Question 1

Aden stands in front of the window and is able to see his friend outside. What is the property of the part labelled X that allows Aden to see his friend?

Accepted Answer

C. It allows light to pass through.. Part X is the glass pane of the window. Glass is transparent and allows light to pass through, so Aden can see his friend outside.

Question 2

The table below shows the properties of some objects. A tick (✓) shows that the object has that property and a cross (x) shows that it does not have that property. Which of the following objects is likely to be made of ceramic?

Accepted Answer

A. A. Ceramic does not allow light to pass through, breaks easily and sinks in water. Object A: does not allow light (x), breaks easily (✓), sinks in water (✓) — matching ceramic.

Question 3

The diagram below shows the human digestive system with 4 parts labelled W, X, Y and Z. Which one of the following graphs correctly shows the amount of digested food in each part when the human digestive system functions properly?

Accepted Answer

C. Bar graph where amount is low at W, slightly higher at X, peaks at Y, then drops low at Z.. W is the mouth, X the gullet/oesophagus, Y the stomach and Z the small intestine. Little digested food is present in the mouth and gullet; the amount of digested food builds up and is greatest in the stomach (Y), then drops sharply as it is absorbed in the small intestine (Z). Graph C matches this pattern.

Question 4

Diagram 1 below shows a measuring cylinder containing certain amount of water. Diagram 2 shows the same cylinder of water when Object P is placed into it. From the diagrams, the volume of the object is most likely ____.

Accepted Answer

B. between 3 cm³ and 6 cm³. The volume of the object equals the rise in water level (final minus initial). The water rises by an amount that falls between 3 cm³ and 6 cm³, so the object's volume is between 3 cm³ and 6 cm³.

Question 5

Brandon made an electromagnet. However, the electromagnet is unable to attract a steel paper clip as shown below. Which of the following actions will enable the electromagnet to attract the paperclip?

Accepted Answer

D. Increase the number of coils of wire round the iron nail.. Increasing the number of coils of wire around the iron nail makes the electromagnet stronger, enabling it to attract the steel paper clip. Heating, using a plastic nail or an aluminium (non-magnetic) clip would not help.

Question 6

Abby set up an experiment using two strong magnets of different masses as shown in the diagram below. Magnet A was placed on an electronic balance while Magnet B was suspended from a spring balance. She recorded the readings of the spring balance and electronic balance in a table (both 10 units). Next, she replaced Magnet A with an aluminium bar of the same mass. Which of the following about the readings on the electronic balance and spring balance is correct?

Accepted Answer

C. Spring balance 8, Electronic balance 8. Originally Magnet A (below) and Magnet B (above) attract each other, adding to both readings (10 and 10). Replacing Magnet A with a non-magnetic aluminium bar of the same mass removes the magnetic attraction, so both readings drop to the value due to mass/weight alone (8 and 8).

Question 7

Ali had two similar pots of the same soil, labelled A and B. He placed 10 bean seeds in each pot. He placed Pot A in a dark cupboard and Pot B in a bright place. As the seeds germinated, Ali measured the height of the seedlings daily and presented the graph below. Which of the following statement can be concluded from the graph?

Accepted Answer

C. Seedlings in the dark grow taller than seedlings in the light.. The graph shows Pot A (dark) seedlings reaching a greater average height than Pot B (bright) by Day 7. The graph only shows height, so it can only be concluded that seedlings in the dark grow taller than those in the light.

Question 8

Figures 1 and 2 show how gases are transported in the circulatory system of a fish and a human respectively. Which of the following correctly shows the amount of carbon dioxide in P, Q, R and S as compared to the amount of carbon dioxide at X?

Accepted Answer

D. P Higher, Q Higher, R Higher, S Higher. At X the blood has just passed the gills/lungs where carbon dioxide is removed, so it has the least carbon dioxide. At P, Q, R and S the blood has picked up carbon dioxide from the body (or has not yet reached the gas-exchange organ), so all have a higher amount of carbon dioxide than at X.

Question 9

Devi placed three similar-sized stalks of celery plant into identical cups containing red dye at different temperatures as shown below. The temperature of the red dye was maintained throughout the experiment. Devi observed the leaves of the celery for 5 days and recorded her results in the table (Set-up A 10°C / 5 days, Set-up B 20°C / 3 days, Set-up C 30°C / 1.5 days). Based on the information given above, which one of the following statements is incorrect?

Accepted Answer

C. The lower the temperature of the red dye, the higher the speed that water is taken in by the celery plant.. The results show that the higher the temperature, the fewer days needed for the leaves to turn red (faster water uptake). Statement C reverses this relationship, so it is the incorrect statement.

Question 10

The diagram below shows an electric circuit with identical switches and batteries. Which of the following will cause Bulb X to light up the brightest?

Accepted Answer

C. S1 Open, S2 Close, S3 Open, S4 Close. The bulb is brightest when the most batteries are connected in series in the circuit. The combination of switches in option C connects the greatest number of batteries in series to Bulb X, giving the brightest light.

Question 11

A boy kicks a ball upwards into the air. The ball reaches a maximum height and then falls downwards to the ground. Which of the following statements about the moving ball is correct?

Accepted Answer

B. Gravity acts on the ball throughout the path of motion.. Gravity is a force that acts on the ball at all times — while it rises, at its maximum height, and while it falls. So gravity acts throughout the entire path of motion.

Question 12

The diagram below shows a life process, P, carried out in a green leaf on a plant. Which one of the following correctly represents A, B, C and D?

Accepted Answer

C. A Carbon dioxide, B Oxygen, C Water, D Sugar. Process P is photosynthesis. It takes in carbon dioxide (A) and water (C) using sunlight, and produces oxygen (B, released) and sugar/starch (D, stored). So A=Carbon dioxide, B=Oxygen, C=Water, D=Sugar.

Question 13

A plant with leaves of green and white regions was left in a dark cupboard for 48 hours. The top and underside of one leaf was each partially covered by a strip of black paper, as shown in the diagram below. The plant was then left under the sun. After 48 hours, the leaf was plucked off and both strips of black paper were removed. The leaf was then tested for the presence of starch. In which of the areas labelled A, B, C and D is starch found?

Accepted Answer

A. C only. Starch is only made where photosynthesis occurs — the region must be green (contains chlorophyll) AND receive light (not covered by black paper). Area C is the only green, uncovered region, so starch is found in C only.

Question 14

Edward prepared two set-ups, A and B as shown below. He gave both the plants the same amount of water. He placed Substance X which is used to remove carbon dioxide from the surrounding air in Set-up B. He placed both the set-ups under the sun for 24 hours. Which of the following graph would show the amount of oxygen in both set-ups over time?

Accepted Answer

D. Lines start together; Set-up A rises while Set-up B falls.. In Set-up A the plant photosynthesises normally, so oxygen increases. In Set-up B carbon dioxide is removed, so photosynthesis cannot occur; the plant only respires, using up oxygen, so oxygen decreases. Graph D shows Set-up A rising and Set-up B falling.

Question 15

Francisca conducted an experiment as shown below. She placed 100g of dried meat in a crucible and burned it over a bunsen burner for 30 minutes. The temperature of the water was measured with a thermometer. She repeated the experiment with 100g of mashed potatoes, and then followed by a block of butter of the same mass. The results are recorded in the table (Dried Meat 29→77°C, Mashed Potato 29→56°C, Butter 29→89°C). What can Francisca infer from the results of her experiment? A: The three types of food are sources of energy. B: The three types of food can give off heat energy when heated. C: Butter produced more energy than dried meat and mashed potato.

Accepted Answer

D. A, B and C. All three foods raised the water temperature, showing they are sources of energy (A) and give off heat energy when burned (B). Butter gave the largest temperature rise (29→89°C), so it released the most energy (C). All three statements are correct.

Question 16

Judy set up the following apparatus as shown below. Containers P and R contained 1 and 3 water snails respectively while Containers P, Q and S contained an identical water plant each. The containers were sealed and left standing for one day. Assuming all the living things are still alive at the end of the experiment, arrange in order, the amount of carbon dioxide in each container at the end of the experiment, starting from the least to the most.

Accepted Answer

D. Q, P, S, R. Containers in light (P, Q) have plants that photosynthesise, removing carbon dioxide; Q (plant only, in light) has the least. Containers in the dark (R, S) only respire, adding carbon dioxide; R (with 3 snails plus plant, all respiring in the dark) has the most. Order least to most: Q, P, S, R.

Question 17

The diagrams below show 3 different arrangements of 4 rings being slotted through a rod. Out of the 4 rings, W, X, Y and Z, 3 of them are ring magnets and 1 of them is an iron ring. Based on the 3 arrangements, which one of the rings is most likely the iron ring?

Accepted Answer

D. Z. A magnet ring repels (floats above) another magnet ring with like poles facing, but an iron ring is only attracted and always rests directly on a magnet. The ring that never floats but always sits flat against the next ring in every arrangement is the iron ring — ring Z.

Question 18

Harry set up an experiment to investigate how the presence of light affects the rate of photosynthesis of a plant. Harry's teacher told him that he should include a control in his experiment to assist him to make a valid conclusion. Which one of the following is a suitable control for his experiment?

Accepted Answer

C. A bell jar covered with tracing paper, with a plant and an oxygen sensor/datalogger.. To investigate the effect of light, only the amount of light should be changed, with everything else (plant, oxygen sensor, datalogger) kept the same. The suitable control uses the same set-up and the same oxygen sensor while changing only the light condition (tracing-paper-covered bell jar) — option C.

Question 19

Which of the following has a different form of potential energy from the others?

Accepted Answer

D. stretched rubber band. Firewood, solid fuel and a car battery all store chemical potential energy. A stretched rubber band stores elastic potential energy, which is a different form.

Question 20

The diagram below shows part of a roller coaster ride that can be found in amusement parks. The roller coaster car started moving at A and travelled to D. Which one of the following statements about the roller coaster car is correct?

Accepted Answer

C. The gravitational potential energy possessed by the car at B is more than the gravitational potential energy possessed by the car at C.. B is the highest point of the track and C is lower, so the car has more gravitational potential energy at B than at C. Statement C is correct. (Total energy is conserved, KE is greatest at the lowest point, and KE at C is not zero.)

Question 21

The diagram below shows how energy is converted from one form to another in 4 different objects. Which one of the following represents the energy labelled A, B and C?

Accepted Answer

D. A Heat, B Electrical, C Kinetic. Solar energy is converted by solar panels into B (electrical energy). B is converted by an oven into A (heat energy), and by a generator into C (kinetic/motion energy), and by a light bulb into light energy. So A=Heat, B=Electrical, C=Kinetic.

Question 22

Jack set up an experiment as shown in the diagram below. Which of the following would happen if Jack raises the clamp for the Beaker to Position X? A: The water wheel will spin faster. B: The water wheel will spin slower. C: The water hitting the wheel will have more kinetic energy. D: The water at the hole will possess more gravitational potential energy.

Accepted Answer

C. A, C and D only. Raising the beaker increases the height of the water at the hole, giving it more gravitational potential energy (D). As it falls a greater height, it gains more kinetic energy (C) and hits the wheel harder, making it spin faster (A). So A, C and D are correct.

Question 23

Which one of the following statements about energy is true?

Accepted Answer

C. Energy is needed by non-living things to do work.. Energy is needed to do work, including by non-living things (e.g. machines), so C is true. Energy is found in both living and non-living things, cannot be created or destroyed, and solar energy is renewable.

Question 24

Xavier prepared a set-up as shown below. He observed that the paper spiral began to spin 5 minutes after the torchlight was turned on. Which one of the following correctly describes the energy conversion from the time the torchlight was switched on until the time the spiral began to spin?

Accepted Answer

D. chemical potential energy → electrical energy → heat energy → kinetic energy. The torchlight battery stores chemical potential energy, which becomes electrical energy in the bulb. The bulb gives off heat energy that warms the air; the rising warm air causes the paper spiral to spin (kinetic energy). So: chemical → electrical → heat → kinetic.

Question 25

Kai Leong pushes a box in the direction as shown in the diagram below. Which one of the following must happen for the box to move in the direction shown?

Accepted Answer

C. The force applied by Kai Leong must be greater than the frictional force acting against the box.. For the box to move in the direction it is pushed, the pushing force applied by Kai Leong must overcome (be greater than) the frictional force acting against it.

Question 26

Larry was given a spring that was 7 cm long as shown in the diagram below. He hung a 50g mass on it and measured the length of the spring as 9 cm. He then repeated his experiment with masses 100g and 200g. He then plotted 4 different graphs to show his results as shown below. Which of the following graphs can be used to represent Larry's results?

Accepted Answer

A. A only. Graph A (Length of spring vs Mass) correctly starts at the natural length 7 cm and increases (9, 11, 15 cm) — valid. The official answer key accepts '1 or 4': option 1 (A only) or option 4 (A and C only), since Graph C (Mass vs Length, axes swapped) can also represent the same data. Graphs B and D wrongly plot extension starting at 7 cm / wrong values.

Question 27

The diagrams below show a 20-kg metal box being pulled by Linda along 4 slopes of smooth surfaces made of the same material. (Slope A: bare box, 30°, pulled up; Slope B: bare box, 30°, pulled down; Slope C: box wrapped with sandpaper, 45°, pulled up; Slope D: box wrapped with sandpaper, 30°, pulled up.) Arrange in order, the amount of force needed by Linda to move the box, from the least amount of force to the most amount of force.

Accepted Answer

B. B, A, D, C. Pulling the box DOWN the slope needs the least force (B). Pulling a bare box up a 30° slope needs more (A). Adding sandpaper (more friction) on a 30° slope needs even more (D). The steepest 45° slope with sandpaper needs the most force (C). Order least to most: B, A, D, C.

Question 28

The table below provides the physical characteristics in 4 different habitats (P, Q, R and S). Plant X was observed to grow well in a damp and shaded environment with temperature ranging from 15 to 25°C. In which one of the following habitats can you find the most number of Plant X?

Accepted Answer

C. R. Plant X needs damp (high moisture), shaded (low light) conditions with temperature 15–25°C. Habitat R has high moisture, low light intensity, and a temperature of 21°C — meeting all three conditions.

Question 29

Organisms T, U, V, W, X, Y and Z live in the same habitat. Study the information below carefully. T is a plant. U and V are plant eaters. W and X are animal eaters. Y and Z are plant and animal eaters. Based on the information above, which of the following food webs correctly shows the food relationships of the organisms?

Accepted Answer

C. Food web option 3. T (plant) must be eaten by the plant eaters U and V, and by the plant-and-animal eaters Y and Z. The animal eaters W and X must eat only animals, and Y and Z eat both plants and animals. Option 3 is the only web consistent with all these feeding relationships.

Question 30

Raju wanted to find out if the type of soil a plant is grown in would affect its growth. The diagram below shows the experiment he carried out. (Set-up A: garden soil, watered twice a day with 200 ml water, no box; Set-up B: clayey soil, watered once a day with 200 ml water, inside a clear box.) His teacher told him that his test was unfair. Which of the following are possible reasons why he said that? A: Both plants should be watered twice a day. B: The clear box in Set-up B should be removed. C: Both plants should have the same number of leaves. D: The type of soil used in both pots should be clayey soil.

Accepted Answer

B. A, B and C only. To test only the effect of soil type, all other variables must be kept the same. Watering frequency must be the same (A), the clear box must be removed so both have the same surroundings (B), and the plants should be similar e.g. same number of leaves (C). D is wrong because the soil type is the very variable being tested. So A, B and C.

P6 Science SA1 2016 — Pei Hwa

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P6 Science SA1 2016 — Pei Hwa

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