JAMB Biology 1986 past questions and answers

Viruses are regarded as non-living because they

1. A.can neither reproduce asexually nor sexually
2. B.cannot survive in their respective environments
3. C.do not possess characteristics that can be transmitted from one generation to the next
4. D.can neither respire nor excrete.

Which of the following pairs are fully adapted to terrestrial life?

1. A.Ferns and algae
2. B.Ferns and mosses
3. C.Bryophytes and flowering plants
4. D.Flowering plants and conifers.

Which of these animals is radially symmetrical?

1. A.Squid
2. B.Hydra
3. C.Snail
4. D.Cockroach

Which of the following has cones?

1. A.Angiosperm
2. B.Gymnosperm
3. C.Pteridophyte
4. D.Bryophyte

For effective functioning of a bird's quill feather, hooks fit on the ridges of the

1. A.vane
2. B.rachis
3. C.barbules
4. D.barbs

Which of the following is NOT true of Spirogyra?

1. A.Reproduces by conjugation
2. B.Reproduces by fragmentation
3. C.Consists of branched filaments
4. D.Consists of unbranched filaments.

Incomplete metamorphosis occurs in the

1. A.butterfly
2. B.grasshopper
3. C.mosquito
4. D.housefly

Fishes are cold-blooded because their body temperature is

1. A.constantly low
2. B.Constantly high
3. C.dependent on that of their surroundings
4. D.regulated at will.

When the original king and queen of termites die, they are replaced by

1. A.the king and queen of another colony
2. B.some adult reproductives from the same colony
3. C.some adult workers which are specially fed to breed
4. D.developing nymphs nurtured as secondary reproductives.

The male cockroach differs from the female by having

1. A.mandibles
2. B.a pair of styles
3. C.spiracles
4. D.a pair of cerci.

The fins making up the limbs of the bony fish are

1. A.caudal and ventral
2. B.ventral and pelvic
3. C.pelvic and pectoral
4. D.pectoral and dorsal.

The stem differs from the root in having the xylem and phloem strands

1. A.on the same radii
2. B.scattered
3. C.on alternate radii
4. D.towards the pith.

Oxygen liberated during photosynthesis has been demonstrated to come from

1. A.carbondioxide
2. B.air
3. C.water
4. D.chlorophyll.

Which of these is a trace element?

1. A.Iron
2. B.copper
3. C.Calcium
4. D.Sulphur

The main organic substances found in the human body are

1. A.carbohydrates, proteins and salts
2. B.salts, fats and proteins
3. C.fats, carbohydrates and proteins
4. D.salts, fats and carbohydrates

Which of the following elements is essential for the formation of haemoglobin?

1. A.Sodium
2. B.Potassium
3. C.Calcium
4. D.iron

The severe deficiency of vitamin C leads to

1. A.kwashiorkor
2. B.beriberi
3. C.pellagra
4. D.scurvy.

In addition to the high calories derived from fats and oils, they are

1. A.used in producing new cells
2. B.necessary for enzyme formation
3. C.used as insulators from cold
4. D.required for growth.

The extract from a food substance reacting with sodium hydroxide and copper sulphate solutions will produce violet to purple coloration if

1. A.fats are present
2. B.carbohydrate is present
3. C.protein is present
4. D.reducing sugar is present.

The three important organs that are situated close to the stomach are

1. A.kidney, liver and gall bladder
2. B.pancreas, liver and kidney
3. C.liver, kidney and spleen
4. D.gall bladder, pancreas and spleen.

Evidence that a tooth is a living part of the mammalian body can be found within the

1. A.gum
2. B.pulp cavity
3. C.cement
4. D.enamel.

Blood circulation in a mammal is said to be double because

1. A.it passes twice through the heart in a complete circuit
2. B.it moves in both arteries and veins
3. C.it circulates in both the heart and other organs
4. D.the heart contain auricles and ventricles.

Which is the correct order of water loss from the leaf? 1 Mesophyll 2 Veins 3 Substomatal cavity 4 Stomata

1. A.3 → 2 → 1 → 4
2. B.2 → 3 → 1 → 4
3. C.2 → 1 → 3 → 4
4. D.1 → 2 → 3 → 4.

The aperture between the left auricle and the left ventricle is guarded by the

1. A.auricular valve
2. B.tricuspid valve
3. C.ventricular valve
4. D.bicuspid valve.

A major limitation in the use of the potometer for measuring the rate of transpiration is that

1. A.it is made of breakable glass material
2. B.it measures the rate of water intake
3. C.it measures the rate of water loss through the stem only
4. D.the movement of the air bubble in the potometer cannot be timed accurately.

Which of the following statements is NOT correct with respect to inhalation in mammals? The

1. A.intercostal muscles contract
2. B.diaphragm is raised
3. C.ribs are raised
4. D.pressure of the thoracic cavity decreases.

The equation that can be used to summarize the process of anaerobic breakdown of sugar is

1. A.C₆H₁₂O₆ → 2C₂H₅OH + 2CO₂
2. B.6CO₂ + 6H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂
3. C.C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + energy
4. D.C₆H₁₂O₆ → 2C₂H₅OH + 2CO₂ + energy.

If a person is bitten by a snake on the leg, it is advisable for him to

1. A.keep moving so that the venom will ooze out with bleeding
2. B.Wash the wound with water containing antiseptic
3. C.bandage the wound so that germs do not get in through it
4. D.keep still and apply a tourniquet above the wound.

Deamination occurs in the

1. A.kidney
2. B.pancreas
3. C.spleen
4. D.liver.

In the mammalian skin, melanin and keratin are contained in the

1. A.sebaceous gland
2. B.sweat gland
3. C.subcutaneous layer
4. D.malpighian layer.

Two main distinguishing features of the cervical vertebra are the presence of

1. A.short neural spine and vertebraterial canal
2. B.prezygapophysis and cervical ribs
3. C.large centrum and cervical ribs
4. D.vertebraterial canal and large centrum.

Nastic movement is

1. A.response to light stimulus
2. B.non-directional
3. C.directional
4. D.response to internal stimulus.

Use the figure (vertical section of a maize grain) to answer this question. Which of the labelled parts will develop into a new maize plant?

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

Use the figure (vertical section of a maize grain) to answer this question. The structure labelled 1 is the

1. A.plumule
2. B.radicle
3. C.cell membrane
4. D.seed coat.

Use the figure (vertical section of a maize grain) to answer this question. The main function of the structure labelled 2 is to

1. A.protect the inner parts of the seed
2. B.nourish the embryo and the growing parts
3. C.keep the inner parts moist
4. D.maintain the shape of the seed

Gestation in mammals is the period

1. A.required for growth after birth
2. B.between the formation of the foetus and birth
3. C.of development from zygote to birth
4. D.before the formation of the zygote.

If a woman who is a carrier of sickle cell trait (AS) married a man who is a sickler (SS) and they had four children, how many of them would be normal?

1. A.Three
2. B.Two
3. C.One
4. D.None.

Which of the following is an example discontinuous variation?

1. A.Skin coloration
2. B.Left-handedness
3. C.Body weight
4. D.Height

The hormone which regulates the amount of glucose in the blood is called

1. A.adrenalin
2. B.auxin
3. C.insulin
4. D.thyroxine.

An instrument that can be used to demonstrate phototropism and geotropism in plants is the

1. A.auxanometer
2. B.potometer
3. C.klinostat
4. D.photometer.

In an ecosystem, animals which feed directly on plants are called

1. A.secondary consumers
2. B.primary consumers
3. C.producers
4. D.predators

In an agricultural ecosystem, the biotic component consists of

1. A.crops, pests and beneficial insects
2. B.crops, temperature and humidity
3. C.pests, beneficial insects and water
4. D.crops, water and soil.

Which of these diseases CANNOT be prevented by immunization?

1. A.Poliomyelitis
2. B.Tuberculosis
3. C.Cholera
4. D.Onchocerciasis.

Which of the following ecological factors are common to both terrestrial and aquatic habitats?

1. A.Rainfall, temperature, light and wind
2. B.Salinity, rainfall, temperature and light
3. C.Tides, wind, rainfall and altitude
4. D.pH, salinity, rainfall and humidity.

In a community, bacteria and fungi are referred to as

1. A.producers
2. B.decomposers
3. C.scavengers
4. D.consumers.

The swollen shoot disease of cocoa tree is caused by a

1. A.virus
2. B.fungus
3. C.bacterium
4. D.protozoan

A large percentage of tropical soils tends to be acidic because they

1. A.contain large quantities of potash
2. B.contain large quantities of lime
3. C.lose a high proportion of their organic matter to running water
4. D.lose lime and potash from the top soil through rain action.

The following are methods of soil conservation EXCEPT

1. A.contour terracing
2. B.strip cropping
3. C.contour ploughing
4. D.mixed grazing.