Primary 4 Science Practice Paper 1

TuitionGoWhere Practice Paper - Science Primary 4 (Answer Key)

Version: 1 of 5 Total Marks: 60

Section A (28 marks)

1. (2)

• Explanation: Living things need air, water, and food, and can grow and reproduce. Mushrooms (fungi), ferns (plants), and bacteria are all living things. Clouds, rocks, and stars are non-living.

2. (1)

• Explanation: Birds have wings, lay eggs, and typically do not live exclusively in water (though some swim, they breathe air and have feathers). Animal A fits the general description of a bird (wings, eggs, terrestrial/aerial). Animal C lives in water, which is more typical of fish or amphibians, though some birds swim, Animal A is the most standard bird description in this context. Note: In P4, birds are defined by feathers and wings. Animal A is the best fit among options if we assume standard terrestrial birds.

3. (2)

• Explanation: Group Y has more than 6 legs. Spiders have 8 legs. Ants, butterflies, and grasshoppers are insects with 6 legs.

4. (3)

• Explanation: Fungi are living things because they exhibit life processes such as needing air, water, and nutrients (food) to survive and grow. They do not make their own food (no chlorophyll) and most do not move from place to place like animals.

5. (3)

• Explanation: Plants are broadly classified into flowering and non-flowering plants. Not all plants have flowers (e.g., ferns, mosses). Not all plants have distinct roots/stems/leaves in the same way (e.g., mosses). Non-flowering plants do reproduce (via spores or cones).

6. (3)

• Explanation: Broad leaves (Plant A) have a large surface area to trap sunlight for photosynthesis. Needle-like leaves (Plant B) have a small surface area to reduce water loss, often found in dry or cold environments.

7. (3)

• Explanation: Frogs undergo metamorphosis (Egg -> Tadpole -> Adult). Cats, chickens, and fish do not undergo metamorphosis; their young look like smaller versions of the adults.

8. (2)

• Explanation: Stage B is the larva (caterpillar). This is the feeding stage where the butterfly eats leaves to store energy for metamorphosis. Stage A is the egg, C is the pupa (resting stage), and D is the adult (reproductive stage).

9. (3)

• Explanation: Mammals are characterized by having hair or fur, giving birth to live young (mostly), and feeding their young with milk.

10. (2)

• Explanation: Biodiversity ensures ecosystem stability. If one species declines, others can fulfill similar roles, preventing the collapse of the food web.

11. (2)

• Explanation: Ferns, mosses, and pine trees (conifers) are non-flowering plants. Roses, orchids, sunflowers, etc., are flowering plants.

12. (2)

• Explanation: Arachnids (like spiders and scorpions) have 8 legs and no antennae. Insects have 6 legs and antennae.

13. (4)

• Explanation: Photosynthesis is the process by which plants make food. It is not a method of seed dispersal. Wind, water, and animals are common dispersal methods.

14. (3)

• Explanation: Following the key: No wings -> Go to 3. 6 legs -> Ant.

Section B (32 marks)

15. (a) Insects [1]

• Note: Animals with 6 legs and 3 body parts (head, thorax, abdomen) are insects.

(b) Animal X has 6 legs while Animal Y has 8 legs. OR Animal X has 3 body parts while Animal Y has 2 body parts. [1]

• Note: Any valid structural difference based on the table/general knowledge of insects vs arachnids.

(c) Because it has many legs (more than 6). [1]

• Note: Insects must have exactly 6 legs.

16. (a) Pupa [1]

• Note: Cockroaches undergo incomplete metamorphosis (Egg, Nymph, Adult). Butterflies undergo complete metamorphosis (Egg, Larva, Pupa, Adult).

(b) Cockroaches undergo incomplete metamorphosis, so the nymph looks like a smaller version of the adult. Butterflies undergo complete metamorphosis, so the larva (caterpillar) looks completely different from the adult butterfly. [2]

• Marking: 1 mark for mentioning incomplete/complete metamorphosis or similarity/difference in appearance. 1 mark for linking it to the specific animals.

(c) Their hard outer skin (exoskeleton) does not grow with their body. They must shed it to allow their body to grow larger. [2]

• Marking: 1 mark for stating the skin/exoskeleton is hard/does not grow. 1 mark for stating it allows growth.

17. (a) Plant R [1]

• Note: Ferns have no flowers/seeds, use spores, and grow in damp/shady places.

(b) It reproduces using cones. [1]

• Note: Conifers like pine trees produce seeds in cones.

(c) They reproduce using spores. Spores need moisture to germinate and grow. Direct sunlight may dry them out, so they prefer damp and shady areas. [2]

• Marking: 1 mark for mentioning spores need moisture/water. 1 mark for linking damp/shady conditions to preventing drying out/providing moisture.

18. (a) Penguin [1]

• Note: Has feathers (Yes) -> Go to 2. Can fly? (No) -> Penguin.

(b) Because the bat does not have feathers (it has hair/fur). [1]

• Note: The key separates animals based on feathers first. Bats are mammals, not birds.

(c) The key shows that whales do not have feathers and do not have hair/fur (in the context of the key's logic, though whales have sparse hair, P4 keys often simplify. However, the key leads to Whale via 'No feathers' -> 'No hair/fur' is incorrect for mammals generally, but let's look at the key provided in Q18 image description: 3a Has hair/fur -> Bat. 3b No hair/fur -> Whale. This is a simplification for the key. The student should answer based on the key or general knowledge. Better answer: Whales are mammals because they breathe air and give birth to live young, unlike fish which have gills and lay eggs. However, based strictly on the key provided in the prompt's image description, it classifies Whale as having no hair/fur. Let's correct the reasoning for P4 level: Whales are not fish because they breathe air using lungs, not gills, and they are mammals. [2]

• Refined Answer for P4: Whales are mammals, not fish. They breathe air using lungs, whereas fish breathe using gills. Also, whales give birth to live young, while most fish lay eggs.
• Marking: 1 mark for mentioning lungs/air breathing. 1 mark for mentioning live young/mammal characteristic.

19. (a) A habitat is the natural home or environment where an animal or plant lives. [1]

(b) Different layers receive different amounts of sunlight. Plants in the canopy get more sunlight, while plants on the forest floor get less. This allows different types of plants, which have different light requirements, to grow in the same forest. [2]

• Marking: 1 mark for mentioning different amounts of sunlight. 1 mark for linking it to different plant needs/types.

(c) More sunlight would reach the forest floor. This might cause plants that prefer shade to die, while plants that need more sunlight might grow better. The diversity of plants on the forest floor would change. [2]

• Marking: 1 mark for stating more sunlight reaches the floor. 1 mark for explaining the effect on shade-loving plants (they may die/struggle).

20. (a) Group A: Fish [1] Group B: Birds [1]

(b) Both lay eggs. OR Both are vertebrates (have backbones). [1]

• Note: Based on the table, "Lays eggs" is the explicit commonality.

(c) Feathers help to keep the bird warm (insulation) and help them to fly. [1]

• Note: Either function is acceptable at P4 level.