STAAR

State of Texas
Assessments of
Academic Readiness

GRADE 5
Science

Administered May 2021

RELEASED

Copyright © 2021, Texas Education Agency. All rights reserved. Reproduction of all or portions of this work is prohibited without express
written permission from the Texas Education Agency.
 SCIENCE

Science
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DIRECTIONS

Read each question carefully. Determine the best answer to the question from
the four answer choices provided. Then fill in the answer on your answer
document.

1 A student recorded the time it took for all the water in a puddle on a sidewalk to
evaporate after a rain. Which kind of energy causes water to evaporate?

A Light energy from streetlights

B Sound energy from passing cars

C Thermal energy from the environment

D Mechanical energy from nearby streets

2 Earth continuously rotates on its axis while also moving in an orbit. About how much
time does it take for Earth to make one complete rotation on its axis?

F 24 hours

G 30 days

H 60 minutes

J 365 days

Science
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 3 For a class demonstration a student turned off the lights in the classroom. The
student then shined light from a flashlight through a hole in a piece of cardboard. The
class saw the narrow beam of light continue until another student placed a mirror in
the light’s path.

The light did not continue past the mirror because —

A light cannot travel very far

B the mirror absorbed all the light

C the light was refracted back to the light source

D light travels in a straight line and cannot go around objects

4 A table of different properties of four samples of matter is shown.

Physical
Conducts Conducts Soluble in State at
Sample
Electricity Heat Water Room
Temperature
1 No No Yes Solid
2 Yes Yes No Solid
3 No Yes Yes Liquid
4 Yes Yes No Liquid

Which conclusion can be made about the samples based on the table?

F Sample 1 is made of plastic.

G Sample 2 is made of metal.

H Sample 3 is attracted to magnets.

J Sample 4 is less dense than water.

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 5 A wagon is pushed and begins to move. As the wagon moves, it slows and comes to
a stop. The wagon and the direction it is pushed are shown.

Direction wagon is pushed

What force causes the wagon to stop?

A The force of gravity which is acting in the same direction as the arrow

B The force of friction which is acting in the same direction as the arrow

C The force of gravity which is acting in the opposite direction of the arrow

D The force of friction which is acting in the opposite direction of the arrow

6 Students made a chart classifying animal behaviors.

Animal Behaviors
Inherited Learned
Bear looking for food in a trash can Dog coming when its name is called
Owl being active at night Pony pulling a cart
Squirrel getting seeds from a bird
Turtle burying eggs
feeder

Which animal behavior is NOT correctly classified?

F Bear looking for food in a trash can

G Owl being active at night

H Dog coming when its name is called

J Squirrel getting seeds from a bird feeder

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 7 Canyons and mesas are two landforms found in the western part of the United
States. Which statement best describes how canyons and mesas are similar?

A Both were formed by slow-moving glaciers.

B Both were formed by erosion by wind and water.

C Both were part of a mountain that was weathered by ice.

D Both were part of a desert that was reshaped by a flood.

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 8 A student wants to make a change to the circuit shown below so that when Switch 1
is open and Switch 2 is closed, only one light will be on in the circuit.

− +

Switch 1 Switch 2

Which diagram shows how the student should change the circuit?

− + − +

F H
Switch 1 Switch 2 Switch 1 Switch 2

− + − +

G J
Switch 1 Switch 2 Switch 1 Switch 2

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 9 Students researching the relationships between some organisms in the Lavaca Bay
ecosystem in Texas made this partial food web.

Bald eagles Spotted sandpipers

Blue crabs
Swamp sparrows

Swamp rabbits
Hermit crabs

Wiregrass Phytoplankton

Clover grass

Which of these lists contains only organisms that receive some of their energy
directly from other organisms that produce their own food?

A Bald eagles and spotted sandpipers

B Swamp rabbits, hermit crabs, and swamp sparrows

C Phytoplankton, hermit crabs, and blue crabs

D Wiregrass, clover grass, and phytoplankton

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 10 A science class is observing a pet turtle in a small plastic pool. The students turn on a
portable camping lamp that is clamped on to a counter next to the pool.

Which kind of energy is used by the portable lamp to produce light?

F Mechanical energy, because the lamp is clamped on to the counter

G Thermal energy, because the lamp increases the temperature of the water

H Electrical energy, because the lamp is battery-operated

J Sound energy, because the lamp vibrates when clicked on

11 Students observe a glass of ice and water. The glass is dry on the outside. After ten
minutes students see drops of water on the outside of the glass.

Which statement best explains the students’ observations?

A The water vapor in the air changes to a liquid when it touches the cold glass.

B The cold water inside the glass rises and then slides down the outside of the glass.

C The ice in the glass melted and caused the water to overflow the glass.

D The water moved to the outside surface through tiny holes in the glass.

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 12 Students chose objects to model the relative sizes of Earth and the moon.

Basketball Soccer ball Baseball Tennis ball Golf ball Marble

Which set of objects best compares the sizes of Earth and the moon?

F H

Earth Moon Earth Moon

G J

Earth Moon Earth Moon

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 13 A dinosaur fossil is shown.

© iStock.com/zrfphoto
Which question can scientists most likely answer from studying the fossil of the
dinosaur?

A What was the pattern on the skin of the dinosaur?

B What was the type of food the dinosaur ate?

C How fast was the heart of the dinosaur beating?

D How many eggs were in the nest of the dinosaur?

14 In the early 1600s, the astronomer Galileo used a telescope to make observations of
Mercury and Venus. What are the positions of these planets in relation to the sun?

F Mercury is the planet closest to the sun, and Venus is the second planet from the
sun.

G Mercury is the second planet from the sun, and Venus is the third planet from the
sun.

H Venus is the planet closest to the sun, and Mercury is the second planet from the
sun.

J Mercury is the third planet from the sun, and Venus is the planet closest to the
sun.

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 15 This chart describes some beak and toe adaptations that help four bird species
survive in different habitats.

Bird 1 Bird 2 Bird 3 Bird 4

• Long, sharp beak • Sharp beak for • Heavy, pointed • Grooved beak for
for hammering spearing fish beak with sharp straining food
into tree trunks edges for splitting from water
open seeds

• Special toe • Long toes for • Special toe • Webbed toes for
placement that walking on mud placement that moving through
helps with and grasping helps with water
support on tree plants perching and
trunk hopping

Based on these adaptations, which table best matches the bird species to its
environment?

Type of Type of
Species Species
Environment Environment
Bird 1 Prairie Bird 1 Prairie
A C
Bird 2 Forest Bird 2 Marsh
Bird 3 Pond Bird 3 Pond
Bird 4 Marsh Bird 4 Forest

Type of Type of
Species Species
Environment Environment
Bird 1 Forest Bird 1 Forest
B D
Bird 2 Pond Bird 2 Marsh
Bird 3 Marsh Bird 3 Prairie
Bird 4 Prairie Bird 4 Pond

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 16 A student compares the physical properties of the four objects shown.

Rock Rubber eraser Paper cup Wooden block

Which of these physical properties do all four objects have in common?

F They all have the same physical state and conduct electricity.

G They all conduct electricity and attract the same metal objects.

H They all attract the same metal objects and are not soluble in water.

J They all are not soluble in water and have the same physical state.

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 17 Students observe these diagrams showing the life cycles of an oak tree and a lady
beetle.

Oak Tree Life Cycle Lady Beetle Life Cycle

Eggs

Adult
Larva

Pupa

Which inference can be made by comparing these diagrams?

A Plants require less energy than insects require to undergo changes from a young
organism to a mature organism.

B Insects and plants follow a series of changes that allows them to survive and
reproduce.

C Insects are more likely than plants are to adapt to changes in the environment to
survive.

D Insects and plants are dependent on one another for survival.

18 Which process will happen when the sun interacts with the ocean?

F Rain will fall only on the land.

G Water will not evaporate at nighttime.

H Salt water will become fresh water vapor.

J Precipitation will happen less often.

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 19 A partial desert food web is shown.

Cheetahs

Barn owls

Spotted
hyenas

Grant’s
golden moles

Mountain zebras Gemsboks

Termites

Desert grasses and shrubs

Which food chain shows one complete pathway in which energy flows through this
food web?

A Desert grasses and shrubs → termites → barn owls

B Desert grasses and shrubs → mountain zebras → cheetahs

C Desert grasses and shrubs → termites → spotted hyenas

D Desert grasses and shrubs → gemsboks → Grant’s golden moles

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 20 A student constructs the circuit shown for a science demonstration.

4 3 2

With the switches in these positions, which lights are on?

F All the lights

G Lights 1 and 2 only

H Lights 3 and 4 only

J None of the lights

21 A student prepared a snack that consisted of grapes, pecans, and strawberries

sprinkled with white powdered sugar. The student stored the snack in a refrigerator.
An hour later the student observed that the powdered sugar could no longer be seen
but the fruit and nuts had not changed in appearance.

What most likely happened to the sugar in the mixture?

A The sugar evaporated at the lower temperature in the refrigerator without causing
any changes to the fruit and nuts.

B The sugar was more dense than the other foods in the mixture, so it settled to the
bottom of the container.

C The sugar dissolved in the moisture on the fruit.

D The sugar absorbed energy from the nuts and melted into a colorless liquid.

Science
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 22 The chart lists plants and animals interacting with parts of an environment.

1. A hummingbird dips its beak inside a flower.

2. A lizard burrows into the sand to stay cool.
3. A fish absorbs oxygen through its gills.
4. A cactus wren eats seeds from a cactus fruit.
5. A sea star clings to a rock in a tidal pool.
6. A bear scratches its back against a tree.

Which statements describe an animal interacting with a living part of the

environment?

F Statements 1, 4, and 6 only

G Statements 1, 3, and 5 only

H Statements 2, 5, and 6 only

J Statements 2, 3, and 4 only

Science
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 23 A student drew the following pictures to show the day-night cycle of Earth.

Daytime

(sunrise 7:10 A.M.) (sunset 6:10 P .M.)

11 hours of daytime

Nighttime

? hours of nighttime

Based on the pictures, how many hours should the student record on the nighttime
picture to complete a day-night cycle?

A 11 hours

B 12 hours

C 13 hours

D 24 hours

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 24 A student uses a flashlight to shine a beam of light on three different objects.

Object 1 Object 2 Object 3

Beam of light

Which table describes what happens to the light beam as it interacts with each
object?

F H
Object Light Beam Object Light Beam
1 Scattered 1 Reflected
2 Absorbed 2 Absorbed
3 Reflected 3 Refracted

G J
Object Light Beam Object Light Beam
1 Refracted 1 Absorbed
2 Absorbed 2 Refracted
3 Reflected 3 Scattered

Science
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 25 White oak trees grow to be 24 to 30 meters tall. Their long branches are covered
with leaves, and their roots reach deep into the soil to hold the tree in place. White
oaks drop their leaves during the winter months.

Characteristics of Four Ecosystems

Ecosystem Temperature Yearly Precipitation Soil
Long, cold winters
with temperatures Less than 25 cm of Thin layer of topsoil;
1
below 0 °C and rain frozen ground below
short, cool summers
Warm throughout
Less than 28 cm of
2 the year, very hot in Sandy, rocky soil
rain
summer
Cold-to-moderate
Between 76 and
3 winters and warm Rich, deep soil
152 cm of rain
summers
Soil drains quickly;
Warm and wet Between 200 and
4 thin top layer of
year-round 1000 cm of rain
humus

In which ecosystem would forests of white oak trees be most likely to survive?

A Ecosystem 1

B Ecosystem 2

C Ecosystem 3

D Ecosystem 4

26 A three-step process is shown.

Deposition Compaction Cementation

Which of these are most likely formed by the process shown?

F Glaciers

G Mountains

H Sand dunes

J Sedimentary rocks

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 27 A group of students is given four small cubes of the same size and instructed to place
them in a beaker of water. One cube floats to the surface of the water. Two of the
cubes float in the middle of the beaker under the surface of the water. The last cube
sinks to the bottom of the beaker.

Which conclusion is best supported by what the students observed?

A Two of the four cubes are soluble in water.

B All four cubes have different masses.

C Each cube is made of a different type of solid material.

D One of the cubes is more dense than the other three.

28 Which effect would most likely occur if a six-lane highway were built through an
ecosystem?

F Competition for resources would be reduced.

G Habitats available to animals would be reduced.

H Air pollution would decrease.

J Water pollution would decrease.

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 29 Students investigate force. The masses they use begin at rest on the ramp. The
setup the students use is shown.

Spring scale

Masses
Ramp

Which change will reduce the amount of force needed to move the masses?

A Decrease the height of the ramp

B Increase the height of the ramp

C Add an additional mass

D Pull the spring scale with two hands

30 Students record characteristics of a tomato plant. One student’s list is shown.

Tomato Plant Characteristics

• Stems with branches that have many wide leaves

• Roots growing out of lower stem into the ground
• Small yellow flowers
• Seven large red tomatoes
• Four small green tomatoes

Which tomato plant characteristic is least likely to be inherited?

F Flower color

G Leaf shape

H Type of roots

J Number of tomatoes

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 31 Students list resources that are used to heat buildings.

• Wood
• Coal
• Natural gas
• Petroleum
• Solar energy

Which of these tables correctly classifies the resources?

A C
Renewable Nonrenewable Renewable Nonrenewable
Solar energy Petroleum Wood Solar energy
Wood Natural gas Coal Petroleum
Coal Natural gas

B D
Renewable Nonrenewable Renewable Nonrenewable
Solar energy Coal Petroleum Solar energy
Natural gas Petroleum Natural gas Wood
Wood Coal

Science
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 32 A student mixes a sample of stones with a sample of table salt. The mass and volume
of the samples were determined before mixing the samples. The mass and volume of
each sample is shown.

Grams Milliliters
Material
(g) (mL)
Stones 45 25
Salt 40 35

Which statement is true about the mixture?

F The mass of the mixture is 85 grams.

G The mass of the mixture is 60 milliliters.

H The volume of the mixture is 60 grams.

J The volume of the mixture is 85 milliliters.

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 33 A student’s model of a closed ecosystem is shown. The student plans to add land
snails to the model in order to show how the snails interact with different parts of the
ecosystem.

Rock
Water
Sand

Shredded Gravel
Water
Water
newspaper
for food

What should the student add to the model so that the snails will survive?

A Fish to provide food

B Sticks to provide a place to hide

C Deep water to provide carbon dioxide

D Living plants to provide oxygen

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 34 Deltas are large landforms found along coastlines. What process forms deltas?

F Cementation of sediments by rivers

G Deposition of sediments by rivers

H Erosion of sediments by ocean waves

J Deposition of sediments by ocean waves

35 The raccoon can be found in most areas of Texas. The coati has a smaller territory
and is found from Big Bend to Brownsville. These two species are related. The chart
shows the characteristics of these two species.

Raccoon Coati

© iStock.com/Oktay Ortakcioglu
© iStock.com/GlobalP

• Sharp teeth and powerful claws • Sharp teeth and long claws
• Paws with flexible toes • Paws with flexible toes
• Good eyesight at night • Good eyesight at night
• Eats fruits, berries, insects, • Eats insects, lizards, frogs, roots,
rodents, frogs, fish, eggs, corn fruits, nuts, and eggs
• Long fluffy tail • Long tail that helps in balancing

Which statement does NOT describe how the body structures of these animals help
them escape predators?

A Paws with long claws on flexible toes help them climb trees.

B Sharp teeth allow them to catch prey on land or in water.

C Long tails allow them to balance on branches in trees.

D Good eyesight helps them to see at night.

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 36 Sediments are transported at different speeds. Which type of sediment transport is
the slowest?

F Transport by rivers

G Transport by winds

H Transport by glaciers

J Transport by ocean currents

BE SURE YOU HAVE RECORDED ALL OF YOUR ANSWERS

Science
ON THE ANSWER DOCUMENT. STOP
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 STAAR
GRADE 5
Science
May 2021