P3/4 science
Life Cycles
1. The pictures below show the four-stage life cycle of a common household pest. Study it
carefully and answer the questions that follow.
(i)
(ii) (iii)
(iv)
1
(a) Which insect’s life cycle is shown above? [ __ m]
2
(b) Label the stages next to the pictures in the above life cycle. [1m]
1
(c) Where does the female insect lay her eggs? [ __ m]
2
1
(d) During which stage of its life cycle does the insect not feed? [ __ m]
2
1
(e) Why is the insect considered a pest? [ __ m]
2
Taken from Science Process Skills Lower Block 3/4
© Singapore Asia Publishers Pte Ltd SAPSCSP3&4_W19
Website: www.sapgrp.com | Facebook: Singapore-Asia-Publishers Page 1/8
Page 2/8 Website: www.sapgrp.com | Facebook: Singapore-Asia-Publishers
SAPSCSP3&4_W19 © Singapore Asia Publishers Pte Ltd
Taken from Science Process Skills Lower Block 3/4
Answers: 1. (a) It is the mosquito’s. 1. (b) (i) adult mosquito (ii) pupa (iii) egg (iv) larva (wriggler) 1. (c) The female insect lays her eggs in stagnant
water. 1. (d) It does not feed during the pupal stage. 1. (e) It can spread harmful diseases such as encephalitis, dengue fever and malaria.
1. (f) • Do not leave stagnant water in containers. • Clear drains and roof gutters regularly of leaves and other dead matter so that water can
flow easily. (Accept any other reasonable answers.) 1. (g) It is the butterfly. (Accept any other reasonable answers.) 1. (h) • Both the butterfly
and mosquito are able to fly when they are adults. • The pupae of the butterfly and mosquito do not feed. (Accept any other reasonable answers.)
1. (i) • The butterfly lays its eggs on land (usually on the underside of leaves) but the mosquito lays its eggs on stagnant water. • The life cycle of
the butterfly takes a longer time to complete (about 6 to 7 weeks) than the life cycle of the mosquito (about 2 weeks). (Accept any other reasonable
answers.)
•
•
the insect in this worksheet? List two differences. [2m]
(i) How is the life cycle of the animal you mentioned in (g) different from the life cycle of
•
•
insect in this worksheet? List two similarities. [2m]
(h) How is the life cycle of the animal you mentioned in (g) similar to the life cycle of the
[1m]
(g) Name another animal that undergoes a similar life cycle to the insect in this worksheet.
•
•
[2m] (f) State two ways to prevent the insect from breeding.
Life Cycles
P3/4 science
P3/4 science
Life Cycles Of Plants
Flowering plants produce flowers. The flowers later become fruit. Inside the fruit, we can find
seeds. The fruit protect the seeds. Seeds can develop into new plants. The life cycle of flowering
plants follows the three stages of seed-seedling-adult.
Seed
Stage 1: The plant begins
its life as a seed. With
enough air, food, water Seedling (Young plant)
and the right temperature, Stage 2: The young plant that grows is known as a seedling.
the seed will begin to
At first, the seedling obtains its food from the seed leaves.
germinate or grow.
When the true leaves start to grow, the plant is ready to
make its own food by the process of photosynthesis. The
seed leaves will shrivel and fall off.
Roots grow deep down into the ground to obtain water and
mineral salts needed for the plant.
The plant will grow towards the sunlight.
The shoot grows upwards to obtain maximum
sunlight. When the true leaves appear, the plant is
ready to make its own food.
Seed leaves provide the plant with food before the
true leaves develop.
Roots grow downwards to absorb water and mineral
salts from the ground. They hold the plant firmly in
the soil.
Adult plant
Stage 3: As the plant grows, it develops
flowers which later become fruit.
There are seeds inside the fruit.
The seeds will fall to the ground and
develop into new plants. The life cycle
then repeats itself.
Life cycle of a flowering plant
Taken from Science Partner: A Complete Guide To Lower Block Science
© Singapore Asia Publishers Pte Ltd SAPSCSP3&4_W19
Website: www.sapgrp.com | Facebook: Singapore-Asia-Publishers Page 3/8
P3/4 science
Life Cycles Of Plants
An example of a flowering plant which follows the life cycle shown on the previous page is the
tomato plant. Other flowering plants (e.g. morning glory and lady’s finger) also follow the same
life cycle.
Apart from protecting the seeds inside them, some fruit have a sweet and juicy flesh which can
be eaten. Two examples of such fruit are the mango and papaya.
The seeds of some plants can be eaten too. Examples are soya beans and sunflower seeds.
The peanut is also a flowering plant. When the peanut flower withers, the stalk curves downwards,
forcing the fruit to grow underground. The two peanuts inside the shell which we eat are actually
its seeds.
peanut
seedling
adult plant
Life cycle of a peanut plant
Taken from Science Partner: A Complete Guide To Lower Block Science
© Singapore Asia Publishers Pte Ltd SAPSCSP3&4_W19
Website: www.sapgrp.com | Facebook: Singapore-Asia-Publishers Page 4/8
P3/4 science
Life Cycles Of Plants
1. The picture below shows a germinating seed.
C
A
Which part will grow first?
(1) A (3) C
(2) B (4) D ( )
2. In the diagram below, what is the function of Part A?
Part A
(1) It provides food for the seedling.
(2) It provides protection for the seed.
(3) It provides water for the seedling.
(4) It provides chlorophyll for the seedling. ( )
3. Antonia carried out an experiment. She placed some seeds into four beakers and watered
them daily.
Beaker Amount of water Air Location of beaker
A 10 ml 50 cm3 In the freezer
B 10 ml 40 cm3 By the window
C 5 ml 40 cm3 In the freezer
D 10 ml 50 cm3 By the window
Which two beakers should she use if she wants to find out whether warmth is needed for
germination?
(1) Beakers A and B
(2) Beakers A and C
(3) Beakers A and D
(4) Beakers B and C ( )
Taken from Nail Those MCQs! Primary Science Lower Block 3/4
© Singapore Asia Publishers Pte Ltd SAPSCSP3&4_W19
Website: www.sapgrp.com | Facebook: Singapore-Asia-Publishers Page 5/8
P3/4 science
Life Cycles Of Plants
4. Study the diagrams of a seedling and an adult bean plant shown below.
What is/are the common characteristic(s) between the seedling and the adult plant?
A. They can absorb water and mineral salts through their roots.
B. They can make their own food.
C. They are able to produce seeds.
(1) A only
(2) B only
(3) A and B only
(4) A, B and C ( )
5. Leila wanted to find out if water is needed for a seed to germinate. Which of the following
variables must she keep the same to make it a fair experiment?
A. Number of seeds
B. Size of pots
C. Type of seeds
D. Colour of pots
E. Amount of water
(1) A, B and C only
(2) A, B, C and D only
(3) A, C and E only
(4) A, B, C and E only ( )
Answers: 1. 2 2. 2 3. 3 4. 1 5. 1
Taken from Nail Those MCQs! Primary Science Lower Block 3/4
© Singapore Asia Publishers Pte Ltd SAPSCSP3&4_W19
Website: www.sapgrp.com | Facebook: Singapore-Asia-Publishers Page 6/8
P3/4 science
Life Cycles Of Plants
1. The diagram below shows the life cycle of a bean plant.
A B C D
At which stage is sunlight needed for its growth?
(1) D only (3) B, C and D only
(2) C and D only (4) A, B, C and D ( )
2. What are the conditions needed for the germination of a seed?
A. oxygen
B. carbon dioxide
C. warmth
D. water
E. sunlight
(1) A, C and D only
(2) A, D and E only
(3) B, C and D only
(4) B, D and E only ( )
3. Ivan planted some bean seeds in four similar pots.
Number of Type of
Pot Location of pot
bean seeds cotton wool
W 5 in a black box damp
X 5 in the freezer dry
Y 5 near a window dry
Z 5 in the bathroom damp
Which pot of seeds would most likely germinate?
(1) Pot W only
(2) Pot X only
(3) Pots X and Y
(4) Pots W and Z ( )
Taken from Nail Those MCQs! Primary Science Lower Block 3/4
© Singapore Asia Publishers Pte Ltd SAPSCSP3&4_W19
Website: www.sapgrp.com | Facebook: Singapore-Asia-Publishers Page 7/8
P3/4 science
Life Cycles Of Plants
4. Which shows the correct order of the stages in a life cycle of a plant?
(1) seed → shoot → roots → leaves
(2) shoot → leaves → roots → seed
(3) seed → roots → shoot → leaves
(4) shoot → roots → leaves → seed ( )
5. Jacob did an experiment by putting the same number of seeds into two identical beakers. He
provided the same amount of water and nutrients in both beakers daily.
Beaker A Beaker B
Placed near a window Placed in the freezer
What was Jacob trying to find out from the experiment?
(1) Whether seeds need water to germinate
(2) Whether seeds need nutrients to grow healthily
(3) Whether seeds need warmth to germinate
(4) Whether there should be the same number of seeds ( )
Answers: 1. 2 2. 1 3. 4 4. 3 5. 3
Taken from Nail Those MCQs! Primary Science Lower Block 3/4
© Singapore Asia Publishers Pte Ltd SAPSCSP3&4_W19
Website: www.sapgrp.com | Facebook: Singapore-Asia-Publishers Page 8/8
