WAEC Biology 2012 Past Questions

Practice each question, then open it to see the full details.

The science of life is referred to as

A.anatomy
B.biology
C.ecology
D.phylogeny

(a) Explain briefly four factors that affect the diffusion of substances.

(b) Explain the following terms:
(i) active transport
(ii) transpiration.

(c) State four ways by which plants can reduce high rate of transpiration.

(d) State the features of red blood cells and how these features adapt the cell to perform its functions.

The epidermis of a leaf is considered an example of a tissue because the cells

A.allow sunlight to pass through.
B.are covered by a waxy cuticle
C.all possess a similar structure and function
D.allow water to enter them by osmosis

(a) Describe briefly the role of the stomach in digestion.

(b) (i) Name three parts of plants in which food can be stored.
(ii) Give one example in each case.

(c) Explain briefly how the level of sugar in the mammalian blood can be regulated.

The organism at the organ level of organisation of life is

A.Euglena
B.Spirogyra
C.Ginger
D.Tapeworm

(a) Explain briefly the following terms:
(i) conservation
(ii) endangered species.

(b) State: (i) five reasons why conservation of forests is important;
(ii) four ways by which forest reserves can be conserved.

(c)(i) What is the importance of decomposers in the ecosystem?
(ii) Name one plant and one animal decomposer.

The disadvantage of complexity of organisation in the higher organisms is that it leads to

A.mutual interdependence between component cells
B.internal structural specialization
C.increased adaptation to environment
D.slower rate of diffusion of oxygen to individual cells

(a) (i) What is a gene?
(ii) Differentiate between the terms genotype and phenotype

(b) Explain the following terms:
(i) hybrid
(ii) pure breeding
(iii) nucleotide.

(c) In garden pea seeds, smooth seed coat is dominant over rough seed coat. With the aid of a genetic diagram, determine the result expected if a homozygous rough pea is crossed with a smooth seed coat plant whose parents were rough coated.

In which of the following multicellular organisms is-interdependence of cells maintained?

A.Spirogyra
B.Volvox
C.Eudorina
D.Pandorina

(a) Explain the following terms:
(i) disease
(ii) symptoms of diseases.

(b)(i) List two physical and two chemical barriers that prevent pathogens from penetrating the body of an organism.
(ii) Explain how vaccination protects the body from contracting infectious diseases.

(c) Distinguish between an antibody and a antigen.

(d) Name the causative agents of:
(i) Malaria
(ii) Cholera
(iii) AIDS.

Which of the following processes occurs in the second phase of meiosis?

A.Homologous chromosomes separate
B.Two daughtercells are formed
C.Fertilization occurs
D.Segregation of genes occurs

(a) (i) Describe epigeal germination of a seed.
(ii) In a tabular form, state three differences between epige germination and hypogeal germination.

(b)(i) What is seed dormancy?
(ii) State three ways b which dormancy in seeds can be broken.

(c) State six advantages of using contraceptives in puma populations.

The muscle cell fluid of an athlete was tested immediately after a 1 O m race and was found to contain a high
concentration of lactic acid. Explain what could have caused this. The

A.athlete must have eaten food containing lactic acid just before the race
B.Athlete must have injected lactic acid into his blood just before the race
C.athletes muscle must have carried out anaerobic respiration during the race
D.athlete must have inhaled lactic acid from the environment during the race

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The graph above represents the growth pattern of an animal. Which of the following groups of animals shows this
pattern of growth?

A.Cestoda
B.Reptilia
C.Amphibia
D.Insecta

The pulmonary circulation involves movement of the blood to and from the

A.brain
B.Kidney
C.Liver
D.lungs

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Which of the individual is likely to be suffering from haemophilia?

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

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Which of the individual is likely to have HIV?

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

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The diagrams above are part of the human lungs. Which of the parts is diagram Z taken from

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

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The diagram above is an illustration of the human excretory system. Which of the labelled parts contains the
highest amount of nitrogenous waste?

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

Increasing adrenalin content of the blood would be expected to decrease the flow of blood to the

A.liver
B.heart
C.lungs
D.brain

The following are all examples of a simple reflex action, except

A.swallowing
B.sneezing
C.walking
D.blinking

Impulses are conducted towards the nerve cell through the

A.myelin sheath
B.dendrons
C.axons
D.synaptic nodes

A student dissecting am animal specimen discovered that it had two auricle and on ventricle. The animal is likely to a/an

A.fish
B.reptile
C.amphibian
D.bird

The function of the convex lens in the correction of eye defects is to

A.diverge light rays from far objects to focus image on the retina
B.converge light rays to focus image behind the retina
C.converge light rays to focus time image before the retina
D.converge light rays from far objects to focus their image on the retina

Which of the following parts of the eye contains light sensitive cells?

A.Choroid
B.iris
C.Retina
D.Lens

The hair on the human skin will stand erect when the person is

A.in an air-conditioned room
B.strolling in the sun
C.taking a hot drink
D.doing strenuous exercise

When fertilization occurs that leads to formation of a zygote, which of the following processes takes place?

A.The tail of the sperm fuses with the egg cell
B.Both tail and head of the sperm fuse with the egg cell
C.The nucleus of the sperm fuses with the egg cell
D.The egg cell develops on its own without the sperm

Which of the following structures in a flower develops into the seed?

A.Testa
B.lntegument
C.Ovule
D.Ovary

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An illustration of a human male reproductive system is shown above. Which
of the labelled parts can be cut to-ensure permanent sterility?

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

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The brightly coloured petals in some plants is an adaptive colouration for

A.feeding
B.pollination
C.dispersal
D.shedding

Squirrels easily kill some trees because

A.they inject poisonous substances into the trees.
B.most trees are susceptible to squirrel bites
C.they feed voraciously on the roots
D.they gnaw the bark and destroy

The major role played by accessory pigments during photosynthesis is
the phloem.
to

A.add colour to plants but not to trap light energy
B.trap light energy that chlorophyll cannot absorb
C.transfer energy from chlorophyll to other pigments
D.prevent chlorophyll from absorbing unnecessary light

The main raw materials required for photosynthesis are

A.oxygen and water
B.oxygen and carbon dioxide.
C.oxygen and chlorophyll
D.carbon dioxide and water

What is the benefit of thunder and lightning to farmers?

A.Addition of nitrates to the soil
B.Aeration of the soil
C.Removal of harmful bacteria from the soil
D.Addition of rain water to the soil

Which of the following substances must be present in the soil for growth of a healthy green plant?

A.Amino acids
B.Carbon
C.Glucose salts
D.Magnesium ions

The purpose of proteins in the diet of a mammal is to

A.promote growth and repair cells
B.break down molecules
C.regulate the flow of chyme
D.serve as co-factors or enzymes

Excess carbohydrates can be stored in the muscles in the form

A.cellulose
B.glycogen
C.chitin
D.lipids

The bones of the legs of a six years old boy are observed to be weak and crooked. Which of the following elements
were deficient in his mother’s diet at pregnancy?

A.Sodium and iron
B.Iron and manganese
C.Calcium and phosphorus
D.Magnesium and sulphur

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The diagram above is an illustration of an experimental setup to test the action of
yeast. What test would be used to confirm the nature of the gas given off at?

A.Insert a glowing splint
B.Pass the gas through lime water
C.Insert a piece of litmus paper
D.Smell the gas

Which of the following digestive enzymes would be greatly affected if the liver fails to
produce bile?

A.Amylase
B.Cellulase
C.Lipase
D.rotease

The appropriate food to be given to the child in the
picture above is

A.beans
B.garri
C.bread
D.avocado pear

Which of the following food substances will have
little or no calorific value?

A.Proteins
B.Carbohydrates
C.Lipids
D.Water

A space containing a group of interactive organisms
is called

A.community
B.habitat
C.ecosystem
D.population

The area around the earth where life activities go on is referred to as

A.biosphere
B.lithosphere
C.habitat
D.ecosystem

The following are abiotic components of the ecosystem except

A.bacteria
B.topography
C.water
D.wind

Which of the following instruments would be most appropriate in comparing the air pressure at different places in the habitat?

A.Hygrometer
B.Barometer
C.Photometer
D.Air pressure disc

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The best title for the above diagram is

A.terrestrial food web
B.terrestrial food chain
C.aquatic food web
D.aquatic food chain

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How many food chains are in the diagram?

A.Three
B.Four
C.Five
D.Six

Plants with breathing roots are characteristic features of vegetation in

A.tropical grassland
B.temperate grassland
C.saltwater swamp
D.Tropical rain forest

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In which of the zones can very few organisms be found

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