Class VIII NSO

Past Year Paper 2012

NSO - SOF NATIONAL SCIENCE OLYMPIAD
Past Year Paper 2012
Time: 1 hour

Total Marks: 50

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Guidelines for the Candidate
1. Additional 10 (Ten) minutes will be given to the students to fill up the students'
information before the start of the exam.
2. The paper consists of two sections Mental Ability (15 Questions) and Science Section
(35 Questions).
3. All questions are compulsory and carry equal marks. There is no negative marking. Use
of calculator is not permitted.
4. Write your Name, Roll No., and Class clearly on the Answer Sheet and do not forget to
sign.
5. There is only one correct answer hence mark one choice only.
6. Darken your choice with HB Pencil or Blue / Black Ball Point Pen only.
For Example:
Q.16: In the water cycle, condensation is the process of
(A) Water vapour cooling down and turning into a liquid
(B) Ice warming up and turning into a liquid
(C) Liquid cooling down and turning into ice
(D) Liquid warming up and turning into water vapour
As the correct answer is option No. (A), the candidate should darken the circle
corresponding to option No. (A)
16.

7. Rough work should be done in the blank space provided in this booklet.
8. Return the answer sheet to the invigilator at the end of the exam. The question paper
can be retained by the student.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
MENTAL ABILITY
1. If x = 5 +2 6, then
A.

(x-1)
x

is equal to __________.

B. 2 2
C.

D. 2 3

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Class VIII NSO

Past Year Paper 2012
2. If a company sells a car with a marked price of 2,72,000 and gives a discount of 4% on
2,00,000 and 2.5% on the remaining amount then the actual price charged by the
company for the car is ___________.
A. 2,50,000
B. 2,55,000
C. 2,60,100
D. 2,62,200
3. The characters in the given matrix follow a certain trend, row-wise or column-wise.
Find out this trend and choose the missing character from the given options.
31
17
58
87
68

19

61

56

91

22

70

50

10

142

11

A. 3
B. 6
C. 7
D. 9
4. The difference between simple interest and compound interest on a certain sum of
money for 2 years at 4% per annum is 20. Then the sum is __________.
A. 13,500
B. 12,500
C. 11,500
D. 15,200
5. The squares which should be shaded to make the adjoining figure symmetric is
______________.
P

S
R
Q

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Class VIII NSO

Past Year Paper 2012
A. P and Q
B. P and S
C. Q and R
D. R and S
6. Which of the following statements is correct?
A. All rectangles are squares.
B. All kites are rhombuses.
C. All rhombuses are parallelograms.
D. All trapeziums are squares.
7. The number of two digit numbers which are both perfect squares and perfect cubes
is_____________.
A. 0
B. 2
C. 1
D. 3
8. In the given matrix, find out which of the options completes the figure matrix?

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Class VIII NSO

Past Year Paper 2012

A.

B.

C.

D.
9. The area of the adjoining polygon (not drawn to scale) is ______________.

A. 109 cm2
B. 280 cm2
C. 322 cm2
D. 900 cm2
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Class VIII NSO

Past Year Paper 2012
10. The sum of the digits of a 2-digit number is 12. If the new number formed by reversing
the digits is greater than the original number by 54, then the original number is
__________.
A. 39
B. 93
C. 49
D. 23

11. In a certain code language, 'put tir fin' means 'delicious juicy fruit', 'tie dip sig' means
'beautiful white lily' and 'sig Ion fin' means 'lily and fruit'. Which of the following stands
for 'and' in that language?
A. Ion
B. sig
C. fin
D. None of these
12. The given pie-chart shows the percentage of Literate and Illiterate-Males and Females
in a city.

The difference between the number of Literate Males and Literate Females is __________.
A. 75,000
B. 1,500
C. 5,000
D. 500
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Class VIII NSO

Past Year Paper 2012
13. Simplify the following expression:
51x5y 12 34x12y 5 120x7 y 8 54x2y 4

40x 4 y 3
17x5y 5
9xy
3y 6 2x6 2 2
(x y )
A.

3y 7 2x7 2 2
(x y )
B.

C.

(3y 6 2x6 )(x2y 2 )

3

D.

(3y 7 2x7 )(x2y 2 )

2

14. In the set of problem figures, there is a definite relationship between figures P and Q.
Establish a similar relationship between figure R and S by selecting a suitable figure
from the options that would replace the question mark (?) in the Problem Figures.

A.

B.

C.

D.

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Class VIII NSO

Past Year Paper 2012
15. A cistern from inside is 12.5 m long. 8.5 m broad and 4 m high and is open at top. The
cost of cementing the inside of a cistern at 24 per sq m is ______________.
A. 6582
B. 8256
C. 7752
D. 8752

SCIENCE
16. A thin tube contains a thread of mercury which traps air at the end of the tube. The
other end of the tube is open to the atmosphere. When the tube is turned upside down,
the volume of the trapped air increases. It is because _______________.

A. The air gets hotter when the tube is turned upside down.
B. The atmosphere pushes less when it acts upwards on the mercury.
C. The pressure in the trapped air is reduced.
D. The trapped air molecules hit the mercury harder when travelling downwards.
17. Which of the following does not produce a sound wave?
A. A silencer fixed gun fired
B. A bell ringing under water
C. A hammer hitting a block of rubber
D. An explosion on the moon
18. A candle is placed before a thick plane mirror. When looked obliquely in the mirror a
number of images are seen from the surface of the plane mirror. Which of the following
statements is correct?
A. First image is brightest
B. Second image is brightest
C. Third image is brightest
D. All images are equally bright
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Class VIII NSO

Past Year Paper 2012
19. On holding a stainless steel spoon near our face, we see
A. Our inverted image on outer side of the spoon
B. Our erect image on inner side of the spoon
C. Our inverted image on inner side of the spoon
D. Our laterally inverted image on inner side of the spoon
20. During a thunderstorm, an observer can see lightning before hearing its thunder. Why
does he see lightning before he hears thunder?
A. Sound travels slower than light.
B. Sound needs a medium to travel through.
C. Sound cannot reflect off surfaces as easily as light.
D. Sound is not processed by the brain as fast as light.
21. The given graph illustrates the motion of an object.

Which feature of the graph represents the distance travelled by the object moving at a
constant speed?
A. Area S
B. Area S + area T
C. Area T
D. The gradient at point X
22. Sonic vibrations were sent down from a ship return after 2 seconds. What is the depth
of the sea, if the speed of sound in water is 1.5 kms-1?
A. 150 m
B. 3 km
C. 1.5 km
D. 750 m

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Class VIII NSO

Past Year Paper 2012
23. Which of the following planets can be seen with naked eye?
A. Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter
B. Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune
C. Mercury, Venus, Uranus, Neptune
D. Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Neptune
24. A cook makes a pudding as shown. The pudding is placed in a very hot oven until the
top of the egg whites turns brown. It is then removed from the oven. Why does the ice
cream stay cold?

A. Air is a good conductor of heat and conducts the heat away from the ice cream.
B. Air is a poor conductor of heat and stops the heat from reaching the ice cream.
C. The metal dish is a good conductor of heat and conducts the heat away from the ice
cream.
D. The metal dish is a poor conductor of heat and stops the heat from reaching the ice
cream.
25. Read the given statements and mark the correct option.
Statement 1: When a bicycle is in motion, the force of friction exerted by the ground on
the two wheels is always in forward direction.
Statement 2: The frictional force acts only when the bodies are in contact.
A. Both statements 1 and 2 are true and statement 2 is the correct explanation of
statement 1.
B. Both statements 1 and 2 are true but statement 2 is not the correct explanation of
statement 1.
C. Statement 1 is true but statement 2 is false.
D. Statement 1 is false and statement 2 is true.

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Class VIII NSO

Past Year Paper 2012
26. A copper disc has a circular hole drilled in it so that it can act as a washer for a nut and
bolt. If this washer is heated equally all over, which of the given options will be true?

A.
B.
C.
D.

Circumference of inner hole

Remains constant
Decreases
Increase
Increases

Circumference of washer
Increases
Increases
Decreases
Increases

27. Which of the following cannot be charged easily by friction?

A. A plastic scale
B. A woollen cloth
C. An inflated balloon
D. A copper rod
28. Three students stand 2 m apart in front of a plane mirror that is 3 m long. Student Y is
standing at the mid-point of the mirror. How many student(s) can see the images of the
other two?

A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3

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Class VIII NSO

Past Year Paper 2012
29. A car driver took a total of two hours to make a journey of 75 km. He had a coffee break
of half an hour and spent a quarter of an hour stationary in a traffic jam. What was his
average speed during the journey?
A. 38 km h-1
B. 50 km h-1
C. 60 km h-1
D. 75 km h-1
30. Taking one light year equal to 9.4 1015 m and one day equal to 86400 s, what will be
the speed of light in light year per day if the speed of light in m s-1 is 3 108?
A. 2.75 10-3 ly day-1
B. 3.75 10-3 ly day-1
C. 2.75 103 ly day-1
D. 3.79 103 ly day-1
31. Sudha took a small amount of sulphur in deflagrating spoon and heated it over a burner.
As soon as it started burning she put it in a gas jar and covered with a lid. After sulphur
stopped burning she added a small amount of water in it and dissolved the gas in water
by shaking it. She then tested the solution with red and blue litmus paper. What did she
observe?

A. In the solution the blue litmus paper turned red.

B. In the solution the red litmus paper turned blue.
C. There was no change in the colour of litmus paper.
D. Blue litmus paper turned red and red litmus paper turned blue.

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Class VIII NSO

Past Year Paper 2012
32. The given diagrams show the reactions of three metals with dilute hydrochloric acid.
What are metals P, Q and R?

A.
B.
C.
D.

P
Copper
Copper
Magnesium
Zinc

Q
Magnesium
Zinc
Zinc
Magnesium

R
Zinc
Magnesium
Copper
Copper

33. Ramesh mixed some iron filings with sulphur powder in a China dish. In another dish he
mixed iron filings and sulphur powder and heated the mixture.

Which of his observations is not correct?

A. Dish X shows a physical change while dish Y shows a chemical change.
B. In dish X sulphur powder and iron filings can be seen separately.
C. In dish Y a new substance is formed on heating the mixture.
D. The change which has taken place in dish Y is reversible.

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Class VIII NSO

Past Year Paper 2012
34. Given below are few statements.
I. When rubbed on fingers, bases give a soapy feeling.
II. The salt produced in neutralisation reaction may be acidic, basic or neutral.
III. Antacids are acids used to treat acidity and indigestion.
Select the correct option.
A. Only I is correct.
B. Only I and II are correct
C. Only I and III are correct.
D. All I, II and III are correct.
35. Few characteristics of three fuels X, Y and Z are given below.
X
Y
Not easily stored or
Can be stored in tanks
transported
and transported through
pipes
Extremely polluting
Produce almost no
pollutants

Z
Can be stored in tanks
and transported through
pipes
Moderately polluting

Identify X, Y and Z respectively.

A. LPG, Biogas, Coal
B. Coal, Natural gas, Petroleum
C. Petroleum, LPG, Coal
D. Natural gas, Cow dung, LPG
36. Three experiments to investigate the reactivities of three metals are shown.

What is the correct order of reactivity (most reactive least reactive) for these three
metals?
A. Chromium, Manganese, Nickel
B. Manganese, Chromium, Nickel
C. Manganese, Nickel, Chromium
D. Natural gas, Cow dung, LPG
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Class VIII NSO

Past Year Paper 2012
37. Four experiments on rusting are shown below.

Which two experiments can be used to show that air is needed for iron to rust?
A. 1 and 3
B. 1 and 4
C. 2 and 3
D. 2 and 4
38. If Raman opened the air-hole of a Bunsen burner fully and lighted the burner, he will
get __________________.
A. A luminous flame which is orange-yellow in colour.
B. A non-luminous flame which is pale blue in colour.
C. A flame that strikes back which is thin blue or green-yellow in colour.
D. A smoky flame which gives off a lot of soot.
39. Select the correct option which on rearranging gives the term for the ground-water
stored between layers of hard rock below the water table.
A. Duclos
B. Refquai
C. Ragclei
D. Pwmas

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Class VIII NSO

Past Year Paper 2012
40. Observe the given apparatus carefully showing an activity performed to compare the
carbon dioxide content of inhaled and exhaled air.

What would be the observation for T1 and T2 test tubes and its correct explanation?
[(+) indicates milky colouration in limewater]
T1
T2
Explanation
A.
+++
++
CO2 content is a little higher in inhaled air
B.
++++
+
CO2 content is considerably higher in inhaled
air
C.
+
++++
CO2 content is considerably higher in exhaled
air
D.
++
++
CO2 content is same in both inhaled and
exhaled air
41. A schematic representation of the blood circulation is given. Which circulatory parts are
incorrectly placed in it?

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Class VIII NSO

Past Year Paper 2012
A. Right atrium and right ventricle
B. Left atrium and left ventricle
C. Pulmonary artery and pulmonary veins
D. Aorta and vena cava
42. The given figure shows different layers of a forest labelled as W, X, Y and Z. Which layer
is the habitat of many animal species like monkeys, orangutans, toucans and sloths as
there is plenty of food available?

A. W
B. X
C. Y
D. Z
43. Namita's mother does not allow her to lie on the abdomen immediately after having
food. What could most likely be the reason for this?
A. In stomach, food gets processed into a thick liquid called chyme.
B. Peristaltic movement gets affected throughout the digestive tract especially small
intestine where digestion and absorption chiefly occurs, hence food does not
properly mix with enzymes and stays undigested.
C. The small intestine, on compression, releases intestinal juices which restrict the
action of digestive enzymes in the small intestine.
D. The peristaltic movement gets affected throughout the digestive tract especially large
intestine where poor motility may result in greater absorption of water and thereby
may cause diarrhoea.

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Class VIII NSO

Past Year Paper 2012
44. Match Column-I with Column-II and select the correct option from the codes given
below.
Column-I
Column-II
(a) Scouring
(i) Wool fibres are passed through rollers to straighten the
fibres.
(b) Shearing
(ii) Unwinding silk fibres from a cocoon.
(c) Reeling
(iii) The fleece of the sheep along with a thin layer of skin is
removed.
(d) Carding
(iv) Stained, damaged or inferior wool is removed.
(v) Sheared hair is washed thoroughly to remove the
impurities.
A. (a)-(iv), (b)-(iii), (c)-(v), (d)-(i)
B. (a)-(v), (b)-(iii), (c)-(ii), (d)-(i)
C. (a)-(v), (b)-(iii), (c)-(iv), (d)-(i)
D. (a)-(iii), (b)-(ii), (c)-(v), (d)-(iv)
45. The given figure shows an irrigation method used in agricultural practice.

Which of the following is correct regarding this irrigation method?

A. It is the best technique for watering fruit plants, gardens and trees.
B. It is a boon in regions where availability of water is poor.
C. The method provides water to the plants drop by drop at their roots.
D. All of these.
46. Latika observed her grandmother adding lots of salt on unripe mangoes to prepare
pickles. Her grandmother also added excess of oil in the pickle jar. What could be the
reason for it?
A. Salt prevents growth of microorganisms by retaining moisture in the food item and
oil provides an environment in which microorganisms cannot grow.
B. Salt prevents growth of microorganisms by forcing them to lose water by osmosis
and oil provides an environment in which microorganisms cannot grow.
C. Salt prevents growth of microorganisms by retaining moisture in the food item and
oil prevents their growth by forcing out water from them by osmosis.
D. Salt prevents growth of microorganisms by forcing them to lose water by osmosis
and oil prevents their growth by retaining moisture in the food item.
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Class VIII NSO

Past Year Paper 2012
47. Look at the given cell carefully. Identify the function of the part labelled Y'.

A. It controls the movement of materials in and out of the cell.

B. It controls all the activities of the cell.
C. It contains many cell parts.
D. It provides protection to the cell.
48. Match Column-I with Column-II and select the correct option from the codes given
below.
Column-I
Column-II
(a) Jim Corbett National Park
(i) Karnataka
(b) Kanha National Park
(ii) Madhya Pradesh
(c) Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary
(iii) Tamil Nadu
(d) Bandipur Sanctuary
(iv) Uttaranchal
(e) Mudumalai Sanctuary
(v) Assam
A. (a)-(iii), (b)-(iii), (c)-(iv), (d)-(ii), (e)-(v)
B. (a)-(v), (b)-(iv), (c)-(ii), (d)-(i), (e)-(iii)
C. (a)-(iv), (b)-(v), (c)-(d)-(iii), (e)-(ii)
D. (a)-(iv), (b)-(ii), (C)-(v), (d)-(i), (e)-(iii)
49. Read the given statements and select the correct option.
Statement 1: Aquatic animals produce large number of eggs and sperms necessary to
ensure external fertilization.
Statement 2: The eggs swim in water with the help of cilia, and fertilize the sperms.
A. Both statements 1 and 2 are true and statement 2 is the correct explanation of
statement 1.
B. Both statements 1 and 2 are true but statement 2 is not the correct explanation of
statement 1.
C. Statement 1 is true but statement 2 is false.
D. Both statements 1 and 2 are false.

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Class VIII NSO

Past Year Paper 2012
50. Which of these is a behavioural adaptation?
A. A hognose snake pretends as dead to trick the predator.
B. A frog's light-coloured belly makes it harder for a predatory fish to see it against
sunlight on the water surface.
C. The scarlet king snake looks very much like the poisonous coral snake.
D. A treehopper on a leaf or twig resembles a thorn.

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