JAMB UTME - Biology - 2018
Question 1 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 2 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 3 Report
In the egg of a bird, the embryo is located in the
Answer Details
Special temporary organs or embryonic membranes form within the egg, both to protect the embryo and to provide for its nutrition, respiration, and excretion. These organs include the yolk sac. The yolk sac is also responsible for the initial circulation and is in charge of delivering nutrients, via a primitive aorta, to the developing embryo through a process called vitelline circulation.
Question 4 Report
Botany is also known as
Answer Details
Botany is also known as "phytology". This term is derived from the Greek word "phyton", which means "plant". Phytology is the scientific study of plants, including their structure, growth, reproduction, metabolism, and classification. It involves the examination of plant anatomy, physiology, ecology, genetics, and evolution. Botanists also study the relationship between plants and their environment, including the interactions between plants and other organisms such as insects, fungi, and bacteria. Overall, phytology is an important field of study that helps us to better understand and appreciate the complexity and diversity of plant life on our planet.
Question 5 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.
Question 6 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 7 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 8 Report
The gland that is present close to Trachea
Answer Details
The gland that is present close to the trachea is the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck, just below the Adam's apple and above the collarbone. It wraps around the front of the trachea, which is the tube that carries air to the lungs. The thyroid gland produces hormones that regulate many important functions in the body, including metabolism, growth, and development. When the thyroid gland is not working properly, it can cause a variety of health problems, including weight gain or loss, fatigue, and mood changes.
Question 9 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 10 Report
The vessel carrying oxygenated blood to the tissues is
Answer Details
The vessel carrying oxygenated blood to the tissues is called an artery. Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart, and they have thick, muscular walls that can withstand the high pressure of blood being pumped by the heart. The oxygenated blood that is pumped out of the left ventricle of the heart into the aorta is then distributed throughout the body via the network of arteries. Arteries branch into smaller vessels called arterioles and then into even smaller vessels called capillaries, where oxygen and nutrients are delivered to the body's tissues. So, arteries play a crucial role in ensuring that oxygenated blood is delivered to the body's tissues to support their proper functioning.
Question 11 Report
Blood circulation in a mammal is said to be double because
Answer Details
The majority of mammals (including humans) utilize a double circulatory system. This means we have two loops in our body in which blood circulates. One is oxygenated, meaning oxygen rich, and the other is deoxygenated, which means it has little to no oxygen, but a lot of carbon dioxide.
Question 12 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 13 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 14 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 15 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 16 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 17 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 18 Report
The outer membrane that covers the brain is
Answer Details
The outer membrane that covers the brain is called the "dura mater". It is a thick, tough, and fibrous layer that provides protection and support to the brain. The dura mater is the outermost layer of the three meninges (the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord). It lies closest to the skull and forms a barrier that separates the brain from the bones of the skull. The dura mater contains blood vessels and nerves that supply the brain and is responsible for anchoring the brain in place.
Question 19 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 20 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 21 Report
A man who is heterozygous for the disease haemophilia marries a woman who is double recessive for haemophilia. What percentage of their offspring would have the disease?
Answer Details
Haemophilia is an X-linked recessive genetic disorder. This means that the gene responsible for haemophilia is located on the X chromosome, and individuals with two copies of the defective gene (one inherited from each parent) will have the disease. The man in this scenario is heterozygous, meaning he has one normal X chromosome and one X chromosome with the defective gene. The woman is double recessive, meaning she has two copies of the defective gene. When the man and woman have offspring, each child will inherit one of their father's X chromosomes and one of their mother's X chromosomes. The possible combinations of X chromosomes the children could inherit are: - Normal X chromosome from the father and normal X chromosome from the mother - Normal X chromosome from the father and defective X chromosome from the mother - Defective X chromosome from the father and normal X chromosome from the mother - Defective X chromosome from the father and defective X chromosome from the mother Of these possible combinations, only the last one (defective X chromosome from both parents) will result in the child having haemophilia. The probability of a child inheriting a defective X chromosome from the father is 50%, since the father is heterozygous. The probability of a child inheriting a defective X chromosome from the mother is 100%, since the mother is double recessive. Therefore, the probability of a child inheriting a defective X chromosome from both parents and having haemophilia is 50% x 100% = 50%. So the correct answer is: 50% of their offspring would have the disease.
Question 22 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 23 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 24 Report
Study the diagram of a food chain shown and use it to answer the question.
P ---> Q ---> R ---> S ---> T
Which of the following statements best describes the organism designated R? It
Answer Details
Primary consumers eat these plants exclusively and are all herbivores. We defined secondary consumers as organisms, primarily animals, which eat primary consumers. Furthermore, secondary consumers can be classified into one of two groups: carnivores, or meat eaters, and omnivores, which are plant and meat eaters.
Question 25 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 26 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 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
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 29 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 30 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 31 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 32 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 33 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 34 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 35 Report
The vitamin which is important in the formation of the retina pigment is
Answer Details
The vitamin that is important in the formation of the retina pigment is Vitamin A. The retina is a part of the eye that contains cells called rods and cones which help us to see. Vitamin A is important for the normal functioning of these cells, especially the rods, which are responsible for vision in low light conditions. The retina pigment, also known as rhodopsin, is a protein found in the rods of the retina. It helps to absorb light and convert it into electrical signals that the brain can interpret as vision. Vitamin A plays a crucial role in the formation of this pigment, and a deficiency of this vitamin can lead to a condition called night blindness, where a person has difficulty seeing in low light conditions. In summary, Vitamin A is essential for the normal functioning of the cells in the retina, especially the rods, and is important for the formation of the retina pigment, which is necessary for vision in low light conditions.
Question 36 Report
The yellowish colored liquid component of blood that normally holds the blood cells in suspension is
Answer Details
Blood plasma is a yellowish liquid component of blood that normally holds the blood cells in whole blood in suspension. In other words, it is the liquid part of the blood that carries cells and proteins throughout the body. It makes up about 55% of the body's total blood volume.
Question 37 Report
Use the diagram to answer the question. The breeding posture illustrated in the diagram is known as
Answer Details
The breeding posture illustrated in the diagram is known as "amplexus". Amplexus is a mating behavior displayed by many amphibians, in which the male grasps the female with his front legs from behind and holds her in position during mating. This position helps the male to fertilize the eggs as they are laid by the female. Amplexus can be further classified into two types: axillary amplexus, in which the male grasps the female's body just behind the front legs, and inguinal amplexus, in which the male grasps the female's body in the pelvic region. This behavior is critical for the reproduction of many amphibian species, and without it, successful fertilization of the eggs would be less likely to occur.
Question 38 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 39 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 40 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.
