MUSINGU HIGH SCHOOL
BIOLOGY TOPICAL QUICK REVISION QUESTIONS
TOPIC 1: INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGY
1. List five characteristics of living organisms
2. Give 3 differences between plants and animals
3. Name and define the two major branches of biology
4. Explain the importance of the following to living organisms
i) Respiration
ii) Excretion
iii) Reproduction
5. A motor vehicle is able to move and break down fuel to carbon (IV) oxide and water, yet it is not classified as a living organism. Name three characteristics of living organisms that are not shown by a motor vehicle
6. Mention any three reasons why we study the science of Biology
7. What is Biology?
8. Mention any 4 specialized branches of biology
9. a) List three apparatus used during collection of specimen in the field. For each apparatus, briefly explain its use
b) What precautions must students make when collecting specimens in the field?
TOPIC 2: CLASSIFICATION I
1. What is classification?
2. Give three reasons why classification is necessary.
3. What is a species?
4. Black jack (Bidens pilosa) belongs to the family Compositae. What is its:
i) Genus?
ii) Species
5. State the kingdoms into which living organisms are placed. In each case, give an example
6. State three external factors used in classification of (a) Plants (b) Animals
7. State the rules that govern binomial nomenclature
8. State the role of a hand lens in biology
9. A form one student made a drawing of a molar tooth. The length of his drawing was 12.45cm. If the linear magnification of the drawing was X5, calculate the actual length of the tooth
10. Distinguish between taxonomy and a taxon
11. Draw a leaf with the following characteristics
i) Compound, bipinnate with terminal leaflet
ii) Simple, bilobed tip with serrated margin
TOPIC 3: THE CELL
1. What is a cell?
2. Name two specialized cells in: a) Plants b) Animals
3. Give three properties of the cell membrane
4. In an experiment on cell size estimation, while using a light microscope, a specimen whose real size was 2.0 micrometers appeared to be 0.2mm under the microscope. If the eyepiece lens magnification of the microscope was X5, calculate the total magnification and hence the objective lens magnification of the microscope
5. When examining cells from an unidentified rabbit organ under an electron microscope, it is found out that most cells are rich in rough endoplasmic reticulum and golgi bodies. What does this one tell about the organ?
6. Define the following terms
i) Tissue
ii) Organ
iii) Organ system
7. State two functions of centrioles
8. When preparing to see epidermal cells of the onion plants, the following steps are followed: Give a reason for each step taken
a) Peeling off a thin layer of the epidermis for use as a specimen
b) Placing the epidermal layer in water in a slide
c) Adding iodine stain on the specimen before observing under the microscope
9. State 4 differences between a plant and an animal cell
10. Name the organelles responsible for the following functions
a) Secretion of hormones and enzymes
b) Synthesis and transport of proteins
c) Site for respiratory activities
11. A form one student trying to estimate the size of onion cells observed the following on a field of view of a microscope
He counted 20 cells across the field of view. Calculate the size of one cell in micrometers. Show your working
12. Give the functions of the following parts of a microscope:
i) Coarse adjustment knob
ii) Revolving nosepiece
iii) Mirror
iv) Fine adjustment knob
v) Condenser
13. Give three differences between a light microscope and electron microscope
14. Draw a large labeled diagram of a plant cell as seen under a light microscope
15. Name five organelles that are not seen under a light microscope but can be seen using an
electron microscope
TOPIC 4: CELL PHYSIOLOGY
1. Explain the difference between:
a) Turgor pressure and wall pressure
b) Osmotic pressure and osmotic potential
2. Name two plants and two animal processes in which diffusion plays an important role
3. Name the process by which the following occurs:
a) Molecules such as amino acids and glucose enters the body cell
b) Glucose and mineral salts are reabsorbed into the blood in kidney tubules
c) Water is absorbed from the soil by the root hairs
d) Carbon (IV) oxide moves from the body cells to the blood capillaries
4. Name the factors affecting the rate of diffusion
5. Explain the following terms:
a) Plasmolysis
b) Crenation
6. Explain why eating a meal with too much salt leads to the production of a small volume of concentrated urine
7. Why is osmosis considered a special form of diffusion?
8. How can a plasmolysed plant cell be made turgid again?
9. Explain why a red blood cell when placed in distilled water will swell till it bursts
10. State the factors that affect the rate of active transport
11. Explain what will happen to red blood cell when placed in a highly concentrated salt solution
12. Give the role of active transport in animals
13. Distinguish between plasmolysis and haemolysis
14. Explain why fresh water protozoa like Amoeba do not burst when placed in distilled water
15. Addition of large amounts of salt to soil in which plants are growing kills the plants. Explain
TOPIC 5a): NUTRITION IN PLANTS
1. a) Define the term photosynthesis
b) Briefly explain how the following factors affect the process of photosynthesis.
i) Light intensity
ii) Temperature
iii) Carbon (IV) oxide concentration
iv) Water availability
2. The diagram below shows a chloroplast as seen under an electron microscope
a) Name the substance stored in the part marked B
b) In which part of the diagram does the dark reaction take place?
c) In which part does the light reaction take place? Briefly explain what happens in the light reaction giving the products formed
3. In an experiment, a leaf from a plant, which had been in the dark overnight, was boiled in water for a minute. It was then boiled in alcohol and washed in hot water Iodine solution was then added onto the leaf
a) What was the aim of the experiment?
b) Why was the leaf boiled in (i) Water (ii) Alcohol?
c) What observation was made on the leaf after adding iodine solution? Give a reason for your answer
4. How is a green leaf adapted to its function of photosynthesis?
5. What is the importance of photosynthesis?
TOPIC 5b): CHEMICALS OF LIFE AND ENZYMES
1. Name the bonds present in the following foods:
i) Sucrose ii) Proteins iii) Lipids
2. In the test for a non-reducing sugar, hydrochloric acid and sodium hydrogen carbonate are used. State the functions of these two chemicals
3. Complete the following word equation
a) Glucose + Glucose
b) Sucrose Glucose +
4. Define the term enzymes
5. a) List three properties of proteins
b) Describe two major functions of proteins in the human body
6. Give three main classes of carbohydrates. In each case, give one example
7. Explain 4 factors that affect enzyme activity
8. Differentiate between competitive and non-competitive enzyme inhibitors
9. From the equation below, name two properties of the enzyme shown
Enzyme + Substrate Enzyme + Products
10. Name three examples of polysaccharides
TOPIC 5c): NUTRITION IN ANIMALS
1. Define the following terms:
a) Ingestion
b) Assimilation
c) Absorption
d) Digestion
e) Egestion
2. Describe the internal structure of the mammalian tooth
3. What are dental caries?
4. a) Explain why some enzymes in the alimentary canal are produced in their inactive forms
b) Give two examples of such enzymes mentioned in a) above
5. Which type of tooth is involved in piercing and killing of prey in carnivorous mode of feeding?
6. Why do herbivores have an elaborate caecum?
7. List four importance of water in human nutrition
8. a) What is the role of roughage in the human diet?
b) Give three sources of roughage in the human diet
9. State and explain five factors determining energy requirements in humans
10. List the various accessory glands of the alimentary canal
11. Why does the action of bile on fats not considered an enzyme action?
12. Name the specialized muscles that control the entry and exit of food in the stomach
13. a) Name three types of salivary glands found in the mouth of humans
b) State the role of saliva in digestion
14. Give three functions of hydrochloric acid in the stomach
15. Mention enzymes involved in digestion in the following parts of the mammalian alimentary canal. In each case, state the substrate and the products formed
a) Duodenum
b) Ileum
16. What is the role of mucus in the gut?
17. How is the molar tooth adapted to its function?
18. A certain animal has no incisors, no canines, 6 premolars and 6 molars in its upper jaw. In the lower jaw there are 6 incisors, 2 canines, 6 premolars and 6 molars. Write down its dental formula
TOPIC 6a): TRANSPORT IN PLANTS
1. Give three adaptations of the root hair cell
2. Mention and briefly explain the forces that help in condition of water from the root hair cells up the plant
3. a) What is translocation?
b) Give three theories that explain the process of translocation
c) What is the role of the companion cells on the phloem tissue?
4. Name the process used in uptake of mineral salts in plants
5. Name and briefly explain the structural factors that affect the rate of transpiration
6. How is the arrangement of the vascular bundle in a monocot stem different from that of a dicot stem?
7. Briefly describe how water from soil is absorbed by root hair cells into the xylem tissue of the root
TOPIC 6b): TRANSPORT IN ANIMALS
1. Why is transport important in animals?
2. Distinguish between the following terms
a) Open and closed circulation
b) Single and double circulation
3. Mention two other functions of mammalian blood other than transport of substances
4. How are the red blood cells suited to perform their functions?
5. Name the compound formed when haemoglobin combines with carbon (IV) oxide
6. Why are people with blood group O described as universal donors?
7. Briefly describe the blood clotting mechanism
8. What is meant by the following terms in relation to the mammalian heart?
a) Systole
b) Diastole
9. Why is blood in arteries under high pressure than in veins?
10. Outline some adaptations of blood capillaries to their functions
11. Which blood vessels link the following parts of the body?
a) Gut and liver
b) Aorta and the kidneys
c) Lungs and the heart
d) Aorta and the alimentary canal.
12. Mention two disorders of the circulatory system
13. How do white blood cells fight pathogens that enter the body?
14. a) What is lymph?
b) How is it formed?
c) Mention three processes that aid in the flow of lymph
15. Differentiate between natural and artificial immunity
16. a) What is an allergy?
b) What causes allergic reactions in the body?
TOPIC 7a): GASEOUS EXCHANGE IN PLANTS
1. Mention three sites of gaseous exchange in plants
2. State three characteristics of gaseous exchange structures in plants
3. Briefly describe three theories that explain the mechanism of opening and closing of the stomata
4. How are the leaves of plants adapted to gaseous exchange?
5. How do the following aquatic plants carry out gaseous exchange?
a) Floating types
b) Emergent types
c) Submerged forms
6. Why is gaseous exchange through mesophyll cells faster than other modes?
TOPIC 7b): GASEOUS EXCHANGE IN ANIMALS
1. Mention three gaseous exchange surfaces in animals
2. Why does the gaseous exchange mechanism in unicellular organisms occur by simple diffusion?
3. Outline three features that adapt the gill to its function
4. Briefly explain how gases are taken in during breathing in insects
5. a) What are the gaseous exchange surfaces in adult frogs?
b) Briefly explain gas intake through one of the surfaces mentioned in a) above
6. Explain the process of inhalation in humans
7. Mention 4 factors that affect the rate of breathing in animals
8. Name the centre in the brain that controls the rate of breathing
9. Mention and briefly explain 4 diseases that affect the breathing/gaseous exchange system
10. What are the advantages of breathing through the nose rather than the mouth in humans?
11. How is the trachea adapted to its function?
12. What is the difference between an air sac and an alveolus?
TOPIC 8: RESPIRATION
1. The equation below represents oxidation of a certain food substance
2C5H98O6 + 145O2 102 CO2 + 98H2O + Energy
a) Calculate the respiratory quotient (RQ)
b) Suggests the possible food substrate
c) Give a reason for your answer in b) above
2. How is a mitochondrion adapted to its functions as a site for respiration?
3. a) Distinguish between aerobic and anaerobic respiration
b) Give end products of (i) Aerobic respiration and (ii) Anaerobic respiration
c) Briefly explain how anaerobic respiration is utilized in industries
d) What factors affect the rate of respiration in animals?
4. What is the importance of respiratory quotient (RQ)?
5. Distinguish between obligate and facultative anaerobes
6. Why do obligate anaerobic die when exposed to plenty of oxygen?
7. The flow diagram below shows a summary of the process of respiration