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GRAAD 12
NATIONAL
SENIOR CERTIFICATE
GRADE 12
LIFE SCIENCES P2
NOVEMBER 2018
MARKS: 150
TIME: 2½ hours
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Life Sciences Grade 12 P2 NSC November 2018 QP (Eng)
Grade 12 Life Sciences Paper 2 question paper from the NSC November Exam 2018 (English), 16 pages. Read online or download the free PDF.
Life Sciences · Grade 12 · NSC November Exam · 2018. Question paper, 16 pages. Read online or download the PDF.
- Subject
- Life Sciences
- Grade
- Grade 12
- Document type
- Question paper
- Year
- 2018
- Exam period
- NSC November Exam
- Paper
- 2
- Curriculum
- CAPS
- Pages
- 16
- File size
- 565.1 KB
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This exam
NSC November Exam 2018
Questions in this paper
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Life Sciences/P2 2 DBE/November 2018
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 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 must use a non-programmable calculator, protractor and a compass,
where necessary.
11. Write neatly and legibly.
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Life Sciences/P2 3 DBE/November 2018
NSC
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 1.1.9) in the ANSWER BOOK, e.g. 1.1.10 D.
1.1.1 What is the scientific name of the fossil, Mrs Ples?
A Homo erectus
B Homo habilis
C Australopithecus africanus
D Australopithecus afarensis
1.1.2 Which ONE of the following is a structural feature of a bipedal
organism?
A Long, narrow pelvis
B Short, wide pelvis
C C-shaped vertebral column
D Longer arms
1.1.3 A mother has blood group B and a father has blood group O. They
have three biological children and an adopted child. The blood
groups of all the children are represented in the table below.
CHILDREN BLOOD GROUP
Nobuhle O
William B
Milly AB
Patrick O
Which child is adopted?
A Nobuhle
B William
C Milly
D Patrick
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Life Sciences/P2 4 DBE/November 2018
NSC
QUESTIONS 1.1.4 AND 1.1.5 ARE BASED ON THE TIMELINE BELOW
SHOWING THE POSSIBLE EVOLUTION OF SOME HOMINIDS.
Australopithecus
afarensis Homo erectus
Time
5 4 3 2 1 0
(mya)
Ardipithecus Homo Homo
ramidus habilis sapiens
1.1.4 Which species inhabited the Earth for the longest period of time?
A Australopithecus afarensis
B Homo erectus
C Homo habilis
D Homo sapiens
1.1.5 How many years ago did the genus Homo first appear?
A 2,2 mya
B 2,0 mya
C 1,6 mya
D 0,2 mya
1.1.6 The list below describes some evolutionary events.
(i) Each population undergoes natural selection differently and
independently.
(ii) There is no gene flow between the two populations.
(iii) A population becomes separated.
(iv) A geographical barrier forms.
(v) The two populations become different phenotypically and
genotypically.
Which ONE of the following combinations gives the CORRECT
sequence of these events?
A (v) (iii) (ii) (i) (iv)
B (iv) (v) (ii) (i) (iii)
C (iv) (iii) (ii ) (i) (v)
D (ii) (iii) (iv) (i) (v)
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Life Sciences/P2 5 DBE/November 2018
NSC
1.1.7 The diagram below shows the fertility of the offspring produced
when three populations of mice, X, Y and Z, interbreed.
Produces fertile offspring X
Produces infertile offspring
Y Z
Produces infertile offspring
Which ONE of the following statements is CORRECT?
A All three populations are of the same species.
B Populations X and Z are of the same species, but populations
X and Y are different species.
C Populations Y and Z are different species, but populations X
and Y are of the same species.
D Populations X and Y are different species, but populations Y
and Z are of the same species.
QUESTIONS 1.1.8 AND 1.1.9 ARE BASED ON THE INFORMATION BELOW.
In a certain species of rabbits, body colour is controlled by two alleles where
black (B) is dominant to white (b). Ear shape is controlled by a second gene.
The allele for wide ears (E) is dominant to the allele for narrow ears (e).
1.1.8 What is the possible genotype for a black rabbit with narrow ears?
A BbEe
B bbee
C BBEe
D Bbee
1.1.9 What is the possible genotype of gametes produced by a white
rabbit with narrow ears?
A bbee
B be
C BE, Be, bE and be
D bE and be (9 x 2) (18)
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Life Sciences/P2 6 DBE/November 2018
NSC
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 1.2.9) in the
ANSWER BOOK.
1.2.1 The bonds between nitrogenous bases in a DNA molecule
1.2.2 All the genes that make up an organism
1.2.3 The type of evidence for human evolution that includes tool-making
1.2.4 The process whereby new species are formed
1.2.5 An inherited disorder where blood fails to clot properly
1.2.6 The opening in the base of the skull through which the spinal cord
passes
1.2.7 Two or more alternative forms of a gene at the same locus
1.2.8 The type of variation in a population with no intermediate
phenotypes
1.2.9 Chromosomes involved in sex determination (9 x 1) (9)
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 numbers (1.3.1 to 1.3.3)
in the ANSWER BOOK.
COLUMN I COLUMN II
1.3.1 Type of inheritance where both A: Co-dominance
alleles are expressed equally in B: Complete dominance
the phenotype
1.3.2 Evidence of evolution A: Modification by descent
B: Fossil record
1.3.3 Discovered the structure of the A: Watson and Crick
DNA molecule B: White and Dart
(3 x 2) (6)
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Life Sciences/P2 7 DBE/November 2018
NSC
1.4 The diagram below shows the structure of a chromosome.
B
A
C
E
D
1.4.1 Identify parts D and E. (2)
1.4.2 How many pairs of chromosomes are found in a normal human
somatic cell? (1)
1.4.3 Give only the LETTER of the part that:
(a) Attaches to the spindle fibres during cell division (1)
(b) Represents a gene (1)
1.4.4 Name:
(a) TWO organelles in an animal cell where DNA is found (2)
(b) The natural shape of a DNA molecule (1)
(c) The process whereby DNA makes an identical copy of itself (1)
(9)
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Life Sciences/P2 8 DBE/November 2018
NSC
1.5 Read the extract below.
Trilobites are an extinct group of marine arthropods. Many of their fossils have
been discovered. They had a tough exoskeleton and they are thought to be
closely related to three other phyla of extinct arthropods, namely helmetids,
tegopeltids and naraoids.
The tegopeltids and helmetids are the two most closely related phyla and are
more closely related to trilobites than to naraoids.
Study the diagram below, which illustrates the possible evolutionary
relationships among the four phyla, represented by the letters M, N, O
and P.
M N O P
Q
R S
U
T
1.5.1 Name the type of diagram illustrated. (1)
1.5.2 What structural feature of trilobites, described in the extract,
improved the chances of fossilisation? (1)
1.5.3 Give only the LETTER of the most recent common ancestor for
phyla:
(a) M and O (1)
(b) M, N, O and P (1)
1.5.4 Which of the extinct arthropods (trilobites, helmetids, tegopeltids or
naraoids) are represented by phylum:
(a) M (1)
(b) N (1)
(c) O (1)
(d) P (1)
(8)
TOTAL SECTION A: 50
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Life Sciences/P2 9 DBE/November 2018
NSC
SECTION B
QUESTION 2
2.1 The diagrams below represent the distribution of chromosome pair 21 as it
appears in gametes at the end of meiosis II in a human male.
A B C D
2.1.1 Explain why the gametes represented by diagrams C and D do not
have any chromosomes. (3)
2.1.2 If gamete A is involved in fertilisation, describe how this may result
in Down syndrome. (3)
2.1.3 Due to the process of crossing over, the chromosomes in diagrams
A and B appear different to each other.
(a) Identify the phase of meiosis during which crossing over
occurs. (1)
(b) Describe the events during crossing over. (3)
(c) Explain the significance of crossing over in natural selection. (3)
(13)
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Life Sciences/P2 10 DBE/November 2018
NSC
2.2 Severe combined immune deficiency syndrome (SCID) is a disorder affecting
the immune system. It is caused by a sex-linked recessive allele (Xd).
The diagram below shows the inheritance of the disorder in a family. It is not
known if individual 1 has the disorder or not.
?
1 2
3 4
5
KEY:
Male without SCID Female without SCID
Male with SCID Female with SCID
2.2.1 Give the:
(a) Phenotype of individual 2 (1)
(b) Phenotype of individual 1 (1)
(c) Genotype of individual 3 (2)
2.2.2 Explain how individual 5 inherited the disorder. (2)
(6)
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Life Sciences/P2 11 DBE/November 2018
NSC
2.3 Read the extract below.
The first cloned animal in Africa, a calf named Futhi, was born in North West
in South Africa on 19 April 2003. No fertilisation was involved in the
production of Futhi. She was produced from a single cell taken from the ear of
a donor cow named LMJC 865. The donor cow had a high average milk yield
of 78 litres a day. Cloning allows for the production of organisms with desired
characteristics.
Some people argue that cloning reduces genetic variation in the offspring,
with no further genetic improvement. Cloning is an expensive procedure and
may not be economical for commercial agriculture.
2.3.1 According to the extract, state ONE:
(a) Advantage of cloning (1)
(b) Disadvantage of cloning (1)
2.3.2 State why the donor cell was taken from LMJC 865 and not from any
other cow. (1)
2.3.3 State why an ear cell was used and not an ovum. (2)
2.3.4 Briefly describe the process of cloning. (4)
(9)
2.4 Flower colour (purple or white) in a particular plant species is controlled by
two alleles, D and d.
Four crosses were carried out to determine which allele is dominant.
Forty (40) offspring were produced in each cross. The phenotypes of the
parents and offspring in each cross were recorded.
The results are shown in the table below.
PHENOTYPE
CROSS
PARENT 1 PARENT 2 OFFSPRING
1 purple white 40 purple
2 purple purple 31 purple, 9 white
3 white white 40 white
4 purple white 21 purple, 19 white
2.4.1 State the dominant flower colour. (1)
2.4.2 Use cross 1 to explain your answer to QUESTION 2.4.1. (2)
2.4.3 State Mendel's Law of Segregation. (3)
2.4.4 Use a genetic cross to show how the crossing of two purple
flowering plants can produce white offspring, as in cross 2. (6)
(12)
[40]
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Life Sciences/P2 12 DBE/November 2018
NSC
QUESTION 3
3.1 The diagrams below show the upper jaws of some fossils. These diagrams
are drawn to scale.
Chimpanzee Australopithecus afarensis Homo sapiens
3.1.1 Describe ONE visible difference between the jaw of a chimpanzee
and that of Homo sapiens which show trends in human evolution. (2)
3.1.2 Based on the differences in dentition, what conclusion can be
made about the change in diet from Australopithecus afarensis to
Homo sapiens? (2)
3.1.3 Australopithecus may be described as a transitional species
between the chimpanzee and Homo sapiens.
(a) Define a transitional species. (1)
(b) Use ONE visible feature of the jaw to explain why
A. afarensis may be described as a transitional species. (2)
(7)
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Life Sciences/P2 13 DBE/November 2018
NSC
3.2 There are two variations in the colour of kingsnakes. Some have a
bright colourful pattern and others have a dull pattern. Kingsnakes are
non-poisonous to their predators.
Coral snakes also have a bright colour pattern, but are poisonous to their
predators. This is a defence mechanism as predators avoid them.
Scientists observed that where kingsnakes shared the same habitat with coral
snakes, there were more kingsnakes that had bright colourful patterns.
The diagram below represents the distribution of the snakes.
KEY:
Coral snakes
Bright kingsnakes
Dull kingsnakes
3.2.1 Explain how the bright colour pattern of coral snakes influences their
survival. (3)
3.2.2 Use Darwin's theory of evolution through natural selection to explain
why there are more brightly coloured kingsnakes in this habitat. (6)
(9)
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Life Sciences/P2 14 DBE/November 2018
NSC
3.3 Artificial selection programmes have produced two varieties of maize. The
one has grains with a high oil content (Variety F) and the other has grains
with a low oil content (Variety G).
The graph below shows the changes in the oil content of the grains of the two
varieties over 100 years of artificial selection.
Changes in the oil content of the grains of two varieties of
maize over 100 years
120
Oil content (mg per grain)
100 Variety F
80
60
40
20
Variety G
0
1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000
Years
3.3.1 In which year did the two maize varieties have the same oil content? (1)
3.3.2 Calculate the percentage increase in the oil content of Variety F
over the 100-year period. Show ALL working. (3)
3.3.3 Tabulate TWO differences between natural selection and artificial
selection. (5)
(9)
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Life Sciences/P2 15 DBE/November 2018
NSC
3.4 Weeds are problematic to farmers because they invade farm fields and
outcompete crop plants for space. This reduces the crop yield.
Farmers spray their fields with chemicals, known as herbicides, to kill the
weeds. Some weeds, however, have evolved to be resistant to herbicides.
Scientists investigated the time it took for a species of weed to develop
resistance to five types of herbicides. The results are shown in the table
below.
TYPES OF TIME TAKEN FOR WEEDS TO
HERBICIDE DEVELOP RESISTANCE (YEARS)
2,4-D 9
Dalapon 9
Picloran 25
Dicloflop 7
Trifluralin 26
3.4.1 Refer to the passage above and state how weeds act to reduce crop
yield. (1)
3.4.2 Identify the:
(a) Independent variable (1)
(b) Dependent variable (1)
3.4.3 Name the herbicide:
(a) To which the weeds developed resistance the fastest (1)
(b) That remained effective for the longest period of time (1)
3.4.4 The scientists used the same weed species when investigating
resistance to the different herbicides.
(a) Describe how the scientists would have determined the
resistance of the weeds to the herbicides. (2)
(b) Explain how the use of the same weed species improved the
validity of the investigation. (2)
3.4.5 Draw a bar graph to show the time taken for the evolution of
resistance to the herbicides. (6)
(15)
[40]
TOTAL SECTION B: 80
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Life Sciences/P2 16 DBE/November 2018
NSC
SECTION C
QUESTION 4
Describe the structure of RNA in a cell and the involvement of the different types of
RNA in protein synthesis.
Content: (17)
Synthesis: (3)
(20)
NOTE: NO marks will be awarded for answers in the form of a table, flow charts or
diagrams.
TOTAL SECTION C: 20
GRAND TOTAL: 150
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