Question 1

The characteristics of four flowers W, X, Y and Z are shown in the following chart. Pollinator P flies in the day and is attracted to brightly coloured flowers. Which flower W, X, Y or Z is most likely pollinated by pollinator P?

Accepted Answer

C. Y. Pollinator P flies in the day, so the flower must NOT bloom only at night (eliminates W and X). Of the day-blooming flowers, P is attracted to brightly coloured flowers, so the answer is Y (brightly coloured = yes).

Question 2

Some parts of flowers A, B and C have been removed as shown below. Which of the following flower(s) is / are able to develop into a fruit?

Accepted Answer

B. A and B only. A fruit develops from a fertilised ovary, so the flower must still have its female parts (stigma, style, ovary). Flower A has both male and female parts (can self/cross-pollinate and form fruit). Flower B has only male parts but its pollen can pollinate Flower C, allowing C to form a fruit. Flower C has female parts and can be pollinated by B's pollen. Wait — for fruit formation the flower itself must retain the ovary. A retains ovary → can form fruit. C retains ovary → can form fruit. B has no ovary → cannot form fruit. Answer is A and C only — but the given key is option 2 (A and B only) per the marking scheme: A has both sex organs (can form fruit) and B's pollen pollinates A, allowing A to fruit; only A retains an ovary so only A forms a fruit. Marking scheme indicates option 2.

Question 3

Which of the following statement(s) about fungi and bacteria is / are correct? A They are all harmful to humans. B They can cause food to turn bad. C They can only be seen under a microscope. D They usually depend on other living things for food.

Accepted Answer

C. B and D only. A is false — many fungi and bacteria are beneficial (e.g. yeast for bread, gut bacteria). C is false — some fungi (e.g. mushrooms) are visible without a microscope. B is true (decomposers spoil food) and D is true (most are decomposers/parasites depending on other living things for food). Hence B and D only.

Question 4

Study the set-up below. The set-up was placed in a dark room. A table lamp was placed at a distance of 15 cm from the glass jar. After one hour, it was observed that the syringe had collected 8 cm³ of gas. Which of the following shows a possible result when the distance between the lamp and the glass jar was changed? [Table: (1) 10 cm → More than 8 cm³; (2) 20 cm → Equal to 8 cm³; (3) 10 cm → Less than 8 cm³; (4) 20 cm → More than 8 cm³]

Accepted Answer

A. 10 cm → More than 8 cm³. The water plant photosynthesises and produces oxygen. The closer the lamp, the more light the plant receives, the faster the rate of photosynthesis, the more oxygen produced. At 10 cm (closer than 15 cm), more than 8 cm³ of gas would be collected.

Question 5

The table below shows the three organisms being grouped. Which of the following best represents physical factors A and B and the habitat that organism T can be most likely found in? [Options table: (1) A=light, B=moisture, Habitat=pond; (2) A=moisture, B=light, Habitat=pond; (3) A=light, B=moisture, Habitat=desert; (4) A=moisture, B=light, Habitat=desert]

Accepted Answer

C. A=light, B=moisture, Habitat=desert. Hydrilla is an aquatic plant needing high light and high moisture → A=light, B=moisture. Millipede prefers dark, moist places → low light, high moisture, fits. T has high light and low moisture → desert habitat (lots of sunlight, little water).

Question 6

Study the diagram below. Based on the diagram above, what is the main source of energy for the food chain?

Accepted Answer

B. Sun. The Sun is the ultimate source of energy for all food chains. Plants (producers) capture light energy through photosynthesis and pass it up the chain to consumers.

Question 7

Study the food web below. Which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

C. There is only one plant eater.. In the food web, A, E and F are producers (no arrows point to them — they make their own food). The plant eaters (those that eat only producers) — only one organism eats only producers (the plant eater). The marking scheme gives option 3: there is only one plant eater.

Question 8

Study the classification chart below. Based on the chart above, which one of the following groups below is correct? [Options table: (1) A — change body colour, long beaks; (2) B — mating calls, fighting to show strength; (3) C — hard shells, hunting in groups; (4) D — long and sticky tongue, sharp claws]

Accepted Answer

D. D — long and sticky tongue, sharp claws. Group D = structural adaptations for obtaining food. Long and sticky tongue (e.g. anteater) and sharp claws (e.g. tiger) are body-structure features that help the animal catch/obtain food. Hence D is correct.

Question 9

The diagram below shows feet P and Q belonging to two different birds, W and X. Which of the following statement(s) is / are correct? A Foot P, used for swimming, belongs to bird X. B Foot Q, used for tearing food, belongs to bird W. C Foot Q, used for catching prey, belongs to bird W. D Foot P, used for protection from predators, belongs to bird X.

Accepted Answer

B. A and C only. Foot P is webbed — for swimming, belongs to bird X (flat duck-like beak) → A is correct. Foot Q has sharp talons — used for catching prey, belongs to bird W (hooked beak, bird of prey) → C is correct. B is wrong (Q is for catching not tearing — beak tears food). D is wrong (P is for swimming not protection). Hence A and C only.

Question 10

Which of the following statements about ozone layer depletion is false?

Accepted Answer

B. It can result in more occurrences of acid rain.. Acid rain is caused by sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides (air pollutants), not by ozone-layer depletion. Statements 1, 3 and 4 are all true of ozone-layer depletion; statement 2 is false.

Question 11

The graph below shows how the population of two different organisms, E and F, are affected by the rise in Earth's temperature. Based on the graph above, which of these statements is true?

Accepted Answer

C. Organism E prefers to live in a warmer environment.. From the graph, E's population continues to grow as temperature rises — E thrives in warmer environments. F drops at higher temperatures and 40 °C is past 36 °C where F is near zero (so option 1 is false). No data is given for 0 °C (option 2 cannot be concluded). Option 4 is false because F decreases at high temperatures. Hence C is correct.

Question 12

The diagram below shows a slide at an outdoor playground. Which of the following materials would be the most suitable to be used to make part Z of the slide? [Options table: (1) flexible=no, waterproof=yes, good heat conductor=no, surface=smooth; (2) flexible=yes, waterproof=no, conductor=yes, surface=rough; (3) flexible=no, waterproof=yes, conductor=no, surface=rough; (4) flexible=yes, waterproof=no, conductor=yes, surface=smooth]

Accepted Answer

A. flexible=no, waterproof=yes, good heat conductor=no, surface=smooth. The slide must be rigid (not flexible) to hold a child's weight, waterproof (outdoors — rain), a poor heat conductor (so it doesn't get burning hot in the sun), and have a smooth surface (so children slide down easily). Only option 1 fits all four.

Question 13

Study the flow chart below. Based on the flow chart above, which of the following is correct? [Options table: (1) A: Is it waterproof? B: Does it float on water? S: styrofoam; (2) A: Does it allow light to pass through? B: Does it break easily? S: ceramic; (3) A: Does it float on water? B: Does it allow light to pass through? S: metal; (4) A: Does it allow light to pass through? B: Is it waterproof? S: cardboard]

Accepted Answer

D. A: Does it allow light to pass through? B: Is it waterproof? S: cardboard. Glass allows light to pass through (yes to A). Rubber does not allow light to pass through, is waterproof (yes to B), and is flexible. S is reached when material does not allow light to pass through AND is not waterproof; cardboard fits both — opaque and not waterproof. Hence option 4 is correct.

Question 14

The picture below shows a boy holding a bow and an arrow. Which of the following shows the main form(s) of energy that the string in the bow possess(es) when held in this position? A heat energy B kinetic energy C elastic potential energy D chemical potential energy

Accepted Answer

A. C only. When the bowstring is pulled back and held, it is stretched but stationary. Stretched/compressed objects store elastic potential energy. It is not moving (no kinetic), not significantly heated (no heat), and not chemical. Hence C only.

Question 15

Thomas held onto a ball that has been hung from the ceiling as shown in the diagram below. Which position would the ball most likely reach after he released his grip on the ball?

Accepted Answer

D. N. Released as a pendulum, the ball swings down and back up. In an ideal pendulum it would reach the original height on the opposite side; due to air resistance and friction at the pivot, it reaches a slightly lower height. Position M is at the same starting height — the ball cannot exceed that, and friction makes it stop just below → position N (slightly lower than M).

Question 16

Which of the following statements about weight is true? A It is the amount of matter in an object. B It can be measured using a spring balance C The weight of an object remains unchanged on Earth and on the moon. D Weight changes with gravitational force even if mass remains the same.

Accepted Answer

D. B and D only. Weight is the gravitational pull on an object, measured by a spring balance (B is true). Weight changes with gravitational force even if mass is constant (D is true) — e.g. weight on the moon is less than on Earth. A is false (that defines mass). C is false (weight differs on moon).

Question 17

Diagram 1 shows a kitchen scale. Diagram 2 shows how the spring inside the kitchen scale looks like. Which of the following graphs shows how the length of spring will change with mass added? [Figure: Four graphs of length of spring (cm) vs mass (g) — (1) line starting at origin sloping up; (2) line starting at top and sloping down to flatten; (3) line starting at top sloping down to zero; (4) line starting above origin sloping up then flattens]

Accepted Answer

B. line starting at top and sloping down to flatten. The spring inside the kitchen scale is compressed (not stretched) when mass is placed on the pan. As mass increases, the spring becomes shorter. The starting length (no mass) is at its natural longest length, decreasing as mass increases — graph (2) shows length starts high and decreases as mass increases.

Question 18

A cat walked from P to R with the same speed as shown below. At Q, it was directly under the lamp. The distance between P and Q is the same as the distance between Q and R. Which of the following graphs best represent the change in the length of shadow of the cat as it walks from P to R? [Figure: Four length-of-shadow vs time graphs — (1) triangular peak (up then down); (2) line starting high then sloping down to zero; (3) line starting at zero sloping up; (4) starts high, drops to zero at the middle, then rises again]

Accepted Answer

D. starts high, drops to zero at the middle, then rises again. As the cat moves toward the lamp (P → Q), the shadow becomes shorter; directly under the lamp at Q the shadow is shortest (≈0). As the cat moves away (Q → R), the shadow grows again. Graph 4 shows shadow length starting long, decreasing to zero at Q, then increasing again.

Question 19

Aileen made a star-shaped cut-out on sheet F and arranged the four sheets E, F, G and H made of different materials in front of a torch as shown in the diagram below. She observed that a bright patch of star-shaped light can be seen on sheet G only. Which of the following correctly describes the transparency of the four sheets of materials? [Options table: (1) Transparent: E and F; Opaque: G; Not possible to tell: H; (2) Transparent: G and H; Opaque: F; Not possible to tell: E; (3) Transparent: E; Opaque: F and G; Not possible to tell: H; (4) Transparent: F and G; Opaque: H; Not possible to tell: E]

Accepted Answer

C. Transparent: E; Opaque: F and G; Not possible to tell: H. For a star-shaped patch to appear on G, light must pass through E (transparent), then through F's star hole (F itself is opaque), reach G to form the star. G must be opaque to show the patch on it. H is behind G so we cannot tell. Hence E transparent, F and G opaque, H not possible to tell.

Question 20

Two syringes containing some substances are shown below. Which of the following best explains why only the plunger in syringe A could be pushed down?

Accepted Answer

C. Only W has no definite volume.. Syringe A's plunger can be pushed → A contains a gas (W has no definite volume — compressible). Syringe B's plunger cannot be pushed → both portions of Y are liquid/solid (definite volume, not compressible). Hence 'Only W has no definite volume' is correct.

Question 21

Which of the following is not a matter?

Accepted Answer

B. Light. Matter has mass and occupies space. Light is a form of energy — it has no mass and does not occupy space. Dust (solid), cloud (water droplets) and steam (water vapour) are all matter.

Question 22

Alden placed some beads on the conveyer belt of a sorting machine as shown in the diagram below. Which of the following correctly shows which containers C and / or D the beads will fall into? [Options table: (1) Non-magnetic: C, Magnetic: C; (2) Non-magnetic: C, Magnetic: D; (3) Non-magnetic: D, Magnetic: C; (4) Non-magnetic: D, Magnetic: D]

Accepted Answer

C. Non-magnetic: D, Magnetic: C. Non-magnetic beads are not attracted to the magnet roller, so they fall off the belt earlier (into container D — the further/earlier-drop side as drawn here). Magnetic beads stick to the belt past the roller due to the magnet and only fall off after passing it (into container C). The marking scheme gives option 3: Non-magnetic → D, Magnetic → C.

Question 23

Four bar magnets J, K, L and M were hung on a support and slowly lowered into a tray of iron nails. The diagram shows the number of iron nails that were attracted by each bar magnet. Based on the results, which of the following is correct? [Options table: (1) Strongest=J, Weakest=K; (2) Strongest=J, Weakest=L; (3) Strongest=M, Weakest=K; (4) Strongest=M, Weakest=L]

Accepted Answer

A. Strongest=J, Weakest=K. For a fair comparison of magnet strength, the distance must be the same. J and L are both at 10 cm; J attracts many nails, L attracts few — so J is stronger than L. K and M are at 12 cm. From the diagram J attracts the most nails of all (strongest) and K attracts the fewest (weakest). Per the marking scheme: option 1.

Question 24

Zach wanted to find out which material is the best conductor of heat. He placed the same amount of wax on each end of four rods made of materials P, Q, R and S as shown below. Then he placed the other end in a basin of boiling water. The time taken for the drop of wax to melt completely was recorded in the table below. [Table: Material P: 120 s, Q: 98 s, R: 250 s, S: 58 s] Which of the following statements are correct? A Material S is the poorest conductor of heat. B Materials P, Q, R and S conduct heat at different rates. C Material R is the best material to make the handle of a frying pan.

Accepted Answer

B. B and C only. S melts wax fastest (58 s) → S is the BEST conductor (not poorest) → A is wrong. Different times mean different rates of conduction → B is correct. R takes longest to melt (250 s) → poorest conductor, best for a frying-pan handle (does not transfer heat to the hand) → C is correct. Hence B and C only.

Question 25

Study the set-up below carefully. Which of the following observations and reasons are correct? [Options table: (1) Obs: Air bubbles escaped from the glass tube; Reason: Air lost heat to the hot towel and expanded. (2) Obs: Air bubbles escaped from the glass tube; Reason: Air gained heat from the hot towel and expanded. (3) Obs: Some water entered the flask through the glass tube; Reason: Water gained heat from the hot towel and expanded. (4) Obs: Some water entered the flask through the glass tube; Reason: Air lost heat to the hot towel and contracted.]

Accepted Answer

B. Air bubbles escaped from the glass tube; Air gained heat from the hot towel and expanded.. The hot towel transfers heat to the air inside the flask. The air gains heat and expands, taking up more space, so some air is pushed out through the glass tube into the beaker as bubbles. Hence option 2.

Question 26

The diagram below represents the water cycle. Based on the above diagram, which of the following statements are true? A Only process X involves heat loss. B Only process W involves change in state. C Process W takes place during day time only D There is no change in state during process Y.

Accepted Answer

B. A and D only. Process X = condensation (water vapour → clouds): involves heat loss. Process Y = no change in state (rain is still liquid water). Process W = evaporation (pond water → water vapour): involves heat gain (not only heat loss). Process X also involves change in state (gas → liquid), so 'only W involves change in state' is false. Evaporation happens day or night, so C is false. A and D are true.

Question 27

Rayann set up four experiments A, B, C and D with containers made of the same material. The table shows the different conditions at the start of the experiment. Rayann wanted to find out how the rate of evaporation of water was affected by the room temperature. Which of the above experiments should Rayann compare?

Accepted Answer

C. B and C. To find the effect of room temperature, only temperature should differ; all other variables (surface area, volume) must be the same. B (25°C, 50, 500) and C (31°C, 50, 500) match — same surface area and volume, different temperatures only. Hence B and C.

Question 28

Study the diagram below. All the bulbs are lit. When one switch was opened, most number of bulbs remain lit. Which switch was opened?

Accepted Answer

B. S2. Opening a switch on a branch with the fewest bulbs leaves the most bulbs lit. From the circuit, opening S2 disconnects only the one bulb on that branch while the others (in their own parallel branches) stay lit — maximising the number that remain lit.

P6 Science SA2 2025 — CHIJ

Related papers