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Primary 3 Science Diversity Living Nonliving Quiz

Free Exam-Derived Primary 3 Science Diversity Living Nonliving quiz with questions and answers for Singapore students. This page is rendered as a direct URL so the questions and answers can be discovered without pressing in-page buttons.

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Primary 3 Science From Real Exams Generated by Claude Sonnet 4 Updated 2026-06-03

Questions

P3 Science Quiz: Diversity of Living & Non-living Things

Questions: 20 Time: 30 minutes Total Marks: 40


Section A: Multiple Choice (12 marks)

Choose the best answer and write 1, 2, 3 or 4 in the brackets. Each question carries 2 marks.

1. Which of these is a living thing? (2 marks)

  1. Plastic toy
  2. Butterfly
  3. Metal spoon
  4. Glass cup

( )

2. Living things can do all of these EXCEPT: (2 marks)

  1. Grow bigger
  2. Have babies
  3. Change color permanently
  4. Need food and water

( )

3. Which shows that a plant is living? (2 marks)

  1. It has green leaves
  2. It grows taller over time
  3. It has a brown stem
  4. It feels rough

( )

4. A robot toy can move and make sounds. Is it living? (2 marks)

  1. Yes, because it moves
  2. Yes, because it makes sounds
  3. No, because it needs batteries
  4. No, because it cannot grow or have babies

( )

5. Which animal has feathers? (2 marks)

  1. Cat
  2. Fish
  3. Bird
  4. Frog

( )

6. Animals with scales usually live in: (2 marks)

  1. Trees only
  2. Water only
  3. Underground only
  4. Water or on land

( )


Section B: Short Answer (14 marks)

Answer the questions clearly. Each question carries 2 marks.

7. Name TWO characteristics that all living things have. (2 marks)

a) _________________________

b) _________________________

8. Look at this list: [Chair, Dog, Tree, Book, Ant] Sort them into living and non-living things. (2 marks)

Living: _________________________

Non-living: _________________________

9. A seed is planted in soil. After two weeks, it grows into a small plant. What characteristic of living things does this show? (2 marks)

Answer: _________________________

10. Why is a car not a living thing even though it can move? (2 marks)

Answer: _________________________

11. Name one animal that has fur and one animal that has scales. (2 marks)

Fur: _________________________

Scales: _________________________

12. What do we call animals that have backbones? (2 marks)

Answer: _________________________

13. Give TWO reasons why a mushroom is considered a living thing. (2 marks)

a) _________________________

b) _________________________

Section C: Application/Explanation (14 marks)

14. Mei Ling says "My teddy bear is living because it looks like a real bear and I feed it every day." (3 marks) Explain why her teddy bear is NOT a living thing.

Explanation: ___________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

15. Compare a real fish and a toy fish. List TWO ways they are different. (4 marks)

Real fish: ___________________________________________________

Toy fish: ____________________________________________________

Real fish: ___________________________________________________

Toy fish: ____________________________________________________

16. Ahmad finds something in his garden that he thinks might be living. What THREE questions should he ask to find out if it is living or non-living? (4 marks)

Question 1: __________________________________________________

Question 2: __________________________________________________

Question 3: __________________________________________________

17. Bacteria are very tiny living things that we cannot see without a microscope. Even though they are so small, explain why they are still considered living things. (3 marks)

Explanation: ___________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

END OF QUIZ

Check your answers before submitting.

Answers

P3 Science Quiz: Diversity of Living & Non-living Things - ANSWERS

Questions: 20 Time: 30 minutes Total Marks: 40


Section A: Multiple Choice (12 marks)

1. (2) - Butterfly is a living thing. It can grow, move, reproduce, and needs food.

2. (3) - Living things do not change color permanently. They grow, reproduce, and need food/water.

3. (2) - Growing taller shows the plant is living. Color and texture are not proof of life.

4. (4) - The robot is not living because it cannot grow or have babies, even though it moves.

5. (3) - Birds have feathers. Cats have fur, fish have scales, frogs have moist skin.

6. (4) - Animals with scales can live in water (fish) or on land (snakes, lizards).


Section B: Short Answer (14 marks)

7. (2 marks) Sample answers (any two): a) They can grow b) They can reproduce/have babies c) They need food and water d) They can move by themselves e) They respond to their surroundings

8. (2 marks) Living: Dog, Tree, Ant Non-living: Chair, Book

9. (2 marks) Answer: Growth / Growing / The ability to grow

10. (2 marks) Answer: A car cannot grow, have babies, or make its own food. It needs fuel to move and cannot reproduce.

11. (2 marks) Fur: Cat, Dog, Rabbit, Bear (any mammal) Scales: Fish, Snake, Lizard (any reptile or fish)

12. (2 marks) Answer: Vertebrates

13. (2 marks) Sample answers (any two): a) It can grow bigger b) It can reproduce (make spores) c) It responds to changes in the environment d) It needs nutrients to survive


Section C: Application/Explanation (14 marks)

14. (3 marks) Model answer: The teddy bear is not living because:

  • It cannot grow by itself
  • It cannot have baby teddy bears
  • It doesn't actually eat the food (feeding it is pretend)
  • It cannot move by itself
  • It doesn't respond to its surroundings

Award 3 marks for mentioning any three characteristics that living things have but the teddy bear doesn't.

15. (4 marks) Sample answers: Real fish: Can swim by itself / Toy fish: Needs to be moved by someone Real fish: Can grow bigger / Toy fish: Stays the same size Real fish: Needs food to survive / Toy fish: Doesn't need food Real fish: Can have baby fish / Toy fish: Cannot reproduce Real fish: Breathes through gills / Toy fish: Doesn't breathe

Award 2 marks for each valid comparison (total 4 marks).

16. (4 marks) Sample questions (any three for 4 marks):

  • Can it grow bigger?
  • Can it have babies/reproduce?
  • Does it need food or water?
  • Can it move by itself?
  • Does it respond when I touch it?
  • Does it breathe?

Award 1 mark for each appropriate question, plus 1 mark for having three questions.

17. (3 marks) Model answer: Even though bacteria are tiny, they are living because they:

  • Can grow and multiply
  • Can reproduce (make copies of themselves)
  • Need nutrients to survive
  • Respond to their environment
  • Can move (some types)

Award 3 marks for mentioning any three characteristics of living things that bacteria possess.


Marking Scheme Summary

Section A (12 marks): 2 marks per question Section B (14 marks): 2 marks per question
Section C (14 marks): Variable marks as indicated

Total: 40 marks

Grade Boundaries:

  • A: 32-40 marks (80-100%)
  • B: 24-31 marks (60-79%)
  • C: 16-23 marks (40-59%)
  • Below C: Under 16 marks (Below 40%)