Primary 6 / Grade 6

Full Name:

School: Index Number:

Instructions to Students:
1. Only Scientific Calculators are allowed during the contest.
2. The duration of this contest is 1 hour 30 minutes. You may not leave the contest venue
within the first hour of the paper.
3. This examination paper contains 25 questions and comprises of 13 printed pages.
4. Each question has only 4 possible answers: a, b, c and d. Shade your correct option on the
Answer Entry Sheet provided.
5. The total marks for this paper is 77 points:
a. Section A:
Question 1 to 10: +2 points for correct answer, 0 points for no answer and −1 point for
wrong answer.
b. Section B:
Question 11 to 20: +3 points for correct answer, 0 points for no answer or wrong
answer.
Application Question
Question 21, 22 and 23: +3 points for correct answer, 0 points for wrong and no answer.
Question 24 and 25: +4 points for correct answer, 0 points for wrong and no answer.
6. You are not allowed to bring the question paper and answer script out of the contest venue.

Note:
1) You may assume that there is no air resistance throughout the contest unless
stated.
2) All temperatures are in Degrees Celsius.
3) Room Temperature is 25°C at 1 atmospheric pressure.
4) Gravitational Acceleration is taken to be 9.8 𝑚/𝑠 2
Vanda 2019, Primary 6 / Grade 6

Rough Working
Vanda 2019, Primary 6 / Grade 6

Section A (Question 1 to 10: +2 points for correct answer, 0 point for no answer and
−1 point for wrong answer)

1. A new substance has been discovered and it has a melting point of -113 oC and
a boiling point of 11 oC. Which of the following is true about this substance?

A. It has a definite volume at -100 oC.

B. It cannot be compressed at room temperature.
C. It has a definite shape at 0 oC.
D. It does not have mass at all temperatures.

2. Samuel bought takeaway fries from a western shop in a hawker centre and he
noticed that the hawker poked a few holes in the styrofoam box before passing
it to him. Why did the hawker poke a few holes in the styrofoam box?

A. To allow the fries to stay hotter for a longer time.

B. To prevent water vapour from condensing.
C. To cool the fries by introducing air into the box.
D. To allow the heat to escape from the box.

3. Scientists have been creating cyborg plants in recent years. These plants have
enhanced abilities and have the potential to generate electricity for the world
one day. One of these cyborg plants is a rose that conducts electricity. The
wire-making material enters the rose the way water enters a plant. Which of
the following statements about the rose is true?

A. The wire grows in the phloem.

B. The wire in the rose generates electricity.
C. The wire-making material moves up the xylem.
D. The wire-making material is insoluble in water.
Vanda 2019, Primary 6 / Grade 6

4. Why does the Venus flytrap consume insects despite it being a food producer?

A. The Venus flytrap cannot make its own food so it obtains its energy from
consuming the insects.
B. The Venus flytrap obtains nutrients from the insects which cannot be
obtained from the nutrient-poor soil that it grows on.
C. The Venus flytrap needs the energy from the insects to respire and
photosynthesise.
D. The Venus flytrap is an animal and needs to feed on other living things.

5. The Rafflesia is both the largest and smelliest flower on Earth. Some species
can grow up to more than 1 metre in diameter.

What evolutionary purpose does its rotting-flesh smell serve?

A. Attracts insects for pollination.

B. Keeps predators away.
C. It is a by-product of photosynthesis.
D. It is a by-product of respiration.
Vanda 2019, Primary 6 / Grade 6

6. A group of astronauts were sent to different planets. Their mass and weight are
shown in the table below. Planets have different gravity pulls.

Astronaut Mass (kg) Weight (N)

Nick 60 600
Terrence 60 300
Ben 90 450
Miranda 50 450
Joseph 70 560

Use the information above to deduce which of the following statements are
true.

A. A total of 5 planets were visited.

B. Nick and Terrence were on the same planet.
C. Terrence and Ben were on the same planet.
D. Ben and Miranda were on the same planet.

7. A substance is soluble when it can dissolve in a solvent. Chloroform (CHCl3) is a

common solvent used in organic chemistry. The table below shows the solubility
of four different substances K, L, M and N in 25 cm3 of CHCl3.

Substance Mass dissolved in 25 cm3 of CHCl3

(g)
K 10
L 3.0
M 10
N 15

Which of the following statements is true?

A. Only 3.0 g of Substance L will dissolve in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4).

B. Substance N will always have the highest solubility in all solvents.
C. It is possible for Substance L to be the most soluble in a different solvent.
D. If 16 g of Substance K dissolves in water, 16 g of Substance M will also
dissolve in water.
Vanda 2019, Primary 6 / Grade 6

8. Jen was given the absorption spectra of light at different wavelengths by a water
plant.

What can Jen conclude from the absorption spectra?

A. A land plant will absorb light at 530 nm.

B. The water plant does not respire at 530 nm.
C. Green light is reflected by the water plant.
D. Chlorophyll a and b do not complement each other in absorbing light.

9. Mary took a geology class and was given some minerals. She did an experiment
and recorded her results in the table below.

Minerals that can be scratched

Mineral Diamond Topaz Fluorite Gypsum Talc
Diamond    
Talc
Fluorite  
Topaz   
Gypsum 

What can Mary infer from her experiment?

A. Talc is the hardest mineral.

B. Fluorite can scratch Diamond and Topaz.
C. Gypsum is harder than Talc but softer than Diamond, Fluorite and Topaz.
D. Hardness ranking in descending order: Talc, Gypsum, Fluorite, Topaz,
Diamond
Vanda 2019, Primary 6 / Grade 6

10. Simple distillation is a method of separating two liquids with two different boiling
points. This method is usually used when the mixture has liquids which have very
different boiling points in order to achieve clean separation of the liquids. A
diagram of a simple distillation set-up is shown below.

The table below shows the boiling point of some liquids.

Liquid Boiling point (oC)

A 10
B 15
C 80

What can be inferred from the diagram and table given above?

A. The condenser has to be cold for condensation to occur.

B. Simple distillation can be used to separate Liquid A from Liquid B.
C. Simple distillation can separate Liquid A from C at 100 oC.
D. Liquid C is the distillate if the round bottomed flask contains Liquid B and C.
Vanda 2019, Primary 6 / Grade 6

Section B (Question 11 to 20: +3 points for correct answer, 0 points for no answer or
wrong answer)

11. Element X is a liquid at room temperature and can be used to make handles.
However, when Element X is cooled, it becomes a solid, and it is malleable
and ductile. Which of the statements are true about Element X?

i) Element X is not toxic.

ii) Element X expands easily at room temperature.
iii) Element X has a high melting point.
iv) Element X cannot conduct electricity.

A. Option (ii) only

B. Option (i) and (iv) only
C. Option (ii) and (iii) only
D. Option (i) and (ii) only

12. Water vapour, hydrogen and carbon monoxide can be compressed, but water,
bromine and gallium cannot be compressed. Why is this so?

A. The particles in water, bromine and gallium are larger than the particles in
water vapour, hydrogen and carbon monoxide.
B. The particles in water, bromine and gallium are smaller than the particles
in water vapour, hydrogen and carbon monoxide.
C. There is less space between the particles in water, bromine and gallium
than in water vapour, hydrogen and carbon monoxide.
D. The particles in water, bromine and gallium contract while the particles in
water vapour, hydrogen and carbon monoxide expand.
Vanda 2019, Primary 6 / Grade 6

13. An experiment to show the movement of carbon dioxide gas (CO2) and
nitrogen gas (N2) was set up as shown in the diagram below. What can be
expected from the movement of water levels X and Y after a few hours?
(Hint: the relative atomic masses of C = 12, O = 16 and N = 14)

A. X and Y do not move at all.

B. X moves downwards while Y moves upwards.
C. X moves upwards while Y moves downwards.
D. X moves upwards then downwards while Y moves downwards then upwards.

14. Animal cells and bacterial cells have some differences in structure. Penicillin
breaks down cellulose. Explain how the antibiotic, penicillin, is able to kill
bacterial cells without killing animal cells.

A. Penicillin kills bacterial cells by absorbing water and breaking down cellulose
from their cytoplasm, but animal cells do not have cytoplasm.
B. Penicillin kills bacterial cells by attacking their cell walls, but animal cells do
not have cell walls.
C. Penicillin kills bacterial cells by breaking down cellulose found in the
chloroplasts, preventing photosynthesis.
D. Penicillin kills bacterial cells by breaking down cellulose found in their
vacuoles, but animal cells do not have vacuoles.
Vanda 2019, Primary 6 / Grade 6

15. Apitherapy, or "bee therapy", is the medicinal use of products made by

honeybees, such as honey, pollen and venom. A spoonful of manuka honey
can help relieve sore throat. Bee venom is also used in treating arthritis, a
condition where the joints become stiff and inflamed. How does bee venom
and honey help to relieve the above mentioned medical conditions?

A. Bee venom and honey contain chemical compounds that reduce

inflammation.
B. Bee venom contain chemical compounds that break down sugar and fat at a
faster rate.
C. Bee venom contain chemical compounds that increase calcium in the bones.
D. Bee venom contain chemical compounds that strengthen tendons in the joints.
Vanda 2019, Primary 6 / Grade 6

Each of the questions 16 to 20 has 4 numbered options. Response is based on the

following table:
A B C D
Option 1 only Option 1 and 3 Option 2 and 4 All of the above
only only

16. Alex was given three different liquids (A, B and C) and two different objects
of the same volume (X and Y). He was asked to do an experiment so he could
make inferences about the density of the three liquids and two objects. He
drew his observations in the diagram below.

He made the following four inferences from his observations.

1. X is less dense than Y.

2. Object Y will sink in Liquid B.
3. Object X will float in Liquid C.
4. Density in ascending order: A < X < B < C < Y.

Which of the following inferences above is/are correct?

Vanda 2019, Primary 6 / Grade 6

17. The stalk of a white flower was split and placed into three different coloured dyes
as shown below.

Which of the following statements about the above experiment is/are false?

1. The flower will remain white after a few days.

2. The flower will turn purple, orange and pink immediately.
3. The xylem transports only pure water in the dye to the flower.
4. The leaf will have a mixture of four colours after one week.
Vanda 2019, Primary 6 / Grade 6

18. Paul wants to find out the opacity of different materials. He placed the material in
between the light source and the light sensor attached to the data logger on the
other side of the material. Light that passes through the material will be recorded
by the data logger.

Variable X

Variable Y

Which of the following lists the correct variables of X and Y?

1. Variable X is the amount of light detected by the sensor.

2. Variable X is the opacity of the materials.
3. Variable Y is the opacity of the materials.
4. Variable Y is the number of times the light sensor was used.

19. Paul was asked to do an experiment to identify 5 objects, some metallic and others
non-metallic. He recorded his observations below.

(I) Objects A and C moved away from each other.

(II) Objects A and B were attracted to each other.
(III) When placed next to each other, Objects C and D stayed in their original
positions.
(IV) Object E repels Object A but attracts Object C.

He made the following conclusions and inferences below.

1. Objects A and D will stay in their original positions.

2. Objects A, B, C and E are magnets.
3. Object E is a magnet.
4. Object B will attract Object D.
Vanda 2019, Primary 6 / Grade 6

20. Hydrochloric acid (HCl) reacts with sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) to produce a gas
that turns limewater chalky. In the experiment shown below, the hydrochloric acid
has a concentration of 1.0 M while the mass of sodium carbonate used is 1.0 g.

Which of the following statement(s) about this experiment is/are true?

1. The gas produced is carbon dioxide.

2. Using 1.0g of sodium carbonate in powder form will decrease the surface area
to volume ratio.
3. Using warm hydrochloric acid will increase the rate of reaction.
4. Adding water to the conical flask will increase the rate of reaction.
Vanda 2019, Primary 6 / Grade 6

Application Question (Question 21, 22 and 23: 3 points for correct answer, 0 points
for wrong or no answer. Question 24 and 25: 4 points for correct answer, 0 points for
wrong or no answer.)

21. Some animals are specially adapted to be able to survive in their harsh
environments and competition for limited resources.

Wood frogs
Wood frogs freeze their bodies to survive winter. They do not move, they stop
breathing and their heart stops beating.

Kangaroo rats
Kangaroo rats survive in the desert without drinking water. They depend on the
seeds they eat to get the moisture they require.

Antarctic fish
Antarctic fish have ‘anti-freeze’ proteins which prevent their blood from freezing
in the sub-zero environment they live in.

Okapis
Okapis look like a combination of a giraffe and a zebra, and they live in Congo
where it is hot with predators constantly lurking. They have scent glands on their
feet to mark their territory and they make infrasonic calls to their young so that
their predators would not be able to hear them.

Which of the following animals display structural and behavioural adaptations?

A. Wood frogs only

B. Kangaroo rats and Okapis
C. Antarctic fish and Okapis
D. Wood frogs and Okapis
Vanda 2019, Primary 6 / Grade 6

22. Golden rice is rice that has been genetically modified to contain β-carotene. It is
produced by adding a gene from a bacterium to wild rice so that β-carotene can be
produced. Golden rice can be beneficial to children with Vitamin A deficiency.
Which of the following statements about Golden rice is true?

A. β-carotene is a precursor of vitamin A.

B. Golden rice is not genetically modified because the gene is not altered when
added to the wild rice.
C. Consuming too much golden rice is harmful because it contains bacteria.
D. Consumers should not eat too much golden rice because the excess genes can
be absorbed by our body and our genes can be mutated.

23. A diagram of a unicellular organism called Euglena is shown below.

What inferences can be made about this cell?

A. This is an animal cell because it does not have a fixed or regular shape like a
plant cell.
B. This is a plant cell because it can photosynthesise.
C. This is a bacterium because it has a flagellum.
D. This cell has characteristics across the different cell categories.
Vanda 2019, Primary 6 / Grade 6

24. The police have narrowed down four suspects in a crime investigation. They
concluded that only people that have been to the crime scene would have a trace
of Substance X in their blood. Paper chromatography was used in this
investigation.
Background: Paper chromatography uses Rf values to identify components in
𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑛𝑡
samples. Rf = 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑡

Who was/were present at the crime scene?

A. Aiken only
B. Terren only
C. Aiken and Terren only
D. Joe, Charles and Aiken only
Vanda 2019, Primary 6 / Grade 6

25. When a straw is used to drink, the pressure drops in the straw when the air is
sucked into the lungs. This pressure drop causes the drink to be pushed up towards
your mouth. The same concept applies to the vacuum cleaner. The diagram below
shows the inside of a vacuum cleaner.

Which of the following statements is not true about the mechanism of the
vacuum cleaner?

A. The pressure in the area behind the fan is lower than atmospheric pressure.
B. There is a conversion of electrical energy to kinetic energy in the fan.
C. The porous dust bag allows both dust and air particles to pass through.
D. The moving air particles carry dust along with it, where the dust is trapped in
the dust bag.
Vanda 2019, Primary 6 / Grade 6

Rough Working
 SOLUTIONS FOR VANDA 2019 GRADE 6
Qn 1-5: In line with MOE syllabus. Questions that involve critical thinking and picking out hidden
hints.
1. A new substance has been discovered and it has a melting point of -113 oC and
a boiling point of 11 oC. Which of the following is true about this substance?
Topic: Matter and 3 states

A. It has a definite volume at -100 oC.

B. It cannot be compressed at room temperature.
C. It has a definite shape at 0 oC.
D. It does not have mass at all temperatures.

Answer: A
Room temperature can be 25 oC to 30 oC , and at this temperature the new substance
has already melted and vapourised. Therefore it is in its gaseous state at room
temperature and can be compressed. At 0 oC, it is a liquid, hence it does not have a
definite shape. Matter has mass and occupies space in all states.

2. Samuel bought takeaway fries from a western shop in a hawker centre and he
noticed that the hawker poked a few holes in the styrofoam box before passing
it to him. Why did the hawker poke a few holes in the styrofoam box?
Topic: Heat

A. To allow the fries to stay hotter for a longer time.

B. To prevent water vapour from condensing.
C. To cool the fries by introducing air into the box.
D. To allow the heat to escape from the box.

Answer: B
There is hot water vapour trapped in the box and when these hot water vapour touch
the cool surface of the box, it condenses into water droplets which can cause the fries
to become soggy. Poking holes prevents and minimises the French fries from
becoming soggy too quickly.

3. Scientists have been creating cyborg plants in recent years. These plants have
enhanced abilities and have the potential to generate electricity for the world
one day. One of these cyborg plants is a rose that conducts electricity. The
wire-making material enters the rose the way water enters a plant. Which of
the following statements about the rose is true?
Topic: Plant transport system

A. The wire grows in the phloem.

B. The wire in the rose generates electricity.
C. The wire-making material moves up the xylem.
D. The wire-making material is insoluble in water.

Answer: C
Plants absorb water through their roots, the water then travels up the water carrying
tubes, known as xylem, which are like hollow pipes.
 4. Why does the Venus flytrap consume insects despite it being a food producer?
Topic: Plants, adaptation

A. The Venus flytrap cannot make its own food so it obtains its energy from
consuming the insects.
B. The Venus flytrap obtains nutrients from the insects which cannot be
obtained from the nutrient-poor soil that it grows on.
C. The Venus flytrap needs the energy from the insects to respire and
photosynthesise.
D. The Venus flytrap is an animal and needs to feed on other living things.

Answer: B
The venus flytrap grows on soil which is poor in nutrients. It can make its own food,
however there is a lack of nutrients hence it supplements its nutrient intake through
consuming insects.
 5. The Rafflesia is both the largest and smelliest flower on Earth. Some species
can grow up to more than 1 metre in diameter.

What evolutionary purpose does its rotting-flesh smell serve?

Topic: Plants, adaptation

A. Attracts insects for pollination.

B. Keeps predators away.
C. It is a by-product of photosynthesis.
D. It is a by-product of respiration.

Answer: A
The rotten meat smell attracts flies to pollinate the flower, for reproduction.
Qn 6-10: In line with MOE syllabus but questions are inference base – Eg From a
table or graph or diagram and questions in this section increase in level of difficulty.

6. A group of astronauts were sent to different planets. Their mass and weight are
shown in the table below. Planets have different gravity pulls.
Topic: Matter, Forces

Astronaut Mass (kg) Weight (N)

Nick 60 600
Terrence 60 300
Ben 90 450
Miranda 50 450
Joseph 70 560

Use the information above to deduce which of the following statements are
true.

A. A total of 5 planets were visited.

B. Nick and Terrence were on the same planet.
C. Terrence and Ben were on the same planet.
D. Ben and Miranda were on the same planet.

Answer: C
Terrence was on a planet with a X5 gravity pull hence his weight is 60X5=300. Ben
was on a planet with a X5 gravity pull which results in his weight being 90X5=450.
Therefore both of them are on the same planet as the gravity pull experienced is the
same.
7. A substance is soluble when it can dissolve in a solvent. Chloroform (CHCl3) is a
common solvent used in organic chemistry. The table below shows the solubility
of four different substances K, L, M and N in 25 cm3 of CHCl3.
Topic: Solubility

Substance Mass dissolved in 25 cm3 of CHCl3

(g)
K 10
L 3.0
M 10
N 15

Which of the following statements is true?

A. Only 3.0 g of Substance L will dissolve in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4).

B. Substance N will always have the highest solubility in all solvents.
C. It is possible for Substance L to be the most soluble in a different solvent.
D. If 16 g of Substance K dissolves in water, 16 g of Substance M will also
dissolve in water.

Answer: C
Based on elimination, C is the most viable option, it is also possibly correct as no data
was stated that it is least soluble in other solvents. A is incorrect as 3g of L is soluble
in chloroform and not carbon tetrachloride. B is incorrect as it is inaccurate to assume
that N will always have the greatest solubility in ALL solvents. D is also incorrect as
the solubilities of K and M in water may not be the same even though it happens to be
the same in chloroform.
8. Jen was given the absorption spectra of light at different wavelengths by a water
plant. Topic: Photosynthesis

What can Jen conclude from the absorption spectra?

A. A land plant will absorb light at 530 nm.

B. The water plant does not respire at 530 nm.
C. Green light is reflected by the water plant.
D. Chlorophyll a and b do not complement each other in absorbing light.

Answer: C
In the graph, the absorption level of light for green spectrum is the lowest, hence it
would mean light was not absorbed instead it was reflected.
9. Mary took a geology class and was given some minerals. She did an experiment
and recorded her results in the table below. Topic: Geology, Minerals and Rocks

Minerals that can be scratched

Mineral Diamond Topaz Fluorite Gypsum Talc
Diamond    
Talc
Fluorite  
Topaz   
Gypsum 

What can Mary infer from her experiment?

A. Talc is the hardest mineral.

B. Fluorite can scratch Diamond and Topaz.
C. Gypsum is harder than Talc but softer than Diamond, Fluorite and Topaz.
D. Hardness ranking in descending order: Talc, Gypsum, Fluorite, Topaz,
Diamond

Answer: C
Gypsum can only scratch Talc based on the table, hence it is harder than talc but it
cannot scratch Diamond, Topaz, Fluorite, hence that means it is softer than those 3
materials.
10. Simple distillation is a method of separating two liquids with two different boiling
points. This method is usually used when the mixture has liquids which have very
different boiling points in order to achieve clean separation of the liquids. A
diagram of a simple distillation set-up is shown below.
Topic: Separation Techniques

The table below shows the boiling point of some liquids.

Liquid Boiling point (oC)

A 10
B 15
C 80

What can be inferred from the diagram and table given above?

A. The condenser has to be cold for condensation to occur.

B. Simple distillation can be used to separate Liquid A from Liquid B.
C. Simple distillation can separate Liquid A from C at 100 oC.
D. Liquid C is the distillate if the round bottomed flask contains Liquid B and C.

Answer: A
The condenser has to be cooled in order to provide a cooler surface such that the hot
vapour will be able to lose heat to it and condense into droplets. B is incorrect as the
boiling points of A and B are too close and may not guarantee a clean separation. At
100 oC, both A and C will be in gaseous state and is unable to be separated. If B and C
were to be separated by the above method, the liquid with lower boiling point will
become the distillate first as it will turn into gas sooner.
Qn 11-15: Questions that are out of syllabus but students can infer the answer from
information given by using their problem-solving skills.

11. Element X is a liquid at room temperature and can be used to make handles.
However, when Element X is cooled, it becomes a solid, and it is malleable
and ductile. Which of the statements are true about Element X? Topic: Matter

i) Element X is not toxic.

ii) Element X expands easily at room temperature.
iii) Element X has a high melting point.
iv) Element X cannot conduct electricity.

A. Option (ii) only

B. Option (i) and (iv) only
C. Option (ii) and (iii) only
D. Option (i) and (ii) only

Answer: D
Option (i) is correct as if it can be used to make handles it is likely not toxic.
Option (ii) is correct as liquids expand more easily than solids, the particles are less
tightly bound to each other and there is more space between the particles.

12. Water vapour, hydrogen and carbon monoxide can be compressed, but water,
bromine and gallium cannot be compressed. Why is this so? Topic: Matter

A. The particles in water, bromine and gallium are larger than the particles in
water vapour, hydrogen and carbon monoxide.
B. The particles in water, bromine and gallium are smaller than the particles
in water vapour, hydrogen and carbon monoxide.
C. There is less space between the particles in water, bromine and gallium
than in water vapour, hydrogen and carbon monoxide.
D. The particles in water, bromine and gallium contract while the particles in
water vapour, hydrogen and carbon monoxide expand.

Answer: C
The particles in liquids are close to each other with little space between them, such
that they can slide past one another but are still held by relatively strong bonds. The
particles in gas have weak bonds and are far apart from each other. Hence there is a
possibility for them to be compressed (for the particles to be pushed closer together).
 13. An experiment to show the movement of carbon dioxide gas (CO2) and
nitrogen gas (N2) was set up as shown in the diagram below. What can be
expected from the movement of water levels X and Y after a few hours?
(Hint: the relative atomic masses of C = 12, O = 16 and N = 14)
Topic: Diffusion, Molecular Mass

A. X and Y do not move at all.

B. X moves downwards while Y moves upwards.
C. X moves upwards while Y moves downwards.
D. X moves upwards then downwards while Y moves downwards then upwards.

Answer: B
Nitrogen gas has a smaller molecular mass and moves faster hence it will diffuse
across the porous membrane faster than carbon dioxide. Hence X will move
downwards as there is a greater volume of gas inside the inner canister compared to
outside of it, pushing down on it.
 14. Animal cells and bacterial cells have some differences in structure. Penicillin
breaks down cellulose. Explain how the antibiotic, penicillin, is able to kill
bacterial cells without killing animal cells. Topic: Cells, Fungi and Bacteria

A. Penicillin kills bacterial cells by absorbing water and breaking down cellulose
from their cytoplasm, but animal cells do not have cytoplasm.
B. Penicillin kills bacterial cells by attacking their cell walls, but animal cells do
not have cell walls.
C. Penicillin kills bacterial cells by breaking down cellulose found in the
chloroplasts, preventing photosynthesis.
D. Penicillin kills bacterial cells by breaking down cellulose found in their
vacuoles, but animal cells do not have vacuoles.

Answer: B
Cell walls are made of cellulose, and when this is broken down, the cell ruptures and
the cell dies. In this case the harmful bacteria is killed.

15. Apitherapy, or "bee therapy", is the medicinal use of products made by

honeybees, such as honey, pollen and venom. A spoonful of manuka honey
can help relieve sore throat. Bee venom is also used in treating arthritis, a
condition where the joints become stiff and inflamed. How does bee venom
and honey help to relieve the above mentioned medical conditions? Topic:
Apitherapy

A. Bee venom and honey contain chemical compounds that reduce

inflammation.
B. Bee venom contain chemical compounds that break down sugar and fat at a
faster rate.
C. Bee venom contain chemical compounds that increase calcium in the bones.
D. Bee venom contain chemical compounds that strengthen tendons in the joints.

Answer: A

Arthritis and sore throats are painful conditions where there is inflammation and
swelling. The chemical compounds in the bee venom and honey alleviate swelling by
reducing inflammation.
Question 16 to 20: Questions in this section are experiment based. Questions may be
in and out of syllabus. Each question has 4 numbered options.
A B C D
Option 1 only Option 1 and 3 Option 2 and 4 All of the above
only only

16. Alex was given three different liquids (A, B and C) and two different objects
of the same volume (X and Y). He was asked to do an experiment so he could
make inferences about the density of the three liquids and two objects. He
drew his observations in the diagram below. Topic: Density

He made the following four inferences from his observations.

1. X is less dense than Y.

2. Object Y will sink in Liquid B.
3. Object X will float in Liquid C.
4. Density in ascending order: A < X < B < C < Y.

Which of the following inferences above is/are correct?

A B C D
Option 1 only Option 1 and 3 Option 2 and 4 All of the above
only only

Answer: D
All options are true, X is floating in A but towards the bottom of A hence A is the
least dense, followed by X, B, C, Y. X is less dense than Y as it is less dense than B
and B is less dense than C and Y is found at the bottom of C.
17. The stalk of a white flower was split and placed into three different coloured dyes
as shown below. Topic: Plant Transport system

Which of the following statements about the above experiment is/are false?

1. The flower will remain white after a few days.

2. The flower will turn purple, orange and pink immediately.
3. The xylem transports only pure water in the dye to the flower.
4. The leaf will have a mixture of four colours after one week.

A B C D
Option 1 only Option 1 and 3 Option 2 and 4 All of the above
only only

Answer: D
All options are false, as the flower will no longer be white, only purple, orange and
pink mixed after a few days, not immediately. It takes time for the coloured water to
be transported to the petals continuously for it to be dyed.
18. Paul wants to find out the opacity of different materials. He placed the material in
between the light source and the light sensor attached to the data logger on the
other side of the material. Light that passes through the material will be recorded
by the data logger. Topic: Light and Shadows

Variable X

Variable Y

Which of the following lists the correct variables of X and Y?

1. Variable X is the amount of light detected by the sensor.

2. Variable X is the opacity of the materials.
3. Variable Y is the opacity of the materials.
4. Variable Y is the number of times the light sensor was used.

A B C D
Option 1 only Option 1 and 3 Option 2 and 4 All of the above
only only

Answer: B
Variable X is the dependent variable which is measured. In this case it is the amount
of light recorded by the sensor. If a great amount of light is recorded by the data
logger, it would suggest that the material is transparent.
Variable Y is the opacity of the materials. As the opacity increases, the amount of
light detected decreases.
19. Paul was asked to do an experiment to identify 5 objects, some metallic and others
non-metallic. He recorded his observations below. Topic: Magnets,
Magnetic/Non-magnetic materials

(I) Objects A and C moved away from each other.

(II) Objects A and B were attracted to each other.
(III) When placed next to each other, Objects C and D stayed in their original
positions.
(IV) Object E repels Object A but attracts Object C.

He made the following conclusions and inferences below.

1. Objects A and D will stay in their original positions.

2. Objects A, B, C and E are magnets.
3. Object E is a magnet.
4. Object B will attract Object D.

A B C D
Option 1 only Option 1 and 3 Option 2 and 4 All of the above
only only

Answer: B
A, C and E are magnets as they have the ability to repel. Only magnets have poles and
when like poles face each other, they repel. B is definitely not a magnet. It could be
made of a non-magnetic material.
20. Hydrochloric acid (HCl) reacts with sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) to produce a gas
that turns limewater chalky. In the experiment shown below, the hydrochloric acid
has a concentration of 1.0 M while the mass of sodium carbonate used is 1.0 g.
Topic: Rate of reaction

Which of the following statement(s) about this experiment is/are true?

1. The gas produced is carbon dioxide.

2. Using 1.0g of sodium carbonate in powder form will decrease the surface area
to volume ratio.
3. Using warm hydrochloric acid will increase the rate of reaction.
4. Adding water to the conical flask will increase the rate of reaction.

A B C D
Option 1 only Option 1 and 3 Option 2 and 4 All of the above
only only

Answer: B
When a carbonate is reacted with acid, carbon dioxide gas is released.
Increasing the temperature of one of the reactants will increase the rate of reaction as
the particles will be more energetic and react faster.
Question 21 to 25: Questions in this section are Application Based Questions.

21. Some animals are specially adapted to be able to survive in their harsh
environments and competition for limited resources.

Wood frogs
Wood frogs freeze their bodies to survive winter. They do not move, they stop
breathing and their heart stops beating.

Kangaroo rats
Kangaroo rats survive in the desert without drinking water. They depend on the
seeds they eat to get the moisture they require.

Antarctic fish
Antarctic fish have ‘anti-freeze’ proteins which prevent their blood from freezing
in the sub-zero environment they live in.

Okapis
Okapis look like a combination of a giraffe and a zebra, and they live in Congo
where it is hot with predators constantly lurking. They have scent glands on their
feet to mark their territory and they make infrasonic calls to their young so that
their predators would not be able to hear them.

Which of the following animals display structural and behavioural adaptations?

Topic: Adaptations

A. Wood frogs only

B. Kangaroo rats and Okapis
C. Antarctic fish and Okapis
D. Wood frogs and Okapis

Answer: D
Wood frogs build up high concentrations of glucose (up to 10 times the normal
amount) in their organs and tissues. The sugar solutes act as “cryoprotectants,”
preventing their cells from shrinking or dying. This is a structural adaptation.
The wood frogs stop moving in order to achieve a frozen state, hence it has a
behavioural adaptation. Okapis having scent glands which are a structural adaptation.
Them making infrasonic calls is a combination of structural and behavioural
adaptations as they are using their ability to protect their young.
22. Golden rice is rice that has been genetically modified to contain β-carotene. It is
produced by adding a gene from a bacterium to wild rice so that β-carotene can be
produced. Golden rice can be beneficial to children with Vitamin A deficiency.
Which of the following statements about Golden rice is true? Topic: Inference,
genetic engineering in food

A. β-carotene is a precursor of vitamin A.

B. Golden rice is not genetically modified because the gene is not altered when
added to the wild rice.
C. Consuming too much golden rice is harmful because it contains bacteria.
D. Consumers should not eat too much golden rice because the excess genes can
be absorbed by our body and our genes can be mutated.

Answer: A
β-carotene is converted into Vitamin A in the liver which can supplement Vitamin A
deficient diets in poorer developing countries.

23. A diagram of a unicellular organism called Euglena is shown below. Topic: Cells

What inferences can be made about this cell?

A. This is an animal cell because it does not have a fixed or regular shape like a
plant cell.
B. This is a plant cell because it can photosynthesise.
C. This is a bacterium because it has a flagellum.
D. This cell has characteristics across the different cell categories.

Answer: D
The Euglena has characteristics across different cell types. It cannot be put under any
1 category only.
24. The police have narrowed down four suspects in a crime investigation. They
concluded that only people that have been to the crime scene would have a trace
of Substance X in their blood. Paper chromatography was used in this
investigation.
Background: Paper chromatography uses Rf values to identify components in
𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑛𝑡
samples. Rf = 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑡

Who was/were present at the crime scene? Topic: Chromatography, Solubility

A. Aiken only
B. Terren only
C. Aiken and Terren only
D. Joe, Charles and Aiken only

Answer: D
Joe, Charles and Aiken have traces of substance X found in each of their
chromatogram.
25. When a straw is used to drink, the pressure drops in the straw when the air is
sucked into the lungs. This pressure drop causes the drink to be pushed up towards
your mouth. The same concept applies to the vacuum cleaner. The diagram below
shows the inside of a vacuum cleaner. Topic: Critical Thinking

Which of the following statements is not true about the mechanism of the
vacuum cleaner?

A. The pressure in the area behind the fan is lower than atmospheric pressure.
B. There is a conversion of electrical energy to kinetic energy in the fan.
C. The porous dust bag allows both dust and air particles to pass through.
D. The moving air particles carry dust along with it, where the dust is trapped in
the dust bag.

Answer: C
Option C is not true as the dust bag does not allow dust to pass through but it allows
air to go through.