Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
Region III – Central Luzon
Regional Diagnostic Examination in Earth and Life Science
SY: 2022-2023
Direction: Choose the correct answer to the question.
1. Granite is an example of what type of rock?
A. igneous
B. metamorphic
C. mineral
D. sedimentary
2. The Earth consists of four subsystems, across whose boundaries matter and energy flow.
Which of the following is not an example of an interaction between the hydrosphere and
biosphere?
A. Water drank by people.
B. Landslide after heavy rains
C. Erosion of soil after the typhoon.
D. Underground water stored in the soil.
3. What can you infer about graphite from the fact that you can scratch it with just your
fingernail?
A. It has fracture
B. It's not very hard
C. It's not very lustrous
D. Its streak is black-colored
4. What could be the reason why pearl can never be considered as a mineral even though it
is a gemstone?
A. Because it measures 2.5-4.5 in the Mohs hardness scale.
B. Because it’s a hard glistening object produced within the soft tissue of a shelled
Mollusk.
C. Because it is composed of Calcium Carbonate in minute crystalline form, which
has been deposited in concentric layers.
D. Because during the dark ages, knights wore pearls into battle because they
believed that the magic in pearls would keep them away from harm.
5. Why is Earth unique?
I. Earth is not located in the habitable zone.
II. There are different types of organisms on Earth.
III. Earth is the only known planet where life forms exist.
IV. The Earth's atmosphere is very conducive to life's existence.
Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
Region III – Central Luzon
A. I and II
B. I, II, and III
C. III and IV
D. II, III, and IV
6. Which of the following best describes how erosion by groundwater might create a
landform?
A. Acidic water dissolves rock to form a cave
B. Sediment building up to form a delta
C. Stream slowly wears away rock and soil
D. Waves crashing against a shoreline
7. Mantle convection is the gradual creeping motion of Earth's solid silicate mantle
generated by convection currents that transport heat from the planet's interior to the
surface. How does convection occur in the mantle?
A. The hotter a material, the denser it becomes
B. An electric current flow in neighboring molecules to react.
C. Molten rock is less dense due to its hot temperature resulting to the rising of the hot
material and sinking of cooler rock establishing a circular motion.
D. Molten rock is denser due to its hot temperature resulting to the sinking of the hot
material and rising of cooler rock establishing a circular motion that moves continent.
8. The subduction zone is the place where two lithospheric plates come together, one riding
over the other. The primary subduction zones in the Philippines include the Manila Trench
to the west and the Philippine Trench to the east. The East Luzon Trough is the northern
extension of the Philippine Trench and dips west beneath Luzon. How is magma made at
subduction?
A. frictional heating as one plate slides over another
B. increased pressure leads to melting at the subducting plates
C. increased temperature the leads to melting at the subducting plate
D. water released from the subducting plate lowers the melting point of the mantle
9. Metamorphism is the process of transforming a pre-existing rock to another form of rock
due to extreme heat, pressure, and chemical reaction. How do temperature and pressure
affect metamorphism?
A. Pressure and temperature increase as you go up to the crust.
B. The deeper the rock depth, the higher the pressure and temperature.
C. Foliation happens as there is an increase in the pressure and temperature.
D. Magma cannot bake the surrounding rocks due to the difference in temperature.
Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
Region III – Central Luzon
10. Metamorphic rocks were once igneous or sedimentary rocks but have been changed
because of intense heat and/or pressure. Which of the following is correct?
A. The parent rock of Slate can be Limestone or Gneiss
B. If heat and pressure is applied to Basalt can exist in the form of Bituminous coal
C. When Sandstone is subjected to heat and pressure it can be transformed into
Quartzite
D. The process where rocks undergo weathering, erosion and deposition is
metamorphism
11. Which of the following is NOT TRUE about plutonic rocks?
A. They solidify and cool slowly.
B. The texture of these rocks is typically described as phaneritic
C. They are formed when lava cools and solidifies on the earth's surface
D. They have crystals that are large enough to see with the naked eye
12. One of the natural processes that the Philippine Government focused on readiness and
preparation is the movement of west valley fault. This 100-kilometer fault from the
province of Bulacan, passed through the six cities in Metro Manila and goes to the
provinces of Rizal, Cavite and Laguna in CALABARZON Region. How does this fault line
was form?
A. Plates are moving past each other.
B. Plates are moving away each other.
C. Plates are moving above each other.
D. Plates are moving towards each other.
13. Which statement is FALSE on how layers of rocks are formed?
A. Volcanic eruptions
B. Erosion and weathering on flat fields
C. Gravity causes sediments to be deposited vertically.
D. Over hundreds of years, sediments bind together to form strata.
14. During the group discussion, a leader from group asked you what stratification is. Which
is your best response in this situation?
A. Deposition of sediments.
B. Natural process wherein materials is worn away from the Earth’s surface.
C. Refers to the ways sediment layers are stacked to each other.
D. Rocks undergo change caused by heat and formed through time.
Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
Region III – Central Luzon
15. What is the difference between relative and absolute dating?
A. Absolute dating compares the age while relative dating arranges the fossils in an
order.
B. Absolute dating arranges the fossils in an order. while relative dating determines the
numerical age
C. Absolute dating is the technique that gives the order of age of several samples while
relative dating determines the exact age of a historical remaining.
D. Absolute dating is the technique that determines the exact age of a historical
remaining while relative dating gives the order of age of several samples.
16. The half-life of carbon-14 is known to be 5720 years. It is the most well-known and
generally utilized kinds of radioactive isotope. For what reason do you suppose it is a
decent component to use to date fossils and some rock?
A. Shorter half-life means more accurate age.
B. The higher the percentage the older the rock.
C. The parent isotopes remain after ten half-lives
D. After another 5720 years, half of that decays.
17. The following descriptions are true about Geologic Time Scale EXCEPT?
A. The geologic time scale is divided into geography, weathering, and evolution.
B. Scientists use the geologic time scale to illustrate the order in which events on Earth
have happened.
C. Scientists used absolute dating to determine the actual number of years ago that
events happened.
D. The geologic time scale was developed after scientists observed changes in the fossils
going from oldest to youngest sedimentary rocks.
18. Which of the following statement is correct about Geologic Time Scale?
A. It is divided into major chunks of time called Eras. Eras may be further divided into
smaller chunks called eons, and each eon is divided into periods.
B. It is divided into major chunks of time called eons. Eons may be further divided into
smaller chunks called eras, and each era is divided into periods.
C. It is divided into major chunks of time called periods. Periods may be further divided
into smaller chunks called eras, and each era is divided into eons.
D. It is divided into major chunks of time called eras. Eras may be further divided into
smaller chunks called period, and each period is divided into eons.
Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
Region III – Central Luzon
19. In 1991, Mt. Pinatubo erupted, the volcano slope turned into gray, vegetation was
covered and destroyed. Along with that, roof of houses collapsed, killing people in
Zambales. Flights were also cancelled. During the rainy season after the eruption, houses
were buried, and bridges were destroyed. From these descriptions based on research,
what are the volcanic hazards that occurred in the Mt. Pinatubo eruption in 1991?
I. Ashfall
II. Ballistic projectiles
III. Pyroclastic flow
IV. Lahars
A. I only
B. I, II, IV
C. I, II, III
D. I, III, IV
20. Volcanic tremors and earthquakes were felt in Volcano island and in barangays of
Agoncillo, Batangas. Ashfall was also present southwest of Taal. Based on the given
situation, what are the signs of impending eruption of Taal volcano?
I. Volcanic tremors
II. Steaming activity
III. Volcanic quakes
IV. Increase in temperature
A. I only
B. I, II
C. I, II, III
D. I, II, III, IV
21. Based on the map shown, which places are on high risk when
it comes to risk of volcanic eruption?
I. Albay
II. Bataan
III. Camiguin
IV. Sulu
A. I and II
B. I, II and III
C. I, III, and IV
D. I, II, III and IV
Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
Region III – Central Luzon
22. How does mining cause landslides?
A. They weakened soil because of lack of plants
B. They damage the weathered materials which result to slope instability
C. They cause land areas to slide due to the vibrations from the blast
D. They cause land areas to have erosion of foundation and the collapse of bridges
and seawalls
23. From the image below, which municipalities in Bulacan may experience high flooding?
A. Baliuag, San Miguel, and San Ildefonso
B. Obando, Hagonoy, and Paombong
C. Pulilan, Malolos, and Bocaue
D. San Rafael, Meycauyan, and Bustos
24. What is described as an induced flow of seawater into freshwater aquifers primarily
caused by groundwater development near the coast?
A. coastal erosion
B. saltwater intrusion
C. storm surge
D. submersion
25. Waste reduction is anything that reduces waste by using less material in the first place.
Who has a bad habit of reducing waste material?
A. Anna who always brought eco-bag to the market.
B. Jeric who always uses disposable utensils when eating.
C. Jenny who always uses glass containers for food storage at home.
D. Diego who always carry a reusable water bottle when going to the gym
26. What era did the trilobites and cephalopods become dominant in the ocean particularly
during the Cambrian and Ordovician?
A. Cenozoic Era
B. Mesozoic Era
C. Paleozoic Era
D. Proterozoic Era
Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
Region III – Central Luzon
27. Some members of a species have a genetic change that causes them to survive in their
environment. They have survived to reproduce and pass these genetic changes to their
offspring. What best explains this situation?
A. Living things evolve through time.
B. All living organisms are made up of cells.
C. Living things interact with their environment to survive.
D. Different organisms must maintain different internal conditions.
28.Why do animals exhibiting external fertilization produce many gametes?
A. Food is available in plenty in water.
B. To ensure better chance of fertilization.
C. Water promotes production of large number of gametes.
D. The animals are small and want to produce more offspring.
29. While roaming around your grandfather’s farm, several animals caught your attention,
there are hens with their chicks and a goat with its kids. Which statement best explained
the process of reproduction of the two animals?
A. Both animals reproduce live offspring.
B. Goats are viviparous and fertilized internally while hens and oviparous and fertilized
externally.
C. Goat’s offspring developed inside the mother’s womb while the chicks are
developed outside the hen’s body.
D. Offspring of both animals receive nourishment from a placenta.
30. Upon interviewing your mother for an assignment in Earth and Life Science, you found out
that she stops menstruating for about nine months during her pregnancy of you. Which
statement best explained the cessation of menstruation during pregnancy?
A. My mother doesn’t menstruate because she is in her menopausal age.
B. My mother doesn’t menstruate because her hormones are focused on the
development of the embryo.
C. My mother doesn’t menstruate because her ovaries stop producing egg cell during
pregnancy.
D. My mother doesn’t menstruate because most of her blood are shared with the
embryo.
31. Which of the following would be an example of an organism modified by genetic
engineering?
A. Golden rice is produced by inserting the gene for vitamin A production into a
common rice strain.
B. Legumes, like peas and beans, have nitrogen-fixing bacteria on their roots, which
helps increase soil nitrogen.
C. Pugs with a small body and flat face were bred together to make characteristics
that were more desired by humans.
Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
Region III – Central Luzon
D. Cows that produce large amounts of milk and have high fertility were selected to
breed over cows that do not to create modern dairy cows.
32. The AquAdvantage salmon is a genetically engineered species of fish; the genes that
regulate the release of the growth hormone have been altered in this species. This
enables the salmon to grow faster and to grow all year round? What is the advantage of
this?
A. Altered salmon does not provide additional benefits to their reproduction.
B. This species of salmon requires less nutrition, so it puts less strain on the ecosystem.
C. This species of salmon can be bred with other species to create better-adapted
fish.
D. This species of salmon may provide a higher quantity of food faster and establish
dominance in its native ecosystem.
33. Which would you choose if you were to buy something for lunch from a local grocery
store in your area?
A. A deformed juicy watermelon of Mang Ramon
B. A plump tomatoes of Mang Emil but have little holes
C. A corn harvested by Mang Raul that easily dried few days
D. A strawberry harvested by MangIsko that is tastier than any other strawberries
34. If to use the Venn Diagram, how will you determine the difference between GMO to
Non-GMO?
A. In GMO, Scientists can find a single specific trait and insert it into the DNA while in
Non-GMO the life cycle and growth of plant is equivalent
B. The GMO has desired traits can be quickly identified while
Non-GMO has desired traits that can be identified and perpetuated.
C. The safety and nutrition of plant is equal while in GMO while the Non-GMO has
desired traits that can be perpetuated individually.
D. A GMO plants can become genetically resistant to disease and pests while in
Non-GMO, the pests are controlled with chemicals or other cultivation practice.
35. Which of the following benefits of Genetic Engineering you will consider if you want to
produce a higher number of GMO products?
A. Less use of pesticides to crops
B. More nutritious and tastier food
D. Foods with more desirable traits like less cancer-causing substance
C. Increased supply of food with reduced cost and longer shelf life
36. Which of the following statements about muscles and the muscular system is true?
B. Muscles always work independently to move parts of the body
A. Smooth muscle moves food through the digestive system
C. All muscle action is voluntary, or able to be consciously controlled.
D. types of muscle tissue are skeletal, smooth muscle and involuntary muscle.
Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
Region III – Central Luzon
37. Your brother sustain inversion sprain from his left ankle during the basketball game.
Immediate pain and swelling and inability to bear weight. The following are ways how to
manage sprain EXCEPT:
A. Ask your brother to elevate the injured part
B. Ask your brother to do gentle exercise and pain free movement
C. Ask your brother to put ice on the sprained muscle immediately with a cold
compress
D. Ask your brother to try to stretch the hurt area or walk on it immediately
38. The chemical process in which oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged between the
outside air and the cells are called _______.
A. Breathing
B. Exhaling
C. Inhaling
D. Respiration
39. Covid is very much a threat to life and the government is actively pursuing immunity for
the general populace. Some of your friends are hesitant about getting vaccinated and
that they heard about certain untoward reactions from the vaccine and said some even
died from getting the vaccine. What can you say that will help them understand the
immune system and vaccination?
A. Discuss to them that the COVID vaccine is fully safe, that it’s just a regular foreign
antigen from any virus that our immune system regularly monitors and defend against,
that being exposed to a disease-causing SARS CoV2 antigen will prevent us from
having COVID at all.
B. Discuss to them that the COVID vaccine is fully safe, that it’s just a regular foreign
antigen from any virus that our immune system regularly monitors and defend against,
that being exposed to a non-disease-causing SARS CoV2 antigen will prevent us
from having COVID at all.
C. Discuss to them that the COVID vaccine is fairly safe, that it’s just like a regular
foreign antigen that our immune system regularly monitors and defend against, that
being exposed to a non-disease-causing SARS CoV2 antigen will teach our immune
system to make antibodies that will defend against the COVID virus
D. Discuss to them that the COVID vaccine is somewhat safe, that it’s just like a regular
foreign antigen that our immune system regularly monitors and defend against, that
being exposed to a disease-causing antigen of SARS CoV2 will teach our immune
system to defend against the real full-blown antigen of any virus.
Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
Region III – Central Luzon
40. Juan was asked by his little brother Marco about his heart always beating fast when he
runs and causes him to breath more frequently and harder. What would be Marcos’
best reply to Juan?
A. The heart beats faster so that it can circulate more blood that contains CO2 and
O2 from all the metabolic waste generated by your muscle cells so that the lungs can
exhale them faster.
B. The heart beats faster so that it can push more O2 rich blood towards the cells of
the body. The Lungs ventilates faster so that the lungs can get oxygen faster and expel
the CO2 at the same time.
C. The heart beats faster so that it can push more CO2 rich blood towards the
cells of the body. The Lungs ventilates faster so that the lungs can get CO2 faster
and expel the O2 at the same time.
D. The heart beats faster so that it can push more CO2 rich blood generated by your
muscle cells towards the lungs that ventilate faster so that the lungs can expel the
CO2 faster and get O2 at the same time.
41. According to the law of superposition, the oldest fossils are found ___________.
A. at the top of rock layers
B. in the middle of rock layers
C. near the bottom of the rock layers
D. somewhat near the surface
42. What element is usually used to date fossils?
A. Carbon-14
B. Mercury-203
C. Thorium-234
D. Uranium-235
43. What type of natural hazard the volcanic eruption is?
A. Tectonic hazard
B. Climatic hazard
C. Biological hazard
D. Chemical hazard
44. Your house is in a coastal area. You notice that waves are already damaging the shore
near the fence of the house especially during high tide and monsoon seasons. What can
be constructed to mitigate the said problem of your house?
A. Artificial water
B. Beach dewatering
C. Breakwater
D. Sea wall
Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
Region III – Central Luzon
45. What is described as an induced flow of seawater into freshwater aquifers primarily
caused by groundwater development near the coast? (Remembering)
A. Coastal erosion
B. Saltwater intrusion
C. submersion
D. storm surge
46. The modified plasmid containing the gene of interest is called the recombinant plasmid.
It will be reintroduced to a bacterial cell to make the transgenic organism produce the
desired genes. In which stage of genetic engineering does the recombinant plasmid put
back into a bacterial cell?
A. expression
B. insertion
C. isolation
D. transformation
47. It is the study of organisms that aims to derive their evolutionary relationship
A. cladistics
B. phylogenetics
C. systematics
D. taxonomy
48. Your teacher asked you to read the geologic time scale in front of the class. What is the
proper way of reading it?
A. bottom downward
B. bottom upward
C. top downward
D. top upward
49. The major force that forms folded mountains is called _____ force.
A. compressional force
B. impression force
C. depressions force
D. plateau
50. Which of the following term describe a branch of geology concerned with the study of
rock layers and layering?
A. paleogeography
B. relative dating
C. stratification
D. stratigraphy
Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
Region III – Central Luzon
51. The current weather is very humid, and Jacob is having difficulty focusing on his project,
he suddenly faints. What would you do in that situation?
A. Bring him to a cool place and raise his legs and provide drinking water
B. Bring him to a warm place and cover him with a blanket to keep him warm
C. Bring him to warm place and raise his legs above his head then provide drinking water
D. Bring him to a cool place and raise his legs and provide drinking water once conscious
52. Natural selection acts on ________ which in turn may result in the evolution of __________
over time.
A. individuals, families
B. individuals, populations
C. populations, individuals
D. species, species
53. In a small group of people living in a remote area, there is a high incidence of “blue skin”,
a condition that results from a variation on the structure of hemoglobin. They want to
know how it happened. What mechanism of evolutionary change best explained the
situation?
A. Their parents both have high frequency of “blue skin.”
B. Their environment is too cold that may mutate the genes.
C. Their ancestors may have “blue skin” genes that continuously passed on.
D. There is a disease that affected their health and turned them into “blue skin.”
54. Pandas developed longer wrists to better eat bamboo over time and in turn increase
their chance of survival. This is an example of ___________.
A. Adaptation
B. Artificial Selection
C. Comparative Anatomy
D. Fitness
55. It shows one common ancestor, and the all the descendants share a common
characteristic, including their most recent ancestors.
A. monophyletic
B. paraphyletic
C. polyphyletic
D. soft polytomy
56. Monophyletic group is also called ______.
A. cluster
B. cascade
C. clade
D. none of the above
Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
Region III – Central Luzon
57. These factors that can restrain the expansion of a population, for example, predators,
competitors, lack of food and water, diseases, and reasonable living space. Which of the
following refers to these factors?
A. biotic potential
B. carrying capacity
C. environmental resistance
D. limiting factor
58. Which of the accompanying reasons does explain why various life forms have diverse
biotic potentials?
A. Offspring have distinctive survival rates.
B. Life forms have diverse multiplication rates.
C. Different life forms will have diverse reproductive life expectancies.
D. Organisms that abide in a similar situation will have similar potentials.
59. During the class discussion, Ms. Cruz ask her students to identify and explain the kind of
symbiotic interactions occur in a picture showing: “a clown fish taking shelter in the sea
anemone’s tentacles.” What is the best reply to the student can make to Ms. Cruz’
question?
A. Commensalism is the kind of symbiotic relationship we can infer from the picture,
wherein one organism benefits and the other are unaffected. clown fish taking shelter
in the sea anemone but provide nothing in return.
B. Competition is the kind of symbiotic relationship we can infer from the picture,
wherein clown fish and sea anemone are competing from limited resources.
C. Mutualism is the kind of symbiotic relationship we can infer from the picture, wherein
clown fish and sea anemone share mutualistic relationship, providing food and/or
protection for each other.
D. Parasitism is the kind of symbiotic relationship we can infer from the picture, where
the organism which benefits from the interaction is the clown fish called the parasite,
while the other one is harmed, the anemone called the host.
60. While watching the news with your younger sister, a video of tons of dead fish floating in
Manila Bay flashed on the screen due to fish kill, and because of extreme amusement,
your sister asked you “What is it? And how does it happen?” How can you help her to
understand the phenomenon?
A. Explain to her that these aquatic animals have short lifespan and a sudden increase
in water temperature can make their life expectancy shorter.
B. Explain to her that it is an occurrence of “fish kills” wherein the massive death of fish
in the area is caused by pollution due to human activities.
C. Explain to her that the massive death of fish in the area may be associated with lots of
possible reasons, including reduced oxygen in water, algal blooms, and red tides, or
presence of infectious parasites and diseases.
Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
Region III – Central Luzon
D. Explain to her that it is an occurrence of “fish kills” wherein the massive death of fish
in the area may be associated with a variety of reasons, including reduced oxygen in
water or release of toxic materials in the water.