Cambridge Lower Secondary Sample Test

For use with curriculum published in

September 2020

Science Paper 2
Stage 9
45 minutes

Name

No additional materials are needed.

INSTRUCTIONS
• Answer all questions.
• Write your answer to each question in the space provided.
• You should show all your working on the question paper.

INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 50.
• The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ].

Science_S9_02/7RP
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1 The diagram shows a flowering plant.

Plants need to absorb water and transport it to all of their living parts.

(a) (i) Name the process that plants use to absorb water through the roots.

osmosis [1]

(ii) Name the tissue that transports water to different parts of the plant.

xylem vessel [1]

(iii) Name the part of the plant that loses water by transpiration.

stomata [1]

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(b) Several factors affect the amount of water lost by transpiration.

Chen uses this equipment to measure the rate of transpiration.

thermometer leafy shoot

layer of oil

stop-clock

measuring cylinder containing water

Chen predicts that the temperature of the air affects the rate of transpiration.

(i) Which variable must Chen change to test his prediction?

temperature [1]

(ii) State two variables that Chen needs to control in his investigation.

1 Type, size of plant

2 Measured time
[2]

(iii) Describe how Chen measures the rate of transpiration.

Measuring the distance travelled by air bubbles in a capillary tube in a given

time or using a potometer
[1]

(iv) Predict the effect of changing the temperature of the air on the rate of transpiration.

The rate of transpiration increases as the temperature of the air increases. The
rate of transpiration decreases as the temperature of the air decreases
[1]

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2 Look at the diagram of a water molecule, H2O.

H H
O

(a) State the type of bonding in a water molecule.

covalent bond

Explain how you can tell.

Covalent is a bond between non-metal and non-metal atom. Electrons are shared
between in order to be more stable.

[2]

(b) An oxygen atom has the electronic structure 2.6.

To which group of the Periodic Table does oxygen belong?

Group 6 [1]

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3 Yuri investigates some sound waves.

Sound waves can interact to reinforce or cancel each other.

Yuri looks at the waveforms the sound waves make on an oscilloscope.

Complete the two diagrams to show what happens when each pair of waveforms interacts.

waveform 1 waveform 1

waveform 2 waveform 2

reinforce

cancle

waveform 1 + waveform 2 waveform 1 + waveform 2

[3]

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4 The diagram shows part of the carbon cycle.

carbon dioxide
in the atmosphere

A
C
B B

green plants animals

D

fossil fuels

(a) The boxes A, B, C and D show four important processes in the carbon cycle.

Name each of these processes.

A photosynthesis

B respiration

C combustion

D feeding
[4]

(b) Electricity is often generated using fossil fuels.

Many countries generate their electricity using renewable energy resources such as wind
turbines and solar panels.

Predict the effect of using renewable energy resources, rather than fossil fuels, on the carbon
cycle.

Using renewable energy resources will decrease carbon dioxide emissions into
the atmosphere

Explain the reason for your prediction.

Fossil fuels release carbon during combustion, so it increase the carbon dioxide
emissions. However, fossil fuels dont emmit carbon, helping to maintain a more
stable climate
[2]

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(c) Scientists use evidence of climate change to predict damaging effects on ecosystems.

(i) State one piece of evidence for climate change.

Ice caps melt [1]

(ii) Suggest two effects of climate change.

1 Sea levels rise

2 More severe and extreme weather events

[2]

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5 Lily compares the densities of three substances A, B and C.

Look at her table of information.

mass volume density

substance
in grams in cm3 in g / cm3
A 90.0 20
B 3.2 1000 0.0032
C 9.7 10 0.97

(a) Calculate the density of substance A.

90.0 / 20 = 4.5

density of substance A = 4.5 g / cm3 [2]

(b) Suggest which substance A, B or C is a gas.

Explain your answer.

Substance B' s density is the lowest compare to substance A and C, which is 0.0032
. Substance A could be a solid, as its density is larger than 1 (density of water).
Substance C could be a liquid, as its density is nearly equal to 1 (density of water).
[2]

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6 Answer the questions about thermal (heat) energy transfer.

Choose from the list.

conduction conductor convection radiator

evaporation insulation insulator radiation

(a) What is the main form of thermal energy transfer in solids?

conduction [1]

(b) What is the main form of thermal energy transfer in liquids and gases?

convection [1]

(c) Complete the sentences using words from the list.

(i) Saucepan handles are made from wood.

This is because wood is a good insulator . [1]

(ii) Copper is a metal, so it is a good conductor . [1]

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7 The diagram shows an egg cell and a sperm cell.

nucleus
nucleus

NOT TO SCALE

(a) (i) The nucleus of the egg cell and the nucleus of the sperm cell both contain chromosomes.

What are chromosomes made of?

DNA [1]

(ii) Describe what happens to the nucleus of the egg cell and the nucleus of the sperm cell
during fertilisation.

The nucleus of the egg cell and the sperm cell will fuse together to produce [1]
zygote
(iii) Which of these cells, the egg or the sperm, determines the sex of the offspring?

Explain your answer. Use ideas about chromosomes.

cell Sperm cell

explanation Egg cell only carries X chromosome. Sperm cell can carries either X
chromosome or Y chromosome. XX is a female while XY is a male.

[2]

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(b) The drawing shows a group of cats.

Although they all look different they all belong to the same species.

(i) What term describes the differences that occur within the same species?

variation [1]

(ii) Why do the cats look different?

There are several versions of gene, each made of slightly different DNA so
each gene is different. This made up variation in organisms in the same species
.

[1]

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8 Pierre investigates the reaction between lumps of zinc and dilute hydrochloric acid.

dilute hydrochloric acid

zinc

(a) Pierre finds that the reaction is faster if he heats the dilute hydrochloric acid.

Explain why, using the particle model.

When Pierre heats up the dilute hydrochloric acid, particles of zinc will move faster
and and more collision will happen. They collide more often and with more energy.
So the rate of reaction increases.

[2]

(b) Pierre wants to make the reaction go faster.

He does not want to change the:

• volume of the dilute hydrochloric acid

• temperature of the dilute hydrochloric acid
• mass of zinc.

Describe one other way that Pierre can make the reaction go faster.

Increase the surface area of zinc [1]

(c) Pierre wants to measure the volume of gas given off during the reaction.

Complete the diagram of the equipment Pierre uses to collect and measure the volume of the
gas.
gas syringe

scale

[2]

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(d) Pierre does a risk assessment on his investigation.

He decides to wear safety goggles.

Why does he decide to wear safety goggles?

To prevent dilute hydrochloric acid to splash into his eyes

[1]

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9 Safia investigates the current in a circuit containing two identical lamps.

direction of
current flow

A1 A4

X A2 Y

A3

She changes the number of cells and measures the currents A1 to A4 in amps.

Look at her results.

current in amps

number of cells A1 A2 A3 A4

1 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.4

2 0.6 0.3 0.3 0.6

3 0.8 0.4 0.4 0.8

4 1.2 0.6 0.6 1.2

5 1.4 0.7 0.7 2.8

6 1.8 0.9 0.9 1.8

(a) What do the results tell you about what happens to the current in the circuit at points
X and Y?

The current at points X and Y increases as the number of cells increase

Curren splits at X and rejoins at Y [2]

(b) One of the results is anomalous.

Circle the result in the table that is anomalous. [1]

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(c) Predict the values of A2, A3 and A4 if the value for A1 is 1.6 A.

A1 = 1.6 A

A2 = 0.8 A

A3 = 0.8 A

A4 = 1.6 A
[1]

10 Carlos investigates electrical resistance.

Look at his circuit.

A
resistor R

The reading on the ammeter is 0.6 A.

The reading on the voltmeter is 1.8 V.

(a) Calculate the resistance of resistor R. Include the units.

1.8 / 0.6 = 3

resistance of resistor R = 3 units ohms [2]

(b) Carlos replaces R with a resistor of greater resistance.

What happens to the reading on the ammeter?

Reading on the ammeter gets lower as the resistance increases, the current [1]
decreases

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 The Periodic Table of Elements

© UCLES 2020
Group
I II III IV V VI VII VIII

Copyright © UCLES, 2020

1 2
H He
hydrogen helium
Key 1 4
3 4 atomic number 5 6 7 8 9 10
Li Be atomic symbol B C N O F Ne
lithium beryllium name boron carbon nitrogen oxygen fluorine neon
7 9 relative atomic mass 11 12 14 16 19 20

make amends at the earliest possible opportunity.

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar
sodium magnesium aluminium silicon phosphorus sulfur chlorine argon
23 24 27 28 31 32 35.5 40
19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36
K Ca Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn Ga Ge As Se Br Kr
potassium calcium scandium titanium vanadium chromium manganese iron cobalt nickel copper zinc gallium germanium arsenic selenium bromine krypton
39 40 45 48 51 52 55 56 59 59 64 65 70 73 75 79 80 84
37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54
Rb Sr Y Zr Nb Mo Tc Ru Rh Pd Ag Cd In Sn Sb Te I Xe
rubidium strontium yttrium zirconium niobium molybdenum technetium ruthenium rhodium palladium silver cadmium indium tin antimony tellurium iodine xenon
16

85 88 89 91 93 96 – 101 103 106 108 112 115 119 122 128 127 131

S/S9/02
55 56 57–71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86
lanthanoids
Cs Ba Hf Ta W Re Os Ir Pt Au Hg Tl Pb Bi Po At Rn
caesium barium hafnium tantalum tungsten rhenium osmium iridium platinum gold mercury thallium lead bismuth polonium astatine radon
133 137 178 181 184 186 190 192 195 197 201 204 207 209 – – –
87 88 89–103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118

Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), which itself is a department of the University of Cambridge.
actinoids
Fr Ra Rf Db Sg Bh Hs Mt Ds Rg Cn Nh Fl Mc Lv Ts Og
francium radium rutherfordium dubnium seaborgium bohrium hassium meitnerium darmstadtium roentgenium copernicium nihonium flerovium moscovium livermorium tennessine oganesson
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71
lanthanoids La Ce Pr Nd Pm Sm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Er Tm Yb Lu
lanthanum cerium praseodymium neodymium promethium samarium europium gadolinium terbium dysprosium holmium erbium thulium ytterbium lutetium
139 140 141 144 – 150 152 157 159 163 165 167 169 173 175
89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103
actinoids Ac Th Pa U Np Pu Am Cm Bk Cf Es Fm Md No Lr
actinium thorium protactinium uranium neptunium plutonium americium curium berkelium californium einsteinium fermium mendelevium nobelium lawrencium
– 232 231 238 – – – – – – – – – – –

The volume of one mole of any gas is 24 dm3 at room temperature and pressure (r.t.p.).

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