*W39B*

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Pre-Junior Cycle Final Examination 2024

Science
(Option B)
Common Level
Time – 2 hours
360 marks For Examiner
Ques on Mark Ques on Mark

1 11
2 12
3 13
4 14
5 15
6
7
8
School use only:
9 Total
Spelling Waiver Granted
10 %
Grade
*01*
Instructions

Write your details in the boxes on the front cover.

There are two sec ons in this examina on paper.

Sec on A 150 marks 10 ques ons

Sec on B 210 marks 5 ques ons

Answer all parts of all ques ons.

You may ask the superintendent for a copy of the Formulae and Tables booklet. You must return
it at the end of the examina on. You are not allowed to bring your own copy into the
examina on.

Not all the ques ons carry equal marks. The number of marks for each ques on is stated at the
top of the ques on.

Write your answers in the spaces provided in this booklet. You are not required to use all of the
space provided. There is extra space at the end of Sec on A and at the back of the booklet. Label
any extra work clearly with the ques on number and part.

This examina on booklet will be scanned and your work will be presented to an examiner on
screen. Anything that you write outside of the answer areas may not be seen by the examiner.

Write your answers in blue or black pen. You may use pencil for graphs and diagrams only.

*02*
 Section A 150 marks

Ques on 1 (15 marks)

(a) The diagram above illustrates the water cycle.

Complete this diagram by filling in each of the five blank spaces above with a word from
the table below.

Precipita on Evapora on Accumula on

Transpira on Condensa on Radia on

(b) Explain the following terms:

Precipita on

Evapora on

*03*
Ques on 2 (15 marks)

Zion Na onal Park, Utah, USA

Microorganisms are found all over the world and can survive in a variety of extreme condi ons.
They are found in steam vents, boiling mud pots, and Antarc ca. Some can even survive radia on
levels 10,000 mes higher than humans. Certain microorganisms prefer water, others soil, and s ll
others live inside other living things.

Trillions of microorganisms live inside humans and other animals. One reason microorganisms have
been around for billions of years is because they are able to thrive in all types of environments. In
one gram of soil, for instance, there are around 40 million individual bacteria.

In dry areas like Zion Na onal Park, bacteria pair with cyanobacteria (blue-green algae), fungi,
algae, lichens, and mosses to create a fragile soil crust called biological soil crust. Biological soil
crusts help prevent erosion and retain water and serve many important func ons in Zion Na onal
Park and other desert areas. Microorganisms can also be seen in Zion Na onal Park in areas like
the Emerald Pools, where algae grow in abundance.

[Photo and ar cle courtesy of the Na onal Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.]

(a) Name three types of microorganisms.

(b) Explain two benefits of microorganisms.

(c) Do you think that this ar cle is a reliable source of informa on? Explain your reasoning.

Reliable (Yes or No?):

Reason:

*04*
Ques on 3 (15 marks)

(a) The diagram below represents a sodium atom. The circles are electron orbits and the Na
represents the nucleus. The atomic number of sodium is 11.

Using dots or X’s, represent electrons in the orbits to give the electron structure of sodium.

Na

(b) Define atomic number.

(c) Sir Joseph Thomson (1856-1940) announced his discovery of the electron in 1897 following
extensive experimental work. He was awarded a Nobel Prize in 1906.

Compare the charge and the mass of an electron with the charge and the mass of a proton.

Charge

Mass

*05*
Ques on 4 (15 marks)

(a) Complete the following sentences using the words given in the table below.

Species Selec on Environment Genera ons Reproduce Survive

Natural _________________ is the process by which the members of a _________________

who are best suited to their ____________________ are most likely to__________________

and ____________________.

Any useful changes that take place will be passed on to future ____________________.

(b) Explain what the term theory means in science.

(c) Pictured below is Charles Darwin, who developed the Theory of Evolu on.
What is evoluƟon?

Evolu on

(d) Give one example of natural selec on.

*06*
Ques on 5 (15 marks)

During your study of the Junior Cycle Science course, you created electronic circuits.

(a) Draw the symbol for a ba ery:

(b) If one bulb ‘blows’ (fails) in the circuit below, does the second bulb stay on (glowing)?
Give a reason for your answer.

Stay on (Yes or No?):

Reason:

(c) A diode is a device that allows an electric current to flow through it in one direc on only.
Give two examples of a diode.

*07*
Ques on 6 (15 marks)

The picture below is an illustra on of the sun and the eight planets that are in our solar system.

(a) Using the alphabe cal list of planets given in the first table below, place the planets in
the correct order in the second table (star ng with the sun at the centre and moving
outwards).

Earth Jupiter Mars Mercury

Neptune Saturn Uranus Venus

Centre Sun

(b) Define Solar System.

(c) Name our galaxy.

*08*
Ques on 7 (15 marks)

The apparatus shown in the diagram below is used to separate mixtures.

(a) What is a mixture?

(b) Name part A.

(c) Which connec on, X or Y, is a ached to the cold tap?

X
X or Y?:
Y
(d) Flask A contains seawater. Name the liquid that
collects in flask B.
Part A

(e) Name a cons tuent of seawater that does not move Flask A
from flask A to flask B. Flask B
Heat

*09*
Ques on 8 (15 marks)

The table below contains informa on and data about many celes al bodies.
(The celes al bodies are listed in alphabe cal order.)

Study this table and then use the informa on and data given to answer the ques ons which follow.

Object Type of Object Rela ve Mass Rela ve Radius Surface Gravity

Earth Planet 1 1 1
Jupiter Planet 318 11 2.53
Mars Planet 0.107 0.532 0.38
Mercury Planet 0.0553 0.383 0.38
Sun Star 333,000 109 28
Titan Moon of Saturn 0.0225 0.404 0.14
Venus Planet 0.815 0.950 0.905

(a) Iden fy the planet with the largest surface gravity.

(b) Does a person have the same weight on Mars and on Earth? Jus fy your answer.

Same Weight (Yes or No?):

Jus fy
your
answer

(c) Alex studies the table and says that as the mass of an object decreases, so does the surface
gravity. Do you agree with Alex? Explain your answer.

Agree or Disagree?:

Explain
your
answer

*10*
Ques on 9 (15 marks)

(a) Explain what is meant by the term Ecology.

(b) The diagram below shows a simplified food web from a mixed habitat.
Using items from this diagram, write a food chain under it with three members.

 
(c) Decomposers are not shown in the diagram. What do decomposers feed on?

(d) Give one example of an adapta on shown by an organism in the above diagram.

(e) Name two animals that might be in compe on with each other in this habitat.

*11*
Ques on 10 (15 marks)

A pupil performed an experiment on a resistor to inves gate the rela onship between poten al
difference (voltage) applied to the resistor and the current flowing through the resistor. The data
from this experiment is in the table below.

Poten al difference (Volts) 0 1 2 3 4 5

Current (Amperes) 0.00 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25

(a) Using the data provided in the table above, draw a graph in the grid below.

5.0

4.0
Poten al difference (Volts)

3.0

2.0

1.0

0 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25

Current (Amperes)

(b) In the box below, calculate the resistance of the resistor used in this experiment by using the
formula given.

Voltage
Resistance =
Current

(c) Name an instrument used to measure poten al difference (voltage).

*12*
 Addi onal wri ng space for Sec on A.
Label all work clearly with the ques on number and part.

*13*
 Section B 210 marks

Ques on 11 (45 marks)

During your study of the Junior Cycle Science course, you designed a device that transforms energy
from one form to another.

(a) What is energy?

(b) What is the unit of energy?

(c) Describe the device that you designed that transformed energy from one form to another.
Explain the energy changes that took place.

Describe the
device

Explain
the energy
changes

(d) Draw a labelled diagram to show how your device caused these energy changes.

(e) Describe how you could modify your device to improve its energy efficiency.

*14*
(f) Complete the table below to show how different objects store or possess energy.

Stores/Possesses
Object
energy in the form of?

A car rolling down a hill Kine c energy

A car parked on top of a hill

A bowl of cornflakes

A bulb ligh ng a room in your house

(g) State the principle of conserva on of energy.

(h) When you burn a match, the energy is stored in the wood as
chemical energy.
As it burns, the energy is converted into heat and light energy.
Give two other examples of energy conversions.

(i) When you freewheel a bicycle from a hill onto a level surface,
you do not keep going forever.
Name two forces that will cause you to eventually stop.

(j) Explain the term dissipaƟon.

*15*
Ques on 12 (45 marks)

Sarah and Hayley are studying photosynthesis as part of their Junior Cycle Science course.

(a) Explain the term photosynthesis.

(b) Write a word equa on for photosynthesis.

Reactants Condi ons Products

+  +

(c) Explain what is meant by an autotroph.

(d) Sarah and Hayley’s teacher gave them the following equipment to inves gate if light intensity
has an effect on the rate of photosynthesis: desk lamp, thermometer, test tube, beaker,
scalpel, Elodea (pondweed), metre s ck, stopwatch.

Explain how Sarah and Hayley would carry out the procedure for this inves ga on, using
only the equipment listed above.

(e) State two safety precau ons that Hayley and Sarah will have to consider for this inves ga on.

(f) Carbon dioxide levels affect photosynthesis. Name two other factors that affect photosynthesis.

*16*
(g) Draw a labelled diagram of the set-up of this experiment.

(h) The results of Sarah and Hayley’s inves ga on are shown in the following table.
Draw a suitable graph on the chart below to represent Sarah and Hayley’s results.

Distance of lamp from Elodea (metres) Average number of bubbles per minute
1 10
0.75 19
0.5 24
0.25 30
0.1 33

50
Average number of bubbles per minute

40

30

20

10

0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1

Distance of lamp from Elodea (metres)

*17*
Ques on 13 (30 marks)

The following ar cle discusses NASA’s plans for space explora on in 2023.

A er a year that saw NASA’s successful Orion test flight, here’s what to look forward to in space
in 2023.

With NASA’s successful Orion test flight orbi ng the Moon and uncrewed Boeing Starliner test
flight to the Interna onal Space Sta on, 2022 was a busy year in space. And 2023 promises not
to disappoint. In early 2023, two lunar landers, built by Pi sburgh’s Astrobo c Technology and
Houston’s Intui ve Machines, are expected to land on the Moon’s surface. The lunar landers will
carry a range of rovers and experiments to the lunar surface, some helping pave the way for the
return of astronauts.

In September, NASA’s Osiris-Rex spacecra is expected to return samples, scooped up in October

2020 from asteroid Bennu, back to Earth. It’s NASA’s first asteroid sample-return mission.

Bennu’s carbon-rich material is believed to help scien sts be er understand how planets formed
billions of years ago, and how life originated here on Earth. As soon as the spacecra returns with
the samples, NASA is expected to launch its Psyche mission in October to a unique metal-rich
asteroid orbi ng the Sun between Mars and Jupiter.

Last but not least, Elon Musk’s SpaceX plans to launch its star ship capsule on top of the biggest
and most powerful rocket ever built. The li -off thrust of the Super Heavy Booster will measure
about 120 m and 7.7 million kg.
Adapted from: euronews.com

(a) Name and explain three hazards of space explora on.

Name Hazard 1

Explana on 1

Name Hazard 2

Explana on 2

Name Hazard 3

Explana on 3

(b) Space explora on is expensive.

There is an argument that the money spent on it would be be er used solving the problems
of the world such as global warming, poverty and cancer.
What is one benefit of space explora on?

*18*
(c) The above ar cle discusses the asteroid Bennu.
What is meant by the term asteroid?

(d) The word eclipse means to obscure. An eclipse occurs when one celes al body gets in
the way of sunlight illumina ng another celes al body.
Describe in words what happens during a lunar eclipse.

(e) Using a labelled diagram, illustrate a solar eclipse.

*19*
Ques on 14 (45 marks)

Below is an unlabelled diagram of the heart.

The A The P A

takes blood to the takes blood to the

(a) Fill in the missing words in the sentences at the top of the diagram above and label the
parts 1 to 6 by wri ng the correct name of each part in the space(s) provided.

(b) Dis nguish between arteries and veins.

Arteries

Veins

(c) Describe the func on of valves.

(d) Dis nguish between oxygenated and deoxygenated blood.

Oxygenated:

Deoxygenated:

*20*
(e) Which side of the heart contains oxygenated blood?

(f) Describe an experiment to inves gate the effect of exercise on heart rate.

*21*
Ques on 15 (45 marks)

Some chemical reac ons proceed quickly and others proceed at a slower rate.

(a) Describe what a chemical reacƟon is.

(b) Dis nguish between reactants and products.

Reactants:

Products:

(c) Study the chemical reac on given below and name the products and the reactants in this
reac on:

Magnesium + Hydrochloric acid  Magnesium chloride + Hydrogen

Products:

Reactants:

(d) Par cle size is one factor that affects the rate of a reac on.
Name two other factors that affect the rate of a reac on.

(e) Define catalyst.

(f) Name a common gas that could be produced in the lab.

*22*
(g) Draw a labelled diagram of how this gas could be produced.
Include labels for any equipment and chemicals used.

(h) Explain how you tested this gas to confirm its iden ty. Include the result of the test.

How tested:

Result:

(i) Describe what is meant by a biochemical reacƟon.

(j) Give an example of a biochemical reac on.

*23*
*W39B*

Acknowledgements
Images
Image 1: h ps://www.mathworksheets4kids.com/science/water-cycle/color/label-stages.pdf
Image 2: Utah.com
Image 3: h ps://www.examina ons.ie/archive/exampapers/2007/JC057ALP000EV.pdf
Image 4: h ps://www.britannica.com/biography/Charles-Darwin
Image 5: h ps://www.theschoolrun.com/homework-help/solar-system
Image 6: byjus.com
Image 7: SEC
Image 8: SEC
Image 9: Kellogs.com
Image 10: h ps://theconversa on.com/curious-kids-when-i-swipe-a-matchs ck-how-does-it-
make-fire-116673
Image 11: shu erstock.com
Image 12: space.com
Space ar cle: h ps://www.euronews.com/next/2023/01/02/2023-in-space-what-giant-leaps-in-
explora on-will-mankind-make-this-year.
Image 13: shu erstock.com

Copyright no ce
This examina on paper may contain text or images for which the Examcra Group is not the
copyright owner, and which may have been adapted, for the purpose of assessment, without the
authors’ prior consent. Any subsequent use for a purpose other than the intended purpose is not
authorised. The Examcra Group does not accept liability for any infringement of third-party rights
arising from unauthorised distribu on or use of this examina on paper.

Pre-Junior Cycle Final Examination – Common Level

Science (Option B)
Time: 2 hours

*24*