Back to worksheetsScienceAges 10-12
Plants, leaves & photosynthesis
Explore how roots, stems, leaves and flowers support plant growth and photosynthesis. Review suitability for your learners before teaching.
Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12
Plants, leaves & photosynthesis
Take your time. Show your thinking.
1. In which cell organelles inside palisade leaf cells does photosynthesis occur: chloroplasts or ribosomes?
2. Which three conditions do most seeds need to germinate: water, oxygen and warmth, or darkness, ice and salt?
3. In which main plant organ does most photosynthesis take place: the leaves or the roots?
4. What is the role of the green sepals on the outside of a flower bud: to protect the unopened flower bud, or to absorb soil nitrates?
5. Why do plants need nitrate ions from the soil: to make amino acids and proteins for cell growth, or to freeze water?
6. Which gas do plants release as a byproduct of photosynthesis: oxygen or helium?
7. What are the tiny openings on the underside of leaves that open and close to control gas exchange and water loss: stomata or tubers?
8. After fertilisation, which part of a flowering plant develops into a fruit enclosing the seeds: the ovary or the sepal?
9. How are coconut seeds adapted to travel between tropical islands: they float on ocean currents, or they attach to bird feathers?
10. What chemical reagent turns blue-black when added to a leaf that contains stored starch: iodine solution or pure water?
11. Why do plants need magnesium ions from the soil: to make green chlorophyll, or to attract wind?
12. What do we call the process when a seed absorbs water, swells and begins to sprout into a seedling: germination or transpiration?
12 questions · Seed 42 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification
View the answer key
Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 10-12
Plants, leaves & photosynthesis
Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.
1. In which cell organelles inside palisade leaf cells does photosynthesis occur: chloroplasts or ribosomes?
ChloroplastsChloroplasts contain chlorophyll and the enzymes needed for photosynthesis.
2. Which three conditions do most seeds need to germinate: water, oxygen and warmth, or darkness, ice and salt?
Water, oxygen and warmthSeeds require water to activate enzymes, oxygen for respiration, and suitable warmth.
3. In which main plant organ does most photosynthesis take place: the leaves or the roots?
LeavesBroad green leaves capture sunlight and carbon dioxide for photosynthesis.
4. What is the role of the green sepals on the outside of a flower bud: to protect the unopened flower bud, or to absorb soil nitrates?
To protect the unopened flower budSepals enclose and protect the developing petals before the flower opens.
5. Why do plants need nitrate ions from the soil: to make amino acids and proteins for cell growth, or to freeze water?
To make amino acids and proteins for cell growthPlants combine glucose with nitrogen from nitrates to synthesise amino acids and proteins.
6. Which gas do plants release as a byproduct of photosynthesis: oxygen or helium?
OxygenOxygen produced during photosynthesis diffuses out of the leaves into the air.
7. What are the tiny openings on the underside of leaves that open and close to control gas exchange and water loss: stomata or tubers?
StomataGuard cells regulate stomata to balance carbon dioxide uptake with water conservation.
8. After fertilisation, which part of a flowering plant develops into a fruit enclosing the seeds: the ovary or the sepal?
OvaryThe fertilised ovules become seeds while the surrounding ovary wall ripens into a fruit.
9. How are coconut seeds adapted to travel between tropical islands: they float on ocean currents, or they attach to bird feathers?
They float on ocean currentsA coconut’s fibrous, air-filled husk makes it buoyant and waterproof in seawater.
10. What chemical reagent turns blue-black when added to a leaf that contains stored starch: iodine solution or pure water?
Iodine solutionYellow-brown iodine solution turns blue-black in the presence of starch.
11. Why do plants need magnesium ions from the soil: to make green chlorophyll, or to attract wind?
To make green chlorophyllMagnesium is the central atom in every chlorophyll molecule; deficiency causes yellow leaves (chlorosis).
12. What do we call the process when a seed absorbs water, swells and begins to sprout into a seedling: germination or transpiration?
GerminationGermination is the growth of an embryonic plant contained within a seed.
12 questions · Seed 42 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification
Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12
Plants, leaves & photosynthesis
Take your time. Show your thinking.
1. In which cell organelles inside palisade leaf cells does photosynthesis occur: chloroplasts or ribosomes?
2. Which three conditions do most seeds need to germinate: water, oxygen and warmth, or darkness, ice and salt?
3. In which main plant organ does most photosynthesis take place: the leaves or the roots?
4. What is the role of the green sepals on the outside of a flower bud: to protect the unopened flower bud, or to absorb soil nitrates?
5. Why do plants need nitrate ions from the soil: to make amino acids and proteins for cell growth, or to freeze water?
6. Which gas do plants release as a byproduct of photosynthesis: oxygen or helium?
7. What are the tiny openings on the underside of leaves that open and close to control gas exchange and water loss: stomata or tubers?
8. After fertilisation, which part of a flowering plant develops into a fruit enclosing the seeds: the ovary or the sepal?
9. How are coconut seeds adapted to travel between tropical islands: they float on ocean currents, or they attach to bird feathers?
10. What chemical reagent turns blue-black when added to a leaf that contains stored starch: iodine solution or pure water?
11. Why do plants need magnesium ions from the soil: to make green chlorophyll, or to attract wind?
12. What do we call the process when a seed absorbs water, swells and begins to sprout into a seedling: germination or transpiration?
12 questions · Seed 42 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification
Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 10-12
Plants, leaves & photosynthesis
Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.
1. In which cell organelles inside palisade leaf cells does photosynthesis occur: chloroplasts or ribosomes?
ChloroplastsChloroplasts contain chlorophyll and the enzymes needed for photosynthesis.
2. Which three conditions do most seeds need to germinate: water, oxygen and warmth, or darkness, ice and salt?
Water, oxygen and warmthSeeds require water to activate enzymes, oxygen for respiration, and suitable warmth.
3. In which main plant organ does most photosynthesis take place: the leaves or the roots?
LeavesBroad green leaves capture sunlight and carbon dioxide for photosynthesis.
4. What is the role of the green sepals on the outside of a flower bud: to protect the unopened flower bud, or to absorb soil nitrates?
To protect the unopened flower budSepals enclose and protect the developing petals before the flower opens.
5. Why do plants need nitrate ions from the soil: to make amino acids and proteins for cell growth, or to freeze water?
To make amino acids and proteins for cell growthPlants combine glucose with nitrogen from nitrates to synthesise amino acids and proteins.
6. Which gas do plants release as a byproduct of photosynthesis: oxygen or helium?
OxygenOxygen produced during photosynthesis diffuses out of the leaves into the air.
7. What are the tiny openings on the underside of leaves that open and close to control gas exchange and water loss: stomata or tubers?
StomataGuard cells regulate stomata to balance carbon dioxide uptake with water conservation.
8. After fertilisation, which part of a flowering plant develops into a fruit enclosing the seeds: the ovary or the sepal?
OvaryThe fertilised ovules become seeds while the surrounding ovary wall ripens into a fruit.
9. How are coconut seeds adapted to travel between tropical islands: they float on ocean currents, or they attach to bird feathers?
They float on ocean currentsA coconut’s fibrous, air-filled husk makes it buoyant and waterproof in seawater.
10. What chemical reagent turns blue-black when added to a leaf that contains stored starch: iodine solution or pure water?
Iodine solutionYellow-brown iodine solution turns blue-black in the presence of starch.
11. Why do plants need magnesium ions from the soil: to make green chlorophyll, or to attract wind?
To make green chlorophyllMagnesium is the central atom in every chlorophyll molecule; deficiency causes yellow leaves (chlorosis).
12. What do we call the process when a seed absorbs water, swells and begins to sprout into a seedling: germination or transpiration?
GerminationGermination is the growth of an embryonic plant contained within a seed.
12 questions · Seed 42 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification