Sample Test Questions Grades 3 and 4
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Below are sample questions from the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) achievement tests in Science administered to twenty-six countries. TIMSS is a research project sponsored by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA). These questions may be used in the classroom, as a tool for evaluation, or to provide examples of test-question writing. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Sample Questions from Earth Science, Life Science, Physical Science, and The Environment | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Earth Science | ||||||||||||||||||||||
1. This table shows the temperature and precipitation (rain or snow) in four different towns in the same day.
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Where did it snow? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Town A | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. Town B | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Town C | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Town D | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Answer: B | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2. The moon produces no light, and yet shines at night. Why is this? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. The moon reflects the light from the sun. |
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B. The moon rotates at a very high speed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. The moon is covered with a thin layer of ice. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. The moon has many craters. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Answer: A | ||||||||||||||||||||||
3. Sometimes mountains can still have snow on their tops when the snow on the lower parts of the mountains has melted. What makes this happen? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Answer: A correct response would mention that the air is colder higher up on a mountain top. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
4. The sun is bigger than the moon, but they appear to be the same size when you look at them from the Earth. Why is this? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Answer: A correct response would include the idea that the sun is farther away than the moon. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
5. Which one of these refers only to living things? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. clouds, fire, rivers | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. fire, rivers, trees | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. rivers, birds, trees | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. birds, trees, worms | ||||||||||||||||||||||
E. trees, worms, clouds | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Answer: D | ||||||||||||||||||||||
6. Your temperature is taken when you are not sick. Which temperature is CLOSEST to what the thermometer would show? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. 29 Degrees C | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. 37 Degrees C | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. 100 Degrees C | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. 212 Degrees C | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Answer: B | ||||||||||||||||||||||
7. A baby chick grows inside an egg for 21 days before it hatches. Where does the baby chick get it's food before it hatches? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. It is fed by the mother hen. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. It doesn't need any food. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. It makes it's own food. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. It uses food stored in the egg. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
E. It eats the egg shell. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Answer: D | ||||||||||||||||||||||
8. John kept some seeds on moist cotton in a dish. Mike put the same kind of seeds in a dish beside John's dish, and covered them with water. After two days, John's seeds sprouted, but Mike's did not. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Which is the most likely reason? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Mike's seeds needed more air. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. Mike's seeds needed more light. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Mike did not put the dish in a warm enough place. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Mike should have used a different kind of seed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Answer: A | ||||||||||||||||||||||
9. Which animal produces milk for it's young? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Chicken | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. Frog | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Monkey | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Snake | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Answer: C | ||||||||||||||||||||||
10. Birds are different from insects in that birds have | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. wings | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. legs | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. eyes | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. eggs | ||||||||||||||||||||||
E. feathers | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Answer: E | ||||||||||||||||||||||
11. Seeds develop from which part of a plant? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Flower | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. Leaf | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Root | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Stem | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Answer: A | ||||||||||||||||||||||
12. What is the BEST reason for including fruits and leafy vegetables in a healthy diet? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. They have a high water content. |
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B. They are the best source of protein. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. They are rich in materials and vitamins. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. They are the best source of carbohydrates. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Answer: C | ||||||||||||||||||||||
13. When an animal breathes faster and its heart beats faster, the animal is MOST likely | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. cold | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. frightened | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. resting | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. sleeping | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Answer: B | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Life Science | ||||||||||||||||||||||
1. What is the MOST important reason for people to use a sunscreen when they are out in the sunlight? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. It protects the skin against dangerous rays from the sun. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. It makes the skin more tanned. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. It makes the skin smooth. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. It makes the skin feel cooler. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Answer: A | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2. Which one of these groups contains only animals with a backbone? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Earthworm, snake, crayfish | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. Spider, clam, dragonfly | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Crayfish, snake, horse | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Clam, fish, earthworm | ||||||||||||||||||||||
E. Horse, snake, fish | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Answer: E | ||||||||||||||||||||||
3. Write down one thing that your heart does that helps the other parts of your body. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Answer: Correct answers include pumping blood in a circulating system out to the body and back to the heart. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
4. Write down the reason why we get thirsty on a hot day and have to drink a lot. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Answer: A correct response would refer to perspiration, its cooling effect, and the need to replace water. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
5. The human brain is inside the skull. Write down one advantage of the skull being thick and strong. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Answer: A correct response refers to protection against concussion and injuries of the brain. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
6. Write down one reason why animals could NOT live in a world without plants. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Answer: A correct response shows some understanding of the food chain. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
7. This chart shows four groups of animals. In which group do fish belong? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Answer: B | ||||||||||||||||||||||
8. Write down two changes that occur in children's bodies as they become adults. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Answer: A correct response refers to growth such as increases in height, weight, strength, etc. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
9. One way for animals to protect themselves is by escaping (running, flying, or swimming away). What are two other ways they protect themselves? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Answer: Correct responses include general action such as defense, attack, and fight. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
10. Keisha is pushing her bicycle up a hill. Where does Keisha get the energy to push her bicycle? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. From the food she has eaten. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. From the exercise she did earlier. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. From the ground she is walking on. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. From the bicycle she is pushing. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Answer: A | ||||||||||||||||||||||
11. A powder made up of both white and black specks is most likely to be | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. a solution | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. a pure compound | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. a mixture | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. an element | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Answer: C | ||||||||||||||||||||||
12. In a box there is a mixture of iron fillings and sand. Which is the easiest way to separate the iron fillings from the sand? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Pour water on the mixture. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. Use a magnifying glass. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Use a magnet. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Heat the mixture. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Answer: C | ||||||||||||||||||||||
13. Which is not used as an energy source? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Flowing water | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. Iron ore | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Sun | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Oil | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Answer: B | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Physical Science | ||||||||||||||||||||||
1. Which travels fastest? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. A train | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. An airplane | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Sound | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Light | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Answer: D | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2. Some things were buried in wet ground. Several years later they were dug up. Which things were most likely to have stayed the same? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. An egg shell | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. A plastic cup | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. A paper plate | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. An orange peel | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Answer: B | ||||||||||||||||||||||
3. Ken put a thermometer in a glass filled with hot water. Why does the liquid inside the thermometer rise? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Gravity pushes it up. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. Air bubbles are released. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Heat from the water makes it expand. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Air pressure above the water pulls it up. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Answer: C | ||||||||||||||||||||||
4. Which makes its own light? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. A mirror | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. A candle flame | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. A diamond ring | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. A magnifying lens. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Answer: B | ||||||||||||||||||||||
5. One advantage of solar energy is that it | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. does not pollute | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. is not renewable | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. is efficient in any climate | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. is available at all times | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Answer: A | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The Environment | ||||||||||||||||||||||
1. Write down one example of how computers help people do their work. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Answer: Should refer to writing or editing text, for example: "With a computer you can write faster and neater." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2. To find out whether seeds grow better in the light or dark, you could put some seeds on a piece of paper and | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. keep them in a warm, dark place | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. keep one group in a light place and another in a dark place | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. keep them in a warm, light place | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. put them in a light or dark place that is cool | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Answer: B | ||||||||||||||||||||||
3. Four children can feel and smell an object inside a bag, but they cannot see it. Which of the following is NOT an observation about the object? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. "It is flat at one end and round at the other." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. "It smells like a peppermint." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. "It has a bump on it." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. "I hope it is candy." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Answer: D | ||||||||||||||||||||||
4. Some children were trying to find out which of three lightbulbs was the brightest. Which one of these gives the best START towards finding the answer? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. "One bulb looks bright to me, so I already know the answer." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. "All the bulbs look bright to me, so there cannot be an answer." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. "It would help if we had a way to measure the brightness of a lightbulb." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. "We can take a vote and each person will vote for the bulb he or she thinks is the brightest." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Answer: C | ||||||||||||||||||||||
5. Write down two different things that people can do to help reduce air pollution. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Answer: Could include reduced use of airplanes, cars and motor boats or more walking, hiking, and public transportation. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
6. Write as completely as possible why oil spills in rivers and seas are harmful to the environment. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Answer: Could include oil kills living things, water gets polluted, air and/or beaches get polluted. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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