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Primary 4 · Science · Cycles: Seed Dispersal & Germination

Cycles: Seed Dispersal & Germination questions for Primary 4 Science

10 questions to work through online, 2 of them written out the way the paper asks. Answer and you get the working straight away, then a score at the end. No sign-up, and you can retake it as often as you like.

  • Matching feature to method
  • Features for water dispersal
  • Why dispersal matters
  • Conditions for germination
  • What a seed lives on
  • Reading results
  • Animal dispersal
  • Naming the process
  • Naming what a seed needs
  • Reasoning about dispersal
0 of 10 answered
Question 1 of 10Matching feature to method
A seed is light and has a large papery wing. How is it most likely dispersed?
Question 2 of 10Features for water dispersal
Which two features would help a seed be dispersed by water?
A
a waterproof outer covering
B
air spaces inside so it floats
C
hooks on the outside
D
a sweet, juicy fruit around it
Question 3 of 10Why dispersal matters
Why is it an advantage for a plant's seeds to land far away from it?
Question 4 of 10Conditions for germination
seedsdamp cottonSet-up Aon a sunny windowsillseedsdry cottonSet-up Bon a sunny windowsillseedsdamp cottonSet-up Cin a dark cupboard
Identical seeds were left for a week in three set-ups.
After a week the seeds in set-ups A and C had germinated but those in B had not. What do the set-ups show?
Question 5 of 10What a seed lives on
A seed germinates in a dark cupboard with no soil. Where does the young seedling get its food from at first?
Question 6 of 10Reading results
Table of Water, Air, Warmth, Seeds germinated for J, K, L, M
Set-upWaterAirWarmthSeeds germinated
J✓✓✓✓
K✗✓✓✗
L✓✗✓✗
M✓✓✗✗
✓ means present or observed, ✗ means absent or not observed.
Based on the table above, which statement is correct?
Question 7 of 10Animal dispersal
Which two of these describe seeds being dispersed by animals?
A
A bird eats a berry and the seed passes out elsewhere.
B
A burr with tiny hooks catches on a dog's fur.
C
A ripe pod dries out and bursts, flinging its seeds.
D
A coconut floats across the sea to another shore.
Question 8 of 10Naming the process
A seed takes in water, splits open and a tiny root pushes out.What is this process called?
Question 9 of 10Naming what a seed needs
A gardener keeps her seed tray warm and open to the air, but forgets one thing and nothing grows.What did she most likely forget to give the seeds?
Question 10 of 10Reasoning about dispersal
Coconut palms are often found growing along beaches on many different islands. What does this suggest about coconut seeds?
Answers and explanations for all 10 questions

Every answer with the reasoning behind it. Worth reading after you have tried the set — or on its own, if you are a parent marking it.

  1. A seed is light and has a large papery wing. How is it most likely dispersed?

    Answer: by wind

    Light seeds with wings or hairs catch the air and are carried away, so this seed is dispersed by wind.

  2. Which two features would help a seed be dispersed by water?

    Answer: A and B only

    A seed carried by water has to float and survive the journey, so air spaces keep it up and a waterproof covering keeps it from rotting.

  3. Why is it an advantage for a plant's seeds to land far away from it?

    Answer: The seedlings will not have to compete with the parent plant for water and light.

    Seedlings under the parent are shaded and share the same soil water. Landing further off means less competition for water, light and space.

  4. After a week the seeds in set-ups A and C had germinated but those in B had not. What do the set-ups show?

    Answer: Seeds need water to germinate but not light.

    B had light but no water and failed; C had water but no light and succeeded. So water is needed and light is not.

  5. A seed germinates in a dark cupboard with no soil. Where does the young seedling get its food from at first?

    Answer: from the food stored inside the seed

    Every seed carries a store of food. That store keeps the seedling growing until its leaves reach the light and can make food.

  6. Based on the table above, which statement is correct?

    Answer: Seeds need water, air and warmth together to germinate.

    Only J, which had all three, germinated. Take away any one — water, air or warmth — and germination fails.

  7. Which two of these describe seeds being dispersed by animals?

    Answer: A and B only

    Animals disperse seeds in two ways: by eating the fruit and passing the seed out later, or by carrying seeds that hook onto their fur.

  8. A seed takes in water, splits open and a tiny root pushes out. What is this process called?

    Answer: germination

    A seed starting to grow is germination.

  9. A gardener keeps her seed tray warm and open to the air, but forgets one thing and nothing grows. What did she most likely forget to give the seeds?

    Answer: water

    She gave them warmth and air, so the missing condition is water.

  10. Coconut palms are often found growing along beaches on many different islands. What does this suggest about coconut seeds?

    Answer: They are dispersed by water and can survive a long journey at sea.

    A coconut floats and its thick husk keeps the seawater out, so it can drift a long way and still germinate when it lands on a beach.