Biology questions and answers

Biology Questions and Answers

How well do you understand living things and their vital processes? Whether you are preparing for JAMB, WAEC, NECO and Post-UTME, these Biology past questions and answers cover such subjects as the chemistry of life, botany, evolution, genetics, ecology etc to help you know what to expect, improve your speed and confidence and be really prepared for the actual aptitude test.

1.

The eye defect caused by an uneven curvature of the cornea or lens or both is

A.

myopia

B.

presbyopia

C.

astigmatism

D.

hypermetropia

Correct answer is C

Astigmatism is a common refractive error of the eye that occurs when the cornea or lens has an irregular shape. In a normal eye, the cornea and lens have a smooth, evenly curved surface, similar to a sphere. However, in astigmatism, the cornea or lens may be more curved in one direction than the other, resulting in a refractive error.

2.

Stunted growth and small yellow leaves in plants are symptoms of the deficiencies of

A.

nitrogen

B.

iron

C.

sulphur

D.

magnesium

Correct answer is B

Iron deficiency in plants leads to chlorosis, which is the yellowing of leaves. Chlorosis occurs because iron is necessary for the formation of chlorophyll, which is the green pigment in plants that absorbs light energy for use in photosynthesis. Without sufficient iron, the plant cannot produce enough chlorophyll, leading to yellow leaves. Stunted growth is also a symptom of iron deficiency as iron is essential for various metabolic processes including DNA synthesis.

3.

An example of a process that involves osmosis is the

A.

movement of water from root hairs into cortical cell

B.

reabsorption of food nutrients from the kidney into blood capillaries

C.

translocation of starch from leaves to all parts of a plant

D.

movement of digested food from ileum into blood capillaries

Correct answer is A

Movement of water from root hairs into cortical cells involves osmosis. When a plant's roots absorb water from the soil, it passes through the root hairs and moves into the cortical cells (which are part of the root's inner layer) through osmosis. This osmotic movement of water helps maintain water balance and nutrient distribution within the plant.

4.

Which of the following characteristics shows discontinuous variation in plants?

A.

flower colour

B.

Leaf size

C.

plant height

D.

fruit size

Correct answer is A

Colour of flower: The colour of flowers in plants typically shows discontinuous variation. Flowers can have specific colors like red, blue, yellow, or white, and individuals within a population will usually exhibit one of these distinct flower colors. There are no intermediate or blending colors between the different categories.

5.

Placentation in fruits is referred to as the

A.

arrangement of ovules in the ovary of a flower

B.

part of the ovary where the ovules originate and remain till maturity

C.

ovules borne on a central column of tissues in an ovary

D.

formation of a single carpel joined at the two edges of an ovule

Correct answer is A

Placentation in fruits refers to the arrangement of ovules within the ovary of a flower, and it is directly related to seed development and fruit formation.

6.

Study the list of organisms below and use them to answer the questions.
I-Hydra
II-Owl
III-Snake
IV-Snail

The Phylum of the organism labeled IV is

A.

Platyhelminthes

B.

mollusca

C.

Arthropoda

D.

Coelenterata

Correct answer is B

The organism labelled IV is a Snail. Snails belong to the Phylum Mollusca. This phylum is characterized by soft-bodied animals that usually have an external shell, like snails, clams, and squids.

7.

Study the list of organisms below and use them to answer the questions.
I-Hydra
II-Owl
III-Snake
IV-Snail

The arrangement of the organisms in order of increasing complexity is

A.

II-III-I-IV

B.

I-IV-III - II

C.

I-II-III-IV

D.

IV-III-II - I

Correct answer is B

The arrangement of organisms in order of increasing complexity is Hydra (a simple multicellular organism), Snail (a more complex invertebrate), Snake (a simple vertebrate), and Owl (a more complex vertebrate). This is because as we move from invertebrates to vertebrates, the level of organization and complexity increases. The complexity of an organism can be determined by its level of organization, from cellular to tissue to organ to system level.

8.

The diagram below is an illustration of a structure in the skeletal system of humans. Study it and answer the question.

An individual was involved in a car accident and the illustrated structure was badly injured. Which of the following structures would most likely be affected?

A.

Clavicle, tongue, and pelvis

B.

Eye, cerebellum, and ear

C.

Ear, brain, and hinge joint

D.

Lumbar, eye, and teeth

Correct answer is B

No explanation has been provided for this answer.

9.

The diagram below is an illustration of a structure in the skeletal system of humans. Study it and answer the question

The illustrated structure is a part of the 

A.

appendicular skeleton

B.

axial skeleton

C.

axis vertebrae

D.

cervical vertebrae

Correct answer is B

The skull is part of the axial skeleton. It is the bony structure that forms the head and encloses and protects the brain. The skull is located along the central axis of the body, and it is one of the key components of the axial skeleton.

10.

Which of the following soil types have a high capillarity?

A.

Sand and clay

B.

loam and sand

C.

silt and sand

D.

silt and clay

Correct answer is D

Both silt and clay particles have very small pores, which contribute to higher capillarity. When combined, the silt and clay would likely result in a soil with relatively high capillarity.