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PAPER 2
SECTION A
[25 marks]

You are advised to spend about 50 minutes on this section.

Questions 1 – 25
For each of the questions in this section, blacken the answer A, B, C or D in the Answer
Sheets provided.

Question 1 – 2
Read the text below carefully and answer the questions that follow.
In Kuala Lumpur, we experience the haze almost yearly. During this time, our
visibility is reduced and the atmosphere has a hazy or opalescent appearance. What
causes the haze? It is a condition caused by tiny particles suspended in the
atmosphere which absorb sunlight. It mostly happens in urban or industrial areas due
to large quantities of pollutants emitted into the atmosphere. Most of the particles are
due to the open burning, land clearing, exhaust fumes and combustion of fossil fuels
in industries.

1. The haze is caused by the following reasons EXCEPT

A. emissions from vehicles C. lack of sunlight
B. burning of garbage D. clearing of land

2. The haze is mainly concentrated in industrial areas because

A. these areas produce fossil fuels
B. factories produce a large amount of pollutants
C. there are many particles which absorb sunlight

Question 3 – 4
Rates of breast cancer among Asian women, who consume more soy protein on
average than Americans do, are much lower than they are for women in the united
states. Scientists have hypothesized that plant estrogens called isoflavones provide this
protection by reducing ovarian hormone levels. If so, some researchers have reasoned
they could also impair fertility. The results of a new experiment on monkeys recently
however indicate that a high-soy diet does not reduce their fertility rate.

3. The phrase Scientist have hypothesized suggests that the scientists are ___________
about the effect of soy protein on breast cancer.
A. sure C. confused
B. unsure D. confident

4. What does the word impair mean in the passage?

A. Improve C. Destroy
B. Reduce D. Increase

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Question 5
Study the table comparing the planets Jupiter and Saturn and answer the question that
follows.

Planets
Features Jupiter Saturn

Period of orbit around 11 years 314 days 29 years 168 days

the
Sun

Surface temperature -150°C (average) -180°C (average)

Number of moons 16 18 (plus rings)

5. Based on the information given, which statement is TRUE?

A. Saturn is colder than Jupiter.
B. Jupiter has more moons than Saturn.
C. Saturn takes a shorter time to orbit the sun.
D. Jupiter and Saturn have hot surface temperatures.

Question 6

There are about 89 000 species of monocotyledons and 170 000 species of
dicotyledons. Almost all monocots are herbaceous plants with soft, non-woody stems.
Most trees, vines, legumes and shrubs have woody stems and they belong to the dicots.

6. Which of these statements is TRUE?

A. Dicots have soft, non-woody stems.
B. Herb plants with soft, non-woody stems are dicots.
C. All monocots are herbaceous plants with woody stems.
D. There are more species of dicots than monocots in the plant world.

Question 7
Researchers are now developing techniques of checking isotopes of oxygen and
hydrogen in the hair to help police solve crimes. Water in different regions of the world
produces subtly different isotopic signatures. By checking a suspect’s hair, it may be
possible in future for police to determine whether a suspect has been honest about
his/her whereabouts.

7. The isotopes of oxygen and hydrogen in the hair indicate

A. where a suspect has been living.
B. if a suspect is guilty or innocent.
C. how a murder victim died.

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Questions 8 – 9
Study the table below and answer the questions that follow.

Characteristic Solid Liquid Gas

Arrangement of Compact, orderly No order Very far apart
particles - no order
Distance between Very close Close Far apart
particles
Movement of Vibrates in a fixed Moves freely, Random
particles position collides with other movement,
particles frequently collides
with other particles

8. There is less difference in particle distances for ______________ and ___________.

A. gases, solid
B. liquids, gases
C. solids, liquids

9. Which of the following statements best describes the movement of particles among
the three states of matter?
A. It is dissimilar in all.
B. It is generally similar.
C. It is slightly similar.
D. It is similar in two but different in the other.

Question 10

When you breathe in, air is sucked through the nose or mouth down the windpipe.
This branches into two main bronchi; one to each lung. In turn, the bronchi branch
into smaller tubes called bronchioles. Each bronchiole ends in an alveoli which
absorbs oxygen into the blood. There are millions of alveoli, making the total surface
area of the lungs very large.

10. From the text, which of these options show the correct sequence for the passage of
air?
A. Nose/mouth  lungs  trachea  bronchioles  alveoli  blood
B. Nose/mouth  trachea  bronchi  bronchioles  alveoli  blood
C. Nose/mouth  bronchi  lungs  trachea  alveoli  blood
D. Nose/mouth  trachea  bronchioles  bronchi  alveoli  blood

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Study the short notes below and then answer the questions that follow.

Meteors are interstellar debris of different sizes, floating or moving in space. When
the number of meteors moving together is large, it is called a meteor shower. Satellites
that are in the way of a meteor shower are sometimes badly damaged.
NASA has a new way of protecting satellites from meteor showers: by listening to
television but not for the weather report. Rather, NASA is testing a system called
‘forward scatter radar’ that detects the interference of oncoming meteors with TV
signals from distant stations. The challenge is to accurately count the number of
meteors detected.

11. A meteor shower can cause extensive damage to a satellite. Thus, it can be inferred
that meteors can consists of
A. small stones C. big rocks
B. coarse sand D. dust

12. NASA can predict oncoming meteor showers by

A. detecting the interference with TV signals
B. counting the number of meteors in the sky
C. scattering the radar on the orbiting satellites

Question 13
Organisms are classified into five kingdoms of life. These kingdoms are known as
Monera, Protoctista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia. They are placed into these
categories based on similarities or common characteristics. Some of the characteristics
that are used to determine placement are cell type, metabolism, and reproduction.

13. Organisms are placed into categories based on

A. common colour
B. common characteristics
C. Ability to absorb water
D. Dependency on sunlight

Question 14

The brainstem is comprised of the midbrain and the hindbrain. It resembles the stem of
a branch. The midbrain is the upper part of the branch that is connected to the
forebrain. It sends and receives information. When data is gathered from our senses,
such as sight and hearing, it is sent to this area and then directed to the forebrain.

14. Data gathered from our senses is directed to

A. The midbrain
B. The hindbrain
C. The forebrain
D. The stem

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Questions 15 – 16
Read the text below carefully and answer the questions that follow.

A single muscle fiber is a cyclindrical, elongated cell. Muscle cells can differ in
length. The sartorious muscle contains single fibers that are at least 30 cm long.
Each fiber is surrounded by a thin layer of connective tissue called endomysium.
Collectively, thousands of muscle fibers are wrapped by a thin layer of connective
tissue called the perimysium to form a muscle bundle. Groups of muscle bundles
that join into a tendon at each end are called muscle groups, or simply muscles.

15. A muscle bundle consists of

A. One single cylindrical elongated cell
B. Many muscle fibers wrapped by a connective tissue
C. Groups of muscles that join at a tendon on two ends
D. The perimysium

16. The word connective in the above text refers to

A. Joining C. Active
B. Assisting D. Participating

Question 17

Cloud seeding

▼
1. Dropping of dry ice or iodide into large clouds

▼
2. Water in clouds changes into large water – filled
droplets

▼
3.

▼
4. Become warmer and turn to rain

17. Which of the following is the third step in the process of cloud seeding?
A. Droplets cling to clouds
B. Droplets drop out of clouds
C. Droplets change into bigger clouds
D. Droplets disperses all over the sky

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Question 18
There are many kinds of airplanes that vary in size, speed and function. Today’s
airplanes can be divided into five groups – commercial, transport planes, general
aviation planes, military planes, seaplanes, and special purpose planes.

18. If a farmer wants to spray insecticide over his farm, which type of airplane will he
use?
A. A sea plane
B. A special purpose plane
C. A general aviation plane
D. A commercial transport plane

Question 19

Every action taken by organic or inorganic beings need energy to start the desired
action. Flipping a coin for example, involves at least two types of energy, potential and
kinetic. When the coin is flipped and is momentarily suspended in the air, the energy
associated with it is termed potential energy. The moment it falls down, potential
energy is converted to kinetic energy.

19. Kinetic energy and potential energy

A. enable the coin to move
B. are similar in their force and actions
C. produced the energy needed to flip a coin
D. are related in the process of flipping a coin

Question 20
File transfer protocol (FTP) was developed as a means of moving files among online
computers. Currently, FTP is the most common method of uploading files on the web so
as to create websites, and is also for downloading files from the web. Nowadays mostly
all the browsers have built-in FTP capabilities.

12. Which of the following is true?

A. FTP allows for web browsing
B. FTP is a means of transferring files online
C. FTP only can be done with browsers
D. All browsers have FTP capabilities

Question 21
Isomers are one of several organic compounds with the same molecular formula but
different structures and therefore different properties. There are three types of
isomers: structural isomers, geometric isomers and enantoimers.

21. How are isomers grouped together?

A. Identical characteristics C. Same properties
B. Similar structures D. Same molecular formula

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Questions 22 – 23
Read the text below carefully and answer the questions that follow.

Strokes are caused by a lack of blood flow and insufficient oxygen to the brain that
causes the death of brain tissue. There are two types of strokes. An ischemic stroke
occurs when the blood supply is cut off to a part of the brain due to the blockage of a
blood vessel by a blood clot or arteriosclerosis. The hemorrhagic stroke is caused by
the bursting of a blood vessel that prevents normal flow and causes blood to leak into
and destroy an area of the brain.

22. When blood is cut off to the brain due to a blockage of a blood vessel, what has
occurred?
A. Hemorrhagic stroke C. Arteriosclerosis
B. Heart attack D. Ischemic stroke

23. A stroke is caused by

A. Leakage of brain fluid C. Heart attack
B. Lack of blood flow and oxygen D. Lack of oxygen to the brain

Question 24.

24. From the pie chart above, we can conclude that

A. the world has a variety of energy sources.
B. the world relies heavily on fossil fuels for energy.
C. the difference in the usage of petroleum and coal is minimal.
D. other types of energy sources cannot be produced as much as petroleum.

Question 25
When a raindrop hits your hair, you can feel it pushing on your hair and your hair
pushing back; stopping the raindrop’s descent.

25. We can conclude from the above that

A. every action stops if there is friction.
B. things stay where they are in every direction.
C. there is an equal and opposite reaction to every action.

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Section B
[ 5 marks ]

You are advised to spend 10 minutes on this section.

Questions 26 – 30
Read the following passage and then choose the best answer from option A, B, C or D.

Genetically engineering involves several processes. Firstly, the scientist _____26_____

the gene that conveys a particular trait of interest-disease resistance or faster growth, for
example. Then a molecular vehicle is created. A molecular vehicle will ______27_____
the gene into the nucleus of the cell and permanently integrate it into the chromosome.
The entire construct is a _____28______ gene and serves as a transport vehicle. The
gene will be ____29_____ into a fertilized egg using a glass needle viewed under a
microscope. Other approaches use disabled viruses to inject the construct into the cell. If
the egg _____30_____ and begins to grow and divide, then the potential embryo is
implanted into a surrogate mother.

26. A. detaches 29. A. put

B. isolates B. pierced
C. insulates C. inserted
D. quarantines D. injected

27. A. take 30. A. lasts

B. send B. endures
C. carry C. outlives
D. bring D. survives

28. A. interchanged
B. transplanted
C. misplaced
D. mixed

KERTAS SOALAN TAMAT  