling services.

Buildings, roads, and highways often divide wildlife habitats. In 2022, people started building the world’s largest wildlife crossing. The crossing will connect two protected areas that are divided by a large highway. The goal is to help animals safely cross to find food, water, and mates.

Which action would best help scientists decide whether the wildlife crossing meets the goal?

• Comparing the population sizes of different animals before and after the crossing is built

• Counting the number of different animals that live in the areas on each side of the crossing

• Comparing the areas on each side of the crossing to learn which area the animals like best

• Setting up cameras to count the total number of animals that use the crossing during one day

Answer explanation

Comparing population sizes before and after the crossing provides direct evidence of its impact on wildlife movement and survival, helping scientists assess if the crossing meets its intended goals.

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A student places a toy car on the top of a ramp and then lets it go during an investigation. The toy car moves down the ramp and along the floor. Then the toy car hits a brick. The student observes the direction and distance the toy car travels after hitting the brick. The student continues the investigation, changing the height of the ramp for each test. The table shows the investigation results.

What is the most likely distance and direction the toy car travels when the ramp height is 10 centimeters (cm)?

• 5 cm to the left

• 5 cm to the right

• 10 cm to the left

• 10 cm to the right

Answer explanation

The data for tests 1–4 suggest that the car will likely move 5 cm to the left after hitting the brick.

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A student is doing an investigation with two magnets. The student arranges the magnets in two positions. Which question about magnets could best be answered by this investigation?

• In which position are the magnets most useful?

• At which distances do the magnets generate electricity?

• How do the positions of the magnets affect the motion of the magnets?

• How does the distance between the magnets affect the strength of the magnetic force?

Answer explanation

The positions of the magnets show the different ways magnets can move toward or away from each other.

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Which statement explains the relationship between the speed of the ball and the distance the pin traveled?

• The pin traveled farthest when the ball had the most mass.

• The pin traveled farthest when the ball had the most energy.

• The pin traveled farthest when the ball traveled the least distance.

• The pin traveled farthest when the ball traveled the greatest distance.

Answer explanation

The positions of the magnets show the different ways magnets can move toward or away from each other.

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NGSS.MS-PS3-1

Based on the table, which statement best describes the bars that should be added to complete the graph?

• The bar for each month should be the same height as the bar for June.

• The bar for each month should be taller than the bar for the month before.

• The bar for each month should be the same height as the bar for February.

• The bar for each month should be shorter than the bar for the month before.

Answer explanation

The temperature pattern between January and July indicates that the temperatures from March to May should increase gradually.

Use the table below to answer the question. The table shows the height of a river on different dates in March, April, and May. Floods happen when the river is higher than 11 meters. People in the surrounding area want to build a wall to help prevent flood damage. Which claim about building a wall is best supported by data in the table?

• A wall is not needed, because this river rarely floods.

• A wall is not needed, because a flood is a natural event.

• A wall that is 1 meter tall will help prevent flood damage.

• A wall that is 4 meters tall will help prevent flood damage.

Answer explanation

The data shows that the river exceeds 11 meters on multiple occasions, indicating a risk of flooding. A wall that is 4 meters tall would effectively prevent flood damage during these high water events.

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NGSS.MS-ESS3-2

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The graph shows the amount of carbon dioxide given off into the air while electricity is being produced. How could the amount of carbon dioxide released into the air be reduced?

• by increasing the amount of electricity produced by burning coal

• .by decreasing the amount of electricity produced by hydropower

• by producing more electricity from biomass than from solar farms

• by producing more electricity from rooftop solar panels than from natural gas

Answer explanation

According to the data, using rooftop solar panels to produce electricity releases less carbon dioxide than using natural gas to produce electricity does.

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