Life Sciences CT NSC EC/June 2021

NATIONAL
SENIOR CERTIFICATE

GRADE 12

CONTROLLED TEST 2
22 JUNE 2021

LIFE SCIENCES

MARKS: 50
TIME: 50 minutes

This question paper consists of 8

pages.

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 answer 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 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. Write neatly and legibly.
12. Round off all calculations to two decimals after a comma.

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SECTION A
QUESTION 1

1.1
1.1 Various options are provided as possible answers to the following questions. Choose
the correct answer and write only the letter (A-D) next to the question number (1.1.1–
1.1.3) in the ANSWER BOOK, for example 1.1.4 D

1.1.1 Which ONE of the following pathways represents a reflex arc?

A Muscle → spinal cord → brain

B Effectors → spinal cord → receptor
C Receptor → spinal cord → brain
D Receptor → spinal cord → muscle

1.1.2 In multiple alleles …

A more than one gene controls a characteristic.

B more than two alleles occur for the same gene.
C many genes code for the same allele
D there are only two alleles for a particular gene.

1.1.3 Choose the correct cross if the result is 50% homozygous dominant and 50%
heterozygous in the F1 generation:

A Bb x bb
B BB x Bb
C BB X bb
D Bb X Bb (3 X 2) (6)

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 – 1.2.2) in the ANSWER BOOK.

1.2.1 Manipulation of biological processes to satisfy human needs

1.2.2 Protective membranes surrounding the brain & spinal cord (2 X 1) (2)

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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 1.3.2) in
the ANSWER BOOK.

COLUMN I COLUMN II
1.3.1 The part of the brain that A: Corpus callosum
connects the two hemispheres
B: Cerebellum
1.3.2 The part of the autonomic A: Sympathetic
nervous system that controls
involuntary actions B: Parasympathetic
(2 x 2) (4)

1.4 In pea plants the allele for round seeds (R) is dominant over the allele for
wrinkled seeds (r). The allele for yellow seeds (Y) is dominant over the allele for
green seeds (y).

Plant A, heterozygous for both seed shape and seed colour, was crossed with
plant B which had wrinkled, green seeds.

1.4.1 Write down the:

(a) Genotype of plant B (1)

(b) Genotypes of the gametes of plant A (2)

1.4.2 State the phenotype of an offspring having the genotype rrYy (1)
(4)

TOTAL SECTION A: 16

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SECTION B
QUESTION 2

2.1 Study the diagram below representing the human brain.

C
E

2.1.1 Give the LETTER and NAME of the part that is affected when someone
has loss of memory. (2)

2.1.2 State TWO functions of the part labelled E. (2)

(4)

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2.2 The diagram below represents the pathway of impulses during a reflex action.:

KEY

A: Damage at R

B: Damage at S

R C: No damage at R and S

Skin of
toe

Muscles of
toe
S

2.2.1 When the skin of the toe is stimulated, the toe moves, and the person
knows that it is moving. (1)

2.2.2 The person can move the toe but cannot feel the movement. (1)

2.2.3 The person can feel a pin pricking the toe but cannot move the toe. (1)
(3)

2.3 Describe the role of semi-circular canals in maintaining balance. (5)

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2.4 Study the diagram below of an eye seen from the front and answer the
questions that follow.

2.4.1 Identify part labelled C. (1)

2.4.2 State TWO functions of part labelled C (2)

2.4.3 Explain how parts A and B are involved in the pupillary mechanism
when a person walks into a house after being outside in the bright
sun. (4)
(7)
[19]

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QUESTION 3

3.1 State Mendel’s Principle of Segregation (2)

3.2 A group of learners conducted an investigation to determine which blood type

is most common in humans. They recorded the blood types of the 20 learners
in their class.
The results are represented in the pie chart below.

P I E C H AR T S H O W I N G T H E P E R C E N TAG E O F
D I F F E R E N T B L O O D T Y P E S I N A S AM P L E
GROUP OF PEOPLE

AB
10%

A
44%

O
39%
B
7%

3.2.1 State TWO planning steps that should be considered before carrying
out this investigation. (2)

3.2.2 According to Statistics South Africa, the total population in South

Africa is estimated to be 54,96 million in 2016.

Use the learners results to determine how many of the South African
population are likely to have blood group B (2)

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3.2.3 The frequency of each blood group worldwide is shown in the table
below.
Blood Worldwide
Type Frequency
(%)
O 45
A 40
B 11
AB 4
[Adapted from: www.inspired-self-help-shortcuts.com]

The learners expected their results to correspond with the results in

the table above but they do not.

Explain why the results of the learner’s investigation are not very
reliable. (2)
(6)

3.3 Read the following extract on cystic fibrosis and answer the questions that
follow.

Cystic Fibrosis (CF)

CF is a progressive, genetic disorder caused by a recessive allele on

chromosome number 7. One in twenty people of European descent carry the
CF allele. One in 400 couples of European descent will be carriers of CF.

The disorder causes persistent lung infections and limits the ability to breathe
over time. In people with cystic fibrosis, the defective gene causes a thick,
build-up of mucus in the lungs and it clogs the airways and traps bacteria
leading to infections and then eventually respiratory failure.

3.3.1 State why cystic fibrosis is not a sex-linked disease. (1)

3.3.2 Use a genetic cross to show the percentage of children that will be
affected if one of the parents is heterozygous and the other is
homozygous normal. The recessive allele is represented as b (6)
(7)
[15]

TOTAL SECTION B 34

TOTAL 50

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