This is testing knowledge of negative numbers and fractions as bases of exponents.

Let x = -2 < 0.
$x^5 = (-2)^5 = -32$
$x^3 = (-2)^3 = -8$
$-8 > -32$, which satisfies $x^3>x^5$.

Let x = 1/2 > 0.
$(\frac{1}{2})^5 = \frac{1}{32}$
$(\frac{1}{2})^3 = \frac{1}{8}$
$\frac{1}{8} > \frac{1}{32}$, which also satisfies x^3>x^5.

Rule of thumb with tackling comparisons of exponents is to consider negatives AND fractions, on top of positives integers:
- If the base is a fraction: the greater the power, the closer to 0 it will get
- If the base is negative: the greater the odd power, the further from 0 it will get