NATIONAL

Basic Education
KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

REPRODUCTIVE STRATEGIES AND

HUMAN REPRODUCTION

INFORMAL TEST

NATIONAL
SENIOR CERTIFICATE

GRADE 12

MARKS: 100

TIME: 2 hours

N.B. This question paper consists of 13 pages.

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Life Sciences 2 TOPIC TEST
Grade 12
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 answers 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. ALL drawings must be done in pencil and labelled in blue or black ink.

7. Draw diagrams, flow charts or tables 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 must use a non-programmable calculator, protractor and a compass

where necessary.

11. Write neatly and legibly.

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Life Sciences 3 TOPIC TEST
Grade 12
SECTION A

QUESTION 1

1.1 Various options are given as possible answers to the following questions.
Choose the answer and write only the letter (A to D) next to the question
number (1.1.1 to 1.1.8) in the ANSWER BOOK, for example 1.1.9 D.

1.1.1 Internal fertilisation is the fusion of haploid nuclei of…..

A male and female gametes in the body of the female

B male and female gametes outside the body of the female
C A haploid male gamete with a diploid female gamete inside the
body of the female
D A haploid male gamete with a female somatic cell inside the
body of the female

1.1.2 The strategy by the parent where food and protection are provided
to increase survival of the offspring…

A altricial
B parental care
C ovipary
D precocial

1.1.3 A surgical removal of a prostate gland may decrease the chances

of reproduction in males because….

A sperm cell can die in the acidic condition of a vagina

B sperm cell produced will be abnormal and unable to move
C no sperm cells will be released during copulation only semen
D immature sperm cells will be released into the vagina

1.1.4 The hormone responsible for the development of female secondary

sexual characteristics is….?

A testosterone
B progesterone
C oestrogen
D FSH

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Life Sciences 4 TOPIC TEST
Grade 12

1.1.5 The diagram below represents a foetus in the uterus

During gestation which numbered part(s) filter(s) metabolic waste

from the foetus?

A 1 only
B 1 and 2
C 2 and 3
D 1, 2 and 3

1.1.6 Which structures secrete progesterone during pregnancy?

A Pituitary gland and corpus luteum

B Corpus luteum and placenta
C placenta and Graafian follicle
D Pituitary gland and Graafian follicle

1.1.7 The correct order of the parts through which spermatozoa pass is

A vas deferens → epididymis → ureter.

B vas deferens → seminal vesicles → urethra.
C epididymis → vas deferens → urethra.
D epididymis → vas deferens → ureter.

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Life Sciences 5 TOPIC TEST
Grade 12
1.1.8 The table below shows the average length of human foetuses.

Gestation/Pregnancy FOETAL LENGTH (cm)

TIME (weeks) Female Male
8 1 1
16 12 13
24 18 19
36 12 13
40 5 6

Which ONE of the following statements about the information in the

table is correct?

A The female foetus grows at the same rate as the male foetus
B The female foetus grows faster than the male foetus
C The male foetus grows faster than the female foetus
D Growth is the same at the end and at the beginning

8x2 (16)

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 1.2.6) in your ANSWER
BOOK.

1.2.1 The stage when secondary sexual characteristics develop in males

and females

1.2.2 A structure in the head of a sperm containing digestive enzymes

1.2.3 The fluid surrounding the developing foetus in the uterus

1.2.4 Stores sperm cells temporarily until mature.

1.2.5 The finger-like projections that develop from the outer extra-
embryonic membrane

1.2.6 The external part of the female genitalia

6x1 (6)

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Life Sciences 6 TOPIC TEST
Grade 12

1.3 Indicate whether each of the statements in COLUMN I apply 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 1.3.4)
in the ANSWER BOOK.

COLUMN I COLUMN II

1.3.1 The blood vessel that transports oxygenated A: Umbilical vein

blood from the placenta to the foetus
B: Umbilical artery

1.3.2 Place where fertilisation occurs in humans A: Fallopian tube

B: Cervix

1.3.3 The young develop and is nourished in an A: Vivipary

amniotic egg that is retained in the mother's
body B: Ovipary

1.3.4 Stimulates ovulation A: Oestrogen

B: LH

(4x 2) (8)

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Life Sciences 7 TOPIC TEST
Grade 12
1.4 Diagram 1 below shows an amniotic egg and Diagram 2 shows a one-day-old
hatchling

1.4.1 Identify parts:

(a) W (1)

(b) Y (1)

1.4.2 Give the LETTER and NAME of the part in Diagram 1 that collects (2)
nitrogenous waste and assists in the exchange of gases.

1.4.3 Give the function of part Y. (1)

1.4.4 Name TWO visible features of the hatchling in Diagram 2, which

indicate altricial development. (2)

1.4.5 Diagram 1 represents ovipary.

Name ONE possible advantage of vivipary compared to ovipary. (1)

1.4.6 Explain how internal fertilisation occurs

(2)

(10)

TOTAL SECTION A: [40]

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Life Sciences 8 TOPIC TEST
Grade 12
SECTION B

QUESTION 2

2.1 The diagram below represents the human life cycle.

2n 2n

2n

Adult

Zygote
Gametes

Fertilisation

[Link]
2.1.1 Name the type of cell division responsible for the process taking
place at:

(a) A (1)

(b) B (1)

2.1.2 How many pairs of chromosomes are present in the zygote? (1)
2.1.3 Name the hormone responsible for the secondary sexual changes
during process C in males. (1)

2.1.4 Name and describe the process A as it occurs in males. (4)

Name the developmental structures, between zygote formation and

2.1.5
birth that:
z

(1)
(a) is a ball of cells
(1)
(b) Is a hollow ball of cells
(1)
(c) Is formed after implantation

(11)

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Life Sciences 9 TOPIC TEST
Grade 12

2.2 The diagram below represents the human male reproductive system.

2.2.1 Identify part:

(a) A (1)

(b) C (1)

2.2.2 Write down the LETTERS only of TWO parts that secrete
substances that promote movement and provide nutrition to the
spermatozoa. (2)

2.2.3 Test results show that a man has a low sperm count.

Explain why the doctor advises the man not to put his laptop
(computer), which radiates heat, on his lap. (4)

(8)

2.3 Draw and label the structure of the sperm cell. (5)

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Life Sciences 10 TOPIC TEST
Grade 12

2.4 An investigation was carried out to determine the effects of smoking during
pregnancy on the baby’s birth weight. Babies born weighing 2499g or less
have low birth weight.

The table below compares the percentage of babies with a low birth weight
born to mothers who smoked with mothers who did not smoke in a certain city
in 2009.

2.4.1 Draw a histogram to represent the percentage of births in each

weight group born to mothers who smoked.
[6]

QUESTION 3

3.1 The chart below represents the hormonal control of the ovarian cycle in a
female. Study the chart and answer the following questions

3.1.1 Identify the following

(a) Structure X (1)

(b) Process Y (1)

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Life Sciences 11 TOPIC TEST
Grade 12
3.1.2 Explain the effect on pregnancy if structure Z disintegrates directly (3)

after implantation.
(3)
3.1.3 Describe the development of structure X.
(4)
3.1.4 Describe ovulation and the resulting formation of structure Z.

(12)

3.2 The diagram below shows the structure of a developing human foetus in the
uterus. Study the diagram and answer the questions that follow.

3.2.1 Identify the Letter that represents the following:

(a) Foetus (1)

(b) Umbilical cord (1)

3.2.2 Give TWO functions of amniotic fluid. (2)

3.2.3 Region D serves as a barrier between the growing foetus and the
mother. Provide TWO reasons why this barrier is necessary. (2)

(6)

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Life Sciences 12 TOPIC TEST
Grade 12

3.3 An investigation was conducted to determine the effect of zinc

supplementation on the levels of testosterone in the blood of weightlifting
males. The procedure was as follows:

60 healthy weightlifting males of the same age were asked to participate in

the investigation.
• They were given the same diet for 6 weeks
• Their testosterone levels in the blood were measured every day for the
6- week period
• They were given a zinc supplement with their diet every day for 6
weeks
• The testosterone levels in the blood were measured again every day
• The average levels of testosterone in the blood were measured again
every day
• The average levels of testosterone in blood were calculated before and
after the zinc supplement

The average free testosterone per group before and after the investigation is
recorded in the table below:

Average testosterone in the blood

(ulU/mL)
Before administering the zinc supplement 16,8
After administering the zinc supplement 22,5

3.3.1 Identify the following in this investigation the:

(a) Independent variable (1)

(b) Dependent variable (1)

3.3.2 Describe the control that was conducted for this investigation. (2)

3.3.3 State TWO variables that should have been considered about the (2)
zinc supplements to ensure the validity of the investigation.

3.3.4 State TWO ways in which the reliability of the results was ensured
in this investigation. (2)

3.3.5 Write a general conclusion that can be drawn from the results
obtained. (2)

3.3.6 State TWO functions of testosterone in male reproduction. (2)

(12)
[30]

TOTAL SECTION B: 60
GRAND TOTAL: 100
.
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