Competency-Based Science Question Paper

Section A: Multiple Choice Questions (20 x 1 = 20 Marks)[Chemistry - Hard/Competency] A student

dissolved equal molar amounts of sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3)
in water. Which of the following statements about the resulting solutions is most accurate?a) Both
solutions will have the same pH value.b) The Na2CO3 solution will be more basic than the
NaHCO3 solution.c) Both solutions will neutralize the same volume of a standard HCl solution.d)
Adding a drop of phenolphthalein will turn the NaHCO3 solution pink, but not the Na2CO3 solution.
[Physics - Hard/Competency] A convex lens forms a real image of an object. If the upper half of the
lens is covered with an opaque shield, what happens to the image?a) The image shifts upwards.b)
The image shifts downwards.c) The entire image is formed, but its intensity decreases.d) Only the
lower half of the image is formed. [Biology - Hard/Competency] Which of the following events
represents a breakdown of the typical pathway of energy flow in an ecosystem (Producer →
Primary Consumer → Secondary Consumer)?a) A deer eating grass.b) Decomposers acting on
dead organic matter.c) A frog eating an insect.d) A cow eating the remains of a predator.
[Chemistry] Identify the type of reaction when an iron nail is placed in copper sulphate solution:a)
Decomposition reactionb) Combination reactionc) Displacement reactiond) Double displacement
reaction [Physics] The phenomenon of light responsible for the formation of the rainbow is:a)
Reflectionb) Refraction and Dispersionc) Total internal reflectiond) Scattering [Biology] The correct
sequence of parts in the human alimentary canal is:a) Mouth → Stomach → Esophagus → Small
intestine → Large intestineb) Mouth → Esophagus → Stomach → Large intestine → Small
intestinec) Mouth → Esophagus → Stomach → Small intestine → Large intestined) Mouth →
Stomach → Esophagus → Large intestine → Small intestine [Physics - Hard/Competency] Two
resistors, R1 and R2, are connected in parallel. If R1 > R2, which statement about the current (I)
flowing through them is correct?a) I1 = I2b) I1 > I2c) I1 < I2d) The current depends only on the
voltage source. [Chemistry - Hard/Competency] An element X belongs to Group 14 and Period 3 of
the Modern Periodic Table. Which of the following represents its valency and nature of its oxide?a)
Valency 4, Basic Oxideb) Valency 2, Acidic Oxidec) Valency 4, Acidic Oxided) Valency 4,
Amphoteric Oxide [Biology - Hard/Competency] In a plant experiment, the leaves of a plant are
marked as 'A' (exposed to light) and 'B' (kept in dark). After a few hours, when tested for starch,
Leaf A shows a positive result, and Leaf B shows a negative result. This proves that:a) Oxygen is
necessary for photosynthesis.b) Sunlight is necessary for photosynthesis.c) Carbon dioxide is
necessary for photosynthesis.d) Chlorophyll is necessary for photosynthesis. [Physics] A fuse wire
is a safety device that functions based on the:a) Magnetic effect of currentb) Chemical effect of
currentc) Heating effect of currentd) Mechanical effect of current (Questions 11-14 are
Assertion-Reason type questions. Mark the correct choice.) (A) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R)
are true, and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A). (B) Both Assertion (A) and
Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A). (C) Assertion
(A) is true, but Reason (R) is false. (D) Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true. [Chemistry -
Hard/Competency] Assertion (A): The burning of methane gas is an oxidation reaction. Reason (R):
Oxidation is a process that involves the addition of oxygen or removal of hydrogen. (B) [Biology -
Hard/Competency] Assertion (A): In sexually reproducing organisms, the offspring show genetic
variations. Reason (R): Variation arises due to the accumulation of errors during DNA copying and
combination of DNA from two different individuals. (A) [Physics - Hard/Competency] Assertion (A):
The magnetic field lines outside a bar magnet emerge from the North pole and merge at the South
pole. Reason (R): The magnetic field is a vector quantity, having both magnitude and direction. (B)
[Chemistry] Assertion (A): Graphite is a good conductor of electricity. Reason (R): Graphite has a
giant molecular structure with all its valence electrons tightly held by the C-C bonds. (C) [Biology]
Which process is responsible for the movement of water from the roots to the leaves in tall trees?a)
Translocationb) Osmosisc) Transpiration pulld) Diffusion [Physics - Hard/Competency] A student
stands at 20 cm from a concave mirror of focal length 15 cm. The nature of the image formed is:a)
Real, inverted, and magnified.b) Real, inverted, and diminished.c) Virtual, erect, and magnified.d)
Virtual, erect, and diminished. [Chemistry] The IUPAC name of the compound CH3CH2COOH is:a)
Propanoneb) Propanoic acidc) Ethanold) Propane [Biology - Hard/Competency] If a parent plant is
heterozygous for a trait (e.g., Tt), what is the probability of its gametes carrying the recessive allele
(t)?a) 100%b) 75%c) 50%d) 25% [Physics] Which of the following is the most efficient device for
converting electrical energy into mechanical energy?a) Electric Heaterb) Electric Motorc) Electric
Bulbd) Electric Geyser [Chemistry - Hard/Competency] An exothermic reaction occurs in a beaker.
What would be the observation and the primary reason for it?a) Temperature decreases; heat is
absorbed from the surroundings.b) Temperature increases; heat is released to the surroundings.c)
Temperature remains constant; energy is neither absorbed nor released.d) Formation of a
precipitate; two solutions mix. (Sections B–E continue with competency and case study questions in
Chemistry, Physics, and Biology as described in the prompt.)