CHEPSAMO MIXED SECONDARY SCHOOL

TERM 2-2024 CAT 1

BIOLOGY (QUESTION PAPER)
FORM ONE
TIME 2HOURS
Name…………………………………………………………… Adm No………………………………..
School………………………………………………………… Class…………………………………….
Signature……………………………………………………Date………………………………………

Instructions to Candidates.

a) Write your name and admission number in the spaces provided above.
b) Sign and write the date of examination.
c) Answer all the questions in this questions paper

Answer all questions in the spaces provided.

QUESTIONS MAXIMUM SCORE

1 – 26 80

1.( a ) What is biology? (1 mark)

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( b) List three main branches of Biology ( 3 marks)
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2. Give two skills gained by a student learning Biology. (2 marks)

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3. Name the taxonomic unit with:

a.) The greatest number of organisms. (1mk)
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b.) The least number of organisms. (1mk)

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4. State two importance of studying biology. (2 marks)
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5. Define each of the following terminologies as used in biology: (2 marks)
a). Ecology
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b). Anatomy
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6. What characteristics of living organisms is represented by the following characteristics? :
a) A cat producing kittens. (1mk)
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b) A girl dropping a hot pan. (1mk)
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c) The exhalation of carbon (IV) oxide. (1mk)
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7. The diagram below shows a cell as seen under a microscope.

a) i) Is this observation under a light or an electron microscope? (1 mk)

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ii. Give a reason for your answer in (a) (i) above. (1 mk)
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b) i) Is this an animal or a plant cell? (1 mk)

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ii) Give a reason for your answer in (b) (i) (1 mk)

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c) Name the parts labeled A, and D (2 mks)

A……………………………………………………………………………………………

D…………………………………………………………………………………………….

d) State the functions of each of the parts marked E and H. (2 mks)

E………………………………………………………………………………………………

H……………………………………………………………………………………………..

8. a) An electron microscope has a much greater resolving power than a light microscope. Explain the
meaning of the term resolving power. (1 mark)

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b) Give a reason why an electron microscope cannot be used to study live specimen. (1 mark)

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9. What is taxonomy? (1mark)

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10. State the functions of the following organelles

( i) Mitochondria ( 1 mk)
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(ii) Lysosomes ( 1mks)
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( iii) Cell membrane ( 1mk)

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11. a) What is meant by the term Entomology. (1 mark)

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b) The diagram below represents a certain apparatus used by biology students.

(i) Name the apparatus above. (1 mark)

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(ii) State the use of the apparatus named in b) (i) above. (1 mark)

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12. Black jack (Bidens pilosa) belongs to the family Compositae.

What is it’s:

Genus.
(1 mk)

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Species. (1 mk)

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13. Differentiate between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. (1 mk)

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14. The diagram below represents the structure of a light microscope. Study it and answer the

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 questions that follow.

a) Name the parts of the microscope labeled A, B, D and E. (4 mks)

A……………………………………………………………………………………………………….

B……………………………………………………………………………………………………….

D……………………………………………………………………………………………………….

E……………………………………………………………………………………………………….

b) State the functions of each of the parts marked C and G. (2 mks)

C……………………………………………………………………………………………………….

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G……………………………………………………………………………………………………….

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c) While trying to observe a specimen under a microscope, a student failed to see the
field of view. Suggest two possible causes of this. (2 mks)

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d) If a light microscope had an eye piece lens of X25 and an objective lens of X40, what would
the total magnification be? (2 mks)

15. a). Give a reason why each of the following steps are followed when preparing cross sections
of a leaf for examination under a microscope:(4mks)
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 i) Cutting very thin sections

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ii) Using sharp razor blade (scalpel) during cutting.

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iii) Placing the sections in water

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iv) Staining the sections with iodine before observing under a microscope.

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16. Calculate the magnification of the drawing of the termite below given that the actual length of the
termite is 0.9cm long .Show your working (2mks)

17. Students set up an experiment as illustrated below.

a) Name
the

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 physiological process that resulted in the observations made after 30 minutes.
(1mk)

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b) State the importance of the physiological process investigated in plants. (1mk)

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c) Explain the observations made after 30 minutes (2mks)

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18. a) State the formula for calculating linear magnification of a specimen when using a hand lens.
(1mk)

(b) Give one functional advantage of use of the following microscopes. (2mks)
(i) Light Microscope
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(ii) Electron Microscope.
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19. (a )Define the term Diffusion. (1mks)

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( b) List three roles of diffusion ( 3 mks)
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( c) State three factors affecting diffusion ( 3 marks)
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20. List down three characteristics that living organisms share with motor vehicles. (3mks)
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21. a) Define binomial nomenclature (1 mark)

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b) State three rules that govern binomial nomenclature (3marks)
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c) State three reasons why classification is important in biology (3 marks)
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22. i) identify the organelle represented by the diagram below.

i) name the organelle (1marks)

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ii) State the function of the organelle identified in 2b(i) above. (2 Mark)

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