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Primary 6 PSLE Science Diversity Quiz
Free P6 PSLE Science Diversity quiz, LongCat AI version, with questions, answers, and PSLE-focused practice for Singapore students.
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Primary 6 PSLE Science Quiz - Diversity
Answer Key
Section A: Multiple Choice Questions (10 marks)
1. B — Number of body parts and type of reproduction [1]
- Marking note: Classification is based on observable structural and biological features, not superficial traits like colour or speed.
2. C — Plants [1]
- Marking note: Plants can carry out photosynthesis using chlorophyll and sunlight to make their own food.
3. C — A rock [1]
- Marking note: A rock does not carry out life processes such as respiration, reproduction, or growth.
4. C — They are all plants. [1]
- Marking note: Moss, fern, rose, and pine tree are all plants. Moss and fern reproduce by spores; rose and pine do not all produce flowers (pine produces cones).
5. D — They feed their young with milk. [1]
- Marking note: This is a defining characteristic of mammals. Not all mammals lay eggs (only monotremes like the platypus).
6. C — cannot make their own food. [1]
- Marking note: Fungi lack chlorophyll and cannot photosynthesise. They obtain food by absorbing nutrients from decaying or living matter.
7. C — Frog [1]
- Marking note: A frog is a vertebrate (amphibian) with a backbone. Spiders, earthworms, and snails are invertebrates.
8. C — Reptiles [1]
- Marking note: Dry scaly skin, laying eggs on land, and breathing through lungs are key characteristics of reptiles.
9. B — Living things can reproduce, while non-living things cannot. [1]
- Marking note: Reproduction is one of the key life processes that distinguish living from non-living things.
10. C — do not have a well-defined nucleus. [1]
- Marking note: Bacteria are prokaryotes — their genetic material is not enclosed within a membrane-bound nucleus.
Section B: Short-Answer Questions (20 marks)
11. State two characteristics that all living things share. [2]
Any two of the following (1 mark each):
- They can reproduce.
- They can grow.
- They can respire (breathe).
- They need food/nutrients.
- They can excrete (remove waste).
- They can move (not necessarily locomotion).
- They can respond to changes in the environment.
- They have a lifespan (they will eventually die).
Marking note: Accept any valid life process. "They can die" alone is not accepted — it must be phrased as having a finite lifespan.
12. [3]
(a) Organism: R [1 for correct organism]
Explanation: Organism R does not have feathers or scales, does not lay eggs, and cannot fly. These features are consistent with a mammal, which typically has hair/fur, gives birth to live young, and feeds its young with milk. [1 for explanation]
(b) Example: Ostrich / Emu / Kiwi / Penguin (any flightless bird) [1]
Marking note: Accept any real bird that has feathers but cannot fly.
13. [2]
(a) The basis of classification is type of body covering / whether the organism has feathers or scales (or: warm-blooded vs cold-blooded vertebrates — birds vs reptiles). [1]
Marking note: Accept any valid description that distinguishes birds (Group 1) from reptiles (Group 2).
(b) Any bird e.g., Sparrow, Pigeon, Parrot, Chicken, Duck, etc. [1]
Marking note: Must be a bird (has feathers, lays eggs, has a backbone). Do not accept bat (it is a mammal, not a bird).
14. Two reasons why a mushroom is a fungus and not a plant: [2]
(i) Mushrooms cannot make their own food (they do not have chlorophyll and cannot carry out photosynthesis). [1]
(ii) Mushrooms obtain food by absorbing nutrients from decaying matter (they are decomposers/saprophytes), whereas plants make their own food through photosynthesis. [1]
Marking note: Other acceptable reasons: Fungi have cell walls made of chitin (plants have cellulose); fungi do not have roots, stems, or leaves.
15. [3]
(a) Organism: D [1 for correct organism]
Explanation: Organism D has a backbone (follows the "Yes" path), does not have feathers, does not have moist skin, and does not have dry scaly skin. A fish has a backbone, has scales (but the key may not distinguish fine scale type), breathes through gills, and lives in water. Since Organism D is the remaining vertebrate after birds, amphibians, and reptiles are accounted for, it is most likely a fish. [1 for explanation]
Marking note: Accept any reasonable explanation that identifies D as the remaining vertebrate group (fish).
(b) Example: Earthworm / Spider / Snail / Jellyfish / Octopus (any invertebrate) [1]
Marking note: Must be an organism without a backbone.
16. [5]
(a) Classification table: [3 — 1 mark per correctly completed row; deduct 0.5 per error, minimum 0]
| Plants | Non-plants |
|---|---|
| Algae | Grasshopper |
| Fern | Eagle |
| Moss | Mushroom |
| Frog | |
| Bacteria |
Marking note: Algae, Fern, and Moss are plants (they can photosynthesise). Accept if Algae is placed in non-plants with a valid explanation, as some curricula classify algae separately. All other organisms must be correctly placed for full marks.
(b) Organism: Mushroom [1]
Explanation: A mushroom is sometimes mistaken for a plant because it does not move and grows in soil. However, it is a fungus because it cannot make its own food (lacks chlorophyll) and obtains nutrients by absorbing food from decaying organic matter. [1]
Marking note: Accept "Moss" or "Algae" if the student explains they are sometimes mistaken for non-plants or for each other, but the most common exam answer is Mushroom.
Section C: Structured / Application Questions (10 marks)
17. [4]
(a) Amphibians [1]
(b) Two supporting features: [2 — 1 mark each]
(i) Moist, smooth skin — Amphibians have moist skin that helps them breathe through their skin. [1]
(ii) Lays eggs in water — Amphibians lay their eggs in water or moist environments; the eggs do not have a hard shell. [1]
Alternative acceptable answers:
- Has four limbs — amphibians are tetrapods (four-limbed vertebrates).
- Has a backbone — confirms it is a vertebrate (narrows the group).
(c) One change during metamorphosis: [1]
- The tadpole develops legs (hind legs first, then front legs).
- The tadpole's tail shrinks/disappears.
- The tadpole develops lungs and loses its gills.
- The tadpole's mouth widens and its digestive system changes.
Marking note: Accept any valid description of metamorphosis in frogs.
18. [4]
(a) Insects [1]
(b) Total calculation: [2]
Working: 45 + 12 + 30 + 8 + 5 = 100 [1 for correct working, 1 for correct answer]
Total = 100
(c) One reason for biodiversity importance: [1]
Any one of the following:
- A large diversity means the ecosystem is more stable / balanced.
- Different organisms play different roles (e.g., pollination, decomposition, food source).
- If one species dies out, other species can still fill similar roles.
- It ensures a food web with multiple food sources.
Marking note: Accept any valid ecological reason.
19. Classification table: [5 — 1 mark per correctly completed group]
| Group | Organisms |
|---|---|
| Flowering Plants | Rose plant |
| Non-flowering Plants | Fern |
| Vertebrates | Shark, Lizard, Dog |
| Invertebrates | Butterfly, Earthworm |
| Fungi | Mushroom |
Marking note:
- Rose plant is the only flowering plant.
- Fern is a non-flowering plant (reproduces by spores).
- Shark (cartilaginous fish), Lizard (reptile), and Dog (mammal) are all vertebrates.
- Butterfly (insect) and Earthworm are invertebrates.
- Mushroom is a fungus.
- Each organism used exactly once for full marks. Deduct 1 mark per group with an error.
20. [6]
(a) Two amphibian features from the passage: [2 — 1 mark each]
(i) Smooth moist skin [1]
(ii) Lays eggs in water / lays eggs in small pools of water [1]
Alternative: Undergoes metamorphosis (tadpoles → adult frogs).
(b) How sticky pads help survival: [2]
The sticky pads on the frog's toes help it cling to and grip smooth surfaces such as leaves and branches in the rainforest. This allows the frog to live and move about in the tree canopy without falling, helping it find food, escape predators, and reach breeding sites high above the ground. [2]
Marking note: Award 1 mark for identifying the function (gripping/clinging) and 1 mark for linking it to survival (staying in trees, escaping predators, finding food).
(c) Advantage of laying eggs on leaves above water: [2]
Laying eggs on leaves above water protects the eggs from predators in the water (such as fish or aquatic insects). When the tadpoles hatch and drop into the pools below, they have a safe, enclosed environment to grow without being easily reached by predators. This increases the chances of survival of the offspring. [2]
Marking note: Award 1 mark for identifying the advantage (protection from predators / safer environment) and 1 mark for explaining how this increases survival of the young.
Mark Summary
| Section | Marks |
|---|---|
| A: Questions 1–10 (MCQ) | 10 |
| B: Questions 11–16 (Short Answer) | 20 |
| C: Questions 17–20 (Structured) | 10 |
| Total | 40 |
This quiz was generated as syllabus-aligned practice content. It is not derived from past-year examination papers.