GENERAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING

LIFE ORIENTATION

MID-YEAR EXAMINATION

JUNE 2015

GRADE 8

NO OF PAGES: 4

MARKS: 70
DURATION : 1HOUR
Instructions to learners
Read all instructions carefully
Number your answers correctly
Write neatly and legibly
Answer ALL the questions in Sections A and B.
Answer ANY TWO of the three questions in Section C

Life Orientation Grade 8 2 Mid-year examination June 2015

SECTION A

QUESTION 1

State whether the following statements are TRUE or FALSE:-

1.1. An emotional, sexual attraction to any other person is known as sexual

orientation.
1.2. Kinaesthetic learners are learners who learn best by hearing.
1.3. Your self-concept is how you see and think about your peers.
1.4. A relationship is the connection between two or more people.
1.5. Delinquency is behaviour that is against the law and not acceptable to society.
(5)
QUESTION 2

Complete the following sentences by filling in the missing words. Write only the
number and the word. e.g. 2.6.self-concept
2.1. Someone who learns best by listening has an ___________
learning style.
2.2. A person who is always enquiring, wanting to know more is ______
2.3. Substance abuse can cause ________ brain damage thus affecting your
ability to learn.
2.4.________ are abilities or talents that can developed for future
success.
2.5_________ is an internal drive to keep moving forward and achieving something

in particular. (5)

Life Orientation Grade 8 3 Mid-year examination June 2015

QUESTION 3

Choose the correct statement from those given. Write only the number and the
correct alphabet. e.g. 3.9. P

3.1 People who like to be in control and be independent when they think and
learn:
A. Realistic
B. Investigative
C. Enterprising
D. Conventional (1)
3.2 _________ is vey important to maintain a good relationship.
A. Money
B. People
C. Television
D. Communication (1)
3.3. Artistic career category…
A. draw mind maps
B. do calculations
C. sing and dance
D. make lots of lists (1)
3.4 _______ do not come with a list of ingredients on the packaging to show if it
will kill you or harm you.
A. Panado
B. Illegal drugs
C. Alcohol
D. Cigarettes (1)
3.5 Your ________ is the social setting or surroundings you live in.
A. culture
B. religion
C. environment
D. community (1)
(5)

Life Orientation Grade 8 4 Mid-year examination June 2015

 QUESTION 4

Match COLUMN A with COLUMN B. Write only the number and the correct
alphabet, e.g. 4.6. F

COLUMN A COLUMN B
4.1. A drug trafficker A Career field (2)
4.2. Sexuality B People can go for help to (2)
overcome substance abuse
4.3. Culture and religion C How you feel about yourself (2)
and your body
4.4. Conventional D Trades in illegal drugs (2)
4.5 Rehabilitation centre E Influence your self-concept (2)
formation

(10)
TOTAL SECTION A: 25

SECTION B

Answer all the questions in this section.

QUESTION 5
One of the main problems in every relationship is how to deal with disagreements.
Discuss at least FIVE (5) constructive ways to deal with disagreements
(10)

Life Orientation Grade 8 5 Mid-year examination June 2015

QUESTION 6

Read Jabu`s story and answer the questions that follow:-

Jabu`s life is coming apart. His marks at school are dropping. He misses lots of
school work, struggles to concentrate and he often gets to school late. He is moody,
doesn’t talk to his friends and he has stopped showing up for soccer practice. Jabu's
friend know he has been experimenting with drugs and now they are worried he has
become addicted. They think he has been stealing money and cell phones at school
to pay for drugs.
Adapted from: Life Orientation Today Learners' book. Pg. 63

6.1. What makes Jabu`s life so miserable? (2)

6.2. List FIVE (5) signs of substance abuse that Jabu is showing. (5)
6.3. What do you think could be the consequences if Jabu carries on abusing
substances? (3)
(10)

QUESTION 7
Explain the FOUR (4) steps that a person has to take to fulfil his/her true potential.
(5)
TOTAL SECTION B: 25

SECTION C
Answer only TWO questions from this section

QUESTION 8

Discuss the importance of work and how it impacts on the social and economic
needs of the country. (10)

OR

Life Orientation Grade 8 6 Mid-year examination June 2015

QUESTION 9

Summarise in FIVE (5) lines what influence the media has on one`s sexuality. Give
FIVE (5) examples to make your points clear. (10)
OR

QUESTION 10
Sibusiso has just moved to the area and today is his first day at his new school. He
is feeling quite anxious about making new friends. (Give him FIVE facts of advice on
how to initiate a friendship and FIVE ways on how to sustain the friendship).
(10)
TOTAL SECTION C: 20

GRAND TOTAL 70

Life Orientation Grade 8 7 Mid-year examination June 2015

GENERAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING

LIFE ORIENTATION

MEMO

JUNE 2015

GRADE 8

NO OF PAGES: 4
SECTION A

QUESTION 1

1.1. True√
1.2. False√
1.3. False√
1.4. True√
1.5. True√ (5)

QUESTION 2

2.1. Aural√
2.2. Curious/ inquisitive√
2.3. Permanent/ serious√
2.4. Potential√
2.5. Self motivation√ (5)

QUESTION 3

3.1 C enterprising√
3.2 D communication√
3.3 B sing and dance√
3.4 B Illegal drug√
3.5 C environment√ (5)

QUESTION 4

4.1 D Illegal drugs √√

4.2 C How you feel about yourself and your body√√
4.3 E Influence your self- concept formation√√
4.4 A A career field√√
4.5 B People can go for help to overcome substance abuse√√ (10)

TOTAL SECTION A: 25

SECTION B

QUESTION 5

Saying what you think and feel in a calm way.√√

Listening attentively to what people say√√
Not interrupting√√
Using non-aggressive body language√√
Keeping to the point √√

Life Orientation Grade 8 Memorandum 2 June 2015

 Seeing other points of view
Telling the truth.
Agreeing to disagree
Not bearing a grudge
(Any relevant answer) (10)

QUESTION 6

6.1. Substance abuse/taking drugs√√

6.2. Marks are dropping;√ misses school work;√ trouble in concentrating;√ often
late; √ doesn’t talk to his friends;√ not showing up to soccer; suspicion that he
is stealing
6.3. He may drop out of school√; affect future education√; get sick√; die from drug
overdose; become involved in crime; go to jail; feel bad about himself;
his friends; be rejected by family (10)

QUESTION 7

Focus on and identify own potential√√

Identify your strength√
Set goals√
Set timelines√ (5)
TOTAL SECTION B: 25
SECTION C

QUESTION 8

Work plays an important role in the economic and social development of the
country.√ Without people working and being paid for it, the economic situation will
reflect a slow growth and poverty will become a bigger problem.√ This results in a
higher crime rate where unemployed people steal to survive.√ It is one of our
responsibilities as people to contribute socially and economically towards the
development of the country.√ Our country needs skilled people, especially in certain
areas of economic sectors in order to meet the needs of the country.√ For you to
contribute productively to the country`s social and economic needs, you must ensure
that you can be employed.√ You need to be able to earn money to support yourself
thereby contributing to the social and economic needs of the country.√ Work and
employment fulfil our needs in order to buy food,√ pay bills√ and have a place to
sleep.√ (10)
OR
QUESTION 9

Our youth are on daily basis exposed to sexual content in the media√√. The media
contains many overt and hidden sexual messages that influence sexual attitudes
and behaviour√√. Young people often want to emulate their favourite television
stars and are influenced by their sexual exploits.√√ Through the internet , sexual
media is also more accessible at the touch of a button. The internet makes free
pornographic material readily accessible to adolescents√√. Sexual postings such as

Life Orientation Grade 8 Memorandum 3 June 2015

provocative messages or photos, are often posted by teens due to pressure from
friends, through chat rooms and social networking sites like twitter and Facebook√√
(Any relevant answer).
(10)
OR
QUESTION 10

Ways to initiate friendships

Try to smile and say hello to people even if you don't feel like it√
Relax and be confident- act yourself√
Talk to people, start a conversation, for example ask people about
themselves√
Be a good listener, don't just talk about yourself√
Initiate a get together; and make a plan to meet them√
Take it slowly, friendships take time to develop
Ways to sustain friendships
Keep your promises√
Show interest in people's problems√
Always return things that you borrow√
Stand up for a friend that is being criticised or bullied√
Say thank you when a friend is helpful√
Say sorry when you let a friend down
(Any relevant answer) (10)
TOTAL SECTION C: 20
GRAND TOTAL: 70

Life Orientation Grade 8 Memorandum 4 June 2015