National Senior Certificate (NSC) — Matric — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Which of the following is the chemical formula for water?

H₂O (Correct answer)
OH
CO₂
H₂O₂

Correct answer: H₂O

Water consists of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom, written as H₂O.

Question 2: What type of bond forms between a metal and a non-metal through the transfer of electrons?

Covalent bond
Ionic bond (Correct answer)
Hydrogen bond
Metallic bond

Correct answer: Ionic bond

Ionic bonds form when electrons transfer from a metal to a non-metal, creating oppositely charged ions that attract.

Question 3: Which word is a synonym for 'difficult'?

Pleasant
Easy
Simple
Challenging (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Challenging

'Challenging' has a similar meaning to 'difficult'. The others are opposite or unrelated in meaning.

Question 4: Choose the correctly punctuated sentence.

Where are you going.
Where are you going!
Where are you going? (Correct answer)
where are you going?

Correct answer: Where are you going?

A direct question must end with a question mark and begin with a capital letter.

Question 5: Convert 2.5 kilometres to metres.

250 m
2 500 m (Correct answer)
25 m
25 000 m

Correct answer: 2 500 m

1 km = 1 000 m, so 2.5 km = 2.5 × 1 000 = 2 500 m.

Question 6: What is the term for the process of wearing away and transporting surface material by agents such as water, wind, and ice?

Weathering
Deposition
Infiltration
Erosion (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Erosion

Erosion involves both the detachment and removal of rock and soil particles from the Earth's surface by water, wind, glaciers, or waves.

Question 7: A business buys equipment for cash. How are the accounts affected?

Assets increase and liabilities increase
Owner's equity increases
One asset increases and another asset decreases (Correct answer)
Liabilities decrease and equity decreases

Correct answer: One asset increases and another asset decreases

Equipment (asset) increases while Bank (asset) decreases by the same amount, so total assets are unchanged.

Question 8: A car depreciates on a reducing-balance basis at 15% per year. If it is worth R200 000 now, what is it worth after 1 year?

R170 000 (Correct answer)
R150 000
R230 000
R185 000

Correct answer: R170 000

Reducing balance: value = 200000 × (1 - 0.15) = 200000 × 0.85 = R170 000.

Question 9: What is the term for the number of people per unit area, usually expressed as people per square kilometre?

Population distribution
Population growth rate
Population size
Population density (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Population density

Population density is calculated by dividing the total population by the total land area, indicating how crowded a region is.

Question 10: Natural selection was proposed as a mechanism of evolution by which scientist?

Gregor Mendel
Louis Pasteur
Charles Darwin (Correct answer)
Robert Hooke

Correct answer: Charles Darwin

Charles Darwin proposed natural selection as the mechanism driving evolution in 'On the Origin of Species'.

Question 11: Which organelle is known as the powerhouse of the cell?

Mitochondrion (Correct answer)
Golgi body
Nucleus
Ribosome

Correct answer: Mitochondrion

The mitochondrion produces ATP through cellular respiration, providing energy for the cell.

Question 12: Calculate the work done when a force of 20 N moves an object 4 m in the direction of the force.

80 J (Correct answer)
24 J
5 J
16 J

Correct answer: 80 J

Work = force × distance = 20 × 4 = 80 J.

Question 13: What are the roots of the equation x^2 - 5x + 6 = 0?

x = -2 and x = -3
x = 2 and x = 3 (Correct answer)
x = 1 and x = 6
x = 5 and x = 6

Correct answer: x = 2 and x = 3

Factorise: (x - 2)(x - 3) = 0, so x = 2 or x = 3.

Question 14: In humans, which blood vessels carry blood away from the heart?

Capillaries
Arteries (Correct answer)
Veins
Venules

Correct answer: Arteries

Arteries carry blood away from the heart, usually under high pressure. Veins return blood to the heart.

Question 15: In the arithmetic sequence 7; 11; 15; 19; ... what is the value of the 20th term?

79
83 (Correct answer)
91
87

Correct answer: 83

The first term a = 7 and common difference d = 4. Tn = a + (n-1)d, so T20 = 7 + 19(4) = 7 + 76 = 83.

Question 16: South Africa's most populous metropolitan area, which forms the economic heartland of the country, is located in which province?

Eastern Cape
KwaZulu-Natal
Gauteng (Correct answer)
Western Cape

Correct answer: Gauteng

Gauteng, containing Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni, is South Africa's most densely populated province and its economic centre.

Question 17: What is the process called where heated air near the Earth's surface rises, cools, and sinks again, driving weather patterns?

Radiation
Convection (Correct answer)
Condensation
Conduction

Correct answer: Convection

Convection is the transfer of heat through the movement of a fluid (air), where warm air rises and cooler air sinks, creating convection currents that drive weather.

Question 18: Which cloud type is characterised by its towering, anvil-shaped structure and is associated with thunderstorms and heavy rainfall?

Cumulus
Cirrus
Cumulonimbus (Correct answer)
Stratus

Correct answer: Cumulonimbus

Cumulonimbus clouds extend to great heights in the troposphere and produce thunder, lightning, heavy rain, and sometimes hail.

Question 19: What is the contour interval on a map?

The steepness of a slope
The ratio between map distance and ground distance
The distance between two points on a map
The fixed difference in elevation between consecutive contour lines (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The fixed difference in elevation between consecutive contour lines

The contour interval is the constant difference in height between two adjacent contour lines, determined by the map's scale and purpose.

Question 20: What is the process by which green plants make food using sunlight?

Digestion
Photosynthesis (Correct answer)
Respiration
Transpiration

Correct answer: Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis uses light energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen.

Question 21: A recipe for 4 people uses 600 g of flour. How much flour is needed for 6 people?

750 g
1 200 g
800 g
900 g (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 900 g

Flour per person = 600 ÷ 4 = 150 g. For 6 people: 150 × 6 = 900 g.

Question 22: Which of the following is a PUSH factor that drives people to leave their home area?

Better job opportunities in cities
Drought and crop failure (Correct answer)
Improved schools elsewhere
Higher wages in urban areas

Correct answer: Drought and crop failure

Push factors are negative conditions in a person's current location — such as drought, unemployment, or conflict — that force them to move away.

Question 23: What is the term for the rapid, unplanned expansion of informal settlements on the outskirts of cities?

Urban sprawl (Correct answer)
Suburbanisation
Gentrification
Counter-urbanisation

Correct answer: Urban sprawl

Urban sprawl refers to the uncontrolled spread of urban development, including informal settlements, beyond established city boundaries into surrounding areas.

Question 24: Which gas is taken in by humans during breathing and used in cellular respiration?

Carbon dioxide
Oxygen (Correct answer)
Nitrogen
Hydrogen

Correct answer: Oxygen

Oxygen is taken in and used to release energy from glucose during aerobic cellular respiration.

Question 25: What is the term for the flat, low-lying land on either side of a river that is periodically flooded and covered with deposited sediment?

Flood plain (Correct answer)
Estuary
Alluvial fan
Delta

Correct answer: Flood plain

A flood plain is formed by the deposition of fine sediment during river flooding, creating fertile, flat land alongside the river channel.

Question 26: If trading stock costing R5 000 is sold for R8 000, what is the gross profit?

R8 000
R5 000
R13 000
R3 000 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: R3 000

Gross profit = sales - cost of sales = R8 000 - R5 000 = R3 000.

Question 27: Money the owner takes out of the business for personal use is recorded as:

Loan
Salary
Drawings (Correct answer)
Capital

Correct answer: Drawings

Drawings represent assets withdrawn by the owner for personal use, which reduce owner's equity.

Question 28: Which type of rock is formed when magma cools and solidifies, either below or on the Earth's surface?

Organic
Sedimentary
Igneous (Correct answer)
Metamorphic

Correct answer: Igneous

Igneous rocks form from the cooling and crystallisation of molten magma; intrusive types (e.g. granite) cool slowly underground, while extrusive types (e.g. basalt) cool quickly on the surface.

Question 29: What is the basic structural and functional unit of all living organisms?

The tissue
The cell (Correct answer)
The organ
The molecule

Correct answer: The cell

The cell is the smallest unit that can carry out all the processes of life.

Question 30: What concept describes development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs?

Sustainable development (Correct answer)
Environmental impact assessment
Conservation
Preservation

Correct answer: Sustainable development

Sustainable development, defined in the 1987 Brundtland Report, balances economic growth, social equity, and environmental protection for long-term well-being.

Question 31: Which sector of the economy involves the extraction of raw natural resources such as mining, farming, and fishing?

Quaternary sector
Tertiary sector
Secondary sector
Primary sector (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Primary sector

The primary sector encompasses all activities that extract or harvest natural resources directly from the earth or sea.

Question 32: Simplify: (x^3 × x^4) / x^2.

x^9
x^24
x^6
x^5 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: x^5

Add exponents when multiplying and subtract when dividing: x^(3+4-2) = x^5.

Question 33: Which type of economic activity involves providing services to consumers rather than producing goods?

Primary sector
Extraction sector
Secondary sector
Tertiary sector (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Tertiary sector

The tertiary sector covers service industries such as retail, banking, education, healthcare, and tourism that serve consumers directly.

Question 34: What is the basic accounting equation?

Assets = Income - Expenses
Profit = Assets - Capital
Capital = Assets + Liabilities
Assets = Owner's Equity + Liabilities (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Assets = Owner's Equity + Liabilities

The accounting equation states that Assets = Owner's Equity + Liabilities, and it must always balance.

Question 35: Choose the antonym (opposite) of 'expand'.

Increase
Contract (Correct answer)
Stretch
Grow

Correct answer: Contract

'Contract' means to become smaller, the opposite of 'expand'.

Question 36: What is the acceleration due to gravity near the Earth's surface (used in Grade 12)?

98 m·s⁻²
1.8 m·s⁻²
9.8 m·s⁻² (Correct answer)
10 m·s⁻¹

Correct answer: 9.8 m·s⁻²

The value of gravitational acceleration used in the NSC syllabus is 9.8 m·s⁻² directed downwards.

Question 37: In which financial statement would you find the net profit of a business?

Statement of Financial Position
Statement of Comprehensive Income (Income Statement) (Correct answer)
Debtors Ledger
Cash Flow Statement

Correct answer: Statement of Comprehensive Income (Income Statement)

Net profit is calculated in the Statement of Comprehensive Income (Income Statement) as income less expenses.

Question 38: If f(x) = 2x^2 - 3x + 1, what is f(-2)?

15 (Correct answer)
-1
3
11

Correct answer: 15

f(-2) = 2(-2)^2 - 3(-2) + 1 = 2(4) + 6 + 1 = 8 + 6 + 1 = 15.

Question 39: Which part of the human eye controls the amount of light entering it?

Retina
Cornea
Iris (Correct answer)
Lens

Correct answer: Iris

The iris adjusts the size of the pupil to control how much light enters the eye.

Question 40: A taxi charges a flat fee of R12 plus R3 per kilometre. What does a 10 km trip cost?

R42 (Correct answer)
R48
R36
R30

Correct answer: R42

Cost = R12 + (R3 × 10) = R12 + R30 = R42.

Question 41: In the sentence 'She read the article quickly', which word is the adverb?

quickly (Correct answer)
article
read
She

Correct answer: quickly

'Quickly' describes how she read, modifying the verb, so it is an adverb.

Question 42: What term describes permanently frozen subsoil found in Arctic and sub-Arctic regions that remains frozen throughout the year?

Permafrost (Correct answer)
Glacier
Ice sheet
Tundra

Correct answer: Permafrost

Permafrost is a subsurface layer of soil or rock that remains at or below 0°C for at least two consecutive years, found in regions like Siberia and northern Canada.

Question 43: Which of the following is a direct consequence of deforestation?

Increased biodiversity in the area
Increased soil erosion by wind and water (Correct answer)
Increased rainfall in the region
Decreased levels of carbon dioxide

Correct answer: Increased soil erosion by wind and water

Without tree roots binding the soil, deforested land is highly vulnerable to erosion by rain and wind, leading to soil degradation and sedimentation of rivers.

Question 44: Which type of weathering breaks rocks into smaller pieces WITHOUT changing their chemical composition?

Chemical weathering
Biological weathering
Mechanical (physical) weathering (Correct answer)
Carbonation

Correct answer: Mechanical (physical) weathering

Mechanical (physical) weathering, such as freeze-thaw action and exfoliation, disintegrates rocks without altering the minerals they are made of.

Question 45: The exchange rate is R18 to US$1. How many rands do you get for US$25?

R450 (Correct answer)
R225
R180
R430

Correct answer: R450

Rands = 25 × R18 = R450.

Question 46: A learner scored 36 out of 50 in a test. What is this as a percentage?

76%
68%
72% (Correct answer)
64%

Correct answer: 72%

Percentage = (36 ÷ 50) × 100 = 72%.

Question 47: What is the SI unit of force?

Joule
Newton (Correct answer)
Pascal
Watt

Correct answer: Newton

Force is measured in newtons (N), defined as the force that gives a 1 kg mass an acceleration of 1 m·s⁻².

Question 48: On a topographic map, what does a contour line represent?

A provincial boundary line
A line connecting points of equal altitude above sea level (Correct answer)
A line connecting points of equal rainfall
A line connecting points of equal temperature

Correct answer: A line connecting points of equal altitude above sea level

Contour lines join all points on a map that are at the same height (altitude) above sea level, allowing the shape of the terrain to be read from a flat map.

Question 49: DNA carries the genetic code. What are the four bases of DNA?

A, U, G and C
A, T, C and U
T, U, G and C
A, T, G and C (Correct answer)

Correct answer: A, T, G and C

DNA bases are adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G) and cytosine (C). Uracil replaces thymine only in RNA.

Question 50: Which quantity is a vector?

Mass
Speed
Velocity (Correct answer)
Distance

Correct answer: Velocity

Velocity has both magnitude and direction, making it a vector. Speed, distance and mass are scalars.

Question 51: Identify the figure of speech: 'The wind whispered through the trees.'

Simile
Metaphor
Personification (Correct answer)
Hyperbole

Correct answer: Personification

Giving the wind the human ability to 'whisper' is personification.

Question 52: Solve for x: log_2(x) = 5.

10
32 (Correct answer)
25
16

Correct answer: 32

log_2(x) = 5 means 2^5 = x, so x = 32.

Question 53: The median of the data set 4; 7; 9; 12; 18 is which value?

7
12
10
9 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 9

The median is the middle value of an ordered list. With five values, the third value is the median: 9.

Question 54: What is the term for the movement of people from rural areas to urban areas in search of better employment and services?

Rural-urban migration (Correct answer)
Immigration
Emigration
Counter-urbanisation

Correct answer: Rural-urban migration

Rural-urban migration describes the internal movement of people from the countryside to towns and cities, driven by economic and social pull factors.

Question 55: The probability of an event is 0.35. What is the probability that the event does NOT occur?

0.35
0.50
0.65 (Correct answer)
0.70

Correct answer: 0.65

P(not A) = 1 - P(A) = 1 - 0.35 = 0.65.

Question 56: On a standard South African topographic map (1:50 000), what colour is conventionally used to represent water features such as rivers and dams?

Blue (Correct answer)
Brown
Black
Green

Correct answer: Blue

Blue is the internationally recognised cartographic convention for depicting water features, including rivers, lakes, dams, and the sea.

Question 57: What is the term for the decrease in value of a non-current asset over its useful life?

Dividends
Discount
Depreciation (Correct answer)
Drawings

Correct answer: Depreciation

Depreciation is the systematic allocation of the cost of a tangible asset over its useful life.

Question 58: Change to reported speech: He said, 'I am tired.' becomes: He said that he _____ tired.

was (Correct answer)
were
am
is

Correct answer: was

In reported speech the present tense 'am' shifts back to the past tense 'was'.

Question 59: Which of the following is a current liability?

Fixed deposit
Creditors control (Correct answer)
Vehicles
Land and buildings

Correct answer: Creditors control

Creditors control (trade creditors) is a current liability because it is normally settled within one year.

Question 60: In the reaction 2H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O, what is the type of reaction?

Decomposition
Synthesis (combination) (Correct answer)
Neutralisation
Displacement

Correct answer: Synthesis (combination)

Two reactants combine to form a single product, which is a synthesis (combination) reaction.

Question 61: What is the gradient of the line joining the points A(2; 3) and B(6; 11)?

2 (Correct answer)
1/2
4
8

Correct answer: 2

Gradient m = (y2 - y1)/(x2 - x1) = (11 - 3)/(6 - 2) = 8/4 = 2.

Question 62: Choose the correct word: 'The learners _____ writing their final examination next week.'

is
be
was
are (Correct answer)

Correct answer: are

'Learners' is plural, so it takes the plural verb 'are'.

Question 63: On a 1:50 000 topographic map, two points are 4 cm apart. What is the actual ground distance between them?

500 m
4 km
2 km (Correct answer)
1 km

Correct answer: 2 km

Ground distance = map distance × scale denominator: 4 cm × 50 000 = 200 000 cm = 2 000 m = 2 km.

Question 64: Which document is issued to a debtor when goods are returned to the business?

Invoice
Debit note
Credit note (Correct answer)
Receipt

Correct answer: Credit note

A credit note is issued by the seller to a debtor (customer) to record goods returned, reducing the amount owed.

Question 65: What is the past tense of the verb 'to bring'?

Brung
Brought (Correct answer)
Brang
Bringed

Correct answer: Brought

'Bring' is an irregular verb; its past tense is 'brought'.

Question 66: An object of mass 5 kg accelerates at 2 m·s⁻². What is the net force acting on it?

10 N (Correct answer)
7 N
2.5 N
3 N

Correct answer: 10 N

Newton's second law: F = ma = 5 × 2 = 10 N.

Question 67: A rectangular garden is 8 m long and 5 m wide. What is its area?

26 m²
80 m²
13 m²
40 m² (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 40 m²

Area of a rectangle = length × width = 8 × 5 = 40 m².

Question 68: A shop adds 15% VAT to a jacket priced at R400 (excluding VAT). What is the price including VAT?

R440
R460 (Correct answer)
R600
R415

Correct answer: R460

VAT = 15% of R400 = R60. Price including VAT = R400 + R60 = R460.

Question 69: What is the primary chemical cause of ozone layer depletion in the stratosphere?

Carbon dioxide (CO₂)
Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)
Methane (CH₄)
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

CFCs release chlorine atoms when broken down by UV radiation in the stratosphere; each chlorine atom can destroy thousands of ozone molecules.

National Senior Certificate (NSC) — Matric

The South African National Senior Certificate (NSC) is the Grade 12 school-leaving qualification assessed by the Department of Basic Education, covering compulsory and elective subjects including Languages, Mathematics/Mathematical Literacy, Sciences, and Social Sciences.

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