Name: __________________________________________________ Class _____

BLANTYRE SECONDARY SCHOOL CLUSTER

2020 MSCE MOCK EXAMINATIONS
BIOLOGY
PAPER I (100 MARKS)
THEORY
SUBJECT NUMBER: M022/I Time Allowed: 2 hrs
Date: Tuesday, April 24 8:00 – 10:00 am

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. This paper has 12 pages. Please check.
2. Answer all questions
3. Write your name on top of every page.
5. In the table provided on this page, tick against the question number you have
answered.
Question Tick if Do not write
number answered in these
columns
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
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Name: __________________________________________________ Class _____

SECTION A (70 MARKS)

1. Figure 1 shows two of the non-flowering plant K and M. Use them to answer the following
questions:

K M
Figure 1

a) Name the non-flowering plant K and M.

K __________________________ M __________________________ (2 marks)

b) What name is given to the part labelled

X ________________________________
Y ________________________________ (2 marks)

c) What two characteristics are common to the non- flowering plants shown in the diagram
i. ___________________________________________________
ii. ___________________________________________________
iii. ___________________________________________________
(2 marks)
2. Figure 2 shows a diagram of simple reflex arc

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Name: __________________________________________________ Class _____

Figure 2

a) Name the parts labelled A and B

A _____________________________________________
B _____________________________________________ (2 marks)

b) i. Give an example of reflex action

____________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
ii. State the importance of the reflex action named in b) i.

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(1 mark)
c) Briefly describe the action potential in the transmission of an impulse in a neuron.
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(4 marks)
3. a) Figure 3 below is a diagram showing graphs of breathing rates of a runner before and just after
exercise.

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Name: __________________________________________________ Class _____

Lung volume (dm3)

Figure 3
i) Calculate the breath rate of the running

(2 marks)

ii) Explain why there is a difference in volume of air breathed out each minute at rest and
during the period just after running.
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(2 marks)

b) Figure 4 is a diagram showing the amount of energy which flows through living things in a
grassland habitat each year

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Name: __________________________________________________ Class _____

Figure 4

i) What process in grass absorbs energy from the sun?

_______________________________________________________ (1 mark)
ii) Calculate the difference between energy absorbed by the grass and energy passed from
grass to other living things. (2 marks)

iii) Give a reason for this difference.

________________________________________________________________________
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Name: __________________________________________________ Class _____

4. Students caught 80 Butterflies in a school garden of area 36m2 and marked them with red paint.
They released them into the same garden. After two hours the students captured 75 butterflies
In the same area of which 15 butterflies were marked with red paint.
a) Name the sampling technique used by the students.
___________________________________________________________________________
(1 mark)
b) Calculate the total number of butterflies for this area.

(3 marks)

c) State two limitations of the sampling technique used in 4. a)

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(2 marks)
5. Explain how nastic response occurs in:
a) Mimosa padica
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(2 marks)
b) Venus flytrap
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(2 marks)
c) Explain the function of the following parts of the mesophyll cell as seen under an electronic
microscope.
i) Cell membrane
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(2 marks)
ii) Cytoplasm
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(2 marks)

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Name: __________________________________________________ Class _____

6. Figure 5 shows a diagram of a cross section of the human eye. Use it to answer the questions that
follow:

Figure 5

a) Label the parts marked P and Q

P _____________________________ Q _________________________________
(2 marks)
b) Of what importance is the structure labelled Q.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
(2 marks)
c) Explain what happens to the lens and suspensory ligament when focusing on a distant object
and a near object.
Distant object
___________________________________________________________________________
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(2 marks)
Near object
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(2 marks
7. a) Describe the role of aldosterone in osmoregulation when levels of salt in blood fall.
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(3 marks)

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Name: __________________________________________________ Class _____

b) Explain how the following kidney diseases are caused:

i.Proteinuria___________________________________________________________________
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(2 marks)

ii.Uremia______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

(2 marks)

8. Figure 4 shows how wing shape is inherited in fruit flies. Given that A is a gene for normal
wings and a is a gene for curly wings. Flies 1, 2, 7 and 8 are homozygous.

Figure 4

i) State the genotypes of flies 3 and 10.

Fly 3 _______________________________________________________ (1 mark)
Fly 10 _______________________________________________________ (1 mark)
ii) Draw a genetic cross diagram to show the results of F2 generation for cross between fly 9 and
10. Indicate genotype of parents, gametes and F2.

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Name: __________________________________________________ Class _____

(3 marks)

iii) What type of variation is shown by the inheritance of wing shape in fruit flies? Give a reason
for the answer.
Type of variation ______________________________________________ (1 mark)
Reason ______________________________________________________ (1 mark)
9. a) Explain how the following provide first line defense.
i. Mucus
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________ (2 marks)
ii. Skin
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b) Briefly explain what would happen if a foetus with A positive blood develops in the womb of
its mother who is of blood group A negative.

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________________________________________________________ (4 marks)

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Name: __________________________________________________ Class _____

10. a) Explain transamination as one of the function of the liver related to digestion.
______________________________________________________________________________
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(2 marks)

b) How does contraction of muscles of the small intestine provide an adaptation for the small
intestine for absorption?

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(2 marks)

SECTION B.
11. Compare the processes of mitosis and meiosis. Answer in an essay form.
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Name: __________________________________________________ Class _____

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(10 marks)
12. Describe the life cycle of hookworm. Answer in an essay form.

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Name: __________________________________________________ Class _____

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(10 marks)
13. Describe using natural selection how a population of bacteria would become resistant to an
antibiotic. Your answer must be in an essay form.
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