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NATIONAL
SENIOR CERTIFICATE
GRADE 12
LIFE SCIENCES P2
VERSION 2 (OLD CONTENT) FOR PART-TIME CANDIDATES
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2012
MARKS: 150
TIME: 2½ hours
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Life Sciences Grade 12 P2 NSC Supplementary 2012 QP (Eng)
Grade 12 Life Sciences Paper 2 question paper from the NSC Supplementary 2012 (English), 15 pages. Read online or download the free PDF.
Life Sciences · Grade 12 · NSC Supplementary · 2012. Question paper, 15 pages. Read online or download the PDF.
- Subject
- Life Sciences
- Grade
- Grade 12
- Document type
- Question paper
- Year
- 2012
- Exam period
- NSC Supplementary
- Paper
- 2
- Curriculum
- CAPS
- Pages
- 15
- File size
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This exam
NSC Supplementary 2012
Questions in this paper
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Life Sciences/P2 (Version 2) (Part-time) 2 DBE/Feb.–Mar. 2012
NSC
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 at each question.
6. Do ALL drawings in pencil and label them in blue or black ink.
7. Draw diagrams or flow charts only when asked to do so.
8. The diagrams in this question paper are NOT necessarily all drawn to scale.
9. Do NOT use graph paper.
10. You may use a non-programmable calculator, a protractor and a compass.
11. Write neatly and legibly.
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Life Sciences/P2 (Version 2) (Part-time) 3 DBE/Feb.–Mar. 2012
NSC
SECTION A
QUESTION 1
1.1 Various options are given as possible answers to the following questions.
Choose the correct answer and write only the letter (A to D) next to the
question number (1.1.1 to 1.1.5) in your ANSWER BOOK, for example
1.1.6 D.
1.1.1 Macroevolution is a term that describes …
Aan increase in the size of individuals of a population over a
long period of time.
B the process leading to the formation of new genera and
families of organisms.
C a gradual change in the number of species found in the fossil
record.
D changes that can be seen without the need for a microscope.
1.1.2 Two individuals are most likely members of the same species
if they …
A have a different number of chromosomes.
B can mate and produce fertile offspring.
C breed at different times.
D are phenotypically different.
1.1.3 The following list refers to events in nature:
1. Random fusion of gametes
2. Random assortment of chromosomes
3. Mutations
4. The process of crossing over
The events that contribute to genetic variation include …
A 1, 2, 3 and 4.
B 1, 2 and 4 only.
C 4 only.
D 1, 2 and 3 only.
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Life Sciences/P2 (Version 2) (Part-time) 4 DBE/Feb.–Mar. 2012
NSC
1.1.4 One way to determine the age of a fossil is to use the rate of decay
of carbon-14. The graph below shows how carbon-14 decays over
time.
Carbon-14 decay over time
100
90
Amount of original
80
70
60
50
carbon-14 (%)
40
30
20
10
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Time (x 10 000 years)
A fossil snail was found to have 30% of its carbon-14 remaining.
According to the above graph, the age of the fossil is
approximately …
A 5 000 years.
B 15 000 years.
C 10 000 years.
D 20 000 years.
1.1.5 The following steps occur during eutrophication as a result of
excess use of fertilisers:
1. Aquatic algae grow rapidly
2. Bacteria use up oxygen
3. Excess nitrates and phosphates discharged into the river
4. Dead algae decomposed by bacteria
5. Fish die of suffocation
The correct order in which eutrophication occurs is …
A 3 4 1 5 2
B 5 3 2 4 1
C 5 2 3 1 4
D 3 1 4 2 5 (5 x 2) (10)
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Life Sciences/P2 (Version 2) (Part-time) 5 DBE/Feb.–Mar. 2012
NSC
1.2 Give the correct biological term for each of the following descriptions. Write
only the term next to the question number (1.2.1 to 1.2.6) in your ANSWER
BOOK.
1.2.1 Waste that cannot be broken down by decomposers
1.2.2 A study of species in similar biomes across the world
1.2.3 Species that are no longer found on Earth
1.2.4 Structures inherited from the ancestor that are small, poorly
developed and have no useful function
1.2.5 The variety of different species living in an area
1.2.6 The breaking up of Pangaea to form different land masses (6)
1.3 Indicate whether each of the statements 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 number (1.3.1 to 1.3.7) in
your ANSWER BOOK.
COLUMN I COLUMN II
1.3.1 Organisms have an inherent/internal drive A: Lamarck
to change B: Darwin
1.3.2 Comparative embryology A: Notochord
B: Tubular heart
1.3.3 Australopithecines that were found in South A: Little Foot
Africa B: Mrs Ples
1.3.4 Dating of fossils by comparing the age of A: Relative dating
one fossil to another B: Radiometric dating
1.3.5 Evidence for evolution using comparative A: Different metabolic pathways
biochemistry B: Identical proteins
1.3.6 Reproduction between organisms that are A: Outbreeding
closely related B: Inbreeding
1.3.7 Influenced by environmental change A: Speciation
B: Extinction of species
(7 x 2) (14)
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Life Sciences/P2 (Version 2) (Part-time) 6 DBE/Feb.–Mar. 2012
NSC
1.4 Study the diagram below which shows the relative number of species in the five
vertebrate classes (fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals). The distance
between the two lines in each class gives an indication of the number of species.
ERA Period Time
(million Vertebrate fossils
years ago)
Mammals
CENOZOIC
Quaternary
Birds
Tertiary
100
Cretaceous
MESOZOIC
Reptiles
200
Jurassic
Amphibians
Triassic
300
Permian
Carboniferous
Fish
PALAEOZOIC
400
Devonian
Silurian
500
Ordovician
Cambrian
600
Pre-Cambrian
1.4.1 During which geological period were the most species of reptiles
present? (1)
1.4.2 Describe the changes in the number of species of reptiles and
mammals during the Tertiary Period. (4)
1.4.3 Name TWO vertebrate classes that evolved first. (2)
1.4.4 Use the information in the diagram to explain which TWO of the
three classes (birds, reptiles and mammals) are more closely
related. (3)
(10)
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Life Sciences/P2 (Version 2) (Part-time) 7 DBE/Feb.–Mar. 2012
NSC
1.5 A type of bacterium, called Escherichia coli (E. coli), normally lives in the large
intestine of humans. To determine whether E. coli is present in water, a
chemical indicator is used.
If the chemical indicator changes from a clear red colour to a cloudy yellow
colour, this indicates that E. coli is present.
In an investigation conducted by a group of Grade 12 learners, samples taken
from THREE rivers (X, Y and Z) were investigated for the presence of E. coli.
Samples were taken from each river and put into a glass bottle which
contained the clear red indicator solution. The bottle was then incubated/kept
at 37 oC for two days.
The results of the investigation are shown in the table below.
Time period Colour of chemical indicator
River X River Y River Z
Before incubation Clear red Clear red Clear red
After incubation Clear red Cloudy Clear red
yellow
1.5.1 Explain TWO safety precautions that the learners should take
when conducting this investigation. (4)
1.5.2 Give ONE reason for incubating the sample at 37 oC. (2)
1.5.3 Which river(s) (X, Y or Z) showed the presence of E. coli? (1)
1.5.4 Give a reason for your answer to QUESTION 1.5.3 above. (1)
1.5.5 Give TWO reasons for the presence of E. coli in rivers. (2)
(10)
TOTAL SECTION A: 50
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Life Sciences/P2 (Version 2) (Part-time) 8 DBE/Feb.–Mar. 2012
NSC
SECTION B
QUESTION 2
2.1 Lichens are small, light-coloured organisms that can be used as pollution
indicators. They generally flourish in rural areas but do not appear in industrial
areas which are normally near the city centre. The graph below shows the
number of white moths and dark moths as well as the number of lichens at
various distances from a city centre.
Number of moths and lichens at different
distances from a city centre
100
90
Number of organisms
80
70
60 Lichens
50 White moths
40 Dark moths
30
20
10
0
20 40 60 80 100 120
Distance from city centre (km)
2.1.1 At what distance from the city centre is the number of white moths
and dark moths and lichens the same? (1)
2.1.2 Describe the relationship between the distribution of lichens, dark
moths and white moths as the distance from the city centre
increases. (4)
2.1.3 Explain why lichens do not grow in industrial areas. (2)
2.1.4 Predict how the population of white moths and black moths will
change if pollution is reduced in the industrial area. (2)
2.1.5 Explain your answer to QUESTION 2.1.4. (4)
(13)
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Life Sciences/P2 (Version 2) (Part-time) 9 DBE/Feb.–Mar. 2012
NSC
2.2 Two students decided to investigate the effect of different concentrations of
sodium disulphate on the germination of oats seeds. Five sets of trays, each
containing 20 germinating seeds, were used for each of the different
concentration of the sodium disulphate solution.
The table below shows the results after one week.
Concentration of Number of seeds Germination
sodium disulphate germinated (average %)
(%) (five replications)
0,00 19 19 17 20 18 93
0,05 16 17 15 15 17 80
0,10 12 13 14 11 12 X
0,50 0 1 0 0 1 2
2,50 0 0 0 0 0 0
2.2.1 Formulate a possible hypothesis for this investigation. (2)
2.2.2 Name the independent variable in this investigation. (1)
2.2.3 Name TWO factors which might affect seed germination and which
must be kept constant during this investigation. (2)
2.2.4 Why was the investigation repeated five times at each
concentration? (2)
2.2.5 Calculate X in the table above. Show ALL working. (2)
2.2.6 What evidence from the results in the table shows that sodium
disulphate affects the germination of oats seeds? (2)
(11)
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Life Sciences/P2 (Version 2) (Part-time) 10 DBE/Feb.–Mar. 2012
NSC
2.3 Below is a sequence of diagrams (A, B and C) representing the changes in a
population of cactus plants on which bucks feed over a period of time.
A
thorns
B
C
2.3.1 Which evolutionary process is represented by the above diagrams? (1)
2.3.2 Use the diagrams A, B and C above to explain the process
mentioned in QUESTION 2.3.1. (5)
(6)
[30]
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Life Sciences/P2 (Version 2) (Part-time) 11 DBE/Feb.–Mar. 2012
NSC
QUESTION 3
3.1 Study the basic plans of three different vertebrate limbs shown below.
Radius
Ulna Digits
Humerus
Humerus
Bat
Radius Thin membrane
Ulna
Radius
Humerus Carpals
Carpals
Claws
Digits
Ulna
Generalised forelimb
Mole Digits
of a mammal
Basic plans of the different vertebrate limbs
The limbs represented in the diagram are said to be homologous.
3.1.1 What do you understand by the concept homologous. (2)
3.1.2 Explain ONE way in which the bat's limb is adapted for locomotion. (2)
(4)
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Life Sciences/P2 (Version 2) (Part-time) 12 DBE/Feb.–Mar. 2012
NSC
3.2 The diagrams below represent the skulls of two organisms, a modern human
and a gorilla. Each arrow indicates the position of the foramen magnum.
Study the diagrams, which are drawn to scale, and answer the questions that
follow.
Organism A Organism B
3.2.1 Identify each of the organisms that are represented by A and B,
respectively. (2)
3.2.2 Tabulate FOUR observable differences between the skulls of
organisms A and B. (9)
3.2.3 Which organism is bipedal for most of its adult life? (1)
3.2.4 Explain TWO possible advantages of bipedalism for the organism
referred to in QUESTION 3.2.3. (4)
3.2.5 Name any ONE similarity between organisms A and B which is a
characteristic of primates. (1)
(17)
3.3 Based on fossil evidence we know that dinosaurs became extinct nearly
65 million years ago. The age of fossils can be determined using carbon or
uranium. The half-life of carbon-14 is 5 730 years and the half-life of uranium
is 700 million years. Half-life refers to the time taken for half of the original
amount of carbon or uranium to decay.
Explain which of carbon-14 or uranium should be used to calculate the age of
dinosaur fossils. (3)
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Life Sciences/P2 (Version 2) (Part-time) 13 DBE/Feb.–Mar. 2012
NSC
3.4 The diagram below shows a phylogenetic tree based on DNA similarities.
The percentage next to each branch shows the number of differences in the
genome (DNA nucleotide sequence) of the two groups being compared.
Human
1,4% Pygmy chimpanzee
C Common chimpanzee
1,6%
B
3,6% Gorilla
A Orang-utan
5,7%
7,9% Gibbon
13,0% Old world monkey
New world monkey
40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0
Millions of years ago (mya)
A phylogenetic tree based on DNA similarities
3.4.1 From the diagram, determine how long ago humans and
chimpanzees shared a common ancestor. (2)
3.4.2 Which common ancestor (A, B or C) is shared by gibbons and
gorillas? (1)
3.4.3 Which organism is most closely related to humans? (1)
3.4.4 What is the DNA similarity between the genomes of the
chimpanzee and the human? (2)
(6)
TOTAL SECTION B: 60
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Life Sciences/P2 (Version 2) (Part-time) 14 DBE/Feb.–Mar. 2012
NSC
SECTION C
QUESTION 4
4.1 The table shows the average number of two types of fish, herring and cod,
caught in a single net per year, over a period of eight years.
Catch per net
(thousands of tons)
Year Herring Cod
1 370 145
2 150 120
3 110 80
4 105 60
5 85 50
6 70 45
7 65 50
8 70 60
4.1.1 Plot TWO line graphs, on the same set of axes, using the
information in the table above. (12)
4.1.2 Describe how the catch per net of the herring population changed
over the eight years. (4)
4.1.3 State any TWO management strategies which could prevent the
over-exploitation of resources such as herring and cod. (2)
(18)
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Life Sciences/P2 (Version 2) (Part-time) 15 DBE/Feb.–Mar. 2012
NSC
4.2 Study the passage below and answer the questions that follow.
The African potato (Hypoxis hemerocaluidea) is widely used for traditional
medicine in South Africa and regarded as a natural resource. It is
commercially used to cure human ailments such as testicular tumours,
enlargement of the prostate gland, urinary infections and stomach aches. It is
also used as a laxative.
Research has shown that 73 tons or 428 000 bulbs are widely harvested by
sangomas and collectors in KwaZulu-Natal every year. Claims that the extract
of African potato can be used to treat diseases like HIV/Aids and cancer has
put this traditional medicine under the spotlight.
[Source: www.kznwildlife.com]
4.2.1 Name TWO medical conditions that can be treated with the African
potato. (2)
4.2.2 State THREE strategies to prevent exploitation of plants like the
African potato. (3)
4.2.3 State TWO consequences of exploitation of plants like the African
potato. (2)
(7)
4.3 Explain FOUR strategies you would use to manage solid waste if you were
appointed as the head of the waste disposal division of your town/city.
Content (12)
Synthesis (3)
(15)
NOTE: NO marks will be awarded for answers in the form of flow
charts or diagrams.
TOTAL SECTION C: 40
GRAND TOTAL: 150
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