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BIOLOGY 1 - Questions N Answers

The document outlines the instructions and content for the Form Six Pre-National Examinations in Biology for March 2023, including two sections with a total of ten questions. Section A requires answers to all questions, while Section B allows for the selection of two questions. The document also includes a marking scheme for the examination questions.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
34 views13 pages

BIOLOGY 1 - Questions N Answers

The document outlines the instructions and content for the Form Six Pre-National Examinations in Biology for March 2023, including two sections with a total of ten questions. Section A requires answers to all questions, while Section B allows for the selection of two questions. The document also includes a marking scheme for the examination questions.

Uploaded by

edwinmasai
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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PRESIDENT’S OFFICE

REGIONAL ADMINISTRATION AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS


TANZANIA OLD SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION (TOSA)

FORM SIX PRE - NATIONAL EXAMINATIONS

133/1 BIOLOGY 1

TIME: 3:00 HOURS MARCH, 2023

INSTRUCTIONS
1. This paper consists of section A and B with a total of ten (10) questions.
2. Answer All questions in section A and only two (2) questions in section B.
3. Section A carries seventy (70) marks and section B carries thirty (30) marks.
4. Except for diagram that must be drawn in pencil, all writings should be in blue/black ink.
5. Cellular phones and unauthorized materials are not allowed in the examination room.
6. Write your Examination Number on every page of your answer booklet(s).

Page 1 of 4
SECTION A (70 Marks)
Answer All questions in this section
1. (a) Draw a diagram to show the structure of a cell membrane and label the following parts using
letters
A. Phospholipids with hydrophilic (heads) and hydrophobic (tails)
B. Phospholipid bilayer
C. Proteins shown in the bilayer
D. Glycoproteins
E. Cholesterol
F. Glycolipids shown
G. Thickness shown as 10 nm/ + or - 2 nm
(b) How does a non-photosynthetic prokaryotic cell differ in structure from eukaryotic plant cell?

2. (a) Mr. Sospeter carried out an experiment to test for protein in the given solution using Biuret test. In
his experiment the results showed that the colour of the solution turned into purple or violent.
(i) Identify the suitable reagent for the test
(ii) Outline the procedure he followed during his experiment
(b) What is the basis for positive results?

3. (a) Describe the significance of taxonomic hierarchy in classification:


(b) Suppose you have been provided with the following specimens; frogs, lizards, guinea pigs, birds
and bony fishes. Construct a bracketed/numbered key by using their respective classes to identify the
specimen provided based on the following features; fur, feathers, type of fertilization and gills.

4. (a) Why the Respiratory Quotient (RQ) for human beings lies between 07 and 1.0?
(b) Explain how plants can live without specialized respiratory organs?

5. (a) Describe how polyspermy is prevented in mammals?


(b) The chromosome number in radicle of a certain species of a flowering plant is 16. Giving reasons,
calculate the number of chromosomes in each of the following cells:
(i) Pollen tube nucleus
(ii) Antipodal cells
(iii) Endosperm
(iv) Pollen mother cells
(v) Integuments

Page 2 of 4
6. (a) Difference between each of the following terms
(i) Exocytosis and endocytosis
(ii) Pinocytosis and phagocytosis
(b) Describe the mechanism of opening and closing of the stomata using illustrated starch-sugar
interconversion hypothesis.

7. (a) How does nervous coordination differ from the hormonal coordination?
(b) In Tanzania, agriculture is one of the important sectors in the development of the national
economy in which about 80% of population are involved in crop production. Explain how synthetic
plant hormones can be effectively used for large scale production in agriculture

SECTION B (30 Marks)


Answer any two (2) questions in this section
8. (a) Explain the meaning of electron transport chain and state the role played by oxygen in aerobic
respiration
(b) In aerobic cellular respiration the pyruvate undergoes a series of reactions in the citric acid cycle
to yield energy. Briefly explain major products of citric acid cycle
(c) Describe the importance of fermentation to human life

9. (a) Giving two reasons, explain how photosynthesis is important to the life of living organisms on
earth
(b) Describe how plants obtain light energy and convert it to biochemical molecules such as NADPH
+ H+ and ATP

10. (a) Define each of the following.


(i) Spermiation
(ii) Spermiogenesis
(b) Describe the events that take place during menstrual cycle

Page 3 of 4
PRESIDENT’S OFFICE
REGIONAL ADMINISTRATION AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
TANZANIA OLD SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION (TOSA)

FORM SIX PRE - NATIONAL EXAMINATIONS – 2023

BIOLOGY 1 - MARKING SCHEME

SECTION A
1.
(a)

The structure of plasma membrane. (1@=7marks)


(b) How does a non-photosynthetic prokaryotic cell differ in structure from eukaryotic
plant cell?
Differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells is summarized as follows:

Criteria Prokaryotes Eukaryotes


Cell size It is smaller in size It is larger in size
Cell wall Its cell wall is made up of It has cellulose cell wall
peptidoglycan/murrain
Nucleus Absent. Instead, they have a nucleoid Present
region in the cell
Ribosomes Present bur smaller in size and Present but larger in size and
spherical in shape linear in shape
DNA Circular Linear
arrangement
Mitochondria Absent Present
(Any three 1@=3marks)

Page 1 of 10
2.
(a)
(i) He used 1% copper (II) sulphate solution (01 mark)
(ii) Procedure
He used the following procedures;
o 2ml of solution A were put into a test tube. 2ml of sodium hydroxide
(NaOH) solution were added. (02 marks)
o Then to test tube, three drops of 1% copper (II) sulphate (CuSO4) solution
were added while shaking after each addition. (02 marks)
Observation
o The solution turned into purple colour or violet (02 marks)
(b)
The basis for the positive results
o In alkaline solution, the nitrogen atoms in the peptide bonds form a
purple complex with copper (II) ions. (03 marks)

3.
(a) The following are significance of taxonomic hierarchy in classification
o It provides a standard method to be followed when a scientist identifies, describes, and
gives a name to a new organism.
o It provides a classification system of organisms that expresses a close relationship among
the members of the same group /taxon
o It provides a checklist of organisms found in a particular area.
o It helps smooth communication among scientists and avoids confusion and repetition of
names.
o It shows the evolutionary relationship that exists between organisms.
o It makes it easier to classification or grouping organisms.
o It makes it easier to place any newly discovered organism.

Page 2 of 10
o It makes it easy to access information from various organisms.
o Grouping of organisms makes the study of classification easier since organisms are
grouped in their respective taxa, by studying one member of a taxon represents the rest
members within the same taxon. (Any three 01@ = 03 marks)

(b) Constructed bracketed/numbered key

(Any three 01@ = 03 marks)


4.
(a) Respiratory Quotient (RQ) is defined as the ratio of carbon dioxide evolved and oxygen
consumed for respiration. A value of 0.7 indicates that lipids are being metabolized, 0.8 for
proteins, and 1.0 for carbohydrates. In humans, we mostly, use carbohydrates, proteins and fats
as a respiratory substrate. (02 marks)

(b) Plants can live without specialized respiratory organs although they have pore-like openings
called stomata (leaves) and lenticels (stem) due to the following reasons;
(i) Each part of the plant handles its gas exchange requirements. Although plants have
elaborated liquid transport systems, they are not involved in the transfer of gases.
(ii) Roots, stems, and leaves respire at lower rates than characteristic of animals. Large
amounts of gases are only transferred during photosynthesis, and each leaf is well-adapted
to meet its individual needs.
(iii) In higher/big plants, the distance over which gases must diffuse is not very considerable.
The living cells are all found close to the surface. It is clear for leaves, but it is also
applicable for stems. Only living cells can be found in the stem, and they are arranged in
thin layers immediately below the bark.
(iv) The distance that gases diffuse in even a large plant is not great, therefore each living cell
in the plant is located close to the surface. The cells in the interior are dead and serve only
to provide mechanical support.
(v) Most of the living cells in a plant have at least part of their surface exposed to air. The
loose packing of parenchyma cells in leaves, stems, and roots provides an interconnecting

Page 3 of 10
system of air spaces. Gases diffuse through the air several thousand times faster than
through water. Once oxygen and carbon dioxide reach the network of intercellular air
spaces (arrows), they diffuse rapidly through them.
(vi) Oxygen and carbon dioxide can pass through the cell wall and plasma membrane of the cell
by diffusion. The diffusion of carbon dioxide may be aided by aquaporin channels inserted
in the plasma membrane. (Any four 02@ = 08 marks)

5. (a)
o When many spermatozoa penetrate the egg, the condition is known as polyspermy. This
can be harmful because many centrosomes can impair development of the zygote.
Therefore, only a single sperm is required to fertilize an egg
o Mammalian eggs have a barrier called the zona pellucida that surrounds them. During
fertilization, the zona pellucida becomes impermeable to prevent more sperm from
entering the egg
o The impermeability of the zona is caused by exocytosis of cortical granules that lead to
structural changes in the zona pellucida soon after fertilization (05 marks)
(b)

The chromosome number in radicle of a certain species of a flowering plant is 16.


(i)

(ii)

(iii)

(iv)

Page 4 of 10
(v)

(1@ = 05 marks)
6.
(a)
(i) Exocytosis is the process of vesicles fusing with the plasma membrane and releasing their
contents to the outside of the cell. This process is common when a cell produces substances
for export.
WHILE
Endocytosis is the capture of a substance outside the cell when the plasma membrane
merges to engulf it. The substance subsequently enters the cytoplasm enclosed in a vesicle.

(ii) Phagocytosis (“cellular eating”) occurs when dissolved material enters the cell. The plasma
membrane engulfs the solid material, forming a phagocytic vacuole
WHILE
Pinocytosis (“cellular drinking”) occurs when the plasma membrane folds inward to form
a channel allowing dissolved substances to enter the cell. When the channel is closed, the
liquid is enclosed within a pinocytic vesicle. (02 marks)

(b) Mechanism of opening and closing of the stomata based on starch-sugar interconversion
hypothesis
During opening:
o Photosynthesis occurs during the day due to the presence of light. This lowers the
concentration of carbon dioxide which is a raw material for photosynthesis.
o Decrease in the concentration of carbon dioxide reduces the acidity of the guard by
lowering of the pH value. This condition favour conversion of starch to glucose
(sugar); which then increases the osmotic pressure in the guard cells
o Then water from the nearby epidermal cells will move by osmosis to the guard cell
making it more turgid
o The thin outer wall stretches more causing the guard cells to bulge out and hence
opening the stomata. (03 marks)

Page 5 of 10
During closing:
o At night when there is no light, no photosynthesis takes place that means the level of
carbon dioxide in the guard cells increases increasing acidity.
o Acidic condition promotes conversion of glucose to starch, and the osmotic pressure
of the guard cells becomes lower than that of the neighbouring cells hence loses
water through osmosis.
The cell thus become flaccid and closes (03 marks)

(Diagram =3marks)
7.
(a)
Differences between nervous coordination and hormonal coordination
Nervous coordination Hormonal coordination
i. Electrical impulses are the i. Hormones are the chemical messengers
messengers in the nervous in the endocrine system that target cells
system through the bloodstream
ii. Nerve impulses are transmitted ii. Hormones are transmitted through blood
through neurons vessels
iii. Nerve impulses make use of iii. The hormones enter into the target cells
the neurotransmitters at by diffusing through the plasma
synaptic clefts and sodium and membrane or by binding to the cell
potassium channels and enter receptors
the target cells.
iv. Responses are localised iv. Responses are widespread
v. The signal transmission v. The signal transmission process is slow
process is fast
(Any three 01@ = 03 marks)
(b)
Synthetic plant hormones can be effectively used in different ways for large scale
production in agriculture as follows

(i) Gibberellins
o Promote fruit setting (production). Seedless and large-sized grapes are produced on a
commercial scale by gibberellin treatment. Gibberellins have also been used on some
Page 6 of 10
citrus fruit trees (such as orange) at a time when the fruits have lost most of their
green colour. Gibberellins are used to prevent senescence (induce delayed ripening)
Gibberellins delay senescence and maintain firmer rinds of the fruits.
o Enhance seed production. Gibberellins are used to enhance seed production in
conifers. In some biennial vegetables such as beef and cabbage, gibberellin treatment
stimulates bolting and thus time for seed production can be considerably reduced.
o Gibberellins are used in malting in the brewery industry. Gibberellins are sometimes
used to increase the amount of amylase in germinating barley (Hordeum vulgare)
which is used in the production of malt for the brewing industry
o Bolting and flowering in long-day plants. Gibberellins are used in controlling a
balance between internodes growth and leaf development
o Breaking of seed and bud dormancy. Gibberellins can effectively break the dormancy
of potato tubers and winter buds of many trees. They break seed dormancy by acting
as an antagonist to abscisic acid.
o Parthenocarpy. Gibberellins are more effective than auxins in inducing
parthenocarpy

(ii) Auxins
o Root initiation in cuttings. Auxins are very effective to stimulate root development
from the stem. Plant cuttings can be dipped in hormone rooting powder before
planting.
o Initiation of flowering. Spraying of a dilute solution of Auxins like 2, 4-D, and
NAA initiates flowering almost simultaneously. Flowering can be inhibited by
spraying a high concentration of Auxins.
o Promotes fruit setting without fertilization (Parthenocarpy). Auxins are used in
inducing parthenocarpic fruits. Fruit development in the absence of pollination and
fertilization is called parthenocarpy.
o Selective of weeds killer. Synthetic auxins also act as herbicides and are used to kill
weeds.
o Prevention of sprouting of potato. Auxins are used as potato sprout inhibitors to
suppress sprouting during storage
o Control apical dominance. Auxin induces shoot apical dominance; the axillary buds
are inhibited by auxin, as a high concentration of auxin directly stimulates ethylene
synthesis in axillary buds, causing inhibition of their growth and protection of
apical dominance.
o Prevention of leaf and premature fruit fall. Auxins influence the development of the
abscission or separation layer. Application of Auxins to leaves and fruits can thus
prevent their premature falling

(iii)Ethylene.
o It promotes fruit ripening. When sprayed on fruits it stimulates colour development
and ripening of some fleshy fruits, e.g., banana, mango, apple, and tomato.
o It induces flowering in pineapple and cucumber. The external supply of a very
small quantity of ethylene increases the number of female flowers and hence fruits
in pineapple and cucumber.
o It stimulates the latex flow in rubber
o It induces the sprouting of storage organs. Rhizomes, corms, tubers, seeds (e.g.,
Peanut) and other storage organs can be made to sprout early by exposing them to
ethylene.
o It is important in thinning. Excess flowers and young fruits are thinned with the
help of ethylene, e.g., cotton, cherry, and walnut. It allows better growth of
remaining fruits.

Page 7 of 10
(iv) Cytokinin
o Delay of leaf senescence (to keep leaves and flowers fresh). Cytokinins delay the
process of chlorophyll degradation
o Break seed dormancy: Like gibberellins, they overcome seed dormancy of various
types, including the red-light requirement of Lettuce, cabbage, and Tobacco seeds.
o Prolong shelf life: The application of Cytokinins to marketed vegetables can keep
them fresh for several days. The shelf life of cut shoots and flowers is prolonged
by employing the hormones. (Any seven 01@ = 07 marks)

SECTION B
8. (a)
The electron transport chain is a series of protein complexes embedded in the inner
mitochondrial membrane that transfer electrons from electron donors to electron
acceptors via redox reactions and that shuttles electrons from NADH2 and FADH2 across
the membrane to molecular oxygen.

(b)
Krebs cycle products
Note that prior to Krebs cycle 2 molecules of Acetyl CoA are produced from oxidative
decarboxylation of 2 pyruvates so two cycles are required per glucose molecule.
Therefore, in each citric acid cycle forms the following products:
(i) 4 molecules of CO2 are released. Removal of CO2 or decarboxylation of citric
acid takes place at two places:
o In the conversion of isocitrate (6C) to 𝝰-ketoglutarate (5C)
o In the conversion of 𝝰-ketoglutarate (5C) to succinyl CoA (4C)
(ii) 2ATP are produced directly in the conversion of succinyl CoA to succinate
(iii) 6 reduced NAD are produced by reduction of NAD+ to NADH in the following
reactions:
o Isocitrate to 𝝰-ketoglutarate
o 𝝰-ketoglutarate to succinyl CoA
o Malate to Oxaloacetate
(iv) 2FADH are produced by the reduction of FAD+ to FADH2 in the conversion of
succinate to fumarate
(b)
The following are importance of fermentation to human life
o It is used in the alcohol industry to convert sugars into ethanol, producing alcoholic
drinks such as wine, beer, and cider
o It is used in the bakery industry in the rising dough of bread (CO2 produced by yeast
activity)
o It is used dairy industry in the production of sour foods with the production of lactic
acids, such as in curd milk and yogurt.
o Used in biogas production
o It is also used in making silage for animal feed. Silage is a type of fodder made from
green foliage crops which have been preserved by acidification

9.
(a) The process of photosynthesis is important to the life of living in on earth in the following
ways

Page 8 of 10
o Photosynthesis is essential for the existence of all life on earth because it plays a
crucial role in the food chain. For example, through photosynthesis, plants synthesize
food thereby, forming the primary producers.
o Photosynthesis is also responsible for the production of oxygen which is needed by
most organisms for their survival.
o Photosynthesis balances the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
(b)
Plants obtain light energy by absorbing light through pigments called chlorophyll. The
chlorophyll consists of reaction centres. The reaction centres are called Photosystems.
There are two types of photosystems:
(i) Photosystem I
Photosystem I contain chlorophyll called P700. In the reaction center of PSI, the light-
absorbing pigment is a specialized chlorophyll a molecule that absorbs red light of 700
nm wavelength most efficiently, hence the name P700.
(ii) Photosystem II
Photosystem II contains chlorophyll a called P680. The PS II reaction center
chlorophyll molecules absorb maximally at 680 nanometers and are therefore named
P680.
Mechanism of converting light energy to NADPH + H+ and ATP
o Absorption of light excites an electron to a higher energy level there by converting
the sunlight energy to potential chemical energy.
o The photosynthetic pigments are organized into photocenters in the thylakoid
membrane, each of which contains hundreds of pigment molecules
o The many pigment molecules in each photocenter act as antennae to absorb light and
transfer the energy of their excited electrons to a chlorophyll molecule that serves as a
reaction center.
o The reaction center chlorophyll then transfers its high-energy electron to an acceptor
molecule in an electron transport chain.
o High-energy electrons are then transferred through a series of membrane carriers,
coupled to the synthesis of ATP and NADPH
o During the process electrons lost by P680 (PS-II) are taken up by P700 (PS-I) and do
not get back to P680 i.e., unidirectional and hence it is called non-cyclic
phosphorylation. The electrons pass through the primary acceptor, cytochrome
complex, and finally to P700. The electrons lost by the photosystem II are replaced by
photolysis of water.
o The electrons given out by P700 are taken up by the primary acceptor and are
ultimately passed on to NADP. The electrons combine with H+ and reduce NADP to
NADPH + H+. The hydrogen ions also called protons are made available by splitting
up water.
o The excited electrons from the PSI are taken by PSI electron acceptor, and instead of
sending them to NADP+, deposits them on the electron transport chain between PSII
and PSI and they flow down along line of the Z scheme, right back to PSI, releasing
their free energy to make ATP.
10. (a)
(i) Spermiation
o Spermiation is the process by which mature spermatids are released from Sertoli cells
into the seminiferous tubule lumen before their passage to the epididymis
(ii) Spermiogenesis
o Spermatogenesis is the process during which the spermatids develop into mature
spermatozoa
(b)

Page 9 of 10
Menstrual cycle is divided into four phases, which include
(i) Menstrual phase
(ii) Follicular phase
(iii) Ovulation phase
(iv) Luteal phase

Menstrual phase
It starts when an egg from the previous cycle is not fertilized. Because pregnancy has not
occurred, the levels of the hormones oestrogen and progesterone drop. The thickened lining of
the uterus, which would support a pregnancy, is no longer needed, so it sheds through the
vagina.

Follicular phase of the menstrual cycle


This phase starts on the first day of menstrual period. During the follicular phase of the
menstrual cycle, the following events occur:
(i) Two hormones, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), are
released from the pituitary gland and travel in the blood to the ovaries. The hormones
stimulate the growth of about 15 to 20 eggs in the ovaries, in the follicles. The FSH and
LH also trigger an increase in the production of the female hormone estrogen.
(ii) When estrogen levels rise, it acts like a switch, inhibiting the production of follicle-
stimulating hormone. This careful balance of hormones allows the body to limit the
number of follicles that mature.
(iii) As the follicular phase progresses, one follicle in one ovary becomes dominant and
continues to mature. The dominant follicle produces estrogen, which inhibits FSH
secretion (negative feedback) to prevent other follicles growing.
(iv) Estrogen acts on the uterus to stimulate the thickening of the endometrial layer

Ovulatory phase of the menstrual cycle


The ovulatory phase, or ovulation, starts about 14 days after the follicular phase started. The
ovulatory phase is the midpoint of the menstrual cycle, with the next menstrual period starting
about two weeks later. During this phase, the following events occur:
(i) The rise in estrogen from the follicle triggers a flow in the amount of luteinizing hormone that
is produced by the pituitary gland and causes the follicle to release its egg from the ovary.
(ii) When the egg is released (through ovulation), it is captured by finger-like projections on the
end of the fallopian tubes (fimbriae). The fimbriae sweep the egg into the tube. Also,
during this phase, there is an increase in the amount and thickness of mucus produced by
the cervix (lower part of the uterus).
(iii) If sexual intercourse has taken place during this time, the thick mucus captures the man's
sperm, nourishes it, and helps it to move towards the egg for fertilization.

Luteal phase of the menstrual cycle


The luteal phase of the menstrual cycle begins right after ovulation and involves the following
processes:
(i) Once it releases its egg, the empty follicle develops into a new structure called the
corpus luteum.
(ii) The corpus luteum secretes the hormone progesterone. Progesterone prepares the
uterus for a fertilized egg to implant.
(iii) If intercourse has taken place and a man's sperm has fertilized the egg (a process
called conception), the fertilized egg (embryo) will travel through the fallopian tube
to implant in the uterus. The woman is now considered pregnant.
(iv) If the egg is not fertilized, it passes through the uterus. The lining of the uterus breaks
down and sheds, and the next menstrual period begins.

Page 10 of 10

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