3rd Grade Science : Life Science
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for 3rd Grade Science
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Why Animals Form Groups
Monkeys live in family groups that can grow quite large in numbers. If monkeys lived alone, there are some tasks they could not complete. Based on the photo below, what is a task that requires a group to help with?
Grooming
Eating
None of the answer choices require a group.
Sleeping
Grooming
Monkeys are very social and live in large groups with extended family. Monkeys help each other groom and use it as a chance to spend time with each other. Without a group to help the monkeys could not groom themselves properly. They rely on each other for help with their survival needs.
Example Question #1 : Why Animals Form Groups
Living in large groups puts animals at risk and makes them less likely to survive.
False
True
False
Living in groups provides animals with many benefits. A large group of animals is less likely to be bothered by predators, there are more females to care for and protect the young, and more members to look for food sources. Working together provides them with more opportunities for survival than living alone does. Animals often fare better when living together than those outcasted to living alone.
Example Question #1 : Why Animals Form Groups
Fish are one of many animals who form groups for survival. They will form "bait balls" with hundreds (even thousands) of fish to scare away predators and make it more difficult for predators to catch them.
Why would it be better for a fish to join the "bait ball" rather than swim alone?
Fish prefer to be in groups because it prevents them from being lonely and sad.
A fish can swim faster and longer when it is in a group compared to being on their own.
There is no reason for a fish to join a "bait ball" instead of swimming alone.
A single fish would stand out and be easier to catch than a fish mixed in with thousands of others.
A single fish would stand out and be easier to catch than a fish mixed in with thousands of others.
Fish form these "bait balls" to distract their predators and make it more difficult for them to be eaten. This technique is all about survival. Forming groups makes each fish safer than if they were swimming alone. If a fish is swimming alone, it stands out and is more likely to be chased and eaten. When the fish are in a group, their chances of being singled out and eaten are decreased, and many times the large gathering of fish scares the predators off completely.
Example Question #2 : Why Animals Form Groups
Meerkats live in large families. Some are look-outs while others care for the young. Other meerkats are in charge of digging tunnels, and some are hunters. The meerkats will trade jobs and take turns.
What could happen to the meerkats if they started living alone instead of in groups?
They could become very mean.
They could die without the group to help them.
They could do all of the different jobs by themselves.
They could get lonely and find new friends.
They could die without the group to help them.
Living in a large family benefits the meerkats because they can split up the work and have members of the family working together to keep the family safe and healthy. Rather than all of the work falling on a few animals, it can be split up amongst dozens. Living in large groups like this help with protection, food collection, and general survival. If the meerkats were forced to live alone rather than in family groups, they might die. If they are busy gathering food or digging tunnels, they may not see predators. It would be hard for a meerkat to do all of the jobs by itself.
Example Question #1 : Diverse Life Cycles Of Organisms
What is a life cycle? Example: During the life cycle of the caterpillar it turns into a butterfly.
The circle that animals travel in when they migrate
The series of changes in the life of an organism
A type of bicycle that has three wheels instead of two
An organisms path to find food and shelter in life
The series of changes in the life of an organism
The life cycle of plant or animal (humans included) is the series of changes that the organism undergoes in its life. It starts at reproduction and moves through the different stages of life until it ends and begins over with the offspring. Different animals have different life cycles, and they are not all the same.
Example Question #2 : Diverse Life Cycles Of Organisms
Which photograph models an organism in a phase change of their life cycle?
Models of organisms' life cycles can be made in numerous ways, and one is through a photograph. The image showing a butterfly emerging from its cocoon is an example of an organism in a phase change of their life cycle. The insect is transitioning and moving into the next stage of life. The other images show an insect in a single step of their life cycle.
Example Question #3 : Diverse Life Cycles Of Organisms
Karissa has to make a model of a moth's life. What would be the best title for her project?
"Where to Find Moths"
"How to Draw a Moth"
"One Day in the Moth's Life"
"The Life Cycle of a Moth"
"The Life Cycle of a Moth"
The best choice for a title would be "The Life Cycle of a Moth" because it encapsulates what the project is about and uses the scientific term for the life stages of an organism. Karissa has to make a model of the moth's life, so it needs to include all parts from life to death. The other options are only for a short period of the moth's life or do not include the necessary information.
Example Question #4 : Diverse Life Cycles Of Organisms
Javier has to create a life-size model of an organism during its life. He has selected the oak tree. Which two stages of life would be most reasonable to develop a model for?
Sapling or seed
Mature tree or sapling
Seed or sprout
Sprout or mature tree
Seed or sprout
The most reasonable stages of life to create a life-sized model would need to be smaller in size and realistic to develop. A seed or sprout are both early stages of the tree's life cycle so that they would be much more manageable than a mature tree or sapling. A mature tree can reach up to 100 feet tall, and a sapling ranges in height from ten feet or more!
Example Question #25 : 3rd Grade Science
Robin and Mark are creating a model of an organism's life cycle. They choose the lima bean as their project focus. The project is due in five days. Robin says they should draw each stage of the plant's growth as their model. Mark thinks they should grow the plant and take pictures of each step to turn in.
Whose model (if any) is more realistic in their short time frame, and why?
There is not enough information to tell who has the best plan for a model. More details would need to be given to make a selection.
Neither; Both of their ideas for a model are terrible, and they should not grow the plants for photos or use drawings.
Robin; She is correct because her model is most reasonable to complete in five days. Researching and drawing the different stages of the life cycle is realistic.
Mark; He is correct because his model is the most reasonable to complete in five days. He and Robin could make the lima beans grow quickly so they can take photos for their teacher.
Robin; She is correct because her model is most reasonable to complete in five days. Researching and drawing the different stages of the life cycle is realistic.
In a five-day time frame there is no way that the lima beans will go through the entirety of their life cycle. It is much more realistic and reasonable to go with Robin's plan and use a sketch or drawing for the model. Robin and Mark could look up the stages of a lima bean plant's development and then draw detailed pictures of the process.
Example Question #5 : Diverse Life Cycles Of Organisms
All organisms follow a life cycle, even humans. In the model below, what is the missing piece of the cycle?
Newborn 
Senior Citizen
Baby
Teenager
Toddler
Teenager
The missing stage of this life cycle model is "Teenager." All organisms move through life on a similar path from birth to death. In the cycle presented, this person has not completed their teenage years, which comes before being an adult. Different organisms have their specific periods, so it may look different when comparing an insect and a plant.
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