2012 Biology WAEC SSCE (School Candidates) May/June

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Biology 1 - Objective Test Questions

The science of life is referred to as
1. anatomy.
2. biology.
3. ecology.
4. phylogeny.
The epidermis of a leaf is considered an example of a tissue because the cells
1. allow sunlight to pass through.
2. are covered by a waxy cuticle.
3. all possess a similar structure and function.
4. allow water to enter them by osmosis.
The organism at the organ level of organisation of life is
1. Euglena.
2. Spirogyra.
3. Ginger.
4. Tapeworm.
The disadvantage of complexity of organisation in the higher organisms is that it leads to
1. mutual interdependence between component cells.
2. internal structural specialization.
3. increased adaptation to environment.
4. slower rate of diffusion of oonen to individual cells.
In which of the following multicellular organisms is interdependence of cells maintained?
1. Spirogyra
2. Volvox
3. Eudorina
4. Pandorina
Which of the following processes occurs in the second phase of meiosis?
1. Homologous chromosomes separate
2. Two daughter cells are formed
3. Fertilization occurs
4. Segregation of genes occurs
The muscle cell fluid of an athlete was tested immediately after a 10 m race and was found to contain a high concentration of lactic acid. Explain what could have caused this. The
1. athlete must have eaten food containing lactic acid just before the race.
2. athlete must have injected lactic acid into his blood just before the race.
3. athlete's muscle must have carried out anaerobic respiration during the race.
4. athlete must have inhaled lactic acid from the environment during the race.
The graph below represents the growth pattern of an animal. Which of the following groups of animals shows this pattern of growth?
1. Cestoda
2. Reptilia
3. Amphibia
4. Insecta
The pulmonary circulation involves movement of the blood to and from the
1. brain.
2. kidneys.
3. liver.
4. lungs.
Which of the individuals is likely to be suffering from haemophilia?
1. I
2. ll
3. Ill
4. IV
Which of the individuals is likely to have HIV?
1. I
2. Il
3. Ill
4. IV
A student dissecting an animal specimen discovered that it had two two auricles and one ventricle. The animal is likely to be a/an
1. fish
2. reptile
3. amphibian
4. bird
The diagrams below are parts of a human lung. Which of the labelled parts is diagram Z taken from?
1. ll
2. Ill
3. IV
4. V
The diagram below is an illustration or the human excretory system. Which of the labelled parts contains the highest amount of nitrogenous waste?
1. I
2. Il
3. IV
4. VI
Increasing adrenaline content of the blood would be expected to decrease the flow of blood to the
1. liver.
2. heart.
3. lungs.
4. brain.
The following are all examples of a simple reflex action, except
1. swallowing.
2. sneezing.
3. walking.
4. blinking.
Impulses are conducted towards the nerve cell through the
1. myelin sheath.
2. dendrons.
3. axons.
4. synaptic nodes.
The function of the convex lens in the correction of eye defects is to
1. diverge light rays from far objects to focus image on the retina.
2. converge light rays to focus image behind the retina.
3. converge light rays to focus the image before the retina.
4. converge light rays from far objects to focus their image on the retina.
Which of the following parts of the eye contains light sensitive cells?
1. Choroid
2. Iris
3. Retina
4. Lens
The hair on the human skin will stand erect when the person is
1. in an air-conditioned room.
2. strolling in the sun.
3. taking a hot drink.
4. doing strenuous exercise.
When fertilization occurs that leads to formation of a zygote, which of the following processes takes place?
1. The tail of the sperm fuses with the egg cell
2. Both tail and head of the sperm fuse with the egg cell
3. The nucleus of the sperm fuses with the egg cell
4. The egg cell develops on its own without the sperm
Which of the following structures in a flower develops into the seed?
1. Testa
2. Integument
3. Ovule
4. Ovary
An illustration of a human male reproductive system is shown below. Which of the labelled parts can be cut to ensure permanent sterility?
1. I
2. II
3. lll
4. IV
The brightly coloured petals in some plants is an adaptive colouration for
1. feeding.
2. pollination.
3. dispersal.
4. shedding.
Squirrels easily kill some trees because
1. they inject poisonous substances into the trees.
2. most trees are susceptible to squirrel bites.
3. they feed voraciously on the roots.
4. they gnaw the bark and destroy the phloem.
The major role played by accessory pigments during photosynthesis is to
1. add colour to plants but not to trap light energy.
2. trap light energy that chlorophyll cannot absorb.
3. transfer energy from chlorophyll to other pigments.
4. prevent chlorophyll from absorbing unnecessary light.
The main raw materials required for photosynthesis are
1. oxygen and water.
2. oxygen and carbon dioxide.
3. oxygen and chlorophyll.
4. carbon dioxide and water.
What is the benefit of thunder and lightning to farmers?
1. Addition of nitrates to the soil
2. Aeration of the soil
3. Removal of harmful bacteria from the soil
4. Addition of rain water to the soil
Which of the following substances must be present in the soil for growth of a healthy green plant?
1. Amino acids
2. Carbon
3. Glucose salts
4. Magnesium ions
The purpose of protein in the diet of a mammal is to
1. promote growth and repair cells.
2. break down molecules.
3. regulate the flow of chyme.
4. serve as co-factors for enzymes.
Excess carbohydrates can be stored in the muscles in the form of
1. cellulose.
2. glycogen.
3. chitin.
4. lipids.
The bones of the legs of a six years old boy are observed to be weak and crooked. Which of the following elements were deficient in his mother's diet at pregnancy
1. Sodium and iron
2. Iron and manganese
3. Calcium and phosphorus
4. Magnesium and sulphur
The diagram below is an illustration of an experimental set-up to test the action of yeast. What test would be used to confirm the nature of the gas given off at I?
1. Insert a glowing splint
2. Pass the gas through lime water
3. Insert a piece of litmus paver
4. Smell the gas
Which of the following digestive enzymes would be greatly affected if the liver fails to produce bile?
1. Amylase
2. Cellulase
3. Lipase
4. Protease
The appropriate food to be given to the child in the picture below is
1. beans.
2. garri.
3. bread.
4. avocado pear.
Which of the following food substances will have little or no calorific value?
1. Proteins
2. Carbohydrate
3. Lipids
4. Water
A space containing a group of interactive organisms is called
1. community
2. habitat
3. ecosystem
4. population
The area around the earth where life activities go on is referred to as
1. Biosphere
2. Lithosphere
3. Habitat
4. Ecosystem
The following are abiotic components of the ecosystem except
1. bacteria.
2. topography.
3. water,
4. wind.
  Study the diagram below and use ii to answer questions 41 and 42.
Which of the following instruments would be most appropriate in comparing the air pressure at different places in a habitat?
1. Hygrometer
2. Barometer
3. Photometer
4. Air pressure disc
The best title for the above diagram is
1. terrestrial food web.
2. terrestrial food chain.
3. aquatic food web.
4. aquatic food chain.
How many food chains are in the diagram?
1. Three
2. Four
3. Five
4. Six
Plants with breathing roots are characteristic features of vegetation in
1. tropical grassland
2. temperate grassland
3. salt water swamp
4. tropical rain forest
  Study the diagram of the zones of a marine habitat below and use it to answer questions 44 and 45
In which of the zones can very few organisms be found
1. I
2. II
3. III
4. IV
Which of the following factors exerts a major effect on the distribution of living organism in the habitat?
1. Salt
2. pH
3. Light
4. Rainfall
The use of water closet and septic tanks is preferred to the use of bucket and pit latrines because
1. it is cost effective.
2. contaminated faeces are completely kept away from flies.
3. the water for flushing contains chlorine which kills the germs.
4. it prevents flies from breeding.
The detection of vibro cholerae in public drinking water is a sign of
1. clean water.
2. outbreak of disease.
3. water pollution.
4. decayed organisms in the water.
Which of the following factors would be least likely to act as a density depot limiting factor in a population of mice?
1. Build up of waste products
2. Predation
3. Parasitism
4. Unfavourable climate
The primary cause of species endangerment is
1. disappearing habitats.
2. increasing temperatures.
3. acid rain.
4. exposure to hazardous wastes.
The following pairs of traits are examples of continuous and discontinuous variations respectively except
1. eye colour and body weight.
2. height and blood group.
3. skin colour and fingerprints.
4. body weight and tongue rolling.
Which of the following statements is true about the ABO blood group system?
1. Antigens are located on the surface of white blood cells.
2. Antibodies are located in the blood plasma.
3. Antibodies are located on the surface of red blood cells.
4. Antigens are located in the blood plasma.
The classes of fingerprints in man are
1. whorl, alternate, opposite and compound.
2. compound, loop, whorl and alternate.
3. whorl, arch, compound and loop.
4. arch, simple, compound and opposite.
Which of the following diseases is transmittable through genes?
1. HIV/AIDS
2. Sickle cell anaemia
3. Diabetes
4. Presbyopia.
Two plants with red flowers were back crossed, which of the following results indicate that the plants are heterozygous red flowers, where red flowers are dominant?
1. 75% red and 25% white
2. 50% red and 50% white
3. 100% white
4. 100% red
In the structure of DNA, which of the following statements is true?
1. The double helix are held together by covalent bonds
2. Nucleotide is made up of ribose, phosphate and an organic nitrogen compound
3. Guanine is the opposite of cytosine
4. Adenine is the opposite of cytosine
In a case of complete dominance, what is the phenotypic ratio of the cross Bb X Bb; where B =black and b = white?
1. 1 black : 1 grey : 2 whites
2. 1 black : 3 whites
3. 1 black : 2 blues : 1 white
4. 3 blacks : 1 white
Two yellow-flowered hybrid plants each carrying a recessive factor for flowers with green colour were crossed. Which of the following ratios shows the correct proportion of offspring that have green flowers?
1. 2 in 2
2. 1 in 3
3. 1 in 4
4. 1 in 5
What name is given to a sudden change in a gene or chromosome?
1. Allele
2. Genotype
3. Mutation
4. Phenotype
Bees are of great importance to the farmer because they
1. provide him with honey.
2. pollinate flowers.
3. sting crop pests to death.
4. destroy flowers by sucking nectar from them.
Which of the following sequences is the correct evolutionary trend in plants?
1. Algae → liverworts → mosses →ferns
2. Liverworts → mosses → ferns → algae
3. Mosses → algae → ferns → liverworts
4. Ferns → liverworts → mosses → algae

Biology 2 - Theory Questions

Section A - For All Candidates

1. Explain briefly four factors that affect the diffusion of substances.
2. Explain the following terms:
  1. active transport;
  2. transpiration.
3. State four ways by which plants can reduce high rate of transpiration.
4. State the features of red blood cells and how these features adapt the cell to perform its functions.
1. Describe briefly the role of the stomach in digestion.
2. 1. Name three parts of plants in which food can be stored.
  2. Give one example in each case.
3. Explain briefly how the level of sugar in the mammalian blood can be regulated.
1. Explain briefly the following terms:
  1. conservation;
  2. endangered species.
2. State;
  1. five reasons why conservation of forests is important;
  2. four ways by which forest reserves can be conserved.
3. 1. What is the importance of decomposers in the ecosystem?
  2. Name one plant and one animal decomposer.
1. 1. What is a gene?
  2. Differentiate between the terms genotype and phenotype.
2. Explain the following terms:
  1. hybrid,
  2. pure breeding,
  3. nucleotide.
3. In garden pea seeds, smooth seed coat is dominant over rough seed coat. With the aid of a genetic diagram, determine the result expected if a homozygous rough pea is crossed with a smooth seed coat plant whose parents were rough coated.

Section C - For Candidates In Nigeria Only

1. Explain the following terms:
  1. disease
  2. symptoms of disease.
2. 1. List two physical and two chemical barriers that prevent pathogens from penetrating the body of an organism.
  2. Explain how vaccination protects the body from contracting infectious diseases.
3. Distinguish between an antibody and an antigen.
4. Name the causative agents of
  1. Malaria;
  2. Cholera;
  3. AIDS.
2. Describe epigeal germination of a seed.
3. In a tabular form, state three differences between epigeal germination and hypogeal germination.
5. What is seed dormancy?
6. State three ways by which dormancy in seeds can be broken.
7. State six advantages of using contraceptives in human populations.

Biology 3 - Practical Questions

Section A - For All Candidates

Study carefully specimens A and B and use them to answer questions 1(a) to 1(c).
1. 1. Name the types of fruit in specimens A and B with reasons.
  2. Make a drawing, 8 - 10 cm long of the lateral view of specimen B and label fully.
2. Describe the modes of dispersal of specimens A and B.
3. In a tabular form, state five differences between specimens A and B.
Study carefully specimens C, D and E and use them to answer questions 2(a) to 2(c).
1. 1. State the mode of nutrition of specimen D.
  2. State one way by which each of specimens C, D and E is of economic importance.
2. 1. Classify specimens C, D and E into their phyla and classes.
  2. List three observable characteristic features of each of the classes to which specimens C, D and E belong.
  3. In a tabular form, state two observable differences between specimens C and D.
3. List four observable features of specimen E that are sensory in nature.

Section C - For Candidates in Nigeria Only

Study carefully specimens J, K and L and use them to answer questions 4(a) to 4(d).
1. 1. State the class of each of specimens J, K and L
  2. State three reasons each for placing each of specimens J, K and L in their classes.
2. State two structural adaptations possessed by each of specimens K and L for escaping predators.
3. Make a drawing, 8 - 10 cm long of the lateral view of specimen J.
4. State;
  1. two similarities;
  2. two observable differences between specimens J and L.