Science questions, unit 4

Nama / NameKelas / ClassTarikh / Date

Plants

45 marks. Use Practice to check each answer as you go, or Exam to answer everything first. Ask a grown-up to help you mark the written answers.

Section A: objective questions

10 marks

Choose the best answer for each question.

Question 1

Diagram 1 shows a durian and a pineapple. Which specific characteristic protects the durian from enemies?

Produces latex
Sharp thorns
Fine hairs
Bad smell

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The sharp thorns hurt enemies that want to eat the durian.

For the teacher: Remembering, low difficulty, standard 4.1.1

Textbook p. 94

Question 2

Diagram 2 shows a bamboo plant. A girl feels itchy after she touches its leaves. What causes the itch?

A bamboo plant and a pumpkin plant — Diagram 2

Latex on the leaves
Sharp thorns
Poison in the leaves
Fine hairs on the leaves

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Bamboo leaves have fine hairs. They make the skin itchy and keep enemies away.

For the teacher: Understanding, low difficulty, standard 4.1.1

Textbook p. 95

Question 3

Diagram 3 shows a citronella plant and a lantana plant. Why do enemies keep away from them?

They produce a strong bad smell
They have sharp thorns
They are covered with fine hairs
They produce sticky latex

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Citronella and lantana plants give off a strong bad smell, so enemies go away.

For the teacher: Understanding, low difficulty, standard 4.1.1

Textbook p. 96

Question 4

A child wants to pick the flowers of the allamanda plant in Diagram 4. Which statement is correct?

An allamanda plant with yellow flowers and a pong pong tree — Diagram 4

Only the roots are poisonous, so it is safe to pick the flowers.
The flowers have latex that sticks to the hand.
All parts of the plant are poisonous, so the child must not pick the flowers.
The flowers have fine hairs that cause itching.

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The leaves, stems, roots and flowers of the allamanda are all poisonous. The poison can cause poisoning or even death.

For the teacher: Applying, medium difficulty, standard 4.1.1

Textbook p. 95

Question 5

Which part of the cactus plant in Diagram 5 stores water?

A cactus plant with spikes growing in soil — Diagram 5

Leaves
Stem
Roots
Flowers

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The stem of the cactus stores water. Its leaves are modified as spikes and its long roots absorb water deep in the soil.

For the teacher: Remembering, low difficulty, standard 4.1.2

Textbook p. 99

Question 6

The rubber tree in Diagram 6 sheds its leaves when the weather is hot and during the dry season. Why does it do this?

A rubber tree with leaves and the same tree with bare branches — Diagram 6

To get more sunlight
To attract animals to the tree
To make food faster
To avoid water loss

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Without leaves, the tree loses less water, so it can survive the dry season.

For the teacher: Understanding, medium difficulty, standard 4.1.2

Textbook p. 101

Question 7

Diagram 7 shows a maple tree with thick bark covering its trunk. In which climate does the thick bark help it survive?

A maple tree with a close-up of its trunk — Diagram 7

Cold climate
Hot climate
Strong seasonal wind
Dry season

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Thick bark protects the trunk from the cold climate.

For the teacher: Understanding, low difficulty, standard 4.1.2

Textbook p. 101

Question 8

Diagram 8 shows an angsana fruit. It is thin and lightweight and has a wing-like structure. How is it dispersed?

An angsana fruit with a thin wing — Diagram 8

By water
By animals
By wind
By explosive mechanism

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A thin, light fruit with a wing is carried far by the wind.

For the teacher: Applying, low difficulty, standard 4.2.2

Textbook p. 105

Question 9

A coconut (Diagram 9) can float on water. Which characteristic helps it to float?

A coconut and a coconut cut open to show its husk — Diagram 9

It has a hard shell with hooks
Its husk has air cavities
It has edible flesh
It has fine hairs

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The husk of a coconut has air cavities and its skin is waxy. These help it to float and be dispersed by water.

For the teacher: Understanding, medium difficulty, standard 4.2.2

Textbook p. 105

Question 10

The seed pods of the garden balsam dry out and then split open, throwing the seeds out. This way of dispersal is called

dispersal by wind
dispersal by water
dispersal by animals and humans
dispersal by explosive mechanism

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When the pod dries and splits open, the seeds are thrown out. This is the explosive mechanism.

For the teacher: Understanding, low difficulty, standard 4.2.1

Textbook p. 107

Section B: structured questions

35 marks

Answer all questions. Circle the answer or write it in the space.

Question 11

Name the specific characteristic that protects each plant from enemies.

[1 mark] (a)Pineapple

ASharp thornsBProduce latexCFine hairsDPoisonousEBad smell

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Sharp thorns

[1 mark] (b)Jackfruit tree

ASharp thornsBProduce latexCFine hairsDPoisonousEBad smell

Show answerHide answer

Produce latex

The latex is sticky and stops enemies from eating the fruits.

[1 mark] (c)Pumpkin plant

ASharp thornsBProduce latexCFine hairsDPoisonousEBad smell

Show answerHide answer

Fine hairs

[1 mark] (d)Lantana plant

ASharp thornsBProduce latexCFine hairsDPoisonousEBad smell

Show answerHide answer

Bad smell

For the teacher: Remembering, low difficulty, standard 4.1.1

Textbook p. 94

Question 12

Diagram 10 shows the allamanda plant.

[1 mark] (a)State the specific characteristic of the allamanda plant that protects it from enemies.

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It is poisonous1

Tick each point you got.

[1 mark] (b)Why should we not pick its flowers?

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The flowers are poisonous / the poison causes poisoning or even death1

Tick each point you got.

For the teacher: Understanding, low difficulty, standard 4.1.1

Textbook p. 95

Question 13

Some plants live in a hot climate.

[1 mark] (a)The stem and leaves of a tomato plant are covered with fine hairs. State one benefit of this characteristic.

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Prevent water loss when the weather is hot1

Tick each point you got.

[1 mark] (b)A turmeric plant rolls its leaves when the weather is hot. Why?

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To prevent water loss1

Tick each point you got.

[2 marks] (c)State two characteristics of the cactus plant (Diagram 11) that help it survive in a hot climate and during the dry season.

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Any 2 points

Leaves are modified as spikes [1 mark each]1
Stem stores water1
Long roots absorb water deep in the soil1

Tick each point you got.

For the teacher: Understanding, low difficulty, standard 4.1.2

Textbook p. 100

Question 14

Choose the situation in which each characteristic helps the plant.

[1 mark] (a)Flexible trunk and split leaves, as in the coconut tree

AStrong seasonal windBHot climate and dry seasonCCold climate

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Strong seasonal wind

They reduce the force of strong winds, so the tree does not break.

[1 mark] (b)Shedding leaves, as in the rubber tree

AStrong seasonal windBHot climate and dry seasonCCold climate

Show answerHide answer

Hot climate and dry season

[1 mark] (c)Thick bark, as in the maple tree

AStrong seasonal windBHot climate and dry seasonCCold climate

Show answerHide answer

Cold climate

For the teacher: Applying, medium difficulty, standard 4.1.2

Textbook p. 99

Question 15

Diagram 12 shows a pine tree and a bougainvillea tree.

A pine tree with a close-up of its leaves and a close-up of its bark — Pine tree

A bougainvillea tree and a close-up of its red leaves — Pine tree

[1 mark] (a)How do the needle-shaped leaves help the pine tree?

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They reduce the force of strong winds (accept: help it survive the cold)1

Tick each point you got.

[1 mark] (b)State one characteristic that helps the pine tree survive in cold weather.

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Thick bark (accept needle-shaped leaves)1

Tick each point you got.

[1 mark] (c)The bougainvillea tree sheds its leaves when the weather is hot and during the dry season. Give a reason.

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To avoid water loss / to save water1

Tick each point you got.

For the teacher: Understanding, low difficulty, standard 4.1.3

Textbook p. 102

Question 16

Diagram 13 shows a rambutan and burr mallow seeds.

A rambutan with red hairy skin and white flesh — Rambutan

Burr mallow seeds with small hooks — Rambutan

[1 mark] (a)How are both of them dispersed?

ABy windBBy waterCBy animals and humans

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By animals and humans

[2 marks] (b)State two characteristics of the rambutan that make animals eat it.

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Any 2 points

Edible flesh [1 mark each]1
Attractive colour1
Pleasant smell1

Tick each point you got.

[1 mark] (c)Burr mallow seeds stick to the fur of rabbits. Which characteristic makes this happen?

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They have hooks1

Tick each point you got.

For the teacher: Applying, low difficulty, standard 4.2.2

Textbook p. 106

Question 17

Diagram 14 shows four seeds or fruits. Predict the way each one is dispersed.

A dandelion, a nipa palm fruit, a mangosteen and a rubber fruit — Diagram 14

[1 mark] (a)Dandelion (light, with fine hairs)

AWindBWaterCAnimals and humansDExplosive mechanism

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Wind

[1 mark] (b)Nipa palm fruit (fibrous husk with air cavities)

AWindBWaterCAnimals and humansDExplosive mechanism

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Water

The fibrous husk holds air, so the fruit floats and is carried by water.

[1 mark] (c)Mangosteen (sweet flesh, attractive colour)

AWindBWaterCAnimals and humansDExplosive mechanism

Show answerHide answer

Animals and humans

[1 mark] (d)Rubber fruit (dry pod that splits open)

AWindBWaterCAnimals and humansDExplosive mechanism

Show answerHide answer

Explosive mechanism

For the teacher: Analysing, medium difficulty, standard 4.2.3

Textbook p. 108

Question 18

Read each riddle and predict the way of dispersal and the seed or fruit.

[1 mark] (a)"I am light enough to float on water. My skin is soft and waxy, and my fibrous husk is filled with air." What way of dispersal is this?

AWindBWaterCAnimals and humansDExplosive mechanism

Show answerHide answer

Water

[1 mark] (b)Name a fruit that fits this riddle.

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Coconut (accept nipa palm fruit)1

Tick each point you got.

[1 mark] (c)"We live in a seed pod. When it dries and splits open, off we are scattered." What way of dispersal is this?

AWindBWaterCAnimals and humansDExplosive mechanism

Show answerHide answer

Explosive mechanism

[1 mark] (d)Name a seed that fits this riddle.

Show answerHide answer

Garden balsam (accept rubber fruit or okra)1

Tick each point you got.

For the teacher: Analysing, medium difficulty, standard 4.2.3

Textbook p. 114

Question 19

A durian has sharp thorns to protect itself from animals and humans, yet animals and humans are also dispersal agents for durians.

[2 marks] (a)Explain how animals and humans disperse durian seeds.

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The sweet smell, attractive colour and edible flesh attract animals and humans to eat the durian [1]1
The seeds are thrown away or dropped in another place, far from the parent plant [1]1

Tick each point you got.

For the teacher: Analysing, high difficulty, standard 4.2.4

Textbook p. 110

Question 20

Living things depend on each other to keep the balance of nature.

[1 mark] (a)State one way plants help animals and humans.

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Any 1 points

Plants are a food source1
Plants give oxygen during photosynthesis1
Plants provide materials for animals' nests (any one)1

Tick each point you got.

[1 mark] (b)State one way animals help plants.

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Any 1 points

They give fertilisers and nutrients through decay of their waste1
They disperse the seeds and fruits of plants (either)1

Tick each point you got.

[1 mark] (c)What may happen to animals if plants cannot ensure the survival of their species?

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Any 1 points

They lose their food source / shelter / oxygen1
The balance of nature is upset1

Tick each point you got.

For the teacher: Understanding, low difficulty, standard 4.2.4

Textbook p. 109

Question 21

Nadia wants to design a model seed that will be carried a long way by the wind.

[2 marks] (a)Suggest two characteristics she should give the model seed.

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Any 2 points

Small [1 mark each]1
Thin1
Lightweight1
Wing-like structure1
Fine hairs1

Tick each point you got.

For the teacher: Creating, high difficulty, standard 4.2.2

Textbook p. 105

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