Invertebrates

28 Grade 5 Integrated Science questions on Invertebrates, with worked marking schemes. 28 questions are available on this topic in full.

1. Question 1

   4 marks

   The following animals were seen in a garden: butterfly, snail, spider, bee, earthworm, housefly.

   (a) List the animals that are insects.

   (b) List the animals that are NOT insects.

   (4 marks)

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2. Question 2

   3 marks

   Explain how earthworms help to improve the soil in a farmer's shamba.

   (3 marks)

   Marking scheme

   Award 1 mark each for any three: they burrow and make tunnels that allow air and water to enter the soil; their droppings (castings) add nutrients/manure to the soil; they break down dead plant matter into humus; they mix the soil layers as they move. (3 marks)

3. Question 3

   1 mark

   A tick that is found on a cow is considered harmful because ___.

   A. it pollinates flowers

   B. it produces silk for people

   C. it breaks down dead leaves

   D. it sucks blood from cattle and spreads disease

   (1 mark)

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4. Question 4

   1 mark

   A spider is an invertebrate with

   A. ten legs

   B. four legs

   C. eight legs

   D. six legs

   (1 mark)

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5. Question 5

   1 mark

   When handling invertebrates, you should

   A. handle them gently and wash hands afterwards

   B. squeeze them tightly

   C. throw them around

   D. put them in your mouth

   (1 mark)

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6. Question 6

   1 mark

   Wanjiku observed a small animal with eight legs and two body parts spinning a web on a fence. To which group of invertebrates does it belong?

   A. molluscs

   B. worms

   C. arachnids

   D. insects

   (1 mark)

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7. Question 7

   1 mark

   Which one of the following animals is NOT an insect?

   A. butterfly

   B. bee

   C. spider

   D. housefly

   (1 mark)

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8. Question 8

   1 mark

   Earthworms are useful in a farmer's shamba because they ___.

   A. sting people who are digging

   B. spread cholera in drinking water

   C. make holes that let air and water into the soil

   D. eat all the crops in the shamba

   (1 mark)

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9. Question 9

   1 mark

   How are bees useful to farmers in Kenya?

   A. They bite cattle and suck their blood

   B. They spread malaria to people

   C. They pollinate crops and make honey

   D. They destroy stored maize in the granary

   (1 mark)

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10. Question 10

    1 mark

    The three main parts of an insect's body are the head, the abdomen and the ___.

    A. thorax

    B. web

    C. antenna

    D. shell

    (1 mark)

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11. Question 11

    4 marks

    Bees are important invertebrates kept by many farmers in Kenya.

    (a) State two ways in which bees are useful.

    (b) Name two products that people obtain from bees.

    (4 marks)

    Marking scheme

    (a) Any two: they pollinate crops/flowers and increase harvests; they provide honey; they provide income when honey is sold (2 marks). (b) Any two: honey, beeswax, propolis, royal jelly, bee venom (2 marks).

12. Question 12

    1 mark

    Invertebrates are best described as animals that ___.

    A. live only in water

    B. do not have a backbone

    C. have a strong backbone

    D. can only fly

    (1 mark)

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13. Question 13

    1 mark

    Snails belong to a group of invertebrates called

    A. arachnids

    B. insects

    C. molluscs

    D. crustaceans

    (1 mark)

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14. Question 14

    1 mark

    A snail is grouped with the molluscs mainly because it has ___.

    A. a soft body and a shell

    B. feathers and wings

    C. six jointed legs

    D. a hard backbone

    (1 mark)

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15. Question 15

    1 mark

    An insect such as a housefly has how many legs?

    A. four

    B. six

    C. ten

    D. eight

    (1 mark)

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16. Question 16

    1 mark

    Which statement is true about the legs of a millipede?

    A. It has only six legs in total

    B. It has two pairs of legs on each body segment

    C. It has eight legs like a spider

    D. It has one pair of legs on each body segment

    (1 mark)

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17. Question 17

    1 mark

    An invertebrate is an animal that

    A. can fly

    B. has a backbone

    C. lives in water only

    D. does not have a backbone

    (1 mark)

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18. Question 18

    1 mark

    Which invertebrate spreads malaria to human beings?

    A. butterfly

    B. snail

    C. earthworm

    D. mosquito

    (1 mark)

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19. Question 19

    3 marks

    During a nature walk, Baraka caught a small animal that had six legs, three body parts (head, thorax and abdomen) and two antennae.

    (a) Name the group of invertebrates to which this animal belongs.

    (b) Give two reasons for your answer in (a).

    (3 marks)

    Marking scheme

    (a) Insects (1 mark). (b) Any two of: it has six legs (three pairs); its body is in three parts – head, thorax and abdomen; it has two antennae; it may have wings (2 marks).

20. Question 20

    4 marks

    Houseflies are common in many Kenyan homes.

    (a) State two diseases that can be spread by houseflies.

    (b) Give two ways of keeping houseflies away from food.

    (4 marks)

    Marking scheme

    (a) Any two: cholera, typhoid, diarrhoea, dysentery (2 marks). (b) Any two: cover food; dispose of waste properly and cover the dustbin; keep the kitchen and home clean; use fly screens/traps (2 marks).

21. Question 21

    1 mark

    A housefly is harmful to human beings mainly because ___.

    A. it improves the fertility of the soil

    B. it controls other harmful insects

    C. it makes honey for people

    D. it carries germs onto our food

    (1 mark)

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22. Question 22

    4 marks

    State four differences between a millipede and a centipede.

    (4 marks)

    Marking scheme

    Award 1 mark for each correct point (up to 4): a millipede has two pairs of legs per body segment while a centipede has one pair per segment; a millipede has a rounded body while a centipede has a flattened body; a millipede is slow-moving while a centipede is fast-moving; a millipede feeds on dead/decaying plants while a centipede is a predator that bites/hunts other small animals. (4 marks)

23. Question 23

    3 marks

    Mosquitoes are harmful invertebrates found in many parts of Kenya.

    (a) State one disease that mosquitoes spread to human beings.

    (b) Describe two ways of controlling mosquitoes at home.

    (3 marks)

    Marking scheme

    (a) Malaria (accept dengue fever) (1 mark). (b) Any two: sleep under a treated mosquito net; drain or cover stagnant water where they breed; clear bushes around the home; use insecticide/mosquito spray; cover water storage containers (2 marks).

24. Question 24

    1 mark

    Insects have

    A. eight legs

    B. six legs

    C. four legs

    D. no legs

    (1 mark)

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25. Question 25

    1 mark

    Which of the following invertebrates can spread diseases?

    A. Butterfly

    B. Mosquito

    C. Earthworm

    D. Ladybird

    (1 mark)

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26. Question 26

    1 mark

    Earthworms are important to farmers because they

    A. improve soil fertility by aerating the soil

    B. destroy soil

    C. eat crops

    D. spread diseases

    (1 mark)

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27. Question 27

    2 marks

    State two characteristics that are common to all invertebrates.

    (2 marks)

    Marking scheme

    Award 1 mark each for any two: they do not have a backbone/internal bony skeleton; many have soft bodies while others have a hard outer covering (exoskeleton); most are small in size; some have jointed legs. (2 marks)

28. Question 28

    1 mark

    Which of the following is an invertebrate?

    A. Snake

    B. Bird

    C. Butterfly

    D. Fish

    (1 mark)

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