Name Index Number Class

ST. ANTHONY'S CANOSSIAN SECONDARY SCHOOL

End-of-Year Examination 2024
Secondary 2

SCIENCE G3 PAPER 2

3 October 2024

Setter: MS GRACE THNG 2 hours

Setters: (Total time for Paper 1 and 2)

READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST

Write your name, index number and class on all the work you hand in.
Write in dark blue or black pen. You may use a soft pencil for any diagrams, graphs or rough
working.
Do not use staples, paper clips, highlighters, glue or correction fluid.

If working is needed for any question, it must be shown with the answer.
Omission of essential working will result in loss of marks.
Calculators should be used where appropriate.

Section A: Consists of 7 Structured Questions.

Answer all questions in the spaces provided.

Section B: Consists of 3 Free Response Questions.

Answer all questions in the spaces provided.

The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.

A copy of the Periodic Table is printed on page 17.

For Examiner’s Use

MCQ 30
Section A 40
Section B
30
Total
100
Name of Subject Teacher: Mr Lim / Ms Ng / Ms Thng Parent’s signature:

This document consists of 17 printed pages.

[Turn over
 2

Section A: Structured Questions (40 marks)

1 Fig. 1.1 shows the arrangement of electrons in atoms A, B, C, D, E and F.

key
electron

Fig. 1.1

Use the letters A, B, C, D, E and F to answer the following questions. The letters may be
used once, more than once, or not at all.

(a) (i) Identify the atom that is unreactive.

……………………………………………………………...…………………………..[1]

(ii) Identify the atom that represents fluorine.

……………………………………………………………...…………………………..[1]

(b) (i) Determine the number of electrons that atom B must gain in order to attain a
stable electronic configuration.

……………………………………………………………...…………………………..[1]

(ii) State the chemical formula of the ion formed by B.

……………………………………………………………...…………………………..[1]

(c) (i) State the electronic configuration of a sulfur atom.

……………………………………………………………...…………………………..[1]

(ii) Draw the electronic structure of the ion formed by sulfur.

[2]

[Total: 7]
 3

2 Fig. 2.1 shows a stationary ball of mass 2 kg on an inclined slope with a rough surface. The
dimensions of the slope are shown in Fig. 2.1.

ball

80 cm 30 cm
rough surface

Fig. 2.1

(a) Calculate the gravitational potential energy of the ball when it is at the top of the slope.
Take gravitational field strength to be 10 N/kg.

gravitational potential energy = …………….. J [2]

(b) The ball is released from the top of the inclined slope from rest.

(i) On Fig. 2.1, draw and label the frictional force acting on the ball as it rolls down
the slope. [1]

(ii) When the ball moves down the slope, 2 J of energy is converted to thermal
energy. Calculate the speed of the ball just before it touches the ground.

speed = …………….. m/s [3]

[Total: 6]
[Turn over
 4

3 Fig. 3.1 shows a food web in the Arctic.

baleen whale leopard seal

krill penguin
arctic cod

orca
plankton

Fig. 3.1

(a) Identify one organism in Fig. 3.1 that is both a primary and secondary consumer.

…………..…..….……………………………………………………………………………..[1]

(b) Identify the food chain in Fig. 3.1 that provides the most amount of energy to the last
consumer in the food chain.

[1]

(c) Explain why food chains usually have fewer than five trophic levels.

………………………….…………………………….……………….…………………………

………………………….…………………………….……………….…………………………

………………………….…………………………….……………….…………………………

………..…..….…….……………………………………………………………..…………..[2]

(d) Overfishing of arctic cod has caused the arctic cod population to greatly decrease.
Explain how this will affect the population of the orca.

………………………….……………………………………………..…………………………

………..…..………….………………………………………………………………………..[2]

[Total: 6]
 5

4 An electric heater is placed near the surface of the water in a beaker. Two temperature
sensors A and B are placed in the water, as shown in Fig. 4.1.

sensor A
heater

water
sensor B

Fig. 4.1

Fig. 4.2 shows the temperature changes recorded by each sensor.

temperature of
water (°C) sensor A

sensor B

time (min)

Fig. 4.2

(a) State the main heat transfer process involved when thermal energy flows from the

heater to the water around sensor A: ………………….………………

heater to the water around sensor B: ………………….……………… [2]

(b) Describe and explain the temperature changes recorded by sensor B.

…………………….……………………………………………………………………………….

…………………….……………………………………………………………………………….

…………………….……………………………………………………………………………….

…………………….……………………..……………………………………………………..[3]

[Total: 5]
[Turn over
 6

5 A student sets up the circuit in Fig. 5.1.

battery ammeter

coil of
lamp wire
variable resistor

Fig. 5.1

(a) In the space provided, draw a circuit diagram that represents the circuit in Fig. 5.1.

[2]

(b) A student investigates the current flowing through the lamp as she changes the
potential difference across the lamp.

On the same circuit diagram you have drawn in (a), draw a symbol of the device that
will measure the potential difference across the lamp. [1]

(c) The resistance on the variable resistor is reduced. State what happens to the

reading on the ammeter: …………………………………..

reading on the device in (b): …………………………………... [2]

[Total: 5]
 7

6 Fig. 6.1 shows the key events that lead to pregnancy.

foetus foetus foetus foetus

(20 weeks) (16 weeks) (10 weeks) (4 weeks)

Fig. 6.1

(a) Using Fig. 6.1, describe the key events that happen in the female reproductive system
that lead to the formation of a foetus.

…………………….……………………………………………………………………………..

…………………….……………………………………………………………………………..

…………………….……………………………………………………………………………..

…………………….………………………………………………..…………………………[3]

[Turn over
 8

(b) Fig. 6.2 is a pie chart which shows the percentages of the different types of birth control
used globally.
natural birth
control
methods 1%
birth control pill condom 14%
16%

vasectomy 4%

contraceptive
injection 6%
tubal
ligation
34%

intra-uterine
device 25%

Fig. 6.2

(i) Suggest why individuals would choose to use permanent birth control methods.

………………………….…………………………….……………….…………………..

………………………….…………………………….……………….……………….[1]

(ii) Natural birth control methods can be unreliable and pregnancy can still occur.

Explain how natural birth control methods work. Suggest why they are unreliable.

………………………….…………………………….……………….…………………..

………………………….…………………………….……………….…………………..

………………………….…………………………….……………….……………….[2]

[Total: 6]
 9

7 Calcium carbonate reacts with nitric acid to form a salt, a gas, and water.

(a) State the observation when calcium carbonate is added to nitric acid.

………..…..….…….……………………………………………………………..…………..[1]

(b) Describe a test for the gas produced and the expected observations.

………………………….…………………………….……………….…………………………

………………………….…………………………….……………….…………………………

………..…..….…….……………………………………………………………..…………..[2]

(c) Write a balanced chemical equation for the reaction between nitric acid and calcium
carbonate.

………..…..….…….……………………………………………………………..…………..[2]

[Total: 5]

[Turn over
 10

Section B: Free Response Questions (30 marks)

8 Fig. 8.1 shows a model of an organ in the digestive system. The tubing is made of a partially
permeable membrane.

tubing

water
starch solution
mixed with
beaker carbohydrase

Fig. 8.1

(a) (i) Identify the parts in the human body represented by the model in Fig. 8.1.

tubing: …………..…..….……………………..

water: …………..…..….…………………….. [1]

(ii) Benedict’s solution is a blue solution used to test for the presence of simple
sugars. When simple sugars are present, a brick-red precipitate is formed. When
simple sugars are absent, the solution remains blue.

Using Fig. 8.1, state and explain the expected observation when Benedict’s
solution is used to test a sample of water from the beaker after one hour.

expected observation: ………………..………………………………………………..

.…..…..….………………………………………………………………………………..

explanation: ……………………………………………………………………………..

.…..…..….………………………………………………………………………………..

.…..…..….………………………………………………………………………………..

.…..…..….……………………………………………………………………………..[3]

(iii) Other than your answer in (a)(i), identify the other organ where starch is digested.

.…..…..….……………………………………………………………………………..[1]
 11

(b) The model in Fig. 8.1 is used to investigate the digestion of starch.

Suggest the changes that a student should make to the model if she wishes to
investigate the digestion of protein.

………………………….…………………………….……………….…………………………

………………………….…………………………….……………….………………………[1]

(c) Table 8.1 shows the changes in blood glucose levels of two people after breakfast.

Table 8.1

time after blood glucose level of blood glucose level of

breakfast (h) person A (g / dL) person B (g / dL)
0.0 100 85
0.5 150 100
1.0 200 130
1.5 175 90

(i) Using Table 8.1, identify the person who has diabetes.

.…..…..….……………………………………………………………………………..[1]

(ii) Using Table 8.1 and your knowledge of how the blood glucose level of a diabetic
person changes after food intake, explain your answer to (c)(i).

.…..…..….………………………………………………………………………………..

.…..…..….………………………………………………………………………………..

.…..…..….……………………………………………………………………………..[2]

(iii) State one way to reduce the risk of diabetes.

.…..…..….……………………………………………………………………………..[1]

[Total: 10]

[Turn over
 12

9 Fig. 9.1 shows the experimental set-up to determine the point of neutralisation for the reaction
between dilute hydrochloric acid and potassium hydroxide.

retort stand burette

hydrochloric acid

conical flask

potassium hydroxide

Fig. 9.1

Hydrochloric acid was gradually added to potassium hydroxide, 2.00 cm³ at a time. After
each addition, the temperature of the mixture was measured. The results for this experiment
are shown in Table 9.1.

Table 9.1

volume of acid
0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 10.00 12.00 14.00
added (cm3)
temperature of
21.0 24.2 27.5 30.7 32.9 31.2 29.4 27.6
the mixture (°C)
 13

(a) Using the results from Table 9.1, plot a graph of the temperature of the mixture against
the volume of acid added on Fig. 9.2. Draw two straight lines which pass through all
points. The lines should intersect and show the rise and fall in temperature.

temperature of the mixture (°C)

volume of acid added (cm3)

Fig. 9.2
[2]
(b) The acid and alkali neutralise each other at the point where the two straight lines
intersect. Using your graph in (a),

(i) determine the highest temperature reached during neutralisation.

highest temperature reached = …………….. °C [1]

(ii) determine the volume of hydrochloric acid required to neutralise the potassium
hydroxide.

volume of hydrochloric acid = …………….. cm3 [1]

[Turn over
 14

(iii) Write the word equation for the reaction between hydrochloric acid and potassium
hydroxide.

.…..…..….……………………………………………………………………………..[1]

(c) The pH value of the mixture in the conical flask can also be monitored using:
• a pH indicator, such as the methyl orange indicator and
• a pH meter, which shows the exact pH value of a solution that it is submerged in.

Methyl Orange is a pH indicator that appears as red between pH 0 – 4 and yellow from
pH 4 – 14.

(i) Fill in Table 9.2.

Table 9.2

appearance of the solution if methyl

progress of reading on the
orange is added at the beginning of the
reaction pH meter
experiment
before the point
of neutralisation

at the point of
neutralisation

after the point of

neutralisation

[3]

(ii) Suggest one benefit of using a pH meter instead of pH indicators such as methyl
orange.

.…..…..….……………………………………………………………………………..[1]

(iii) Other than the methods stated in (c) above, state another method that can be
used to monitor the changes in pH value of the mixture in the conical flask.

.…..…..….……………………………………………………………………………..[1]

[Total: 10]
 15

10 A solar thermal panel is mounted on the roof of a house. Fig. 10.1 shows the cross-section
of one part of the panel.

sunlight

trapped air
copper pipe,
painted matt black

water in
copper pipe glass sheet

insulating material attached metal backing sheet,

to the metal backing sheet painted matt black

Fig. 10.1

A pump circulates water through the copper pipes. The water is heated as it passes through
the solar thermal panel.

(a) (i) Explain why the pipes and the backing sheet are painted black.

.…..…..….………………………………………………………………………………..

.…..…..….……………………………………………………………………………..[2]

(ii) Explain why an insulating material is attached to the metal backing sheet.

.…..…..….………………………………………………………………………………..

.…..…..….……………………………………………………………………………..[2]

(iii) State the energy conversion that occurs when water is heated by a solar thermal
panel.

.…..…..….……………………………………………………………………………..[1]

[Turn over
 16

(b) It is useful to compare the costs of conventional electric storage water heaters and solar
thermal panels to determine cost savings before installing solar thermal panels.

(i) The power rating of an electric storage heater is 1125 W. The electric storage
heater is used for an average of 2 hours daily. Calculate the daily energy
consumption in kWh.

electrical energy consumption = …………….. kWh [1]

(ii) The electrical tariff is 27 cents per kWh. Given that there are 365 days in a year,
calculate the annual cost savings of using solar thermal panels instead of an
electric storage heater. Leave your answer to the nearest cent.

cost savings = $ …………….. [2]

(c) Suggest one advantage and one disadvantage of using solar thermal panels instead
of conventional electric storage water heaters.

.…..…..….…………………...…………………………………………………………………..

.…..…..….…………………...…………………………………………………………………..

.…..…..….…………………...…………………………………………………………………..

.…..…..….…………………...…………………………………………………………………..

.…..…..….…………………...………………………………………………….……………[2]

[Total: 10]

END OF PAPER
17

[Turn over