NATIONAL

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

GENERAL AND HUMAN EVOLUTION

INFORMAL TEST

NATIONAL
SENIOR CERTIFICATE

GRADE 12

MARKS: 100

TIME: 1½ hours

N.B. This question paper consists 12 of pages.

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Life Sciences / HARRY GWALA 2 EVOLUTION 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. Number the answers correctly according to the numbering system used

in this question paper.

4. Present your answers according to the instructions of each question.

5. ALL drawings must be done in pencil and labelled in blue or black ink.

6. Draw diagrams, flow charts or tables only when asked to do so.

7. The diagrams in this question paper are NOT necessarily drawn to scale.

8. Do NOT use graph paper.

9. You must use a non-programmable calculator, protractor and a compass

where necessary.

10. Write neatly and legibly.

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Life Sciences / HARRY GWALA 3 EVOLUTION 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 1.1.10) in the ANSWER BOOK, for example 1.1.11 D.

1.1.1 The table below shows the number of differences in the amino acid
sequence of the protein albumin in four species of primates.

Which TWO species are likely to have separated most recently,

according to the results on the table?

A Humans and monkeys

B Gorillas and gibbons
C Gibbons and monkeys
D Gorillas and humans

1.1.2 Below is a list of fossils discovered in South Africa:

1 Taung child
2 Little foot
3 Karabo
4 Mrs Ples

Which of the fossils above are classified as the species

Australopithecus africanus?

A 1, 2 and 3
B 1, 2 and 4
C 2, 3 and 4
D 1, 3 and 4

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Life Sciences / HARRY GWALA 4 EVOLUTION TOPIC TEST
Grade 12

1.1.3 The genus Australopithecus means …

A Australian man.
B southern ape.
C ape that used tools.
D upright ape.

1.1.4 Study the diagrams of hominid skulls below.

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

1.1.5 Evidence of hominid cultural evolution can be found in the fossil record.
This evidence would include the …
A position of the attachment of the spine to the head.
B length of the upper limbs compared to the length of the lower
limbs.
C number of teeth present in the skull.
D presence of stone tools.

1.1.6 According to Lamarck's theory for evolution

A acquired characteristics are not inherited.
B organisms evolve because they adapt to their environment
C there is variation amongst offspring.
D environmental changes have no influence on species

1.1.7 The following are characteristics of a group of animals

(i) Able to interbreed

(ii) Occupy the same habitat
(iii) Produce infertile offspring
(iv) Belong to the same species

Which combination CORRECTLY represents a population

A (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv)
B Only (i), (ii) and (iv)
C Only (i), (ii) and (iii)
D Only (i) and (iv)

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Life Sciences / HARRY GWALA 5 EVOLUTION TOPIC TEST
Grade 12

1.1.8
Speciation has occurred when …
A two populations can no longer interbreed and produce
fertile offspring.
B populations are separated by a geographical barrier.
C populations go extinct.
D a mutation has occurred in an individual organism.

1.1.9 The diagrams below show the forelimbs of some vertebrates

The type of evidence for evolution represented is...

A fossil evidence
B biogeography.
C modification by descent
D genetic evidence
9x2 (18)
1.2
1.2.1 Opening in the skull through which the spinal cord enters

1.2.2 A diagram showing evolutionary relationships amongst different

species

1.2.3 Intermediate fossils showing features of both more primitive and

more advanced organisms

1.2.4 Large, pointed teeth in African apes that are used for tearing food

1.2.5 The study of animal and plant distribution as a form of evidence for
evolution

1.2.6 The evolutionary theory that proposes long periods where species
do not change, alternating with short periods where rapid changes
occur

1.2.7 A set of well-tested ideas that explains a phenomenon in science

and is supported by sufficient experimental evidence (7)

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Life Sciences / HARRY GWALA 6 EVOLUTION 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 1.3.2)
in the ANSWER BOOK.

COLUMN I COLUMN II

1.3.1 Provides genetic evidence for A Mitochondrial DNA

the ‘Out of Africa’ hypothesis
B DNA from X chromosomes

1.3.2 Reproductive isolating A: breeding in the same

mechanism in species season of the year
B: infertile offspring

(2 x 2) (4)

1.4 Fossil evidence for humans may be interpreted in different ways. One possible
model of human evolution is shown below.

1.4.1 How long ago did the most recent common ancestor of H. erectus and
H. heidelbergensis exist on earth? (1)

1.4.2 Name the family to which all of the represented organisms belong. (1)

1.4.3 How many genera are shown in the diagram above (1)

1.4.4. Explain a possible reason why H. ergaster was placed between A. (2)
afarensis and H. heidelbergensis on the model.
(5)

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Life Sciences / HARRY GWALA 7 EVOLUTION TOPIC TEST
Grade 12
1.5 The diagram below shows the evolution of flightless birds and the continents
on which they exists at the present moment

1.5.1 Use the information on the diagram to describe how biogeography (4)
supports the evolution theory

1.5.2 Describe how it can be proven that ostrich and rhea are different (2)
species

(6)

TOTAL SECTION A: [40]

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Life Sciences / HARRY GWALA 8 EVOLUTION TOPIC TEST
Grade 12
SECTION B

QUESTION 2

2.1 The photographs of two butterflies are provided below. Both butterflies live in the
same habitat and are preyed on by predators. Although these butterflies are very
similar in appearance, they are two separate biological species.
Amauris ochlea has an unpleasant taste, while Hypolimnas deceptor does not
have an unpleasant taste.

2.1.1 State TWO sources of variation in a population (2)

2.1.2 Explain why most predators are less likely to feed on Hypolimnas (2)
deceptor

2.1.3 Use Darwin's theory of evolution through natural selection to explain the (6)
evolution of the appearance of the Hypolimnas deceptor butterfly.

(10)

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Life Sciences / HARRY GWALA 9 EVOLUTION TOPIC TEST
Grade 12
QUESTION 2.2

2.2 Dogs have been selected and bred over many years to produce approximately 340 different
dog breeds. They have been bred for certain characteristics desirable to humans.
An analysis of 736 base pairs of the cytochrome-b gene showed that grey wolves are the only
direct ancestor to present-day dog breeds. All dog breeds belong to the species Canis
familiaris.
The table below shows some dog breeds and their desirable characteristics

2.2.1 Name the process whereby the different breeds of dogs were produced (1)

2.2.2 Describe how humans carried out the process named in QUESTION 2.1.1 (3)

2.2.3 Explain how it can be confirmed that all these dog breeds belong to the same (2)
species.

2.2.4 Explain which of the dog breeds shown would best be used for hunting.
(2)
2.2.5 Explain how present-day dog breeds may be disadvantaged in relation to their (3)
common ancestor.
(11)

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Life Sciences / HARRY GWALA 10 EVOLUTION TOPIC TEST
Grade 12

2.3 The E. coli bacterium lives in the intestines of pigs where they reproduce rapidly. Certain
strains of E. coli cause diarrhoea in young pigs (piglets).
Scientists carried out an investigation using 100 piglets to determine the resistance of E. coli to
two antibiotics, A and B.
The scientists:
 Injected the piglets with antibiotic A and antibiotic B
 Took a sample of E. coli from the intestines of each piglet a week later and placed them
in separate petri dishes
 Allowed the bacteria to grow for 24 hours
 Added antibiotic A to one petri dish and antibiotic B to the other petri dish
 Measured the growth of the bacteria in each petri dish after 24 hours
 Used the growth measurement as an indication of the resistance of the bacteria to each
antibiotic
 Repeated the process over a period of six months
 Calculated the average percentage resistance to both antibiotics

The results are shown in the graph below.

2.3.1 Identify…
a) Independent variable in this investigation.
b) Dependent variable in this investigation (2)

2.3.2 Identify TWO factors that should be kept constant during the investigation. (2)

2.3.3 State TWO ways in which the scientists ensured the reliability of the investigation. (2)

2.3.4 Which antibiotic will you recommend for controlling E. coli in piglets? (1)

(2)
2.3.5 Support your answer to QUESTION 2.2.4 using evidence in the graph.
(9)

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Life Sciences / HARRY GWALA 11 EVOLUTION TOPIC TEST
Grade 12

3.1 Read the following extract.

3.1.1. State TWO characteristics from the extract that also apply to the (2)
Homo species.

3.1.2. Define the term transitional fossil. (1)

3.1.3. Professor Berger called Australopithecus sediba a transitional

fossil. Use TWO characteristics from the passage to support the
above statement. (2)

3.1.4. Explain THREE characteristics of a skeleton which are

adaptations to bipedalism.
(6)

3.1.5. The modern human has the largest brain volume of all Homo
species. What is the significance of a larger brain size in Homo
sapiens? (2)

(13)

3.2. 3.2.1. The ‘Out of Africa’ hypothesis states that Homo sapiens
originated in Africa and spread from here to the rest of the world.

Describe the evidence that supports the ‘Out of Africa’

hypothesis. (6)

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Life Sciences / HARRY GWALA 12 EVOLUTION TOPIC TEST
Grade 12
3.3 Diagrams A and B below illustrate the skulls of Homo erectus and Homo
sapiens. Study them and answer the questions that follow. Diagrams are
drawn to scale.

3.3.1. Which diagram (A or B) represents Homo sapiens? (1)

3.3.2. Tabulate THREE visible differences between diagrams A and B (7)

3.3.3. Describe the significance of Homo erectus to the "out of Africa" (2)
hypothesis.

3.3.4. Give ONE name of the TWO hominin genera that were ONLY found (1)
in Africa.

(11)

TOTAL SECTION B: 60

GRAND TOTAL: 100

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