WAEC Biology 1991 (August) past questions and answers

The cell is a functional unit of living organisms because

1. A.multicellular organisms are made up of cells
2. B.all the cells in a multicellular organism function as a single cell
3. C.the function of a multicellular organisation is the sum total of the functions of its constituent cells
4. D.the function of a single cell is superior to that of the multicellular organism
5. E.the cells of a multicellular organism are similar in structure

The organelle which eliminates water from the body of protozoa is

1. A.plasma membrane
2. B.contractile vacuole
3. C.cell wall
4. D.protoplasm
5. E.nucleus

Spirogyra is regarded as a multicellular plant because

1. A.its cells are linked together by cytoplasmic strands
2. B.its cells are joined to form organs
3. C.the cylindrical cells are linked end to end
4. D.the filaments consist of one cell only
5. E.it is an alga containing large vacuoles

The mechanism of gaseous exchange in living organisms is essentially by

1. A.osmosis
2. B.inhalation
3. C.diffusion
4. D.exhalation
5. E.breathing

Which of the following statements is correct about diffusion?

1. A.It involves the movement of water molecules only
2. B.Molecules move from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration
3. C.Differentially permeable membrane must be present for diffusion to occur
4. D.It involves the movement of only solute molecules into the Bowman's capsule
5. E.It occurs when a solute can no longer dissolve in a solvent

The process of anaerobic respiration of yeast in sugar solution is known as

1. A.oxidation
2. B.fermentation
3. C.tissue respiration
4. D.alcohol production
5. E.decomposition

The following are functions of the skeleton except

1. A.providing support for the body
2. B.protection of delicate internal organs
3. C.maintenance of the shape of the body
4. D.providing attachment for muscles
5. E.controlling growth rate in animals

Muscles are attached to bones by means of

1. A.ligament
2. B.cartilage
3. C.synovial membrane
4. D.tendons
5. E.connective tissue

Which of the following tissues is not found in the stem and root of monocotyledons?

1. A.Xylem
2. B.Cambium
3. C.Pith
4. D.Cortex
5. E.Pericycle

The upper part of the trachea in mammals is called

1. A.palate
2. B.epiglottis
3. C.larynx
4. D.glottis
5. E.bronchus

Which of the following parts of the mammalian skin is directly involved in excretion?

1. A.Sebaceous gland
2. B.Sweat gland
3. C.Hormy layer
4. D.Hair folicle
5. E.Malphigian layer

Kidney stone is a disease of the kidney that results in the

1. A.blockage of the tubules by solid particles
2. B.passing out useful materials of the body fluid with urine
3. C.presence of large quantity of water in urine
4. D.passing out hormones in urine
5. E.prevention of urine production

The following are the activities of the liver except

1. A.production of heat
2. B.manufacture of bile
3. C.detoxication of alcohol and drugs
4. D.maintenance of osmotic balance
5. E.deamination of excess nitrogenous substances

Infective hepatitis is a disease of the

1. A.heart
2. B.kidney
3. C.liver
4. D.stomach
5. E.pancreas

The pituitary is regarded as the master gland because

1. A.it is located in the brain
2. B.its secretions are the most numerous
3. C.its secretions control other endocrine glands
4. D.it is the biggest endocrine gland
5. E.it controls the activities of the brain

Growing radicles of seddlings are

1. A.negatively phototropic
2. B.positively phototropic
3. C.negatively geotropic
4. D.negatively hydrotropic
5. E.positively phototactic

Over-secretion of thyroxin is likely to lead to

1. A.thinness of body
2. B.sluggishness
3. C.cretinism in infants
4. D.reduced metabolism
5. E.dwarfism

If a germinating seed is attached horizontally on a revolving klinostat, what will be the effect on the seedling after three days? The

1. A.plumule will curve vertically upwards while the radicle will curve towards the ground
2. B.plumule and radicle will not show any curvature
3. C.radicle will curve towards the ground while the plumule will not show any curvature
4. D.plumule will curve vertically upwards while the radicle will not show any curvature
5. E.plumule and the radicle will curve towards the ground

The human skin is regarded as a sense organ because it

1. A.separates the body from the outside world
2. B.protects the body from cold and heat
3. C.regulates the water content of the body
4. D.has an outer layer of dead cells
5. E.has nerve endings

The part of the brain responsible for the control of voluntary movement and interpretation of sensations is the

1. A.cerebrum
2. B.cerebellum
3. C.optic lobe
4. D.medulla oblongata
5. E.olfactory lobe

Which part of the ear is responsible for the maintenance of balance?

1. A.Ossicles
2. B.Tympanic membrane
3. C.Eustachian tube
4. D.Semicircular canals
5. E.Cochlea

Which of the following is not part of the female reproductive system?

1. A.Ovary
2. B.Seminal vesicle
3. C.Uterus
4. D.Vagina
5. E.Fallopian tube

Which of the following substances from the mother's blood diffuse through the placenta into the blood vessels of the foetus?

1. A.Carbon dioxide and oxygen
2. B.Glycogen and starch
3. C.Urea and carbon dioxide
4. D.Glucose and oxygen
5. E.Digested food and carbon dioxide

Which of the following is not seen in the transverse section of a young monocotyledonous stem?

1. A.Parenchyma
2. B.Phloem
3. C.Xylem
4. D.Cambium
5. E.Sclerenchyma

The bicuspid valve is located between

1. A.left auricle and left ventricle
2. B.right auricle and right ventricle
3. C.left and right ventricles
4. D.left and right auricles
5. E.left auricle and right ventricle

During which of the following processes is food for animals produced?

1. A.Photosynthesis
2. B.Respiration
3. C.Nutrition
4. D.Digestion
5. E.Transpiration

Use the diagram below to answer questions 28 to 30.
The diagram below represents a section through the earthworm showing its alimentary system (parts labelled I to VI).
What is the name of the part labelled I?

1. A.Oesophagus
2. B.Nephridium
3. C.Pharynx
4. D.Intestine
5. E.Crop

The diagram below represents a section through the earthworm showing its alimentary system (parts labelled I to VI).
What is the name of the structure labelled III?

1. A.Gizzard
2. B.Crop
3. C.Heart
4. D.Seminal vesicle
5. E.Coelom

The diagram below represents a section through the earthworm showing its alimentary system (parts labelled I to VI).
What is the function of the part labelled IV?

1. A.Production of sperm
2. B.Temporary storage of food
3. C.Mechanical grinding of food
4. D.Pumping blood all over the body
5. E.Producing cocoon for the eggs

Pellagra can be prevented by taking food rich in

1. A.vitamin A
2. B.vitamin B
3. C.vitamin D
4. D.calcium
5. E.iodine

In testing for a reducing sugar, the food substance is usually warmed with

1. A.Sulphuric acid
2. B.Millon's reagent
3. C.Sudan III
4. D.Benedicts's solution

Which of the following adapts the aorta to the high pressure of the blood from the heart?

1. A.Thin walls
2. B.Fragile membrane
3. C.Thick elastic walls
4. D.Stiff walls
5. E.Narrow lumen

The part of the alimentary system of a bird where grinding of maize occurs is the

1. A.crop
2. B.stomach
3. C.gizzard
4. D.cloaca
5. E.rectum

Natality is a fatcr affecting population density because it involves

1. A.increase in population due to immigration
2. B.increase in population due to emigration
3. C.the number of mature females in the population
4. D.the number of females in the population
5. E.the number of all the yong ones produced in the population

The female part of a flower consists of the

1. A.stigma, style and ovary
2. B.petals, sepals and anthers
3. C.stigma, sepals, and anthers
4. D.filaments, style and pollen grains
5. E.sepals, stigma and pollen grains

Puddles, ponds, rivers, lakes, seas and oceans are grouped together as

1. A.ecosystem
2. B.biosphere
3. C.terrestrial habitat
4. D.marine habitat
5. E.aquatic habitat

Which of the following would be the primary producer in a food chain?

1. A.Saprophytes
2. B.Herbivores
3. C.Carnivores
4. D.Green plants
5. E.Parasites

Fewer number of trees is characteristic of the Savanna zones of Nigeria because

1. A.there is too much sunlight
2. B.there is limited amount of rainfall
3. C.they are usually exposed to grazing animals
4. D.they are covered by high mountains
5. E.the farmers always engage in bush-burning

The number of individuals in a habitat in relation to the unit space available to each organism is referred to as the

1. A.birth rate
2. B.density
3. C.mortality
4. D.frequency
5. E.dispersion

Which of the following will be the effect of waterlogged top soil on the roots of plants?

1. A.The waterlogged soil will stimulate rapid growth of roots
2. B.There will be abundant supply of air for the growth of roots
3. C.The roots will absorb water rapidly
4. D.There will be an accumulation of plant nutrients
5. E.The roots will be starved of air

Which of the following is the unit of transmission of hereditary traits in living organisms

1. A.Nucleus
2. B.Nucleolus
3. C.Gametes
4. D.Genes
5. E.Chromosomes

The role of dead organic matter in the soil is to

1. A.make the soil black
2. B.increase the mineral salt content
3. C.provide food for all living organisms
4. D.increase the acidity of soil
5. E.make the soil more porous

Species do not change in order to survive. The environment determines which organism survives to reproduce. These statements

1. A.explain the theory of acquired characters
2. B.support Jean Lamarck's theory of use and disuse
3. C.support the idea of survival of the fittest
4. D.are refuted by fossil records
5. E.imply that organisms modify their environment in order to survive

Which of the following may not contribute to environmental pollution?

1. A.Solar energy radiation
2. B.Industrial wastes
3. C.Waste disposal
4. D.Smoke
5. E.Nuclear power plant

Succession is best described as

1. A.a process whereby different organisms systematically colonize a barren habitat until a stable community is formed
2. B.a process whereby plants occupy a barren habitat until a suitable habitat is formed
3. C.a process whereby animals occupy a barren habitat until a suitable habitat is formed
4. D.the subsequent taking over of the land through emigration or dispersal of seeds
5. E.the replacement of weaker plants and animals by the stronger ones

Predators are beneficial in pest control because they

1. A.are natural enemies of small mammals
2. B.devour farm animals
3. C.feed on pests of crops
4. D.prey on game animals
5. E.compete for food with the pests

Below is a list of microorganisms which are of economic importance to man.
I. Plasmodium II. Vibrio choleroe III. Gonococcus sp IV. Poliomyelitis virus V. Syphilis bacteria.
Which of the following organisms are transmitted by houseflies?

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

The practice of warming soup regularly as it concerns food preservation is essentially to

1. A.retain the taste
2. B.help to break down the cellulose
3. C.remove the excess water
4. D.kill the bacteria in it
5. E.raise the temperature

Agglutination occurs in blood transfusion when the

1. A.donor and the recipient belong to the same blood group
2. B.same antibodies from donor and recipient fuse together
3. C.donor and the recipient belong to different races
4. D.recipient is not a universal recipient
5. E.antigen and antibody in the donor and the recipient react

Which of the following is not a way of conserving natural resources?

1. A.Controlling farming practices
2. B.Establishing forest reserves
3. C.Establishing of parks and gardens
4. D.Encouraging poaching in game reserves
5. E.Protecting the endangered species

Which of the following limiting resources is competed for by organisms in the desert?

1. A.Light
2. B.Temperature
3. C.Oxygen
4. D.Water
5. E.Carbondioxide

The adaptations for water conservation in organisms include the following except

1. A.scales in fishes
2. B.scales on leaves
3. C.thick leaves
4. D.spine in plants
5. E.succulent stems

Which of the following structures is a protective adaptive feature of the Agama lizard to terrestrial habitat?

1. A.Claws
2. B.Gular fold
3. C.Scaly skin
4. D.Nuchal crest
5. E.Tail

Which of the following statements best explains the term aestivation?

1. A.A device for survival during the period of extreme food and water shortage
2. B.A method of survival adopted by plants during the dry season
3. C.Movement of animals over long distances
4. D.A method of survival adopted by animals under favourable condition
5. E.A device for rapid multiplication during abudance of food

The phenomenon whereby some organisms with certain features get established in an environment is known as

1. A.partial selection
2. B.artificial selection
3. C.natural selection
4. D.mutation
5. E.colonization

Who formulated the theory of natural selection in evolution?

1. A.Louis Pasteur
2. B.Robert Hooke
3. C.Jean Lamarck
4. D.Mathias Schleiden
5. E.Charles Darwin

In an individual who is heterozygous for a particular character, the hereditary factor that is always expressed is described as

1. A.allele
2. B.sickle-cell gene
3. C.dominant gene
4. D.chromosome
5. E.sex-linked character

Which of the following statements best explains the meaning of homologous chromosomes?

1. A.Product of division of chromosomes
2. B.Two identical chromosomes from each parent
3. C.Chromosomes arranged on spindle fibre during cell division
4. D.Chromosomes arranged on the equatorial plate of the cell
5. E.Daughter chromatids in the first meiotic division

(a) (i) Explain briefly the cell theory (ii) Name two scientists who contributed to the development of the cell theory
(b) Make a large labelled diagram of a typical plant cell
(c) List three ways in which a typical plant cell differs from a typical animal cell
(d) State one difference each between Hydra and the mammals with respect to (i) level of organisation (ii) symmetry (iii) number of body layers.

(a) Make a labelled diagram to show the internal structure of the mammalian ear
(b) Describe the mechanism of hearing in mammals
(c) State two ways of caring for the ear.

(a) (i) List three components of an ecosystem (ii) Describe briefly the interaction among the components named in (a) (i).
(b) List three major steps that are usually taken in studying plants and animals in a community.
(c) State the importance of each of the following in a population and explain how each affects the growth of a population; (i) competition; (ii) pathogens; (iii) water.

(a) (i) List five excretory organs found in living organisms (ii) Give one example of an organism in which each type is found
(b) (i) State two ways in which the excretory organ of earthworm is similar to that of mammals (ii) Give three differences between them
(c) Describe the mechanism of opening and closing of the stomata.