West Virginia General Summative Assessment Science — Grade 5

A student adds 15 grams of salt to 100 grams of water in a sealed flask and stirs until the salt disappears. What is the total mass of the solution inside the flask after the salt dissolves completely?

• A85 grams
• B100 grams
• C115 grams
• D130 grams

A student places a 50-gram ice cube into a zip-top plastic bag, seals it tightly, and leaves it on a warm counter. After the ice melts completely into liquid water, what will be the mass of the sealed bag and its contents?

• A25 grams
• B50 grams (plus the unchanged mass of the bag)
• C75 grams
• D100 grams

A student holds a tennis ball and an apple at shoulder height in a classroom and releases them at the same time. In which direction does the gravitational force pull both objects?

• ADownward toward the center of the Earth
• BHorizontally toward the nearest classroom wall
• CUpward toward the ceiling
• DToward the brightest window in the room

A student constructs a simple electric circuit using a battery, light bulb, and wires. To complete the circuit and cause the light bulb to glow, which object should be inserted into the gap?

• AA wooden craft stick
• BA copper paperclip
• CA plastic ruler
• DA rubber eraser

When a hand pump is used to inflate a deflated basketball, the basketball expands and becomes firm. Which statement best explains why adding air makes the ball firm?

• AAir turns into a solid layer inside the ball.
• BAir particles take up space and push outward against the inner walls of the ball.
• CAir destroys the rubber skin of the ball and replaces it with foam.
• DAir cools the inside of the ball until the rubber freezes solid.

Spoons made of four different materials are placed into a pot of hot soup. After 3 minutes, which spoon handle will feel the warmest when touched?

• AStainless steel spoon
• BWooden spoon
• CPlastic spoon
• DSilicone spoon

On a bright sunny day, a student notices that dark black asphalt pavement feels much hotter to barefoot touch than light white concrete sidewalk. Why does the black asphalt get hotter?

• ADark surfaces absorb more light energy from the sun and convert it into heat.
• BWhite concrete produces cold energy that cools the surface.
• CBlack asphalt creates its own heat internally without needing sunlight.
• DWhite concrete reflects all heat into the ground beneath it.

A sorting facility uses a powerful magnet over a conveyor belt of recycled items. Which object will be attracted and lifted up by the magnet?

• AAluminum soda can
• BIron nail
• CPlastic water bottle
• DGlass bottle

A student fills a plastic bottle with 250 grams of liquid water, caps it tightly, and places it in a freezer. Once the water freezes solid into ice, what is the mass of the closed bottle and ice?

• ALess than 250 grams because ice floats
• BExactly 250 grams (plus the container mass) because no matter entered or escaped
• CMore than 250 grams because ice expands in volume
• D0 grams because freezing destroys mass

A student drops a solid fizzing tablet into a beaker of water. Gas bubbles immediately form and rise to the surface. What evidence indicates that a chemical change occurred?

• AThe tablet sank to the bottom of the beaker.
• BA new gas substance was produced during the reaction.
• CThe total volume of water stayed the same.
• DThe water turned completely clear.

A student adds 10 grams of sand to Cup A and 10 grams of sugar to Cup B, both filled with 100 mL of warm water, and stirs each for 2 minutes. What will the student observe?

• AThe sand dissolves completely, but the sugar remains at the bottom.
• BThe sugar dissolves completely, but the sand remains at the bottom.
• CBoth the sand and the sugar dissolve completely.
• DNeither the sand nor the sugar dissolves.

A student mixes 120 grams of vinegar and 15 grams of baking soda in an open beaker (total starting mass = 135 grams). Rapid bubbling occurs. After fizzing stops, the mass of the contents in the open beaker is measured at 131 grams. Why did the measured mass decrease by 4 grams?

• A4 grams of mass were destroyed during the chemical reaction.
• B4 grams of carbon dioxide gas escaped into the surrounding air.
• CBaking soda loses all of its mass when dissolved.
• DVinegar turned into light energy and vanished.

A student tests four unknown powders and records the results in a data table: Powder | Soluble in Water | Reacts with Vinegar (Fizzing) Powder W | Yes | No Powder X | No | Yes Powder Y | Yes | Yes Powder Z | No | No Which powder is insoluble in water AND undergoes a chemical reaction when vinegar is added?

• APowder W
• BPowder X
• CPowder Y
• DPowder Z

A student places wet iron wool in a closed flask filled with air and tracks its mass over 5 days as rust forms: Day 1: 10.0 grams Day 3: 10.4 grams Day 5: 10.8 grams Why did the mass of the iron wool increase as it rusted?

• AIron atoms multiplied inside the sealed flask.
• BOxygen gas from the air chemically combined with the iron to form rust.
• CWater inside the flask created brand new iron matter.
• DLight entering the glass flask added mass to the metal structure.

A teacher opens a bottle of peppermint oil at the front of a classroom. Two minutes later, students sitting in the back row can smell the scent. How does the particle model of matter explain this observation?

• AThe scent travels as a solid beam across the floor.
• BScent gas particles move constantly and randomly, colliding with air particles and spread…
• CScent particles pull air particles toward the front of the room.
• DScent particles only move when a high-power fan pushes them.

Maya lives in West Virginia, USA, and Lucas lives in Sydney, Australia (on the opposite side of Earth). Lucas states that gravity pulls him 'down.' In what direction is gravity pulling Lucas relative to the Earth?

• AToward the sky above Australia
• BToward the center of the Earth
• CNorthward toward North America
• DAway from Earth out into space

A white-tailed deer runs through a West Virginia mountain forest. Tracing the energy for the deer's muscle movement back to its original source, which energy sequence is correct?

• ASun light energy -> Plant chemical energy -> Deer chemical energy -> Deer motion energy
• BSoil thermal energy -> Deer heat energy -> Plant light energy -> Motion energy
• CWind mechanical energy -> Grass motion energy -> Deer heat energy -> Light energy
• DDeer motion energy -> Plant chemical energy -> Sun light energy -> Soil energy

Students set up four different mixtures in science lab: Trial 1: Salt + Warm Water -> Salt dissolves; liquid stays clear. Trial 2: Effervescent Tablet + Water -> Rapid bubbling, gas released, temperature drops 3°C. Trial 3: Ice Cube + Water -> Ice melts into liquid water. Trial 4: Blue Dye + Water -> Water turns uniform blue. Which trial provides clear evidence of a chemical change?

• ATrial 1
• BTrial 2
• CTrial 3
• DTrial 4

A student pulls back the plunger of a sealed syringe containing 5 mL of liquid water. The liquid evaporates into invisible water vapor gas inside the sealed syringe. What happened to the mass of the water inside?

• AMass decreased because gases have no mass.
• BMass remained the same because liquid water molecules changed into gas molecules inside a…
• CMass increased because gases take up more space.
• DMass dropped to zero because water disappeared.

A student carefully pours four liquids into a glass cylinder and lets them settle into layers: - Vegetable Oil: 0.91 g/mL - Pure Water: 1.00 g/mL - Dish Soap: 1.06 g/mL - Corn Syrup: 1.37 g/mL Which liquid will settle at the very bottom layer?

• AVegetable Oil
• BPure Water
• CDish Soap
• DCorn Syrup

A student tests the hardness and transparency of four mineral samples: - Quartz: Hardness 7, Transparent - Talc: Hardness 1, Opaque - Gypsum: Hardness 2, Translucent - Fluorite: Hardness 4, Transparent The student needs a mineral that can scratch Gypsum (hardness 2), cannot scratch Quartz (hardness 7), and allows light to pass through clearly. Which mineral fits all criteria?

• ATalc
• BGypsum
• CFluorite
• DQuartz

Students build cardboard solar ovens lined with foil and covered with plastic wrap. Oven A has black paper on the bottom, while Oven B has white paper on the bottom. Why does Oven A reach a much higher temperature?

• ABlack paper absorbs sunlight energy and transfers it as heat energy inside the oven.
• BBlack paper releases cold air toward the outside of the box.
• CWhite paper creates friction that slows light down.
• DFoil blocks light from touching white paper.

A student measures 200 grams of warm tea and adds 25 grams of sugar. The sugar dissolves completely and is no longer visible. What is the total mass of the sweetened tea solution?

• A175 grams
• B200 grams
• C225 grams
• D250 grams

A student pushes a 10 kg plastic crate across four different outdoor surfaces with the exact same pushing force. On which surface will the crate experience the LOWEST friction force?

• ASmooth ice rink surface
• BPolished wooden deck
• CRough grassy lawn
• DCoarse asphalt driveway

A glass filled with ice water sits on a table in a warm room. After 10 minutes, droplets of liquid water cover the OUTSIDE surface of the glass. Where did this liquid water come from?

• AWater leaked through microscopic holes in the glass.
• BInvisible water vapor in the warm air cooled upon touching the cold glass surface and con…
• CIce inside melted and overflowed over the rim of the glass.
• DThe glass material produced water molecules through a chemical reaction.

A student burns a wooden stick in a sealed glass chamber containing oxygen: Before burning: Wood (15 g) + Oxygen gas (5 g) = 20 grams total mass. After burning: Ash (2 g) + Carbon dioxide gas & water vapor (18 g) = 20 grams total mass. Which statement best summarizes the law demonstrated by this experiment?

• ABurning destroys matter because solid wood turns into lightweight ash.
• BTotal mass is conserved because the combined mass of reaction products equals the combine…
• COxygen gas turns into solid wood atoms during combustion.
• DChemical reactions convert energy directly into new mass.

A student separates a dry mixture of iron filings, coarse sand, and table salt: Step 1: Use a magnet to pull out iron filings. Step 2: Add water to the remaining sand and salt mixture and stir. Step 3: Pour the mixture through filter paper to collect sand on the paper. Step 4: Evaporate liquid water to collect solid salt. Which physical property allowed salt to be separated from sand in Step 2 and Step 3?

• AMagnetism
• BElectrical conductivity
• CSolubility in water
• DParticle color

A student drops a heavy 500-gram steel sphere and a light 50-gram rubber sphere from a height of 3 meters at the exact same instant inside a vacuum chamber (where all air has been removed). Which sphere hits the ground first?

• AThe heavy steel sphere because gravity pulls harder on heavier objects.
• BThe light rubber sphere because it experiences less gravitational pull.
• CBoth spheres hit the ground at the exact same time because gravity accelerates all fallin…
• DNeither sphere falls because gravity requires air to push objects down.

A student vigorously rubs her hands together for 30 seconds on a cold winter day. Her palms quickly feel warm. What energy transformation is taking place?

• AThermal energy -> Chemical energy
• BMechanical (motion) energy -> Thermal (heat) energy due to friction
• CLight energy -> Sound energy
• DElectrical energy -> Nuclear energy

Two students perform baking soda + vinegar reactions: - Student A conducts the reaction inside a sealed plastic bottle with a balloon stretched tightly over the top. - Student B conducts the reaction in an open glass beaker. Student A measures starting mass = 150.0 g, final mass = 150.0 g. Student B measures starting mass = 150.0 g, final mass = 146.2 g. Why did Student A's system maintain constant mass while Student B's system lost 3.8 grams?

• AStudent A used a closed system that trapped gas particles inside, whereas Student B used…
• BStudent A's chemical reaction did not produce gas, while Student B's reaction produced ga…
• CStudent B's beaker destroyed matter during chemical change.
• DThe balloon added extra gravitational mass to Student A's bottle.

A solid brass sphere barely fits through a brass ring at room temperature (20°C). When the brass sphere is heated over a flame for 2 minutes, it can no longer fit through the ring. After cooling back to 20°C, it fits easily again. What happened to the brass particles when heated?

• ABrass particles multiplied in number, making the sphere heavier.
• BBrass particles gained thermal energy and vibrated faster, pushing slightly farther apart…
• CBrass particles melted into gas inside the sphere, inflating it like a balloon.
• DBrass particles shrank, forcing the outer brass surface to swell.

A student tests physical properties of Material X: - State at 25°C: Solid - Magnetism: Not magnetic - Electrical Conductivity: High (bulb glows bright) - Thermal Conductivity: High (transfers heat rapidly) - Solubility in Water: Insoluble - Appearance: Shiny metallic luster Which material classification best fits Material X?

• APlastic polymer
• BNon-magnetic metal (such as aluminum or copper)
• CCrystalline ionic salt
• DWood cellulose

A caterpillar consumes plant leaves containing 400 Joules of stored energy. The caterpillar uses 250 Joules of energy for respiration (movement and body heat) and excretes 100 Joules as indigestible waste. How much energy is left to build new caterpillar body mass?

• A50 Joules
• B150 Joules
• C300 Joules
• D400 Joules

A student investigates two chemical reactions in insulated cups: Reaction 1: Mixing Water + Calcium Chloride -> Water temperature increases from 22°C to 45°C. Reaction 2: Mixing Water + Ammonium Nitrate -> Water temperature decreases from 22°C to 11°C. Which statement correctly categorizes these energy transfers?

• AReaction 1 releases thermal energy (exothermic), warming surroundings, while Reaction 2 a…
• BReaction 1 is a physical change, while Reaction 2 is a nuclear reaction.
• CReaction 1 absorbs heat energy, while Reaction 2 releases heat energy.
• DNeither reaction involves energy transfer because liquid water was present in both.

A student wants to support the claim that the gravitational force Earth exerts on objects is directed down, toward the center of Earth. Which set of observations provides the BEST evidence for this claim?

• AA helium balloon released indoors rises until it touches the ceiling.
• BA dropped ball, a falling raindrop, and water poured from a pitcher all move toward the g…
• CA magnet held above a desk picks up steel paperclips.
• DA ball rolls farther across a smooth gym floor than across a thick carpet.

A student grows lettuce plants in a container filled with water and dissolved minerals, without using any soil. The lettuce plants grow large, green, and healthy. What does this hydroponic investigation prove?

• APlants get most of their matter from soil.
• BPlants do not require soil to grow as long as they have water, air, light, and nutrients.
• CPlants can grow in total darkness if planted in water.
• DPlants convert liquid water into solid rocks.

An oak tree in a West Virginia forest grows tall and produces hundreds of acorns each year. Where does the oak tree get the initial energy needed to make its food?

• AAbsorbing heat from forest animals
• BSunlight absorbed by chlorophyll in its green leaves
• CDecomposing leaf litter on the forest floor
• DRaindrops absorbing energy from air

Consider a meadow food chain: Grass -> Grasshopper -> Bluebird -> Red-tailed Hawk Which organism in this food chain functions as a producer?

• AGrass
• BGrasshopper
• CBluebird
• DRed-tailed Hawk

A student notices mushrooms and shelf fungi growing on a rotting log in a West Virginia state park. What role do fungi play in this forest ecosystem?

• AProducers that generate food from sunlight
• BDecomposers that break down dead organic matter and return nutrients to the soil
• CPrimary consumers that hunt living animals
• DPredators that control insect populations

A small tree sapling weighing 2 kg is planted in a tub containing 90 kg of dry soil. After 5 years of regular watering, the tree weighs 75 kg, but the soil mass decreases by only 0.2 kg. Where did most of the tree's new mass come from?

• ASoil particles absorbed by roots
• BCarbon dioxide gas from air and water absorbed by roots
• CEarthworms living in the tub
• DSunlight absorbed by leaves

If all microscopic green algae in a freshwater pond ecosystem were suddenly removed, how would the pond animal populations be affected?

• APond animals would grow faster because they have more space.
• BPond animal populations would decrease because green algae form the primary producer base…
• CDecomposers would multiply infinitely.
• DPredatory fish would begin making food from sunlight.

A healthy potted green plant is placed inside a transparent sealed glass enclosure with access to sunlight. What two main matter inputs must the plant take in from its environment to carry out photosynthesis?

• AOxygen gas and soil rocks
• BCarbon dioxide gas and liquid water
• CNitrogen gas and table sugar
• DGlucose sugar and heat

A squirrel buries acorns in various soil locations across a forest during autumn. In spring, several forgotten acorns sprout into young oak trees. How does this animal behavior benefit oak trees?

• AOak trees absorb nutrients directly from squirrel fur.
• BSquirrels assist oak tree reproduction by dispersing and planting seeds in new locations.
• CSquirrels protect oak leaves from absorbing excessive sunlight.
• DOak trees gain food energy by digesting buried acorns.

A cottontail rabbit feeds exclusively on clover, grass shoots, and dandelion leaves. How is the rabbit classified in a food web?

• AProducer
• BHerbivore (Primary consumer)
• CCarnivore (Secondary consumer)
• DDecomposer

A gardener adds earthworms to her vegetable garden beds. How do earthworms assist in recycling matter within the garden ecosystem?

• AEarthworms make sunlight for plant leaves.
• BEarthworms eat dead plant material and organic waste, breaking it down into nutrient-rich…
• CEarthworms absorb all soil moisture so roots remain dry.
• DEarthworms hunt small rodents that eat crops.

Which statement best describes the primary source of energy powering almost all living organisms in terrestrial ecosystems?

• AGeothermal heat from Earth's deep core
• BRadiant light energy emitted by the Sun
• CElectrical energy generated during thunderstorm lightning
• DChemical energy stored inside underground bedrock

An investigation tests plant growth under different gas environments: - Container 1: Supplied with Sunlight + Water + Carbon Dioxide -> Healthy growth (+12.4 g mass gain) - Container 2: Supplied with Sunlight + Water + NO Carbon Dioxide -> Stunted growth (+0.2 g mass gain) - Container 3: Supplied with Carbon Dioxide + Sunlight + NO Water -> Wilts and dies (0 g mass gain) Which conclusion is directly supported by these experimental data?

• APlants derive mass primarily by consuming soil minerals.
• BBoth carbon dioxide and water are essential inputs for plants to gain significant mass th…
• CSunlight alone provides all the mass needed for building plant tissue.
• DCarbon dioxide gas is toxic to growing plant leaves.

Consider a marine food web: Phytoplankton -> Zooplankton -> Small Fish -> Osprey Phytoplankton -> Zooplankton -> Basking Shark If a viral disease causes a severe drop in the Phytoplankton population, which ecosystem outcome is most likely?

• AZooplankton populations will increase rapidly.
• BSmall Fish and Osprey populations will decline due to reduced food available at the base…
• CBasking Sharks will start making food from sunlight.
• DOsprey will change their diet to eat Phytoplankton directly.