School Improvement in Maryland

Constructed Response Items: Science Grades 5

 (1) Brief Constructed Response Public Release

Use the passage 'Hazy Summer Days and Air Pollution' to answer the following question.

The amount of harmful ozone in a city decreased during a year.



Explain why this decrease may have occurred. In your explanation, be sure to include

  • how ozone pollution is produced
  • specific reasons that may have caused a decrease in the ozone level

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_5_061.xml

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 (2) Brief Constructed Response Public Release

Read the passage 'Free Fall' to answer the following.



Two different-shaped objects were dropped from the same height. Data from the investigation was recorded, as shown below.

Question Image

Explain why the average times to fall were different for the two objects. In your explanation, be sure to include

  • the errors in this investigation
  • how these errors affected the outcome
  • how the investigation should be improved to obtain valid data

Write your answer on your answer document

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_5_056.xml

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 (3) Brief Constructed Response Public Release

Use the passage 'Making Fresh Water from Salt Water' to answer the following question.



A student repeated the distillation investigation but forgot to put the rock on the plastic wrap.

Describe the most likely result of this investigation. In your description, be sure to include

  • the purpose of the rock
  • how the results of this investigation compare with those of the original distillation

Write your answer in the space provided.

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_5_100.xml

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 (4) Brief Constructed Response Public Release

A student wants to compare the amount of matter in a scoop of frozen ice cream to that of a scoop of melted ice cream.

Explain how the student might make this comparison. In your explanation, be sure to include

  • the equipment needed
  • the likely outcome of the comparison

Write your answer in the space provided.



/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_5_104.xml

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 (5) Brief Constructed Response Public Release

Magnets can be toys or tools to do work.



Explain how two magnets react when placed near each other. In your explanation, be sure to include

  • the properties of magnets

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_4_021.xml

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 (6) Brief Constructed Response Public Release

A student mixes water, a powdered drink mix, and sugar to make a flavored drink.

Question Image

Explain what happens when the materials are combined to make a mixture. In your explanation, be sure to include

  • the properties before they are mixed
  • how the properties were affected

Write your answer in the space provided.

Properties Before Mixing

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

Properties After Mixing

________________________________________________

________________________________________________



/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_5_055.xml

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 (7) Brief Constructed Response Public Release

Fireflies release light from specialized cells in a part of their body called the lantern. The light produced releases very little heat. The firefly signals attract other fireflies and also warn predators that they taste bad. Some female fireflies produce “false signals” to attract male fireflies. These “false signals” are a response to a male light signal. The attracted male firefly comes to the light of the female firefly. The female firefly then eats the male firefly.

Explain why fireflies have different types of specialized cells. In your explanation, be sure to include

  • how these specialized cells help the fireflies survive

Write your answer in the space provided.



/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_5_116.xml

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 (8) Brief Constructed Response Public Release

Use the information below to answer the following.

A student is investigating changes in the states of matter. The student fills a graduated cylinder with 50 milliliters of packed snow. The graduated cylinder has a mass of 50 grams when empty and 95 grams when filled with the snow.



Explain how snow changes to form water vapor (gas). In your explanation, be sure to include

  • changes in the state of matter
  • the processes needed to change the states of matter

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_5_092.xml

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 (9) Brief Constructed Response Public Release

Most organisms are made of many different types of cells. Each type of cell has a special role within the organism.



Multicellular organisms are made of groups of cells working together to do one job. These are called specialized cells. The diagrams show four types of specialized cells. Not all multicellular organisms need the same specialized cells.

Question Image

Explain why multicellular organisms only need certain specialized cells. In your explanation, be sure to include

  • a type of specialized cell not found in a plant
  • why this specialized cell is not needed by a plant

Write your answer on your answer document

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_5_057.xml

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