The document provides instructions and content for a Grade 8 social studies mid-year examination covering topics such as Jamaica's location, geography, climate, natural hazards, and environmental issues. Students are to answer multiple choice, true/false, and short answer questions testing their knowledge across four sections within a 90 minute time period while following exam rules. The exam is designed to evaluate students' understanding of key social studies concepts related to Jamaica.

1. Vere Technical High
School
Social Studies
This test is to be attempted by Grade 8 (Form 2) students.
[Mr. D. Gooden]
[8/6/2012]
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2. Vere Technical High School This paper must be returned with the
Social Studies student's written work otherwise
Grade 8 the test will b e v o i d and t he
student will get zero
Mid -Year Examination: February 2012
Student's Name
Grade Date
INSTRUCTIONS: This paper is made up of FOUR Sections, namely Sections A, B,
C, D.
(i) Students are to answer ALL questions from ALL sections.
(ii) A, Part ONE and Part TWO must be answered on the Answer
Template provide.
(iii) Section D MUST be written in standard
English.
(iv) Students are to ensure that grammar and punctuation mark
rules are followed.
(v) No cheating will be tolerated and ALL questions and
concerns MUST be directed to the invigilator.
Time allowed: 1 hour 30 minutes
For Subject Teacher's Use Only
SECTION A SECTION A SECTION B SECTION C SECTION C SECTION D TOTAL
P1 P2 P1 P2
20 10 10 10 20 20 90
DO NOT TURN THIS PAGE UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD TO DO SO
©Property of Vere Technical High School
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3. SECTION A - Part 1
Multiple Choice Questions
Instruction: Part 1 has 40 multiple-choice questions. Each question has four possible
answers,
Select the correct option that you think best answers the question and shade
it in on the answer template (sheet) provided
1. Jamaica is located in a group of Rivers
islands called: (b)Rio Cobre and Milk River
(c)Great River and Rio Minho
(a) Greater Antilles (d)Black River and Carbarita River
(b) Bahamas
(c) Cayman Islands 6. Instrument use to locate places:
(d) Lesser Antilles (a) Microscope
(b) Compass
2. The earth is made up of four (c) Cardiograph
hemispheres. In which two (d) Ruler
hemispheres would Jamaica be
located? 7. The science or study of rocks:
i. Northern hemisphere (a) Geology
ii. Eastern hemisphere (b) Meteorology
iii Southern hemisphere (c) Zoology
iv. Western hemisphere (d) Agronomy
(a) i and ii only 8. The outer layer of the earth where
(b) i and iv only we live:
(c) ii and iii only
(d) All of the above (a) Core
(b) Mantle
3. Jamaica is located at ______ and _____. (c) Crust
(d) Inner Core
(a) 20˚South latitude and 77˚East longitude
(b) 18˚North latitude and 80˚West longitude 9. ____________ rocks are those formed
(c) 18˚North latitude and 77˚West longitude by the action of volcanoes.
(d) 17˚South latitude and 80˚East
longitude (a) Metamorphic
(b) Igneous
(c) Limestone
(d) Sedimentary
10. 90°N and 23½°N represent:
(a) The North Pole and the South Pole
respectively
(b) The Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic
Use the map of Jamaica to answer the of Capricorn respectively
questions 4 and 5. (c) The South Pole and the Tropic of
Capricorn respectively
4. Which two parishes are shaded? (d) The North Pole and the Tropic of
Cancer respectively.
(a) Hanover and Westmoreland
(b) Kingston and St. Andrew 11. Low lands between hills or
(c) Manchester and St. Elizabeth mountains:
(d) Portland and St. Thomas
(a) Valleys
5. Which of the following rivers are (b) Depression
found in the shaded region? (c) Sinkhole
(d) Mountain
(a)Rio Grande and Plantain Garden
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4. 12. In some areas of Jamaica heavy the diagram represent.
rainfall loosens rocks and soils and
carries them away. This process is (a)Relief rainfall
called: (b)Convectional rainfall
(c)Frontal rainfall
(a) Flooding (d)None of the above
(b) Erosion
(c) Earthquake 17. What does this weather symbol
(d) Drought mean?
Use the diagram below to answer
question 13.
(a) Thunder storm
(b) Partly cloudy
(c) Sunny
(d) Windy
18. Jamaica experiences a:
13. The diagram above represents a (a) Tropical climate
simple mountain. Identify, in the (b) Tropical Marine climate
correct order, the parts labeled i – iv. (c) Tropical Mansoon climate
(d) Temperate climate
(a)Level plain, gentle slope, steep slope,
peak
(b) Level plain, steep slope, gentle slope,
peak
(c) Steep slope, gentle slope, level plain,
peak
(d) Peak, steep slope, gentle slope, level
plain
14. One human activity that can cause
flooding.
(a) Putting garbage in drains
(b) Sweeping the yard
(c) Planting trees Examine the diagram below, then
(d) Using the river often answer questions 19 and 20.
15. A terrible thing that can be caused by 19. The diagram above best represents:
the careless way in which man uses
his natural environment. (a)an earthquake
(b)The movements of seismic waves
(a) Natural disaster within the earth
(b) Man-made product (c)An illustration of a tsunami
(c) Man-made disaster (d)The structure of the earth
(d) Accident
20. The letters A and B on the diagram
represents:
(a)the epicentre and the seismic waves
(b)the focus and the lithosphere
(c)earthquake and tsunami
(d)the epicentre and the focus
16. The above diagram represents a 20 marks
type of rainfall. Which type does
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5. SECTION A - Part 2
True & False and Short-Answer Questions
Instruction: This section consists of 10 True and False and 4 short answer questions.
In the True and False section, each question has two options “T” for true and “F” for
false, from which students are to choose the correct answer and shade it on the answer
sheet. Read the questions carefully then shade in the correct option that answers the
question.
Example: Usain Bolt is the fastest man in history over 100m and 200m. T or F
The answer is T
1. The Queen of Spain Valley is located in the parish of Trelawny.
2. The above diagram represents the instrument that is used to measure the
amount of rainfall that a place may get.
3. Four factors which affect the climate of Jamaica are distance from the sea, winds, relief and
latitudinal position.
4. The Black River is the only river in Jamaica which runs from east to west.
5. Lithosphere is to the earth crust as pyroclastic materials are to mountains.
6. Stalagmites are calcium carbonate formation that grows down from the roof of limestone
caves while stalactites grow up from the cave floor.
7. Most of the hurricanes that affect the Caribbean originate from off the west coast of
Africa.
8. The atmospheric conditions of a particular place over a long period of time is called
weather.
9. The point at which the seismic waves of an earthquake reach the surface of the earth
is known as the focus.
10. Stalactites and stalagmites, rock pillars and underground streams are features
common to Jamaican caves.
10 marks
SECTION B
Use the words below to fill the blank spaces and complete the paragraph.
Seasons altitude tropical polar distance
Climate latitude temperate zone imaginary
When weather elements are observed and recorded over long periods, similar patterns are
noticed from one year to the next. These long-term conditions we call _______________.
The condition of a place is determined mainly by its _______________. Latitude is
distance measured in degrees, North and South of the equator. Latitude lines are
_______________ lines that divide the earth into zones: ________________,
________________ and ______________. The climate of a place is named partly

6. because
of the _______________ in which it lies. The main reason for climate changes
throughout each year is the movement of the earth around the sun. This is what causes
the _______________, namely spring, summer, autumn and winter. Other factors that
affect climate are _________________ from the sea, height above the sea (which is
called _________________), wind and relief (shape of the land). 10
marks
SECTION C - Part 1
Map and Grid Work
Study the map of Jamaica below then answer the questions which follow.
What direction is: Calculate the distance for the following:
(i) May Pen from Port Maria (i) May Pen from Port Maria
____________ _____________
(ii) Falmouth from Spanish Town (ii) Falmouth from Spanish Town
____________ ______________
(iii) Black River from Mandeville (iii) Black River from Mandeville
____________ ______________
3 marks 3 marks

7. Use the grid below to find the location of the following places.
1. Hong Kong_______________________ 2. Keelung___________________
3. Shanghai_________________________ 4. Pusian____________________
4 marks
SECTION C - Part 2
Diagrams
(i) Draw and correctly label:
(a)a diagram of the earth's make-up (5 marks)
(b)the volcano (5 marks)
(c)The relief rainfall (10 marks) 20 marks
SECTION D
Write a composition on ONE of the following topics. Your composition must be
written in Standard English on the ruled sheets provided.
(a) Rocks – in this essay, you are to include the types of rock that exist, how they are
formed, examples of these types of rocks and the benefits that can be obtained
from these types of rocks.
(b) Natural Disasters – in this essay, you are to include what are natural disaster, the
types of natural disasters, the causes of these disasters and the effects of natural
disasters on man and country
(c) Mountains – in this essay, you are to include what are mountains, the differences

8. between mountains and hills, the benefits of mountains and the impact of man on
mountains. 20 marks