School Improvement in Maryland

Using the State Curriculum: Science, Grade 5

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

Public Release Items: Public release items have appeared on MSA forms and then are released for public viewing and use. Releasing items is one step to ensuring that schools, districts, and other stakeholders understand how the content standards are assessed on the MSA.

Standard 2.0 Earth/Space Science

Topic E. Interactions of Hydrosphere and Atmosphere

Indicator 1. Recognize and describe that the amount of water on Earth continues to stay the same even though it may change from one form to another.

Objective b. Explain that the sun is the main source of energy that causes the changes in the water on Earth.

Selected Response Item

Use the passage 'The Greenhouse Effect' to answer the following.

What is the main energy source that causes changes in the atmosphere of Earth?

  1. the sun
  2. the moon
  3. fossil fuels
  4. greenhouse gases
/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_5_042.xml

Correct Answer:
A

Selected Response Item

On Earth, water can be a solid, a liquid, or a gas.

Which energy source has the greatest influence on the state of matter of water?

  1. the sun
  2. the wind
  3. ocean currents
  4. the metal core
/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_5_081.xml

Correct Answer:
A