2012 Primary 3 Science End Year Examination 1

Section A

For each question from 1 to 30, one of them are the correct answer. Make your choice (1, 2, 3 or 4).

1.

Which one of the following is a living thing?

1. cloud
2. candle
3. volcano
4. bread mould

2.

A hamster was kept in an airtight box as shown below for twenty-four hours. Food and water are put into the airtight box.

What would happen to the hamster after twenty-four hours?

1. The hamster would survive as it was given food.
2. The hamster would survive as it was given water.
3. The hamster would die as it was not given enough air.
4. The hamster would die as it could not receive sunlight.

3.

Look at the classification table below.

In which group would you place the platypus?

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D

4.

Abigail found Animal P near a pond in her school's eco-garden.
She observed that it has the following characteristics:

• a pair of wings
• a pair of feelers
• has three body parts
• lays eggs in the water

Animal P is most likely to be a _________________________.

1. flea
2. tick
3. silverfish
4. dragonfly

5.

Flowering plants, ferns and fungi have some similarities and differences.
Study their characteristics in the tables below.

Table A	Able to make food	Able to produce spores
Fungi	Yes	No
Ferns	Yes	Yes
Flowering plants	Yes	No

Table B	Able to make food	Able to produce spores
Fungi	No	Yes
Ferns	Yes	No
Flowering plants	Yes	No

Table C	Able to make food	Able to produce spores
Fungi	No	Yes
Ferns	Yes	Yes
Flowering plants	Yes	No

Table D	Able to make food	Able to produce spores
Fungi	No	Yes
Ferns	No	Yes
Flowering plants	Yes	Yes

Which table above gives you the correct information about fungi, ferns and flowering plants?

1. Table A
2. Table B
3. Table C
4. Table D

6.

Look at the plant shown below.

Which of the following correctly represents Part P and Q?

	Part P	Part Q
(1)	leaf	root
(2)	leaf	stem
(3)	stem	root
(4)	stem	leaf

1. 1
2. 2
3. 3
4. 4

7.

Look at the leaf shown below carefully.

Identify the parts of a leaf in the table below.

	A	B	C	D
(1)	vein	leaf stalk	edge	leaf blade
(2)	vein	edge	leaf stalk	leaf blade
(3)	edge	vein	leaf stalk	leaf blade
(4)	edge	leaf stalk	vein	leaf blade

1. 1
2. 2
3. 3
4. 4

8.

Look at the plant parts shown below.



Which plant part is shown in the pictures above?

1. leaf
2. fruit
3. root
4. stem

9.

The picture below shows a tomato plant. Different parts of the plant are labelled P, Q, R and S.

The tomato plant will not be able to make food if part ______ is completely removed.

1. P
2. Q
3. R
4. S

10.

Which of the following statements are not the functions of the roots?

A: Holds the plant firmly to the ground
B: Absorb water and mineral salts from the soil
C: Carry food made by the leaves to the rest of the plant
D: Holds the leaves and enables them to reach for sunlight

1. A and B only
2. B and C only
3. A and D only
4. C and D only

11.

Bryant conducted an experiment using two balsam plants of similar size as shown below. He placed Plants A and B in two similar glass flasks. He cut off the roots of Plant B but left the roots of Plant A intact. The two plants were placed near the window in the same location. After seven days, she recorded the amount of water left in both flasks.

We can conclude that Bryant was trying to find out if ________________________.

1. roots absorb water
2. stems absorb water
3. plants can make food in the presence of sunlight
4. water with nutrients helps both plants to grow healthily

12.

Which of the following functions does the Part X of the plant below perform?

A: Part X helps the plant to absorb water.
B: Part X holds the plant firmly to the ground.
C: Part X enables the leaves to reach for sunlight.
D: Part X carries food made by the leaves to the rest of the plant.
E: Part X transports water and mineral sales from the roots to the other parts of the plant.

1. A, B and D only
2. A, C and E only
3. B, C and D only
4. C, D and E only

13.

Study the classification table below.

Which of the systems above have organs that are wrongly classified?

1. System A and C only
2. System B and D only
3. System C and D only
4. System E and C only

14.

What is the function of saliva?

1. Saliva helps to chew the food we eat.
2. Saliva helps to dissolve the food we eat completely.
3. Saliva helps to make the food we eat moist and soft.
4. Saliva helps to improve the taste of the food we consume.

15.

Look at the system below. Which of the following are represented by X, Y and Z?

	X	Y	Z
(1)	nose	gullet	lung
(2)	mouth	gullet	heart
(3)	nose	windpipe	lung
(4)	mouth	windpipe	heart

1. 1
2. 2
3. 3
4. 4

16.

The graph below shows the amount of undigested food as it passes through different parts of the human digestive system.

Based on the graph above, which part represents the stomach?

1. Part A
2. Part B
3. Part C
4. Part D

17.

Three samples of partially digested food were taken from three different parts of the digestive system as shown below.

From which part of the digestive system could Samples P, Q and R be taken from?

	P	Q	R
(1)	stomach	mouth	small intestine
(2)	large intestine	mouth	stomach
(3)	mouth	stomach	small intestine
(4)	stomach	small intestine	large intestine

1. 1
2. 2
3. 3
4. 4

18.

The diagram below shows parts of our digestive system.

Which of the following statements match the parts labelled W, X, Y and Z?

A: Solid waste is found here.
B: Digested food enters the blood here.
C: Food stays here for about two to five hours.
D: A mixture of water and undigested food is found here.

	W	X	Y	Z
(1)	A	D	C	B
(2)	C	B	D	A
(3)	B	C	A	D
(4)	D	B	C	A

1. 1
2. 2
3. 3
4. 4

19.

Study the classification table below carefully.

Which of the materials best represent L, M and N?

	L	M	N
(1)	silk	cotton	iron
(2)	paper	wool	clay
(3)	rubber	nylon	glass
(4)	wood	plastic	iron

1. 1
2. 2
3. 3
4. 4

20.

Adelene was given four different types of paper bags. She put canned drinks, one at a time, into each bag until it began to tear. In the table below, she recorded the data collected.

Type of paper bags	Number of canned drinks put in the paper bag before it began to tear
A	6
B	9
C	12
D	4

Based on the results from the table above, which type of paper bag is the strongest?

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D

21.

Rani compared the hardness of four rocks, W, X, Y and Z by scratching them with discs made of different materials. She recorded the results in the table below, by using a tick (√) to indicate the presence of scratch marks on the rocks.

presence of scratch marks made by

Rock	plastic disc	wooden disc	iron disc
W
X	√	√	√
Y			√
Z		√	√

Which of the following correctly shows the four rocks arranged in increasing order of hardness?

hardest

(1)	W	Z	Y	X
(2)	X	Z	Y	W
(3)	W	Y	Z	X
(4)	X	Y	Z	W

1. 1
2. 2
3. 3
4. 4

22.

The set-up below is used to find out which material, A, B, C or D is able to absorb water the fastest.

Which one of the materials (A, B, C or D) is most suitable for making a diaper?

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D

23.

A clothing factory is producing their new range of T-shirts. If you are their designer, which material would you choose to produce the T-shirt?

Reasons \ Materials	P	Q	R	S
Comfortable	√	√	√	X
Easy to wash	√	√	X	X
Absorbs sweat	X	√	√	X

1. Material P
2. Material Q
3. Material R
4. Material S

24.

Serene brought three objects S, T and U near a bar magnet.

The magnet pulled object S towards it but pushed object T away.
Object U remained at the same place where it was place.
Which of the following most likely represents the three objects?

	Object S	Object T	Object U
(1)	Plastic ruler	Steel spoon	Magnet
(2)	Magnet	Steel spoon	Plastic ruler
(3)	Steel spoon	Magnet	Plastic ruler
(4)	Plastic ruler	Magnet	Steel spoon

1. 1
2. 2
3. 3
4. 4

25.

Sue set up a experiment as shown below. When she placed sheet X between the magnet and the paper clip, she noticed that the paper clip floated in the air.

Which one of the following materials can sheet X be made of?

A: Iron
B: Steel
C: Silver
D: Aluminum

1. B and D only
2. A and B only
3. B and C only
4. C and D only

26.

Which one of the following diagrams shows the final position of a freely suspended magnet?

1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 

27.

The diagram below shows different parts of a bar magnet.

If a string is attached to it at point C and the magnet is lowered into a try of paper clips, which of the following would most likely be observed?

Number of paper clips attracted at the different parts

	Part A	Part B	Part C	Part D	Part E
(1)	8	8	7	9	9
(2)	8	7	11	6	10
(3)	10	4	2	5	9
(4)	12	11	11	11	12

1. 1
2. 2
3. 3
4. 4

28.

A magnet loses its magnetism when _________________________________.

A: heated over a fire
B: put in ice cold water
C: dropped several times on the floow

1. A only
2. C only
3. B and C only
4. A and C only

29.

Four nails magnetised by the 'Stroking' method were brought near some safety pins. The nails and the number of strokes they were given are shown in the table below.

Nail	Number of strokes
A	25
B	35
C	45
D	55

Which nail would be able to pick up the most number of safety pins?

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D

30.

What are the use(s) of a magnet?

A: To separate iron filings from a tray of sand.
B: To keep the door of a refrigerator tightly closed
C: To hold a piece of paper onto a magnetic board

1. A only
2. C only
3. B and C only
4. A, B and C

Section B

Read questions 1 to 13, write your answers in the space provided.

1.

Look at the two plants below carefully.

(a) State a similarity between Plant X and Plant Y.
(Do not compare size, colour or pot.)

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

(b) State a difference between Plant X and Plant Y.
(Do not compare size or colour.)

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

(c) What are the three basic needs Plant X and Y need in order to grow?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

2.

For each of the following statements, write 'T' for true or 'F' for false in the boxes provided.

	Statements
(a)	All bacteria can make their own food.
(b)	Some fungi look like plants and have leaves, stems and roots.
(c)	Insects have hard outer coverings.
(d)	Female mammals produce milk to feed their young.
(e)	Birds reproduce by laying eggs with hard shells.
(f)	All fish lay eggs without shells.

3.

Benjamin set up an experiment using a beaker of clear tap water and a stalk of celery as shown in the diagram below. He wanted to prove that the stem of a stalk of celery transported water to the leaves. He left his set-up near the window for three days.

After three days, he did not observe any changes to the leaves of the stalk of celery.

(a) What should Benjamin have done in order to be able to observe changes to the leaves? Read the following choices and tick [√ ] in the relevant box(es).

		Tick [√]
(a)	Change a new stalk of celery that has roots attached.
(b)	Change a new stalk of celery that has more than three leaves
(c)	Leave the set-up near the window for another three more days
(d)	Add three drops of blue colouring to the beaker of tap water and stir

(b) What would he observe in the leaves after making a change to his set-up as chosen in (a)?

_____________________________________________________________________

(c) What conclusion could he make about the function of the stem of the stalk of celery?

_____________________________________________________________________

4.

Study the classification chart below.

(a) Give a suitable heading for M.

____________________________________________________________________

(b) From the classification chart above, describe plant N.

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

(b) Explain your choice in (a).

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

5.

Look at the four set-ups below. Four similar potted plants W, X, Y and Z are placed under the sun.

(a) Which one of the above potted plants W, X, Y or Z will survive for the longest period of time?
____________________________________________________________________

(b) Explain your choice in (a).

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

9.

Before waste can be recycled, they have to be sorted into groups according to the materials they are made of. The list below shows the items found in a bin.

Based on the materials they are made of, place them in the correct groups.

Paper	Glass	Metal	Plastic

10.

Joshua conducted an experiment using the objects (pebble, paper clip, wooden block, ping pong ball, marble and steel ball) as shown below.
He filled the tank with 500ml of water and put in all the items.
He then observed the positions of the six objects.

Which of the above objects would rise to the surface of the water or sink to the bottom of the tank? Tick [√] in the relevant boxes for each of the items.

	Objects	Sink	Float
(a)	pebble
(b)	paper clip
(c)	wooden block
(d)	ping pong ball
(e)	marble
(f)	steel ball

11.

Study the flow chart below carefully.

You are given the following objects. Which objects best represent P, Q, R and S? Write the letters in the boxes provided.

	Objects	Letter
(a)	an eraser
(b)	a piece of iron rod
(c)	a piece of winder pane
(d)	a rubber ring

12.

Michelle conducted an experiment as shown below. She attached a paper doll on each of the four pieces of metals, aluminum, copper, iron and steel. She then placed the four paper dolls on the glass table. She tied a magnet to one end of the wooden stick and placed the magnetic end of the stick under the glass table.

(a) She tried to move the dolls using the magnet. Which doll(s) could be moved?

____________________________________________________________________

(b) Explain why the doll(s) in (a) was/were able to be moved.

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

13.

Two magnets, X and Y of equal strength were placed near to each other with like poles facing each other. A rubber ball was placed on the table against magnet Y as shown in the diagram below.

(a) What will happen to magnet X and Y?

____________________________________________________________________

(b) What will most likely happen to the rubber ball?

____________________________________________________________________

(c) Explain your answer in (b).

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

Section A (Answers)

Answers

1.

D.

2.

C.

3.

A.

4.

D.

5.

C.

6.

D.

7.

D.

8.

C.

9.

A.

10.

D.

11.

A.

12.

D.

13.

C.

14.

C.

15.

C.

16.

C.

17.

A.

18.

B.

19.

B.

20.

C.

21.

B.

22.

A.

23.

B.

24.

C.

25.

D.

26.

D.

27.

C.

28.

D.

29.

D.

30.

D.

Section B (Answers)

Answers

1.

(a) Plant X and Plant Y both have a stem root and leaves.

(b) Plant X has flowers while Plant Y does not have flowers.

(c) Both plants need air, sunlight and water to grow.

2.

(a) F

(b) F

(c) T

(d) T

(e) T

(f) F

3.

(a) d

(b) The leaves will turn bluish.

(c) The water-currying tubes in the stem carry the blue coloured water to the leaves.

4.

(a) Grow on water.

(b) Plant N is a non-flowering land plant.

5.

(a) Plant X

(b) Plant X received sunlight, air and water thus it is able to photosynthesize or make food.

6.

(a)(i) Circulatory system

(ii) Respiratory system

(iii) Skeletal system

(iv) Muscular system

(b) Waste materials

7.

2, 6, 4, 1, 5, 3

8.

(a) Part Z

(b) Small intestine

(c) Small intestine

9.

PaperCardboards

Glasswine bottle

Metalcanned drinks

Plasticmineral water bottle

10.

(a) Sink

(b) Sink

(c) Float

(d) Float

(e) Sink

(f) Sink

11.

(a) R

(b) Q

(c) P

(d) S

12.

(a) Y and Z

(b) Magnetism can pass through the glass which is a non-magnetic material to attract the iron and steel which are magnetic material thus the dolls Y and Z were able to be moved.

13.

(a) They will repel.

(b) The rubber ball will drop off from the table.

(c) When Magnet X and Y repel, Magnet Y will be pushed away from magnet X, therefore, Magnet Y will hit the rubber ball, and it will fall of the table.