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 6.0 Environmental Science

Topic B. Environmental Issues

Indicator 1. Recognize and describe that people in Maryland depend on, change, and are affected by the environment.

Objective a. Identify and describe that human activities in a community or region are affected by environmental factors

Selected Response Item

Large populations of sea nettles have been observed during the summer in parts of the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay is a mixture of salt water and fresh water. During the summer, the bay has a moderately high salt content. The amount of salt in the water, the salinity, depends on the amount of fresh water that flows into the bay. Additionally, some studies suggest that human activities have caused an increase in the sea nettle population.

Question Image

Scientists have recorded the temperature and salinity data of the Chesapeake Bay every day for many years.

Using these data, scientists will most likely be able to predict

  1. the depth of the water in the bay
  2. the exact number of sea nettles in the bay
  3. the number of fish in the bay that eat sea nettles
  4. the weather patterns in the bay that affect sea nettles
/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_4_015.xml

Correct Answer:
D

Selected Response Item

Farmers grow different types of crops.

Which of the following factors would most affect the type of crop a farmer grows?

  1. depth of soil
  2. amount of rainfall
  3. the amount of land available
  4. the number of seeds available
/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_4_051.xml

Correct Answer:
B

Selected Response Item

Weather patterns sometimes result in drought.

Which activity would be most negatively affected during a drought year?

  1. boating
  2. farming
  3. hiking
  4. hunting
/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_4_043.xml

Correct Answer:
B
Resources for Objective 6.B.1.a:
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