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Topic 18 Which has more? — what needs James (0)

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Question types (9)

One exemplar per question type in the test bank; approving a type approves every item written to it. The full type sheet.

Topic 18 · Which has more? · Type 1 · bank item PP-1 · tests MAT3-004

EasyMCQType 1 — which of the two objects has more mass · PP-1

drawing bal_pp_shoe_sock

Look at the pan balance. Which has more mass?
  1. a) the sock
  2. b) the sneaker ← key
  3. c) They have the same mass.
  4. d) You cannot tell from the balance.

Why it is this type: The sneaker's pan hangs lower. / The pan that hangs lower holds the object with more mass. / So the sneaker has more mass.

Recommendation: Approve as the exemplar

Topic 18 · Which has more? · Type 1 · bank item PP-2 · tests MAT3-004

EasyMCQType 1, second form — which of the two objects has more mass · PP-2

drawing scale_swap_pp_book_eraser

Look at the digital scale, first with one object on and then with the other. Which has more mass?
  1. a) the book ← key
  2. b) the eraser
  3. c) They have the same mass.
  4. d) You cannot tell from the scale.

Why it is this type: A digital scale shows mass in grams. / With the book on it read 480 grams; with the eraser on it read 30 grams. / 480 is the bigger number. / So the book has more mass.

Recommendation: Approve as the exemplar

Topic 18 · Which has more? · Type 5 · bank item PP-3 · tests MAT3-005

EasyMCQType 5 — two cylinders that started at 50 milliliters, an object in each: which takes up more space

drawing cyl_pp_shell_stone

Both cylinders had water at 50 milliliters before. Which takes up more space?
  1. a) the shell ← key
  2. b) the small stone
  3. c) They take up the same space.
  4. d) You cannot tell from the water.

Why it is this type: Both started at 50 milliliters. / The shell's water is higher than the stone's. / The water rises higher for the object that takes up more space. / So the shell takes up more space.

Recommendation: Approve as the exemplar

Topic 18 · Which has more? · Type 7 · bank item PP-4 · tests MAT3-006

EasyMCQType 7 — two thermometers, Fahrenheit side: which is warmer

drawing therm_pp_sand_sea

A thermometer stands in the sand and one in the sea. Which is warmer?
  1. a) the sea
  2. b) They are the same temperature.
  3. c) You cannot tell from the thermometers.
  4. d) the sand ← key

Why it is this type: Both thermometers are read on the Fahrenheit side. / The sand's reads 98 degrees Fahrenheit and the sea's reads 72 degrees Fahrenheit. / 98 is the bigger number. / So the sand is warmer.

Recommendation: Approve as the exemplar

Topic 18 · Which has more? · Type 2 · bank item PP-5 · tests MAT3-004

MediumMCQType 2 — on the trap balance (the much bigger object's pan hangs higher): which statement about the bigger object is correct

drawing bal_pp_balloon_marble (the balloon many times the marble's size; the marble's pan lower)

Look at the pan balance. Which statement is correct?
  1. a) The balloon is bigger and has more mass.
  2. b) The balloon is bigger and has less mass. ← key
  3. c) The balloon is smaller and has more mass.
  4. d) The balloon is smaller and has less mass.

Why it is this type: Medium because: two features of one drawing (the size, seen; the mass, read off the tilt) are held apart on the instance that invites "bigger means more mass" (the register's trap; taught head-on in Lesson 1 (Which has more mass?)).

The why line (what a student reads after answering): The balloon is much bigger than the marble. / But the marble's pan hangs lower, and the lower pan holds more mass. / So the balloon is bigger and has less mass.

Recommendation: Approve as the exemplar

Topic 18 · Which has more? · Type 4 · bank item PP-6 · tests MAT3-005

MediumMCQType 4 — a sinking object goes into water: what does the water do

Rafe lowers a potato into a pan of water, and it sinks. What does the water do?
  1. a) The water moves down.
  2. b) The water moves up. ← key
  3. c) The water stays where it was.
  4. d) The water soaks into the potato.

Why it is this type: Medium because: the fact (Lesson 3 (Which is warmer?)'s one line) is applied to a fresh scene to predict a happening the student has not been told.

The why line (what a student reads after answering): The potato takes up space in the pan. / The water cannot be in that space at the same time. / So the water moves up.

Recommendation: Approve as the exemplar

Topic 18 · Which has more? · Type 8 · bank item PP-7 · tests MAT3-006

MediumMCQType 8 — one reading from the Celsius side, one from the Fahrenheit side: what should she do to find the warmer one

Marlo reads 15 on the Celsius side of the cocoa's thermometer and 50 on the Fahrenheit side of the milk's. What should she do to find the warmer one?
  1. a) pick the bigger number
  2. b) add the two numbers
  3. c) read the same side on both ← key
  4. d) pick the smaller number

Why it is this type: Medium because: the rule that fixes a wrong move is picked, not a reading made; "pick the bigger number" is the register's trap.

The why line (what a student reads after answering): The two numbers come from different sides. / So the bigger number does not tell her which is warmer. / Marlo reads the same side on both. / Then the bigger number is the warmer one.

Recommendation: Approve as the exemplar

Topic 18 · Which has more? · Type 6 · bank item PP-8 · tests MAT3-005

HardMCQType 6 — the balance tipped to the spoon and the cylinders drawn: which statement is correct

drawing cyl_pp_spoon_ball (top: the pan balance, the spoon's pan lower; bottom: the two cylinders, the spoon standing upright, its water at 54; the ball's at 74)

Look at the pan balance and the two cylinders. Both cylinders had water at 50 milliliters before. Which statement is correct?
  1. a) The spoon has more mass but takes up less space. ← key
  2. b) The spoon has less mass but takes up more space.
  3. c) The spoon has more mass and takes up more space.
  4. d) The spoon has less mass and takes up less space.

Why it is this type: Hard because: two instruments are read and their two verdicts held apart in one statement (the register's "more space = heavier" trap, met head-on in Lesson 3 (Which is warmer?)). James's options, word for word.

The why line (what a student reads after answering): On the balance, the spoon's pan hangs lower, so the spoon has more mass. / In the cylinders, the rubber ball's water is higher, so the ball takes up more space. / So the spoon has more mass but takes up less space.

Recommendation: Approve as the exemplar

Topic 18 · Which has more? · Type 9 · bank item PP-9 · tests MAT3-006

HardtypedType 9 — two thermometers: find the warmer one, read it, type the number of degrees Fahrenheit

numeric entry · drawing therm_pp_mug_glass (Topic 17's thermometer, a mark every 2)

A thermometer stands in the mug and one in the glass. Read the warmer one. What does it read? Type the number of degrees Fahrenheit.

Accepted answers (typed): accw(84, "F") — 84, 84 °F, 84°F, 84 F, 84 degrees, 84 degrees F, 84 degrees Fahrenheit, 84 Fahrenheit, 84 farenheit, 84 degrees farenheit …

Why it is this type: Hard because (James, 29 Sep 2026): "it's hard because it's combining two skills → identifying the warmer one, then reading the temperature which is a prerequisite atom".

The why line (what a student reads after answering): The mug's liquid stands higher than the glass's, so the mug is warmer. / On the mug's thermometer, the number below the top is 80. There are five spaces from 80 to 90. / 10 ÷ 5 = 2, so each mark is worth 2. / The top is two marks above 80: 82, 84. / So it reads 84 degrees Fahrenheit.

Recommendation: Approve as the exemplar

The lessons (4)

Each lesson in teaching order: its one-line summary, the article, the script and the quiz, then your ruling.

Topic 18 · Lesson 1

Lesson 1 Which has more mass?

the empty balance is level; the stone's pan hangs lower, so the small stone has more mass than the big sponge, and nobody says why; an apple and a grape; a golf ball and a ping-pong ball of the same size; a pear and an orange hang level. Quiz: eight drawn balances and scale pairs, three of them the trap (a coin outweighs a feather, a brick a pillow, a nut a cotton ball).

ArticleScriptQuiz

Topic 18 · Lesson 2

Lesson 2 Everything takes up space

Olivia's grid: the red block fills square B, so Orin's blue block cannot go there; it goes on D; the red block moves and B is free; a long block fills A and B; Koa's chair. "The space the block takes up is exactly as big as the block." Every object now fills its square edge to edge (the review's first block). The second angle in the register — a room, a car, a balloon as a space you can close — is left for the air lessons.

ArticleQuiz

Topic 18 · Lesson 3

Lesson 3 Which takes up more space?

two cylinders at 50 mL; a marble and a bolt; each sinks; the marble's water is higher, so the marble takes up more space although the bolt has more mass; a big and a small pebble; a die and a domino at the same level. "Volume" is said once, after the rule, as an aside — the same word Topic 17 gave a liquid — and no item tests it (the reviewer's call, applied; say if you want the word live).

ArticleQuiz

Topic 18 · Lesson 4

Lesson 4 Which is warmer?

Perla's two hands give two answers about one bowl; a thermometer in each cup, both read on the Fahrenheit side: 54 °F and 104 °F; the same number, the same temperature; then the trap: cup A read on the Fahrenheit side, cup B on the Celsius side — "the two numbers come from different sides, so the bigger number does not tell you which is warmer; read the same side on both." No conversion anywhere.

ArticleQuiz

Skill: write-like-james @ 8b55b65 · built 6 October 2026 by build_tools_needs_you.py