GUYANA

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

NATIONAL GRADE NINE ASSESSMENT

2019

SCIENCE

PAPER 1

TIME: 1 hour

READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU ATTEMPT TO ANSWER

THE QUESTIONS.

1. This test contains 40 questions. You are required to answer ALL questions. Four responses are given for each question. The responses are A, B, C and D.

Only ONE response is correct. 2. On your Answer Sheet find the number which corresponds to your question and

shade the same letter as the one you have chosen. Here is an example done for you.

1. The two gases which combine to make water are hydrogen and ANSWER SHEET

(A) carbon dioxide. (B) carbon monoxide. 1. A B C D

(C) nitrogen. (D) oxygen.

Note: The letter D is shaded on the answer sheet because oxygen, the correct answer, is next to D.

3. If you are not sure of the answer to a question then choose the one which you think is BEST. Shade the letter you have chosen. 4. If you want to change your answer, erase your old answer completely, then

shade your new choice. 5. When you are told to begin, turn the page and work as quickly and as carefully

as you can. If you cannot answer a question, omit it and go on to the next one. You can return to that question later. 6. The test contains 40 items. You will have 60 minutes to answer them.

DO NOT TURN OVER THIS PAGE UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD TO DO SO.

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1. The first step in photosynthesis is (A) producing sugar. (B) splitting of water molecule. (C) trapping light energy. (D) producing water. 2. In addition to sunlight, the other substances required by the plant for photosynthesis

are (A) sugar and water.

(B) oxygen and carbon dioxide.

(C) water and oxygen.

(D) carbon dioxide and water.

3. Which of the following is the type of teeth that is not fully developed in humans but is well developed in lions?

(A) Premolars (B) Molars (C) Canines (D) Incisors 4. The opening at the end of the digestive tract in which solid wastes are eliminated is the (A) liver. (B) anus. (C) mucosa. (D) oesphagus.

5. In which of the following systems of the body does egestion occur? (A) Digestion (B) Respiration

(C) Reproduction (D) Circulation

6. A screw driver is being used to open the lid of a can. The screw driver is best

described as a

(A) wedge. (B) wheel and axle.

(C) screw. (D) lever.

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7. Which of the following figures below, is in a least stable position?

(A) (B)

(C) (D)

8. The type of soil that contains the least amount of water or nutrients is

(A) loam. (B) silt.

(C) clay. (D) sand.

9. Which of the following can best be referred to as ‘pure clay’?

(A) Silica. (B) Mud.

(C) Calcite. (D) Kaolin.

10. At which level in a food chain can autotrophs organisms be found? (A) 1 (B) 2

(C) 3 (D) 4

11. A solution with a pH of 2 can best be described as

(A) slightly acid. (B) strongly acidic.

(C) slightly alkaline. (D) strongly alkaline.

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12. Sunlight reaches the earth by (A) conduction. (B) convection. (C) radiation. (D) precipitation.

13. Which statement correctly describes the outcome of photosynthesis?

(A) Water molecules are turned into carbon dioxide then food

(B) Carbon dioxide and water form food molecules

(C) Carbon dioxide and oxygen combine to make food molecules

(D) Sunlight is converted into carbon dioxide and then food

14. Rhizome is to ginger as corm is to

(A) sweet potatoes. (B) plantain.

(C) eddoes. (D) cassava

15. Which of the following statements correctly distinguishes between autotrophs and heterotrophs?

(A) Only heterotrophs need chemicals from the environment

(B) Respiration is special to heterotrophs

(C) Only heterotrophs have mitochondria

(D) Autotrophs use carbon dioxide to produce food

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16. During an experiment to study photosynthesis, the boiled leaf was placed in

various conditions. The experiment that best represents chlorophyll extraction is

Clear Alcohol Clear Alcohol

Hot water water at room temperature

(A) (B)

Clear Alcohol Clear Alcohol

Cold water Lukewarm water

(C) (D)

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Study the diagram of the Digestive System carefully, then answer questions 17 and 18.

17. Which of the following statements is incorrect?

(A) During digestion soluble food is expelled from the body

(B) Ingestion is the first part of digestion

(C) Soluble nutrients usually diffuse into the blood stream

(D) Digestion involves a chemical and a mechanical process

18. The completion of the digestion of lipids takes place in (A) I (B) II

(C) III (D) IV

I

III

IV

II

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19. A drop of iodine solution was added to a food sample. A blue-black colour was observed. This indicated the presence of

(A) fats. (B) starch. (C) protein. (D) sugar. 20. All of the following are forces except (A) mass. (B) up thrust. (C) weight. (D) friction.

Study the activities of four children as stated below then answer question 21.

(A) Tom sitting at the piano

(B) Jim lying on a bed

(C) Jen skipping

(D) Sue raising her hand over her head

21. Which one of the children has the most stable equilibrium? (A) Tom (B) Jim

(C) Jen (D) Sue

22. Which sequence represents the correct order for manufacturing clay bricks?

(A) Clay in the kiln, clay in the box feeder, clay being mixed, clay under heavy rollers

(B) Clay in the box feeder, clay in the kiln, clay under heavy rollers, clay being

mixed (C) Clay being mixed, clay in the kiln, clay under heavy rollers

(D) Clay under the box feeder, clay being mixed, clay under heavy rollers, clay in the kiln

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23. Which soil would most likely drain the fastest? (A) Soil in a rice field (B) Soil on a beach

(C) Soil in the cane field (D) Soil on a cricket ground

Study the food chain carefully, then answer questions 24 and 25.

Tomato plant Caterpillar Kiskadee Cat

24. A farmer applied insecticide to his tomato plant. Which member of the food chain will be affected the most?

(A) Tomato plant (B) Caterpillar

(C) Kiskadee (D) Cat

25. All of the following will most likely occur if the insects are removed from the food

chain except the (A) tomato plant will be in abundance.

(B) tomato plant may die.

(C) kiskadee will decrease in numbers.

(D) cat will migrate in search of food.

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Study the diagram of the food web below carefully, then answer questions 26 and 27.

hawks snakes spiders

insects mice

seed- eating birds small birds

grasses, fruits, grass-seeds

26. An example of omnivores in the food web would be (A) snakes. (B) small birds.

(C) mice. (D) hawks.

27. Which of the organisms in the web is a carnivore?

(A) Small birds (B) Insects

(C) Mice (D) Snakes

28. An element has seven (7) electrons in the outer most shell of its atoms. The element

is most likely (A) hydrogen. (B) oxygen.

(C) nitrogen. (D) chlorine.

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29. What is the electronic configuration of an atom containing 11 electrons in its shells? (A) 2.7.2 (B) 2.6.3

(C) 2.8.1 (D) 2.5.4

30. The sound with the highest pitch is

(A) a teacher teaching her class.

(B) the beating of a bass drum.

(C) children singing.

(D) the screeching of an owl.

31. Which of the following energy conversions is most likely to occur when a battery-

operated lamp is switched on? (A) Chemical electrical light

(B) Electrical light chemical

(C) Electrical chemical light

(D) Chemical light electrical

.

32. All of the following are true except that the forest

(A) maintains a uniform flow of water.

(B) helps to maintain stable temperatures.

(C) yields a wide variety of products.

(D) is maintained by higher rates of logging.

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33. If carbon dioxide is in short supply, what is most likely to happen during

photosynthesis? (A) Less food is made (B) No food is made (C) More food is made (D) More nutrients absorbed

Study the graph carefully then answer question 34.

34. Which of the graphs best represents the pH of hydrochloric acid found in the

stomach?

(A) and (B) and

(C) and (D) and

35. After chewing on a piece of bread, Stacy noticed that the bread tasted sweeter. What caused the bread to taste sweeter?

(A) Amylase (B) Lipase

(C) Peptidase (D) Maltase

2

II

I

i

III

I

IV

4 6 8

pH

I

Amount

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36. Several communities in Guyana are affected by mining activities. Which of the following results from the harmful effects of mining?

(i) The rivers and creeks silt up

(ii) Erosion increases

(iii) Sub-lethal levels of mercury enter our water sources

(A) (i) and (iii) only (B) (i) and (ii) only

(C) (i), (ii) and (iii) (D) (i) and (iii)

Study the diagram then, answer question 37.

37. Which of the following explains the purpose of the string? The string (A) keeps the cardboard in place.

(B) is used to draw intersecting lines on cardboard.

(C) keeps the stone in place.

(D) is used to measure the perimeter of cardboard.

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38. In which way would elements bond to form new substances? They

(i) lose or gain electrons

(ii) share electrons

(iii) bump into each other

(iv) gain or lose protons

(A) (i) and (ii) only (B) (i) and (iii) only

(C) (ii), (iii) and (iv) only (D) (i), (iii) and (iv) only

Study the information below then answer questions 39 and 40.

John irons his clothes every morning for about 30 minutes from Monday to Friday

using an iron rated at 750 watts and 250 volts.

39. The current used in the ironing of John’s clothes is _____________ amperes.

(A) 3 (B) 15 (C) 16 (D) 30 40. The price of fossil fuel is rising. One form of alternative energy that can reduce the

use of fossil fuel but is most difficult to harness is (A) hydropower (B) tidal waves. (C) solar energy. (D) wind energy.

END OF ASSESSMENT

Soil A Water drained

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GUYANA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

NATIONAL GRADE NINE ASSESSMENT

2019

SCIENCE

PAPER 1

MARK SCHEME

1. C 21. B

2. D 22. D

3. C 23 B

4. B 24. B

5. A 25. B

6. D 26. B

7. C 27. D

8. D 28. D

9. D 29. C

10. A 30. D

11. B 31. A

12. C 32. D

13. B 33. A

14. C 34. A

15. D 35. A

16. A 36. C

17. A 37. B

18. C 38. A

19. B 39. A

20. A 40. B