Primary 3 Science Practice Paper 4

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TuitionGoWhere Practice Paper - Science Primary 3

TuitionGoWhere Practice Paper (AI)
Version: 4 of 5
Subject: Science
Level: Primary 3
Paper: Practice Paper (Topic: Diversity)
Duration: 45 minutes
Total Marks: 40
Name: ________________________
Class: ________
Date: ________

Instructions:

• This practice paper has 20 questions on the topic of Diversity.
• Section A: 10 multiple-choice questions (1 mark each).
• Section B: 6 short-answer questions (2 marks each).
• Section C: 4 structured questions (1, 2, 3, and 3 marks respectively).
• Answer all questions in the spaces provided.
• No past-year exam paper was used; this is syllabus-first AI practice content.

Section A (10 marks)

Choose the correct answer for each question.

1. Which of the following is a living thing?
   (a) A toy car
   (b) A fern
   (c) A stone
   (d) A glass cup

2. Which characteristic shows that a cat is a living thing?
   (a) It is soft
   (b) It can reproduce
   (c) It is coloured
   (d) It is small

3. A butterfly belongs to which group of animals?
   (a) Mammal
   (b) Bird
   (c) Insect
   (d) Fish

4. Which material is natural?
   (a) Plastic
   (b) Wood
   (c) Glass
   (d) Nylon

5. A raincoat is usually made of waterproof material. Which property is most useful for a raincoat?
   (a) Transparent
   (b) Waterproof
   (c) Flexible
   (d) Strong

6. Mushrooms are best classified as:
   (a) Plants
   (b) Animals
   (c) Fungi
   (d) Bacteria

7. Which animal breathes using gills?
   (a) Frog
   (b) Bird
   (c) Fish
   (d) Lizard

8. Which of these is NOT a characteristic of living things?
   (a) Need food
   (b) Grow
   (c) Reproduce
   (d) Made by humans

9. Rubber is obtained from a tree. Rubber is a:
   (a) Man-made material
   (b) Natural material
   (c) Metal
   (d) Ceramic

10. A teddy bear can be moved by a child. Why is it non-living?
    (a) It is soft
    (b) It cannot move by itself
    (c) It is brown
    (d) It is small

Section B (12 marks)

Answer each question in the space provided.

11. Name two characteristics of living things. (2 marks)

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12. Classify the following into living and non-living: rose, book, dog, spoon. (2 marks)

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13. State one property of glass and one use of glass. (2 marks)

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14. Give one example of a mammal and one example of a reptile. (2 marks)

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15. Why is plastic not a natural material? (2 marks)

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16. Bacteria are living things. Give one way bacteria can be useful. (2 marks)

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Section C (18 marks)

Answer the questions below.

17. Look at the picture below. Write whether each object is living or non-living and give one reason for each. (3 marks)

Image pending generation: diagram for Q17.

(a) Sunflower: ___________________________
(b) Wooden chair: ___________________________
(c) Goldfish: ___________________________

18. At East Coast Park, Siti sees a crab, a seashell, a coconut tree, and a plastic bottle. Complete the table. (2 marks)

Object	Living or Non-living?
Crab
Seashell
Coconut tree
Plastic bottle

19. A school makes a new outdoor bench. They can choose wood, metal, or plastic. Complete the table and circle the best material for a bench that must not rust and must be comfortable. (3 marks)

Material	Property 1	Property 2	Suitable? (Yes/No)
Wood
Metal
Plastic

Best material: ________

20. Wei Liang thinks a mushroom is not living because it does not move like a cat. Explain why a mushroom is living and design a simple observation to prove it. (3 marks)

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TuitionGoWhere Practice Paper - Science Primary 3 (Answer Key)

Version: 4 of 5
Total Marks: 40

Section A (10 marks)

1. (b) A fern [1]
   Teaching note: Fern is a plant; plants are living. Toys, stones, and glass are non-living.

2. (b) It can reproduce [1]
   Teaching note: Reproduction is a characteristic of living things. Softness, colour, size are not proof of life.

3. (c) Insect [1]
   Teaching note: Butterflies have wings and six legs; they are insects.

4. (b) Wood [1]
   Teaching note: Wood comes from trees (natural). Plastic, glass, nylon are man-made.

5. (b) Waterproof [1]
   Teaching note: Raincoat keeps user dry, so waterproof property is most useful.

6. (c) Fungi [1]
   Teaching note: Mushrooms are fungi, not plants or animals.

7. (c) Fish [1]
   Teaching note: Fish use gills to breathe underwater.

8. (d) Made by humans [1]
   Teaching note: Many non-living things are made by humans; this is not a life characteristic.

9. (b) Natural material [1]
   Teaching note: Rubber from tree is natural, though processed rubber can be synthetic.

10. (b) It cannot move by itself [1]
    Teaching note: Teddy bear is moved by child; living things move by themselves.

Section B (12 marks)

11. [2] Any two: need food / need water / need air / grow / reproduce / respond to changes / move by itself.
    Marking: 1 mark per correct characteristic.

12. [2] Living: rose, dog. Non-living: book, spoon.
    Marking: 1 mark for correct grouping of each pair (or list correctly).

13. [2] Property: transparent (light passes through) or hard. Use: window / cup / lens.
    Marking: 1 mark property, 1 mark use.

14. [2] Mammal: e.g., cat, dog, human. Reptile: e.g., lizard, snake, turtle.
    Marking: 1 mark each.

15. [2] Plastic is made by humans from chemicals (not directly from nature).
    Marking: 1 mark "man-made", 1 mark reason (from petroleum/chemicals).

16. [2] Bacteria can help make yoghurt / medicine / break down waste.
    Marking: 1 mark "living" implied, 1 mark useful example.

Section C (18 marks)

17. [3]
    (a) Sunflower: Living – it grows / needs air, water, food. [1]
    (b) Wooden chair: Non-living – made from wood but cannot grow or reproduce. [1]
    (c) Goldfish: Living – moves by itself / breathes / grows. [1]
    Image note: Pupil uses labelled drawing to identify each.

18. [2]
    Crab: Living [0.5]
    Seashell: Non-living (shell is from animal but empty shell not living) [0.5]
    Coconut tree: Living [0.5]
    Plastic bottle: Non-living [0.5]
    Common mistake: thinking seashell is living because it came from animal.

19. [3]
    Wood: does not rust, comfortable → Yes [1]
    Metal: strong but can rust → No (if rust is problem) [1]
    Plastic: waterproof but less comfortable → Maybe [0.5]
    Best: Wood [0.5]
    Marking descriptors: table completion 2 marks, best choice 1 mark.

20. [3]
    Explanation: Mushroom is living because it grows and reproduces (spores), even if no legs. [2]
    Observation: Check mushroom over days for size increase / new mushrooms. [1]
    Marking: 2 for reason, 1 for simple investigation.