Primary 4 Science Practice Paper 4

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TuitionGoWhere Practice Paper - Science Primary 4

TuitionGoWhere Practice Paper (AI)
Subject: Science
Level: Primary 4
Paper: Practice Paper 4 (Version 4 of 5)
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Marks: 60

Name: ________________________
Class: Primary 4 _______
Date: _______________

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INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES

1. Do not open this booklet until you are told to do so.
2. Follow all instructions carefully.
3. Answer all questions.
4. The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.
5. The total marks for this paper is 60.
6. You are advised to spend about 45 minutes on Section A and 45 minutes on Section B.

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SECTION A: Multiple-Choice Questions (30 marks)

Questions 1 to 15 carry 2 marks each. For each question, four options are given. Choose the correct answer and write its number (1, 2, 3 or 4) in the brackets provided.

1. Which of the following groups contains only living things? [2]

(1) Mushroom, fern, moss
(2) Rock, water, air
(3) Robot, car, computer
(4) Cloud, shadow, rainbow

( )

2. Study the classification table below.

Group X	Group Y
Bacteria	Mango tree
Yeast	Hibiscus plant
Mould	Bougainvillea

What is a suitable heading for Group X? [2]

(1) Plants
(2) Fungi
(3) Animals
(4) Non-living things

( )

3. The diagram below shows a plant.

Generated diagram for Q3.

Which part of the plant absorbs water and mineral salts from the soil? [2]

(1) Roots
(2) Stem
(3) Leaves
(4) Flowers

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4. Which of the following statements about fungi is correct? [2]

(1) Fungi make their own food using sunlight.
(2) Fungi reproduce by seeds.
(3) Fungi feed on dead or decaying matter.
(4) Fungi have green leaves for photosynthesis.

( )

5. Study the flowchart below.

Generated diagram for Q5.

An organism cannot make its own food and does not feed on dead or decaying matter. Which group does it belong to? [2]

(1) Plant
(2) Fungus
(3) Animal
(4) Non-living thing

( )

6. Which of the following is a characteristic of bacteria? [2]

(1) They can be seen with the naked eye.
(2) They reproduce by spores.
(3) They are single-celled microorganisms.
(4) They have roots, stems, and leaves.

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7. The diagram below shows the life cycle of a butterfly.

Generated diagram for Q7.

Which stage comes after the caterpillar stage? [2]

(1) Egg
(2) Pupa
(3) Adult butterfly
(4) Another caterpillar

( )

8. A grasshopper undergoes incomplete metamorphosis. Which of the following shows the correct stages? [2]

(1) Egg → Larva → Pupa → Adult
(2) Egg → Nymph → Adult
(3) Egg → Caterpillar → Pupa → Adult
(4) Egg → Tadpole → Froglet → Adult

( )

9. Which of the following animals lays eggs in water and has a young stage that breathes through gills? [2]

(1) Butterfly
(2) Grasshopper
(3) Frog
(4) Chicken

( )

10. Study the table below.

Animal	Young Stage	Type of Metamorphosis
Butterfly	Caterpillar	Complete
Mosquito	Larva	Complete
Grasshopper	Nymph	Incomplete
Cockroach	Nymph	Incomplete

Which animal has a young stage that looks most like the adult but is smaller and has no wings? [2]

(1) Butterfly
(2) Mosquito
(3) Grasshopper
(4) Frog

( )

11. The diagram below shows a plant cell and an animal cell.

Generated diagram for Q11.

Which part is found in the plant cell but not in the animal cell? [2]

(1) Nucleus
(2) Cell membrane
(3) Cell wall
(4) Cytoplasm

( )

12. Which of the following groups of materials are all matter? [2]

(1) Light, heat, sound
(2) Air, water, book
(3) Shadow, rainbow, reflection
(4) Magnetism, gravity, electricity

( )

13. Matter is anything that has ________ and occupies ________. [2]

(1) mass, space
(2) weight, time
(3) volume, mass
(4) density, area

( )

14. The diagram below shows three states of matter.

Generated diagram for Q14.

In which state do particles have the most energy and move most freely? [2]

(1) Solid
(2) Liquid
(3) Gas
(4) All have the same energy

( )

15. When water is heated to 100°C at sea level, it changes from liquid to gas. What is this process called? [2]

(1) Freezing
(2) Melting
(3) Boiling
(4) Condensation

( )

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SECTION B: Open-Ended Questions (30 marks)

Answer all questions in the spaces provided. The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.

16. The diagram below shows four things: a cat, a mushroom, a fern, and a rock. [3]

Generated diagram for Q16.

(a) Which two things are living things? [1]

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(b) State one characteristic of living things that the rock does not have. [1]

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(c) The mushroom and the fern are both living things. State one difference between them. [1]

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17. Study the classification chart below. [4]

Generated diagram for Q17.

(a) The chart has an error. Fungi are grouped under Non-flowering Plants. Why is this incorrect? [1]

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(b) State one difference between fungi and plants. [1]

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(c) Bacteria are not plants, animals, or fungi. State one characteristic of bacteria. [1]

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(d) Give one example of a flowering plant and one example of a non-flowering plant (excluding fungi). [1]

Flowering plant: ________________________
Non-flowering plant: ________________________

18. The diagram below shows the life cycle of a mosquito. [4]

Generated diagram for Q18.

(a) Name the stage that comes after the larva. [1]

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(b) The larva and pupa live in water. State one difference between the larva and the pupa. [1]

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(c) The mosquito undergoes complete metamorphosis. Explain what this means. [1]

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(d) Why is it important to remove stagnant water around homes to prevent mosquito breeding? [1]

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19. The table below shows the properties of three substances A, B, and C at room temperature. [4]

Substance	Has definite shape?	Has definite volume?	Can be compressed?
A	Yes	Yes	No
B	No	Yes	No
C	No	No	Yes

(a) Identify the state of matter for each substance. [2]

Substance A: ________________________
Substance B: ________________________
Substance C: ________________________

(b) Substance B is poured from a tall container into a wide container. What happens to its shape and volume? [1]

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(c) Substance C is placed in a sealed syringe and the plunger is pushed in. What happens to the volume of Substance C? Explain. [1]

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20. The diagram below shows an experiment set-up. [5]

Generated experimental_setup for Q20.

(a) In which beaker will the food colouring spread throughout the water faster? [1]

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(b) Explain your answer in (a) using the concept of particle movement. [2]

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(c) The water in both beakers is left on the table for several hours. What will happen to the temperature of the water in both beakers? [1]

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(d) Name the process that causes the food colouring to spread throughout the water without stirring. [1]

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END OF PAPER

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TuitionGoWhere Practice Paper - Science Primary 4 (Answer Key)

Subject: Science
Level: Primary 4
Paper: Practice Paper 4 (Version 4 of 5)
Total Marks: 60

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SECTION A: Multiple-Choice Questions (30 marks)

1. Answer: (1) Mushroom, fern, moss [2]

Explanation:

• Mushroom is a fungus (living thing).
• Fern is a non-flowering plant (living thing).
• Moss is a non-flowering plant (living thing).
  All three are living things.
  Option (2): Rock, water, air are non-living.
  Option (3): Robot, car, computer are man-made non-living things.
  Option (4): Cloud, shadow, rainbow are non-living natural phenomena.

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2. Answer: (2) Fungi [2]

Explanation:
Bacteria, yeast, and mould are all microorganisms classified as fungi (or bacteria for bacteria, but yeast and mould are fungi; bacteria is separate kingdom but often grouped with fungi in primary science as microorganisms). In the Singapore P4 syllabus, yeast and mould are taught as examples of fungi. Bacteria are separate but the best fit among the options is Fungi since yeast and mould are fungi.
Note: Strictly, bacteria belong to Kingdom Monera, but at P4 level, the grouping "Fungi" for yeast and mould is the intended answer.

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3. Answer: (1) Roots [2]

Explanation:
The roots absorb water and mineral salts from the soil. They also anchor the plant. The stem transports water and food, leaves make food, and flowers are for reproduction.

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4. Answer: (3) Fungi feed on dead or decaying matter. [2]

Explanation:

• (1) is incorrect: Fungi cannot make their own food; they are decomposers.
• (2) is incorrect: Fungi reproduce by spores, not seeds.
• (3) is correct: Fungi are decomposers that feed on dead or decaying organic matter.
• (4) is incorrect: Fungi do not have green leaves or chlorophyll; they cannot photosynthesise.

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5. Answer: (3) Animal [2]

Explanation:
Following the flowchart:

• Is it a living thing? → Yes
• Can it make its own food? → No
• Does it feed on dead/decaying matter? → No
  → Therefore, it is an Animal.
  Animals cannot make their own food (unlike plants) and do not feed on dead/decaying matter as their primary mode (unlike fungi).

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6. Answer: (3) They are single-celled microorganisms. [2]

Explanation:

• (1) is incorrect: Bacteria are microscopic and cannot be seen with the naked eye.
• (2) is incorrect: Bacteria reproduce by binary fission (splitting into two), not spores (fungi reproduce by spores).
• (3) is correct: Bacteria are unicellular (single-celled) microorganisms.
• (4) is incorrect: Bacteria do not have plant parts like roots, stems, or leaves.

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7. Answer: (2) Pupa [2]

Explanation:
The butterfly life cycle (complete metamorphosis):
Egg → Caterpillar (Larva) → Pupa (Chrysalis) → Adult Butterfly
After the caterpillar stage comes the pupa stage.

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8. Answer: (2) Egg → Nymph → Adult [2]

Explanation:
Incomplete metamorphosis has three stages: Egg → Nymph → Adult.
The nymph looks like a small version of the adult but lacks wings. It moults several times to become an adult.
Option (1) and (3) show complete metamorphosis (4 stages). Option (4) is the frog life cycle.

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9. Answer: (3) Frog [2]

Explanation:

• Frogs lay eggs in water. The young stage (tadpole) lives in water and breathes through gills.
• Butterflies lay eggs on leaves; caterpillars breathe through spiracles.
• Grasshoppers lay eggs in soil; nymphs live on land.
• Chickens lay eggs on land; chicks breathe air.

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10. Answer: (3) Grasshopper [2]

Explanation:

• Grasshopper undergoes incomplete metamorphosis: Egg → Nymph → Adult.
• The nymph looks like a small adult but has no wings. It develops wings after several moults.
• Butterfly and mosquito have larvae (caterpillar, wriggler) that look very different from adults.
• Frog has tadpole stage that looks very different from adult.

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11. Answer: (3) Cell wall [2]

Explanation:
Plant cells have: cell wall, chloroplasts, large central vacuole.
Animal cells lack: cell wall, chloroplasts, large central vacuole (have small vacuoles).
Both have: nucleus, cell membrane, cytoplasm.
Therefore, cell wall is found in plant cells but not animal cells.

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12. Answer: (2) Air, water, book [2]

Explanation:
Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space.

• Air (gas), water (liquid), book (solid) are all matter.
• (1) Light, heat, sound are forms of energy, not matter.
• (3) Shadow, rainbow, reflection are optical phenomena, not matter.
• (4) Magnetism, gravity, electricity are forces/energy, not matter.

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13. Answer: (1) mass, space [2]

Explanation:
Definition of matter: Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space (has volume).
This is the fundamental definition taught in P4 Science.

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14. Answer: (3) Gas [2]

Explanation:
In the gas state:

• Particles are far apart with weak forces of attraction.
• Particles move freely and randomly at high speeds.
• They have the most kinetic energy among the three states.
  In solids, particles vibrate in fixed positions (least energy). In liquids, particles slide past each other (moderate energy).

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15. Answer: (3) Boiling [2]

Explanation:

• Boiling is the change of state from liquid to gas at the boiling point (100°C for water at sea level).
• Freezing: liquid to solid.
• Melting: solid to liquid.
• Condensation: gas to liquid.

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SECTION B: Open-Ended Questions (30 marks)

16. [3]

(a) Cat and fern (or Cat and mushroom, or Mushroom and fern — any two living things) [1]

Acceptable answers: Cat and fern / Cat and mushroom / Mushroom and fern
Explanation: Cat (animal), mushroom (fungus), fern (plant) are living things. Rock is non-living.

(b) The rock does not need air, food, and water / cannot grow / cannot reproduce / cannot respond to changes. (Any one characteristic of living things) [1]

Explanation: Living things need air, food, and water; grow; reproduce; respond to changes. Rocks do none of these.

(c) The mushroom is a fungus (reproduces by spores, feeds on decaying matter, no chlorophyll) while the fern is a plant (makes its own food, has chlorophyll, reproduces by spores but is a plant). [1]

Acceptable differences:

• Mushroom cannot make its own food; fern can (photosynthesis).
• Mushroom reproduces by spores; fern reproduces by spores (but fern is a plant).
• Mushroom has no chlorophyll; fern has green leaves with chlorophyll.
• Mushroom feeds on dead/decaying matter; fern makes its own food.

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17. [4]

(a) Fungi are not plants. They cannot make their own food / do not have chlorophyll / do not photosynthesise / feed on dead or decaying matter. [1]

Explanation: Fungi belong to a separate kingdom. Unlike plants, they are decomposers and lack chlorophyll.

(b) Fungi cannot make their own food (no chlorophyll) but plants can make their own food through photosynthesis. / Fungi feed on dead/decaying matter; plants are food producers. [1]

Key difference: Nutrition mode — heterotrophic (fungi) vs autotrophic (plants).

(c) Bacteria are single-celled / microscopic / reproduce by binary fission / some are useful, some cause diseases. (Any one characteristic) [1]

Explanation: Bacteria are unicellular microorganisms, much smaller than fungi, reproducing by splitting (binary fission).

(d) Flowering plant: Mango tree / Hibiscus / Bougainvillea / Rose / Orchid (any flowering plant) [½]
Non-flowering plant: Fern / Moss / Algae / Conifer (any non-flowering plant, NOT fungus) [½]

Note: Fungi (mushroom, mould, yeast) are not non-flowering plants. Non-flowering plants include ferns, mosses, algae, conifers.

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18. [4]

(a) Pupa [1]

Explanation: Mosquito life cycle (complete metamorphosis): Egg → Larva → Pupa → Adult.

(b) The larva is worm-like and active (wiggles); the pupa is comma-shaped, does not feed, and is less active (tumbles). / The larva feeds and grows; the pupa does not feed and undergoes transformation. [1]

Explanation: Larva (wriggler) feeds on microorganisms in water. Pupa (tumbler) does not eat; it transforms into adult inside.

(c) Complete metamorphosis means the young stage (larva) looks very different from the adult, and there is a pupa stage where the insect undergoes a complete change. [1]

Key points: Four distinct stages (egg, larva, pupa, adult); larva ≠ adult; pupa stage present.

(d) Mosquitoes lay eggs in stagnant water. The larvae and pupae develop in water. Removing stagnant water removes their breeding ground. [1]

Explanation: This breaks the life cycle at the aquatic stages (egg, larva, pupa), preventing adult mosquitoes from emerging.

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19. [4]

(a) Substance A: Solid [½]
Substance B: Liquid [½]
Substance C: Gas [1]

Explanation:

• Solid: Definite shape, definite volume, cannot be compressed (particles tightly packed).
• Liquid: No definite shape (takes container shape), definite volume, cannot be compressed (particles close but can slide).
• Gas: No definite shape, no definite volume (fills container), can be compressed (particles far apart).

(b) The shape changes to take the shape of the wide container, but the volume remains the same. [1]

Explanation: Liquids have definite volume but no definite shape — they take the shape of their container.

(c) The volume of Substance C decreases. Gas particles are far apart and can be pushed closer together when compressed. [1]

Explanation: Gases are compressible because particles have large spaces between them. Pushing the plunger reduces the volume.

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20. [5]

(a) Beaker Y (the one with water at 80°C) [1]

Explanation: Higher temperature → particles move faster → diffusion occurs faster.

(b) In Beaker Y, the water particles have more heat energy and move faster. They collide with the food colouring particles more frequently and with greater force, causing the food colouring to spread faster throughout the water. [2]

Mark breakdown:

• Water particles in Y have more energy / move faster [1]
• Collide with food colouring particles more, spreading them faster [1]

Key concept: Diffusion is faster at higher temperatures due to increased kinetic energy of particles.

(c) The temperature of the water in both beakers will decrease until it reaches room temperature. [1]

Explanation: Heat flows from hotter object (water) to cooler surroundings (air/table) until thermal equilibrium is reached.

(d) Diffusion [1]

Explanation: Diffusion is the movement of particles from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration, resulting in even spreading without stirring.

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END OF ANSWER KEY