JAMB Biology 1998 past questions and answers

The nucleus is considered the central organelle of a cell because it

1. A.contains the genetic material
2. B.contains the nuclear sap
3. C.is bounded by the nuclear membrane
4. D.is located at the centre of the cell.

The procaryotic cell type is characterized by a

1. A.complex cytoplasm in which different regions are poorly defined
2. B.localization of defferent regions of the cell into tissues
3. C.collection of organelles and macromolecular complexes
4. D.simple cytoplasm with well defined regions.

The natural tendency of organisms as they evolve is to

1. A.decrease in size
2. B.increase in number
3. C.develop specialized structures
4. D.feed indiscriminately.

In snails, the hard calcareous shells are secreted by the

1. A.radula
2. B.ctenidium
3. C.pneumostome
4. D.mantle.

Use the diagram to answer questions 5 and 6. The structure labelled I is formed as a result of the fusion of

1. A.two pairs of nuclei
2. B.several pairs of nuclei
3. C.a pair of nuclei
4. D.two pairs of nucleoli.

Use the diagram to answer questions 5 and 6. The special name of the part labelled II is

1. A.gametangium
2. B.hypha
3. C.suspensor
4. D.zygospore.

The ability of the cockroach to live in cracks and crevices is enhanced by the possession of

1. A.wings and segmented body
2. B.compound eyes
3. C.claws on the legs
4. D.dorso-ventrally flattened body.

The caste of termites that lacks pigmentation is the

1. A.king
2. B.worker
3. C.soldier
4. D.queen.

The structures that prevent food particles from escaping through the fish gills are called gill

1. A.arches
2. B.filaments
3. C.rakers
4. D.lamellae.

A distinguishing feature of mammals is the possession of

1. A.skin
2. B.scale
3. C.nail
4. D.hair.

Which of the following structures is capable of producing more tissues in the stem of a herbaceous flowering plant?

1. A.Epidermis
2. B.Pericycle
3. C.Xylem
4. D.Cambium.

The manufacture of carbohydrates by plants takes place only in

1. A.the leaves
2. B.the green stems
3. C.chlorophyllous parts
4. D.flowering plants.

In a water culture experiment, a plant showed poor growth and yellowing of the leaves. These may be due to deficiency of

1. A.copper
2. B.iron
3. C.magnesium
4. D.calcium.

In Millon's test,when the reagent is added to a protein food item, a white precipitate is produced which turns

1. A.blue on heating
2. B.yellow on heating
3. C.green on heating
4. D.red on heating.

Regulation of blood sugar level takes place in the

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

Unicellular organisms transport essential nutrients directly to all parts of their bodies by the process of diffusion because, they have

1. A.a large volume to surface area ratio
2. B.a large surface area to volume ratio
3. C.their bodies immersed in the nutrients
4. D.their outer membrane made of cellulose.

The heart of the adult frog consists of

1. A.two auricles and two ventricles
2. B.one auricle and one ventricle
3. C.two ventricles and one auricle
4. D.one ventricle and two auricles.

In adult mammalian blood, the cells which lack nuclei are the

1. A.erythrocytes
2. B.lymphocytes
3. C.leucocytes
4. D.phagocytes.

Which of the following movements occur during exhalation?

1. A.The diaphragm and intercostal muscles relax
2. B.The thoracic cavity increases in volume
3. C.The diaphragm and intercostal muscles contract
4. D.The diaphragm contracts and the intercostal muscles relax.

In which of the following groups of animals is the malpighian tubule found?

1. A.Lizards, snakes and frogs
2. B.Crickets, houseflies and grasshoppers
3. C.Millipedes, centipedes and scorpions
4. D.earthworms, roundworms and flatworms.

Which of the following is not a function of the mammalian skeleton?

1. A.Protection
2. B.respiration
3. C.Transportation
4. D.Support.

Use the diagram to answer questions 22 and 23. The ovary represented is

1. A.half-superior
2. B.inferior
3. C.superior
4. D.half-inferior.

Use the diagram to answer questions 22 and 23. The corolla is partly represented by

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

The most reliable estimate of growth is by measuring changes in

1. A.length
2. B.volume
3. C.surface area
4. D.dry weight.

A dry fruit formed from two or more carpels containing several seeds is a

1. A.follicle
2. B.legume
3. C.capsule
4. D.schizocarp.

The outermost embryonic membrane in the mammal is the

1. A.amnion
2. B.chorion
3. C.allantois
4. D.yolk sac.

The small masses of nervous tissue in which many neurones have their nuclei are called

1. A.dorsal roots
2. B.ventral roots
3. C.ganglia
4. D.synapses.

A group of organisms of different species living in a particular area is described as a

1. A.colony
2. B.community
3. C.population
4. D.niche.

Which of the following is the direct consequence of transferring energy from one trophic level to another?

1. A.An increase in biomass
2. B.A decrease in the efficiency of energy conversion
3. C.An increase in the total numbers of resulting individuals
4. D.A decrease in the resulting biomass.

The condition that encourages denitrification is

1. A.low soil oxygen
2. B.high soil nitrogen
3. C.absence of soil bacteria
4. D.lightning and thunderstorm.

A freshwater plant such as water lily can solve the problem of buoyancy by the possession of

1. A.aerenchymarous tissues
2. B.dissected leaves
3. C.thin cell walls of the epidermis
4. D.water-repelling epidermis.

The sequence of the biomes in Nigeria from Port Harcourt to Damaturu is

1. A.estuarine → rain forest → Guinea savannah → Sahel savanah
2. B.rain forest → Guinea savannah → estuarine → desert
3. C.estuarine → Guinea savannah → rain forest → Sahel savannah
4. D.rain forest → estuarine → Guinea savannah → desert.

Soil micro-organisms are beneficial because of their involvement in

1. A.photosynthesis
2. B.translocation
3. C.cycling of nutrients
4. D.respiration using soil air.

Which of the following groups of diseases are associated with water? I Onchocerciasis II Schistosomiasis III Dracunculiasis IV Elephantiasis V. Taeniasis

1. A.I, II and III
2. B.II, IV and V
3. C.II, III and IV
4. D.I, II and V.

One of the ways in which body cells differ from gamete cells is in the

1. A.type of centromeres they contain
2. B.number of chromosome pairs they contain
3. C.type of chromatids they contain
4. D.number of chromosomes they contain.

In blood transfusion, agglutination occurs when

1. A.white blood cells from two individuals meet
2. B.two different antibodies meet
3. C.two different antigens meet
4. D.contrasting antigens and antibodies meet.

Use the graph (the alternate depletion patterns of mineral resources over time) to answer questions 37 and 38. The unrestricted pattern is represented by

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

Use the graph (the alternate depletion patterns of mineral resources over time) to answer questions 37 and 38. The line that represents efficient recycling combined with stringent conservation is

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

After one week of life, the weights of five chicks of the same sex hatched simultaneously from the eggs of the same hen and fed on the same diet were 45g, 40g, 35g, 33g, and 30g. This is an example of

1. A.growth rate
2. B.natural selection
3. C.variation
4. D.mutation.

The phenotype of an individual can be summed up as the

1. A.totality of the expressed traits
2. B.individual's physical appearance
3. C.individual's entire genetical make-up
4. D.physiological traits of the individual.

The correct increasing order of size for the cell components responsible for heredity is

1. A.chromosome → DNA → nucleus → gene
2. B.DNA → gene → chromosome → nucleus
3. C.chromosome → nucleus → DNA → gene.
4. D.DNA → gene → nucleus → chromosome

A sex-linked character cannot be passed on directly from

1. A.father to son
2. B.mother to daughter
3. C.mother to son
4. D.father to daughter.

The biological association that contributes directly to succession in a community is

1. A.competition
2. B.predation
3. C.parasitism
4. D.commensalism.

The group of insects that have mouth parts adapted for both piercing and sucking is

1. A.cockroaches, aphids and mosquitoes
2. B.aphids, houseflies and moths
3. C.mosquitoes, tse-tse flies and aphids
4. D.aphids, beetles and grasshoppers.

Use the diagrams to answer questions 45 and 46. The bird's bill adapted for fishing is labelled

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

Use the diagrams to answer questions 45 and 46. Toes of the feet ending in a sharp, curved hook suitable for holding and tearing are most likely to belong to the bird with the bill in

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

In the honey bee colony, the drones are

1. A.sterile males with reduced mouth parts
2. B.sterile males with well-developed mouth parts
3. C.fertile males with reduced mouth parts
4. D.fertile males with well-developed mouth parts.

In the whistling pine, leaves are reduced to brown scales and young stems are green. This is an adaptation for

1. A.obtaining food
2. B.conserving nutrients
3. C.storing water
4. D.reducing transpiration.

The best explanation for the theories of natural selection is that

1. A.all organisms have equal capacity for survival in their habitats
2. B.organisms have varying capacities for survival in their habitats
3. C.organisms compete for resources and better competitors survive and thrive
4. D.habitats allow only organisms that will not have to compete for survival.

The basic point of impact by changes which produce mutation is the

1. A.gametes
2. B.chromosomes
3. C.phenotype
4. D.zygote.