WAEC Biology 1989 Past Questions

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Which of the following structures is responsible for osmoregulation?

A.I
B.II
C.III
D.IV
E.V

(a) List five morphological features that are characteristic of plant 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.

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Excretion is carried out through the structure labelled

A.I
B.III
C.IV
D.V
E.VI

(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.

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The part labelled VII is made up of

A.carbohydrates
B.lipid materials
C.waste materials
D.protein materials
E.food particles

(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 affects the reproduction process: (i) territoriality. (ii) display; (iii) seasonal migration.

The correct sequence of the levels in an increasing order of complexity is

A.I,II,III
B.lll, I, l\/, ll
C.lll, IV, l, ll
D.lV, lll, I, ll
E.IV, l, ll, lll

(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).

Which of the following organelles is used for locomotion in Paramecium?

A.pseudopodium
B.Trchocyst
C.Cilium
D.pellicle
E.Contractile vacuole

Which of the following is not true of the nucleus of a living cell? It contains

A.chromosome
B.Nucleolus
C.nucleoplasm
D.chromatids
E.ribosomes

The cell membrane consists of

A.carbohydrates and lipids
B.vitamins and proteins
C.lipids and proteins
D.water and sugar
E.starch and cellulose

Which of the following is not likely to be found in the cell of a ripe tomato fruit?

A.plastids
B.Chlorophyll
C.Cellulose cell wall
D.Mitochondrion
E.Mineral salts

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

A.Cuticle
B.Mesophyll
C.Vascular tissue
D.Lower epidermis
E.Upper epidermis

Four cells with osmotic potential equivalent to that of 3% salt solution were immersed respectively in solutions
of different concentrations labeled 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?

A.I
B.II
C.III
D.IV
E.V

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

A.There must be a selectively permeable membrane
B.The two solutions must be of different concentrations initially
C.t involves only the movement of water molecules
D.Equilibrium is reached when there is equal distribution of water molecules
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?

A.Glomerulus → Bowman’s capsule → Loop of Henle → Collecting tubule → Pelvis
B.Glomerulus → Loop of Henle → Collecting tubule → Bowman’s capsule → Pelvis
C.Pelvis → Bowman’s capsule → Glomerulus →Loop of Henle → Collecting tubule
D.Bowman’s capsule → Glomerulus → Loop of Henle → Collecting tubule → Pelvis
E.Bowman’s capsule → Loop of Henle →Glomerulus → Collecting tubule → Pelvis

Which of the following is the function of the hormone in the lslets of Langerhans?

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

Blood in mammals transports oxygen because it contains the pigment called

A.haemoglobin
B.chlorocruorin
C.melanin
D.haemocyanin
E.haemoerythrin.

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

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

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The pilaferous layers is labelled

A.I
B.II
C.III
D.IV
E.V

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The xylem is labelled

A.II
B.IV
C.V
D.VI
E.VII

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The part through which manufactured sugar is transported is labelled

A.I
B.III
C.IV
D.VII
E.VI

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

A.respiration
B.guttation
C.osmoregulation
D.transpiration
E.diffusion.

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

A.transpiration stream
B.guttation
C.capillarity
D.osmosis
E.cohesion.

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The piece of bone represented in the diagram is found in the

A.pelvic region
B.pectoral girdle
C.vertebral column
D.skull
E.thoracic region

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The part labelled I is the

A.lumbar
B.sacrum
C.ilium
D.pubis
E.coccyx

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The bone that articulates with the part labelled III is the

A.humerus
B.femur
C.tibia
D.sacrum
E.fibula

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

A.Euglena
B.Paramecium
C.Volvox
D.Hydra
E.Chlamydomonas.

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The light - sensitive layer is labelled

A.I
B.III
C.IV
D.VI
E.VII

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The greatest concentration of light receptors is found in the part labelled

A.VI
B.V
C.IV
D.III
E.I

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The aqueous humour is represented by the part labelled

A.I
B.II
C.III
D.VI
E.VII

Autotrophs are also described as

A.consumers
B.decomposers
C.carnivores
D.producers
E.herbivores

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

A.transfer of radiant energy which reduces a co-factor
B.absorption of radiant energy by chlorophyll
C.utilization of the energy in the electron transfer chain to form ATP
D.formation of glucose using energy from NADPH
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

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

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

A.an achene
B.a capsule
C.a follicle
D.a legume
E.a nut

The translocation of food materials in plants takes place in the

A.xylem
B.cambium
C.phloem
D.parenchyma
E.sclerenchyma

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

A.parasitism
B.commensalism
C.mutualism
D.symbiosis
E.predation

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

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

Which of the following characteristics is associated with commensalism?

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

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

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

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

A.introducing a population of species similar to that of the pest
B.increasing the population of the natural enemies of the pest
C.eliminating the natural enemies of the pest
D.keeping the population of natural enemies of the pest constant
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

A.biotic factors
B.climatic factors
C.physiographic factors
D.edaphic factors
E.abiotic factors

Which of the following. groups of organisms feeds directly on green plants?

A.Producer
B.Decomposer
C.Primary consumer
D.Secondary consumer
E.Tertiary consumer

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

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

Maize is best stored against insect attack

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

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

A.Death
B.Competition
C.Commensalism
D.Aggression
E.Cannibalism

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

A.preservation
B.utilization
C.economics
D.development
E.conservation

Breathing roots are characteristic structures of plants growing in

A.mangrove swamp
B.desert
C.shrub biome
D.savannah
E.tropical rain forest

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

A.Anaphase
B.Telophase
C.Prophase
D.interphase
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?

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