2020

Primary 6 / Grade 6

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 6 (Grade 6) Contest

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

Question 1
Density is the relationship between the mass of a substance and its volume. The
greater the number of particles in a given space, the denser the substance.
Jimmy was given 4 different sealed soft-drink cans L, M, N and P. They all contain
same volume of drink and the cans are made of aluminium. The cans were root
beer, regular cola, diet cola and soda water. He was asked to investigate and find
which can is soda water without opening them.

Jimmy thought that their densities could help him find the answer so he dropped the
4 cans, one by one into a trough filled with tap water. He made sure there are no air
bubbles trapped under the cans. After a few minutes when they stopped moving, he
observed and ranked the sweetness of the 4 drinks on a scale of 1 to 4, 1 being the
sweetest and 4 being the least sweet as shown in the table below.

Soft drink can Sweetness rank

Root beer 1
Regular cola 2
Diet cola 3
Soda water 4

*Diet cola contains aspartame which is a chemical sweetener.

Which can has soda water?
A. Can P
B. Can M
C. Can N
D. Can L

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Question 2
Which of the following correctly shows the energy conversion when an archer pulls
the string of a bow from equilibrium and releases the arrow on a target?

A. Elastic potential energy→kinetic energy→chemical potential energy→kinetic

energy→sound energy
B. Chemical potential energy→elastic potential energy→kinetic energy→sound
energy
C. Chemical potential energy→kinetic energy→elastic potential energy→kinetic
energy→sound energy
D. Kinetic energy→elastic potential energy→kinetic energy→sound energy &
chemical potential energy

Question 3

Which part of the flower (in diagram 1) is the stalk of the fruit (indicated in diagram 2)?

A. Pedicel
B. Petal
C. Sepal
D. Stigma

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Question 4

The picture below shows a hammer orchid, originating from Australia. Part of the
hammer orchid resembles a female wasp, which attracts male wasps to stop at the Commented [OR1]: You could remove because you just
want to ask about the structural adaptation.
flower. When the male wasp stops at the flower to mate with the ‘female wasp’, it
swings forward and ‘hammers’ the male wasp such that he comes into contact with
the stamens.
What type of adaptation described here is demonstrated by the orchid?

A. Physiological
B. Behavioural
C. Structural and behavioural
D. Structural

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Question 5
What is an important criterion for cross pollination between 2 flowers to be
successful?
A. The flowers must be from the same plant.
B. The flowers must be from plants of the same species.
C. The flowers must be of the same size.
D. The flowers must be from 2 different plants from 2 different species. Commented [OR2]: no changes

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

Question 6
There are two main types of friction. Static friction occurs when two surfaces which
are in contact, are not moving relative to each other. Kinetic friction occurs between
two surfaces which are in contact with each other and are in motion. Commented [OR3]: no changes

Which type of friction exists between the sole of shoe and the ground when we
walk?
A. Static friction only
B. Kinetic friction only
C. Both static and kinetic friction
D. None of them

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Vanda 2020, Primary 6 (Grade 6) Contest

Question 7
The diagram below shows the female reproductive system. Commented [OR4]: Fix as per previous discussions on
this question moderation.

Mature females will go through a monthly menstrual cycle. During the ovulation
period of the menstrual cycle, a mature egg is released by one of the ovaries. If this
mature egg meets and fuses with a sperm, an embryo (fertilised egg) is formed. The
embryo will move towards the uterus and sinks into the lining of the uterus. This is Commented [OR5]: Sinks into

called implantation. This will continue to develop into a baby in the uterus. During Commented [OR6]: This is called implantation
Commented [OR7]: fetus
menstruation, if the egg cell is not fertilised, it does not sink into the thick uterus
lining and is shed. This is called menstruation. After menstruation, the lining in the
uterus starts to thicken again, until the next menstruation period.

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Vanda 2020, Primary 6 (Grade 6) Contest

Based on the information above, why does the lining in the uterus start to thicken
after menstruation?
A. The lining in the uterus thickens to protect the uterus.
B. The lining in the uterus thickens as it absorbs the unwanted waste of the
embryo.
C. The lining in the uterus thickens to protect the embryo during its
development.
D. The lining in the uterus thickens to prepare for the possible implantation of
the embryo so that it can continue to develop safely in the uterus.

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Vanda 2020, Primary 6 (Grade 6) Contest

Question 8

The diagram above shows the different structures of a eukaryotic and a prokaryotic
cell. Eukaryotic cells are found in both unicellular and multicellular organisms. They
are complex and contain organelles such as nucleus, mitochondrion, lysosome etc.
Prokaryotic cells are much simpler in structure. They have nucleoids which are free-
floating genetic material and ribosomes for protein synthesis.
Based on the information above, which of these statements are true about the
differences between eukaryotic cells and prokaryotic cells?
1) Eukaryotic cells are much larger in size compared to prokaryotic cells.
2) Prokaryotic cells are able to carry out protein synthesis like eukaryotic cells.
3) Prokaryotic cells have ribosomes.
4) Eukaryotic cells have membrane bound organelles which help to isolate the
contents of the organelle.
A. Options 1, 3 and 4
B. Options 1, 2 and 3
C. Options 2, 3 and 4
D. Options 1 and 4

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Vanda 2020, Primary 6 (Grade 6) Contest

Question 9
Which of the following is correct? Commented [OR8]: No changes

Source of energy Renewable? Worsens global warming? Natural?

A. Natural gas √ √ √
B. Wave/tidal √ √
Ethanol (obtained
C. √ √
from plants)
D. Petroleum √ √

Question 10
Jason has two pointers, one was made of bronze and the other was a magnet. He
suspended both pointers in a strong magnetic field. He holds the pointers in the
initial positions as shown in diagram below and releases them at the same time.

What would be the final positions of both pointers?

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Vanda 2020, Primary 6 (Grade 6) Contest

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

Question 11
Lauren placed 2 dry cells in a handheld torch and turned it on. However, the bulb of
the torch did not light up. She found out that one of the dry cells was faulty.
The diagram below shows the setup in the torch.

She commented that the circuit in the torch is a parallel circuit and it should light up
even if one cell was faulty.
Is her comment correct? What is the correct circuit diagram for the torch?

Prediction Circuit Diagram

A. Correct

B. Incorrect

C. Correct

D. Incorrect

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Vanda 2020, Primary 6 (Grade 6) Contest

Question 12
The following illustrates changes in the population of rhinoceroses in the wild over
time. Commented [OR9]: No changes

What does the above diagram demonstrate?

A. Natural selection
B. Extinction
C. Cross breeding
D. Artificial selection

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Vanda 2020, Primary 6 (Grade 6) Contest

Refer to the following food web for questions 13 and 14.

Question 13
The figure above depicts a food web of the mangrove swamp community. Commented [OR10]: No changes

The table shows the classification of the organisms in a mangrove swamp

community. Which of the following is the correct classification?
Primary Secondary Apex
Decomposer Producer
Consumer Consumer consumer
A. Bacteria Phytoplankton Small fish Prawn Egret
B. Mould Bacteria Snail Prawn Small fish
Mangrove
C. Bacteria Mould Small fish Pelican
leaves
D. Phytoplankton Mould Small fish Prawn Egret

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Vanda 2020, Primary 6 (Grade 6) Contest

Question 14
Within a food chain, there are different trophic levels representing the amount of
energy transferred to the next consumer in the food chain. What happens to the
flow of energy when we ascend a trophic pyramid? Commented [OR11]: State what happens to the flow of
energy as we ascend a trophic pyramid
A. Increase
B. Decrease
C. Stays the same
D. Increase then decrease

Question 15
Which process does not contribute to photosynthesis?
A. Transpiration
B. Capillary action
C. Gaseous exchange
D. Peristalsis

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Question 16
A lichen is not a single organism; it is an interaction between a fungus and
photosynthetic organism (like an algae). This relationship is symbiotic. They normally
grow on tree bark or even rock surfaces.
Symbiosis is a relationship between two different organisms. These two organisms
live in close proximity to each other for some or all of their lives.
A form of symbiosis is mutualism. It is defined as interactions between organisms of
two different species, in which each organism benefits from the interaction in some
way. There is also parasitism, defined as interactions between organisms of two
different species, where one organism benefits at the expense of the other.
Commensalism is defined as interactions between organisms of two different
species, where the other is unharmed or unaffected.
Which interaction is the lichen an example of? Why?

Relationship Explanation

The fungus gets a constant supply of food from

the photosynthetic organism and the fungus helps
A. Mutualism
to absorb water and shelter the algae from a harsh
climate. Commented [OR12]: Suggestion: shelters the algae
from a harsh climate.
The fungus obtains food, water and oxygen from
the photosynthetic organism and the
B. Parasitism
photosynthetic organism is harmed and eventually
does not survive.

The fungus and algae attempt to use the same

C. Competition resources e.g. space and water. They compete
against each other to survive.

The fungus uses the excess food, water and

oxygen from the photosynthetic organism to
D. Commensalism
survive and the photosynthetic organism is not
affected.

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Vanda 2020, Primary 6 (Grade 6) Contest

Question 17
The alveolus in our lungs are depicted in the diagram below. It is well adapted to
allow rapid, efficient exchange of gases.

Which of the following adaptations are essential in ensuring efficient exchange of

gases between the respiratory system and the circulatory system?
1) Biconcave disc shape of the red blood cells
2) Dense network of one cell thick walled capillaries around each alveolus
3) One cell thick alveolus wall
4) Moist film on the inner wall of each alveolus
A. Options 2 and 3
B. Options 1, 2 and 3
C. Options 2, 3 and 4
D. All of the above

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Vanda 2020, Primary 6 (Grade 6) Contest

Question 18

The diagram above is a communicating vessel. A and E are sealed, as shown.

Which of the following diagrams is the correct diagram showing water levels in the
communicating vessel when water is poured into C?

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Vanda 2020, Primary 6 (Grade 6) Contest

Commented [OR13]: The scale labels are too small to

read

Question 19
Scientists discovered that the resting heart rate is linked with physical fitness and
blood pressure of a person. Commented [OR14]:

The graph above shows the heart rate range for a resting person with different
lifestyles

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Vanda 2020, Primary 6 (Grade 6) Contest

Alice made certain conclusions from the graph shown above. Which of the
conclusions made is/are incorrect?
1) People who exercise frequently have a greater physical fitness. Commented [OR15]: Very similar to option 4 Change to
greater physical fitness
2) Professional athletes are more likely to have a heart rate range lower than 68
People who exercise regularly we consider they have good
beats/min. physical fitness.
Lower RHR often suggests greater physical fitness but not
3) A person with a resting heart rate of 88 beats/min is less likely to pant and feel always.

giddy when doing intensive exercises compared to someone with a resting heart rate
of 58 beats/min.
4) Frequent exercise can strengthen the heart muscles. Commented [OR16]: Frequent exercise can strengthen
the heart muscles
A. Options 2 and 3
B. Option 1 only
C. Option 3 only
D. Options 3 and 4

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Vanda 2020, Primary 6 (Grade 6) Contest

Question 20
Yasothai wanted to simulate the water cycle in the science lab. She used a large
metal bowl, filled it with boiling water, and covered it with a metal sheet which was
at room temperature. On the metal sheet, she placed pebbles which had been pre-
heated and made sure that it covered most of the metal sheet. The diagram below
details this.

She predicts that there will be water droplets found on the underside of the metal
sheet after waiting for 5 minutes, assuming that the pebbles are still hot. Commented [OR17]: Suggestion: 5 mins // assuming the
pebbles are still warm//hot
Is Yasothai correct in her hypothesis? Why?
Commented [OR18]: Is she correct in her
A. No. The hot pebbles warmed up the metal sheet, made it impossible for the hypothesis//prediction? Why?

hot water vapour in the bowl to lose heat to it in order to condense into water
droplets. Hence, no condensation happened and no water droplets were
formed.
B. Yes. The hot water vapour inside the bowl lost heat to the metal sheet and
condensed into water droplets.
C. No. The hot pebbles warmed up the metal sheet, made it impossible for the
hot water vapour in the bowl to gain heat to it in order to condense into
water droplets. Hence, no condensation happened and no water droplets
were formed.
D. Yes. The metal sheet lost heat through the hot pebbles as it is a good
conductor of heat, and provides a cool surface for the hot water vapour in the
bowl to condense into water droplets.

END OF PAPER

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