Passage Reference: The female salmon lay up to about 5000 eggs in freshwater, in a process called spawning.

Common Mistake: Students often write 5000 eggs because that phrase appears clearly in the passage. However, the diagram gap asks for the full label shown in the diagram, not just the noun from the text. Writing only eggs would be a partial truth trap.

Paraphrasing: Passage: 'lay up to about 5000 eggs' = Diagram: '5000 years'

Tips: Always read the diagram label carefully. Sometimes it asks for a full phrase, not just the obvious word from the passage.

Key Vocabulary:

• lay = produce
• spawning = laying eggs

Question Focus: Location where eggs are protected

Correct Answer: a rudd

Passage Reference: These eggs are protected in a little hollow, or rudd, at the bottom of a river and are covered in gravel until they hatch.

Why this is correct: The passage clearly explains where the eggs are kept. It says they are protected in a little hollow, or rudd, so both a rudd and a hollow are taken directly from the text.

Common Mistake: Some students write river bottom because it sounds logical. However, those exact words do not name the place. This is a synonym trap. You must copy the passage word.

Paraphrasing: Passage: 'protected in a little hollow, or rudd' = Diagram: 'eggs kept in a ___'

Tips: When the passage gives two names for the same thing, both are usually acceptable answers.

Key Vocabulary:

• hollow = small hole
• protected = kept safe

Question Focus: What happens to adult salmon after mating

Correct Answer: die

Passage Reference: Due to the exhausting journey the adult salmon have made from the ocean, they usually die a few days after mating.

Why this is correct: The passage states clearly that after mating, adult salmon usually die. The diagram summarises this stage with a simple verb, so die fits exactly.

Common Mistake: Some students write die a few days later. This exceeds the word limit. This is a word limit trap.

Paraphrasing: Passage: 'they usually die a few days after mating' = Diagram: 'adults ___ after mating'

Tips: If the diagram uses a verb, keep your answer short and within the word limit.

Key Vocabulary:

• exhausting = very tiring
• mating = reproduction

Question Focus: Source of food for alevin

Correct Answer: yolk

Passage Reference: Food is initially supplied from the yolk in the egg and will stay attached to the alevin even after it has left the egg.

Why this is correct: The passage explains that food for the young fish comes from the yolk. The diagram shows this feeding stage, so yolk is the exact word we copy.

Common Mistake: Students may write egg because it is mentioned nearby. However, the passage is specific about yolk, not the whole egg. This is a partial truth trap.

Paraphrasing: Passage: 'Food is initially supplied from the yolk' = Diagram: 'food from ___'

Tips: Look for precise nouns. Diagrams often test small but important details.

Key Vocabulary:

• initially = at first
• nutrition = food

Question Focus: Main danger faced by fry

Correct Answer: predators

Passage Reference: Much of their time is then spent trying to avoid predators as they are still very small and vulnerable.

Why this is correct: The passage says fry spend much of their time trying to avoid predators. The diagram highlights this risk, so predators is the correct label.

Common Mistake: Some students write danger or threats. These ideas are correct, but the words are not from the passage. This is a synonym trap.

Paraphrasing: Passage: 'trying to avoid predators' = Diagram: 'danger from ___'

Tips: Always copy the exact word from the passage, even if a synonym seems easier.

Key Vocabulary:

• predators = animals that hunt others
• vulnerable = easy to harm

Question Focus: Environment change before becoming smolt

Correct Answer: salt water

Passage Reference: To adapt to life in salt water the fry go through a transition called smolting and turn into approximately 200 smolt from the original 5000 eggs.

Why this is correct: The passage explains that fry must adapt to life in salt water. The diagram shortens this to the environment name, so salt water is correct.

Common Mistake: Students sometimes write the sea. That appears later in the passage, but this stage is about adaptation, not arrival. This is a wrong section trap.

Paraphrasing: Passage: 'adapt to life in salt water' = Diagram: 'adaptation to ___'

Tips: Check where you are in the life cycle. Earlier and later stages may sound similar.

Key Vocabulary:

• adapt = change to survive
• transition = change

Question Focus: Length of time mature salmon stay in the sea

Correct Answer: five years

Passage Reference: and remain in the sea for between one to five years.

Why this is correct: The passage says mature adults remain in the sea for between one to five years. The diagram asks for the maximum length, so five years or 5 years is correct.

Common Mistake: Some students write one year because it is mentioned first. However, the diagram focuses on the full possible period. This is a partial truth trap.

Paraphrasing: Passage: 'between one to five years' = Diagram: 'up to ___ in the sea'

Tips: When you see a range, check if the diagram wants the minimum or the maximum.

Key Vocabulary:

• remain = stay
• mature = fully grown

General Tips:

• Diagram completion answers follow passage order. Start at the top of the diagram and scan the passage from the beginning.
• Always copy the exact word from the passage. Do not replace it with a synonym.
• Check the word limit carefully. Even correct information is wrong if it is too long.
• Use grammar clues in the diagram like articles or plurals to guide your answer.