Wassce 2018 Biology Past Questions and Answers (Paper 1 and 2)

Introduction

The West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) is a crucial milestone for students in West Africa, assessing their understanding of key subjects, including Biology. Biology, as a fundamental science subject, requires a solid grasp of concepts, critical thinking, and application skills. This post provides a comprehensive collection of WASSCE 2018 Biology Past Questions and Answers (Paper 1 and 2) to help students prepare effectively. By practicing these past questions, candidates can familiarize themselves with the exam structure, improve their answering techniques, and boost their confidence.

BIOLOGY PAPER 1 - 50 MINUTES

OBJECTIVES OR MULTIPLE CHOICE

Answer All Questions

1. The scientist who introduced binomial nomenclature in the classification of organisms was

A. Charles Darwin.    

B. John Ray.     

C. Carolus Linnaeus.

D. Louis Pasteur.

 

2. Which of the following statements is true about arthropods?

A. Prothorax bears only wings                       

B. Mesothorax bears only legs

C. Metathorax bears only wings                                                                         

D. Prothorax bears only legs

 

3. What level of organization is Spirogyra?

A. Cell                                            

B. Organ                

C. Organ system                             

D. Tissue

 

4. The streaming movement of cytoplasm within Paramecium is known as

A. transpiration.     

B. cyclosis.       

C. digestion.           

D. osmosis.

5. Which of the following organelles is found only in plant cells?

A. Plastids                                                               

B. Ribosomes

C. Lysosomes

D. Mitochondria

6. Active transport differs from diffusion in that active transport

A. allows the movement of substances against concentration gradient

B. is a very fast process.

C. takes place in both light and dark reactions of photosynthesis.

D. occurs in both plant and animal tissues.

 

The diagrams below are illustrations of an experimental set-up to demonstrate a type of tropic response in plants.  Study them and answer questions 7 to 8.

 

7. The type of response demonstrated is

A. phototropism.   

B. hydrotropism.

C. geotropism.       

D. thigmotropism.

8. The conclusion drawn from the experiment is that

A. roots of plants are positively hydrotropic.

B. shoots of plants are negatively geotropic.

C. leaves of plants are positively phototropic.

D. shoots of plants are negatively thermotropic

 

 9. The odontoid process is found on the

A. sacral vertebra.    

B. atlas vertebra.              

C. thoracic vertebra.’   

D. axis vertebra.

 

10. A seedling was made to stand in a solution of red ink for three hours and a transverse section of the stem was examined under the microscope. The process being investigated was

A. the importance of microelements to plants.

B. diffusion of coloured substances.

C. ascent of water through the xylem.

D. distribution of food in plants.

 

11. Which of the following structures would carry out respiration? A

A. dry leaf  

B. decolorized leaf  

C. germinating cowpea     

D. boiled cowpea

 

12. Which of the following substances is not an excretory product of animals?

A. Carbon dioxide                                                     

B. Oxygen             

C. Sweat           

D. Urea

 

13. An example of homeostasis in living organisms is

A. root hairs of a plant growing towards a source of light.

B. cooling effect resulting from evaporation of water from the body surface

C. changing of the body colour of chamele on to match the colour of the foliage on which it is resting.

D. the release of phosphorous into the phloem of a plant growing in a phosphorus-deficient soil.

 

14. Ultrafiltration in the kidney takes place in the

A. renal vein.    

B. Bowman’s capsule.    

C. Loop of Henle.  

D. medulla.

 

15. The thyroid gland is located at the base of the

A. midbrain.

B. neck.                                                            

C. kidney.                                                         

D. liver.

 

16. Which of the following statements about the response of neurons of stimulus is correct?

A. neurones respond to stimulus of any strength.

B. intensity of stimulus must reach a threshold value before the neurone can be       excited.

C. neurones respond more rapidly during the absolute refractory period.    

D. neurones respond to all stimuli applied in rapid succession.

 

17. Which of the following practices may lead to infection of the eye? Use of

A. concave lenses      

B. convex lenses  

C. biconcave lenses.  

D. contact lenses.

 

18. The structures for gaseous exchange in breathing roots are

A. stomata.                                              

B. mitochondria.       

C. cuticle.                                                

D. lenticels.

 

The diagram below is an illustration of the life cycle of an insect: Study it and answer questions 19 and 20.

 

19. The adult insect in this life cycle is

A. housefly.                                                   

B. mosquito        

C. cockroach.                                                 

D. butterfly.

 

20. The larva is also known as

A. caterpillar.

B. maggot.               

C. nymph.                

D. chrysalis.

 

21. The source of energy required by plants during food production is

A. sunlight      

B. chlorophyll.                       

C. photosynthesis.      

D. microorganisms.

 

22. One major difference between plant and animal nutrition is the ability of plants to synthesize

A. water for animals.                                                                           

B. water for plants.

C. food for plants and animals.             

D. food for plants only.

 

23. By what process is starch converted into maltose?

A. Photosynthesis                                                                                                                                          

B. Condensation     

C. Translocation   

D. Hydrolysis

 

24. The ascent of water in tall trees is mainly due to

A. adhesive forces.                                                                               

B. cohesion forces of water molecules.

C. root pressure.     

D. transpiration pull.

25. The duodenum of a person was surgically removed. Which of the following would have their digestion affected?

A. Starch and protein only                                                                        

B. Starch, protein and lipids.

C. Starch, peptones and maltose                                               

D. Starch and lipids

 

26. Which of the following dental formulae represents the dentition in rabbits?

 

The diagram below is an illustration of an experimental set-up to demonstrate a property of soil study it and answer questions 27 and 28.

27. The property of soil demonstrated is

A. capillarity 

B. particle size                                                                                

C. colour                                                               

D. texture

 

28. Which of the following statements would be a correct observation at the end of the experiment? Water moves

A. highest in sandy soil         

B. lowest in loamy soil

C. highest in clayey soil        

 D. to the same level in all soil types

 

29. The most important factor (s) that influences ecological niche of an         organism is/are the

A. physical environment

B. food and water availability

C. water, light and predator – prey relationship

D. competition for food and space

 

The diagram below is an illustration of organisms in air – tight aquarium.

 

30. The most important factor needed by the organisms is

A. oxygen                                                                         

B. low humidity      

C. light energy 

D. nitrate

 

31. Which of the following instruments is used to determine the turbidity of water?

A. Hygrometer                                                               

B. Secchi disc     

 C. Hydrometer                                                               

D. Rain gauge

32. In an ecosystem, the least efficient energy transfer link is from the

A. producer to primary consumers.       

B. sun to producers.

C. primary consumers to secondary consumers.

D. secondary consumers to decomposers.      ‘

 

33 Xerophytes have tire following   characteristics aimed at conserving water except

A. broad leaf surface

B. thick cuticle    

C. sunken stomata

D. waxy cuticle.

 

34. An association between living organisms in which one lives on and feeds

at the expense of the other is known as

A. commensalism.

B. parasitism.     

C. predation. 

D. mutualism.

 

35. When large numbers of organisms share limited space and resources, the immediate result is

A. competition.                                                                            

B. emigration.     

C. extinction       

D. immigration.

 

36. Which of the following diseases is caused by bacterium?

A. Ringworm

B. poliomyelitis                                                                                

C. Malaria   

D. Syphilis

 

37. Conservation of wildlife is necessary mainly because

A. wild species cannot resist diseases better than their domesticated species

B. many predators’ wild animals help in the   control of pests

C. many people derive pleasure from observing wild animals

D. it prevents the extinction of species

 

Two unconscious patients X and Y whose blood genotypes are AO and AB respectively were transfused with blood from the same donor. Patient X immediately showed signs of difficulty in breathing while patient Y showed no negative

reaction.

Use the information above to answer questions 38 and 39

38. Patients X and Y were likely transfused with blood of genotype

A. OO                           

B. AO                           

C. AA                            

D. BO

 

39. What should the hospital have done to prevent X from showing the symptom described above? Patient X should have

A. been asked for the blood group.   

B. undergone an agglutination test.

C. been screened for HFV.                  

D. undergone malaria test.

 

40. The greatest contribution to genetic studies was made by

A. Thomas Morgan.                                                  

B. Gregor Mendel.

C. Charles Darwin.                                                   

D. Robert Hooke.

 

41. The exchange of genes between homologous chromosomes is called

A. test cross. 

B. Back cross    

C. Crossing over       

D. mutation.

The diagram below are illustrations of the inheritance of coat colour in mice. J, K, L, M and N are parents. The cross between two parent mice gave rise to offspring P, Q, R and S.

Study the diagrams and answer questions 42 and 43

42. Which parent mouse is heterozygous  for coat colour?

A.  M      

B.  L                       

C.  K                     

D.  J

 

43. Which of the offspring are all homozygous?

A.  P              

B.  Q    

C.  R      

D.  S

 

44. Genes that remain linked are those

A. on the homologous chromosomes

B. on the same locus on the chromosomes.

C. close to each other on the chromosomes

D. which are allelic pair.

 

45. A plant cell has 14 chromosomes prior to mitosis. What is the number of chromosomes in the daughter cells?

A.  7  

B.  14                                  

C.  28                                  

D.  56

46. The chemical bond that holds the bases of the two strands of DNA

A.  hydrogen bond.     

B.  oxygen bond.

C.  Electrovalent bond.                                                         

D.  Covalent bond.

The diagram below Is an illustration of one the theories of evolution. Study it and answer questions 47 and 48.

47. Who proposed the theory in the illustration?

A.  Louis Pasteur                                                      .

B. Jean Lamarck

C. Robert Hooke                                                      

D. Gregor Mendel

 

48. The theory supports

A. the use and disuse of body parts.       

B. natural selection.

C. independent assortment,                                                            

D. struggle for survival.

 

49. In evolution, fossils are naturally preserved in

A.  chemicals.

B.  water,                                                         

C.  rocks.                                                         

D.   trees.

 

50.Which of the following insects is not a social insect?

A. Housefly 

B. Termite                                                                    

C. Honeybee

D. Ant

 BIOLOGY PAPER 2 - 1 HOURS 50 MINUTES

THEORY OR ESSAY

SECTION A: FOR ALL CANDIDATES

1. (a).  State four characteristic features of  members of Class Mammalia.

(b)   State two functions each of the following organs in mammals:    

(α) ovary;  

(ꞵ) vagina;          

 (γ) uterus.

c. Make a diagram 8 cm - 10 cm long of a typical flower showing its floral parts and label fully.

 

2. (a) i.  What is dentition?      

ii. Make a diagram, 6 cm - 8 cm long of the longitudinal section of the canine tooth of a mammal and label fully.

 

(b.)  Describe the process of photosynthesis.

 

3. (i) What is pollution?

(ii) State three effects of air pollution on living things.

(iii) State four ways of controlling air pollution.

 

(b)   Copy and complete the table below.

	One Air  Pollutant	One Source
(i)
(ii)
(iii)

 

(c) (i)    What is trophic level?

  (ii)    State three roles of mushrooms in a habitat.

 

4. (a). State five:

(ii) causes of variation in living things;

(ii) consequences of variation to living things.

 

(b). Copy and complete the table below on castes in a termite colony and state      one role of   each caste.

 

	Caste in a termite colony	One role of caste in the colony
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)

 

SECTION B: FOR CANDIDATES IN GHANA ONLY

Answer all the questions in this section.

5. (a) Explain briefly the following terms:

(i) health;

(ii) hygiene;

(iii) sanitation.

 

(b).  Distinguish between:

(i) bilateral symmetry and radial symmetry;

(ii) longitudinal section and transverse section.

 

(c). A student drew a rabbit which is five times larger than the drawing. If the drawing is 8 cm long, calculate: 

(i)  the actual length of the rabbit:   

(ii)  the magnification of the drawing.

(d) Describe an experiment to measure the rate of growth in the root of a seedling.

(f) State three ways in which the human heart is adapted to its function.

(e) State five ways in which protein is important to animals

 

ANSWERS TO THEORY QUESTIONS

1. (a) Characteristic features of members of Class Mammalia

•             Warm blooded/homoeothermic/ endothermic;

•             Body is covered with hair/fur/ wool;

•             Heterodont dentition;

•             Presence of diaphragm;

•             Presence of mammary glands;

•             Presence of pinna/external ear;

•             Well developed brain;

•             Well developed sensory organs;

•             They are viviparous;

•             Bilaterally symmetrical;

•             Presence of four chambered heart.

 

(b)  Functions of the following organs

(i)   Ovary

•             Produces/contains mature eggs/ ova;

•             produces female sex hormones/ estrogen/progesterone.

 

Vagina                     

•             Receives the penis which deposits sperm into it passage of sperms;

•             It serves as birth canal during childbirth;       

•             Passage of menstrual blood/menses.

 

Uterus

•             Site for the implantation of the fertilized egg/zygote:

•             Accommodates the foetus/embryo;

•             Provides a place for attachment of foetal placenta;

•             Provides nutrients for foetus (before placenta is developed)

•             Protects the foetus/embryo against mechanical injury.  

 

(c)       

 

Title

Quality

Clarity of lines

Size

Neatness of labels

Details

At least three petals shown At least three stamens shown Pistil shown

Labels

Sepal; petal; filament; anther; stigma; style; receptacle; ovary; flower stalk/pedicel.

2. (a) (i)    Dentition is the number; kind/type/shape; arrangement of teeth; in the jaw/lower and upper jaw bones of animals.

(ii) Diagram of a longitudinal section of canine

 

Notes

Title

Quality

Clarity of lines             

Size      (6cm – 8cm)

Neatness of labels        

             

Details

Sharp pointed enamel

Pulp cavity containing nerves/blood vessels

Crown and Root shown

Labels

Enamel; dentine; pulp cavity; cement; blood vessel; nerves; root; crown; neck.

(b)  Process of photosynthesis

•         Occurs in two stages/light stage and dark stage;

•         Light stage occurs hi the grana of chloroplast;

•         Dark stage occurs in the stroma of the chloroplast;

•         During light stage sunlight falls on chlorophyll which traps solar/light/radiant energy;

•         Which is used to breakdown water molecules/ photolysis of water occurs;

•          Into Hydrogen ions (H⁺) and hydroxyl ions (OH^-);

•         The hydrogen ions are retained for the next stage; but the hydroxyl ions are transformed to produce oxygen;

•         During the dark reaction/stage hydrogen ions from the light phase/stage is used to reduce carbon dioxide;

•         Using ATP

•         In series of enzyme-catalyzed reactions;

•         The glucose is converted to starch

 

3. (i) Pollution

Is the release of waste substances/energy; as a result of human activities into the environment; in quantities; which are harmful to human/living things

(ii)   Effects of air pollution on living things

•         Cause lung diseases/irritation of skin/nose/eye;

•         Changes in the colour of green plants;

•         Suffocation by combining with haemoglobin

•         Global warming/depletion of the ozone layer; •   Reduction in plant yields/photosynthesis;

•         Reduction in visibility.

(iii)   Ways of controlling air pollution

•    Locating industries away from urban areas/communities;

•    Burning of smokeless/a sulphur-free fuel;

•    Using filters to remove pollutants from industrial waste/gases;

•    Using tall chimneys to discharge the waste gases high-up the sky;  

•    Burning of refuse in incinerators;

•    Avoiding bushfires;

•    Tailing roads to reduce dust;

•    Enforcing anti-pollution laws.

 

(b) Table

S/N	One Air Pollutant	One Source
1	Sulphur doxide	Burning of fuel/coal Containing Sulphur
2	Carbon monoxide	Incomplete combustion of fuel/exhaust gases etc
3	Carbon dioxide	Exhaust fumes fossil fuel
4	Oxides of Nitrogen	Chemical bonding of oxygen and nitro the cylinders of internal combustion engines
5	Hydrogen sulphide	Industrial processes/refineries/coal mines/decay of organic matter
6	CFC/chlorofluorocarbons	Aerosol sprays/air conditions/fridges
7	Smoke	Combustion of fuel/exhaust gases/
8	Heat	Heat waves from sun/factories
9	Dust	Quarries/ untarred roads
10.	Sewage	Factories/homes/offices

 

(c) (i) Trophic level Is the position occupied by an organism; with energy transfer; in a food chain/ food web in an ecosystem.

(ii)  Roles of mushrooms in a habitat

•     Bring about decay of dead organism;

•    Produce manure/humus;

•   Release nutrient to the soil; 

•    Bring about cycling of nutrients;

•   Serve as food for organisms.

4. (a) (i) Causes of variation

•   Environmental factors/temperature/light intensity/humidity/chemicals/food etc

•   Crossing over of genes between chromatids of homologous chromosomes during meiosis/segregation;

•  Random fusion of gametes during fertilization;

•  Mutation/change in the structure of DNA of an organism;        

•   Chromosome mutation;

•   Co-dominance a process in which a pair of alleles contribute equally to formation of the phenotypes; resulting in intermediate form incomplete dominance;

•   Independent assortment of genes/ linkage;

•   Epistasis;

•   Polygenes/polygenic characters;

•   Lethal genes; 

• Hybridization.

(b)        Table

 

S/N.	Caste in a termite colony	One role of caste |n the colony
(i)	Queen	Mates with a long/ lays fertilized eggs for the rest Of her life.
(ii)	King	Mates with the Queen.
(iii)	Worker	Clean/ventilate the termitarium; build/repair the nest; feed other members of the nest; nurse the young; go out to collect food/ _ gather food; tend the fungal garden.
(iv)	Soldier	Protect the workers during food gathering; defend the nest.
(v)	Winged reproductive/ alate	Develop into kings/queen form new colonies.

 

(ii) Consequences of variation

•     Variation causes differences in characteristics in every species of organisms;   

•  Some variations are favourable whilst others are not;

•  Individuals with favourable variation adapt to the environment. Such individuals survive and pass on their advantageous character to their offspring;

•   Individuals without favourable variation are eliminated before maturity; and such characters disappear;

•   Over a long period of time, this causes the formation of new species;

•   Bringing about evolution by natural selection.

SECTION B: FOR CANDIDATES IN GHANA ONLY

Answer all the questions in this section.

 

5. (a) Explanation of terms

(i) Health is the state of complete physical, mental and social well-being; and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity.

ii)  Hygiene

Is the science and practice of maintaining good health; through being clean and avoiding disease causing organisms/ germs/pathogens OR Is the act of cleanliness; as a means of ensuring a healthy living.

iii)     Sanitation

Is a measure used to protect public health; through proper solid waste disposal; sewage disposal; and cleanliness during food processing/preparation. OR Refers to the promotion of public cleanliness; and the provision of facilities and service; for safe disposal of human wastes/urine/faeces/sewage, garbage and waste water.

 

(b)   Differences between

(i) Bilateral symmetry and Radial symmetry

Bilateral symmetry allows a body to be divided along only one vertical/ longitudinal plane; to obtain two equal halves that are exact mirror of each other.

While Radial symmetry allows a body to be divided along more than one plane; to produce mirror images/of each other.

(ii)    Longitudinal section and Transverse section 

Longitudinal section is a cut passing through the vertical axis along the length of an organ/organism. Transverse section is a section/cut made along the horizontal/cross-wise direction through an organ/organism.

(c)   

(i) Actual length of the rabbit

Since the rabbit is 5 times larger than the drawing, we calculate its actual length as:

$$\text{Actual length} = \text{Drawing length} \times 5$$
$$= 8 \text{ cm} \times 5$$
$$=40\text{ cm}$$

So, the actual length of the rabbit is 40 cm.

(ii) Magnification of the drawing

Magnification ($M$) is given by the formula:

$$M = \frac{\text{Drawing length}}{\text{Actual length}}$$ $$= \frac{8 \text{ cm}}{40 \text{ cm}}$$ $$=0.2$$

So, the magnification is 0.2.

Final Answers:

• Actual length of the rabbit: 40 cm
• Magnification: 0.2

(d)  Experiment to measure rate of growth in root of seedling 

•    Take about ten seedlings;

•     mark the radicle of each seedling with an Indian (indelible) ink at

2mm intervals;

•     measure and record the growth at two days intervals for ten days;

•     plot a graph of age on the x-axis;

•     and increase in length of the intervals on the y - axis;

•     determine the gradient of the graph;

•     this gives the rate of growth.

 

(e) Adaptation of the human heart to        its function

•     Myogenic nature of heart muscles; ensures continuous beating; 

•     Heart muscles are never fatigued; hence they heat always; .

•     Wall of me left ventricle is thicker; because it pumps blood to the entire body;

•     Valves between atria and ventricles; prevent backflow of blood during heartbeat;

•     Septum separates the heart into two halves to pi-event i mixing of deoxygenated and oxygenated blood;

•     Pericardia fluid; protects the heart against shock due to contraction;

•     Pace maker/SAN; stimulates the contraction of the heat.

(f)  Importance of proteins to animals

•     Formation of enzymes;

•     Formation of protoplasm;

•     Formation of hormones;

•     Formation of tendons/cartilages/muscles;

•     Formation of keratin/myosin/actin;

•     Source of energy in the absence of carbohydrates/lipids;

•     Used to build up cells/growth; replace old cells/repair damaged/worn out cells;

•     Synthesis of antibodies. 

Conclusion:

Excelling in the WASSCE Biology exam requires consistent practice and strategic preparation. By reviewing these WASSCE 2018 Biology Past Questions and Answers, students can identify key topics, understand exam patterns, and enhance their problem-solving skills. Don't stop here! Check out our other posts for more WASSCE past questions, study tips, and subject specific guides to maximize your success. Keep practicing, stay focused, and give your best in the exam. Good luck!

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