Question 1

Which observation correctly matches the characteristic of living things?

Accepted Answer

(4) A monkey swings from tree to tree. Characteristic: Living things can move on its own.. Living things can move on their own is a direct characteristic, and a monkey swinging from tree to tree is an example of movement. Option (1) 'A frog lays eggs' is reproduction, not growth. Option (2) 'A caterpillar changes into a butterfly' is growth/life cycle, not just needing air, food, and water. Option (3) 'A boy moves his foot away from a sharp object he had stepped on' is responding to stimuli, not reproduction.

Question 2

Which is a common characteristic of a fish and an insect?

Accepted Answer

(1) Both lay eggs.. Most fish and insects reproduce by laying eggs. Fish do not have six legs; insects do (but fish don't). Fish do not live on land only. Insects do not have scales; fish do (but insects don't).

Question 3

The table below shows the characteristics of two groups of animals.
A tick (✔) represents that the animal has the characteristic.
Which of the following best represents Groups S and T?

Accepted Answer

(2) crocodile, goldfish. Group S has dry skin, reproduces by laying eggs, and has scales. This set of characteristics describes reptiles, such as a crocodile. Group T lives in water only and has scales. This describes fish, such as a goldfish. Therefore, 'crocodile' for Group S and 'goldfish' for Group T is the best match.

Question 4

Which set of characteristics below best represents the above plant?

Accepted Answer

(3) has flower (✓), makes its own food (✓), grows on land ( ). The plant shown is a water lily, which is a flowering plant that performs photosynthesis (makes its own food) and grows in water, not on land. Therefore, 'has flower' and 'makes its own food' should be ticked, and 'grows on land' should not be ticked. This corresponds to option (3).

Question 5

Which statement(s) about the living things is/are not correct?
A Both have flowers.
B Both reproduce from spores.
C Both cannot make their own food.

Accepted Answer

(4) A and C only. The diagram shows a toadstool (fungus) and a bird's nest fern (non-flowering plant).
Statement A: 'Both have flowers.' This is incorrect, as neither fungi nor ferns have flowers.
Statement B: 'Both reproduce from spores.' This is correct, as both fungi and ferns reproduce using spores.
Statement C: 'Both cannot make their own food.' This is incorrect. Fungi cannot make their own food, but ferns (being plants) can make their own food through photosynthesis.
Therefore, statements A and C are not correct.

Question 6

The table below contains some information on two plants X and Y.
From the information given in the table above, where would you classify plants X and Y in the diagram?

Accepted Answer

(2) A, D. Plant X 'bears flowers' (✓) and 'grows on land' (no tick). This means Plant X is a flowering plant that grows in water. Following the flowchart: Plants -> Flowering -> grows in water leads to A. Plant Y 'bears flowers' (no tick) and 'grows on land' (✓). This means Plant Y is a non-flowering plant that grows on land (does not grow in water). Following the flowchart: Plants -> Non-flowering -> does not grow in water leads to D. Therefore, Plant X is A and Plant Y is D.

P3 Science SA1 2025 — Catholic High

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