CAASPP Science 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A student notices that the Moon appears to change shape over the course of a month. What causes the Moon's apparent phases?
- Earth's shadow falling on the Moon
- The Moon rotating on its own axis
- The changing angle of sunlight on the Moon as it orbits Earth (Correct answer)
- Clouds covering different portions of the Moon
Correct answer: The changing angle of sunlight on the Moon as it orbits Earth
Moon phases result from the changing angle between the Sun, Moon, and Earth as the Moon orbits Earth, illuminating different portions visible from Earth.
Question 2: Which statement best explains why the ocean is salty?
- Salt is produced naturally by marine organisms
- Rivers carry dissolved minerals including salts into the ocean over millions of years (Correct answer)
- Saltwater evaporates and is replaced by fresh rainfall
- The ocean floor contains salt deposits that dissolve instantly
Correct answer: Rivers carry dissolved minerals including salts into the ocean over millions of years
Rivers erode rocks and carry dissolved minerals, especially sodium and chloride, into the ocean; as water evaporates, these salts accumulate over geological time.
Question 3: In the electromagnetic spectrum, which type of radiation has the shortest wavelength and highest energy?
- Radio waves
- Visible light
- Infrared radiation
- Gamma rays (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Gamma rays
Gamma rays have the shortest wavelengths (less than 0.01 nanometers) and carry the highest energy of all electromagnetic radiation.
Question 4: A scientist discovers a fossil of a sea creature in the middle of a desert. What does this evidence suggest?
- The creature could survive in deserts millions of years ago
- The desert region was once covered by an ocean or sea (Correct answer)
- Fossils can form anywhere regardless of environment
- The creature was carried there by humans long ago
Correct answer: The desert region was once covered by an ocean or sea
Marine fossils found in inland desert regions are evidence that those areas were once covered by ancient seas, showing how Earth's surface changes over time.
Question 5: Which property of matter describes the amount of matter in an object, which remains constant regardless of location?
- Weight
- Volume
- Mass (Correct answer)
- Density
Correct answer: Mass
Mass is the measure of the amount of matter in an object and does not change with location, unlike weight which depends on gravitational pull.
Question 6: A student adds food coloring to hot water and cold water. In which cup does the food coloring spread faster, and why?
- Cold water, because cold temperatures slow particle movement allowing better mixing
- Hot water, because higher temperatures cause faster particle movement and diffusion (Correct answer)
- Both cups spread at the same rate regardless of temperature
- Cold water, because it is denser and pulls the coloring downward faster
Correct answer: Hot water, because higher temperatures cause faster particle movement and diffusion
In hot water, particles move faster due to higher thermal energy, which speeds up diffusion and causes the food coloring to spread more quickly.
Question 7: Which adaptation would most likely help a desert animal survive in an environment with very little water?
- Thin, permeable skin that releases moisture easily
- Ability to obtain water from the food it eats and to concentrate urine (Correct answer)
- High metabolic rate to generate extra energy
- Light-colored fur that attracts more sunlight for warmth
Correct answer: Ability to obtain water from the food it eats and to concentrate urine
Desert animals often get water metabolically from food and produce very concentrated urine to minimize water loss, key adaptations for arid environments.
CAASPP Science 4
A student notices that the Moon appears to change shape over the course of a month.
What causes the Moon's apparent phases?