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Primary 3 Science Practice Paper 5
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TuitionGoWhere Practice Paper - Science Primary 3
TuitionGoWhere Practice Paper (AI) - Version 5
Subject: Science
Level: Primary 3
Paper: Practice Paper - Diversity of Living and Non-Living Things
Duration: 45 minutes
Total Marks: 40
Name: ________________________
Class: Primary 3 _______
Date: _______________
Instructions to Candidates
- Do not open this booklet until you are told to do so.
- Follow all instructions carefully.
- Answer all questions.
- The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.
- The total marks for this paper is 40.
Section A: Multiple Choice Questions (10 marks)
For each question from 1 to 10, four options are given. Choose the correct answer and write its number (1, 2, 3 or 4) in the brackets provided.
Question 1 [1]
Which of the following is a characteristic of all living things?
(1) They can move from place to place. (2) They need air, food and water to survive. (3) They can make their own food. (4) They have legs to walk.
Question 2 [1]
Study the classification table below.
| Group X | Group Y |
|---|---|
| Mushroom | Butterfly |
| Yeast | Guppy |
| Mould | Parrot |
Which of the following headings best represent Group X and Group Y?
| Group X | Group Y | |
|---|---|---|
| (1) | Fungi | Animals |
| (2) | Plants | Animals |
| (3) | Non-living things | Living things |
| (4) | Bacteria | Fungi |
Question 3 [1]
Ahmad observed a plant in his garden for two weeks. He recorded his observations in the table below.
| Day | Observation |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Plant is 10 cm tall. |
| Day 8 | Plant is 15 cm tall. |
| Day 14 | Plant has small yellow flowers. |
Which characteristic of the plant?
(1) It can grow.
(1) They need air, B. Living things can reproduce. (3) Living things (4. Living things need
Question 4 [1]
(1) water
Question 4) option)
Question [1
below shows a classification chart.
<image_placeholder> id: Q4-fig1 type: and is growing in soil. The sun is watered daily. Which of the following statements about the plant is correct?
(1) The plant is a non-living thing because it cannot move from place to place. (2) The plant is a living thing because it can grow and make its own food. (3) The plant is a non-living thing because it does not breathe. (4) The plant is a living thing because it can run and jump.
Question 5 [1]
Four pupils made the following statements about bacteria.
Ali: Bacteria are non-living things because they are too small to be seen. Bala: Bacteria are living things because they can reproduce. Cindy: Bacteria are non-living things because they do not need air. Devi: Bacteria are living things because they can move by themselves.
Which pupil(s) made the correct statement(s)?
(1) Ali only (2) Bala only (3) Ali and Cindy only (4) Bala and Devi only
Question 6 [1]
Study the flowchart below.
<image_placeholder> id: Q6-fig1 type: diagram linked_question: Q6 description: A flowchart for classifying organisms. Start box: "Organism". Decision diamond 1: "Can it make its own food?" Yes arrow to "Plant". No arrow to Decision diamond 2: "Does it have a cell wall?" Yes arrow to "Fungi". No arrow to "Animal". labels: Organism, Can it make its own food?, Plant, Does it have a cell wall?, Fungi, Animal values: None must_show: Clear flowchart structure with decision diamonds and rectangular outcome boxes, arrows labelled Yes/No </image_placeholder>
Using the flowchart, which group would yeast belong to?
(1) Plant (2) Fungi (3) Animal (4) Bacteria
Question 7 [1]
Which of the following groups contains only flowering plants?
(1) Rose, hibiscus, moss (2) Orchid, bougainvillea, fern (3) Sunflower, morning glory, ixora (4) Mushroom, mould, yeast
Question 8 [1]
Ravi saw an animal at the Singapore Zoo. It had the following characteristics:
- It has feathers.
- It lays eggs.
- It has a beak.
- It has two wings.
Which animal group does it belong to?
(1) Mammals (2) Birds (3) Reptiles (4) Insects
Question 9 [1]
Which of the following is not an insect?
(1) Butterfly (2) Grasshopper (3) Spider (4) Beetle
Question 10 [1]
Study the table below.
| Characteristic | Organism A | Organism B | Organism C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Has hair/fur | Yes | No | No |
| Lays eggs | No | Yes | Yes |
| Lives in water | No | No | Yes |
| Breathes with gills | No | No | Yes |
Based on the table, which of the following correctly identifies the animal groups?
| Organism A | Organism B | Organism C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| (1) | Mammal | Bird | Fish |
| (2) | Bird | Mammal | Fish |
| (3) | Mammal | Fish | Bird |
| (4) | Fish | Bird | Mammal |
Section B: Structured Questions (18 marks)
Answer all questions in the spaces provided.
Question 11 [3]
The diagram below shows four things found in a classroom.
<image_placeholder> id: Q11-fig1 type: figure linked_question: Q11 description: Four separate labelled diagrams in a 2x2 grid: (a) A potted money plant with green leaves, (b) A plastic toy dinosaur, (c) A glass of water, (d) A hamster in a cage with food and water bottle. labels: Money plant, Plastic toy dinosaur, Glass of water, Hamster values: None must_show: Clear visual distinction between living and non-living things; plant shows green leaves, hamster shows animal features, toy dinosaur is clearly plastic, glass of water is clear liquid in glass </image_placeholder>
(a) Classify the four things into living things and non-living things by completing the table below. [2]
| Living Things | Non-Living Things |
|---|---|
(b) State one characteristic of living things that the hamster shows but the toy dinosaur does not. [1]
Question 12 [3]
Mei Ling placed a slice of bread in a sealed plastic bag and left it on the kitchen counter. After five days, she observed greenish-black patches growing on the bread.
(a) What are the greenish-black patches? [1]
(b) Is the bread a living thing or a non-living thing? Explain your answer. [1]
(c) The greenish-black patches belong to which group of living things: Plants, Animals, Fungi, or Bacteria? [1]
Question 13 [4]
The diagram below shows the life cycle of a butterfly.
<image_placeholder> id: Q13-fig1 type: diagram linked_question: Q13 description: A circular life cycle diagram with four stages connected by arrows: Egg → Larva (caterpillar) → Pupa (chrysalis) → Adult butterfly → back to Egg. Each stage is labelled with an arrow pointing clockwise. labels: Egg, Larva (caterpillar), Pupa (chrysalis), Adult butterfly values: None must_show: Four distinct stages in correct cyclic order with arrows showing direction; clear labels for each stage </image_placeholder>
(a) Name the stage labelled X in the diagram. [1]
(b) At which stage does the butterfly reproduce? [1]
(c) State one difference between the larva and the adult butterfly. [1]
(d) The caterpillar eats leaves and grows bigger. Which characteristic of living things does this show? [1]
Question 14 [4]
Study the classification chart below.
<image_placeholder> id: Q14-fig1 type: diagram linked_question: Q14 description: A classification tree diagram. Top box: "Living Things". Two branches: "Plants" and "Animals". Under Plants: "Flowering" and "Non-flowering". Under Flowering: "Rose", "Sunflower". Under Non-flowering: "Fern", "Moss". Under Animals: "Mammals", "Birds", "Fish", "Insects", "Reptiles", "Amphibians". Under Mammals: "Bat", "Whale". Under Birds: "Eagle", "Penguin". Under Fish: "Salmon", "Guppy". Under Insects: "Butterfly", "Ant". Under Reptiles: "Snake", "Turtle". Under Amphibians: "Frog", "Toad". labels: All group names and example organisms as listed values: None must_show: Clear hierarchical tree structure with all branches and example organisms visible; readable font size </image_placeholder>
(a) Based on the chart, state two examples of flowering plants. [1]
(b) A whale lives in water but it is classified under mammals. Give one reason why a whale is a mammal and not a fish. [1]
(c) Which animal group do the bat and whale have in common? [1]
(d) State one characteristic of amphibians. [1]
Question 15 [4]
Jun Hao wants to find out whether a mushroom is a living thing. He sets up the following investigation:
- He places a fresh mushroom on a damp cotton wool in a covered dish.
- He observes it daily for one week.
- He records his observations in a table.
(a) State one observation Jun Hao would make that shows the mushroom is a living thing. [1]
(b) Which characteristic of living things does your answer in (a) show? [1]
(c) Mushrooms cannot make their own food. How do they obtain food? [1]
(d) Mushrooms belong to which group of living things? [1]
Section C: Open-Ended Questions (12 marks)
Answer all questions in the spaces provided.
Question 16 [3]
Ali found an unknown organism in the school garden. He observed that:
- It is green in colour.
- It is attached to the soil and cannot move from place to place.
- It grows taller over two weeks.
- It does not produce flowers or seeds.
(a) Based on Ali's observations, is the organism a plant or an animal? Give a reason for your answer. [1]
(b) Is it a flowering or non-flowering plant? Give a reason for your answer. [1]
(c) Name one example of a plant that belongs to the same group as this organism. [1]
Question 17 [3]
The table below shows the characteristics of three organisms, P, Q and R.
| Characteristic | Organism P | Organism Q | Organism R |
|---|---|---|---|
| Has backbone | Yes | No | Yes |
| Body covering | Scales | Exoskeleton | Feathers |
| Breathes with | Gills | Trachea | Lungs |
| Reproduction | Lays eggs | Lays eggs | Lays eggs |
(a) Identify the animal group for each organism. [2]
Organism P: ________________________
Organism Q: ________________________
Organism R: ________________________
(b) State one similarity between Organism P and Organism R. [1]
Question 18 [3]
Siti wants to classify the following things into groups:
Moss, Mould, Mushroom, Yeast, Fern, Bacteria
(a) Complete the classification table below by writing each thing in the correct group. [2]
| Group | Examples |
|---|---|
| Plants (Non-flowering) | |
| Fungi | |
| Bacteria |
(b) State one difference between fungi and bacteria. [1]
Question 19 [3]
The diagram below shows a venus flytrap plant.
<image_placeholder> id: Q19-fig1 type: figure linked_question: Q19 description: A diagram of a Venus flytrap plant showing its distinctive hinged leaves with interlocking teeth, trigger hairs visible on inner leaf surface, a trapped insect inside one closed leaf, and root system in soil. Labels pointing to: hinged leaf, trigger hairs, trapped insect, roots. labels: Hinged leaf, Trigger hairs, Trapped insect, Roots values: None must_show: Clear Venus flytrap structure with open and closed traps, trigger hairs visible, an insect trapped in one leaf, roots in soil </image_placeholder>
The Venus flytrap is a flowering plant that can trap and digest insects.
(a) The Venus flytrap makes its own food through photosynthesis. Why does it still need to trap insects? [1]
(b) When an insect lands on the leaf and touches the trigger hairs, the leaf snaps shut. Which characteristic of living things does this show? [1]
(c) The Venus flytrap produces flowers and seeds. Which plant group does it belong to? [1]
Question 20 [4]
Read the following passage and answer the questions below.
The Amazing World of Microorganisms
Microorganisms are living things that are too small to be seen with the naked eye. We need a microscope to see them. There are three main types of microorganisms: bacteria, fungi (such as yeast and mould), and protists.
Bacteria are single-celled organisms found everywhere — in soil, water, air, and even inside our bodies. Some bacteria are harmful and cause diseases, while others are useful. For example, bacteria in our intestines help us digest food, and bacteria are used to make yoghurt and cheese.
Yeast is a type of fungus. It is used in baking bread. When yeast is added to dough, it releases carbon dioxide gas, which makes the bread rise. Mould is another fungus that grows on damp food, forming fuzzy patches.
Protists are mostly single-celled organisms that live in water. Some protists can make their own food like plants, while others feed on other organisms.
(a) State one reason why we need a microscope to see microorganisms. [1]
(b) Give one example of a useful bacterium and state its use. [1]
(c) Yeast is used in baking bread. What gas does yeast release to make the bread rise? [1]
(d) State one difference between bacteria and protists. [1]
End of Paper
Total Marks: 40
Answers
TuitionGoWhere Practice Paper - Science Primary 3 (Answer Key)
Subject: Science
Level: Primary 3
Paper: Practice Paper - Diversity of Living and Non-Living Things
Total Marks: 40
Section A: Multiple Choice Questions (10 marks)
Question 1 [1]
Answer: (2)
Explanation: All living things need air, food, and water to survive. This is a fundamental characteristic of living things.
- Option (1) is incorrect because plants are living things but cannot move from place to place.
- Option (3) is incorrect because only plants (and some bacteria/protists) can make their own food; animals and fungi cannot.
- Option (4) is incorrect because many living things (plants, microorganisms, snakes, etc.) do not have legs.
Question 2 [1]
Answer: (1)
Explanation: Group X contains mushroom, yeast, and mould — all are fungi. Group Y contains butterfly, guppy, and parrot — all are animals.
Question 3 [1]
Answer: (1)
Explanation: The plant's height increased from 10 cm to 15 cm over two weeks, showing growth — a characteristic of living things.
Question 4 [1]
Answer: (2)
Explanation: Plants are living things. They can grow (the diagram shows a growing plant) and make their own food through photosynthesis.
- Option (1) is incorrect: not moving from place to place does not make something non-living (plants are living but stationary).
- Option (3) is incorrect: plants do respire (breathe).
- Option (4) is incorrect: plants cannot run or jump.
Question 5 [1]
Answer: (2)
Explanation: Bala is correct — bacteria are living things because they can reproduce (divide and multiply).
- Ali is incorrect: being too small to see does not make something non-living.
- Cindy is incorrect: bacteria do need air (most respire aerobically; some anaerobically but still need gases).
- Devi is incorrect: most bacteria cannot move by themselves (some have flagella but many are non-motile).
Question 6 [1]
Answer: (2)
Explanation: Following the flowchart: Yeast cannot make its own food → No → Does it have a cell wall? → Yes (fungi have cell walls made of chitin) → Fungi.
Question 7 [1]
Answer: (3)
Explanation: Sunflower, morning glory, and ixora are all flowering plants.
- Option (1): Moss is non-flowering.
- Option (2): Fern is non-flowering.
- Option (4): Mushroom, mould, yeast are fungi, not plants.
Question 8 [1]
Answer: (2)
Explanation: The characteristics listed — feathers, lays eggs, beak, two wings — are defining features of birds.
Question 9 [1]
Answer: (3)
Explanation: A spider is an arachnid (8 legs, 2 body parts), not an insect (6 legs, 3 body parts). Butterfly, grasshopper, and beetle are insects.
Question 10 [1]
Answer: (1)
Explanation:
- Organism A: Has hair/fur, does not lay eggs, lives on land → Mammal
- Organism B: No hair/fur, lays eggs, lives on land, breathes with lungs (not gills) → Bird
- Organism C: Lives in water, breathes with gills, lays eggs → Fish
Section B: Structured Questions (18 marks)
Question 11 [3]
(a) [2 marks]
| Living Things | Non-Living Things |
|---|---|
| Money plant | Plastic toy dinosaur |
| Hamster | Glass of water |
Marking: 1 mark for each correct column (both items correct in each column). No half marks.
(b) [1 mark]
Answer: The hamster can move by itself / can grow / can reproduce / can respond to changes / needs air, food, and water. (Any one valid characteristic)
Explanation: The toy dinosaur is made of plastic — it cannot grow, move by itself, reproduce, or respond to its environment. The hamster is a living animal that shows all characteristics of living things.
Question 12 [3]
(a) [1 mark]
Answer: Mould (or mould spores growing into mould)
Explanation: The greenish-black fuzzy patches are mould, a type of fungus.
(b) [1 mark]
Answer: The bread is a non-living thing. It cannot grow, move, reproduce, or respond to changes. It was once part of a living plant (wheat) but is now processed food.
Explanation: Bread does not show any characteristics of living things.
(c) [1 mark]
Answer: Fungi
Explanation: Mould belongs to the fungi group (along with yeast and mushrooms).
Question 13 [4]
(a) [1 mark]
Answer: Pupa (or chrysalis)
Explanation: Stage X is between larva and adult butterfly — this is the pupa stage.
(b) [1 mark]
Answer: Adult butterfly stage
Explanation: Only the adult butterfly can reproduce (lay eggs).
(c) [1 mark]
Answer: The larva (caterpillar) has a long, segmented body with many legs and eats leaves, while the adult butterfly has wings, six legs, a proboscis, and feeds on nectar. (Any one clear difference)
Examples of acceptable differences:
- Larva has no wings; adult has wings.
- Larva eats leaves; adult drinks nectar.
- Larva has many prolegs; adult has 6 jointed legs.
(d) [1 mark]
Answer: Living things can grow (or "Living things need food")
Explanation: The caterpillar eating and growing bigger shows the characteristic that living things grow and need food.
Question 14 [4]
(a) [1 mark]
Answer: Rose and Sunflower (any two from the flowering plants branch)
Explanation: The chart shows Rose and Sunflower under "Flowering" plants.
(b) [1 mark]
Answer: A whale breathes with lungs (not gills), gives birth to live young (does not lay eggs), feeds its young with milk, and has hair (at some stage of life). (Any one correct reason)
Explanation: Fish breathe with gills, lay eggs (mostly), and do not produce milk. Whales are mammals despite living in water.
(c) [1 mark]
Answer: Mammals
Explanation: Both bat and whale are listed under Mammals in the chart.
(d) [1 mark]
Answer: Amphibians live both on land and in water / have moist skin / lay eggs in water / young breathe with gills, adults breathe with lungs. (Any one characteristic)
Explanation: Frogs and toads are examples of amphibians with these traits.
Question 15 [4]
(a) [1 mark]
Answer: The mushroom grows bigger / produces more mushrooms (reproduces) / releases spores. (Any one observable change showing life)
Explanation: On damp cotton wool, a living mushroom will grow and may release spores or form new fruiting bodies.
(b) [1 mark]
Answer: Living things can grow / Living things can reproduce (matching the observation in (a))
Explanation: The observation directly demonstrates a characteristic of living things.
(c) [1 mark]
Answer: Mushrooms obtain food by decomposing dead or decaying organic matter (they are decomposers). They secrete enzymes onto food to break it down externally, then absorb the nutrients.
Explanation: Fungi cannot photosynthesise; they are saprotrophs/decomposers.
(d) [1 mark]
Answer: Fungi
Explanation: Mushrooms, mould, and yeast all belong to the fungi kingdom.
Section C: Open-Ended Questions (12 marks)
Question 16 [3]
(a) [1 mark]
Answer: It is a plant.
Reason: It is green (contains chlorophyll), attached to soil (rooted), and cannot move from place to place — characteristics of plants. Animals can move from place to place.
(b) [1 mark]
Answer: It is a non-flowering plant.
Reason: Ali observed that it does not produce flowers or seeds.
(c) [1 mark]
Answer: Fern / Moss / Bird's nest fern / Staghorn fern (any non-flowering plant)
Explanation: Ferns and mosses are non-flowering plants that reproduce by spores, not seeds.
Question 17 [3]
(a) [2 marks]
Organism P: Fish — has backbone, scales, breathes with gills, lays eggs.
Organism Q: Insect — no backbone (invertebrate), has exoskeleton, breathes through trachea, lays eggs.
Organism R: Bird — has backbone, feathers, breathes with lungs, lays eggs.
Marking: 1 mark each for P and R (Q is 1 mark but often given as part of set); total 2 marks for all three correct. If using 1 mark per organism, award 1 mark each (3 marks total) but syllabus allocates 2 marks for this part — typically 1 mark for two correct, 2 marks for all three correct.
(b) [1 mark]
Answer: Both have a backbone (are vertebrates) / lay eggs / breathe using respiratory organs (gills/lungs). (Any one similarity)
Explanation: Both P (fish) and R (bird) are vertebrates that lay eggs.
Question 18 [3]
(a) [2 marks]
| Group | Examples |
|---|---|
| Plants (Non-flowering) | Moss, Fern |
| Fungi | Mould, Mushroom, Yeast |
| Bacteria | Bacteria |
Marking: 1 mark for correct Plants (both moss and fern), 1 mark for correct Fungi (all three: mould, mushroom, yeast) and Bacteria (bacteria). If any item misplaced, deduct accordingly.
(b) [1 mark]
Answer: Fungi can be single-celled (yeast) or multicellular (mould, mushroom), while bacteria are always single-celled. / Fungi have a nucleus (eukaryotes), bacteria do not have a nucleus (prokaryotes). / Fungi cell walls made of chitin, bacteria cell walls made of peptidoglycan. (Any one valid difference)
Explanation: At Primary 3 level, the most accessible difference is: fungi can be seen as fuzzy patches (multicellular) or used in baking (yeast), while bacteria are always microscopic single cells.
Question 19 [3]
(a) [1 mark]
Answer: The Venus flytrap grows in nutrient-poor soil (lacking nitrogen/phosphorus). It traps insects to obtain nutrients (especially nitrogen) that are lacking in the soil.
Explanation: Photosynthesis makes food (glucose) for energy, but nutrients for growth come from soil. In poor soil, it supplements by digesting insects.
(b) [1 mark]
Answer: Living things respond to changes (or "Living things respond to stimuli")
Explanation: The trigger hairs detect the insect (stimulus) and the leaf snaps shut (response).
(c) [1 mark]
Answer: Flowering plants
Explanation: The passage states it produces flowers and seeds — the defining characteristic of flowering plants.
Question 20 [4]
(a) [1 mark]
Answer: Microorganisms are too small to be seen with the naked eye / microscopic in size.
Explanation: "Micro" means very small; they cannot be seen without magnification.
(b) [1 mark]
Answer: Bacteria in our intestines — help us digest food. / Bacteria used to make yoghurt and cheese. (Any one example with correct use)
Explanation: The passage gives these examples of useful bacteria.
(c) [1 mark]
Answer: Carbon dioxide (gas)
Explanation: Yeast ferments sugar, releasing carbon dioxide which forms bubbles in dough, making bread rise.
(d) [1 mark]
Answer: Bacteria are prokaryotes (no nucleus), while protists are eukaryotes (have a nucleus). / Bacteria are always single-celled, while protists are mostly single-celled but some are multicellular. / Some protists can make their own food (like plants), but bacteria cannot photosynthesise (except cyanobacteria). (Any one valid difference)
Explanation: At Primary 3 level, the simplest difference from the passage: some protists can make their own food like plants, while bacteria cannot.
Marking Summary
| Section | Questions | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|
| A (MCQ) | 1–10 | 10 |
| B (Structured) | 11–15 | 18 |
| C (Open-Ended) | 16–20 | 12 |
| Total | 20 | 40 |
Common Misconceptions to Address
- "Things that move are living" — Cars, clouds, and rivers move but are non-living. Living things move by themselves.
- "Plants are non-living because they don't move" — Plants are living; they grow, reproduce, respond to light/gravity, and need air/food/water.
- "Mushrooms are plants" — Mushrooms are fungi; they cannot make their own food.
- "Bacteria are all harmful" — Many bacteria are useful (digestion, food production, decomposition).
- "Whales are fish because they live in water" — Whales are mammals: breathe with lungs, give live birth, produce milk, have hair.
- "Spiders are insects" — Spiders are arachnids (8 legs, 2 body parts); insects have 6 legs, 3 body parts.
- "Growing bigger = growth for living things" — A balloon inflating or a crystal growing is not biological growth. Living growth involves cell division and development.
End of Answer Key