St.

Stephen’s Girls’ College

Mid-year Examination 2020-2021

Form 1 SCIENCE SYF, PYM, JSCL, WYY

176 students Time allowed: 1 hour 15 minutes

Name: ______________________________ Class:________ No: ________

Instructions:
1. This paper consists of two sections. Section A (Conventional Questions) carries 90 marks and
Section B (Multiple Choice Questions) carries 10 marks.

2. Answer ALL questions on this Question-Answer Paper.

Marks

Section A

Section B

Total
F.1 Science Mid-Year Examination 2020-2021

Section A – Conventional Questions (90 marks)

1. The figure on the right shows how a man is transferring a chemical
into a test tube for heating.
(a) Name the safety equipment the man uses to protect his eyes.
(1 mark)
__________________________________________________
(b) Name the safety equipment the man uses to protect his hands.
(1 mark)
__________________________________________________
(c) State one mistake that the man has made, as observed in the figure. (1 mark)
__________________________________________________________________________
(d) The chemical has two hazard warning labels on its storage bottle as shown in the figures.
(i) Name the labels. (2 marks)

Label X: _________________ Label Y: ________________________

(ii) Based on your answer in (i), how should the man heat the chemical? Explain your
answer briefly. (2 marks)
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
(iii) Suggest one OTHER precaution when heating chemical in a test-tube. (1 mark)
____________________________________________________________________
(Total: 8 marks)

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F.1 Science Mid-Year Examination 2020-2021

2. In an experiment, a liquid chemical is heated with an immersion electrical heater

as shown in the figure on the right. The temperature of the chemical is measured
every minute.
(a) The chemical has a hazard label on its storage bottle as shown. Name the
label. (1 mark)

Name of label: ________________________

(b) State one precaution in heating a chemical with the label in (a). (1 mark)
_________________________________________________________________________
(c) Suggest an apparatus suitable to hold the chemical during heating. (1 mark)
_________________________________________________________________________
(d) State the instrument that is used to measure the temperature of the liquid. (1 mark)
_________________________________________________________________________
(e) For accurate measurement, the chemical should be stirred during heating. Name the apparatus
used for stirring. (1 mark)
_________________________________________________________________________
(f) State the instrument that is used to measure time during the experiment. (1 mark)
_________________________________________________________________________
(Total: 6 marks)
3. (a) A forest fire is a fire that burns trees and underbrush in a forest. When the weather is hot, dry
or windy, or when thunderstorms occur; there is danger of a forest fire. Dry lightning often
causes forest fires because there is no rain to stop a fire spreading.
Explain how dry lightning causes forest fires with reference to the conditions in the fire
triangle. (3 marks)

(b) As well as water, fire fighters might use fire beaters to put out fires. The
diagrams on the right show beaters being used to put out a fire.
Explain how water and fire beaters put out a fire.
Water

Fire beaters

(2 marks)
(Total: 5 marks)

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F.1 Science Mid-Year Examination 2020-2021

4. The diagram on the right shows a Bunsen burner.

(a) Name A to D. (4 marks)
A: ____________________
B: ____________________
C: ____________________
D: ____________________
(b) When lighting a Bunsen burner, explain why:
(i) the air hole should be closed. (1 mark)
_______________________________________________________________________
(ii) the match is lit before turning on the gas tap. (1 mark)
______________________________________________________________________
(c) The blue flame is better than the yellow flame for boiling water. Why? (1 mark)
______________________________________________________________________
(d) If the flame turns green and a hissing sound is heard, what is the situation called? (1 mark)
_______________________________________________________________________
(Total: 8 marks)
5. Peter added some salt to a beaker of water to make a salt solution. He Salt solution
wanted to see if he could recover the salt when all the water is removed
from the salt solution. He used the experimental set up in the drawing on water
the right to remove water from the salt solution.
(a) What quantity should Peter measure to find out the amount of salt?
_________________ (1 mark)
(b) What instrument could be used to take the measurement in (a)?
_________________ (1 mark)
(c) Write a hypothesis for the experiment. (1 mark)

(d) Draw a labelled diagram of his set up. Do not draw the Bunsen burner. Use an arrow to
represent the heat released by the Bunsen burner. (6 marks)

(Total: 9 marks)

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F.1 Science Mid-Year Examination 2020-2021

6. Mike sets up an experiment to find out whether a bottle of carbon dioxide heats up faster than a
bottle of air.
(a) Suggest 3 variables that must be kept the same for the two set ups A and B. (3 marks)

Instrument X

carbon
air dioxide
heater
A B
1.
2.
3.
(b) The table below shows the results obtained from the experiment. Plot a graph to show the
results. Write a title for the graph. (6 marks)
Time/minute 0 5 10 15 20
Temperature in A / C 21 22 24 25 26
Temperature in B / C 21 23.5 26 28 29

Title: ________________________________________________________________

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F.1 Science Mid-Year Examination 2020-2021

(c) Write a conclusion for Mike’s experiment. (1 mark)

(Total: 10 marks)

7. The diagram below shows the measuring of the volume of a piece of rock.

rock

(a) Name apparatus X and Y in the diagram.

X : ____________________________ Y: ________________________ (2 marks)
(b) Read the volume of the rock from the diagram on the right. Choose a suitable unit.
____________________________ (1 mark)
(Total: 3 marks)

8. The following experimental set-ups are used to investigate the factors affecting the rate of ice
melting. The details of the set-ups are shown in diagram and table below. Two identical ice-
cubes are added to beakers A, B and C.

Ice-cube
water
A B C
Table showing the contents of the beakers:
A B C
Volume of water (mL) 50 50 30
Temperature of water at the beginning of the experiment (oC) 60 25 60
Time taken for complete ice melting (minute) 0.5 2 0.8
(a) What conclusion (if any) can you draw from comparing the results of set-ups A and B?
_________________________________________________________________________
(1 mark)
(b) What conclusion (if any) can you draw from comparing the results of set-ups A and C?
__________________________________________________________________________
(1mark)
(c) What conclusion (if any) can you draw from comparing the results of set-ups B and C?
__________________________________________________________________________
(1 mark)
(d) What can be done to reduce the error in measurement?
_________________________________________________________________________
(1 mark)
(Total: 4 marks)

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9. Mary completed four experimental set-ups (A, B, C and D) according to the diagram shown below.
500 cm3 of water in 5oC, 25oC, 45oC and 65oC was put into a basin in set-up A, B, C and D
respectively. The initial water levels in each set-up were the same. She observed the changes in
the water level in the glass tube for 10 minutes.

(a) (i) State changes in water levels in each set up after 10 minutes. (3 marks)
Set-up Water temperature in Changes in water level
the basin (oC)
A 5 *increased / remained unchanged / decreased
B 25 *increased / remained unchanged / decreased
C 45 *increased / remained unchanged / decreased
D 65 *increased / remained unchanged / decreased
(*Circle the correct answer.)

(ii) Explain the change in water level in set-up D using the particle theory. (3 marks)

(b) As well as the initial water level, state one other controlled variable in the experiment.

(1 mark)
(c) Mary wanted to observe sharper changes in water level in a shorter period of time in each
set-up without changing any water temperature. Suggest a method for her. (1 mark)

(Total: 8 marks)

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F.1 Science Mid-Year Examination 2020-2021

10. A jar containing oil is placed in room temperature. Given that the density of oil is 0.92 g/cm3,
(a) add oil particles to the diagram to show the arrangement of oil particles in the jar. One oil
particle has been drawn for reference. (2 marks)

(b) A piece of ice is put into the jar as shown below.

(i) What can you deduce about the densities of ice and oil? (1 mark)

(ii) After 5 minutes, the ice turns into water and a density column is formed. Draw the
density column in the jar and label each layer. (1 mark)

Explain your answer. (1 mark)

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(c) John uses two identical pieces of Play-doh each with a mass of 23 g and volume of 15 cm3
to make objects X and Y as shown below. Object X is a cuboid and object Y is a cuboid
with 9 cm3 air space. Assume the mass of air inside the cuboid is zero.

Object X with no air space Object Y with 9 cm3 air space

(i) Find the densities of objects X and Y respectively. Show your working. (4 marks)

(ii) Draw and label objects X and Y in the correct position in the density column in
(b)(ii) above. (2 marks)
(Total: 11 marks)

11. The diagram below represents a water molecule.

Atom A
Atom B
(a) (i) What is atom A and atom B respectively? (2 marks)
Atom A: ______________________ Atom B: ______________________
(ii) Write the chemical formula of water. __________ (1 mark)
(b) The diagrams below show two states of water.

State C State D
Name states C and D. (2 marks)
State C: ______________________ State D: ______________________
(c) Explain with reference to particle arrangements whether the statements about states C and D
are true or not. (* Circle the correct answer)
(i) Both states C and D have a fixed volume. *True / false (1 mark)
______________________________________________________________________
(ii) State C cannot be compressed but state D can. *True / false (2 marks)
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

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F.1 Science Mid-Year Examination 2020-2021

(iii) Both states C and D have fixed shapes. *True / false (3 marks)
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
(Total: 11 marks)
12. Peter designed an experiment to show that spaces exist between particles. He mixed 20 ml of
water and 20 ml of alcohol and measured the total volume of the mixture.

(a) (i) What is the expected result of the experiment? (1 mark)

The volume of the mixture should be *smaller than/ equal to / larger than 40 ml.
(*Circle the correct answer.)
(ii) Write two main points about the particle theory that support your answer in (a)(i).

(2 marks)
(b) Peter CANNOT observe the expected result in (a)(i). Suggest how Peter can improve his
experiment.

(1 mark)
(c) Explain the following phenomenon using the particle theory. Draw a diagram to help your
explanation.
“An inflated balloon becomes deflated after a few days”

(3 marks)
(Total: 7 marks)

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F.1 Science Mid-Year Examination 2020-2021

Section B – Multiple Choice Questions (10 marks)

Choose the best answer for each question and write the corresponding letter in the boxes below.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

1. If your hand is accidentally burnt by a hot object, the first thing you should do is
A. to apply cream.
B. to dress the affected area.
C. to report it to the teacher.
D. to wash the affected area with running water.

2. Which of the following apparatuses is/are suitable to hold a hot metal bar during heating?
(1) Test tube holder
(2) Tongs
(3) Forceps
A. (1) only B. (2) only C. (1) and (2) only D. (2) and (3) only

3. A Bunsen burner is in use and the flame suddenly turns green and a loud sound is heard. Which
of the following statements is/are correct about this situation?
(1) The air hole should be closed immediately.
(2) The gas tap should be closed immediately.
(3) The gas is incompletely burnt.
A. (2) only B. (1) and (2) only C. (1) and (3) only D. (2) and (3) only

4. Which of the following about a Bunsen flame is INCORRECT?

A. A blue flame is more regular than a yellow flame.
B. A yellow flame is a luminous flame.
C. A blue flame is produced when the air hole is closed.
D. The height of the flame can be adjusted by adjusting the air hole.

5. A girl understood that plants needed minerals for healthy growth. She placed a plant under the
sun as shown below.
Sunlight

Sand, minerals and water

In order to check her understanding, she needed to use another set-up. Which of the following
should she use?
A. Dark cupboard B. Dark cupboard C. Sunlight D. Sunlight

Sand, minerals and water Sand and water Sand only Sand and water

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6. Which of the following is NOT an example of observation?

A. Carbon dioxide is released when a can of soft drink is poured into a glass.
B. Ice floats on water.
C. Leaves are green.
D. Vinegar smells sour.

7. A student observes a drop of diluted milk suspended in water under a microscope.

Which of the following statements is correct?
A. The milk particles cannot be seen.
B. The milk particles do not move.
C. The milk particles move in one direction.
D. The milk particles move randomly.

8. The figure below shows the change in particles in a substance during process X.

process X

Which of the following could be process X?

(1) Expansion of the substance while heating
(2) Contraction of the substance while cooling
(3) Freezing
(4) Condensation
A. (2) only B. (4) only C. (1) and (4) only D. (2) and (3) only

9. A balloon is attached to the mouth of a bottle that contains air. The diagram on the
right shows the air particles (dots represent the air particles) inside the bottle.

The bottle is now placed in hot water and the balloon becomes inflated. Which of
the following diagrams best show the air particles inside the bottle and the balloon?

A. B. C. D.

.
10. Hot chocolate solidifies quickly at room temperature so the chocolate particles:
A. become smaller.
B. change to new solid particles.
C. lose some energy.
D. move faster.

~~ END of PAPER ~~

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