This document contains multiple choice science questions and answers from 3rd grade standardized tests in Virginia from 2006 and 2007. The questions cover topics like scientific observations, measurements, graphs, experiments and conclusions. Each question is followed by the multiple choice answers and then the correct answer. There are over 40 questions in total focused on testing 3rd grade scientific knowledge and reasoning skills.

1. Who’s Smarter than a 3rd Grade
Scientist?
Scientific Investigation
SOL Released Test Items only
Jody Sommerfeldt
SPS ITRT

2. Scientific Investigation,
Reasoning, and Logic
Using the picture, which
measurement is
closest to how far the
frog jumped?
A 12 centimeters (cm)
B 14 centimeters (cm)
C 18 centimeters (cm)
D 20 centimeters (cm)
Science RI 2007 – Q7

3. Scientific Investigation,
Reasoning, and Logic
Using the picture, which
measurement is
closest to how far the
frog jumped?
C 18 centimeters (cm)
Science RI 2007 – Q7

4. Scientific Investigation,
Reasoning, and Logic
Which sense is used to tell if there is sugar in a
glass of tea?
F Touch
G Hearing
H Smell
J Taste
SScciieennccee RI 2007 – Q8

5. Scientific Investigation,
Reasoning, and Logic
Which sense is used to tell if there is sugar in a
glass of tea?
J Taste
SScciieennccee RI 2007 – Q8

6. Scientific Investigation,
Reasoning, and Logic
A rattlesnake belongs
in which of the
above groups?
A Group 1
B Group 2
C Group 3
D Group 4
Science RI 2007 – Q9

7. Scientific Investigation,
Reasoning, and Logic
A rattlesnake belongs
in which of the
above groups?
C Group 3
Science RI 2007 – Q9

8. Scientific Investigation,
Reasoning, and Logic
Which graph BEST shows
how many of each fish are
in the tank?
Science RI 2007 – Q12

9. Scientific Investigation,
Reasoning, and Logic
Which graph BEST shows
how many of each fish are
in the tank?
Science RI 2007 – Q12

10. Scientific Investigation,
Reasoning, and Logic
Salamanders have a tail, smooth skin, and feet
with no claws.
Which of these animals is a salamander?
Science RI 2007 – Q14

11. Scientific Investigation,
Reasoning, and Logic
Salamanders have a tail, smooth skin, and feet
with no claws.
Which of these animals is a salamander?
Science RI 2007 – Q14

12. Scientific Investigation,
Reasoning, and Logic
The drawing compares the size
of four different birds. How
would you arrange the birds
in order from smallest to
largest?
A Cardinal, sparrow, crow, dove
B Sparrow, cardinal, crow, dove
C Crow, cardinal, dove, sparrow
D Sparrow, cardinal, dove, crow
Science RI 2007 – Q21

13. Scientific Investigation,
Reasoning, and Logic
The drawing compares the size
of four different birds. How
would you arrange the birds
in order from smallest to
largest?
D Sparrow, cardinal, dove, crow
Science RI 2007 – Q21

14. Scientific Investigation,
Reasoning, and Logic
A girl kept a plant under a light for 30
days. She measured how tall the
plant was every 5 days. The graph
shows the results. What conclusion
can be drawn from the graph?
F A plant kept under light stays the same
size.
G A plant kept under light gets taller with
time.
H A plant kept under light gets shorter with
time.
J A plant kept under light is hard to
measure.
Science RI 2007 – Q24

15. Scientific Investigation,
Reasoning, and Logic
A girl kept a plant under a light for
30 days. She measured how tall
the plant was every 5 days. The
graph shows the results. What
conclusion can be drawn from
the graph?
G A plant kept under light gets taller
with time.
Science RI 2007 – Q24

16. Scientific Investigation,
Reasoning, and Logic
Which of these graduated cylinders contains 16
mL of water?
Science RI 2007 – Q25

17. Scientific Investigation,
Reasoning, and Logic
Which of these graduated cylinders contains 16
mL of water?
Science RI 2007 – Q25

18. Scientific Investigation,
Reasoning, and Logic
A student wants to cut a piece of string for a
class activity. The length of the string is
measured BEST in which units?
F Gallons
G Liters
H Miles
J Centimeters
Science RI 2007 – Q36

19. Scientific Investigation,
Reasoning, and Logic
A student wants to cut a piece of string for a
class activity. The length of the string is
measured BEST in which units?
J Centimeters
Science RI 2007 – Q36

20. Scientific Investigation,
Reasoning, and Logic
An experiment tests how many minutes students take to
finish their lunches in the school cafeteria. The chart
shows the average times for grades 3, 4, 5, and 6.
Science RI 2007 – Q39
At which grade level do the students
spend MOST of the 30-minute
lunch period eating their lunches?
A Grade 3
B Grade 4
C Grade 5
D Grade 6

21. Scientific Investigation,
Reasoning, and Logic
An experiment tests how many minutes students take to
finish their lunches in the school cafeteria. The chart
shows the average times for grades 3, 4, 5, and 6.
Science RI 2007 – Q39
At which grade level do the students
spend MOST of the 30-minute
lunch period eating their lunches?
B Grade 4

22. Scientific Investigation,
Reasoning, and Logic
Which of these is an
observation for the kittens in
the picture?
A Kitten A is prettier than kitten B.
B Kitten A has longer fur than
kitten B.
C Kitten A is my favorite kitten.
D Kitten A runs faster than kitten
B.
Science RI 2006 – Q1

23. Scientific Investigation,
Reasoning, and Logic
Which of these is an
observation for the
kittens in the picture?
B Kitten A has longer fur
than kitten B.
Science RI 2006 – Q1

24. Scientific Investigation,
Reasoning, and Logic
This sunflower is how
many blocks tall?
F 7
G 8
H 9
J 10
Science RI 2006 – Q2

25. Scientific Investigation,
Reasoning, and Logic
This sunflower is how
many blocks tall?
G 8
Science RI 2006 – Q2

26. Scientific Investigation,
Reasoning, and Logic
What unit is used to
measure the weight
of the bananas?
A Inches
B Degrees
C Pounds
D Gallons
Science RI 2006 – Q9

27. Scientific Investigation,
Reasoning, and Logic
What unit is used to
measure the weight
of the bananas?
C Pounds
Science RI 2006 – Q9

28. Scientific Investigation,
Reasoning, and Logic
The observations
recorded above
BEST describe —
F a sugar cube
G an ice cube
H a cherry snow cone
J an ice cream cone
Science RI 2006 – Q14

29. Scientific Investigation,
Reasoning, and Logic
The observations
recorded above
BEST describe —
G an ice cube
Science RI 2006 – Q14

30. Scientific Investigation,
Reasoning, and Logic
Ramon made this table to show
how many cars of each color
passed him at the bus stop
on three different mornings.
If he adds together his
numbers from the three days,
which color will he find was
the MOST common?
A Blue
B Yellow
C Red
D Black
Science RI 2006 – Q21

31. Scientific Investigation,
Reasoning, and Logic
Ramon made this table to show
how many cars of each color
passed him at the bus stop
on three different mornings.
If he adds together his
numbers from the three days,
which color will he find was
the MOST common?
D Black
Science RI 2006 – Q21

32. Scientific Investigation,
Reasoning, and Logic
Which sense organ is used to tell
the color of the sky?
A Nose
B Ears
C Eyes
D Tongue
Science RI 2006 – Q25

33. Scientific Investigation,
Reasoning, and Logic
Which sense organ is used to tell
the color of the sky?
C Eyes
Science RI 2006 – Q25

34. Scientific Investigation,
Reasoning, and Logic
Look at the three
animals. What are
two characteristics
that they all have in
common?
A Wings and feathers
B Wings and legs
C Fur and legs
D Fur and feathers
Science RI 2006 – Q29

35. Scientific Investigation,
Reasoning, and Logic
Look at the three
animals. What are
two characteristics
that they all have in
common?
B Wings and legs
Science RI 2006 – Q29

36. Scientific Investigation,
Reasoning, and Logic
A student uses a pan to catch rainwater for
watering plants. Which of these would be
BEST to use for measuring the amount of
rainwater in the pan?
Science RI 2006 – Q32

37. Scientific Investigation,
Reasoning, and Logic
A student uses a pan to catch rainwater for
watering plants. Which of these would be
BEST to use for measuring the amount of
rainwater in the pan?
Science RI 2006 – Q32

38. Scientific Investigation,
Reasoning, and Logic
Science RI 2006 – Q39
Which group of eights
has a mass of 32
grams?

39. Scientific Investigation,
Reasoning, and Logic
Science RI 2006 – Q39
Which group of eights
has a mass of 32
grams?

40. Scientific Investigation,
Reasoning, and Logic
Science RI 2006 – Q40
What is the time
shown on the clock?
F 12:25
G 12:35
H 1:25
J 5:03

41. Scientific Investigation,
Reasoning, and Logic
Science RI 2006 – Q40
What is the time
shown on the clock?
F 12:25