Contemporary Socio-Economic Issues is one of 8 topics in the Grade 12 Business Studies CAPS syllabus, covered across 3 lessons on Study Vault. Below are real practice questions from this topic with full worked answers.
Sample practice questions
Easy
1. A farming business that grows and harvests crops belongs to which economic sector?
The primary sector
The secondary sector
The tertiary sector
The quaternary sector
Answer: The primary sector — Farming, mining, fishing and forestry -- extraction and harvesting of natural resources -- are classified as primary sector activities.
Easy
2. A factory that converts raw steel into finished vehicle parts belongs to which economic sector?
The secondary sector
The primary sector
The tertiary sector
No sector, as manufacturing is not classified
Answer: The secondary sector — The secondary sector involves manufacturing and construction: converting raw materials from the primary sector into finished or semi-finished goods.
Medium
3. Which economic sector provides services rather than physical goods, and employs the largest share of the workforce in most modern economies?
Answer: Tertiary sector — The tertiary sector provides services (retail, banking, tourism, education, healthcare, etc.) and, in most modern economies including South Africa's, employs the largest share of the workforce.
