BSC410S – BASIC SCIENCE: PARTTIME TEST 1 QUESTION PAPER – 20 AUGUST 2015
POLYTECHNIC OF NAMIBIA
SCHOOL OF HEALTH AND APPLIED SCIENCES
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL AND APPLIED SCIENCES
BASIC SCIENCE PARTTIME TEST 1
INITIALS:
SURNAME:
STUDENT NUMBER:
MODE OF STUDY:
QUALIFICATION:
LECTURE VENUE:
COURSE NAME:
COURSE CODE:
BASIC SCIENCE
BSC410S
DATE:
20 AUGUST 2015
DURATION:
1H15
MARKS:
/40
THIS QUESTION PAPER CONSISTS OF 5 PAGES INCLUDING THIS FRONT
COVER
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Answer all questions
2. Please write neatly and legibly
3. Show all steps used in calculations where required.
4. No books, notes and other additional aids are allowed.
5. Only a scientific calculator is allowed
Page 1 of 5
BSC410S – BASIC SCIENCE: PARTTIME TEST 1 QUESTION PAPER – 20 AUGUST 2015
SECTION A: BIOLOGY
[20 MARKS]
QUESTION 1 [20 MARKS]
Question Type: Multiple Choices. Each answer equals 2 marks.
1.1 All of the following statements about ecology are correct except:
A. Ecology is the study of the interactions between biotic and abiotic aspects of
the environment.
B. Ecology is a discipline that is independent from natural selection and
evolutionary history.
C. Ecologists may study populations and communities of organisms.
D. Ecology spans increasingly comprehensive levels of organization, from
individuals to ecosystems.
E. Ecological studies may involve the use of models and computers.
1.2 Introduced species to an ecosystem
A. can disrupt the balance of the natural species with which they become
associated.
B. often fail to colonize the new area.
C. may become common enough to become pests.
D. Both B and C are correct.
E. A, B, and C are all correct.
1.3 All of the following would have a direct effect on the amount of precipitation in an
area except:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
mountain ranges.
air circulation cells.
continental drift.
ocean currents.
evaporation from vegetation
1.4 You are working for the Environmental Protection Agency considering the effect of
a potentially toxic chemical in drinking water. There is as yet no documented scientific
evidence against the chemical, but many suspect it to be a health hazard. Using the
Precautionary Principle, what would be a reasonable environmental policy?
A. Establish a contingency fund to handle insurance claims in the event that the
chemical turns out to produce negative health effects.
B. Caution individuals to use their own judgment in deciding whether to drink
water from a potentially contaminated area.
C. Set the acceptable levels conservatively low, and keep them there unless
future studies show that they can be safely raised.
D. Set the acceptable levels at the highest levels encountered, and keep them
there unless future studies demonstrate negative health effects.
E. Establish no regulations until there are conclusive scientific studies.
Page 2 of 5
BSC410S – BASIC SCIENCE: PARTTIME TEST 1 QUESTION PAPER – 20 AUGUST 2015
1.5 Which of the following levels of organization is arranged in the correct sequence
from most to least inclusive?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
ecosystem, community, population, individual
community, ecosystem, individual, population
individual, population, community, ecosystem
population, ecosystem, individual, community
individual, community, population, ecosystem
1.6 The species with thin population localised within restricted area is said to be
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Rare
Threatened
Endangered
Vulnerable
Extinct
1.7 The reason for certain animals getting endangered are:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Hunting
Pollution of environment
Natural calamities
Loss of habitat
All of above
Question 1.8 – 1.10 (Please refer to the diagram below)
1.8 Which of the following organisms is most likely to be located at the apex of the
pyramid of biomass?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
grass
grasshopper
snake
mouse
hawk
Page 3 of 5
BSC410S – BASIC SCIENCE: PARTTIME TEST 1 QUESTION PAPER – 20 AUGUST 2015
1.9 All of the following statements about the above diagram are correct EXCEPT:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
The grasshopper is an herbivore.
Only two trophic levels are depicted.
The mouse and grasshopper are at the same trophic level.
The grass is a producer.
All of the organisms except grass are consumers, regardless of position.
1.10 The organic and inorganic materials in all the organisms in the diagram will
eventually return to the environment by the action of
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
decomposers
producers
primary consumers
secondary consumers
top carnivores
SECTION B: PHYSICS
[20 MARKS]
QUESTION 2 [20 MARKS]
2.1When is a body said to have possess an elastic property?
[2]
2.2 An applied force (Fapp) of 50 N is used to accelerate an OBJECT A to the right
across a frictional surface. The object encounters 10 N of friction (Ffrict).
Hint: neglect air resistance
Use the diagram above to determine the:
a.
b.
c.
d.
Normal force (Fnorm)
Net force
Mass of the object
Acceleration of the object
[1]
[2]
[2]
[2]
2.3 Define the following terms.
[3]
a. Force
b. Vector
[1]
[2]
Page 4 of 5
BSC410S – BASIC SCIENCE: PARTTIME TEST 1 QUESTION PAPER – 20 AUGUST 2015
c. Inertia
[2]
2.4 List three effects a force can have on a stationary object.
[3]
END
TOTAL: 40 MARKS
Page 5 of 5