Life Sciences Grade 10 P2 November Mock 2026 QP (Eng)

Mock hlayiso mock exams Practice Series: Grade 10 Exam Preparation WWW.HLAYISO.COM NATIONAL SENIOR CERTIFICATE GRADE 10 LIFE SCIENCES P2 NOVEMBER EXAMINATION 2026 (MOCK) MARKS: 150 TIME: 2½ hours This question paper consists of 14 pages. Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P2 2 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC Mock INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION Read the following instructions carefully before answering the questions. 1. Answer ALL the questions. 2. Write ALL the answers in the ANSWER BOOK. 3. Start the answers to EACH question at the top of a NEW page. 4. Number the answers correctly according to the numbering system used in this question paper. 5. Present your answers according to the instructions of each question. 6. Do ALL drawings in pencil and label them in blue or black ink. 7. Draw diagrams, tables or flow charts only when asked to do so. 8. The diagrams in this question paper are NOT necessarily drawn to scale. 9. Do NOT use graph paper. 10. You may use a non-programmable calculator, protractor and a compass, where necessary. 11. Round off ALL calculations to TWO decimal places, where necessary. 12. Write neatly and legibly. Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P2 3 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC Mock SECTION A QUESTION 1 1.1 Various options are provided as possible answers to the following questions. Choose the answer and write only the letter (A to D) next to the question numbers (1.1.1 to 1.1.10) in the ANSWER BOOK, e.g. 1.1.11 D. 1.1.1 The blood vessel that carries oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart is the … A aorta. B pulmonary artery. C pulmonary vein. D superior vena cava. 1.1.2 The blood cells that play a role in the clotting of blood are the … A thrombocytes (platelets). B erythrocytes (red blood cells). C leucocytes (white blood cells). D phagocytes. 1.1.3 The valve between the left atrium and the left ventricle is the … A tricuspid valve. B bicuspid (mitral) valve. C aortic semilunar valve. D pulmonary semilunar valve. 1.1.4 The direction in which a slope faces in relation to the sun is called the … A altitude. B gradient. C aspect. D latitude. 1.1.5 Organisms that break down dead plant and animal material and return nutrients to the soil are … A producers. B herbivores. C carnivores. D decomposers. 1.1.6 Which ONE of the following shows the CORRECT sequence of the levels of classification, from the largest group to the smallest group? A Kingdom, class, phylum, order, family, species, genus B Kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species C Kingdom, phylum, order, class, genus, family, species D Kingdom, phylum, class, family, order, genus, species Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P2 4 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC Mock 1.1.7 Which ONE of the following is the CORRECT way of writing the scientific name of the lion (in print)? A Panthera Leo B panthera leo C Panthera leo D Leo panthera 1.1.8 Unicellular organisms whose cells do NOT have a true nucleus belong to the kingdom … A Protista. B Fungi. C Plantae. D Monera (Bacteria). 1.1.9 The supercontinent that broke up to form Laurasia and Gondwana is … A Pangaea. B Rodinia. C Africa. D Antarctica. 1.1.10 The dinosaurs (except the ancestors of birds) became extinct at the end of the … A Permian period. B Triassic period. C Cretaceous period. D Jurassic period. (10 x 2) (20) 1.2 Give the correct biological term for each of the following descriptions. Write only the term next to the question numbers (1.2.1 to 1.2.7) in the ANSWER BOOK. 1.2.1 Blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart 1.2.2 The liquid part of the blood in which blood cells are suspended 1.2.3 All the populations of different species that live and interact in the same area at the same time 1.2.4 Each feeding level in a food chain 1.2.5 Species that occur naturally in only one particular area and nowhere else in the world 1.2.6 The scientific study of fossils 1.2.7 A group of organisms with similar characteristics that can interbreed to produce fertile offspring (7 x 1) (7) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P2 5 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC Mock 1.3 Indicate whether each of the descriptions in COLUMN I applies to A ONLY, B ONLY, BOTH A AND B or NONE of the items in COLUMN II. Write A only, B only, both A and B or none next to the question numbers (1.3.1 to 1.3.4) in the ANSWER BOOK. COLUMN I COLUMN II 1.3.1 Carries deoxygenated blood A: Pulmonary artery B: Inferior vena cava 1.3.2 An abiotic factor in an ecosystem A: Temperature B: Decomposers 1.3.3 Multicellular, heterotrophic A: Fungi organisms with cell walls made B: Plantae of chitin 1.3.4 Methods used to estimate the age A: Radiometric dating of fossils B: Relative dating (4 x 2) (8) 1.4 The diagram below represents a food web in a savanna ecosystem. Eagle Snake Lion Bird Lizard Grasshopper Mouse Impala Giraffe Grass Acacia tree 1.4.1 Name the producers in this food web. (1) 1.4.2 Name ONE herbivore that feeds on both producers. (1) 1.4.3 Name ONE secondary consumer in this food web. (1) 1.4.4 Write down a food chain from the food web that consists of FOUR organisms. (2) 1.4.5 Explain the effect on the lizard population if a farmer sprays a pesticide that kills most of the grasshoppers. (2) 1.4.6 Name the group of organisms, NOT shown in the food web, that is necessary for the recycling of nutrients. (1) (8) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P2 6 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC Mock 1.5 The dichotomous key below can be used to identify five South African animals. 1a Body covered with feathers Go to 2 1b Body NOT covered with feathers Go to 3 2a Cannot fly; very long, strong legs Struthio camelus 2b Can fly; long, curved beak Promerops cafer 3a Body covered with fur/hair Go to 4 3b Body covered with scales Crocodylus niloticus 4a Black and white stripes on the body Equus quagga 4b No stripes; very long neck Giraffa camelopardalis 1.5.1 Give the scientific name of an animal with a very long neck. (1) 1.5.2 Give the genus of the animal that is covered with scales. (1) 1.5.3 Name TWO characteristics that an animal must have to be identified as Equus quagga. (2) 1.5.4 Name the scientist who developed the binomial system of naming organisms. (1) 1.5.5 State TWO reasons why scientists use scientific names rather than common names. (2) (7) TOTAL SECTION A: 50 Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P2 7 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC Mock SECTION B QUESTION 2 2.1 The diagram below represents a longitudinal section through the human heart, seen from the front. B A G C H D E F 2.1.1 Identify part: (a) A (1) (b) C (1) (c) G (1) 2.1.2 Give the LETTER of the chamber that pumps blood to the lungs. (1) 2.1.3 Explain why the wall of chamber E is thicker than the wall of chamber F. (2) 2.1.4 Explain the importance of valve D. (2) 2.1.5 Describe the route followed by blood from the venae cavae, through the heart, to the lungs. (4) (12) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P2 8 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC Mock 2.2 The diagrams below represent transverse sections through three types of blood vessels, P, Q and R (not drawn to the same scale). lumen muscle layer wall one cell thick P Q R 2.2.1 Identify blood vessel: (a) P (1) (b) Q (1) (c) R (1) 2.2.2 Give the LETTER of the blood vessel in which substances are exchanged between the blood and the body cells. (1) 2.2.3 Explain how the thick, muscular and elastic wall of blood vessel P is suited to its function. (2) 2.2.4 Explain why blood vessel Q has valves along its length. (2) (8) 2.3 Learners investigated the effect of different activities on the heart rate. Ten learners of the same age and gender took part. Each learner did each activity for 3 minutes and their heart rate was measured immediately afterwards. The learners rested for 15 minutes between activities. The average results are shown in the table below. ACTIVITY AVERAGE HEART RATE (beats per minute) Sitting 72 Walking 96 Jogging 128 Sprinting 164 [Data: examiner’s own] 2.3.1 Identify the: (a) Independent variable (1) (b) Dependent variable (1) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P2 9 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC Mock 2.3.2 State TWO ways in which the learners ensured that the results were valid. (2) 2.3.3 Explain why the heart rate increases during sprinting. (2) 2.3.4 Draw a bar graph to show the results of this investigation. (6) (12) 2.4 The diagram below represents a pyramid of energy for a grassland ecosystem. Tertiary consumers Energy available Secondary consumers X Primary consumers 1 620 kJ Producers 18 000 kJ [Data: examiner’s own] 2.4.1 Name the original source of energy for this ecosystem. (1) 2.4.2 Calculate the percentage of energy in the producers that is passed on to the primary consumers. Show ALL your working. (2) 2.4.3 If the same percentage of energy is passed on to the next level, calculate the energy available to the secondary consumers (X). Show ALL your working. (2) 2.4.4 State TWO ways in which energy is lost from one trophic level to the next. (2) 2.4.5 Explain why food chains seldom have more than four or five trophic levels. (2) (9) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P2 10 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC Mock 2.5 The graph below shows the average monthly rainfall and temperature for a town in one of the biomes of South Africa. Average monthly rainfall and temperature for town T 100 30 Average temperature (°C) 90 Average rainfall (mm) 80 25 70 20 60 50 15 40 30 10 20 5 10 0 0 J F M A M J J A S O N D Month Bars = rainfall Line = temperature [Data: examiner’s own] 2.5.1 Name the month with the highest average rainfall. (1) 2.5.2 Calculate the total annual rainfall of town T if the sum of the rainfall from January to June is 257 mm. Show ALL your working. (2) 2.5.3 In which season does town T receive most of its rain? (1) 2.5.4 Name the biome in which town T is most likely found. (1) 2.5.5 Explain TWO ways in which the plants of this biome are adapted to survive the hot, dry summers. (4) (9) [50] Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P2 11 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC Mock QUESTION 3 3.1 The diagram below represents the carbon cycle. Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere 1 2 2 Green plants 5 3 Animals 4 Dead plants Fossil fuels and animals (coal, oil, gas) 6 3.1.1 Identify process: (a) 1 (1) (b) 4 (1) (c) 5 (1) 3.1.2 Give the NUMBER of the process by which carbon is passed along a food chain. (1) 3.1.3 Name ONE group of organisms responsible for process 4. (1) 3.1.4 Explain how process 1 is also important in the oxygen cycle. (2) 3.1.5 Explain how the burning of fossil fuels contributes to global warming. (2) (9) 3.2 The table below shows the classification of three large cats found in South Africa. LEVEL LION LEOPARD CHEETAH Kingdom Animalia Animalia Animalia Phylum Chordata Chordata Chordata Class Mammalia Mammalia Mammalia Order Carnivora Carnivora Carnivora Family Felidae Felidae Felidae Genus Panthera Panthera Acinonyx Species leo pardus jubatus Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P2 12 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC Mock 3.2.1 Write down the scientific name of the leopard correctly. (2) 3.2.2 Which TWO of these animals are most closely related? (1) 3.2.3 Explain your answer to QUESTION 3.2.2. (2) 3.2.4 Name the smallest (lowest) level of classification that all three animals share. (1) 3.2.5 Name the kingdom to which a mushroom belongs. (1) 3.2.6 State ONE difference between organisms of the kingdom Plantae and organisms of the kingdom Animalia. (2) (9) 3.3 The graph below shows how the percentage of carbon-14 in the remains of a dead organism decreases over time. Decay of carbon-14 over time 100 Carbon-14 remaining (%) 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 0 5 000 10 000 15 000 20 000 25 000 Time since death of the organism (years) [Adapted from various sources] 3.3.1 Define the term half-life. (2) 3.3.2 Use the graph to determine the half-life of carbon-14. (1) 3.3.3 How old is a fossil bone that contains 25% of its original carbon-14? (1) 3.3.4 A piece of fossil wood contains 12,5% of its original carbon-14. Calculate the age of the wood. Show ALL your working. (3) 3.3.5 Explain why carbon-14 dating cannot be used to determine the age of a fossil that is about 2 million years old. (2) (9) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P2 13 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC Mock 3.4 The graph below shows the approximate percentage of species that became extinct during the five major mass extinctions in the history of life on Earth. Major mass extinctions Species that became extinct (%) 100 96 90 85 80 76 80 75 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Ordovician Devonian Permian Triassic Cretaceous (444 mya) (372 mya) (252 mya) (201 mya) (66 mya) Mass extinction (end of period) mya = million years ago [Approximate values, adapted from various sources] 3.4.1 Define mass extinction. (2) 3.4.2 Name the mass extinction in which the greatest percentage of species became extinct. (1) 3.4.3 Calculate how many million years passed between the Permian mass extinction and the Cretaceous mass extinction. Show ALL your working. (2) 3.4.4 State TWO possible causes of the Cretaceous mass extinction. (2) 3.4.5 Name the era that began after the Cretaceous mass extinction. (1) 3.4.6 Many scientists believe that a sixth mass extinction is taking place now. State TWO human activities that are contributing to it. (2) (10) 3.5 Read the extract below. THE COELACANTH – A ‘LIVING FOSSIL’ In December 1938 a large, blue fish with fleshy, limb-like fins was caught in a trawler’s net near East London. The curator of the East London Museum, Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer, realised that it was unusual. Professor J.L.B. Smith identified it as a coelacanth. Scientists knew coelacanths only from fossils, and the youngest fossils were about 66 million years old. They had therefore believed that coelacanths had become extinct at the same time as the dinosaurs. [Summary compiled by the examiner from various sources] Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P2 14 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC Mock 3.5.1 Explain why the coelacanth is called a ‘living fossil’. (2) 3.5.2 Give a reason from the extract why scientists believed that coelacanths were extinct. (1) 3.5.3 Define a fossil. (2) 3.5.4 Name TWO important fossil sites in South Africa. (2) (7) 3.6 Describe how a fossil of an animal is formed in sedimentary rock. (6) [50] TOTAL SECTION B: 100 GRAND TOTAL: 150 Copyright reserved