Invertebrates

41 Grade 6 Integrated Science questions on Invertebrates, with worked marking schemes. 41 questions are available on this topic in full.

1. Question 1

   1 mark

   Which of the following pairs contains ONLY invertebrates?

   A. Bee and sparrow

   B. Snail and spider

   C. Snail and frog

   D. Spider and lizard

   (1 mark)

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2. Question 2

   6 marks

   Invertebrates can be sorted into groups according to their features.

   (a) Give one characteristic that all invertebrates share. (2 marks)

   (b) Name any two groups of invertebrates and give one example from each. (4 marks)

   (6 marks)

   Marking scheme

   (a) They all lack a backbone / have no bones inside the body (2 marks). (b) Any two groups with one correct example each (2 marks per group): Insects - bee/ant/housefly; Arachnids - spider/scorpion; Molluscs - snail/slug; Worms/annelids - earthworm; Crustaceans - crab; Myriapods - millipede/centipede. (Max 4 marks).

3. Question 3

   4 marks

   A pupil drew an insect during a science lesson.

   (a) Name the three main parts into which the body of an insect is divided. (3 marks)

   (b) State the number of legs found on an insect. (1 mark)

   (4 marks)

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4. Question 4

   4 marks

   A group of learners kept honey bees at their school farm.

   (a) Name one product obtained from bees other than honey. (1 mark)

   (b) Explain how bees help farmers who grow fruit trees. (3 marks)

   (4 marks)

   Marking scheme

   (a) Beeswax (accept propolis/royal jelly) (1 mark). (b) As bees move from flower to flower collecting nectar they carry pollen, causing pollination; pollination enables the flowers to be fertilised and form fruits/seeds, so the farmer gets a better fruit harvest (3 marks).

5. Question 5

   1 mark

   As a butterfly moves from one flower to another feeding on nectar, it helps plants by:

   A. Watering the flowers

   B. Carrying pollen from one flower to another

   C. Making the flowers grow bigger

   D. Protecting the flowers from birds

   (1 mark)

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6. Question 6

   1 mark

   Into how many main body parts is the body of an insect divided?

   A. Four

   B. Three

   C. Two

   D. Five

   (1 mark)

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7. Question 7

   1 mark

   A slug and a snail are placed in the same group of invertebrates. What makes them similar?

   A. Both have six legs

   B. Both have hard outer shells with legs

   C. Both have wings

   D. Both have soft bodies and move slowly

   (1 mark)

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8. Question 8

   4 marks

   A spider and a bee were both observed under a hand lens. Give two ways in which a spider is different from a bee (an insect). (4 marks)

   (4 marks)

   Marking scheme

   Award 2 marks per correct difference (any two): Spider has 8 legs while bee/insect has 6 legs; spider has 2 body parts while insect has 3 body parts; spider has NO wings while a bee has wings; spider has NO antennae while insects have antennae. (Max 4 marks).

9. Question 9

   1 mark

   A mosquito is described as a harmful invertebrate. This is mainly because it:

   A. Spreads malaria to human beings

   B. Eats crops in the farm

   C. Bites and injects poison that kills instantly

   D. Destroys wooden houses

   (1 mark)

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10. Question 10

    4 marks

    Earthworms are commonly found in moist, fertile garden soil.

    (a) State one way earthworms are useful to a farmer. (2 marks)

    (b) Give one characteristic that shows an earthworm is an invertebrate. (2 marks)

    (4 marks)

    Marking scheme

    (a) They loosen/aerate the soil OR make the soil fertile by adding their droppings/decayed matter OR allow water and air to move through the soil, improving crop growth (2 marks). (b) It has NO backbone / it has a soft body with no bones (2 marks).

11. Question 11

    1 mark

    A pupil observed a grasshopper and counted its legs. How many legs does an adult insect such as a grasshopper have?

    A. Six

    B. Four

    C. Eight

    D. Ten

    (1 mark)

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12. Question 12

    3 marks

    Some invertebrates are harmful because they spread diseases to human beings. Match each harmful invertebrate with the disease it spreads:

    (a) Mosquito (1 mark)

    (b) Housefly (1 mark)

    (c) Tsetse fly (1 mark)

    (3 marks)

    Marking scheme

    (a) Mosquito - Malaria (1 mark). (b) Housefly - Typhoid / Cholera / Diarrhoea / any diarrhoeal disease (1 mark). (c) Tsetse fly - Sleeping sickness (in humans) / Nagana (in cattle) (1 mark).

13. Question 13

    1 mark

    An octopus lives in

    A. the desert

    B. the forest

    C. the mountain

    D. the sea

    (1 mark)

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14. Question 14

    1 mark

    Wanjiru caught a spider and argued it was an insect. Her teacher corrected her. Which feature shows that a spider is NOT an insect?

    A. It has eight legs

    B. It lays eggs

    C. It has a soft body

    D. It lives on land

    (1 mark)

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15. Question 15

    1 mark

    Which one of the following invertebrates does NOT belong to the group of insects?

    A. Ant

    B. Housefly

    C. Spider

    D. Bee

    (1 mark)

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16. Question 16

    1 mark

    Which invertebrate is reared because it produces threads used for making silk cloth?

    A. Silkworm

    B. Snail

    C. Earthworm

    D. Housefly

    (1 mark)

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17. Question 17

    1 mark

    Which one of the following is common to a bee, an ant and a beetle?

    A. They all have shells

    B. They all have three pairs of legs

    C. They all have eight legs

    D. They all have backbones

    (1 mark)

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18. Question 18

    4 marks

    Not all invertebrates are harmful; some are very useful to people. State two ways in which invertebrates are useful to human beings. (4 marks)

    (4 marks)

    Marking scheme

    Award 2 marks per point (any two): Bees provide honey/beeswax; silkworms produce silk; earthworms improve soil fertility/aeration; butterflies and bees pollinate crops; some invertebrates are used as food; some are food for other animals; decomposers help break down dead matter. (Max 4 marks).

19. Question 19

    3 marks

    Njeri collected the following animals in the field: a snail, a spider, an ant and an earthworm.

    (a) Which of these animals is an insect? (1 mark)

    (b) Give a reason for your answer in (a). (2 marks)

    (3 marks)

    Marking scheme

    (a) The ant (1 mark). (b) Because it has three body parts (head, thorax, abdomen) AND six/three pairs of legs (2 marks; accept either key feature clearly stated for full marks if well explained).

20. Question 20

    4 marks

    State the number of legs each of the following invertebrates has.

    (a) Housefly (1 mark)

    (b) Spider (1 mark)

    (c) State one way a snail moves. (2 marks)

    (4 marks)

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21. Question 21

    1 mark

    Learners in Nakuru grouped animals in the school compound. They put together animals that do NOT have a backbone. Which one of the following belongs to this group?

    A. Frog

    B. Housefly

    C. Sparrow

    D. Lizard

    (1 mark)

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22. Question 22

    4 marks

    Houseflies are often seen resting on uncovered food.

    (a) Explain why houseflies are dangerous to our health. (2 marks)

    (b) State two ways of controlling houseflies in the home. (2 marks)

    (4 marks)

    Marking scheme

    (a) Houseflies carry germs/disease-causing organisms on their bodies and legs from dirt and faeces and drop them on our food, spreading diseases such as typhoid and cholera (2 marks). (b) Any two, 1 mark each: cover food; dispose of refuse/rubbish properly; use a proper covered pit latrine; keep the house/kitchen clean; use fly traps/insecticides. (Max 2 marks).

23. Question 23

    1 mark

    A learner noticed thin feeler-like structures on the head of a beetle. These structures are used mainly for feeling and smelling. They are called:

    A. Legs

    B. Fangs

    C. Wings

    D. Antennae

    (1 mark)

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24. Question 24

    1 mark

    The tsetse fly is a harmful invertebrate found in some parts of Kenya. It spreads a disease known as:

    A. Malaria

    B. Sleeping sickness

    C. Cholera

    D. Typhoid

    (1 mark)

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25. Question 25

    1 mark

    A centipede has

    A. eight legs

    B. no legs

    C. many pairs of legs

    D. six legs

    (1 mark)

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26. Question 26

    1 mark

    A snail was placed on a bench during a science lesson. Which one of the following is a characteristic of a snail?

    A. It has a backbone

    B. It has feathers

    C. It has a soft body protected by a shell

    D. It has three pairs of legs

    (1 mark)

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27. Question 27

    1 mark

    Ticks are harmful invertebrates because they

    A. pollinate flowers

    B. suck blood and can transmit diseases

    C. make honey

    D. improve soil

    (1 mark)

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28. Question 28

    1 mark

    Which invertebrate produces honey?

    A. Bee

    B. Spider

    C. Worm

    D. Snail

    (1 mark)

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29. Question 29

    3 marks

    Invertebrates are one of the two main groups of animals.

    (a) State the meaning of the term 'invertebrate'. (1 mark)

    (b) Give any two examples of invertebrates found in your locality. (2 marks)

    (3 marks)

    Marking scheme

    (a) An invertebrate is an animal that does NOT have a backbone (1 mark). (b) Any two correct examples, 1 mark each: e.g. housefly, bee, ant, spider, snail, earthworm, butterfly, grasshopper, millipede, crab (max 2 marks).

30. Question 30

    1 mark

    Which of the following groups of invertebrates includes crabs, lobsters and shrimps?

    A. Insects

    B. Crustaceans

    C. Arachnids

    D. Molluscs

    (1 mark)

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31. Question 31

    1 mark

    A pupil found a long animal with a rounded body and very many legs under a stone. It rolled into a coil when touched. The animal was most likely a:

    A. Housefly

    B. Snail

    C. Millipede

    D. Spider

    (1 mark)

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32. Question 32

    1 mark

    Which one of the following invertebrates is a crustacean commonly found along the Kenyan coast?

    A. Termite

    B. Spider

    C. Snail

    D. Crab

    (1 mark)

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33. Question 33

    1 mark

    A farmer in Kisii dug his garden and found earthworms in the soil. In what way are earthworms useful to the farmer?

    A. They add water to the soil

    B. They improve the soil by making it loose and fertile

    C. They eat all the weeds in the garden

    D. They frighten away birds

    (1 mark)

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34. Question 34

    4 marks

    During a nature walk, learners lifted a stone and found a millipede and a centipede. State two characteristics that are common to both the millipede and the centipede. (4 marks)

    (4 marks)

    Marking scheme

    Award 2 marks per point (any two): both have long segmented bodies; both have many legs; both are invertebrates (no backbone); both have a head with antennae; both move by crawling. (Max 4 marks).

35. Question 35

    1 mark

    Houseflies are considered harmful to human health mainly because they:

    A. Spoil clothes

    B. Bite people and suck their blood

    C. Carry germs and drop them on our food

    D. Destroy stored maize

    (1 mark)

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36. Question 36

    1 mark

    Worms are invertebrates that live in

    A. soil, water and inside other organisms

    B. only inside animals

    C. only in soil

    D. only in water

    (1 mark)

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37. Question 37

    1 mark

    Starfish are invertebrates found in

    A. deserts

    B. the ocean

    C. rivers only

    D. forests

    (1 mark)

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38. Question 38

    1 mark

    A beekeeper in Baringo keeps bees in hives. Apart from honey, which other useful product do bees provide?

    A. Beeswax

    B. Milk

    C. Wool

    D. Silk

    (1 mark)

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39. Question 39

    1 mark

    Butterflies help plants by

    A. pollinating flowers

    B. destroying their seeds

    C. cutting their leaves

    D. eating their roots

    (1 mark)

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40. Question 40

    1 mark

    Which group of invertebrates is correctly described as having eight legs and two body parts?

    A. Bees and wasps

    B. Snails and slugs

    C. Butterflies and moths

    D. Spiders and scorpions

    (1 mark)

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41. Question 41

    1 mark

    A cockroach hides in dark, dirty places in the kitchen at night. Why is a cockroach considered a harmful invertebrate?

    A. It spreads germs onto food and utensils

    B. It eats farm crops

    C. It bites people at night

    D. It builds nests in walls

    (1 mark)

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