GATEWAY HIGH SCHOOL
NATURAL SCIENCE
GRADE 8
TERM 1 – CONTROL TEST
MARCH 2023
EXAMINER: MR. M. VAN DER WATT
MARKS: 50
MODERATOR: MR I.D.B MANEL
DURATION: 1 HOUR
INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION:
1.
This question paper consists of FIVE QUESTIONS.
2. Answer ALL the questions.
3. Read your instructions carefully through.
4. Write NEAT and LEGIBLY.
5. Do NOT write in pencil.
6. Please check your work.
NAME AND SURNAME: ____________________________________
GRADE 8: _________________
1
2
QUESTION 1: MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS
Four options are provided as possible answers to the following questions.
Choose the answer and write only the letter (A–D) next to the question
number (1.1–1.5), for example 1.5 E.
1.1
1.2
Which is NOT involved in the process of respiration?
A
Water
B
Energy from Sunlight
C
Sugars
D
Carbon Dioxide
(1)
Consider the diagram below:
[SOURCE: https://smartclass4kids.com]
The diagram depicts a food…
1.3
A
web
B
pyramid
C
line
D
chain.
(1)
Several factors can influence the balance in an ecosystem.
Identify the factor which is NOT a natural factor:
A
Pollution
B
Droughts
C
Floods
D
Earthquakes.
(1)
3
1.4
Study the picture below and choose the CORRECT scientific term for the
depiction in the illustration:
[SOURCE: https://redrockscenicbyway.com]
1.5
A
Conditioning
B
Mimicry
C
Survival
D
Camouflage
(1)
Identify the statement that is FALSE regarding fungi:
A
Yeast is a form of fungus used to make bread.
B
Fungi are disease causing bacteria.
C
Mushrooms are a type of fungus.
D
Most fungus are decomposers.
(1)
[5]
4
QUESTION 2
The diagram below illustrates a process which occurs in green plants.
Study the diagram and answer the questions that follow:
Sunlight
Oxygen
Gas A
Substance B
2.1
Identify the process illustrated above.
2.2
Write down:
(1)
2.2.1 the name of Gas A
(1)
2.2.2 a suitable description for Substance B
(1)
2.2.3 chemical symbol for oxygen gas.
(1)
2.3
Provide a word equation to describe the process above in detail.
(5)
2.4
Explain the importance of respiration for living organisms.
(2)
[11]
5
QUESTION 3
Study the diagram below involving various animals and answer the questions below:
Snake
Fox
Hawk
Owl
Bird
Frog
Rabbit
Grasshopper
Mouse
Grasses
3.1
Define the term Ecology in words.
(2)
3.2
Explain the difference between biotic and abiotic components in
an ecosystem.
(2)
3.3
3.4
Identify the following in the diagram:
3.3.1 the producer
(1)
3.3.2 one secondary consumer
(1)
3.3.3 one carnivore
(1)
3.3.4 one predator.
(1)
Draw a food pyramid involving the bird. Indicate the change
in energy.
(4)
[12]
6
QUESTION 4
Consider the illustration below depicting a human and lion and answer the
questions that follow.
[SOURCE: https://plantlet.org/ecosystem-balance-imbalance-stability/]
4.1
Explain how the activity that the man is about to carry out can influence
the balance in the specific ecosystem that the lion forms part of.
(2)
4.2
Describe what will happen if an ecosystem is not balanced.
(2)
4.3
Define the term adaptation in words.
(2)
4.4
The environment in which animals live constantly changes.
Explain what happens if an animal cannot adapt to a changing
environment.
(2)
[8]
7
QUESTION 5
Read the cartoon below and answer the questions that follow.
No! There are
germs in the
water!
Let’s drink the water
from the river.
[SOURCE: https://www.freepik.com/vectors/kid-drink-water/25]
5.1
Do you agree with the boy? Motivate your answer.
(2)
5.2
Explain what a micro-organism is.
(2)
5.3
Describe TWO manners in which micro-organisms can be killed.
(2)
5.4
Explain TWO ways in which micro-organisms can be useful.
(2)
5.5
Copy and complete the table below by writing YES or NO.
Micro-organism
Visible with
naked eye
Harmful
Fungi
Bacteria
Viruses
Protista
(4)
5.6
Louis Pasteur made the world’s first vaccine.
Briefly explain how a vaccine is made and how it works.
(2)
[14]
TOTAL: 50
GATEWAY HIGH SCHOOL
NATURAL SCIENCE
GRADE 8
TERM 1 – CONTROL TEST MARKING GUIDELINE
MARCH 2023
EXAMINER: MR. M. VAN DER WATT
MARKS: 50
MODERATOR: MR I.D.B MANEL
________________________________________________________________
QUESTION 1
1.1
B✓
(1)
1.2
D✓
(1)
1.3
A✓
(1)
1.4
D✓
(1)
1.5
B✓
(1)
[5]
QUESTION 2
Photosynthesis ✓
(1)
2.2
2.2.1 Carbon dioxide ✓
(1)
2.2.2 Sugars OR Glucose ✓
(1)
2.2.3 O2 ✓
(1)
2.1
Chlorophyll✓
2.3
𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 (𝑠𝑢𝑛𝑙𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡)✓ + 𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑏𝑜𝑛 𝑑𝑖𝑜𝑥𝑖𝑑𝑒✓ + 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟✓ →
𝑜𝑥𝑦𝑔𝑒𝑛 + 𝑠𝑢𝑔𝑎𝑟𝑠 ✓
2.4
During the process of respiration, oxygen and sugars are used to produce energy
to sustain life. ✓✓
(5)
(2)
1
(2)
[11]
9
QUESTION 3
3.1
3.2
The study of interactions of organisms with one another and with the
physical and chemical environment. ✓✓
(2)
Biotic factors refer to living organism and abiotic factors includes the
non-living environment. ✓✓
(2)
3.3
3.3.1 grasses ✓
(1)
3.3.2 Fox OR Hawk OR Owl OR Frog OR Bird. ANY ONE ✓
(1)
3.3.3 Fox OR Hawk OR Snake. ANY ONE ✓
(1)
3.3.4 Fox OR Hawk OR Owl OR Snake OR Frog OR Bird. ANY ONE ✓
(1)
3.4
Tertiary Carnivore ✓
Secondary Carnivore
Primary Carnivore ✓
Herbivore
Bird
Energy Decreases
✓
Producer ✓
(4)
[12]
10
QUESTION 4
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
The man is about to shoot the lion.
Killing the lion, might have an effect on its prey (for example bucks) ✓ –
the number of bucks may increase, leaving other herbivores with
less food. ✓
(2)
No balance in the ecosystem can lead to one species dominating
the other; which can cause extinction. ✓✓
(2)
The change in the structural, functional and behavioural characteristics
of an organism; allowing the organism to survive. ✓✓
(2)
Animals that are not able to adapt, will not be able to function properly. ✓
This can lead to a gradual decrease in population and ultimately
extinction. ✓
(2)
[8]
QUESTION 5
5.1
Yes ✓; There are tiny harmful organisms in the water. ✓
(2)
5.2
Tiny living organism; generally, not visible with the naked eye. ✓✓
(2)
5.3
Applying heat – boiling water for 15 minutes can kill most
micro-organisms. OR Exposure to disinfectant chemicals. OR
Adding household bleach OR ANY TWO MANNERS. ✓✓
(2)
Bacteria can be used to make cheese and yogurt. OR
Antibiotics (fungi) are used to kill harmful bacteria. OR
Decomposers break down dead bodies of plants, useful in farming.
OR ANY TWO WAYS. ✓✓
(2)
5.4
5.5
Micro-organism
Fungi
Bacteria
Viruses
Protista
Visible with
naked eye
YES
NO
NO
NO
Harmful
YES
YES
YES
YES
✓
✓
✓
✓
(4)
5.6
A vaccine is made from a weakened form of micro-organism. ✓
It is injected into the body to make an organism immune to a disease. ✓
[14]
TOTAL: 50
(2)
11
COGNITIVE LEVELS
GRADE 8
NATURAL SCIENCES
TEST - TERM 1 - 2023
MARK: 50
KNOWING
SCIENCE
APPLYING
SCIENTIFIC
KNOWLEDGE
UNDERSTANDING
SCIENCE
QUESTION
DESIRED %
LOW ORDER
QUESTIONS
MIDDLE ORDER QUESTIONS
HIGH ORDER
QUESTIONS
40%
45%
15%
1.1
1.2
EVALUATING,
ANALYZING,
SYNTHESISING
SCIENTIFIC
KNOWLEDGE
1
TOTAL
100%
1
1
1
1.3
1
1
1.4
1
1
1.5
1
1
0
2.1
1
1
2.2.1
1
1
2.2.2
1
1
2.2.3
1
1
2.3
5
2.4
2
5
2
0
3.1
2
2
3.2
2
2
3.3.1
1
1
3.3.2
1
1
3.3.3
1
1
3.3.4
1
3.4
1
4
4
0
4.1
2
2
4.2
2
2
4.3
2
2
4.4
2
2
0
5.1
2
2
5.2
2
2
5.3
2
2
5.4
2
2
5.5
4
5.6
4
2
2
Total
19
22
9
50
Actual %
38,0
44,0
18,0
100,0
Desired %
40%
45%
15%
100