Five parcels of land are given. In each step, we divide one parcel into three or four smaller ones. Assume that, after several steps, the number of obtained parcels equals four times the number of steps made. How many steps were performed?
1. Let \( x \) be the number of times a parcel is divided into 3 parts.
2. Let \( y \) be the number of times a parcel is divided into 4 parts.
3. Initially, there are 5 parcels of land.
4. Each division into 3 parts increases the number of parcels by 2 (since \(3 - 1 = 2\)).
5. Each division into 4 parts increases the number of parcels by 3 (since \(4 - 1 = 3\)).
6. Let \( n \) be the number of steps performed. According to the problem, the number of obtained parcels equals four times the number of steps made. Therefore, we have:
   \[
   5 + 2x + 3y = 4n
   \]
7. Also, the total number of steps is the sum of the number of divisions into 3 parts and the number of divisions into 4 parts:
   \[
   n = x + y
   \]
8. Substituting \( n = x + y \) into the first equation, we get:
   \[
   5 + 2x + 3y = 4(x + y)
   \]
9. Simplifying the equation:
   \[
   5 + 2x + 3y = 4x + 4y
   \]
   \[
   5 = 2x + y
   \]
10. Solving the equation \( 5 = 2x + y \):
    - If \( x = 0 \), then \( y = 5 \). This gives \( n = x + y = 0 + 5 = 5 \).
    - If \( x = 1 \), then \( y = 3 \). This gives \( n = x + y = 1 + 3 = 4 \).
    - If \( x = 2 \), then \( y = 1 \). This gives \( n = x + y = 2 + 1 = 3 \).

Therefore, the possible number of steps performed are 3, 4, or 5.

The final answer is \( \boxed{ 3, 4, \text{ or } 5 } \).