2020

Primary 3 / Grade 3
Full Name:

School: Index Number:

Instructions to Students:
1. Please DO NOT OPEN the contest booklet until the Proctor has given permission to start

2. Only Scientific Calculators are allowed during the contest.

3. TIME: 1 hour 30 minutes. You may not leave the contest venue within the first hour of the paper.

4. There are 20 questions:

Section A: Question 1 to 5: +2 points for correct answer, 0 points for no answer and minus 1 point
for wrong answer.
Section B: Question 6 to 10: +3 points for correct answer, 0 points for no answer or wrong answer.
Section C: Question 11 to 20: +4 points for correct answer, 0 points for no answer or wrong answer.
5. Shade your answers neatly using a 2B lead pencil in the Answer Entry Sheet.

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
Vanda 2020, Primary 3 (Grade 3) Contest

Section A (Correct answer – 2 points| No answer – 0 points| Incorrect answer – minus 1 point)

Question 1
Which animal has been classified wrongly?
Invertebrates Vertebrates
A. Prawn Dolphin
B. Ant Monitor Lizard
C. Earthworm Stonefish
D. Snake Snail

Answer: D
Animals in the above table have been classified based on whether they are vertebrates
or invertebrates. Vertebrates have a backbone (spine), however, an invertebrate does
not. A snake is a vertebrate as it has a backbone but a snail is an invertebrate as it
does not have a backbone even though it has a shell.

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Question 2
Most flowering plants reproduce by seeds. In order for fruits and seeds to develop, the
plant’s flower has to be pollinated, where the male reproductive cell, which is found in
the pollen grain fuse with the egg cell. Male flowers release a large number of pollen
grains at once. Why is this essential for reproduction?
A. This increases the chance of fertilisation.
B. This makes the plant more attractive.
C. All the pollen grains might not survive.
D. Some pollen grains can directly grow into plants.

Answer: A
When more pollen grains are released and hence carried away via pollination, there is a
greater chance that one of the many will land on the stigma of a plant and proceed to
fertilise the female flower. This would then lead to a development of fruits and seeds
which are crucial in reproduction.

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Question 3
Kermode bears, also known as spirit bears, are black bears with a recessive trait which
results in them having white or cream coloured fur. They live in the temperate
rainforests of British Columbia. The local native people see this bear as ‘sacred’. How
does this white or cream coloured fur play a part in its hunt for its prey, salmon, a key
part of their diet?
A. It harms the Kermode bear as it causes the bear to stand out to its prey.
B. It harms the Kermode bear as it causes the bear to feel cold in its environment.
C. It allows the Kermode bear to look scary and fierce such that it can capture prey.
D. It allows the Kermode bear to camouflage with the bright sky when hunting for
salmon in the rivers.

Answer: D
The white or cream fur blends in with the sky when the bear is fishing for salmon
in the rivers before winter. The camouflage allows it to hunt for salmon efficiently.

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Question 4
Which of the following action(s) demonstrate characteristics of living things?
1) A sunflower bending towards sunlight.
2) A germinating seed.
3) A stone falling into the river.
4) A dying cat.
A. Options 1 and 3
B. Options 1 and 2
C. Options 2 and 4
D. Options 1, 2 and 4

Answer: B
Living Things require air, food and water to grow. They can reproduce and die.
They respond to changes. They grow. A sunflower bending towards sunlight is it
responding to changes, to grow towards the sunlight in order to make more food. A
seed does not require sunlight to germinate, this statement is invalid. A stone is a non -
living thing. A cat dying from old age proves that it is a living thing as non -living things
do not die.

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Question 5
Mayflies, also known as green drakes, have 4 stages in their life cycle, and their young
are known as ‘nymphs’.
Which student(s) made an incorrect statement about Mayflies and Butterflies?

John: Mayflies, like butterflies, have a 4-stage life cycle.

Clare: The young of the Mayfly closely resembles the adult, unlike the young of the
butterfly.
Adam: The young of the Mayfly has 6 legs.
Simone: The Mayfly pollinates the Rafflesia flower.
A. Adam and Simone
B. Clare and Simone
C. John, Clare and Adam
D. None of the students

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Answer: B
The Mayfly has a 4 stage life cycle: egg, nymph, subimago, and imago. Even though
the young is called a nymph, unlike the dragonfly, it does not closely resemble the
adult. The Mayfly nymph has 6 legs. The Mayfly’s habitat is along water sources, it is
unlikely to pollinate Rafflesia flowers which reek of a stench and is usually pollinated by
houseflies.

John: Mayflies, like butterflies, have a 4 stage life cycle. T

Clare: The young of the Mayfly closely resembles the adult, unlike the young of
the butterfly. F
Adam: The young of the Mayfly has 6 legs. T
Simone: The Mayfly pollinates the Rafflesia flower. F

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Section B (Correct answer – 3 points| Incorrect or No answer – 0 points)

Refer to the following description for questions 6 and 7.

Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense is a fungus in the Fusarium genus which is currently
threatening the banana plantations in the Caribbean coastal regions. It can cause these
banana plants to ultimately be unable to bear fruit or even survive. Most of the time, it
is lethal to the plant, even though it is not unsafe to humans. On a larger scale, this can
affect bananas as a food source, as well as an export commodity. This fungus is
transmitted through infected farming material, infested soil and water, and this problem
is also known as the Fusarium wilt.

Question 6
Which of the substances is/are not what the fungus is obtaining from the banana
plant?
1) Sunlight
2) Oxygen
3) Water
4) Nutrients
A. Options 1 and 4
B. Option 2 only
C. Options 1 and 2
D. Options 2, 3 and 4

Answer: C
Fungi and Bacteria require air, food and water to survive. As they are unable to
make their own food, they rely on the host to obtain their nutrients, like water and
food. They obtain oxygen from the surrounding air. They do not require sunlight to
survive. Only Options 1 and 2 are incorrect.

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Question 7
Joan observes that when the Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense fungus infects the
plant, the leaves turn yellow and wilt, eventually, the plant does not survive. When she
had cut the stem of the plant, she observed that there were black strips in its stem. A
simple diagram of what she saw under the microscope has been provided below. She
was told that the fungus enters through the plant’s roots from the infected soil and
spread upwards thereafter.

Based on the information above, which of the statements is likely the key reason for the
death of the plant?
A. The fungus directly infects the leaves of the plant causing them to wilt. As they
wilt, they are no longer able to make food and exchange gases.
B. The roots produce black liquid and can no longer take in water and mineral salts
for the plant.
C. The phloem tissues are damaged and the food made by the leaves cannot be
sent to all parts of the plant.
D. The xylem vessels of the plant are damaged and obstructed, resulting in
restricted flow of water transported to the leaves.

Answer: D
Based on the information given, Joan observed that there are black strips in the stem of
the plant. This provides a clue as to the fact that the vascular bundle (Phloem and
xylem) of the plant has been infected. Based on the diagram, only the inner portion of
the vascular bundle is observed to be darker (likely the black strips), hence the
deduction is that the xylem vessels have been infected.

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Refer to the following information for questions 8 and 9.

American football players wear defensive helmets during the sport to protect their
heads from impact injuries. Over the decades of studies, it has been found that many
football players experience concussion-related issues like hallucination after playing the
sport professionally. This is due to the impact of the concussion on the brain. The
helmet protects the skull, but the brain is still able to ‘float’ and move in the cerebral
brain fluid upon impact. As such, there are currently further studies being made to
improve the helmet in order to increase internal protection of the heads of the players.

Question 8
A neuroscientist discovered that there is an alloy which can be made into a magnet
using electricity. How should the magnets in different helmets react with each other in
order to protect the players’ heads from colliding?
A. The magnets should repel each other as their unlike poles will be facing each
other, so that the players’ heads will push each other away when they are about
to collide.
B. The magnets should attract each other as their like poles will be facing each
other, so that the players’ heads will be pulled towards each other, lessening the
impact.
C. The magnets should attract and repel each other at the same time, as their
unlike poles will be facing each other, so that the players’ heads will be pulled
towards each other, lessening the impact.
D. The magnets should repel each other as the like poles are facing each other, so
that the players’ heads are pushed away to prevent them from colliding.

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Answer: D
When the magnets repel, they push each other away, instead of pulling the players’
heads closer to each other. The goal is to reduce impact. A 1-pound neodymium
magnet used in these helmets can repulse 600 times its own weight, even though the
magnetic field extends less than an inch. That means it can push back a magnet inside
another helmet but not affect the brain.

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Question 9
Select the most suitable material which should be used to make the part marked M for
the football player’s helmet. The part marked M mostly protects the player’s skull from
impact.

Material Properties

A. Plastic Durable, waterproof, light

Beautiful appearance, easy to make into helmets,

B. Hard leather
environmentally friendly
Tough, can withstand cold temperatures, light, good
C. Polycarbonate
impact strength

D. Stainless steel Does not rust, strong and hardy

Answer: C
The mechanical requirements of football helmets requires a material that is
lightweight, tough, and exhibits good impact strength. Most modern helmets use
polycarbonate for the outer shell. Polycarbonate is a high impact resistant
polymer that can be injection molded, painted, and can maintain its properties
when subjected to cold temperatures, an important feature for teams playing in
the northern states.

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Question 10
The diagram below is a communicating vessel. Which part(s) will be the first to fill up
when water is poured into A until the entire vessel is filled to the brim?

A B C D E

A. A and B will be the first to fill up.

B. E will be the first to fill up.
C. C, D and E will be the first to fill up.
D. None of the parts.

Answer: D
Water has no definite shape, and when it is poured into the container it takes the shape
of the container. Furthermore, for a communicating vessel, the bottom of the vessel is
connected, hence water flows evenly through the bottom even though it is poured from
A.

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Section C (Correct answer – 4 points| Incorrect or No answer – 0 points)

Questions 11 and 12 are related.

Question 11
The table below states some of the properties of the 3 states of matter.
T U V
Separation of particles is Separation of particles is Separation of particles is
moderate least greatest
Particles slide across one Particles vibrate about its Particles move fast and
another fixed position freely
Kinetic energy level at a Kinetic energy level at a Kinetic energy level at a
set temperature of set temperature of set temperature of
particles is moderate particles is least particles is the maximum

Which of the columns accurately describe the properties of Argon, which is used to fill
incandescent light bulbs?
A. V
B. U
C. T
D. None of the above

Answer: A
V describes all the properties of gases. Argon is a noble gas. Gas particles are far apart
from one another, they move at high speeds and randomly. They have high energy
levels . Not to be mistaken with Plasma, as it does not have ionised particles and
usually are unable to conduct electricity.

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Question 12
Sound and light are very different, sound requires a medium to move through and
different media determine its speed. Sound is essentially a disturbance that moves
through the medium as it starts with vibrations. Sound moves at 343 metres per second
in air at room temperature (20°C).
Based on the diagrams of particles below, which diagram is likely to allow sound to
travel the fastest through itself?
W X Y Z

A. Z
B. W
C. Y
D. X

Answer: B
Sound travels the fastest in solids as the particles are close to each other, having the
least distance between them.

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Question 13
Humans can see visible light, which can be split into 7 colours. Light travels in waves,
and waves can have long wavelengths or short wavelengths.
Light waves can be scattered when it collides with particles in the air. The longer the
wavelength, the harder it is to scatter them when it is traveling through the air (or
other media), and the more likely that it will reach our eyes such that we can see that
colour.
Based on the information above, select all statements which are true about sunsets.
1) We can see orange and red during sunsets as the red light has been mostly
scattered into the air.
2) Sunsets are orange and red because red and yellow light is scattered the least and
most of it has reached our eyes.
3) Blue, indigo and violet light is easily scattered due to its small wavelengths.
4) All 7 colours of light are scattered to some degree when they travel through the air.
A. Options 1 and 4
B. Options 1, 3 and 4
C. Options 2 and 3
D. Options 2, 3 and 4

Answer: D
Red light waves have the longest wavelengths among the 7 colours, and they scatter
the least when they travel through the air and collide with the particles in the air. As
they scatter the least, most of the red and yellow light waves will travel and reach our
eyes. Hence sunsets usually appear orange to us. All 7 colours of light can be scattered
as they are bound to collide with particles when traveling through the air (which is
made up of particles).

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Question 14
Which of the following items is not a system?
A. A piece of rock
B. A tree
C. A lightbulb
D. A chair

Answer: A
A system is made up of parts which come together to fulfil a specific function. A
rock is a non- living thing, and does not consist of parts which come together to fulfil
one function. A tree has different parts; leaves, stem, roots etc, which come together to
fulfil the function of keeping the tree alive. A lightbulb consists of the glass casing,
filament, metal casing and wires which form a system supposed to light up when
electricity passes through it. A chair has different parts as well; chair legs, seat etc
which come together to fulfil the function of allowing a human to rest on it.

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Refer to the following information for questions 15 and 16.

Bile is produced in the liver and stored in the gall bladder. It aids in the digestion of fats
(solid form of oils).
Amy wanted to find out the role of bile in the digestion of fats. She set up 3 test tubes,
each containing a mixture of water and oil. The test tubes are shown below.

Solution A in Experiment 1 had 5 drops of bile solution added to the mixture of water
and oil.
Solution B in Experiment 2 had 5 drops of water added to the mixture of water and
oil.
Solution C in Experiment 3 had only the mixture of water and oil. Nothing was added.

Once she adds the 5 drops of liquid, she shakes the test tube thoroughly for 1 min and
allows it to sit for another 5 mins. She then compared the results of experiment 1 and
2, to experiment 3.

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She recorded her observations below after 5 mins:

Experiment 1 Experiment 2 Experiment 3

Before shaking Several, large Several, large Several, large
globules of oil globules of oil globules of oil
After shaking Numerous small Several, large Several, large
droplets of oil droplets of oil droplets of oil

Question 15
Which of the following statements describe the role of bile in the digestion of fats?
A. Bile does not have an effect on the oil globules.
B. Bile breaks down the larger oil globules into fatty acids and glycerol.
C. Bile breaks the larger oil globules into smaller oil droplets so that the surface
area of the fats increases and the rate of digestion of fats increases.
D. Bile breaks the larger oil globules into smaller oil droplets so that the surface
area of the fats decreases and the rate of digestion of fats increases.

Answer: C
Bile does not digest the oil globules. Bile only helps to break the larger oil globules into
smaller oil droplets so that the overall surface area of the fats increases aiding in the
and digestion of fats is sped ups.

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Question 16
What should Experiment 3 be scientifically named as?
A. Test experiment
B. Comparison experiment
C. Control experiment
D. Benchmark experiment

Answer: C
Set up 3 does not have any liquid added to it, it acts as a CONTROL, whose purpose is
to be the point of comparison for Set up 1 and 2, which are also known as tests.
CONTROL is a scientific name for any experiment which has no independent
variable changed, in order to act as a comparison.

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Question 17
John is interested to find out if black, or white paint will speed up the rate of
evaporation of water in some containers.
• Beaker A was painted black.
• Beaker B was painted white.
• Beaker C was not painted.
He added 250 mL of water to each beaker and placed them in the same location
outdoors under the sun. He was fortunate that the weather was fair and there was sun
throughout the duration of the experiment.
He recorded the following results:
Beaker A Beaker B Beaker C
Volume of water before experiment started 250 250 250
(in mL)
Volume of water left after experiment (in mL) 80 190 130

Which of the beakers had the highest rate of evaporation?

A. Beaker B
B. Beaker B and C
C. Beaker A and C
D. Beaker A

Answer: D
Darker coloured objects (like the black beaker) are good absorbers of heat energy. With
the greater gain in heat by the water in the beaker, more water will evaporate hence,
the black beaker should have the highest rate of evaporation. Lighter coloured objects
(like the white beaker), are poorer absorbers of heat energy. There would be a lesser
gain in heat by the water in the beaker, and less water evaporates. The unpainted
beaker is transparent and allows most light and heat energy to pass into the beaker,
leading to a moderate gain in heat by the water in the beaker and a in-between rate of
evaporation.

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Question 18
Why do we perspire when the weather is very hot?
A. When our body temperature is lower than normal and we perspire to lose heat,
the perspiration gains heat from the surrounding air.
B. When our body temperature is higher than normal and we perspire to lose heat,
the perspiration removes heat from our body.
C. When our body temperature is lower than normal and we perspire to gain heat,
the perspiration removes heat from our body.
D. When our body temperature is higher than normal and we perspire to gain heat,
the perspiration allows us to gain heat from the surrounding air.

Answer: B
When we feel warm , our body temperature is higher than normal and it needs
to be regulated back to normal as many of our bodily processes require an optimal
temperature to function efficiently. In order to lower the body temperature, this extra
heat has to be lost and expelled from the body. This extra heat is removed through our
perspiration when then perspiration evaporates. This process cools the body down.

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Question 19
As much as lotus roots are called ‘roots’, they are actually underground stems called
rhizomes. Lotus roots grow under the ground in mud and water. In many parts of Asia,
it is cooked as a vegetable.
A picture below shows how lotus roots look like.

What is the main function of the holes present in the lotus root?
A. It allows the plant to take in more water, and to do so quickly, as the lotus plant
grows in muddy water which has little amounts of water.
B. It allows the underground stem to receive food made by the leaves of the lotus
plant, which it uses for energy.
C. It allows the underground stem to obtain oxygen for cellular respiration as it is
buried in the mud which has low amounts of oxygen.
D. The holes do not have any useful function, they are parts of the lotus root which
has been decomposed by bacteria and fungi.

Answer: C
Lotus root, which is actually a rhizome, which is an underground stem, is buried
in mud under the water which has very little to no oxygen. In order for the
underground stem to continue respiring, the holes allow oxygen to reach the
underground stem so that it can survive. Aside from this, some engineers believe
that the holes also aid in withstanding water pressure and maintaining the
structure of the underwater region of the plant.

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Question 20
Anish was walking beneath a street lamp and noticed a shape with the same body
outline as him, on the ground. It moves when he moves and it stays still when he
stops. The diagram below shows the distance, d, between the lamp and him.

Direction which Anish is moving

He continues to walk away from the street lamp in the direction indicated by the arrow
in the diagram. Which of the following statements correctly describe the relationship
between d, and the length, L, of the shadow?
A. As d increases, L decreases.
B. As d increases, L increases.
C. As d increases, there will be no change in L.
D. None of the above.

Answer: B
When Anish walks away from the street lamp, the distance between him and the lamp
increases. There is less light distributed further away from the lamp and when he is
further away from the lamp, he is blocking more of the light and the shadow becomes
longer. Hence L increases.

END OF PAPER

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