JAMB UTME - Biology - 2018
Question 1 Report
What is the function of contractile vacuole in paramecium?
Answer Details
The contractile vacuole in paramecium functions to get rid of excess water. Paramecium is a single-celled organism that lives in freshwater environments. As water enters the cell by osmosis, the contractile vacuole collects and pumps out the excess water to prevent the cell from swelling and potentially bursting. The contractile vacuole acts like a pump, contracting and releasing to expel the excess water out of the cell. This process helps maintain the proper balance of water and ions inside the cell, which is necessary for the organism's survival. Therefore, the function of the contractile vacuole in paramecium is to regulate water balance and prevent the cell from bursting due to excess water intake.
Question 3 Report
What is the critical limiting factor for plants below the photic zone in an aquatic ecosystem?
Answer Details
Primary production in the photic zone is influenced by three major factors—nutrients and light, which are essential for photosynthesis, and grazing pressure, the rate at which the plants are eaten by herbivores.
Question 4 Report
Physiological adaptation to very dry conditions in animal demonstrates
Answer Details
Aestivation is a state of animal dormancy, similar to hibernation, although taking place in the summer rather than the winter. Aestivation is characterized by inactivity and a lowered metabolic rate, that is entered in response to high temperatures and arid conditions.
Question 5 Report
Which of the following features is not a characteristic of arteries? Arteries
Answer Details
The arteries are the blood vessels that deliver oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the tissues of the body. Each artery is a muscular tube lined by smooth tissue and has three layers: The intima, the inner layer lined by a smooth tissue called endothelium. Arteries have smaller lumens than veins, a characteristic that helps to maintain the pressure of blood moving through the system. They carry blood away from the heart. Pulmonary arteries transport blood that has a low oxygen content from the right ventricle to the lungs. Arteries do not possess valves at intervals throughout their length
Question 6 Report
The graph below shows the results of a laboratory investigation which measured the body temperatures of a lizard and a bird under changing artificial conditions. Use it to answer the question.
Which of the statements below is valid?
Answer Details
Question 7 Report
A plant tissue that carries water and mineral salt is
Answer Details
The plant tissue that carries water and mineral salts from the roots to other parts of the plant is called xylem. Xylem is like a pipeline that runs throughout the plant and is responsible for transporting water and dissolved nutrients from the roots to the leaves and other parts of the plant. This tissue is made up of specialized cells called tracheids and vessel elements that are arranged end to end to form long, hollow tubes. These tubes allow water to flow through them with minimal resistance, and the water is pulled up through the xylem by a process called transpiration. In summary, xylem is the tissue responsible for carrying water and mineral salts from the roots to the rest of the plant, and it does so through a network of specialized cells that form long, hollow tubes.
Question 8 Report
DNA in eukaryotic cells is contained in the
Answer Details
DNA in eukaryotic cells is contained in the nucleus. The nucleus is a membrane-bound structure found in eukaryotic cells that acts as the "brain" of the cell, controlling and regulating all of its functions. It is also where the cell's DNA is stored and protected, in a substance called chromatin. The DNA in the chromatin is organized into long structures called chromosomes, which are visible during cell division. In short, the nucleus is the place where the DNA of a eukaryotic cell is located and it plays a vital role in the functioning of the cell.
Question 9 Report
The damage to ozone layer is caused by
Answer Details
Ozone sits in the upper atmosphere and absorbs ultraviolet radiaton, another type of solar energy that's harmful to humans, animals and plants. CFCs and halons cause chemical reactions that break down ozone molecules, reducing ozone's ultraviolet radiation-absorbing capacity. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other halogenated ozone depleting substances (ODS) are mainly responsible for man-made chemical ozone depletion.
Question 10 Report
Which is an animal without red blood cells?
Answer Details
While humans and many other species have red blood, due to the iron in their hemoglobin, other animals have different colored blood. Spiders (as well as horseshoe crabs and certain other arthropods) have blue blood due to the presence of copper-based hemocyanin in their blood. Some animals, such as the sea cucumbers, even have yellow blood. What could make blood yellow? The yellow coloration is due to a high concentration of the yellow vanadium-based pigment, vanabin. Unlike hemoglobin and hemocyanin, vanabin does not seem to be involved in oxygen transport.
Question 11 Report
Which of the following relationship involves only one organism?
Answer Details
Saprophytism is the ability of certain plants to live in dead or decaying organic matter. A saprophyte or saprotroph is an organism which gets its energy from dead and decaying organic matter. This may be decaying pieces of plants or animals. This means that saprophytes are heterotrophs. They are consumers in the food chain.
Question 12 Report
Ozone hole refers to
Answer Details
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other halogenated ozone depleting substances (ODS) are mainly responsible for man-made chemical ozone depletion.
Question 13 Report
A boy who is fond of swimming in a pond finds himself passing urine with traces of blood. He is likely to have contracted
Answer Details
The boy who is fond of swimming in a pond and passes urine with traces of blood is likely to have contracted schistosomiasis. Schistosomiasis is a parasitic infection caused by a type of flatworm called Schistosoma that commonly inhabits freshwater snails and bodies of water such as ponds and lakes. When a person comes into contact with water contaminated with the parasite, it can penetrate the skin and enter the bloodstream, where it eventually travels to the bladder or intestines and causes inflammation and damage to the tissues. This can lead to symptoms such as blood in the urine or stool, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and anemia. If left untreated, schistosomiasis can lead to chronic health problems such as liver and kidney damage. Therefore, it is important to seek medical attention if experiencing symptoms after swimming or coming into contact with freshwater bodies in endemic areas.
Question 14 Report
Cold blooded animals are referred to as
Answer Details
Cold-blooded animals are referred to as "poikilothermic". Poikilothermic animals are also known as "ectothermic" animals, which means that their body temperature is regulated by the environment around them. This is in contrast to "homoeothermic" animals, also known as "endothermic" animals, which can regulate their own body temperature internally. Examples of poikilothermic animals include reptiles, amphibians, and most fish. These animals are often seen basking in the sun to warm up or seeking out cooler places in order to lower their body temperature. They are able to function at a range of different temperatures, but their bodily functions are often slower at cooler temperatures. On the other hand, homoeothermic animals, such as mammals and birds, are able to maintain a stable internal body temperature, even when the temperature of their environment fluctuates. This allows them to function effectively in a wider range of environmental conditions.
Question 15 Report
Man can contact tapeworm through
Answer Details
Yes, a person can come into contact with tapeworms by ingesting uncooked or undercooked meat that contains tapeworm larvae. Tapeworms can infect animals such as cows, pigs, and fish, and when humans eat infected meat, they can get infected too. This is why it's important to cook meat thoroughly and to wash fruits and vegetables before eating them. Contact with tapeworms cannot occur through breathing or simple physical contact with an infected person or animal.
Question 16 Report
An example of a radially symmetrical organisms is
Answer Details
An example of a radially symmetrical organism is Hydra. Radial symmetry means that an organism has a circular shape and its body parts are arranged around a central axis, like the spokes on a wheel. Hydra is a small, freshwater animal that has a cylindrical body and tentacles that radiate out from its central axis. This type of symmetry allows Hydra to detect and capture prey from all directions. Planaria are also radially symmetrical flatworms, while tapeworms and roundworms are examples of organisms with bilateral symmetry, meaning that they have a distinct front and back and a left and right side.
Question 17 Report
Use the diagram shown to answer the question. In plant cells, the role of the membrane is played by the
Answer Details
The role of the membrane in plant cells is played by the cell wall. The cell wall is a protective outer layer that surrounds the plasma membrane, which is a thin layer that encloses the cytoplasm and other cell structures. The cell wall provides support and structure to the cell, and also helps to maintain the shape of the cell. The nucleolus is a structure within the nucleus of a cell that is involved in the production of ribosomes, while the cytoplasm is the gel-like substance that fills the interior of a cell and contains all of the cell's organelles. The mitochondrion is an organelle within the cytoplasm that is responsible for generating energy for the cell.
Question 18 Report
A distinguishing feature of mammals is the possession of
Answer Details
One distinguishing feature of mammals is the possession of hair. Hair is a unique type of structure that grows from the skin of mammals and is made up of a protein called keratin. Hair serves many important functions in mammals, such as keeping the body warm, protecting the skin from damage, and providing sensory information. Hair can also be used for social communication, such as when a cat raises its fur to make itself look bigger and more intimidating. While other animals like reptiles may have scales, and birds may have feathers, only mammals have hair as a defining feature.
Question 19 Report
At which stage in this cycle can a man be infected?
Answer Details
In the animal's intestine, the oncospheres hatch, invade the intestinal wall, and migrate to the striated muscles, where they develop into cysticerci. A cysticercus can survive for several years in the animal. Humans become infected by ingesting raw or undercooked infected meat.
Question 20 Report
Study the diagram of a food chain shown and use it to answer the question.
P ---> Q ---> R ---> S ---> T
The organism designated P in the food chain above is normally sustained by energy from
Answer Details
The organism designated P in the food chain is normally sustained by energy from the sun. This is because P is likely at the bottom of the food chain, which means it is a primary producer. Primary producers, such as green plants, use energy from the sun to produce their own food through photosynthesis. This food is then consumed by the next organism in the food chain, which is Q. The energy then passes from one organism to the next, all the way up the food chain to the top predator. Therefore, in this food chain, P is likely a green plant or another type of primary producer that uses energy from the sun to produce its own food, making sunlight the source of energy for P.
Question 21 Report
The function of pith in plant is
Answer Details
Pith, or medulla, is a tissue in the stems of vascular plants. Pith is composed of soft, spongy parenchyma cells, which store and transport nutrients throughout the plant. In eudicots, pith is located in the center of the stem. In monocots, it extends also into flowering stems and roots.
Question 22 Report
Which of the following animals is cold blooded?
Answer Details
Reptiles are cold-blooded animals. This means that they cannot produce heat in their own bodies, and have to rely on their surroundings to keep warm. This is why most reptiles are found in hot or warm climates. Reptiles like snakes and lizards are this type of animal. Amphibians like frogs, toads, and salamanders are, too. Fish are also cold-blooded animals.
Question 23 Report
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Use the diagram shown to answer the question. After an hour, the level of water in the thistle funnel will
Answer Details
Question 24 Report
The process in which plant uses sunlight to synthesize nutrients from carbon dioxide and water is called
Answer Details
The process in which plants use sunlight to synthesize nutrients from carbon dioxide and water is called photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is a crucial process that enables plants to produce their own food and is responsible for releasing oxygen into the atmosphere. During photosynthesis, plants use chlorophyll, a pigment found in their leaves and other green parts, to capture energy from sunlight. This energy is used to combine carbon dioxide and water to produce glucose (a type of sugar) and oxygen. The glucose produced is then used by the plant as an energy source to fuel its growth and other metabolic processes. In summary, photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert sunlight into chemical energy, which they use to synthesize nutrients and sustain their growth and survival.
Question 25 Report
The longest bone in the body is the
Answer Details
The longest bone in the body is the femur. The femur is located in the thigh region and runs from the hip joint to the knee joint. It is also the strongest bone in the body, designed to support the weight of the body and withstand the forces produced by activities such as running and jumping. The femur's length can vary depending on a person's height, with taller people generally having longer femurs. Overall, the femur plays a critical role in allowing us to walk, run, and engage in other physical activities.
Question 26 Report
Red blood cells were found to have burst open after being placed in distill for an hour. This phenomenon is known as
Answer Details
The phenomenon you're referring to is called haemolysis. Haemolysis is the bursting of red blood cells when they are placed in a solution that is different from their normal environment. When red blood cells are placed in distilled water, the water moves into the cells and causes them to expand and eventually burst, resulting in haemolysis. This occurs because the concentration of solutes (e.g. salts, sugars) is higher inside the red blood cells than in the distilled water, causing water to move into the cells and causing them to burst. In simple terms, haemolysis is the bursting of red blood cells due to a change in the solution they are in.
Question 27 Report
Which of the following is a mixed gland?
Answer Details
A mixed gland is a gland that is both exocrine and endocrine, for example, the pancreas. Pancreas is known as a mixed gland because it performs functions of both exocrine and endocrine glands.
Question 28 Report
A seed of a flowering plant can best be described as
Answer Details
A seed is a small embryonic plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat, usually with some stored food. It is the product of the ripened ovule of gymnosperm and angiosperm plants which occurs after fertilization and some growth with in the motherplant.
Question 29 Report
A beaker of pond water containing few specimens of Euglena was placed in a dark room for two weeks. At the end of this period, the specimens of Euglena were still alive because they were
Answer Details
Holozoic nutrition is a type of heterotrophic nutrition that is characterized by the internalization (ingestion) and internal processing of gaseous, liquid or solid food particles. Protozoa, such as amoebas, and most of the free living animals,such as animals, exhibit this type of nutrition.
In holozoic nutrition the energy and organic building blocks are obtained by ingesting and then digesting other organisms or pieces of other organisms, including blood and decaying organic matter. This contrasts with holophytic nutrition, in which energy and organic building blocks are obtained through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis, and with saprozoic nutrition, in which digestive enzymes are released externally and the resulting monomers (small organic molecules) are absorbed directly from the environment.
Holophytic (plant-like), holozoic (animal- like), and saprophytic nutrition is found in Euglena. Euglena obtains its carbohydrate food by photosynthesis and nitrogenous food by absorption from the surroundings. Its holozoic nutrition is, however, doubtful.
Question 30 Report
Which of the following statements is true about sandy soil?
Answer Details
Sandy soils are well drained. They have low water holding capacity and are therefore drought prone. They become firm when wet (the opposite of clay), and loose when dry. Sandy soil is light and easy to dig.
Question 31 Report
The reason why hospitals use saline solutions as drip instead of water is
Answer Details
Saline, also known as saline solution, is a mixture of sodium chloride in water and has a number of uses in medicine. Intravenous therapy (IV) is a therapy that delivers liquid substances directly into a vein. Saline is used in I.V. therapy, intravenously supplying extra water to rehydrate patients or supplying the daily water and salt needs ("maintenance" needs) of a patient who is unable to take them by mouth. Because infusing a solution of low osmolality can cause problems such as hemolysis, intravenous solutions with reduced saline concentrations typically have dextrose (glucose) added to maintain a safe osmolality while providing less sodium chloride. The amount of normal saline infused depends largely on the needs of the patient (e.g. ongoing diarrhea or heart failure).
Question 32 Report
Which of the following diseases is not hereditary?
Answer Details
Scabies is the disease that is not hereditary. Scabies is a skin infestation caused by a tiny mite called Sarcoptes scabiei. It spreads through direct skin-to-skin contact with an infected person. Scabies is not a genetic disorder and does not pass down from parent to child through genes. It is caused by a microscopic organism that can infect anyone who comes into contact with it. On the other hand, Albinism, Haemophilia, and Color blindness are all hereditary diseases. Albinism is a genetic condition that affects the production of melanin, resulting in little or no pigment in the skin, hair, and eyes. Haemophilia is a genetic disorder that affects the blood's ability to clot properly. Color blindness is a genetic condition that affects the ability to distinguish between different colors. In summary, while Scabies is caused by a tiny mite and is not hereditary, Albinism, Haemophilia, and Color blindness are all genetic conditions that are inherited from one's parents.
Question 33 Report
A group of organism of the same species living together in a particular area is described as
Answer Details
The term that describes a group of organisms of the same species living together in a particular area is "population". A population refers to all the individuals of a particular species that live in a specific geographic area and can interbreed. For example, a population of deer in a forest or a population of fish in a river. On the other hand, a "colony" typically refers to a group of organisms of the same species living closely together, but it usually implies a degree of cooperation and organization beyond what is typically seen in a population. A "community" refers to all the different populations of organisms living together in a particular area and interacting with each other, such as a community of plants, animals, and microbes in a forest. Lastly, a "niche" refers to the particular role and position that a species has in its environment, including the resources it uses and the interactions it has with other species.
Question 34 Report
Which of the following cycles involves the process of precipitation and transpiration?
Answer Details
The cycle that involves the process of precipitation and transpiration is the water cycle. The water cycle is the process by which water circulates through the Earth's environment. It starts with the evaporation of water from bodies of water, such as oceans, lakes, and rivers, as well as from the soil and plants through a process called transpiration. This water vapor then rises into the atmosphere, where it cools and condenses into clouds. When these clouds become heavy enough, the water falls back to Earth as precipitation, which can take the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail. Once the precipitation falls to the ground, it can either be absorbed by the soil and become groundwater or run off into bodies of water. From there, the cycle starts again. In summary, the water cycle involves the process of precipitation, which is the falling of water from the atmosphere to the Earth's surface, as well as the process of transpiration, which is the release of water vapor from plants. This cycle is essential for providing fresh water to living things and maintaining the Earth's environment.
Question 35 Report
Cytokinesis of mitosis is a process that ensures that
Answer Details
Cytokinesis is the final stage of mitosis, the process by which a cell divides to form two identical daughter cells. During cytokinesis, the cytoplasm of the original cell is divided into two parts, with each part containing a complete set of genetic material (chromosomes). The main purpose of cytokinesis is to ensure that each daughter cell receives a complete set of genetic material and the necessary organelles to function properly. This is important because if one daughter cell received more genetic material or more organelles than the other, it could lead to problems such as cell death or mutations. Therefore, "each daughter cell gets the necessary organelles" is the correct label to associate with the question above. While the other options may be important aspects of mitosis, they do not directly relate to the role of cytokinesis in ensuring that each daughter cell receives a complete and functional set of genetic material and organelles.
Question 36 Report
Accessory material in a chicken egg include the following except
Answer Details
The accessory materials found in a chicken egg include the albumen (the egg white), the shell membrane (the thin membrane that lines the inside of the eggshell), and the shell itself. The germinal disc, on the other hand, is not an accessory material, but rather an important part of the egg. The germinal disc, also known as the blastoderm, is a small, round spot on the surface of the yolk that contains the genetic material necessary for the development of the embryo. It is located on the surface of the yolk and can be seen as a small white spot when you crack open an egg. This is where the sperm enters and fertilizes the egg, leading to the development of the embryo. So to summarize, the accessory materials found in a chicken egg are the albumen, shell membrane, and shell, while the germinal disc is an essential part of the egg that is responsible for the development of the embryo.
Question 37 Report
Total salt content in blood is about
Answer Details
The total salt content in blood is about 0.85 to 0.9%. Salt, which is also known as sodium chloride, is an essential mineral that is necessary for many bodily functions such as maintaining fluid balance, transmitting nerve impulses, and contracting muscles. However, too much salt in the blood can lead to health problems like high blood pressure, so it's important to maintain a proper balance. The normal range for salt content in the blood is typically around 0.9%, which is equivalent to 9 grams of salt per liter of blood.
Question 38 Report
The graph below shows the results of a laboratory investigation which measured the body temperatures of a lizard and a bird under changing artificial conditions. Use it to answer the question.
What physiological term can used to describe the regulation of the body temperature of the of the lizard?
Answer Details
The physiological term that can be used to describe the regulation of the body temperature of the lizard is "poikilothermy". Poikilothermy refers to the ability of an animal's body temperature to fluctuate with changes in the external environment. In other words, the body temperature of poikilothermic animals, such as lizards, is not actively regulated by their bodies, but rather is influenced by the temperature of their surroundings. As seen in the graph, the body temperature of the lizard varies with the temperature of the environment it is in. This is in contrast to homeothermic animals, such as birds and mammals, which can maintain a relatively constant body temperature regardless of external temperature changes through the process of "thermoregulation".
Question 39 Report
How many days does it take for incubation of an egg to release chick?
Answer Details
The incubation period for chicken eggs is generally 21 days. This means that after a fertilized egg is laid by a hen and is kept at the appropriate temperature and humidity in an incubator, it will take approximately 21 days for the chick to develop and hatch out of the eggshell. During this period, the egg goes through several stages of development. In the first week, the embryo's circulatory system, nervous system, and digestive system start to form. In the second week, the chick's beak, wings, and claws begin to develop. And in the third week, the chick grows rapidly and prepares to break through the shell using its egg tooth, a small point on its beak. It's important to note that the incubation period can vary slightly depending on factors such as the breed of chicken and the temperature and humidity in the incubator. However, 21 days is the average incubation period for chicken eggs.
Question 40 Report
Use the diagram shown to answer the question. The experiment above is used to demonstrate the process of
Answer Details
The experiment shown in the diagram is used to demonstrate the process of osmosis. Osmosis is the movement of water molecules across a selectively permeable membrane from an area of high water concentration to an area of low water concentration. In the experiment, the selectively permeable membrane is the potato cell membrane, and the water moves from the area of high concentration (in the beaker) to the area of low concentration (inside the potato). This causes the potato to swell and become heavier as it absorbs the water through osmosis. Thus, the experiment demonstrates the process of osmosis.
