TCAP Science — Grade 4

Two toy cars roll down a ramp. Car A moves faster than Car B. Which statement correctly compares their motion energy (kinetic energy)?

• ACar A has more motion energy because it is moving faster.
• BCar B has more motion energy because it is moving slower.
• CBoth cars have the exact same amount of motion energy.
• DNeither car possesses motion energy while moving down a ramp.

A rolling bowling ball hits a standing bowling pin and knocks it over. What happens to the energy during this collision?

• AAll energy completely vanishes upon impact.
• BEnergy is transferred from the bowling ball to the bowling pin.
• CEnergy is created out of nothing when the ball touches the pin.
• DThe pin gives all of its kinetic energy to the stationary floor.

A student connects a battery, wires, a lightbulb, and a switch in a simple circuit. What is the main purpose of the switch in this electric circuit?

• ATo produce electrical energy without needing a battery
• BTo change the color of the light emitted by the lightbulb
• CTo open or close the circuit to control the flow of electricity
• DTo increase the total amount of energy stored inside the wires

When a beam of light strikes a flat glass mirror, what path does the light follow?

• AIt bends into a complete circle and stops inside the mirror.
• BIt turns into sound energy and disappears into the air.
• CIt passes straight through the mirror without changing direction.
• DIt bounces off the surface of the mirror in a straight line.

A musician plucks a guitar string, creating a sound that travels through the air. What creates this sound?

• AVibrations of the guitar string moving back and forth
• BAir particles turning directly into visible light rays
• CHeat energy flowing from the musician's fingers into the guitar body
• DElectrical charges jumping from the wooden guitar to the room

Plants have several main structures that help them survive. What is the primary function of plant roots?

• ATo catch insects to feed the plant
• BTo absorb water and nutrients from the soil
• CTo absorb sunlight from the sky to make sugar
• DTo produce seeds for reproduction

Which plant structure is mainly responsible for capturing sunlight to make food for the plant?

• ARoots
• BBark
• CLeaves
• DSeeds

A polar bear has a thick layer of fat (blubber) under its skin and dense white fur. How do these structures help the polar bear survive?

• AThey help the bear breathe underwater for long periods.
• BThey help the bear run faster on hot desert sand.
• CThey help the bear absorb green light for energy.
• DThey keep the bear warm in freezing Arctic temperatures.

A wolf has sharp, pointed teeth called canines. How does this physical structure help the wolf survive?

• AIt allows the wolf to catch and tear meat from prey.
• BIt helps the wolf grind tough prairie grasses into powder.
• CIt enables the wolf to absorb water through its mouth lining.
• DIt helps the wolf stay cool by radiating heat from its jaw.

When you accidentally touch a hot cup of cocoa, your hand quickly pulls away. What role do sensory receptors in your skin play in this event?

• AThey generate muscle power directly to lift the cup.
• BThey detect the heat and send an electrical signal to your nervous system.
• CThey cool down the hot cup by releasing water vapor.
• DThey store thermal energy inside the skin layer for later use.

Which organ receives visual signals from the eyes and processes them so a person understands what they are seeing?

• AHeart
• BStomach
• CBrain
• DLungs

What is the primary function of a plant's stem?

• ATo produce pollen for insect pollination
• BTo absorb carbon dioxide directly from soil rocks
• CTo anchor the plant deep underground in darkness
• DTo support the plant upright and carry water and nutrients between roots and leaves

A scientist examines a cliff side with several undisturbed horizontal layers of sedimentary rock. Where is the oldest rock layer located?

• AAt the very bottom layer
• BAt the very top layer
• CIn the middle layer containing modern plant roots
• DOldest rocks are found randomly scattered across all layers

Water seeps into a crack in a boulder during a warm afternoon. At night, the temperature drops below freezing, and the water turns to ice. What will most likely happen to the rock crack over time?

• AThe crack will close up and disappear completely.
• BThe crack will widen as the expanding ice pushes the rock apart.
• CThe rock will turn into liquid oil.
• DThe ice will turn the boulder into a metal block.

Heavy rain falls on a bare dirt hillside. The rushing water carries mud and small rocks down into a nearby stream. What earth process is being described?

• AVolcanism
• BPhotosynthesis
• CErosion
• DEvaporation

Which energy source is considered renewable because it is naturally replenished constantly by nature?

• ACoal
• BCrude oil
• CNatural gas
• DSunlight

Coal, crude oil, and natural gas are classified as nonrenewable energy resources. Why are they called nonrenewable?

• AThey take millions of years to form and cannot be replaced as fast as they are consumed.
• BThey are created instantly every time it rains.
• CThey produce zero pollution when burned in power plants.
• DThey can be refilled in factory tanks within a few hours.

A coastal city builds a wall of large boulders (a seawall) along the shoreline. What natural hazard impact is this structure designed to reduce?

• AVolcanic ash fallout
• BBeach erosion caused by strong ocean waves
• CEarthquakes in deep underground faults
• DTornado winds in the upper atmosphere

Maps showing the locations of active volcanoes around Earth reveal that most volcanoes occur in specific regions, such as the Ring of Fire around the Pacific Ocean. Why are volcanoes concentrated in these areas?

• AThese areas have the highest amount of rainfall on Earth.
• BThese areas are closest to the equator where it is always warm.
• CThese areas are located along the boundaries of Earth's tectonic plates.
• DThese areas are covered with dense pine forests.

In an engineering project, students are asked to build a bridge model that can support a 2-pound weight using only wooden popsicle sticks and glue. In this project, supporting 2 pounds is an example of a design:

• ATrade-off
• BHypothesis
• CFossil
• DCriterion (requirement)

A student strikes a drum softly, then strikes the same drum much harder. What property of the sound wave increases when the drum is struck harder?

• AAmplitude (loudness)
• BWavelength size
• CColor spectrum
• DTemperature

Solar outdoor lights store energy during the day and light up at night. What energy transformation takes place in the solar panels during the daytime?

• ASound energy converts into nuclear energy
• BLight energy from the sun converts into electrical energy
• CElectrical energy converts into wind energy
• DThermal energy converts into magnetic gravity

A snowshoe hare has brown fur in the summer and white fur in the winter. How does changing fur color help the snowshoe hare survive?

• AIt helps the hare absorb more water from snow.
• BIt makes the hare visible so predators can easily find it.
• CIt provides camouflage to blend into surroundings and hide from predators.
• DIt allows the hare to fly above snowdrifts.

Brightly colored flower petals attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. What essential process in flowering plants relies on these animal visits?

• ADeep root extension
• BBark shedding
• CLeaf freezing
• DPollination for reproduction

Topographical maps use lines called contour lines. What do closely spaced contour lines on a topographic map represent?

• AA steep slope or hill
• BA deep lake filled with water
• CA flat prairie plain
• DA paved highway road

In a dry desert, strong winds blow loose sand grains across the desert floor, building large sand dunes over time. What process creates sand dunes?

• AChemical weathering by rain
• BWind erosion and deposition
• CGlacial movement downhill
• DVolcanic eruption of lava

A team of students builds three different paper airplane prototypes to see which one flies the farthest. What step of the engineering design process are they completing?

• AWriting a final textbook report
• BIgnoring test results completely
• CTesting and evaluating prototypes
• DDefining a brand-new problem statement

When observing waves on a rope, a student measures the distance from the top of one wave peak (crest) to the top of the very next wave peak. What wave property is being measured?

• AWave speed in miles per hour
• BWave color
• CWave weight in grams
• DWavelength

How do human eyes allow a person to see an object placed across the room?

• ALight reflects off the object and enters the eye through the pupil.
• BThe eye shoots out invisible beams of light that touch the object.
• CSound waves bounce off the object and carry visual pictures to the eyelids.
• DHeat rays travel from the eye to warm up the object across the room.

An earthquake causes the ground near a town to shake suddenly. What underground event causes earthquakes?

• AHeavy rain soaking into topsoil layers
• BSudden movement or slipping of rock along underground plate faults
• CTrees growing long root systems into riverbanks
• DOcean tides rising and falling twice a day

A student pushes a toy car across a smooth table at 2 miles per hour. Next, the student pushes the same car so it travels at 6 miles per hour. How does the car's motion energy change?

• AThe motion energy stays exactly the same at both speeds.
• BThe motion energy decreases as speed increases.
• CThe motion energy increases significantly as speed increases.
• DThe motion energy becomes zero as soon as speed increases.

A heavy marble rolling down a ramp collides with a stationary light plastic marble. What evidence shows that energy was transferred during the collision?

• ABoth marbles stop moving and disappear completely.
• BThe heavy marble gains weight after hitting the plastic marble.
• CThe heavy marble turns into a gas state immediately.
• DThe plastic marble starts moving and a popping sound is heard.

A student connects a wire from a battery to a lightbulb, but leaves a gap in the second wire connecting back to the battery. Why does the lightbulb fail to light up?

• AThe circuit is open, so electric current cannot flow in a complete loop.
• BThe battery instantly loses all stored chemical energy.
• CThe lightbulb receives too much electricity and breaks.
• DThe wire turns into an insulator when touched by air.

Why can a person see a red apple sitting on a table in a bright room?

• AThe apple creates its own bright light rays inside its core.
• BLight from room lamps reflects off the red apple into the person's eyes.
• CThe person's eyes project red light onto the apple's surface.
• DAir currents carry red pigment particles from the apple to the eye.

A student listens to two whistle sounds: Sound X has a high pitch, while Sound Y has a low pitch. What difference exists in their sound waves?

• ASound X has zero amplitude, while Sound Y has infinite amplitude.
• BSound X travels faster than the speed of light.
• CSound X has a higher frequency (more wave peaks per second) than Sound Y.
• DSound X requires no air medium to travel.

People send messages over long distances using digitized signals (patterns of binary code 1s and 0s) converted into light pulses in fiber optic cables. Why are digitized signals used instead of basic analog sound waves?

• ADigitized signals turn into solid gold wires inside cables.
• BDigitized signals travel backwards through time.
• CDigitized signals require zero electrical energy.
• DDigitized signals can be transmitted accurately over long distances without losing clarit…

A metal spoon is placed inside a bowl of steaming hot soup. After two minutes, the handle of the spoon feels hot. What process caused the spoon handle to warm up?

• AThermal energy conducted through the metal spoon from the hot soup
• BLight energy reflecting off the soup bowl rim
• CSound energy vibrating the soup liquid molecules into cold air
• DElectrical charges flowing from the ceramic bowl into the spoon

A window pane allows almost all light to pass straight through, while frosted shower glass scatters light, making objects behind it blurry. How are these two materials classified?

• AWindow glass is opaque; frosted glass is transparent.
• BWindow glass is transparent; frosted glass is translucent.
• CBoth materials are classified as totally opaque.
• DBoth materials absorb 100% of light and cast pitch-black shadows.

A student pulls back the rubber band of a slingshot. When released, the rubber band launches a small foam ball across the room. What energy change occurs?

• AElectrical energy turns into nuclear energy.
• BSound energy turns into solar energy.
• CStored potential energy in the stretched band converts into motion (kinetic) energy of th…
• DKinetic energy of the ball turns into gravitational magnetic weight.

Trees have a thick outer layer of bark surrounding their trunks. What essential protective role does tree bark play?

• AIt absorbs water directly from clouds.
• BIt manufactures seeds during winter storms.
• CIt attracts pest insects to eat the tree core.
• DIt guards internal living stem tissue against physical damage, disease, and water loss.

Plant leaves have microscopic pores called stomata on their undersides. What is the function of stomata?

• ATo open and close to allow gas exchange (carbon dioxide in, oxygen out) and control water…
• BTo anchor the leaf tightly to rocks in high winds
• CTo absorb liquid soil fertilizers directly into leaf tips
• DTo store starch reserves underground during freezing winters

Owls hunt for mice at night in near darkness. Owls have very large pupils that can expand wide open. How does this eye structure aid their survival?

• ALarge pupils shoot out light beams so mice can see the owl coming.
• BLarge pupils gather maximum available light in dim conditions to improve night vision.
• CLarge pupils protect the owl from bright midday sunlight.
• DLarge pupils allow owls to hear quiet footsteps under leaves.

Fish live underwater full-time and possess gills instead of lungs. How do gills help fish survive in aquatic habitats?

• AGills absorb sunlight directly through the water to make food.
• BGills digest small water plants inside the throat.
• CGills extract dissolved oxygen gas from water into the bloodstream.
• DGills pump fresh air down from the atmosphere through long tubes.

A student touches a soft puppy coat. Place the steps of sensory processing in the correct order:

• ABrain creates feel -> Skin receptors cool down -> Spinal cord freezes -> Fingers warm up
• BSpinal cord sees puppy -> Brain grows hair -> Skin creates sound -> Eyes feel warmth
• CHeart pumps blood -> Muscles contract -> Bones absorb fur -> Receptors turn off
• DSkin receptors detect soft texture -> Nerve signals travel up arm -> Brain processes sign…

Dandelion seeds have feathery white parachute tops. How does this specialized seed structure help the dandelion plant reproduce and spread?

• AIt allows breeze currents to carry seeds far away from the parent plant.
• BIt helps seeds burrow deep into solid granite boulders.
• CIt attracts large grazing animals to eat the seeds whole.
• DIt keeps the seed underwater at the bottom of deep lakes.

Birds have hollow bones filled with air spaces, while mammals have dense, heavy bones. How does hollow bone structure benefit birds?

• AIt makes the bird heavier so it can dive into soil easily.
• BIt reduces body weight, making it easier for birds to achieve flight.
• CIt allows birds to store extra ocean water in their legs.
• DIt prevents birds from feeling cold air.

In a forest ecosystem, hawks eat field mice, and field mice eat grass seeds. If disease causes the hawk population to decline sharply, what change will most likely happen first?

• AThe grass seed production will immediately stop everywhere.
• BField mice will turn into hawks to replace them.
• CThe field mice population will increase due to fewer hawk predators.
• DHawks will start eating soil rocks instead of mice.

A snake flicks its forked tongue in and out of its mouth. It then touches its tongue tips to an organ in the roof of its mouth. How does this behavior help the snake?

• AIt allows the snake to cool down by swallowing air.
• BIt helps the snake whistle to scare away eagles.
• CIt pumps blood faster through the snake's tail.
• DIt collects scent chemical particles from the air to track prey or predators.