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AGA KHAN UNIVERSITY EXAMINATION BOARD

HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL CERTIFICATE

CLASS XII EXAMINATION

APRIL/ MAY 2019

Biology Paper I

Time: 45 minutes Marks: 30

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INSTRUCTIONS
1. Read each question carefully.
2. Answer the questions on the separate answer sheet provided. DO NOT write your answers on the
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question paper.
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3. There are 100 answer numbers on the answer sheet. Use answer numbers 1 to 30 only.
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4. In each question, there are four choices A, B, C, D. Choose ONE. On the answer grid, black
out the circle for your choice with a pencil as shown below.

Candidate’s Signature

5. If you want to change your answer, ERASE the first answer completely with a rubber, before
blacking out a new circle.
6. DO NOT write anything in the answer grid. The computer only records what is in the circles.

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1. As compared to the nephrons of fresh water vertebrates, the nephrons of desert rodents have

A. longer loop of Henle.

B. shorter collecting duct.
C. less convoluted distal tubule.
D. more convoluted proximal tubule.

2. Vasa recta is the cluster of blood capillaries present in the nephron of human beings. It is
derived from X and surrounds Y, where X are arterioles and Y are tube-like structures.

Which of the following CORRECTLY identifies X and Y?

X Y
A Efferent arterioles Proximal convoluted tubules
B Afferent arterioles Proximal convoluted tubules

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C Efferent arterioles 01 Loop of Henle

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D Afferent arterioles Loop of Henle
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3.
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A person is suffering from hyper-secretion of aldosterone.
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The laboratory report of his urine composition will show the absence or very low level of
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A. glucose.
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B. creatinine.
C. sodium ions.
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D. phosphate ions.

4.
I. Globular proteins
II. Thin thread-like structure
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III. Wound around the actin filament

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The feature(s) which describe(s) tropomyosin molecules is/ are

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A. I only.
B. III only.
C. I and II.
D. II and III.

5. In the muscle fibre, transverse tubules (T-tubules) are formed by the invagination of
sarcolemma. The function of these T-tubules is to

A. unblock the binding sites of actin.

B. conduct nerve impulse into the cell.
C. synthesise glycogen in the sarcoplasm.
D. store calcium ions in the sarcoplasmic reticulum.

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6. The animal that uses jet propulsion to locomote is

A. snail.
B. star fish.
C. jelly fish.
D. earthworm.

7. Auxins and gibberellins are plant hormones. The common role of these hormones is to

A. delay both bud initiation and leaf senescence.

B. promote both bud initiation and leaf senescence.
C. promote bud initiation and delay leaf senescence.
D. promote leaf senescence and delay bud initiation.

8. In contrast to motor and relay neurons, the sensory neurons contain

A. single axon.

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B. single dendron. 01

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C. multiple dendrites.
D. multiple nodes of Ranvier.
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9.
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The given diagram shows a section through the midline of the human brain.
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III
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I IV
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The labelled structure that connects right and left cerebral hemisphere is
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A. I.
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B. II.
C. III.
D. IV.

10. In human beings, what is the ratio of the number of gametes produced from one male primary
sex cell to the number of gametes produced from one female primary sex cell?

A. 1:3
B. 1:4
C. 3:1
D. 4:1

PLEASE TURN OVER THE PAGE

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11. The phase of uterine cycle in which degeneration of endometrium occurs is

A. luteal.
B. follicular.
C. ovulation.
D. menstruation.

12. Following are some of the events that occur during the development of animals.

Gamete formation Fertilisation X Gastrulation Organogenesis

The structures formed during the event X are

A. somites.
B. blastomeres.
C. epiblast and hypoblast.

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D. neural groove and neurocoel. 01

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13. The genetic code is universal across organisms.
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This feature is advantageous in the process of
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A. karyotyping.
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B. amplification of a gene.
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C. isolation of genes from organism.

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D. synthesis of insulin from bacteria.

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14. A section of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) contains the following sequence of bases.

GATCAGCCATAC
The number of amino acids that the given section of DNA can code is
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A. 3.
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B. 4.
C. 6.
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D 12.

15. Which of the following CORRECTLY represents the separation of sister chromatids and
homologous chromosomes during mitosis and meiosis?

Mitosis Meiosis I Meiosis II

A Sister chromatids Sister chromatids Homologous chromosomes
B Homologous chromosomes Homologous chromosomes Sister chromatids
C Sister chromatids Homologous chromosomes Sister chromatids
D Homologous chromosomes Sister chromatids Homologous chromosomes

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16. A cell contains 8 chromosomes in its diploid state.

When this cell undergoes meiosis, its daughter cells would contain

A. two genetically identical chromosomes each.

B. two genetically different chromosomes each.
C. four genetically identical chromosomes each.
D. four genetically different chromosomes each.

17. When two heterozygotes (AaBb) of completely dominant traits are crossed, then the probability
of appearance of AABB genotype would be

A. 1/16
B. 3/16
C. 6/16
D. 9/16

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18. In a particular type of pigeons, brown (B) feather and red (R) eye colour is completely
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dominant over white (b) feather and black (r) eye colour.
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The following result is obtained from a cross between two such pigeons.

1 : 1 :ng 1 : 1
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BbRr Bbrr bbRr bbrr

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The genotypes of the parent pigeons would be

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A. BBrr and Bbrr.

B. Bbrr and bbRr.
C. BBRr and Bbrr.
D. BbRr and bbRR.
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19. The genotypes of parents of a baby girl who is born with haemophilia would be
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Genotype of Mother Genotype of Father

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A carrier normal
B haemophiliac normal
C carrier haemophiliac
D normal haemophiliac

PLEASE TURN OVER THE PAGE

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20. The given table shows a forensic investigation result comprising of DNA fingerprints.

DNA Fingerprints of Blood Sample from

Crime Scene Suspect 1 Suspect 2 Suspect 3 Suspect 4

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Based on the given result, the culprit would be
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A. suspect 1.
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B. suspect 2.
C. suspect 3.
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D. suspect 4.
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21. A 16 weeks pregnant woman, who already has a son with haemophilia, visits a genetic
counsellor to know about the genetic health of her second baby.

The diagnostic test that the genetic counsellor refers to the woman would be
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A. ultrasound.
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B. gene therapy.
C. tissue culture.
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D. amniocenteses.

22. One of the hypotheses about origin of life is that life began deep in the oceans, in underwater
hot springs. The occurrence of which of the following organisms supports the given
hypothesis?

A. Sycon
B. Green algae
C. Zooflagellates
D. Archaebacteria

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23. According to Hardy-Weinberg law, the frequencies of alleles and genotypes remain constant in
a population across generations when

A. mutation takes place.

B. migration takes place.
C. random mating takes place.
D. natural selection takes place.

24. Genetic drift MOST likely occurs when the population’s

A. size is very small.
B. gene pool is diverse.
C. rate of reproduction is high.
D. species are protected and conserved.

25. The given diagram shows four food chains.

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Green plants
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Insects ng Fish
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Cows
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Birds
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Human beings Human beings Human beings Human beings

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I II III IV
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The food chain that transfers MINIMUM energy to the human beings is
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A. I.
B. II.
C. III.
D. IV.

26. In a pyramid of energy, if the energy at a specific trophic level is 1,000 J, the amount of energy
available for the next higher trophic level would be

A. 10 J.
B. 100 J.
C. 1,000 J.
D. 10,000 J.

PLEASE TURN OVER THE PAGE

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27. The terrestrial biome in which the average temperature remains low throughout the year is

A. tundra.
B. grassland.
C. tropical rain forest.
D. temperate deciduous forests.

28. The reason that coniferous forests mainly comprise of evergreen coniferous trees is

A. low altitude.
B. heavy rainfall.
C. highly fertile soil.
D. short summer season.

29. Soil moisture is limited in the grassland ecosystem because of

Precipitation Evaporation

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A low high
B low low
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C high
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D high high
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30. The ideal place for the conservation and protection of snow leopard is
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A. zoo garden.
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B. national park.
C. botanical garden.
D. wildlife corridors.
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END OF PAPER
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