GCE Biology 1989 past questions and answers

Which of the following constitutes the main internal tissue of a leaf?

1. A.Cuticle
2. B.Mesophyll
3. C.Vascular tissue
4. D.Lower epidermis
5. E.Upper epidermis

Four cells with osmotic potential equivalent to that of 3% salt solution were immersed respectively in solutions of different concentrations labelled as follows: I = 4% salt solution; II = 6% salt solution III = 1% salt solution; IV = 10% salt solution; V = 5% salt solution. Which of the solutions will cause an increase in osmotic pressure within the cell?

1. A.I
2. B.II
3. C.III
4. D.IV
5. E.V

Which of the following statements is not true of osmotic process?

1. A.There must be a selectively permeable membrane
2. B.The two solutions must be of different concentrations initially
3. C.It involves only the movement of water molecules
4. D.Equilibrium is reached when there is equal distribution of water molecules
5. E.The two solutions are of equal concentration at the beginning of experiment

Which of the following is the correct route for the movement of materials through the kidney?

1. A.Glomerulus → Bowman's capsule → Loop of Henle → Collecting tubule → Pelvis
2. B.Glomerulus → Loop of Henle → Collecting tubule → Bowman's capsule → Pelvis
3. C.Pelvis → Bowman's capsule → Glomerulus → Loop of Henle → Collecting tubule
4. D.Bowman's capsule → Glomerulus → Loop of Henle → Collecting tubule → Pelvis
5. E.Bowman's capsule → Loop of Henle → Glomerulus → Collecting tubule → Pelvis

Which of the following is the function of the hormone in the Islets of Langerhans? It

1. A.is used in protein metabolism
2. B.is involved in sugar synthesis
3. C.aids the rate at which glucose is converted to glycogen
4. D.controls the fluid content of the body
5. E.plays a role in the pH balance of the body fluid

Blood in mammals transports oxygen because it contains the pigment called

1. A.haemoglobin
2. B.chlorocruorin
3. C.melanin
4. D.haemocyanin
5. E.haemoerythrin

In which of the following is cilia not associated with movement or transport of materials?

1. A.Fallopian tube funnel
2. B.Ectoplasm of paramecium
3. C.Lining of the mammalian trachea
4. D.Mammalian alimentary canal
5. E.Oral groove of paramecium

The diagram below represents a cross-section through a monocotyledonous root.
The pilaferous layer is labelled

1. A.I
2. B.II
3. C.III
4. D.IV
5. E.V

The diagram below represents a cross-section through a monocotyledonous root.
The xylem is labelled

1. A.II
2. B.IV
3. C.V
4. D.VI
5. E.VII

The diagram below represents a cross-section through a monocotyledonous root.
The part through which manufactured sugar is transported is labelled

1. A.I
2. B.III
3. C.IV
4. D.VII
5. E.VI

The loss of water vapour through the aerial parts of the plant to the atmosphere is called

1. A.respiration
2. B.guttation
3. C.osmoregulation
4. D.transpiration
5. E.diffusion

The upward movement of the sap in the xylem vessel is brought about by

1. A.transpiration stream
2. B.guttation
3. C.capillarity
4. D.osmosis
5. E.cohesion

Study the diagram below and use it to answer questions 13 to 15
The piece of bone represented in the diagram is found in the

1. A.pelvic region
2. B.pectoral girdle
3. C.vertebral column
4. D.skull
5. E.thoracic region

Study the diagram of a bone (parts labelled I to III).
The part labelled I is the

1. A.lumbar
2. B.sacrum
3. C.ilium
4. D.pubis
5. E.coccyx

Study the diagram of a bone (parts labelled I to III).
The bone that articulates with the part labelled III is the

1. A.humerus
2. B.femur
3. C.tibia
4. D.sacrum
5. E.fibula

Which of the following organisms is at the tissue level of organization?

1. A.Euglena
2. B.Paramecium
3. C.Volvox
4. D.Hydra
5. E.Chlamydomonas

Use the diagram below to answer questions 17 to 19.
The light - sensitive layer is labelled

1. A.I
2. B.III
3. C.IV
4. D.VI
5. E.VII

Use the diagram of the eye (parts labelled I to VII) to answer this question.
The greatest concentration of light receptors is found in the part labelled

1. A.VI
2. B.V
3. C.IV
4. D.III
5. E.I

Use the diagram of the eye (parts labelled I to VII) to answer this question.
The aqueous humour is represented by the part labelled

1. A.I
2. B.II
3. C.III
4. D.VI
5. E.VII

Autotrophs are also described as

1. A.consumers
2. B.decomposers
3. C.carnivores
4. D.producers
5. E.herbivores

In photosynthesis, the following processes are part of the light reaction except

1. A.transfer of radiant energy which reduces a co-factor
2. B.absorption of radiant energy by chlorophyll
3. C.utilization of the energy in the electron transfer chain to form ATP
4. D.formation of glucose using energy from NADPH
5. E.splitting of water into its component parts

Which of the following is not an adaptation of the small intestine for absorption of digested food? The

1. A.villi are well supplied with blood and lymph vessels
2. B.villi are numerous and thin-walled
3. C.small intestine has large surface area
4. D.small intestine is long and coiled
5. E.small intestine leads into the large intestine

A dehiscent fruit formed from several fused carpels with many seeds is classified as

1. A.an achene
2. B.a capsule
3. C.a follicle
4. D.a legume
5. E.a nut

The translocation of food materials in plants takes place in the

1. A.xylem
2. B.cambium
3. C.phloem
4. D.parenchyma
5. E.sclerenchyma

An association between living organisms in which one lives on and feeds at the expense of the other organism is known as

1. A.parasitism
2. B.commensalism
3. C.mutualism
4. D.symbiosis
5. E.predation

Which of the following statements is not correct about food chains?

1. A.All food chains start with a green plant
2. B.Food chains involve feeding relationships among organisms
3. C.Shorter food chains indicate more effective utilization of energy than longer ones
4. D.There is no energy loss in a food chain
5. E.All food chains have primary consumers

Which of the following characteristics is associated with commensalism?

1. A.Both organisms are harmful to each other
2. B.The association involves many organisms
3. C.The association is beneficial to one of the organisms
4. D.Both species are beneficial to each other
5. E.This relationship is found only among higher plants

Which of the following statements is not correct about the ecological effects of agricultural activities?

1. A.The use of herbicides and pesticides in farms can cause pollution
2. B.Bush-burning encourages desertification
3. C.Excessive use of fertilizers in farms may have harmful effects
4. D.Tillage of tropical soils with ploughs and harrows may encourage erosion
5. E.Monocropping is one of the cultural methods of controlling pests

Pests can be controlled without the subsequent danger of polluting the ecosystem by

1. A.introducing a population of species similar to that of the pest
2. B.increasing the population of the natural enemies of the pest
3. C.eliminating the natural enemies of the pest
4. D.keeping the population of natural enemies of the pest constant
5. E.spraying the ecosystem with pesticide

The activities of an organism which affect the survival of another organism in a habitat can be described as

1. A.biotic factors
2. B.climatic factors
3. C.physiographic factors
4. D.edaphic factors
5. E.abiotic factors

Which of the following methods is used in food preservation for a long period?

1. A.adding oil to food
2. B.Exposing food to fresh air
3. C.keeping the food in a store
4. D.Warming the food daily
5. E.Salting and drying the food

Maize is best stored against insect attack

1. A.on raised platforms
2. B.in fumigated silos
3. C.in a sunny area
4. D.while still on the cob
5. E.in humid metal tanks

Which of the following is not an effect of overcrowding on a population?

1. A.Death
2. B.Competition
3. C.Commensalism
4. D.Aggression
5. E.Cannibalism

The term used in describing the effective management of national resources by man is

1. A.preservation
2. B.utilization
3. C.economics
4. D.development
5. E.conservation

Breathing roots are characteristic structures of plants growing in

1. A.mangrove swamp
2. B.desert
3. C.shrub biome
4. D.savannah
5. E.tropical rain forest

At which of the following stages of cell division can the cell be said to be resting

1. A.Anaphase
2. B.Telophase
3. C.Prophase
4. D.Interphase
5. E.Metaphase

Which of the following represents the phenotypic ratio, when a plant Rr is crossed with another plant Rr, assuming that the gene R for round seed is dominant and wrinkled r is recessive?

1. A.1:2:1
2. B.2:2:1
3. C.3:2
4. D.3:1
5. E.4:1

All hereditary characters in a cell are passed on from parent-cell to daughter-cell through the process of

1. A.mitosis
2. B.meiosis
3. C.fertilization
4. D.implantation
5. E.gestation

The diagram below illustrates a stage in mitosis. Use it to answer questions 40 and 41.
What stage is illustrated by the diagram?

1. A.Interphase
2. B.Prophase
3. C.Metaphase
4. D.Anaphase
5. E.Telophase

The diagram illustrates a stage in mitosis (questions 40 and 41).
What is the name given to the structure labelled A at this stage of cell division?

1. A.Chromatin
2. B.Chromosome
3. C.Chromatid
4. D.Gene
5. E.Dauginter-chromosome

The evidence for evolution can be obtained from the following except

1. A.fossil
2. B.anatomy
3. C.history
4. D.embryology
5. E.taxonomy

The similarity between the bone structure of the arm of a human and the fore-limb of a rabbit indicates

1. A.adaptive radiation
2. B.continuous variation
3. C.a common origin
4. D.convergent evolution
5. E.adaptation to the same environment

Use the diagram to answer questions 44 and 45.
What phenomenon in ecosystem does the diagram illustrate?

1. A.Pyramid of numbers
2. B.Food web among organisms
3. C.Pyramid of energy
4. D.Pyramid of biomass
5. E.Evolutionary trend in organisms

Which of the following effects would desertification have on the ecological balance represented in the diagram above? The calorific value of the energy

1. A.10 x 10⁴k cal obtained from the sun would decrease
2. B.10 x 10⁴k cal obtained from the sun would increase
3. C.6 x 10⁴k cal obtained at level I would increase
4. D.1 x 10⁴k cal obtained at level V would increase
5. E.3.5x 10⁴k cal obtained at level II would increase

One of the methods of preventing measles is by

1. A.sleeping under mosquito net
2. B.attacking the vectors
3. C.attacking the secondary host
4. D.vaccinating young children
5. E.providing clean water supply

Group instinct or social behaviour is not displayed in

1. A.soldier ants
2. B.bees
3. C.chickens
4. D.weaver birds
5. E.termites

Which of the following fixes atmospheric nitrogen?

1. A.Rhizobium
2. B.Nitrosomonas
3. C.Nitrobacter
4. D.Putrefying bacteria
5. E.Denitrifying bacteria

The spaces between neutrones through which impulses cross by means of chemical reaction are called

1. A.axons
2. B.ganglia
3. C.synapses
4. D.dendrites
5. E.pia matter

The inability of some individuals to perceive the taste of some substances is an example of

1. A.individual adaptation
2. B.physiological variation
3. C.morphological variation
4. D.morphological adaptation
5. E.physical variation

The term afforestation is used in describing

1. A.harvesting of natural forest resources
2. B.planting trees of value to man
3. C.fallowing of forestland
4. D.felling of trees in the forest
5. E.recycling of waste forest products

Over-crowding in seedlings of different species is less serious than over-crowding involving one species because different species may

1. A.have different nutritional needs
2. B.lack the same nutrient
3. C.be active at the same time
4. D.have similar tolerance
5. E.need equal spacing

The autonomic nervous system comprises

1. A.sympathetic and parasympathetic systems
2. B.cranial and sacral nerves
3. C.brain and cranial nerves
4. D.spinal cord and spinal nerves
5. E.brain and spinal nerves

The scientist who discovered the honey-comb structure of the cell was

1. A.Robert Hooke
2. B.Felix Dujardin
3. C.Mathias Schleiden
4. D.Theodore Schowann
5. E.Louis Pasteur

The theory that new organs or characteristics develop in organisms when there is a need for them was postulated by

1. A.Charles Darwin
2. B.Jean Lamarck
3. C.Gregor Mendel
4. D.Wallace
5. E.Louis Pasteur

Which of the following is an example of reproductive adaptation?

1. A.Succulent stems of cactus plant
2. B.Changing colour of chameleon
3. C.Possession of spines by desert plants
4. D.Neck colouration in Agama lizard
5. E.Leaf-shedding in trees

The large intercellular air spaces which penetrate the tissues of most hyrophytes provide a pathway through which

1. A.carbondioxide absorbed by leaves can diffuse to the roots
2. B.oxygen produced in the leaves can diffuse to the submerged parts
3. C.salts absorbed by roots can reach other parts of the plant
4. D.plant hormones are transported to various parts
5. E.manufactured food is translocated

Which of the following processes will not introduce carbondioxide into the atmosphere?

1. A.Breathing
2. B.Photosynthesis
3. C.Respiration
4. D.Putrefaction
5. E.Burning

(a) List five morphological features that are characteristic of plants found in each of the following habitats: (i) tropical rainforest (ii) savanna. In each case, state function of the features listed in "a" to the plant
(b) Explain the term: ecological succession
(c) By means of a diagram only, outline the carbon cycle to show the relative importance of the cycle to life in general.

(a) Describe an experiment to demonstrate the influence of auxins on the growth of plant shoot
(b) List three uses of auxins in agriculture
(c) Describe briefly the mechanism of transmission of impulses through a nerve fibre.

(a) Describe how the floral parts of a named flower are adapted to wind-pollination
(b) Explain how each of the following behaviours in animals affect the reproduction process (i) territoriality (ii) display (iii) seasonal migration.

(a) List three functions of the kidney
(b) Make a labelled diagram of the mammalian kidney tubule (nephron)
(c) Describe how the kidney carries out two of the functions listed in "a".