MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

FIJI YEAR 9 FINAL EXAMINATION 2015

BASIC SCIENCE

Time Allowed: Two Hours

(An extra ten minutes is allowed for reading this paper.)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Write all your answers in the Answer Book provided.

2. Write your Name and Year Level on the front page of the Answer Book.

3. If you use extra sheets of paper, be sure to show clearly the question
number(s) being answered and tie each sheet securely in the Answer
Book at the appropriate place.

4. You may use a calculator, provided it is silent, battery-operated and

non-programmable.

5. There are three sections in this paper. Sections A, B and C.

Sections A, B are compulsory. Note the choices in Section C.

SUMMARY OF QUESTIONS

Total Suggested
Section Guidelines
Mark Time

A There are thirty multiple-choice questions.

All are compulsory. 30 36 minutes

B There are ten short-answer questions.

All are compulsory. 60 72 minutes

C There are four paragraph questions.

Answer two questions only. 10 12 minutes

COPYRIGHT: MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, FIJI, 2015.

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INSTRUCTIONS: HOW TO ANSWER MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS

The following shows how to answer Section A of the Marking Sheet. Using a pencil,
draw a cross in the box next to the letter of best answer on the Marking Sheet.

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. On the Marking Sheet, draw a cross in the box next to the letter of the best
answer with a pencil.
For example, if you select B as your answer, you should draw a cross in the
box next to the letter B.

33 A B C D

2. If you change your mind, shade out your answer as shown, and place a
cross in the box for your new answer.

33 A B C D

3. If you change your mind again and like your first answer better, shade out
your second answer and tick () your first answer.

For example: A B C D
33


4. If your cross is too big for the box, or if you draw a circle, your answer may be
marked wrong.
cross is too big circles are not to be used

A B C D A B C D
32 34

5. No mark will be given if you cross more than one letter as the answer for a
question.

© MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, FY9FE 2015: BASIC SCIENCE.

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SECTION A MULTIPLE CHOICES QUESTIONS [30 marks]

The thirty multiple-choice questions in this section are all compulsory. Each
question is worth 1 mark.

1. The structure of the leaf that regulates water loss and gas exchange
is the:

A. guard cell C. xylem

B. palisade mesophyll D. spongy mesophyll

2. Which of the following does not result from the cutting and burning
of forest?

A. Hurricanes
B. Greenhouse effect
C. Addition of CO2 to the atmosphere
D. Decreased removal of CO2 from the atmosphere

3. Where in the plant cross section will you find this structure?

Phloem
Xylem

Source: mhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/schools

A. Leaf C. Stem
B. Root D. Flower

4. What is the primary energy source for life on earth?

A. Water C. Sun
B. Air D. Nuclear

Turn Over
© MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, FY9FE 2015: BASIC SCIENCE.
 4.

Use the diagram below to answer the question.

B
D

Source: http://star.livingsystems.food.com

5. Which of the following organisms is a decomposer?

A. A C. C
B. B D. D

6. One of the adaptive features of the aquatic plants is

A. strengthening tissue in stems and leaf petioles

B. an extensive root system to anchor them solidly in the ground
C. air filled cavities often extend throughout the leaves and stems
D. good strengthening structures in their stems and branches

7. What is the main purpose of the flower?

A. reproduction C. to look pretty

B. to attract bees D. to smell good

8. Which of these is not a human activity that affects the ecosystem?

A. overhunting C. deforestation
B. pollution D. storm

9. Air pollution will directly affect the

A. ocean C. soil
B. rivers D. atmosphere

© MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, FY9FE 2015: BASIC SCIENCE.

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10. The nucleus of an atom consists of

A. electron
B. neutron
C. protons and neutrons
D. protons, neutrons and electrons

11. In a solid, the particles of matter are

A. changing form C. quickly moving

B. packed tightly D. spread out

12. When a beaker of water is heated its volume increases a little

because the particles are

A. getting smaller C. moving faster

B. getting bigger D. moving slower

13. Which of the following is the property of detergents? They

A. are edible
B. are poisonous
C. are biodegradable
D. do not form lather in hard water

14. Which one of the following instructions is the proper way of

heating a test tube?

A. Point the test tube to yourself.

B. Always use a test tube holder.
C. Heat the bottom of the test tube
D. Have the test tube more than one third full.

15. The symbol for the element Chlorine is

A. CL C. C
B. Cl D. Ch

16. Water with the formula H2O is a

A. atom C. molecule
B. element D. mixture

Turn Over
© MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, FY9FE 2015: BASIC SCIENCE.
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17. Which of the following chemical equations represent burning of

carbon to form carbon dioxide?

A. C + O CO
B. C + O2 CO2
C. C2 + O C2 O
D. C2 + O2 C2O2

18. Which of these sources of energy is renewable?

A. Tides C. Fossil
B. Coal D. Oil

19. The form of energy produced by the generator below is

Source: http://urjainternational.org

A. electrical energy C. chemical energy

B. thermal energy D. nuclear energy

20. This bulb is showing an energy transfer.

Source: http://www.presentationprocess.com

Which of the following shows the transfer of energy?

A. Electrical Energy Heat and Light

B. Electrical Energy Mechanical
C. Chemical energy Light energy
D. Chemical Energy Heat energy
© MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, FY9FE 2015: BASIC SCIENCE.
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21. The diagram below shows light acting on a surface. Identify

the type of material that is shown here?

Source: http://imagecage.com/ 1

A. light C. opaque
B. translucent D. transparent

22. A thermometer has 20 equal divisions between 90°C and 100°C marks. The
mercury mark on the thermometer is on the 19th mark above 90°C. What is
the reading?

A. 90.19oC C. 109oC
B. 99.5oC D. 119oC

23. The main heat energy losses from a house are shown in the
diagram.

roof (5%)
window (10%)

doors (10%)

walls
(……….%) draughts (10%)

How much energy is lost through the walls?

A. 10% C. 35%
B. 60% D. 65%

Turn Over
© MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, FY9FE 2015: BASIC SCIENCE.
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24. On the moon, the astronauts weighed about six times less than they did on
the Earth. If Joe, an astronaut weighed 600N on Earth, how much will he
weigh on the moon?

A. 360N C. 1000N
B. 100N D. 3600N

25. Two tugboats are moving a barge. Tugboat A exerts a force of 2000 newtons to
the right on the barge and Tugboat B exerts a force of 4000newtons in the
opposite direction. Which arrow diagram shows the individual and combined
forces of the tugboats?

A. + =

B. + =

C. + =

D. + =

26. A solar eclipse is most likely to occur when the

A. sun is located between the earth and moon.

B. moon is located between the sun and the earth.
C. earth is located between the sun and the moon.
D. earth and moon are at right angles to each other.

27. Which of the following is true about satellites?

A. are circular
B. are only man made
C. move on the ground
D. are objects that moves around larger objects

28. Scientists study the weather patterns by the help of

A. navigator
B. weathering
C. weather satellites
D. communication satellites

© MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, FY9FE 2015: BASIC SCIENCE.

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29. Which of the following is not a greenhouse gas?

A. CFC’s C. Methane
B. Oxygen D. Carbon dioxide

30. The ozone layer is important to the living things because it

A. absorbs ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun

B. contributes to greenhouse gasses
C. causes rise in sea level
D. gives rise to global warming

SECTION C PARAGRAPH WRITING (10 marks)

Choose only TWO of the questions from the FOUR questions given below and
write a paragraph on each of the questions you have chosen using approximately
75 words.

EITHER

QUESTION 1:

Water pollution is becoming an increasing problem in Fiji.

Discuss this statement by

 choosing one water pollution problem that you experience in your

neighbourhood.
 including two cause of water pollution and its effect on the environment.
 suggesting two ways of minimising this problem.

OR

QUESTION 2:

Energy conservation is necessary in any action.

Discuss this statement by

 identifying one best energy source from your local community.

 explaining two reasons for this energy source being the best.
 suggesting two ways in which you can conserve energy so that you can have
enough left for the next generation.

Turn Over
© MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, FY9FE 2015: BASIC SCIENCE.
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OR

QUESTION 3:

Our climate is changing and its impact is evident from the changing weather
pattern.

Discuss this statement by

 identifying one other effect of climate change seen in your local community.
 giving two reasons for the cause of this change.
 suggesting two ways in which you can minimise the effect of this climate
change.

OR

QUESTION 4:

The coral reef is an ecosystem which has a lot of resources.

Discuss this statement by

 identifying two resources from the coral reef.

 giving two importance of these resources
 describing one way in which you can protect these resources.

THE END

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COPYRIGHT: MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, FIJI, 2015.