SSCE/WASSCE/GCE PAST QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Objectives/Multiple Choices
1. What part of the microscope can be used to adjust the amount of light?
A. Diaphragm
B. Objective lens
C. eyepiece
D. photo-regulator
2. What is Biology
A. the study of life
B. the study of environment
C. study of living and nonliving things
D. general knowledge in lithosphere
3. Science gathers information about the world using
A. hypothesis and guidelines
B. explanation and conclusion
C. observations and experimentation
D. Test and hypothesis
4. External respiration is defined as
A. an exchange of gases in the lungs
B. breathing
C. an exchange of gases in the tissues
D. cellular respiration
5. Why is oxygen needed by the body
A. to aerate the lung
B. to cleanse the blood
C. to produce ATP
D. to produce carbon dioxide
6. Which of the following statements is not correct of respiration?
A. Gaseous exchange occurs by diffusion
B. Oxygen combines with haemoglobin at the respiratory surface
C. Carbon dioxide produced by tissues is removed by the process of osmosis.
D. There are no special organs for respiration in plants.
7. Which of the following orientation of the body is not correct?
A. Dorsal, refers to the top or back of the organism
B. Ventral, refers to the bottom or belly of the organism
C. Anterior, refers to the front or head end of the organism
D. Posterior, refers to the side of the body of an organism.
8. The main difference between plants and animals is their
A. Movement
B. Colour
C. Mode of feeding
D. Growth
9. The irreversible life process by which new protoplasm is added to increase the size and weight of an organism can be termed
A. anabolism
B. catabolism
C. growth
D. development
10. Flame cells are the
A. excretory system of worms
B. excretory and respiratory systems of flatworms
C. secretory system of flatworms
D. excretory system of flatworms
11. Respiration is essential to life since
A. oxygen is used up
B. energy is released
C. a lot of glucose is used up
D. water is released into the atmosphere
12. The excretory structure in the earthworm is the
A. malpighian tubule
B. flame cell
C. nephridium
D. kidney
13. Biological growth refers strictly to an increase in the
A. protoplasm of an organism
B. number of organisms
C. size of an organism
D. development of form
14. The manufacture of carbohydrates by plants takes place only in
A. the leaves
B. the green stems
C. chlorophyllous parts
D. flowering plants
15. The division of a body into two equal halves along a longitudinal plane is called
A. bilateral symmetary
B. transverse section
C. radial symmetry
D. longitudinal section
16. The modes of nutrition in Nitrobacteria, Ascaris and Homo sapiens respectively are
A. photosynthetic, parasitic and holozoic
B. chemosynthetic, parasitic and holozoic
C. photosynthetic, parasitic and heterophytic
D. chemosynthetic, holophytic and holozoic
17. A characteristic exhibited by all living organism is
A. sexual reproduction
B. aerobic respiration
C. the ability to move from one place to another
D. the ability to remove unwanted substances
18. Radial symmetry is a future common to
A. Platyhelminthes
B. nematodes
C. coelenterates
D. arthropods
19. The process by which plants manufacture food from carbon dioxide and water, using energy from the sun is termed
A. chemosynthesis
B. photosynthesis
C. autotrophism
D. heterotrophism
20. The product of anaerobic respiration in humans is
A. citric acid
B. ethyl alcohol
C. lactic acid
D. pyruvic acid
Answers
1. A |
6. C |
11. B |
16. B |
2. A |
7. D |
12. C |
17. D |
3. C |
8. C |
13. C |
18. C |
4. B |
9. C |
14. C |
19. B |
5. C |
10. D |
15. A |
20. C |
THEORY
1. (SSCE, 1994) (a) What is external respiration?
(b) Distinguish between aerobic respiration and anaerobic respiration.
Solution
(a) External respiration is gaseous exchange between the tissues of the body and the external environment. OR The intake of oxygen and the release of carbon dioxide and utilized gasses to the external environment.
Aerobic respiration
Anaerobic respiration
Water is produced as
waste product
Alcohol or Lactic acid
is produced as waste product
Oxygen is used up
Oxygen is not required
Greater amount of
energy is released
Less energy is released
Aerobic respiration |
Anaerobic respiration |
Water is produced as
waste product |
Alcohol or Lactic acid
is produced as waste product |
Oxygen is used up |
Oxygen is not required |
Greater amount of
energy is released |
Less energy is released |
2. (SSCE, 1996) Explain the term reproduction.
3. (SSCE, 2003) (a) (i) What is meant by growth in living organisms?
Solution
(a) (i) Growth is the irreversible increase in size and complexity.
4. (SSCE, 2009). In a tabular form outline five differences between autotrophic and holozoic mode of nutrition
5. (WASSCE, 2014 Q1) List three characteristics of living organisms.
(ii) Explain briefly the characteristics listed in (a)(i) above.
(b) In a tabular form, state four differences between plants and animals.
Solution
(a) (i) Characteristics of living organisms
1. Respiration
2. Movement
3. Excretion
4. Reproduction
5. Irritability
6. Nutrition
7. Adaptation
8. Growth
9. Competition
9. Life span/death
6. (WASSCE, 2014 Q5) (a) State five precaution that should be taken when using a light microscope.
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