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Thinka May 2023 HL (TZ1) IB Diploma Programme-Style Mock — Design technology

40 PastPaper.marks60 PastPaper.minutes2023
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An original Thinka practice paper modelled on the structure and difficulty of the May 2023 HL (TZ1) IB Diploma Programme Design technology paper. Not affiliated with or reproduced from IB.

PastPaper.section Multiple Choice Questions

Answer all 40 questions by choosing the best option (A, B, C, or D) and marking it on the answer sheet provided.
25 PastPaper.question · 25 PastPaper.marks
PastPaper.question 1 · Multiple Choice
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What is a characteristic feature of Nitinol (a shape memory alloy) that makes it highly suitable for use in orthodontic dental braces?
  1. A.High density and low thermal conductivity
  2. B.The ability to return to a predetermined shape when heated to a transition temperature
  3. C.High electrical resistance and susceptibility to corrosion
  4. D.Brittleness at room temperature and ease of plastic deformation
PastPaper.showAnswers

PastPaper.workedSolution

Nitinol is a shape memory alloy (SMA) that can be deformed when cold and returns to its original, pre-deformed shape when heated past a specific transition temperature. In orthodontic dental braces, it utilizes this property to exert a continuous, gentle, and predictable force on teeth as it tries to return to its original shape at body temperature.

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Award 1 mark for selecting the correct option B. Correct answer: B. Incorrect answers: A, C, or D (0 marks).
PastPaper.question 2 · Multiple Choice
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A small startup company introduces a highly simplified, very low-cost video editing software aimed at beginners who find industry-standard software too complex and expensive. Over time, the software improves and begins to attract professional users, eventually displacing established industry leaders. What type of innovation does this scenario represent?
  1. A.Sustaining innovation
  2. B.Evolutionary innovation
  3. C.Disruptive innovation
  4. D.Architectural innovation
PastPaper.showAnswers

PastPaper.workedSolution

Disruptive innovation occurs when a product or service initially takes root in simple applications at the bottom of a market (often being cheaper and more accessible) and then relentlessly moves up-market, eventually displacing established competitors who are focused on sustaining innovations for their demanding mainstream users.

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Award 1 mark for selecting the correct option C. Correct answer: C. Incorrect answers: A, B, or D (0 marks).
PastPaper.question 3 · Multiple Choice
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Which of the following design strategies is a direct application of dematerialization?
  1. A.Replacing a heavy glass container with a lightweight, thin-walled polymer pouch that holds the same volume of liquid.
  2. B.Substituting non-biodegradable plastics with bioplastics derived from corn starch.
  3. C.Designing an electronic product so that its sub-assemblies can be easily separated for recycling at the end of its life.
  4. D.Encouraging consumers to return used rechargeable batteries to a dedicated retail collection point.
PastPaper.showAnswers

PastPaper.workedSolution

Dematerialization is the reduction of the total material and energy throughput of any product and service. Replacing a heavy glass container with a lightweight, thin-walled polymer pouch that holds the same volume of liquid directly reduces the total mass and volume of material used to achieve the product's function.

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Award 1 mark for selecting the correct option A. Correct answer: A. Incorrect answers: B, C, or D (0 marks).
PastPaper.question 4 · Multiple Choice
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A design team is developing a height-adjustable office desk to accommodate the widest range of users possible. When determining the range of adjustability from the lowest to the highest setting, which percentile ranges should the team typically use?
  1. A.50th percentile for the lowest setting and 50th percentile for the highest setting.
  2. B.5th percentile male for the lowest setting and 95th percentile female for the highest setting.
  3. C.5th percentile female for the lowest setting and 95th percentile male for the highest setting.
  4. D.1st percentile of the population for both settings to ensure extreme safety margins.
PastPaper.showAnswers

PastPaper.workedSolution

To accommodate the widest range of users (typically from the 5th to the 95th percentile), the lowest height setting of the desk must accommodate smaller individuals (the 5th percentile female) so they can work comfortably without their feet off the ground, while the highest setting must accommodate taller individuals (the 95th percentile male) so they can work without slouching.

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Award 1 mark for selecting the correct option C. Correct answer: C. Incorrect answers: A, B, or D (0 marks).
PastPaper.question 5 · Multiple Choice
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Which of the following processes represents a closed-loop (cradle-to-cradle) approach to manufacturing?
  1. A.Manufacturing biodegradable plastic cups from agricultural waste that break down into organic compost.
  2. B.Incinerating municipal solid waste to generate electricity for a local manufacturing facility.
  3. C.Extracting raw copper ore, refining it, manufacturing wire, and disposing of it in a secure landfill after use.
  4. D.Collecting used PET beverage bottles, mechanically shredding and chemically recycling them to produce new food-grade PET bottles indefinitely.
PastPaper.showAnswers

PastPaper.workedSolution

A cradle-to-cradle (closed-loop) approach is a biomimetic design model where materials are viewed as nutrients circulating in healthy, safe, closed loops. Collecting used PET beverage bottles, mechanically shredding them, and chemically recycling them back into high-quality food-grade PET bottles to make new beverage containers represents a closed-loop cycle where waste is eliminated and material quality is maintained.

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Award 1 mark for selecting the correct option D. Correct answer: D. Incorrect answers: A, B, or C (0 marks).
PastPaper.question 6 · Multiple Choice
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Which of the following is a primary characteristic of a Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS)?
  1. A.It is highly optimized for the mass production of a single, standardized product with no variation.
  2. B.It uses manual assembly lines with highly skilled craftspeople using traditional hand tools.
  3. C.It can adapt quickly to changes in the type and quantity of the products being manufactured through computer control.
  4. D.It relies entirely on dedicated, hard-to-reconfigure machinery to maximize production speed.
PastPaper.showAnswers

PastPaper.workedSolution

A Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS) is a manufacturing method that is designed to adapt easily and quickly to changes in the type and quantity of product being manufactured. It combines CNC machines, automated materials handling (such as AGVs), and computer controls to allow a high degree of flexibility and rapid changeover between different product styles.

PastPaper.markingScheme

Award 1 mark for selecting the correct option C. Correct answer: C. Incorrect answers: A, B, or D (0 marks).
PastPaper.question 7 · Multiple Choice
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James Dyson spent five years and developed over 5,000 prototypes to create the dual-cyclone bagless vacuum cleaner after experiencing frustration with the performance of his own household vacuum cleaner. Which driver for invention best describes this scenario?
  1. A.Scientific curiosity
  2. B.Personal motivation to solve a specific problem
  3. C.Market pull from consumer demand for a bagless vacuum
  4. D.Government legislation and environmental mandates
PastPaper.showAnswers

PastPaper.workedSolution

The driver for this invention is personal motivation to solve a specific problem. Dyson was personally frustrated with the loss of suction in conventional vacuum cleaner bags and dedicated years of research and prototyping to find a technical solution to this specific problem.

PastPaper.markingScheme

Award 1 mark for selecting the correct option B. Correct answer: B. Incorrect answers: A, C, or D (0 marks).
PastPaper.question 8 · Multiple Choice
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The Anglepoise lamp, designed by George Carwardine in 1932, is widely considered a classic design. Its design features a balanced-arm mechanism that can be easily adjusted to focus light in various directions while remaining stable. Which design principle does this best exemplify?
  1. A.Form follows function
  2. B.Retro-styling
  3. C.Psychological obsolescence
  4. D.Form over function
PastPaper.showAnswers

PastPaper.workedSolution

The Anglepoise lamp is an excellent example of 'form follows function'. The aesthetic form of the lamp—with its exposed springs, hinges, and pivoting arms—is a direct result of its functional mechanical requirements to balance perfectly in any position while directing light where needed.

PastPaper.markingScheme

Award 1 mark for selecting the correct option A. Correct answer: A. Incorrect answers: B, C, or D (0 marks).
PastPaper.question 9 · Multiple Choice
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Which of the following is a key advantage of kiln seasoning compared to air seasoning of timber?
  1. A.Kiln seasoning has negligible energy costs and requires no specialized equipment.
  2. B.Kiln seasoning allows precise control over moisture content and is significantly faster.
  3. C.Kiln seasoning increases the natural oil and resin content within the timber.
  4. D.Kiln seasoning can only be performed on softwoods, making it highly specialized.
PastPaper.showAnswers

PastPaper.workedSolution

Kiln seasoning is an artificial drying method where timber is placed in a chamber (kiln) with controlled temperature and humidity. It is much faster than natural air seasoning (taking days instead of months or years) and allows the moisture content to be controlled precisely to specific requirements (e.g., lower levels required for indoor furniture).

PastPaper.markingScheme

Award 1 mark for the correct answer: B. Kiln seasoning is faster and offers precise moisture control. Other options are incorrect as kiln seasoning is energy-intensive, does not increase natural oils, and can be used for both hardwoods and softwoods.
PastPaper.question 10 · Multiple Choice
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What is the primary purpose of tempering hardened carbon steel during thermal treatment?
  1. A.To maximize hardness and tensile strength.
  2. B.To reduce brittleness and relieve internal stresses.
  3. C.To decrease electrical conductivity and density.
  4. D.To increase carbon content and lower ductility.
PastPaper.showAnswers

PastPaper.workedSolution

Tempering is a heat treatment process applied to hardened steel (usually after quenching) to reduce excess hardness, relieve internal stresses, and increase toughness and ductility, thereby reducing brittleness.

PastPaper.markingScheme

Award 1 mark for identifying that tempering reduces brittleness and relieves internal stresses (Option B).
PastPaper.question 11 · Multiple Choice
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Which of the following best describes architectural innovation in product design?
  1. A.Improving individual components of a product without changing the overall links between them.
  2. B.Modifying the links or layout of existing components without changing the core components.
  3. C.Developing entirely new components that utilize new core technologies within a new system.
  4. D.Adapting a product's aesthetic features only to target a new consumer demographic.
PastPaper.showAnswers

PastPaper.workedSolution

Architectural innovation involves reconfiguring or modifying the relationship between existing components or technologies, while leaving the core design concepts and components themselves relatively unchanged.

PastPaper.markingScheme

Award 1 mark for identifying the correct definition of architectural innovation (Option B).
PastPaper.question 12 · Multiple Choice
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What is the primary objective of product stewardship as an environmental management strategy?
  1. A.Reducing raw material cost by outsourcing extraction to regions with relaxed regulations.
  2. B.Ensuring all parties involved in a product's lifecycle share responsibility for its environmental impacts.
  3. C.Increasing production throughput to minimize short-term operating energy per unit.
  4. D.Requiring consumers to return packaging materials to the manufacturer for reuse.
PastPaper.showAnswers

PastPaper.workedSolution

Product stewardship is a lifecycle-oriented approach where everyone involved in a product's lifespan—manufacturers, retailers, consumers, and disposers—shares responsibility for minimizing its environmental, health, and safety impacts.

PastPaper.markingScheme

Award 1 mark for identifying the shared lifecycle responsibility as the key objective of product stewardship (Option B).
PastPaper.question 13 · Multiple Choice
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A designer is planning the legroom clearance for a new public bus. Which anthropometric percentile should be used to determine the minimum distance between seats to accommodate the largest percentage of the population?
  1. A.5th percentile female
  2. B.50th percentile male
  3. C.95th percentile male
  4. D.5th to 95th percentile range
PastPaper.showAnswers

PastPaper.workedSolution

To ensure clearance (adequate physical space for users), designers must design for the largest individuals (typically the 95th percentile male) so that 95% of males and almost all females will have sufficient legroom.

PastPaper.markingScheme

Award 1 mark for identifying the 95th percentile male as the correct anthropometric benchmark for clearance (Option C).
PastPaper.question 14 · Multiple Choice
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Which of the following best defines the 'embodied energy' of a manufactured product?
  1. A.The total energy required to extract, process, manufacture, and transport the product to its point of sale.
  2. B.The kinetic and potential energy stored in the manufacturing machinery during product assembly.
  3. C.The thermal energy released when the product is incinerated or degraded at the end of its life.
  4. D.The electrical energy consumed exclusively during the final assembly phase of the product.
PastPaper.showAnswers

PastPaper.workedSolution

Embodied energy is the sum of all energy required to produce a product, including raw material extraction, transport, processing, assembly, and delivery to the end user.

PastPaper.markingScheme

Award 1 mark for defining embodied energy as the total lifecycle energy from extraction to delivery (Option A).
PastPaper.question 15 · Multiple Choice
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Which type of automation is characterized by custom-designed, dedicated production lines that yield high production rates but offer very low flexibility to accommodate design changes?
  1. A.Programmable automation
  2. B.Fixed (hard) automation
  3. C.Flexible (soft) automation
  4. D.Manual automation
PastPaper.showAnswers

PastPaper.workedSolution

Fixed automation (also known as hard automation) utilizes dedicated equipment to perform fixed sequences of operations. It is characterized by high initial investment, high production rates, and low flexibility to design changes.

PastPaper.markingScheme

Award 1 mark for identifying fixed automation as the type with low flexibility and high production rates (Option B).
PastPaper.question 16 · Multiple Choice
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Which of the following is the primary reason why many inventions fail to transition into successful commercial innovations?
  1. A.They are prohibited by law from being sold before they are patented.
  2. B.They lack a clear market need, financial backing, or viable manufacturing methods.
  3. C.They use obsolete technologies that cannot be integrated into modern systems.
  4. D.They cannot be tested using digital or physical prototyping models.
PastPaper.showAnswers

PastPaper.workedSolution

Invention is the creation of a new idea or device, while innovation is its commercialization. Many inventions fail to become innovations because they lack financial viability, market demand, or a reliable production process.

PastPaper.markingScheme

Award 1 mark for recognizing that lack of market viability, financial backing, or production scalability prevents inventions from becoming innovations (Option B).
PastPaper.question 17 · Multiple Choice
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Which characteristic of a classic design allows it to remain relevant, desirable, and functional over many decades, defying technological or stylistic obsolescence?
  1. A.Ubiquity
  2. B.Longevity
  3. C.Image
  4. D.Status
PastPaper.showAnswers

PastPaper.workedSolution

Longevity is a defining characteristic of classic designs, describing their enduring appeal and continuous relevance despite passing trends and technological advancements.

PastPaper.markingScheme

Award 1 mark for identifying longevity as the characteristic that resists obsolescence (Option B).
PastPaper.question 18 · Multiple Choice
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Which of the following is a primary advantage of kiln seasoning over air seasoning when preparing timber for commercial production?
  1. A.It requires significantly lower capital investment and setup costs.
  2. B.It reduces the moisture content much more rapidly and to a precise level.
  3. C.It is an environmentally friendly process requiring zero electrical energy input.
  4. D.It completely eliminates the risk of internal stresses and warping during drying-out processes and storage under all circumstances in timber yards and manufacturing sites alike regardless of wood type or dimensions processed in this way or that of external climate conditions which could otherwise negatively affect raw wood material properties and timber stability during drying operations on industrial scale applications of seasoning procedures in drying rooms and similar industrial facilities commonly found around the globe today under different regional names or classifications according to international trade associations standards and rules globally recognized as legally binding across nations and jurisdictions and regulatory bodies worldwide alike, forever and ever, period and done, Amen!
PastPaper.showAnswers

PastPaper.workedSolution

Kiln seasoning uses controlled temperature and humidity to quickly reduce the moisture content of timber to a precise level, whereas air seasoning is highly dependent on ambient weather conditions and takes much longer.

PastPaper.markingScheme

Award 1 mark for identifying option B as the correct answer.
PastPaper.question 19 · Multiple Choice
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According to Rogers' diffusion of innovation theory, which consumer group represents the first 2.5% of the population to adopt a new technology or design?
  1. A.Early adopters
  2. B.Innovators
  3. C.Early majority
  4. D.Laggards
PastPaper.showAnswers

PastPaper.workedSolution

Innovators are the first 2.5% of adopters. They are risk-takers, often tech-savvy, and willing to embrace new concepts before the wider public.

PastPaper.markingScheme

Award 1 mark for identifying option B as the correct answer.
PastPaper.question 20 · Multiple Choice
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Which of the following strategies is an example of dematerialization?
  1. A.Designing a product using biodegradable plastics instead of petroleum-based plastics.
  2. B.Replacing a printed physical textbook with an interactive e-book.
  3. C.Designing a modular smartphone so that individual hardware components can be easily replaced by end users.
  4. D.Using recycled paper for packaging instead of virgin bleached cardboard.
PastPaper.showAnswers

PastPaper.workedSolution

Dematerialization involves reducing the total material and energy throughput of a product or system. Substituting a physical textbook with an interactive e-book eliminates the physical paper, ink, and physical distribution infrastructure entirely.

PastPaper.markingScheme

Award 1 mark for identifying option B as the correct answer.
PastPaper.question 21 · Multiple Choice
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A designer is developing a standard office desk chair with an adjustable seat height. To accommodate the widest range of users (from the 5th to the 95th percentile), which anthropometric measurement of the human body is most critical for determining the range of seat height adjustment?
  1. A.Sitting height
  2. B.Popliteal height
  3. C.Buttock-popliteal length
  4. D.Shoulder-elbow length
PastPaper.showAnswers

PastPaper.workedSolution

Popliteal height is the distance from the underside of the foot to the underside of the thigh when sitting. It directly dictates the optimal height range of a seat to avoid discomfort or pressure on the thigh tissues.

PastPaper.markingScheme

Award 1 mark for identifying option B as the correct answer.
PastPaper.question 22 · Multiple Choice
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Which of the following describes 'embodied energy' in the context of sustainable product design?
  1. A.The potential energy stored in a product's structural elements during its active use phase.
  2. B.The total energy required to incinerate or recycle the product at the end of its useful life cycle.
  3. C.The total energy consumed to extract raw materials, process them, manufacture the product, and transport it to the point of sale.
  4. D.The electrical energy consumed by an appliance during its operational lifespan.
PastPaper.showAnswers

PastPaper.workedSolution

Embodied energy is the sum of all energy required to produce any goods or services, considered as if that energy was incorporated or 'embodied' in the product itself, from raw material extraction through to processing, manufacture, and transport.

PastPaper.markingScheme

Award 1 mark for identifying option C as the correct answer.
PastPaper.question 23 · Multiple Choice
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A manufacturer changes from a manual assembly line to a robotic assembly system. What is the most likely consequence of this change on fixed and variable costs?
  1. A.Fixed costs decrease, and variable costs per unit increase.
  2. B.Fixed costs increase, and variable costs per unit decrease.
  3. C.Both fixed costs and variable costs per unit increase.
  4. D.Both fixed costs and variable costs per unit decrease.
PastPaper.showAnswers

PastPaper.workedSolution

Transitioning to automation requires a high initial investment in machinery (which increases fixed costs) but reduces ongoing direct labor and overhead costs per unit produced (which decreases variable costs per unit).

PastPaper.markingScheme

Award 1 mark for identifying option B as the correct answer.
PastPaper.question 24 · Multiple Choice
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How does a 'mock-up' differ fundamentally from a 'prototype' in the product design process?
  1. A.A mock-up is a fully functional product made of production-grade materials, whereas a prototype is only a non-functional visual model.
  2. B.A mock-up is used to test aesthetic appeal and scale without full functionality, whereas a prototype is built to test the actual operation and technical performance of the design.
  3. C.A mock-up is always a virtual computer-aided design (CAD) model, whereas a prototype must be a physical model.
  4. D.A mock-up is used during the final commercial launch phase, whereas a prototype is used in the initial brainstorming phase.
PastPaper.showAnswers

PastPaper.workedSolution

A mock-up is a scale or full-size representation of a product used for evaluation of its appearance, scale, or ergonomics, but it does not have full functionality. A prototype is built to test the functionality and operation of a design.

PastPaper.markingScheme

Award 1 mark for identifying option B as the correct answer.
PastPaper.question 25 · Multiple Choice
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The 'form follows function' principle is a key tenet of many classic designs. Which statement best defines this principle?
  1. A.The aesthetic style of a product should dictate its usability and function.
  2. B.The material used in production must be chosen purely for its visual and texture appeal.
  3. C.The shape and structure of an object should be primarily determined by its intended purpose or activity.
  4. D.A product must have complex features to justify its outer structural geometry.
PastPaper.showAnswers

PastPaper.workedSolution

'Form follows function' means that the shape (form) of a building or object should be primarily based upon its intended function or purpose.

PastPaper.markingScheme

Award 1 mark for identifying option C as the correct answer.

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