JAMB UTME - Biology - 2018
Question 1 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 2 Report
Evidence of evolution include the following except
Answer Details
Note: Evolution is a process of gradual change that takes place over many generations, during which species of animals, plants, or insects slowly change some of their physical characteristics.
Question 3 Report
Which of the following structures is not a skeletal material?
Answer Details
Bone is the substance that forms the skeleton of the body. It is composed chiefly of calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate. Chitin is a major constituent of the exoskeleton, or external skeleton, of many arthropods such as insects, spiders, and crustaceans. The main structural components of our bodies are bone, muscle, and cartilage. Bones are rigid, while muscles bend, stretch, and are flexible. Cartilage connective tissue is the perfect halfway point between these other tissues. It is not as rigid or as hard as bone, and it is also less flexible than muscle. Therefore, we find cartilage in places where we need some support and structure, but a bit of flexibility as well. This includes places such as our joints, our ears, and our nose, as well as in between the vertebrae in our spinal column.
Question 4 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 5 Report
Examples of micronutrients include the following except
Answer Details
The essential elements can be divided into macronutrients and micronutrients. Nutrients that plants require in larger amounts are called macronutrients. About half of the essential elements are considered macronutrients: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur.
Question 6 Report
The four classes of cnidarian include the following except
Answer Details
Cnidaria is a phylum under Kingdom Animalia containing over 11,000 species of animals found exclusively in aquatic environments: they are predominantly marine. Their distinguishing feature is cnidocytes, specialized cells that they use mainly for capturing prey. Modern cnidarians are generally classified into four main classes: sessile Anthozoa (sea anemones, corals, sea pens); swimming Scyphozoa (jellyfish) and Cubozoa (box jellies); and Hydrozoa, a diverse group that includes all the freshwater cnidarians as well as many marine forms, and has both sessile members such as Hydra and colonial swimmers such as the Portuguese Man o' War. The Turbellaria are one of the traditional sub-divisions of the phylum Platyhelminthes, and include all the sub-groups that are not exclusively parasitic.
Question 7 Report
Spectacles with convex lenses correct long-sightedness by
Answer Details
Spectacles with convex lenses correct long-sightedness by converging the light rays before they enter the eye. In long-sightedness, also known as hyperopia, the eyeball is too short, which causes light to focus behind the retina instead of directly on it. This results in blurry vision, especially when looking at close objects. Convex lenses are thicker in the middle and thinner at the edges, and they bend light rays towards each other. When a person with long-sightedness wears spectacles with convex lenses, the lenses converge the light rays before they enter the eye, which compensates for the shortness of the eyeball. This causes the light rays to focus directly on the retina, which results in clearer vision. Therefore, by converging the light rays before they enter the eye, convex lenses correct long-sightedness.
Question 8 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 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
Name the blood cells in which nucleus is absent
Answer Details
Like red cells, platelets (thrombocytes) have no nucleus. However, unlike red cells that originate in the marrow as nucleated cells and lose their nucleus, platelets are produced by budding off from a giant multinucleated marrow cell called a megakaryocyte.
Question 11 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 12 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 13 Report
Maltose is combination of glucose and
Answer Details
Maltose is a disaccharide, which means it is made up of two simple sugar molecules. Specifically, maltose is made up of two glucose molecules that are joined together by a type of bond called a glycosidic bond. Glucose is a monosaccharide, which means it is a simple sugar that cannot be broken down into any simpler sugars. Maltose is formed when two glucose molecules are linked together by a glycosidic bond. This bond is formed by the removal of a molecule of water between the two glucose molecules. The resulting molecule of maltose is therefore a combination of two glucose molecules. Sucrose, on the other hand, is a different type of disaccharide that is made up of one glucose molecule and one fructose molecule, while galactose is a monosaccharide that can combine with glucose to form lactose, a disaccharide found in milk. So to summarize, maltose is a disaccharide made up of two glucose molecules that are linked together by a glycosidic bond. It is not made up of fructose, sucrose, or galactose.
Question 14 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 15 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 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
The hygrometer is used for measuring
Answer Details
A hygrometer is an instrument used to measure the amount of humidity and water vapor in the atmosphere, in soil, or in confined spaces. Humidity measurement instruments usually rely on measurements of some other quantity such as temperature, pressure, mass, a mechanical or electrical change in a substance as moisture is absorbed. By calibration and calculation, these measured quantities can lead to a measurement of humidity.
Question 18 Report
The flippers of a whale and the fins of a fish are examples of
Answer Details
The flippers of a whale and the fins of a fish are examples of convergent evolution. Convergent evolution is a process where species that are not closely related, but live in similar environments, evolve similar structures or adaptations to solve similar problems. This is also known as "parallel evolution". For example, whales and fish both live in water, and both need to be able to swim and maneuver. Over time, both species have evolved flippers or fins as a solution to these challenges, even though whales are mammals and fish are fish. This convergence of similar structures in unrelated species is a result of convergent evolution.
Question 19 Report
Etiolation is causes by the influence of
Answer Details
Etiolation is caused by the influence of LIGHT. Etiolation refers to the physical changes that occur in a plant when it is grown in the absence of sufficient light. When a plant does not receive enough light, it elongates its stem and leaves to reach for the light source. This results in a spindly, pale appearance, as the plant allocates its resources towards vertical growth rather than producing chlorophyll and other pigments needed for photosynthesis. Therefore, the absence of light, or insufficient light, is the primary cause of etiolation. While mineral salts, water, and carbon dioxide are all necessary for plant growth, they do not directly cause etiolation.
Question 20 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 21 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 22 Report
An accurate identification of a rapist can be carried out by conducting
Answer Details
An accurate identification of a rapist can be carried out by conducting DNA analysis. DNA analysis involves collecting and analyzing a sample of DNA from a suspect, such as a hair, skin, or semen sample, and comparing it to a sample of DNA taken from the crime scene. If the DNA profiles match, it can provide strong evidence linking the suspect to the crime. Blood group tests and behavioral tests are not reliable methods for identifying a rapist, as they do not provide a unique identifier like DNA analysis does. Additionally, RNA analysis is not typically used for the identification of rapists. DNA analysis is the most scientifically accepted and accurate method for identifying individuals in criminal investigations, including sexual assault cases.
Question 23 Report
What is the function of trichocyst in paramecium?
Answer Details
Trichocyst, a structure in the cortex of certain ciliate and flagellate protozoans consisting of a cavity and long, thin threads that can be ejected in response to certain stimuli. Trichocysts may be widely distributed over an organism or restricted to certain areas (e.g., tentacles, papillae, around the mouth). It is also a structure in the cortex of certain ciliate and flagellate protozoans consisting of a cavity and long, thin threads that can be ejected in response to certain stimuli.
Question 24 Report
The role of scolex in tapeworm is to
Answer Details
An adult tapeworm consists of a knoblike head, or scolex, equipped with hooks for attaching to the intestinal wall of the host (which may be a human), a neck region, and a series of flat, rectangular body segments, or proglottids, generated by the neck. Scolex is used for attachment to the intestinal wall.
Question 25 Report
Which of the following organisms is a primary consumer?
Answer Details
A primary consumer is an organism that feeds on primary producers. Primary consumers are usually herbivores that feed on autotrophic plants, which produce their own food through photosynthesis.
Question 26 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 27 Report
The curvature movement of plants in response to the stimulus of water is called
Answer Details
The curvature movement of plants in response to the stimulus of water is called "hydrotropism." Hydrotropism is a type of plant movement that occurs when a plant's roots grow towards a source of water. This is an important mechanism that allows plants to find water and nutrients in the soil. When a plant is exposed to a source of water, such as a moist patch of soil, the plant's roots will start to grow towards the water. This is because the cells on the side of the root closest to the water absorb more water and expand, causing the root to bend towards the source of water. As the root grows towards the water, it will continue to bend until it reaches the water source. Hydrotropism is different from other types of plant movements, such as geotropism, phototropism, and thigmotropism, which involve responses to gravity, light, and touch, respectively.
Question 28 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 29 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 30 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 31 Report
An organism which exhibit extracellular digestion is
Answer Details
Extracellular digestion is a process in which saprobionts feed by secreting enzymes through the cell membrane onto the food. During extracellular digestion, food is broken down outside the cell either mechanically or with acid by special molecules called enzymes.
Question 32 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 33 Report
What would happen if solution Y is more concentrated than solution X in fig 2?
Answer Details
Osmosis is the spontaneous net movement of solvent molecules through a selectively permeable membrane into a region of higher solute concentration, in the direction that tends to equalize the solute concentrations on the two sides.
Question 34 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 35 Report
A pollutant that is mostly associated with acid rain is
Answer Details
The pollutant that is mostly associated with acid rain is nitrogen (IV) oxide, also known as nitrogen dioxide (NO2). NO2 is produced when fuels such as coal, oil, and gas are burned at high temperatures, particularly in vehicles and power plants. It is a gas that can react with other chemicals in the atmosphere to form nitric acid (HNO3), which can then fall to the ground as acid rain. When acid rain falls on soil, it can lower the pH and make it more acidic. This can have negative effects on plants and animals that live in the soil, as well as on the quality of the water in lakes and streams. In addition, acid rain can corrode buildings and other structures made of stone, metal, or concrete. To reduce the production of nitrogen (IV) oxide and the formation of acid rain, it is important to reduce the use of fossil fuels and to use cleaner sources of energy, such as wind, solar, and hydropower. Additionally, regulations and policies can be put in place to limit the emissions of nitrogen (IV) oxide from vehicles and power plants.
Question 36 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 37 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 38 Report
Which of the following instruments is used to estimate the number of plants in a habitat?
Answer Details
The instrument used to estimate the number of plants in a habitat is a quadrant. A quadrant is a square or rectangular frame that is used to isolate a specific area within a habitat for study. It is typically made of a lightweight and durable material, such as metal or plastic, and can be any size, depending on the needs of the study. To estimate the number of plants in a habitat using a quadrant, researchers randomly select several quadrants within the study area and place them on the ground. They then count the number of plants within the quadrant and use this information to estimate the number of plants in the entire study area. Quadrants are a commonly used tool in ecology and are particularly useful for estimating the density and distribution of plant populations. They are simple to use and can provide valuable information for researchers who are interested in understanding the dynamics of plant communities.
Question 39 Report
A group of closely related organisms capable of interbreeding to produce the fertile offspring are known as members of a
Answer Details
The correct answer is "species". Species are a group of living organisms that share common characteristics and can interbreed to produce fertile offspring. This means that members of the same species can mate and produce offspring that can themselves reproduce, while organisms from different species cannot produce fertile offspring together. For example, dogs can breed with other dogs to produce fertile puppies, but they cannot breed with cats to produce offspring that can reproduce. Therefore, dogs and cats belong to different species.
Question 40 Report
The hormones secreted by pancreas serves to
Answer Details
The production of pancreatic hormones, including insulin, somatostatin, gastrin, and glucagon, play an important role in maintaining sugar and salt balance in our bodies.
