To evaluate the expression $2^{-2} \times 5^3$, follow these steps:

1. Evaluate each term separately:

   • $2^{-2}$ is the same as $\frac{1}{2^2} = \frac{1}{4}$.
   • $5^3$ is $5 \times 5 \times 5 = 125$.

2. Multiply the results:

   $2^{-2} \times 5^3 = \frac{1}{4} \times 125 = \frac{125}{4}$

So, the evaluated expression is $\frac{125}{4}$.

Would you like more information on this topic? Here are some related questions:

1. How do you simplify expressions with negative exponents?
2. What is the general rule for multiplying powers?
3. How do you convert a fraction to a decimal?
4. What are the steps to simplify a fraction?
5. Can you convert the fraction $\frac{125}{4}$ into a mixed number?

Tip: When multiplying a fraction by an integer, you can directly multiply the integer with the numerator and keep the denominator the same.