South Dakota Science Assessment — Grade 5

Which model BEST describes what all matter, including solids, liquids, and gases, is made of?

• AParticles that are too small to be seen without special magnification
• BSolid blocks that expand when heated and disappear when cooled
• CContinuous liquid sheets that stretch into different shapes
• DTiny visible dust specks floating in air and water

A student pumps air into a deflated basketball until it feels firm. How does this provide evidence that air is matter?

• AThe ball becomes heavier and takes up more space as air particles fill it
• BThe ball becomes lighter because air has negative weight
• CThe leather shell of the ball changes into a new chemical substance
• DThe air inside the ball disappears and turns into energy

A student freezes 100 grams of liquid water in a sealed container. What will the total mass of the ice be after freezing?

• A100 grams
• B50 grams
• C120 grams
• D0 grams

Which tool should a student use to measure the mass of a wooden block accurately?

• AA balance scale or electronic mass scale
• BA graduated cylinder filled with water
• CA metric ruler or tape measure
• DA digital thermometer

In what direction does Earth's gravitational force always pull objects near Earth's surface?

• ADown toward the center of Earth
• BNorth toward the geographic North Pole
• CEast toward the rising Sun
• DUp toward the upper atmosphere

Where does the energy stored in food originally come from?

• ASunlight absorbed by plants during photosynthesis
• BNutrients created deep inside Earth's core
• COxygen gas absorbed directly from water
• DArtificial heat generated by soil bacteria

A student stirs spoonfuls of sugar into warm water until it dissolves completely. What type of change has occurred?

• AA physical change because the sugar can be recovered by evaporating the water
• BA chemical change because the sugar turns into liquid water permanently
• CA nuclear change because new atoms are created in the solution
• DNo change at all because sugar disappears from existence

Which property is characteristic of all gases?

• AThey expand to fill the container they are placed in
• BThey maintain a fixed shape regardless of container shape
• CThey cannot be compressed into a smaller volume
• DThey are always heavier than liquids

An ice cube weighing 25 grams melts inside a tightly closed glass jar. What is the weight of the water inside the jar after melting?

• A25 grams
• B20 grams
• C30 grams
• D0 grams

Why does an apple fall straight down when dropped anywhere on Earth?

• AEarth's gravitational force pulls objects toward Earth's center
• BAir currents always push objects toward the ground
• CEarth's rotation creates a magnetic field pushing objects down
• DThe Sun pulls objects toward the horizon during the day

Which observation provides evidence that a chemical change has occurred when an iron nail rusts?

• AA new reddish-brown substance (iron oxide) with different properties forms
• BThe nail changes its shape without forming any new material
• CThe nail melts into liquid iron due to room temperature
• DThe nail dissolves in air and becomes an invisible gas

A student dissolves 50 grams of salt into 200 grams of water in a beaker. What is the total mass of the salt water solution?

• A250 grams
• B200 grams
• C150 grams
• D50 grams

A student drops one drop of red food coloring into hot water and one drop into cold water. The coloring spreads faster in hot water. What does this reveal about particles?

• AParticles move faster at higher temperatures
• BHot water particles are larger than cold water particles
• CCold water particles destroy food coloring particles
• DFood coloring turns into solid ice in hot water

A student is given three unidentified white powders. Which method will BEST help identify them without changing their chemical structure?

• ATest physical properties such as solubility in water, magnetism, and electrical conductiv…
• BBurn all three powders over a flame to see which ones explode
• CMix all three powders together with acid in a single dish
• DTaste each powder to check for sweetness or sourness

When baking soda is mixed with vinegar, gas bubbles form rapidly and the mixture cools down. Which conclusion is BEST supported by these observations?

• AA chemical change took place, producing a new gas (carbon dioxide)
• BA physical change occurred because vinegar evaporated into steam
• CNo reaction occurred because the substances remained identical
• DThe baking soda dissolved without any energy change

A hawk eats a snake that ate a mouse that ate corn seeds. How did the energy in the hawk originally reach the ecosystem?

• AThe corn plant captured energy from sunlight and stored it as food energy
• BThe hawk produced its own energy from drinking river water
• CThe snake generated energy inside its body through hibernation
• DThe soil created energy and transferred it to the mouse

A wooden log burns in a completely sealed, airtight steel box. After burning, ash, smoke, and gases remain inside. How does the total mass inside the box compare before and after burning?

• AThe total mass remains exactly the same
• BThe total mass decreases because smoke has no weight
• CThe total mass increases because fire adds matter
• DThe total mass drops to zero because wood is destroyed

What is the difference between an object's mass and its weight?

• AMass is the amount of matter in an object, while weight is the gravitational force pullin…
• BMass changes depending on location, while weight stays constant everywhere
• CMass is measured in pounds, while weight is measured in grams
• DMass applies only to liquids, while weight applies only to solids

Water droplets form on the outside of a cold glass of lemonade on a humid summer day. Where did this liquid water come from?

• AInvisible water vapor particles in the surrounding air cooled down and condensed onto the…
• BLemonade leaked through tiny solid pores in the glass wall
• CThe glass melted slightly and turned into pure liquid water
• DCold temperature created brand new water molecules out of nothing

Why are cooking pot handles often made of plastic or wood rather than metal?

• APlastic and wood are poor thermal conductors (insulators), preventing heat from transferr…
• BPlastic and wood conduct heat much faster than metal, keeping the handle cool
• CMetal handles absorb gravity and become too heavy to lift
• DPlastic and wood prevent food from sticking inside the pot

A student drops an antacid tablet into a plastic bottle of water and quickly seals the cap. Bubbles form, and the total mass on the scale remains 150 grams. If the student removes the cap and gas escapes, what will happen to the scale reading?

• AThe scale reading will decrease because gas particles escaped into the air
• BThe scale reading will increase because air rushes into the bottle
• CThe scale reading will stay at 150 grams because gases have no mass
• DThe scale reading will drop to 0 grams instantly

Which set of observations MOST strongly indicates that a chemical change occurred when two clear liquids were mixed?

• AA yellow solid (precipitate) formed at the bottom and heat was released
• BThe combined liquid volume equaled the sum of the two original volumes
• CThe mixture remained clear and took the shape of its container
• DThe liquid poured down the drain at the same speed as water

A book rests motionless on a flat desk. Which statement BEST describes the gravitational force acting on the book?

• AEarth's gravity pulls down on the book, balanced by an equal upward support force from th…
• BGravity stops pulling on the book as soon as it touches the desk
• CThe desk pushes down on the book while gravity pushes up from Earth
• DGravity pulls sideways toward the nearest wall

How do the arrangements and movements of particles compare between a solid block of ice and liquid water?

• AParticles in ice are locked in fixed positions and vibrate, while particles in liquid wat…
• BParticles in ice move much faster and fly far apart compared to liquid water particles
• CParticles in liquid water are packed rigidly and cannot move at all
• DIce particles have no mass, whereas liquid water particles have mass

A student constructs a solar oven using a cardboard box, foil, and black paper to melt a marshmallow. What energy transformation is demonstrated?

• ALight energy from the Sun is absorbed and transformed into thermal energy
• BElectrical energy is transformed into nuclear energy
• CSound energy is transformed into gravitational potential energy
• DChemical energy in the box creates new sunlight

A mixture contains fine iron filings, sand, and table salt. Which sequence of physical separation techniques will separate all three components successfully?

• AUse a magnet to pull out iron filings, add water to dissolve salt, filter out sand, then…
• BBurn the mixture to vaporize sand, use a magnet for salt, and freeze iron filings
• CDissolve iron filings in water, filter out salt, and melt the sand
• DPour the dry mixture through paper filter without water or magnets

When water freezes in a glass bottle, the water expands and breaks the glass. Why does the bottle break if mass is conserved?

• AThe volume increases because water particles arrange into a rigid pattern with more space…
• BThe total mass of the water triples during freezing, forcing the container to expand
• CFreezing destroys half of the water molecules, creating high vacuum pressure that shatter…
• DThe glass contracts into a liquid while the water turns into heavy metal

Which characteristic BEST distinguishes most physical changes from chemical changes?

• APhysical changes alter form or state without creating a new chemical substance, whereas c…
• BPhysical changes always release light and heat, while chemical changes never do
• CPhysical changes destroy atoms, while chemical changes double the number of atoms
• DPhysical changes occur only in laboratory equipment, while chemical changes occur only in…

A student measures 10 g of sugar, 15 g of salt, and 100 g of water. She dissolves both solids completely in the water, freezes the solution solid, and then lets it melt back to liquid at room temperature in a sealed flask. What is the final total mass?

• A125 grams
• B100 grams
• C115 grams
• D25 grams

A student traps air in a sealed syringe and pushes the plunger inward. The volume decreases, but no air escapes. How does the particle model explain why pushing the plunger becomes harder?

• AAir particles are forced into a smaller space, increasing collision frequency against syr…
• BAir particles grow larger in physical size as they are squeezed together
• CAir particles turn into solid iron atoms that block plunger movement
• DPushing plunger destroys half the air particles, creating high internal suction

An astronaut carries a 60 kg stone from Earth to the Moon, where gravity is about 1/6th of Earth's gravity. How do the stone's mass and weight on the Moon compare to its values on Earth?

• AMass remains 60 kg, while weight decreases to 1/6th of its Earth weight
• BBoth mass and weight decrease to 1/6th of their Earth values
• CMass decreases to 10 kg, while weight remains unchanged
• DBoth mass and weight increase by six times

A scientist wants to prove whether mixing two liquids causes a chemical change or a physical change. Which experimental procedure provides the MOST conclusive evidence?

• AMeasure mass, temperature, color, and test if the resulting products have different chemi…
• BObserve the color of the container for five seconds without taking any measurements
• CPour the liquids into three different shaped glasses and measure container height
• DFreeze the liquids before mixing and check if they turn blue

Which pathway BEST traces the transformation of energy from nuclear reactions in the Sun all the way to a running horse on a South Dakota ranch?

• ASolar light energy → chemical energy stored in plant sugars → chemical energy stored in h…
• BSolar thermal energy → electrical energy in soil → gravitational potential energy in hors…
• CSolar wind energy → nuclear energy in grass roots → sound energy in horse neighs → solar…
• DGeothermal energy → water pressure energy → chemical energy in horse teeth → light energy

A student burns a 500 g wooden block in an open campfire ring. The remaining ash weighs only 20 g. How can the student reconcile this observation with the Law of Conservation of Mass?

• AMost of the wood's mass reacted with oxygen gas to form 480 g of carbon dioxide gas and w…
• B480 g of matter was completely converted into zero-mass electricity
• CThe scale malfunctioned because heat destroys gravity
• DAsh is 25 times denser than wood, so mass decreased while volume increased

A student has four unknown liquid samples. Sample A dissolves salt rapidly and boils at 100°C. Sample B does not dissolve salt, floats on water, and burns easily. Sample C dissolves salt slowly and boils at 100°C. Which sample is MOST likely pure water?

• ASample A
• BSample B
• CSample C
• DNeither sample can be water

Where do plants acquire MOST of the matter (building blocks) they need to grow and build new leaves and stems?

• AFrom carbon dioxide gas in the air and water from the soil
• BFrom solid soil particles absorbed through root tips
• CFrom sunlight energy absorbed directly into plant cells
• DFrom fertilizer chemicals manufactured inside garden pots

Which organism in a grassland ecosystem functions as a producer?

• AWestern wheatgrass
• BBison
• CPrairie rattlesnake
• DEarthworm

What is the primary role of a consumer in a food web?

• ATo obtain energy and matter by eating other organisms
• BTo make food using sunlight and carbon dioxide
• CTo break down rock into mineral soil particles
• DTo produce oxygen for plants to breathe at night

Which organisms play the vital role of decomposers in a forest ecosystem?

• AFungi and soil bacteria
• BOak trees and ferns
• CWhite-tailed deer and rabbits
• DRed-tailed hawks and owls

In a food chain diagram, what do the arrows pointing from one organism to another represent?

• AThe direction of energy and matter transfer when one organism is eaten by another
• BThe physical movement path of animals migrating across South Dakota
• CWhich animal is larger in physical size
• DThe order in which animals go to sleep each night

What role does sunlight play in plant growth?

• AIt provides the light energy needed to drive photosynthesis
• BIt supplies physical matter that turns into plant roots
• CIt drinks water from the soil to warm the roots
• DIt cools the leaves to prevent plants from breathing

A plant is grown in a pot with potting soil, watered regularly, and kept near a bright window. Where does the carbon in its new leaves come from?

• ACarbon dioxide gas absorbed from the surrounding air
• BWater molecules absorbed by the roots
• CDirect conversion of sunlight into solid carbon
• DClay minerals dissolved in tap water

Which animal is classified as an herbivore (primary consumer)?

• ACottontail rabbit eating clover grass
• BCoyote hunting jackrabbits
• CMountain lion preying on deer
• DBald eagle catching river trout

What basic components must be present for a self-sustaining terrestrial ecosystem?

• ASunlight, air, water, producers, consumers, and decomposers
• BOnly large predatory carnivores and deep ocean water
• COnly synthetic fertilizers and plastic shelter domes
• DOnly decomposers living in complete darkness without air

A healthy bean plant is placed inside a dark closet and watered daily for three weeks. The plant turns yellow, wilts, and dies. Why did the plant die?

• AIt lacked sunlight energy to perform photosynthesis and produce food
• BIt received too much carbon dioxide from the dark air
• CThe water turned into toxic poison inside the closet
• DRoots stopped absorbing soil because soil sleeps in the dark

In a hydroponic farm, crops grow rapidly in water containing dissolved nutrient salts under artificial lights, without any soil. What does this hydroponic system demonstrate about plant growth?

• ASoil is not an absolute requirement for plant growth if water, light, air, and mineral nu…
• BPlants derive all their structural mass directly from artificial light bulb glass
• CPlants do not need water if they are exposed to bright LED lamps
• DSoil is the only component that supplies carbon to plant stems

How do decomposers contribute to the continuous recycling of matter in a forest ecosystem?

• AThey break down complex organic matter into simpler minerals and nutrients that return to…
• BThey convert sunlight into brand new rocks and stones
• CThey trap oxygen underwater so fish cannot breathe
• DThey prevent dead leaves from ever breaking down

If disease dramatically decreases the snake population in a Black Hills meadow, what immediate effect is MOST likely observed among field mice (the snakes' primary prey)?

• AThe field mouse population will increase because fewer mice are being eaten by snakes
• BThe field mouse population will immediately drop to zero
• CField mice will stop eating grass and begin eating rattlesnakes
• DField mice will turn into green plants to make their own food