AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES
GRADE 12
PAPER 2 
NSC PAST PAPERS AND MEMOS
SEPTEMBER 2017

INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION 

1. This question paper consists of TWO sections, namely SECTION A and  SECTION B. 
2. Answer ALL the questions in the ANSWER BOOK. 
3. Start EACH question on a NEW page. 
4. Number the answers correctly according to the numbering system used in  this question paper. 
5. You may use a non-programmable calculator. 
6. Show ALL your calculations, including formulae, where applicable.
7. Write neatly and legibly.

QUESTIONS 

SECTION A 
QUESTION 1 
1.1 Various options are provided as possible answers to the following  questions. Choose the answer and write ONLY the letter (A–D) next to the  question number (1.1.1–1.1.10) in the ANSWER BOOK, for example  1.1.11 D. 
1.1.1 In sex-linked characteristics, maleness or femaleness is  considered a … 

1. genetic phenotype.
2. genetic genotype.
3. polygenic appearance.
4. single base loss. 

1.1.2 ... refers to the money from the profit of a business that is shared  among the owners of the business. 

1. Savings
2. Credits
3. Dividends
4. Cash flow 

1.1.3 Labourers in a commercial farming enterprise can cause losses in production if they: 

1. Are not skilled to perform their jobs 
2. Are not supervised
3. They are not motivated
4. Are not transferred frequently to other farms 

Choose the correct combination: 

1.  (ii), (iii) and (iv)
2. (i), (ii) and (iii)
3. (i), (ii) and (iv)
4. (i), (iii) and (iv) 

1.1.4 The agricultural legislation that ensures fair, transparent and  efficient financial markets is the … 

1. Security Services Board Act No. 36 of 2004.
2. Agricultural Produce Agents Act of 1952.
3. Consumer Protection Act of 2008.
4. Agricultural Produce Amendment Act of 2004.

1.1.5 Some of the attributes of selling farm produce are that: 

1. hey are product oriented
2. They emphasise consumers’ needs and satisfaction
3. Cost are reduced to achieve maximum sales and profits
4. Technological innovation is important 

Choose the correct combination: 

1. (ii), (iii) and (iv)
2. (i), (ii) and (iii)
3. (i), (ii) and (iv)
4. (i) and (iii) 

1.1.6 The relationship between a change in quantity demanded and the  change in supply in the diagram below is an indication of ...  

1. elasticity of demand.
2. inelastic demand.
3. elasticity of supply.
4. supply schedule.

1.1.7

The letter X represents … 

1. agricultural inputs.
2. agricultural outputs.
3. economies of business enterprises.
4. input alternatives. 

1.1.8 The percentage of the plants that are tall in the crossing below  is … 

1. 1.1.9 An event where different buyers come together to bid on farm  produce available. 25%.
2. 50%. 
3. 75%.
4. 100%. 

1. Cooperative farming
2. Agricultural show
3. Auction
4. Liquidity 

1.1.10 Cells that contain foreign genes that were deliberately transferred  to its host are … 

1. somatic cells.
2. transgenic cells. 
3. mutagenic cells. 
4. osteoclast cells. (10 x 2) (20)

1.2 Choose a term/phrase from COLUMN B that matches a term in COLUMN A.  Write only the letter (A–J) next to the question number (1.2.1–1.2.5) in the  ANSWER BOOK, for example 1.2.6 K. 

(5 x 2) (10)
1.3 Write the agricultural term/phrase for each of the following descriptions  next to the question number (1.3.1–1.3.5) in the ANSWER BOOK. 

1.3.1 Breeding of plants and animals that are chosen for certain  desirable characteristics 
1.3.2 When the price of a product settles at the point where demand is  equal to supply 
1.3.3 Entering into future contracts to ensure a secure market and price 
1.3.4 A legally binding agreement between an employer and an  employee 
1.3.5 A type of mutation in which an individual has more than two whole sets of homologous chromosomes (5 x 2) (10) 

1.4 Change the UNDERLINED WORD/S in the following statements to make  them TRUE. Write only the appropriate word(s) next to the question  number (1.4.1–1.4.5) on the ANSWER SHEET. 

1.4.1 Variation is a mechanism of inheritance resulting from genes  relating to sex chromosomes. 
1.4.2 Capitalisation is when a business gives certain activities or  functions to another business to perform on its behalf. 
1.4.3 An entity’s income minus expenses for an accounting period is  liabilities. 
1.4.4 Items or products that are seen to not cause damage to the  environment, are mass products. 
1.4.5 The sequence of steps involved in transferring produce from the  farm to the consumer is processing. (5 x 1) (5) 

TOTAL SECTION A: 45

SECTION B 
QUESTION 2: AGRICULTURAL MANAGEMENT AND MARKETING
Start this question on a NEW page. 
2.1 The picture below shows the packaging of tomatoes on a commercial farm. 

2.1.1 State TWO reasons why the tomatoes are protected in boxes. (2) 
2.1.2 Mention TWO important packaging information that could attract  tomato buyers. (2) 
2.1.3 Give ONE reason why materials used for packaging must not  contain chemicals. (1) 

2.2 

2.2.1 Deduce the law of supply from the scenario in 2.2. (2)
2.2.2 State TWO factors that can affect the supply of meat in South Africa. (2)
2.2.3 State how the following factors can affect the demand of a product: 

1. 1. Advertisement (2)
   2. Quality of a product (2)

2.3 The illustration below indicates the relationship between the demand and  supply of oranges on a farm. 

2.3.1 Plot the information on a demand and supply curve graph. (5)
2.3.2 Determine the price at the market equilibrium. (1)
2.3.3 State ONE reason why the demand for oranges is lowest at R50. (1) 

2.4 

2.4.1 Explain the concept “free marketing” to your classmate. (2)
2.4.2 Recommend TWO channels/options of free marketing to a farmer. (2)
2.4.3 State TWO disadvantages of a free marketing system. (2)

2.5 The illustration below represents the distribution of milk from a dairy farm to  the consumer. 

2.5.1 State THREE major marketing costs that could increase the price of  the product to the consumer. (3) 
2.5.2 Mention TWO major factors that can hamper the marketing of the  milk by the distributer. (2) 
2.5.3 Recommend TWO ways to improve and streamline the agric business chain. (2) 

2.6 State TWO possible problems that may arise when compiling an agri business plan. (2)

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QUESTION 3: PRODUCTION FACTORS  
Start this question on a NEW page. 
3.1 For production of any product to take place, the following factors should  be in place. Land is a permanent economic factor in agricultural science,  however the availability of land for agricultural purposes is limited. 

3.1.1 Indicate the production factor that could be used as collateral  from 3.1 above. (1) 
3.1.2 Justify your answer to QUESTION 3.1.1 with TWO reasons. (2) 
3.1.3 Explain the underlined economic characteristic of land in the  scenario in 3.1. (2) 
3.1.4 Name TWO other economic characteristics of land apart from the  underlined one in 3.1 to the entrepreneur. (2) 

3.2 

3.2.1 Tabulate the following labourers into skilled, semi-skilled and  unskilled labourers: 

• Unqualified mechanic
• Veterinarian 
• Apple picker (3) 

3.2.2 Identify the labourer in QUESTION 3.2.1 who could be the highest in demand by a livestock farmer. (1) 
3.2.3 Give ONE reason to justify your answer in QUESTION 3.2.2. (1) 
3.2.4 Recommend TWO methods that could improve the economic  conditions of the apple picker. (2) 
3.2.5 State the labour legislation that could assist an unqualified  mechanic to become qualified on a commercial farm. (1)
3.3 The document below was found by a worker in the drawer of the desk of a  commercial farm manager. The worker approached you with some questions  to find out what the document could be. 

3.3.1 Mention the type of document in QUESTION 3.3. (1)
3.3.2 Give TWO reasons for your answer in QUESTION 3.3.1. (2) 
3.3.3 Identify TWO types of capital mentioned in the document in  QUESTION 3.3, with examples of each. (2) 
3.3.4 Calculate the profit or loss of the farmer according to the document in  QUESTION 3.3. (3) 
3.3.5 Mention TWO sources of capital to the farm worker. (2)
3.4

3.4.1 Define the concept “farm management”. (2)
3.4.2 Indicate THREE components of strategic management. (3)
3.4.3 Explain conceptual skills as used in business management skills. (2) 
3.4.4 State THREE socio-cultural forces that affect agricultural  enterprises. (3)

[35]

QUESTION 4: BASIC AGRICULTURAL GENETICS 
Start this question on a NEW page. 
4.1 

Key:  

4.1.1 Name the genotype represented by K in the Punnet square  above. (1) 
4.1.2 State the phenotype that could appear in L in the Punnet square  above. (1) 
4.1.3 Determine the ratio of white and long hair to all the possible  phenotypes. (2) 
4.1.4 Calculate the percentage of black and short hair in the  phenotypes. (4)

4.2 

4.2.1 Distinguish between qualitative and quantitative genetic characteristics of organisms. (4) 
4.2.2 Categorise the following into quantitative or qualitative  characteristic of a bull: 

1. Gender of a bull (1)
2. Body size of the bull (1) 

4.3

4.3.1 State TWO limitations of the breeding method mentioned in the  scenario. (2) 
4.3.2 Mention TWO current uses of genetically modified plants in South  Africa. (2) 
4.4 Define the following terminologies: 

1. Prepotency (2)
2. Pedigree selection (2)

4.5 A farmer went to an agricultural show and bought two breeds of cattle. The  photos of the cattle are shown in the picture below. The cow is a Scottish breed and the bull is a Sudan Abigcer. He intends  breeding the cattle on his farm. 

4.5.1 From the scenario, deduce the type of breeding that will take place  on the farm. (1) 
4.5.2 Give ONE reason for your answer to QUESTION 4.5.1. (2) 
4.5.3 State THREE possible characteristics the farmer could expect from  the offspring. (3) 
4.5.4 Give ONE genetic terminology for the offspring. (1) 

4.6

4.6.1 Calculate the milk yield for the genotype aaBbcC, without using a  calculator. (4) 

4.7 The illustration below is one of the factors that cause mutation in genetics. 

4.7.1 Make a prediction with regard to the process in the scenario in 4.7. (2)

[35] 
TOTAL SECTION B: 105 
GRAND TOTAL: 150