NATIONAL

SENIOR CERTIFICATE

GRADE 11

NOVEMBER 2023

LIFE SCIENCES P2

MARKS: 150

TIME: 2½ hours

This question paper consists of 15 pages.

2 LIFE SCIENCES P2 (EC/NOVEMBER 2023)

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 provided.

3. Start EACH question on 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 may use a non-programmable calculator, protractor and a compass, where
necessary.

11. Round off all calculations to two decimal spaces.

12. Write neatly and legibly.

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(EC/NOVEMBER 2023) LIFE SCIENCES P2 3

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–D) next to the question numbers
(1.1.1 to 1.1.9) in the ANSWER BOOK, for example 1.1.10 D.

1.1.1 Vaccines work because …

A they contain antibodies that destroy disease causing organisms.

B they destroy disease causing organisms by dissolving their cell
membranes.
C they trigger the body to produce antibodies to protect the body
against disease causing organisms.
D it contains drugs that destroy disease causing organisms.

1.1.2 Which of the following phyla is diploblastic?

A Porifera
B Chordata
C Annelida
D Cnideria

1.1.3 Which characteristic best describes the organisms in the diagram below?

A Triploblastic
B Radially symmetrical
C Shows cephalization
D Has a notochord

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4 LIFE SCIENCES P2 (EC/NOVEMBER 2023)

1.1.4 Advantages of a coelom:

(i) Independent movement and digestive system

(ii) Needs a blood system
(iii) Coelomic fluid acts as a hydrostatic skeleton
(iv) More space for complex organs and organ systems

Which of the above statements represent advantages of having a true

coelom?

A (i), (ii), (iv)

B (i), (iii), (iv)
C (ii), (iii), (iv)
D (i), (ii), (iii), (iv)

1.1.5 Which combination listed below represents wind-pollinated plants?

A Large bright petals and lots of nectar

B Brightly coloured petals and small, light pollen
C Large anthers and lots of nectar
D Small petals and large, feathery stigmas

1.1.6 The shape of the bacteria below can be classified as …

A coccus.
B bacillus.
C vibrio.
D spirillum.

1.1.7 Which statement below best describes emigration?

A Increase in population size

B Migration of animals.
C Permanent movement of organisms out of a habitat.
D Movement of people from city to city.

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(EC/NOVEMBER 2023) LIFE SCIENCES P2 5

1.1.8 Two species of paramecium were found in a pond. The graph below
shows the population growth of the two species (A and B) that feed on
the same bacteria.

200
A
Population density

150
(by volume)

100

50
B

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Time in Days

The graph above shows an example of …

A parasitism.
B resource partitioning.
C competitive exclusion.
D predator-prey relation.

1.1.9 Study the graph below.

TOTAL SURVIVORS

AGE

The graph above best represents the survivor curve of …

A humans.
B frogs.
C birds.
D lions.
(9 x 2) (18)

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6 LIFE SCIENCES P2 (EC/NOVEMBER 2023)

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 1.2.8) in the ANSWER
BOOK.

1.2.1 An organism that captures and kills another organism for food

1.2.2 A direct method whereby all individuals in a human population are

counted

1.2.3 A process in biotechnology that is used to convert sugar into alcohol and
carbon dioxide

1.2.4 An organism without a true nucleus

1.2.5 A diagram showing the evolutionary relationship between organisms

1.2.6 A type of gut that is found in Annelids

1.2.7 A disease-causing organism

1.2.8 The access, by all people at all times, to adequate, safe and nutritious
food (8 x 1) (8)

1.3 Indicate whether each of the statements in COLUMN Ι, applies to A ONLY, B

ONLY, BOTH A and B, or NONE of the items in COLUMN ΙΙ. 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 Ι COLUMN ΙΙ
1.3.1 Tick on a dog A: Symbiosis
B: Parasitism
1.3.2 Decreases food security A: Droughts
B: GM foods
1.3.3 Characteristic of a population A: Same species
B: Live in the same habitat
(3 x 2) (6)

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(EC/NOVEMBER 2023) LIFE SCIENCES P2 7

1.4 Study the population growth curve below.

ENVIRONMENTAL RESISTANCE

E
D

Population size
C

Time

1.4.1 Name the type of growth form shown in the graph above. (1)

1.4.2 Provide the following labels:

(a) Stage D (1)

(b) Line E (1)

1.4.3 Explain why the growth at stage A is slow. (2)

1.4.4 Name TWO factors that could form part of environmental resistance. (2)

1.4.5 Name TWO inherent factors that would cause an increase in population
size. (2)

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8 LIFE SCIENCES P2 (EC/NOVEMBER 2023)

1.5 Study the diagrams below.

Plant A Plant B

1.5 1.5.1 Name the plant division to which plant A belongs. (1)

1.5.2 Give TWO characteristics found in both plant A and B. (2)

1.5.3 Explain why plant A is less reliant on water than plant B. (3)

1.5.4 Provide labels for the following:

(a) 1 (1)

(b) 2 (1)

1.5.5 Why is the plant in generation B NOT considered a thallus plant? (1)

TOTAL SECTION A: 50

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(EC/NOVEMBER 2023) LIFE SCIENCES P2 9

SECTION B

QUESTION 2

2.1 Study the diagrams below.

Mushrooms

Bread mould
A

Yeast

2.1.1 To which kingdom do all the above organisms belong? (1)

2.1.2 Provide labels for A and B. (2)

2.1.3 Name the thread-like filaments that make up the body of a bread mould. (1)

2.1.4 Name TWO conditions needed for bread mould to grow. (2)

2.1.5 Name TWO products that yeast is used for. (2)

2.1.6 Explain ONE way in which organisms in this kingdom play an important
role in the environment. (2)

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10 LIFE SCIENCES P2 (EC/NOVEMBER 2023)

2.2 An investigation was done to determine if the amount of petals affects the
fertilisation of the ovule.
When flowers are self pollinated, the pollen tube grows only a little way into the
stigma and style and fertilisation does not occur. When cross pollination occurs
by pollinators then the pollen tubes grow all the way down and fertilisation of the
ovule can occur.
The investigation was conducted as follows:
• 30 flowers were used. 10 flowers with 100% petals, 10 flowers with
50% of the petals removed and 10 flowers with 0% petals
• flowers were placed in an area with pollinators for 2 days
• after 2 days the flowers were prevented from further pollination
• after 7 days the amount of pollination and fertilisation in each flower
was recorded
The diagrams below show the appearance of the flowers used.

A
B
C

100% of petals left 50% of petals left 0% petals left on

on on
The results are shown in the table below.

NUMBER
Flower with Flower with Flower with no
100% of 50% of petals petals
petals
Pollen on stigma 158 149 25
Pollen tubes in the style 86 82 8
Ovules fertilised 38 40 4

2.2.1 For this investigation give the:

(a) Independent variable (1)

(b) Dependant variable (1)

2.2.2 Supply labels for:
(a) Structure A (1)

(b) Whorl B (1)

(c) Structure C (1)

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(EC/NOVEMBER 2023) LIFE SCIENCES P2 11

2.2.3 Explain why there was more pollen on the flowers with petals. (2)

2.2.4 Explain why there are more pollen tubes present in the style of all flowers
than the number of ovules fertilised. (2)

2.2.5 Give TWO ways the validity of this experiment could be improved. (2)

2.2.6 Write a conclusion for this experiment. (2)

2.2.7 State TWO ways in which angiosperms are better adapted to terrestrial
life than bryophytes. (2)

2.2.8 Name the plant division to which angiosperms belong. (1)

2.2.9 Give TWO advantages of sexual reproduction. (2)

2.3 Read the extract below.

Malaria is a deadly disease caused by Plasmodium sp. and transmitted through

the female Anopheles mosquito. In 2020, 627 000 people around the world died
from malaria.

DDT is a pesticide used to control mosquito populations in malaria areas. In the

early 1990s there was a worldwide ban on the use of DDT. DDT is non-
biodegradable. It affects animals at the top of the food chain. It caused the decline
of many birds of prey as it made the shells of their eggs very thin.

The number of deaths due to malaria rose from 19 in 1991 to 450 in 2000. The
South African government decided to lift the ban and started using DDT again. By
2020 there were only 38 deaths due to malaria.

2.3.1 Name the kingdom to which the malaria parasite belongs. (1)

2.3.2 Give evidence from the passage that the use of DDT has a negative effect
on the environment. (1)

2.3.3 Explain the economic impact to a country if there is a high percentage of

people suffering from malaria. (2)

2.3.4 Explain how the Anopheles mosquito transmits malaria. (2)

2.3.5 Give TWO precautions besides killing mosquitoes that people can take to
prevent getting malaria. (2)

2.3.6 Name the TWO different human body cells that the plasmodium parasite
attacks. (2)

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12 LIFE SCIENCES P2 (EC/NOVEMBER 2023)

2.4 The diagrams below show animals that belong to two different phyla.

Organism X Organism Y

2.4.1 Name the phyla to which Organism X belongs. (1)

2.4.2 For each of the statements below, write only X or Y.

(a) Organism that has a through gut (1)

(b) Organism that has no organs (1)

(c) Organism that is sedentary (1)

2.4.3 What type of symmetry is shown by Organism Y? (1)

2.4.4 Describe how the body plan of Organism Y is suited to an organism that
actively moves from one environment to another. (3)

2.4.5 Draw a simple labelled diagram of a cross section through the body wall
to show the tissue layers found in Organism Y. (4)
[50]

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(EC/NOVEMBER 2023) LIFE SCIENCES P2 13

QUESTION 3

3.1 The table below shows the average atmospheric carbon dioxide level over 60
years.

The table showing the contribution of different sources of electricity in 2021 and
the planned contribution of different sources to electricity in South Africa in 2030.

Contribution to electricity Planned contribution to

Source consumption in 2021 electricity consumption in 2030
(%) (%)
Coal 84,4 46
Gas 0,8 16
Wind 3,4 15
Solar 2 11
Hydro 2,8 10
Nuclear 5,3 2
Other 1,4 0

3.1.1 Which source provided the most electricity in South Africa in 2021? (1)

3.1.2 Explain how coal generated electricity increases global warming. (4)

3.1.3 Explain why Eskom wants to increase the amount of wind and solar
generated electricity. (2)

3.1.4 Draw a pie chart showing the planned sources of electricity for 2030. (7)

3.1.5 What is the difference between the percentage of gas generated

electricity used in 2021 and 2030? (2)

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14 LIFE SCIENCES P2 (EC/NOVEMBER 2023)

3.2 Dandelions are weeds that often grow on schools sports fields. The groundsman
at a school is responsible for making sure that the soccer field is well maintained
and has no weeds.

He wanted to calculate the number of dandelion weeds on their soccer field.

• The size of the soccer field is 2 500 m2.
• He used 1 m x 1 m (1 m2) quadrats and took 15 samples across the field.
• The number of dandelions in each sample were recorded in the table below.

Sample Number of
number dandelion plants
1 22
2 3
3 7
4 4
5 15
6 0
7 3
8 0
9 12
10 3
11 0
12 14 Dandelion plant
13 4
14 7
15 2

3.2.1 What is this method of estimating population size called? (1)

3.2.2 The grounds man did not know where to place the quadrats on the field.
Explain how he should go about determining where to place them. (2)

3.2.3 Calculate the total number of dandelions on the field. (5)

3.2.4 Why were fifteen samples taken instead of five? (1)

3.2.5 Give ONE reason why the groundsman would want to know the total
number of weeds on the field. (1)

3.3 Tabulate TWO differences between a developed country and a developing

country that affects their population growth curves. (5)

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(EC/NOVEMBER 2023) LIFE SCIENCES P2 15

3.4 Read the extract below.

Acid mine drainage has a negative effect on the environment. Mines often use
lime to neutralise the acidic water before it is pumped into rivers and streams.
But lime needs to be mined especially for this purpose.

It contaminates soil so that the plants do not get enough of the required nutrients
to grow, it contaminates drinking water, disrupts the growth and reproduction of
aquatic animals and corrodes buildings and structures like bridges.

New research shows that slag, a very alkaline waste product made from mining,
is effective in neutralising the acidic water.

3.4.1 Describe how acid mine drainage forms. (3)

3.4.2 Give TWO negative effects of acid mine drainage on the environment
mentioned in the extract. (2)

3.4.3 Explain why it is economically better to use slag to neutralise the acidic
water than lime. (4)

3.4.4 Give ONE other way mining affects the quality of water. (1)

3.5 Alien plants such the water hyacinth (Eichhomia sp.) have become invasive in
South Africa, blocking water ways and reducing water quality.

3.5.1 Differentiate between alien plants and indigenous plants. (2)

3.5.2 Why do alien plants become invasive in an ecosystem? (1)

3.5.3 State TWO ways that the government could use to control alien plants. (2)

3.5.4 Describe how alien plants may affect aquatic animals by reducing water
quality. (4)
[50]

TOTAL SECTION B: 100

GRAND TOTAL: 150

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