WAEC Biology 2000 Past Questions

A.from oxidising food substances
B.from air trapped in vacuoles
C.through diffusion of air into its body
D.through an air cavity in the ectoplasm

(a) What is a sense organ?

(b)(i) State two main functions of the ear
(ii) Explain the mechanism involved in one of the functions stated in (b) (i) above.

(c) With the aid of a large labelled diagram, illustrate the eye defect of short-sight and its correction.

Theory

Question 2

Which of the following best describes a colony of volvox?

A.Asexually reproduced cells held together in a mass, but independent of each other
B.Sexually reproduced cells held together in a mass, and dependent on each other
C.Single free-living acellular units irrespective of their parental origin
D.Several units of cells, held together by cytoplasmic strands and dependent on each other

Objective

Question 2

(a) State five different methods used in vegetative propagation in plants giving an example in each case.

State five (i) advantages and (ii) disadvantages of vegetative propagation.

Theory

Question 3

The hydra has two body layers of cells called

A.ectodermis and enteron
B.ectodemt and endoderm
C.endodermis and dermis
D.epidermis and dermis

Objective

Question 3

(a) List five classes of food other than carbohydrates.

(b) Explain why glucose is taken by an athlete ready for a race rather than corn meal.

(c) Describe the test for starch.

Theory

Question 4

All the following organelles have membranes except

A.nucleus
B.vacuole
C.cell membrane
D.cell wall

Objective

Question 4

(a) Name the four levels of organisation in living organisms.
(ii) Explain two of the levels of organisation named in (a)(i) above

Theory

Question 5

Which of these has the most complex level of organization?

A.Euglena
B.Hydra
C.Heart
D.Virus

Objective

Question 5

(a) Describe the water cycle using an annotated diagram (s) only.

(b) What is the importance of water tc living organisms?

Theory

Question 6

The unit contained in a cell structure responsible for changes in form and shape of organisms is called

A.mitochondria
B.gene
C.ribosome
D.lysosome

Objective

Question 6

(a) Explain the term osmosis.

(b) Describe an experiment to show that the xylem tissue conducts water from the rot to the shoot.

(c)(i) Explain what happens to a red blood cell when placed in a hypotonic solution
(ii) Mention three conditions that may cause haemolysis

Theory

Question 7

The plant cell mostly stores food as

A.glycogen
B.auxins
C.homtones
D.starch

Objective

Question 8

The presence of a large member of mitochondria in a cell indicates that

A.it has little cytoplasmic content
B.the cell is very active
C.the cell is dormant
D.the respiration is poor

Objective

Question 9

Which of the following statements is incorrect about diffusion?

A.It involves degradation of soluble particles in solvents
B.it occurs mainly in gaseous and liquid media
C.No membrane is needed to effect the movement of molecules
D.Molecules move from region of lower concentration to that of higher concentration.

Objective

Question 10

In which of the following organisms is ammonia excreted as a waste product?

A.Man
B.Bird
C.Amoeba
D.Spirogyra

Objective

Question 11

The following are the functions of supporting tissues in plant except

A.rigidity
B.flexibility
C.strengthening
D.secretory

Objective

Question 12

Which of the following organisms has the largest surface area-to-volume ratio?

A.Man
B.Earthworm
C.Amoeba
D.Grasshopper

Objective

Question 13

Which of the following plant parts does not perform supportive function?

A.Parenchyma, xylem and . collenchyma
B.Epidermis, sclerenchyma and xylem
C.Parenchyma, collenchyma and sclerenchyma
D.Sclerenchyma, xylem and collenchyma

Objective

Question 14

The following are useful effect of micro-organisms except

A.production of vaccines
B.curing of tobacco
C.tanning of leather
D.decay of meat

Objective

Question 15

Which of the following structures is not present in the vascular bundles of a dicot stem?

A.Xylem
B.Phloem
C.lntra-fascicular cambium
D.Inter-fascicular cambium

Objective

Question 16

When a mammal respires anaerobically for a long time

A.pyruvic acid is convened into acetyl COA
B.more energy is released from fats in the body
C.lactic acid accumulates in the muscles
D.the Krebs cycle is fully completed.

Objective

Question 17

Which of the labelled structures in the diagram are involved with the entry
of carbondioxide for photosynthesis?

A.I, II and III only
B.I, II, III and VI
C.I, II, V and VI
D.I, II, III, and IV

Objective

Question 18

Which of the labelled structures in the diagram will shrink when plasmolysis
occurs?

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

Objective

Question 19

The condition shown in the above diagram is due to

A.conversion of starch to sugar
B.conversion of sugar to starch
C.excess water in structure labelled I
D.presence of carbondioxide in the structure labelled I

Objective

Question 20

Which of the following solutions will induce the condition shown in the diagram?

A.Hypertonic solution
B.Hypotonic solution
C.isotonic solution
D.Distilled water.

Objective

Question 21

Which of the following conditions will cause a decrease in body temperature?

A.increased metabolism
B.Shivering
C.Vasoconstriction of capillaries of the skin
D.Relaxation of the erector muscles

Objective

Question 22

The organs constantly in touch with the liver are

A.pancreas, colon and caecum
B.duodenum and stomach
C.illeum, stomach and colon
D.stomach and gall bladder

Objective

Question 23

Which of the following is responsible for the increased heart beat of a boy who saw a python? increased
production of

A.adrenalin
B.insulin
C.pituitrin
D.thyroxin

Objective

Question 24

The nerves that arise from the brain are known as

A.spinal nerves
B.sacral nerves
C.cranial nerves
D.optic nerves

Objective

Question 25

The neurone that relay the message of effector organs are called

A.efferent neurones
B.intermediate neurones
C.afferent neurones
D.spinal nerves

Objective

Question 26

Each neurone consists of the following structures' except

A.cell body
B.dendrites
C.axon
D.white matter

Objective

Question 27

The simplest form of nervous pathway which links receptors with effectors is known as the

A.relay neuron
B.reflex arc
C.motor nerves
D.sensory nerves

Objective

Question 28

Which of the following parts of the eye is sensitive to light?

A.Retina
B.Cornea
C.Choroid layer
D.Optic nerves

Objective

Question 29

What happens to an ovule of a flower, after fertilization? It

A.becomes a fruit
B.withers away
C.becomes a seed
D.forms the cotyledons

Objective

Question 30

Which of the following is not a dry indehiscent fruit?

A.Legume
B.Cypsela
C.Samara
D.Caryopsis

Objective

Question 31

Which of the following groups consists of only micro-nutrients?

A.Molybdenum, sulphur and copper
B.Boron, Zinc and Calcium
C.Manganese, molybdenum and zinc
D.Magnesium, phosphorus and manganese.

Objective

Question 32

The first stable product of photosynthesis is

A.starch
B.glucose
C.oxygen
D.water

Objective

Question 33

Which of the following statements about nitrogen is not correct? Nitrogen is needed for

A.protein synthesis
B.activating certain enzymes
C.the synthesis of chlorophyll
D.healthy vegetative growth of plants

Objective

Question 34

A very poor growth in plants and discolouration of leaves signifies the deficiency of

A.calcium
B.magnesium
C.potassium
D.manganese

Objective

Question 35

Vitamin C which is water soluble is

A.cabalamine
B.pyridoxine
C.ascorbic acid
D.riboflavine

Objective

Question 36

Vitamin C deficiency results in

A.ricket
B.beri-beri
C.scurvy
D.pellagra

Objective

Question 37

Members of the vitamin B complex are

A.water-soluble
B.fat-soluble
C.water insoluble
D.generally insoluble

Objective

Question 38

Which of the following statements about phosphorous is not correct?

A.Helps to regulate the acid-base balance of the body
B.Regulates the metabolism of proteins, fats and carbohydrates
C.Required in many chemical reactions occurring in the body
D.Phosphorous is a major constituent of bones and teeth

Objective

Question 39

Vitamin E is concerned with

A.bone formation
B.reproduction
C.normal growth
D.formation of red blood cells.

Objective

Question 40

A balanced meal for an adult person may consist of

A.two pieces of chicken, four balls of bean cake, two eggs and two cups of tea with milk
B.four slices of bread, one bowl of pap, two oranges and two bananas
C.four slices of yam and stew, two pieces of beef, one cup of tea with milk and two oranges
D.a plate of beans, two pieces of meat, two eggs, one cup of tea with milk and two oranges

Objective

Question 41

Which of the following food substances turns bright red when warmed with suddan III solution?