JAMB Biology Past Questions (2008)
Q1. A major adaptive feature of endo-parasites is the
A. loss of the organ of movement
B. presence of claws
C. loss of the central nervous system
D. presence of piercing mouthparts
Answer: A
Q2. A boy who is fond of swimming in a pond finds himself passing urine with traces of blood. He is likely to have contracted
A. Schistosomiasis
B. onchoerciasis
C. poliomyelitis
D. salmonellosis
Answer: A
Q3. The major consequences of bush burning in an ecosystem is
A. the loss of water absorbing ability of the soil
B. the loss of biological diversity
C. a decrease in animal population
D. an increase in soil fertility
Answer: B
Q4. Which of the following is a major case of variation among organisms?
A. inbreeding
B. backcrossing
C. sexual reproduction
D. Gene dominance
Answer: C
Q5. Which of the following associations is an example of mutalism?
A. hydra viridis and zoochlorellae
B. human and lice
C. Shark and Remora fish
D. Bread and Rhizopus stolonifer
Answer: A
Q6. Insectivorous plants traps and kill their prey to derive
A. phosphorous
B. calcium
C. nitrogen
D. Zinc
Answer: C
Q7. What will happen when two equal sized pieces of unripe pawpaw labeled X and Y are dropped into equal volumes of concentrated salt solution and distilled water respectively?
A. Pawpaw X will become turgid
B. Both will increase in size
C. pawpaw Y will become turgid
D. Both will decrease in size
Answer: C
Q8. The most abundant group of organism in the animal kingdom is
A. Mammalian
B. Aves
C. Annelida
D. Insecta
Answer: D
Q9. Genetically modified food products have not become universally accepted because
A. They are not tasty as others produced by conventional means
B. they are usually costlier than others produced by conventional means
C. their efforts on human consumers is not yet fully understood
D. the technology can be applied only in developed countries
Answer: C
Q10. A plant parenchyma cell also acts as a supporting tissue when it
A. becomes faccid
B. contains cystals
C. becomes turgid
D. is pigmented
Answer: C
Q11. The easiest way to establish the level of pollution in a local stream is to measure the level of
A. oxygen
B. carbon(IV) oxide
C. ammonia
D. alkalinity
Answer: A
Q12. In terms of the number of individuals, which of the following taxa is most inclusive?
A. order
B. family
C. class
D. species
Answer: C
Q13. Stomata of some plants are sunken and protected by hairs. These are features of
A. mesophytes
B. epiphtes
C. hydrophytes
D. Xerophytes
Answer: D
Q14. Exhaled air differs from inhaled air in that it
A. contains less amount of carbon (IV) oxide
B. is usually lower in temperature
C. often has more oxygen
D. usually has more water vapour
Answer: D
Q15. The most important characteristic that makes reptiles to conquer terrestrial habitats is the possession of
A. long tail
B. scaly skin
C. sharp claw
D. amniotic egg
Answer: B
Q16. The order of passage of food in the digestive system is
A. ileum caecum large intestine rectum
B. ileum colon caecum rectum
C. large intestine ileum caecum rectum
D. colon caeum ileum rectum
Answer: B
Q17. In plants, the structure that performs a similar function with the testis is in mammals is the
A. stigma
B. filament
C. anther
D. replace
Answer: C
Q18. Radial symmetry is a feature common to the
A. platyhelminthes
B. nematodes
C. coelentrates
D. arthropods
Answer: C
Q19. In an experiment to determine the percentage of air in a soil sample, the Following readings were recorded:
Volume of water inn a measuring cylinder = 500cm3
Volume of soil added to water= 350cm2
Volume of water andn soil after stirring= 800cm2
The percentage of air in the soil sample is
A. 6.25%
B. 10. 36%
C. 14.28%
D. 43.28%
Answer: C
Q20. The Rhesus factor of blood was first identified in a category of
A. monkeys
B. human females
C. human males
D. chimpanzees
Answer: A
Q21. During ovulation, an egg is released from the
A. corpus luteum
B. ovarian funnel
C. Graafian follicle
D. fallopian tube
Answer: C
Q22. The cell of an onion bulb can be differentiated from a cheek cell by the presence of
A. plasmalemma
B. chloroplast
C. cell wall
D. nucleus
Answer: C
Q23. In the alimentary system of a bird, the function of teeth is carried out by the
A. crop
B. Beak
C. Gizzard
D. tongue
Answer: C
Q24. An ecological factor that will have the most limiting effect on the abundance of phytoplankton in a turbid pond is
A. pH
B. oxygen
C. light
D. temperature
Answer: C
Q25. The main ecological problem facing interidal organisms is
A. dessciation
B. floatation
C. salinity
D. humidity
Answer: A
Q26. The beak of a duck is structurally adapted for
A. scooping and sieving food
B. catching and gasping food
C. picking and cracking food
D. boring and sucking food
Answer: A
Q27. Which of the following is the most advanced evolutionary development in plants? (a) possession of unicellular structures
A. possession of unicellular structures
B. Development of flowers
C. dispersal of spores
D. Development of secondary thickening
Answer: B
Q28. The transmission of impulses along a nerve fibre is characterized by
A. hormonal and temperature changes
B. electrical and ionic changes
C. hormonal changes
D. electrostatic changes
Answer: B
Q29. In the mammalian kidney, the Bowman’s capsule is located in the
A. ureter
B. Pelvis
C. cortex
D. medulla
Answer: D
Q30. The natural process that produces adaptive evolutionary changes is
A. mutation
B. gene flow
C. genetic drift
D. natural selection
Answer: D
Q31. A characteristic that can possibly be shared by both living and non-living organisms is
A. locomotion
B. irritability
C. increase in biomass
D. increase in size
Answer: D
Q32. Inn a dictyledonous stem, the zone between the epidermis and the pericycle is the
A. cortex
B. stele
C. xylem
D. phloem
Answer: A
Q33. Which of the following is used mainly for balancing in fish?
A. The causal fin
B. the pectoral fin
C. the anal fin
D. The dorsal fin
Answer: D
Q34. In a typical freshwater habitat, the edge of the stream or pond constitutes the
A. tidal zone
B. interidal zone
C. littoral zone
D. euphotic zone
Answer: C
Q35. The ability of a chameleon to change its colour is an adaptive feature for
A. attraction
B. defence
C. display
D. attack
Answer: B
Q36. The bacteria type that are arranged in chains are the
A. Staphylococci
B. clostridia
C. streptococci
D. Bacilli
Answer: C
Q37. Oxbow lakes are found in
A. lower courses of some rivers
B. wind bow out sites
C. places with history of tectonism
D. areas of subsidence
Answer: A
Q38. Which of the following is not a true feature produced by volcanic activity?
A. horst
B. caldera
C. dyke
D. geyser
Answer: A
Q39. Which of the following is the most important reason why wages differ among occupation?
A. Length and cost of training
B. Supply of Labour
C. Attractiveness
D. Influence of trade Unions
Answer: C