# Life Sciences Grade 10 NSC Prelim 2016 Paper & Memo > Grade 10 Life Sciences question paper and memo from the NSC Prelim Exam 2016, 10 pages. Read online or get the free PDF download. - Page: https://www.hlayiso.com/library/lfsc-sept-qp-memo-2016-gr10/9a3c267d-fccb-4e22-96d8-535d5f0d432f - Updated: 2026-09-27 - Subject: Life Sciences - Grade: Grade 10 - Document type: Question paper and memo - Year: 2016 - Exam period: NSC Prelim Exam - Curriculum: CAPS - Pages: 10 Breadcrumbs: [Home](https://www.hlayiso.com/) › [Library](https://www.hlayiso.com/library) › [Grade 10](https://www.hlayiso.com/library/grade-10) › [Life Sciences](https://www.hlayiso.com/library/grade-10/life-sciences) › [Life Sciences Grade 10 NSC Prelim 2016 Paper & Memo](https://www.hlayiso.com/library/lfsc-sept-qp-memo-2016-gr10/9a3c267d-fccb-4e22-96d8-535d5f0d432f) ## About this document Life Sciences · Grade 10 · NSC Prelim Exam · 2016. Question paper and memorandum, 10 pages. Read online or download the PDF. Read it free online on the page above; download the PDF from there. ## Document text Text extracted from the PDF. Layout, diagrams and tables may not survive extraction. ### Page 1 MARKS: 60 TIME: 1 hour Education KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA LIFE SCIENCES " COMMON TEST i SEPTEMBER 2016 1 NATIONAL SENIOR CERTIFICATE GRADE 10 N.B. This question paper consists of 7 pages. ### Page 2 Life Sciences 2 September 2016 Common Test NSC INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION Read the following instructions carefully before answering the questions. 1. 2. 10. 41. Answer ALL the questions. Write ALL the answers in the ANSWER BOOK. Start the answers to EACH question at the top of a NEW page. Number the answers correctly according to the numbering system used in this question paper. ° Present your answers according to the instructions of each question. ALL drawings must be done in pencil and labelled in blue or black ink. Draw diagrams, flow charts or tables only when asked to do so, The diagrams in this question paper are NOT necessarily drawn to scale. Do NOT use graph paper. You must use a non-programmable calculator, protractor and compass, where necessary. Write neatly and legibly. Copyright Reserved Please Turn Over ### Page 3 " Life Sciences 3 September 2016 Common Test NSC SECTION A QUESTION 1 1.1 Various options are given as possible answers to the following questions. Choose the answer and write only the letter (A to D) next to the question number (1.1.1 to 1.1.5) in the ANSWER BOOK, for example 1.1.6 D. 1.4.1 Copyright Reserved Which of the following is a biotic component? A Soil B Animals Cc Water BD - Temperature Study the events listed below. (i) Carbon becomes part of glucose and then other organic compounds (i) Animals feed on piants to obtain organic compounds (iii) Inorganic compounds release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere (iv) Animals release CQz during cellular respiration Which ONE of the following combinations of events occurs during the carbon cycle? A (i), (il), (ii) and (iv) B (i) and (ii) only C (i, (ii) and (ii) only D (i, (ii) and (iv) only The table below shows a part of an ecological study of the biomass of organisms in a community. ORGANISM _| BIOMASS (kg) Ww. 120 Xx 90 Y 2000 Zz 21 Which one of the following would be a probable food chain in a balanced ecosystem? A WAX 7Y -Z B YrWX-Z C YrX WZ D Z7-X+W-Y Please Turn Over ### Page 4 Life Sciences NSC 1.1.4 Study the characteristics listed below. (i) (ii) (ii) (iv) Heterotrophic mode of nutrition Cells with cell wall Able to locomote The presence of nerve cells September 2016 Common Test” Which ONE of the following combinations of characteristics applies to Animalia? A B Cc D (ii) and (ii) only (il) and (iv) only (i), (iii) and (iv) only (ii), (iii) and (iv) only 41.1.5 Which one of the following is the correct order for classifying an organism? gpoOuU> Copyright Reserved Kingdom, phylum, class, genus, species Kingdom, class, genus, species, phylum Phylum, species, class, genus, kingdom Class, phylum, genus, species, kingdom (5x2) (10) TOTAL SECTION A: 10 Please Turn Over ### Page 5 Life Sciences NSC September 2016 Common Test SECTION B QUESTION 2 2.1 The table below shows the abundance of different organisms in various regions in KZN. Number of different organisms Regions | Mammals | Reptiles | Plants Birds Durban 140 65 4050 76 Bulwer 110 68 7852 84 Kokstad 90 54 5020 66 Nkandla 82 88 5162 40 2.1.1 State TWO kingdoms that are not represented in the table above. 2.1.2 What percentage of the mammals are found in the Nkandla region. Show all working. 2.2 A farmer collected three soil samples, (X, Y and Z) from different places in a farm. Each sample was analysed for the following properties: humus content, water retention and drainage rate of water. The graph below shows the results obtained. 8D) 704 504 Different properties (%} ® 2B 6 6 Key: =| Humus a Water retention Ql Drainage Sample X Sample ¥ Sample Z 2.2.1 Provide a suitable caption for the above graph. 2.2.2 State TWO ways of ensuring reliable results. 2.2.3 State ONE reason why plants will dry up the fastest when grown in sample X. 2.24 Tabulate TWO differences between the characteristics of sample Y and sample Z that makes sample Y better for plant growth. Copyright Reserved Please Turn Over (3) (5) (2) (1) | (5) (10) | [15] ### Page 6 Life Sciences 6 September 2016 Common Test NSC QUESTION 3 3.1 The table below shows the results of a study that investigated the effect of different temperatures and levels of light on the growth of tomatoes. The amount of tomatoes produced by each plant is called the yield. In this example the yield is measured in kilograms of tomatoes. The yield of each plant was measured at different temperatures and light levels. 3.1.1 3.1.2 3.1.4 Yield per plant Day Temperature (kg) (°C) Low light High light levels levels 5 0,5 0,5 10 1.2 1.4 15 3.2 5.0 20 34 : 8.5 25 3,5 7,8 30 25 6.2 ( What information can you deduce about the conditions that give the highest yield of tomatoes? (2) Why do you think there was hardly any change in yield between 15°C and 25°C when the plants were grown at low light levels? (2) Light and temperature are abiotic factors that influence the growth of tomatoes. State TWO other abiotic factors that could influence the growth of tomato plants. (2) Explain why plants growing on north facing slopes in South Africa generally have leaves with thick cuticles. (2) (8) ( Copyright Reserved Please Turn Over ### Page 7 "Life Sciences 7 September 2016 Common Test NSC 3.2 Read the passage below and answer the questions set. The floristic kingdom is unique with a thick cuticle. It is found in the south west coast of the Northern Cape Province. This plant is able to withstand a winter rainfall and extremely dry summers. The south-west coast of the Northern Cape Province consists of sandy soil. This area needs to be protected against human impact in order to conserve this endemic plant species. This area may benefit local communities, tourists and environment. 3.2.1. What is meant by endemic? 3.2.2 State which TWO parties can benefit by conserving the floristic kingdom. 3.2.3. What plant and environmental features allow you to deduce that the floristic kingdom are suited as xerophytes? TOTAL SECTION B: SECTION C QUESTION 4 Below is a food chain that exists ina pond ecosystem. { }Pondweed > tadpole > eel > bird Describe the water cycle showing how it maintains the level of water in the pond and explain the effect on the food chain if pesticides from a nearby farm wash into the pond during heavy rains. Content: Synthesis: NOTE: NO marks will be awarded for answers in the form of flow charts, tables or diagrams. 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High light’ and a temperature of 20°CY (2) Water oer dwt Lave ts suey 3.1.2 -Light was a limiting factory” ~ increased heat energy from the sun” - decreasing the rate of photosynthesisv” (2) - Causes evaporation of watery Cured we adr vabaue | . . - from ponds to the atmospherey awk ace 3.1.3. - Soil” Sel ra el -' Plant roots absorb water from soil” - Watery Cy tuahe ee hihi, - Water from plants is lost by transpiration” - Windy \~ - through their leaves” - Altitudey Goscs . - Animals drink water’ from ponds ~ Aspect Islope Any (2) - They also lose water vapour through sweating” , lb (Mark first TWO only) - Ail becopies saturated with water vapour” 4 ; vapour] Air rise¥and cools” 3.1.4 -High amount of heatv . oh . ~" Water vapour condensesY ~ Less water available in soil” 7 Avy sei - It forms cloudsv - Cuticles reduce water loss/conserve water” Any (2) - Clouds release water when it rains~/precip (8) - Rain in the ground runs off into the ponds again’ Any (9) 32 Effects of pesticides on food chain : “3.2.1 Organisms that occur in a particular areav’ and nowhere esev/een by 2 ~ Pesticides pollute waterv//off tof Waqoetduets / i . - Itpoisons aquatic animalsv,/ i, So Louw Capos : 3.2.2 - Local communities” - Tadpoles may die” - Tourists” . - Leading to death of ecisw” : a (Mark first TWO only) oye - - ~ Due to shortage of food ~ : - - cee me (2) - The ee! population decreases” : a a - Birds may also diew : 3.2.3 7 faarted fo tick in ary areasy’ - due to increased competition for the limited eels~“/food i 7 ns thick cuticle ay - Some birds migrate” to look for food y - Can live in sandy soil co. & ~ \ (3} - Bird population decreases” y dag ody Surrnets [der sech = Pondweeds grow excessively - since they have no consumers” - Disturbance of food chain occursv —— - ‘ Any (8) Vinee amb ees gob Content (17) i Synthesis (3) [20] i Copyright Reserved Please turn over RELEVANCE LOGICAL SEQUENCE COMPREHENSIVE, All information provided is relevant to the topic Ideas arranged in a logical’ | Answered ail aspects required by the essay in sufficient detail cause-effect sequence All information is relevant to water cycle and effect of pesticides Correct sequence of events in water cycle and cause- effect of pesticides At least (8) points on weler cycle: (5) points on the effect of pesticides on food chain. ‘mark T mark Tmark Copyright Reserved TOTAL SECTION C: 20 GRAND TOTAL: 60 ## Related documents - [LIFE SCIENCE 2016-JUNE-QP and MEMO-2](https://www.hlayiso.com/library/life-science-2016-june-qp-and-memo-2/006cf529-ec1d-48f4-b62e-f8a1351d0b46) — Life Sciences · QP + Memo · 2016 - [LFSC-March-QP & Memo-2016-Gr10](https://www.hlayiso.com/library/lfsc-march-qp-memo-2016-gr10/c0ce2747-24c5-4a59-a4fe-d1a722122b42) — Life Sciences · QP + Memo · 2016 - [LFSC-Sept-QP & Memo-2016-Gr10](https://www.hlayiso.com/library/lfsc-sept-qp-memo-2016-gr10/7ba44a1e-13b9-4e67-acaa-2d68ab0f025b) — Life Sciences · QP + Memo · 2016 - [KZN Life Sciences Grade 10 September 2023 QP and Memo](https://www.hlayiso.com/library/kzn-life-sciences-grade-10-september-2023-qp-and-memo/7e84a552-c860-4bf6-aef4-c129ca0baf07) — Life Sciences · QP + Memo · 2023 - [LFSC-Sept-QP & Memo-2019-Gr10](https://www.hlayiso.com/library/lfsc-sept-qp-memo-2019-gr10/80a59fab-e441-4f78-8545-16e3a537e79b) — Life Sciences · QP + Memo · 2019 - [LFSC-Sept-QP & Memo-2018-Gr10](https://www.hlayiso.com/library/lfsc-sept-qp-memo-2018-gr10/65ded161-9aa1-442c-8953-2bee6ee80458) — Life Sciences · QP + Memo · 2018 ## More from Grade 10 Life Sciences - [Gr10-Lewenswetenskappe-OG-studyguide LR](https://www.hlayiso.com/library/gr10-lewenswetenskappe-og-studyguide-lr/8e3e18e1-6b71-4e05-952d-de0944ef8eff) — Guide - [Gr10-Life-Sciences-TG-studyguide LR](https://www.hlayiso.com/library/gr10-life-sciences-tg-studyguide-lr/5615738c-106e-4a50-9536-78ad61f5ee23) — Guide - [Grade 10 Life Sciences P1 November 2026 Mock Memo](https://www.hlayiso.com/library/grade-10-life-sciences-2026-november-mock-exam-memorandum-paper-1/7cd01b5e-09b4-433c-9125-b004c26811cd) — Memo · 2026 · Eng - [Grade 10 Life Sciences P2 November 2026 Mock Memo](https://www.hlayiso.com/library/grade-10-life-sciences-2026-november-mock-exam-memorandum-paper-2/deda828d-ebf9-499d-a570-e4ba51257bbb) — Memo · 2026 · Eng - [Grade 10 Life Sciences P1 November 2026 Mock](https://www.hlayiso.com/library/grade-10-life-sciences-2026-november-mock-exam-question-paper-paper-1/0c82afe6-0b61-4685-9c62-7a67740800e0) — QP · 2026 · Eng - [Grade 10 Life Sciences P2 November 2026 Mock](https://www.hlayiso.com/library/grade-10-life-sciences-2026-november-mock-exam-question-paper-paper-2/b43ba134-5609-4518-ab21-13789a757d2c) — QP · 2026 · Eng ## Collection - [Grade 10 past papers](https://www.hlayiso.com/grade-10/past-papers) --- Hlayiso: free CAPS and IEB past papers, memos, notes and study guides for South African learners. 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