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 6.0 Environmental Science

Topic B. Environmental Issues

Indicator 2. Recognize and describe that consequences may occur when Earth's natural resources are used.

Objective a. Explain how human activities may have positive consequences on the natural environment.

Selected Response Item

In 2004, Maryland recycled more than 35% of all of the waste the state produced.

Which of these benefits does recycling provide to Maryland?

  1. fewer wild animals
  2. decreased farm crops
  3. less trash sent to landfills
  4. decreased use of electricity
/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_5_021.xml

Correct Answer:
C

Selected Response Item

Students are learning about the natural resources in Maryland. One group of students researches information about renewable natural resources in the state. The other group researches information about nonrenewable natural resources in the state. The resources the students investigate include plants, animals, soil, minerals, water, coal, and oil.

Aluminum is a nonrenewable natural resource.

Which of these methods of aluminum disposal is best for the environment?

  1. burning it
  2. recycling it
  3. burying it in landfills
  4. crushing it before throwing it away
/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_5_030.xml

Correct Answer:
B

Selected Response Item

Use the information below to answer the following.

Many natural resources are found in Maryland and the surrounding area. Some of these natural resources are renewable and some are nonrenewable. People use both kinds of resources in daily activities. Using natural resources often produces waste products.

Recycling centers are where people take materials that may be reused to make new products.

How does recycling paper positively affect the environment?

  1. reduces air pollution
  2. increases soil erosion
  3. reduces trees that are cut
  4. increases habitat destruction
/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_5_075.xml

Correct Answer:
C

Selected Response Item

Some schools have programs to recycle paper products such as student papers, newspapers, and cardboard boxes.

Which of these statements describes a positive effect of recycling paper products?

  1. Schools need to buy less paper.
  2. Fewer trees need to be cut.
  3. Landfills have less room for other trash.
  4. Recycling consumes more energy than making new paper.
/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_5_109.xml

Correct Answer:
B

Selected Response Item

Many states require vehicles to be examined and to meet safety and pollution standards.

What impact might vehicle inspections have on the environment?

  1. The environment will not be polluted.
  2. The environment will become more polluted.
  3. Fewer pollutants will be released by vehicles.
  4. Fewer pollutants will be produced by older vehicles.
/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_5_140.xml

Correct Answer:
C

Selected Response Item

Use the information and table below to answer the following question.

A group of students investigated natural resources and the products humans make from these natural resources. The students recorded their findings in the table below.

NATURAL RESOURCES
Natural Resources Renewable or Nonrenewable Products
Trees Renewable Paper, furniture
Plants (cotton, corn) Renewable Clothing, food
Fossil fuels (oil, coal) Nonrenewable Gasoline, electricity, plastics
Metals (iron, aluminum) Nonrenewable Steel, cans
Lakes, rivers Renewable Drinking water

Which action positively affects the environment?

  1. planting native seedlings when trees are cut
  2. collecting seeds from native trees
  3. harvesting trees to make paper
  4. clearing trees to build roads
/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_5_137.xml

Correct Answer:
A