LIFE SCIENCES

Grade 11
TOPIC TEST: human impact on the environment
Marks: 30 Time: 30 minutes
___________________________________________________________________________________

SECTION A
QUESTION 1
1.1 Various possible options are provided as answers to the following questions. Choose
the answer and write the letter (A-D) next to the question number (1.1.1 – 1.1.2) in
your answer book. e.g. 1.1.3 D

1.1.1 Which ONE of the following is a sustainable method used to improve food
security that will not damage the environment?
A Excessive use of fertilisers to improve yield
B Continuous use of pesticides to reduce pests
C Practice of monoculture as a farming method
D Practice of crop-rotation as a farming method

1.1.2 Which ONE of the following refers to an aquifer?

A An increase in the temperature of water bodies as a result of water from
industries
B Planting of the same crop on the same area repeatedly
C An underground permeable rock saturated with water
D The release of water with chemicals from mines
(2x2) (4)

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 to 1.2.2) in the ANSWER BOOK

1.2.1 The illegal hunting and killing of organisms

1.2.2 A plant species introduced into an environment from another country
(2x1) (2)

1.3 Indicate whether each of the descriptions in COLUMN I applies to 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 Common water-borne disease A: TB
B: Cholera
1.3.2 Greenhouse gas A: Methane
B: Nitrogen
(2x2) (4)
TOTAL SECTION A: 10

SECTION B
Copyright Reserved
Life Sciences 2 Human Impact
Grade 11

QUESTION 2
Read the extract below.

Typhoid affects humans only and is a severe illness that is caused by drinking
water that is contaminated by the bacterium Salmonella typhi, commonly found in
human faeces. An investigation was carried out to determine the number of cases
of typhoid in KwaZulu Natal over 1 year.

The average rainfall per month during the year was also recorded. The results of
the investigation are shown in the table below.

Average Rainfall Number of cases of

Month (mm) typhoid
January 170 24
February 185 30
March 41 15
April 35 12
May 12 11
June 4 6
July 7 2
August 18 5
September 26 12
October 52 15
November 117 17
December 120 18

2.1 Name the bacterium that causes typhoid. (1)

2.2 In which month was typhoid LEAST common in the province? (1)
2.3 What is the relationship between the number of cases of typhoid and the average (2)
rainfall in the province during the year?
2.4 Draw a bar graph to show the number of cases of typhoid from July to October. (6)
(10)

QUESTION 3

3 Study the following extract based on food security.

Life Sciences 3 Test: Human Impact
Grade 11

Every year, a third of all food for human consumption, about 1,3 billion tons, is wasted
in the world. The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) estimated that the
carbon footprint of wasted food was equivalent to 3,3 billion tons of carbon dioxide a
year. The FAO suggests that more efficient use of food could contribute to global
efforts to cut greenhouse gases and thus limit global warming.

In the industrial world, much of the waste comes from consumers buying too much
and throwing away what they do not eat. In developing countries, it is mainly the result
of inefficient farming and a lack of proper storage facilities.

3.1 Define food security (2)

3.2 Explain how wastage of food contributes to loss of energy and global (2)
warming.
3.3 State TWO effects of global warming (2)
3.4 Use the information in the passage to suggest FOUR ways in which food
wastage could be reduced. (4)
(10)
TOTAL SECTION B: 20
GRAND TOTAL 30
 LIFE SCIENCES
Topic Test Marking guideline
Human Impact on the Environment

MARKS: 30

SECTION A
Question 1

1.1. D
1
1.1. C (4)
2

2.1. Poaching
1
2.1. Alien/Exotic
2
(2)
3.1. B only
1
3.1. A only
2
(4)
(10)
SECTION B

Question 2

2.1 Salmonella typhi (1)

2.2 July (1)
2.3 The higher the rainfall the higher the number of cases of typhoid
OR
The lower the rainfall the lower the number of cases of typhoid (2)

2.4 Number of cases of typhoid

Cases of typhoid in KZN from July to October

16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
July August September October
Month
Life Sciences 2
NSC – Grade 11

Marking Guideline
Criteria Mark
allocation
Type of graph (T) 1
Caption (C) 1
Labelling of x-axis and y-axis with units (L) 1
Scale on x-axis and y-axis (S) 1
Plotting of bars (P)
1 to 3 bars plotted correctly 1
All 4 bars plotted correctly 2
(6)
(10)

Question 3

3.1 Food security refers to the availability and access to adequate, safe, and
nutritious food to people at all times (2)
3.2 More food will need to be produced thus utilising more energy needed to
produce package as well as energy needed to dispose of food this contributes
to the increase in carbon dioxide emissions which eventually led to global
warming. (any 2) (2)
3.3 - Changes in weather patterns such as an increase in rainfall in some areas and
drought in others
- An increase in the number and intensity of extreme weather events for
example: cyclones, high winds and hailstorms
- Changes in food production due to temperature changes
- Reduction in availability of water supplies due to droughts
- Increase in evaporation from water surfaces such as oceans, lakes, dams, and
rivers due to high temperatures
- Changes in the composition and location of forests due to changes in
weather patterns
- Reduction in biodiversity
- Rise in sea levels due to polar ice melting, flooding low lying coastal towns
- Threats to human health due to changes in weather patterns/ flooding/drought
(Mark first TWO only) (2)
3.4 - Buy only what is needed in sufficient quantities
- Give to others what is not used instead of throwing away
- Educate about efficient farming methods
- Educate about ways to preserve food
- Improve storage facilities
(Mark first FOUR only) (4)
(10)
[20]
GRAND TOTAL: 30
Life Sciences 3
NSC – Grade 11