saasta.ac.za : Grade 7- 9 Natural Science Olympiad Past Question Paper

Name of the Organization : SAASTA – South African Agency for Science & Technology Advancement
Announcement : Natural Science Olympiad
Year : 2016
Type : Past Papers
Grade : Grade 7 to 9

Website : https://www.saasta.ac.za/

SAASTA Grade 7- 9 Natural Science Olympiad Past Paper

** This is a multiple choice paper. Please answer all the questions on the answer sheet provided. Each question is followed by answers marked A, B, C and D. Only one answer is correct. Choose the most correct answer and shade the corresponding circle on the answer sheet completely using an HB pencil.

** NB! The answer sheets are marked electronically – do not make any other dots or marks on the answer sheet. Select only one answer for each question or your answer will be discarded. Ensure that you shade your selection clearly.

** Note that the question numbers 1 to 100 on the answer sheet moves from top to bottom in several columns. Ensure that the number of your selection on the answer sheet corresponds with the number of the question in your examination paper. Should you make a mistake, please erase the incorrect answer completely.

** The use of non-programmable electronic calculators is permitted.
** Three hours are allowed to answer the questions.

Section A: General Knowledge :
1. When water freezes … (complete the sentence).
A its temperature increases and volume decreases.
B its temperature decreases and volume decreases.
C its temperature decreases and volume increases.
D its temperature decreases and volume remains unchanged.

2. Which of the following is the fastest animal?
A Cheetah
B Falcon
C Impala
D Elephant

3. Which of the following is the largest organ in the human body?
A Brain
B Stomach
C Skin
D Lungs

4. Alcohol abuse may lead to one of the following:
A Foetal Alcohol Syndrome
B An increased risk of strokes and heart attacks
C Osteoporosis
D Anaemia

5. Which one of the following gases leads to the discolouration of brass?
A Oxygen
B Nitrogen
C Carbon dioxide
D Hydrogen

6. SKA stands for …
A Scientific Knowledge Applications
B Sound Knowledge Arbiters
C Scientific Knights Army
D Square Kilometre Array

7. Which of the following is used in pencils?
A Graphite
B Silicon
C Charcoal
D Phosphorous

8. The common name for washing soda.
A Sodium carbonate
B Calcium carbonate
C Sodium bicarbonate
D Calcium bicarbonate

9. Which of the following gases is known as a greenhouse gas?
A Nitrous oxide
B Methane
C Carbon dioxide
D Argon

10. The hardest substance available on earth.
A Gold
B Iron
C Diamond
D Platinum

Section B: Space Science And Astronomy :
11. The Moon revolves around the Earth at an average orbital speed of about _______.
A 360km/h
B 1km/h
C 28km/h
D 36km/h

12. Which of these statements is correct?
A Spring tides occur when the Sun and Moon are at 90 degrees to each other.
B Neap tides occur when the Sun and Moon are in line with each other.
C Neap tides occur when the Sun and Moon are at 90 degrees to each other.
D Spring tides occur when the Earth and Moon are in line with each other.

13. Why is ozone important to life on Earth?
A It is required for respiration.
B It removes chlorofluorocarbons from our atmosphere.
C It kills harmful bacteria and fungi.
D It absorbs harmful ultraviolet rays from the Sun.

14. The sun is mainly made of ___________.
A hot rocks, oxygen gas and hydrogen
B hydrogen gas and helium gas
C oxygen gas and helium gas
D molten rock and methane gas

15. The acceleration due to gravity on Earth is 9,8m/s2 while on planet Mars it is 3.8m/s2. What will the mass of a learner be on Mars if his mass on Earth is 50kg?
A 50kg
B 190kg
C 37.24kg
D 490kg

16. Which of the following statements about the temperatures of the planets is correct?
A Neptune is the coldest planet and Venus is the hottest planet.
B Jupiter is the coldest planet and Saturn is the hottest planet.
C Mars is the coldest planet while Saturn is the hottest planet.
D Uranus is the coldest planet while Earth is the hottest planet.

17. How many planets are there in our solar system?
A 8
B 9
C 10
D 11

18. What do we call “…a huge and rotating collection of gas and dust with billions of stars, planets and other celestial objects”?
A Galaxy
B Nebula
C Solar system
D Universe

19. The distance to the next closest star, Proxima Centauri is 4.01 X 1013 km from Earth. If 1 Light Year is 9.46 X 1012 km, what is the distance to Proxima Centauri in Light Years?
A 4.24 Light Years
B 30.64 Light Years
C 49.56 Light Years
D 13.47 Light Years

20. What type of reaction produces the energy in a sun?
A Nuclear fission
B Thermal convection
C Chemical reaction of gases
D Nuclear fusion

Download SAASTA Grade 7- 9 Natural Science Olympiad Past Paper

Download SAASTA Grade 7- 9 Natural Science Olympiad Past Paper below

Natural Science Olympiad 2016 : https://www.southafricain.com/uploads/7265-NSO2016.pdf
Natural Science Olympiad 2015 : https://www.southafricain.com/uploads/7265-NSO2015.docx
Natural Science Olympiad 2014 : https://www.southafricain.com/uploads/7265-NSO2014.pdf
Natural Science Olympiad 2013 : https://www.southafricain.com/uploads/7265-NSO2013.pdf

FAQ On SAASTA Olympiad

Frequently Asked Questions FAQ On SAASTA Olympiad

Q: What is SAASTA Olympiad?
A: The SAASTA Olympiad is an annual science competition organized by the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA), a division of the National Research Foundation (NRF) in South Africa. The Olympiad aims to promote interest and excellence in science and technology among South African learners, and provides an opportunity for learners to showcase their knowledge and skills in various fields of science.

Q: Who can participate in the SAASTA Olympiad?
A: The SAASTA Olympiad is open to South African learners in grades 10, 11, and 12 from public and private schools, as well as learners who are home-schooled. Learners must be South African citizens or permanent residents to be eligible to participate.

Q: What are the fields of science covered in the SAASTA Olympiad?
A: The SAASTA Olympiad covers various fields of science, including physical sciences (physics and chemistry), life sciences (biology), and natural sciences (combined physical and life sciences).’

Additional Generic Procedure

The SAASTA Natural Science Olympiad is a national competition for learners in Grades 4-6 and Grades 7-9. The exam is designed to assess learners’ knowledge and understanding of a range of scientific concepts.

The exam is divided into two sections:
** Section A: This section tests learners’ knowledge of basic scientific concepts. Questions are typically multiple-choice or short-answer.
** Section B: This section tests learners’ ability to apply scientific concepts to real-world problems. Questions are typically longer and require more thought and analysis.

The exam is scored out of 100, and the pass mark is 50%.

The composition of the exam is as follows:
** Remembering: 20%
** Understanding: 30%
** Applying: 30%
** Analysing: 20%

The exam is a one-hour written exam.

Here are some tips for preparing for the SAASTA Natural Science Olympiad:
** Solve past papers. This is the best way to get a feel for the type of questions that are asked on the exam.
** Read science magazines and articles. This will help you to stay up-to-date on current scientific topics.
** Talk to your science teacher.They can help you to identify areas where you need to improve your knowledge.
** Join a science club or after-school program. This is a great way to learn more about science and to meet other students who are interested in science.