School Improvement in Maryland

Using the State Curriculum: Science, Grade 4

Skills and Processes | Earth/Space | Life | Chemistry | Physics | Environmental

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Standard 3.0 Life Science

Topic A. Diversity of Life

Indicator 1. Explain how animals and plants can be grouped according to observable features.

Objective b. Classify a variety of animals and plants according to their observable features and provide reasons for placing them into different groups.

Selected Response Item

Each of the animals below belongs to a different group.

Question Image

Which physical feature classifies all four animals into the same group?

  1. the type of skin
  2. the number of legs
  3. the size of the eyes
  4. the location of the mouth
/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_4_010.xml

Correct Answer:
D

Selected Response Item

Use the information below to answer the following.

A scientist studied an estuary, the area where fresh water from a river empties into salty ocean water. The scientist classified nine estuary organisms into the three groups shown below.

The physical features of an animal are described in the table below.

Physical Features
• Hard shell
• Hinged shell
• Fleshy inside

Which animal best fits this description?

  1. blue crab
  2. hard clam
  3. laughing gull
  4. sallow sedge
/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_4_019.xml

Correct Answer:
B