2012 WAEC (WASSCE) Biology Past Questions & Answers

Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

D. lungs

Answer

A. brain

Answer

B. Kidney

Answer

C. Liver

Question 2

Which of the following factors exerts a major effect on the distribution of living organisms in the habitat?

Accepted Answer

D. Rainfall

Answer

A. Salt

Answer

B. pH

Answer

C. Light

Question 3

In which of the zones can very few organisms be found

Accepted Answer

C. III

Answer

A. I

Answer

B. II

Answer

D. IV

Question 4

A space containing a group of interactive organisms is called

Accepted Answer

B. habitat

Answer

A. community

Answer

C. ecosystem

Answer

D. population

Question 5

The following pairs of traits are examples of continuous and discontinuous variations respectively except

Accepted Answer

A. eye Colour and body weight,

Answer

B. height and blood group

Answer

C. skin colour and fingerprints

Answer

D. bodyweight and tongue rolling.

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

B. Barometer

Answer

A. Hygrometer

Answer

C. Photometer

Answer

D. Air pressure disc

Question 7

Plants with breathing roots are characteristic features of vegetation in

Accepted Answer

C. saltwater swamp

Answer

A. tropical grassland

Answer

B. temperate grassland

Answer

D. Tropical rain forest

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

D. converge light rays from far objects to focus their image on the retina

Answer

A. diverge light rays from far objects to focus image on the retina

Answer

B. converge light rays to focus image behind the retina

Answer

C. converge light rays to focus time image before the retina

Question 9

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

Accepted Answer

A. Homologous chromosomes separate

Answer

B. Two daughtercells are formed

Answer

C. Fertilization occurs

Answer

D. Segregation of genes occurs

Question 10

The science of life is referred to as

Accepted Answer

B. biology

Answer

A. anatomy

Answer

C. ecology

Answer

D. phylogeny

Question 11

Which of the following factors would be least likely to act as a density dependent limiting factor in a population of mice?

Accepted Answer

D. Unfavourable climate

Answer

A. Buildup of waste products

Answer

B. Predation

Answer

C. Parasitism

Question 12

The following are abiotic components of the ecosystem except

Accepted Answer

A. bacteria

Answer

B. topography

Answer

C. water

Answer

D. wind

Question 13

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

Accepted Answer

A. mutual interdependence between component cells

Answer

B. internal structural specialization

Answer

C. increased adaptation to environment

Answer

D. slower rate of diffusion of oxygen to individual cells

Question 14

Which of the following statements is true about the ABO blood group system?

Accepted Answer

B. Antibodies are located in the blood plasma

Answer

A. Antigens are located on the surface of white blood cells

Answer

C. Antibodies are located on the surface of red blood cells

Answer

D. Antigens are located in the blood plasma

Question 15

The major role played by accessory pigments during photosynthesis is to?

Accepted Answer

B. trap light energy that chlorophyll cannot absorb

Answer

A. add colour to plants but not to trap light energy

Answer

C. transfer energy from chlorophyll to other pigments

Answer

D. prevent chlorophyll from absorbing unnecessary light

Question 16

Impulses are conducted towards the nerve cell through the

Accepted Answer

B. dendrons

Answer

A. myelin sheath

Answer

C. axons

Answer

D. synaptic nodes

Question 17

The classes of fingerprints in man are

Accepted Answer

C. whorl, arch, compound and loop

Answer

A. whorl, alternate, opposite and compound

Answer

B. compound, loop, whorl! and alternate

Answer

D. arch, simple, compound and opposite

Question 18

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

Accepted Answer

C. Lipase

Answer

A. Amylase

Answer

B. Cellulase

Answer

D. rotease

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

D. Magnesium ions

Answer

A. Amino acids

Answer

B. Carbon

Answer

C. Glucose salts

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

B. pollination

Answer

A. feeding

Answer

C. dispersal

Answer

D. shedding

Question 21

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

Accepted Answer

B. Volvox

Answer

A. Spirogyra

Answer

C. Eudorina

Answer

D. Pandorina

Question 22

Two plants with red flowers were back crossed, which of the following results indicate that the plants are heterozygous red flowers, where red flowers are dominant?

Accepted Answer

A. 75% red and 25% white

Answer

B. 50% red and 50% white

Answer

C. 100% white

Answer

D. 100% red

Question 23

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

Accepted Answer

C. athletes muscle must have carried out anaerobic respiration during the race

Answer

A. athlete must have eaten food containing lactic acid just before the race

Answer

B. Athlete must have injected lactic acid into his blood just before the race

Answer

D. athlete must have inhaled lactic acid from the environment during the race

Question 24

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

Accepted Answer

A. II

Answer

B. III

Answer

C. IV

Answer

D. V

Question 25

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?

Accepted Answer

C. Calcium and phosphorus

Answer

A. Sodium and iron

Answer

B. Iron and manganese

Answer

D. Magnesium and sulphur

Question 26

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

Accepted Answer

C. The nucleus of the sperm fuses with the egg cell

Answer

A. The tail of the sperm fuses with the egg cell

Answer

B. Both tail and head of the sperm fuse with the egg cell

Answer

D. The egg cell develops on its own without the sperm

Question 27

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

Accepted Answer

D. Water

Answer

A. Proteins

Answer

B. Carbohydrates

Answer

C. Lipids

Question 28

What is the benefit of thunder and lightning to farmers?

Accepted Answer

A. Addition of nitrates to the soil

Answer

B. Aeration of the soil

Answer

C. Removal of harmful bacteria from the soil

Answer

D. Addition of rain water to the soil

Question 29

In the diagram, the function of the part labelled 2 is to?

Accepted Answer

A. produce egg cells

Answer

B. protect sperms during fertilization

Answer

C. secrete hormones during coitus

Answer

D. protect the developing embryo

Question 30

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

Accepted Answer

C. amphibian

Answer

A. fish

Answer

B. reptile

Answer

D. bird

Question 31

The use of water closet and septic tanks is preferred to the use of bucket and pit latrines because

Accepted Answer

B. contaminated faeces are completely kept away from flies

Answer

A. it is cost effective

Answer

C. the water for flushing contains chlorine which kills the germs

Answer

D. It prevents flies from breeding

Question 32

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

Accepted Answer

A. biosphere

Answer

B. lithosphere

Answer

C. habitat

Answer

D. ecosystem

Question 33

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

Accepted Answer

C. Ovule

Answer

A. Testa

Answer

B. lntegument

Answer

D. Ovary

Question 34

Which of the following diseases is transmittable through genes?

Accepted Answer

B. Sickle cell anaemia

Answer

A. HIV /AIDS

Answer

C. Diabetes

Answer

D. Presbyopia

Question 35

The detection of vibro cholera in public drinking water is a sign of

Accepted Answer

C. water pollution.

Answer

A. clean water

Answer

B. outbreak of disease

Answer

D. decayed organisms in the water

Question 36

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

Accepted Answer

C. walking

Answer

A. swallowing

Answer

B. sneezing

Answer

D. blinking

Question 37

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

Accepted Answer

A. in an air-conditioned room

Answer

B. strolling in the sun

Answer

C. taking a hot drink

Answer

D. doing strenuous exercise

Question 38

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

Accepted Answer

A. liver

Answer

B. heart

Answer

C. lungs

Answer

D. brain

Question 39

What name is given to a sudden change in a gene or chromosome?

Accepted Answer

C. Mutation

Answer

A. Allele

Answer

B. Genotype

Answer

D. Phenotype

Question 40

Two yellow-flowered hybrid plants each carrying a recessive factor for flowers with green colour were crossed. Which of the following ratios shows the correct proportion of offspring that have green flowers?

Accepted Answer

C. 1 in 4

Answer

A. 2 in 2

Answer

B. 1 in 3

Answer

D. 1 in 5

Question 41

Excess carbohydrates can be stored in the muscles in the form

Accepted Answer

B. glycogen

Answer

A. cellulose

Answer

C. chitin

Answer

D. lipids

Question 42

The organism at the organ level of organisation of life is

Accepted Answer

C. Ginger

Answer

A. Euglena

Answer

B. Spirogyra

Answer

D. Tapeworm

Question 43

In the structure of DNA, which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

C. Guanine is the opposite of cytosine

Answer

A. The double helix are held together by covalent bonds

Answer

B. Nucleotide is made up of ribose, phosphate and an organic nitrogen compound

Answer

D. Adenine is the opposite of cytosine

Question 44

Which of the individual is likely to have HIV?

Accepted Answer

B. II

Answer

A. I

Answer

C. III

Answer

D. IV

Question 45

In a case of complete dominance, what is the phenotypic ratio of the cross Bb X Bb; where B =black and b = white?

Accepted Answer

D. 3 blacks : 1 white

Answer

A. 1 black : 1 grey : 2 whites

Answer

B. 1 black : 3 whites

Answer

C. 1 black : 2 blues : 1 white

Question 46

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

Accepted Answer

A. I

Answer

B. II

Answer

C. III

Answer

D. IV

Question 47

Bees are of great importance to the farmer because they

Accepted Answer

B. pollinate flowers

Answer

A. provide him with honey

Answer

C. sting crop pests to death

Answer

D. destroy flowers by sucking nectar from them

Question 48

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

Accepted Answer

C. Retina

Answer

A. Choroid

Answer

B. iris

Answer

D. Lens

Question 49

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

Accepted Answer

C. all possess a similar structure and function

Answer

A. allow sunlight to pass through.

Answer

B. are covered by a waxy cuticle

Answer

D. allow water to enter them by osmosis

Question 50

Which of the following sequences is the correct evolutionary trend in plants?

Accepted Answer

A. Algae → liverworts → mosses → ferns

Answer

B. Liverworts → mosses → ferns → algae

Answer

C. mosses → algae → ferns → liverworts

Answer

D. Ferns → Liverworts → mosses → algae

Question 51

Squirrels easily kill some trees because

Accepted Answer

D. they gnaw the bark and destroy

Answer

A. they inject poisonous substances into the trees.

Answer

B. most trees are susceptible to squirrel bites

Answer

C. they feed voraciously on the roots

Question 52

The primary cause of species endangerment is

Accepted Answer

A. disappearing habitats

Answer

B. increase in temperatures

Answer

C. acid rain

Answer

D. exposure to hazardous wastes

Question 53

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

Accepted Answer

A. promote growth and repair cells

Answer

B. break down molecules

Answer

C. regulate the flow of chyme

Answer

D. serve as co-factors or enzymes

Question 54

The main raw materials required for photosynthesis are

Accepted Answer

D. carbon dioxide and water

Answer

A. oxygen and water

Answer

B. oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Answer

C. oxygen and chlorophyll

2012 WAEC (WASSCE) Biology Past Questions

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