4th Grade Science : Life Science
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for 4th Grade Science
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Describe How Animals Respond To Information
The sentry’s response to danger by a bark or whistle is intended for which of the following?
Survival
Reproduction
Hunting
Fighting
Survival
The job of the sentry is to protect the mob, so its responses to potential danger by barking or whistling are intended for survival of the clan. The text has no mention of hunting, fighting, or reproduction - only alerting the mob of impending danger.
Example Question #2 : Describe How Animals Respond To Information
If you’ve ever visited a beach, you may have seen an area of sand staked off with caution tape and a warning about disrupting sea turtle nests. We often don’t see sea turtle hatchlings in action because they usually hatch at night. When the hatchlings emerge, they work their way across the sandy beaches to the ocean, using the moon as their guide. Sometimes, other light sources can disorient the sea turtles, harming their chances of survival.
Suppose a nest of sea turtles began to hatch on an area of beach near a hotel. What would the hatchlings’ responses MOST LIKELY be if the hotel had lights shining toward the shore?
None of the answer choices reflect the turtles’ responses.
They wouldn’t be affected by the hotel lights if the moon is bright enough.
The hatchlings would travel in the wrong direction because they’d mistake the hotel lights for the moon.
The hatchlings would split, with half traveling toward the ocean and half toward the hotel lights.
The hatchlings would travel in the wrong direction because they’d mistake the hotel lights for the moon.
Because turtle hatchlings have the instinctive response to travel toward moonlight, light pollution from a hotel would potentially cause the turtles to travel in the wrong direction, harming their chances of survival. The type or brightness of the moon does not affect a turtle’s ability to follow it while competing light sources create disorientation that the turtles don’t know how to adjust to.
Example Question #3 : Describe How Animals Respond To Information
In the 1960s and 70s, Konrad Lorenz studied the animal response of imprinting. Imprinting allows animals to find their mothers and follow her. It is common in animals like chicks or geese since baby birds don’t know who their mother is when they hatch. They typically imprint on the first moving object they see, which in most cases, is their mother, but sometimes is not - resulting in an incorrect imprint. This survival skill allows babies to stay safe and close to their mothers.
Suppose a duck’s egg hatched while the mother was away gathering food, and a child walked by the nest. According to the text, what would the baby duck’s response be in this situation?
The duck would imprint on the child because it was the first moving object the duck saw.
The duck would wait for its mother to return to imprint correctly.
The duck would be unable to imprint because it did not see a moving object of the same species.
The duck would see the child, but would not imprint because humans are a different species.
The duck would imprint on the child because it was the first moving object the duck saw.
Because the first moving object the baby duck saw upon hatching was the child walking by the nest, the duck would likely incorrectly imprint on the child. While the text says mothers are typically the first moving objects hatchlings see, when this is not the case, the baby bird will instinctively imprint on whatever it sees moving to survive.
Example Question #4 : Describe How Animals Respond To Information
Platypus have a "sixth-sense" that allows them to hunt underwater: electroreception. To find meals in the mud, it uses its bill to detect movements and subtle electric fields produced by its prey. Receptors on the bill detect changes in pressure and motion. Two types of receptors track the electrical signals produced by small prey when they contract their muscles. The platypus moves its head side-to-side to determine the direction and distance of its next meal by collecting and processing this sensory information. The platypus has about 40,000 of these special receptors.
Based on the passage, how would the platypus MOST LIKELY respond if two electrical signals were being produced in different intensities?
The platypus would redirect itself toward the more intense electrical signal.
The platypus will contract its muscles to determine if the signals are prey.
The platypus would redirect itself toward the less intense electrical signal.
The platypus would lose sight of the prey due to it being in the mud.
The platypus would redirect itself toward the more intense electrical signal.
The passage explains how the platypus uses electroreception to find prey in the mud. Two answer choices are immediately incorrect: “The platypus would contract its muscles to determine if the signals are prey” because the prey is giving off signals due to muscle contractions - not the platypus, and “The platypus would lose sight of the prey due to it being in the mud” because electroreception allows the platypus to “see” despite the mud. If the platypus detected two signals of differing intensities, it would most likely begin hunting the more intense signal as that would be the easier prey to hunt in the mud due to proximity rather than the less intense signal.
Example Question #1 : Describe How Animals Process Information
The brain is where all information received from the senses is processed.
False
True
True
Animals take in information through their five senses, just like humans. Once the information is received, it is processed for understanding and reaction. The brain is the hub for all processing. The mind will send out messages to the rest of the body with instructions on how to react or behave with the information the five senses collected.
Example Question #2 : Describe How Animals Process Information
Vipers, pythons, and boas have a special adaptation that allows them to process information uniquely. These snakes can detect infrared radiation from warm bodies up to a meter away. The snakes then build an image of what is emitting this heat to help the snake decide if it should attack or flee. Snakes have poor eyesight, so these pits are vital.
Which sentence demonstrates how the snakes process the information they receive?
Snakes have poor eyesight, so these pits are vital.
Vipers, pythons, and boas have a special adaptation that allows them to process information uniquely.
The snakes then build an image of what is emitting this heat to help the snake decide if it should attack or flee.
These snakes can detect infrared radiation from warm bodies up to a meter away.
The snakes then build an image of what is emitting this heat to help the snake decide if it should attack or flee.
All of the sentences provide essential information about vipers, pythons, and boas using pits in their heads as infrared radiation sensors. Still, only one demonstrates how the snakes process the information they receive. The holes collect the data, but the snakes' brain processes that data into something usable. "The snakes then build an image of what is emitting this heat to help the snake decide if it should attack or flee." is the sentence that explains how the data is used. An image is built from the information that allows the snake to "see" the figure and decide how to respond.
Example Question #1 : Describe How Animals Process Information
Echolocation is a behavior in which animals emit calls and then listen to the echoes that bounce back off of stable things in the environment. This behavior can be used to navigate and to find food or mates. Orcas, dolphins, sperm whales, and pilot whales are all creatures that use this function to gather information. They release small bursts of air from air sacs in their heads and then through their mouths. This burst of air will make a click or ringing sound. The sound will bounce off an object and return to the whale or dolphin. That information is then transferred to a centralized place (the brain) where it is processed, and the organism responds in ways that will help it survive and reproduce.
Where is the information processed that whales or dolphins receive?
In the gills
In the brain
In the mouth
In the air sac
In the brain
Whales and dolphins are such unique animals with this extraordinary characteristic. Echolocation is beneficial to these animals because of the depths at which some of them live. It is dark and hard to see to locate prey, so this adaptation assists them with the task. The information that is collected when the sound returns are processed in the brain. The sounds are made from stored air in the sacs and released through the mouth, but this is for sending out chirps. These animals are mammals and do not have gills. The returning information is processed through the brain.
Example Question #4 : Describe How Animals Process Information
When animals process information they have received, they often store it for use later as memories. These memories help to influence their future actions.
True
False
True
This is a true statement. When animals receive information, it is processed through the brain. Many times the brain will store this information as a memory to help with similar situations in the future. An example we may all experience is touching something hot. If I touch a hot stove and burn my hand, I will remember in the future not to touch the hot stove again. This is a way to help ensure survival and the furthering of a species or family group.
Example Question #5 : Describe How Animals Process Information
Animals process information to make decisions about how to respond.
True
False
True
This statement is true. Animals receive information by using their five senses, and their brains process what has been taken in to make decisions about how to respond in situations. The nerves and neurons in the brain decipher the information and determine how the data will be stored or used.
Example Question #1 : Describe How Animals Process Information
Platypus have a "sixth-sense" that allows them to hunt underwater: electroreception. To find meals in the mud, it uses its bill to detect movements and subtle electric fields produced by its prey. Receptors on the bill detect changes in pressure and motion. Two types of receptors track the electrical signals produced by small prey when they contract their muscles. The platypus moves its head side-to-side to determine the direction and distance of its next meal by collecting and processing this sensory information. The platypus has about 40,000 of these special receptors.
Based on the passage, which of the following sentences best describes how the platypus processes an electrical signal?
The platypus’ bill detects the movement of the electrical signal, which is then processed by its brain.
The platypus’ eyes see the movement of the electrical signal, which is then processed by its brain.
The platypus’ tail first detects the signal and works as an oar to turn it in the right direction.
The platypus cannot process electrical signals because it is a platypus.
The platypus’ bill detects the movement of the electrical signal, which is then processed by its brain.
The passage explains that platypus use electroreception signals via their bills to locate prey. Their bill may first detect the signal, but their brains must process the signal to then begin their hunt. Remember that the brain processes all information received from the senses.
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