Life Sciences Grade 11 P2 November Mock Exam 2 2026 QP (Eng)

Mock hlayiso mock exams Practice Series: Grade 11 Exam Preparation WWW.HLAYISO.COM NATIONAL SENIOR CERTIFICATE GRADE 11 LIFE SCIENCES P2 NOVEMBER EXAMINATION 2026 (MOCK) MARKS: 150 TIME: 2½ hours This question paper consists of 13 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 Rod-shaped bacteria are called … A cocci. B bacilli. C spirilla. D vibrios. 1.1.2 Which ONE of the following diseases is caused by a virus? A Thrush B Cholera C Influenza D Ringworm 1.1.3 In the life cycle of a fern, the zygote develops into the … A sporophyte. B prothallus. C spore. D gametophyte. 1.1.4 Which ONE of the following is an advantage of seeds over spores? A Seeds are haploid. B Seeds are produced in much larger numbers than spores. C Seeds need water for fertilisation to take place. D Seeds contain stored food and are protected by a seed coat. 1.1.5 An animal is triploblastic and bilaterally symmetrical. It has a segmented body, jointed legs and an exoskeleton. To which phylum does it belong? A Annelida B Arthropoda C Platyhelminthes D Cnidaria 1.1.6 The concentration of nerve tissue and sense organs at the front (anterior) end of the body of an animal is called … A cephalisation. B segmentation. C triploblasty. D radial symmetry. Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P2 4 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC Mock 1.1.7 Owls and hawks both feed on mice in the same grassland. Hawks hunt during the day and owls hunt at night. This is an example of … A competitive exclusion. B mutualism. C resource partitioning. D intraspecific competition. 1.1.8 At the start of a year there were 500 impala in a game reserve. During the year 120 impala were born, 40 died, 15 moved into the reserve and 25 moved out of the reserve. What was the size of the impala population at the end of the year? A 430 B 610 C 650 D 570 1.1.9 Consider the following: (i) Overgrazing by cattle and goats (ii) Contour ploughing on slopes (iii) Removal of the natural vegetation (iv) Planting of cover crops after the harvest Which of the above will INCREASE soil erosion? A (i) and (ii) only B (i) and (iii) only C (ii) and (iv) only D (i), (iii) and (iv) only 1.1.10 Which ONE of the following types of household waste is biodegradable? A Glass bottles B Aluminium cans C Plastic shopping bags D Vegetable peels (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 1.2.8) in the ANSWER BOOK. 1.2.1 The type of immunity that develops when the body makes its own antibodies after an infection or a vaccination 1.2.2 The thread-like filaments that make up the body of a fungus 1.2.3 The small, heart-shaped gametophyte of a fern 1.2.4 The jelly-like layer between the ectoderm and the endoderm of cnidarians Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P2 5 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC Mock 1.2.5 A relationship between two species in which one species benefits and the other is neither harmed nor benefits 1.2.6 Factors that affect a population in the same way regardless of the size of the population 1.2.7 The removal of trees from a large area without replanting 1.2.8 The total amount of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide) released into the atmosphere as a result of the activities of a person, organisation or country (8 x 1) (8) 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 1.3.3) in the ANSWER BOOK. COLUMN I COLUMN II 1.3.1 Reproduce by binary fission A: Bacteria B: Viruses 1.3.2 Produce flowers and fruit A: Pteridophytes B: Gymnosperms 1.3.3 Lead(s) to a loss of biodiversity A: Poaching B: Monoculture (3 x 2) (6) 1.4 The diagram below shows a possible phylogenetic tree for five animal phyla (A to E). Phylum E is the Chordata. Each number shows where a new characteristic first appeared. A B C D E 4 KEY 1 = true tissues 3 2 = bilateral symmetry and three germ layers 2 3=? 1 4 = notochord common ancestor 1.4.1 Name the characteristic represented by 3. (1) 1.4.2 State ONE advantage of characteristic 2 for animals that move actively. (1) 1.4.3 Identify phylum: (a) A (1) (b) D (1) 1.4.4 Give the LETTER(S) of the phylum/phyla that is/are: Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P2 6 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC Mock (a) Diploblastic (1) (b) Triploblastic and acoelomate (1) (c) Animals with a blind gut (TWO phyla) (2) (8) 1.5 An investigation was done with two species of duckweed (P and Q), small floating water plants. The species were first grown in separate tanks and then together in the same tank. All tanks were the same size and were kept under the same conditions. The number of plants was counted every second day. Growth of two duckweed species grown separately and together 450 400 350 Number of plants 300 250 200 P grown alone Q grown alone 150 P grown with Q 100 Q grown with P 50 0 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 Time (days) [Data: examiner’s own] 1.5.1 Name the type of competition that takes place when P and Q are grown together. (1) 1.5.2 What is the carrying capacity of the tank for species P when it is grown alone? (1) 1.5.3 How many plants of species P were present on day 10 when it was grown together with species Q? (1) 1.5.4 Describe what happened to the population of species Q when it was grown together with species P. (2) 1.5.5 Name the principle that is illustrated by your answer to QUESTION 1.5.4. (1) 1.5.6 State TWO resources for which the two duckweed species compete. (2) (8) TOTAL SECTION A: 50 Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P2 7 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC Mock SECTION B QUESTION 2 2.1 Yeast is a fungus that is used in baking and brewing because it releases carbon dioxide when it breaks down sugar. Grade 11 learners investigated the effect of temperature on the production of carbon dioxide by yeast. The procedure was as follows: • Six flasks were each filled with 100 cm3 of a 10% sugar solution. • 5 g of dry yeast was added to each of flasks 1 to 5. No yeast was added to flask 6. • Flasks 1 to 5 were placed in water baths at 15 °C, 25 °C, 35 °C, 45 °C and 55 °C respectively. Flask 6 was placed in the water bath at 35 °C. • The carbon dioxide released from each flask was collected in an upside-down measuring cylinder filled with water. • The volume of carbon dioxide collected after 30 minutes was recorded. The results are shown in the table below. FLASK TEMPERATURE VOLUME OF CARBON (°C) DIOXIDE (cm3 ) 1 15 4 2 25 12 3 35 26 4 45 18 5 55 2 6 (no 35 0 yeast) [Data: examiner’s own] 2.1.1 For this investigation, identify the: (a) Independent variable (1) (b) Dependent variable (1) 2.1.2 State TWO variables that were kept constant. (2) 2.1.3 Explain the purpose of flask 6. (2) 2.1.4 Draw a line graph to show the volume of carbon dioxide produced at the different temperatures in flasks 1 to 5. (6) 2.1.5 Explain why very little carbon dioxide was produced in flask 5. (2) (14) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P2 8 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC Mock 2.2 Read the extract below. FIGHTING TB IN A RURAL DISTRICT Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the leading causes of death in South Africa. In one rural district, 1 250 new cases of TB were reported in 2021. Health workers then visited homes to test everyone who had a cough that lasted longer than two weeks, made sure that patients took their medicine every day for six months and checked that all babies had been vaccinated. By 2023, the number of new cases reported in the district had dropped to 400. [Summary compiled by the examiner (fictional district; data: examiner’s own)] 2.2.1 Name the group of micro-organisms to which the organism that causes TB belongs. (1) 2.2.2 Describe how TB is spread from an infected person to a healthy person. (2) 2.2.3 Calculate the percentage decrease in the number of new TB cases in the district from 2021 to 2023. Show ALL your working. (3) 2.2.4 Babies in South Africa receive the BCG vaccine against TB soon after birth. Explain how a vaccine protects a person against a disease. (3) (9) 2.3 The table below shows some characteristics of four plant groups (P, Q, R and S). CHARACTERISTIC P Q R S Vascular tissue Absent Present Present Present Reproductive Spores Spores Seeds in Seeds in fruit structures cones Flowers Absent Absent Absent Present Dominant generation Gametophyte Sporophyte Sporophyte Sporophyte 2.3.1 Identify plant group: (a) P (1) (b) R (1) 2.3.2 Give the LETTER of the group whose seeds are NOT enclosed in a fruit. (1) 2.3.3 Tabulate TWO differences between the plants in group P and the plants in group S. (5) 2.3.4 Name the clusters of sporangia found on the underside of the leaves of the plants in group Q. (1) (9) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P2 9 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC Mock 2.4 A farmer investigated the importance of bees for the pollination of pumpkin flowers. Pumpkin plants have separate male and female flowers. Three groups of 50 FEMALE pumpkin flowers each were treated as follows: • Group A: flowers were left open so that bees could visit them. • Group B: flowers were covered with fine mesh bags so that bees could not reach them. • Group C: flowers were covered with fine mesh bags, but pollen from the male flowers of another pumpkin plant was placed on each stigma by hand. The percentage of flowers that developed into fruit (fruit set) is shown in the table below. GROUP FRUIT SET (%) A 76 B 4 C 72 [Data: examiner’s own] 2.4.1 Explain the result for group B. (2) 2.4.2 Explain what the result for group C shows when it is compared with the result for group B. (2) 2.4.3 Describe how a bee carries out cross-pollination as it visits pumpkin flowers. (3) 2.4.4 Explain how a decrease in the number of bees could threaten food security. (2) (9) 2.5 Animals can be classified according to the type of blood system that they have. 2.5.1 Describe TWO differences between an open blood system and a closed blood system. (4) 2.5.2 Name ONE phylum of animals that has a closed blood system. (1) 2.5.3 Earthworms and dung beetles are common on farms. Explain how EACH of these invertebrates benefits farmers. (4) (9) [50] Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P2 10 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC Mock QUESTION 3 3.1 The population pyramids below show the percentage of the total population in each age group for two countries, X and Y. COUNTRY X 70+ 60–69 50–59 40–49 30–39 20–29 10–19 0–9 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 Males (%) Females (%) COUNTRY Y 70+ 60–69 50–59 40–49 30–39 20–29 10–19 0–9 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 Males (%) Females (%) [Data: examiner’s own (fictional countries)] 3.1.1 Which country (X or Y) is a developing country? (1) 3.1.2 Give TWO reasons, visible in the pyramids, for your answer to QUESTION 3.1.1. (2) 3.1.3 What percentage of the population of country X is made up of males aged 0 to 9 years? (1) 3.1.4 Country Y has a total population of 12 000 000. Calculate the number of females aged 70 years and older in country Y. Show ALL your working. (2) 3.1.5 Which sex in country Y has the longer life expectancy? (1) 3.1.6 Explain why the government of country Y will need to spend more money on health care and pensions in the next 20 years. (2) 3.1.7 Suggest TWO reasons for the high birth rate in country X. (2) (11) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P2 11 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC Mock 3.2 Learners wanted to estimate the size of the population of a protected aloe species on a hillside with an area of 4 500 m2 . They placed 10 quadrats, each measuring 3 m × 3 m, randomly on the hillside and counted the number of aloes in each quadrat. The results are shown in the table below. Quadrat 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Number of aloes 2 0 3 1 4 0 2 3 1 2 [Data: examiner’s own] 3.2.1 Name the method that the learners used to estimate the population size. (1) 3.2.2 Calculate the estimated size of the aloe population on the hillside. Show ALL your working. (4) 3.2.3 Explain why the quadrats were placed randomly. (2) 3.2.4 Give ONE reason why this method is NOT suitable for estimating the size of a population of springhares. (1) (8) 3.3 Read the extract below. RELATIONSHIPS ON A NORTHERN CAPE FARM Meerkats live in groups. While the group searches for insects and scorpions, one meerkat stands on a high point and watches out for eagles and jackals. If it sees a predator, it gives a loud alarm call and all the meerkats run into their burrows. Ticks attach themselves to the skin of the meerkats and suck their blood. Legume plants on the farm have swellings on their roots that contain bacteria. The bacteria change nitrogen from the air into compounds that the plants can use, and the plants supply the bacteria with sugars. [Summary compiled by the examiner] 3.3.1 Name the type of relationship between the: (a) Ticks and the meerkats (1) (b) Meerkats and the scorpions (1) (c) Bacteria and the legume plants (1) 3.3.2 Explain how the behaviour of the guard meerkat benefits the group. (2) 3.3.3 Farmers in the area killed many jackals. Explain how this may affect the size of the meerkat population. (2) (7) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P2 12 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC Mock 3.4 The table below shows the average maximum summer temperature, the rainfall and the maize yield in a maize-farming region over five seasons. SEASON AVERAGE RAINFALL MAIZE YIELD MAXIMUM SUMMER (mm) (tonnes per TEMPERATURE (°C) hectare) 2019/20 28,4 610 5,2 2020/21 28,9 580 4,9 2021/22 29,6 520 4,1 2022/23 30,8 430 3,0 2023/24 31,5 360 2,4 [Data: examiner’s own (fictional region)] 3.4.1 Explain the difference between the natural greenhouse effect and the enhanced greenhouse effect. (2) 3.4.2 Name TWO human activities that release large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. (2) 3.4.3 Describe the relationship between the average maximum summer temperature and the maize yield. (2) 3.4.4 Explain how rising temperatures may cause a decrease in the maize yield. (4) 3.4.5 Suggest TWO ways in which farmers in this region could reduce the effect of hotter and drier seasons on their crops. (2) (12) 3.5 A power station releases warm cooling water into a river and a town’s sewage works lies 4 km downstream. The water temperature and dissolved oxygen were measured at four points along the river. SAMPLING POSITION WATER DISSOLVED POINT TEMPERATURE OXYGEN (°C) (mg/ℓ) P 1 km upstream of power station 22 8,6 Q Outlet of the cooling water 31 6,1 R 2 km downstream of power 27 7,0 station S Just below the sewage works 26 3,2 [Data: examiner’s own] 3.5.1 Name the type of water pollution caused by the power station. (1) 3.5.2 Explain why the amount of dissolved oxygen at point Q is lower than at point P. (2) 3.5.3 Explain why the amount of dissolved oxygen is lowest at point S. (3) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P2 13 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC Mock 3.5.4 A species of fish needs at least 6,5 mg/ℓ of dissolved oxygen to survive. Give the LETTERS of the TWO sampling points where this fish species could survive. (2) 3.5.5 Invasive alien trees grow in the catchment area of this river. Explain how removing these trees will increase the amount of water in the river. (2) 3.5.6 Name ONE mechanical method and ONE chemical method that could be used to control the invasive alien trees. (2) (12) [50] TOTAL SECTION B: 100 GRAND TOTAL: 150 Copyright reserved