WASSCE 2019 Biology Questions and Answers – Set 2
Fresh Biology Practice Questions, Detailed Solutions, Multiple Choice Questions and Topic Analysis
WASSCE Biology Practice Set 2
This second Biology practice set contains a fresh collection of examination-style questions covering important areas of senior secondary Biology. The questions focus on understanding, application, interpretation and scientific reasoning.
The set covers microorganisms, plant reproduction, mineral nutrition, support and movement, coordination, immunity, ecology, genetics, classification and biological experiments.
Each structured question is followed immediately by its answer, explanation and a short difficulty analysis. A separate MCQ section is provided for rapid revision.
Section A — Questions, Answers and Solutions
Answer
Biological classification is the systematic grouping of organisms according to shared characteristics and evolutionary relationships.
Two advantages are:
- It makes the study and identification of organisms easier.
- It helps scientists recognise relationships between different groups of organisms.
- It provides a standard system for naming organisms.
Explanation
There are millions of organisms, and studying each one independently would be difficult. Classification arranges organisms into groups so that related organisms can be studied together. Scientific naming also reduces confusion caused by different local names.
Question Analysis
Answer
- Some microorganisms are used in food production.
- They can be used in the manufacture of medicines and industrial products.
- Decomposer microorganisms recycle nutrients in ecosystems.
- Some bacteria are involved in wastewater treatment.
Explanation
Microorganisms are not all harmful. Yeast, for example, is useful in fermentation. Many bacteria and fungi break down dead organic matter, returning nutrients to the environment. Industrial microbiology also uses microorganisms to produce useful substances.
Question Analysis
Answer
Nitrogen is required for the production of amino acids and proteins and is also an important component of nucleic acids and chlorophyll-related structures.
Explanation
Plants require mineral ions for growth and metabolism. A shortage of available nitrogen commonly causes poor growth and pale or yellowing older leaves because nitrogen is needed for the formation of important cellular materials.
Question Analysis
Answer
- They have long projections that provide a large surface area.
- Their thin walls provide a short pathway for water movement.
- They are in close contact with soil particles and soil water.
- They contain transport proteins and metabolic machinery needed for active uptake of some mineral ions.
Explanation
Root hairs increase the contact area between the root and soil solution. Water can enter by osmosis, while mineral ions may be absorbed by active transport when their concentration in the soil is lower than inside the root cells.
Question Analysis
Answer
Pollination is the transfer of pollen grains from the anther to a receptive stigma.
Fertilisation occurs when the male gamete from a pollen grain fuses with the female gamete within the ovule.
Explanation
Pollination is a transfer event and occurs before fertilisation. After a compatible pollen grain lands on the stigma, a pollen tube can grow towards the ovule, allowing the male gamete to reach the female gamete.
Question Analysis
Answer
Bones provide rigid structures to which muscles attach. When muscles contract, they pull on bones across joints, producing movement.
Explanation
Skeletal muscles normally work in antagonistic pairs. One muscle contracts while its opposing muscle relaxes, allowing controlled movement around a joint.
Question Analysis
Answer
Receptors detect changes or stimuli in the internal or external environment and convert them into signals that can be transmitted through appropriate pathways.
Explanation
Examples include receptors sensitive to light, pressure, temperature, chemicals and stretch. The information they detect allows the nervous or endocrine system to coordinate an appropriate response.
Question Analysis
Answer
The retina contains light-sensitive cells that detect light and convert it into electrical signals. These signals are processed and transmitted through the optic nerve towards the brain.
Explanation
The retina is positioned at the back of the eye. Light must be focused onto it so that photoreceptor cells can respond. The resulting nerve signals contribute to visual perception.
Question Analysis
Answer
Vaccination exposes the immune system to a safe form or component of an antigen. This stimulates an immune response and the formation of memory cells, allowing a faster and stronger response if the person later encounters the pathogen.
Explanation
The immune system can retain immunological memory. On subsequent exposure to the relevant antigen, memory cells can contribute to a more rapid specific response.
Question Analysis
Answer
- Maintaining good personal hygiene.
- Using safe drinking water and properly handled food.
- Appropriate vaccination programmes.
- Controlling disease vectors where relevant.
- Following suitable infection-control practices.
Explanation
Disease-control methods depend on the route of transmission. Hygiene and sanitation reduce exposure to many pathogens, vaccination reduces the risk of particular infections, and vector control can reduce transmission by organisms such as mosquitoes.
Question Analysis
Answer
Ecological succession is the gradual change in the composition and structure of a biological community over time.
Explanation
As environmental conditions change, some species become established while others decline or disappear. Over time, the community can change through a series of stages.
Question Analysis
Answer
- Respiration by living organisms.
- Decomposition of dead organic material by microorganisms.
Explanation
Carbon continually moves between organisms and the environment. Respiration releases carbon dioxide from organic compounds, while decomposers release carbon dioxide as they break down organic material and respire.
Question Analysis
Answer
- Birth rate
- Death rate
- Immigration
- Emigration
Explanation
Births and immigration add individuals to a population, whereas deaths and emigration remove individuals. The balance among these factors determines whether population size increases, decreases or remains relatively stable.
Question Analysis
Answer
Sexual reproduction combines genetic material from two parents. Meiosis produces genetically varied gametes through processes such as independent assortment and, in many organisms, crossing over. Random fertilisation then combines gametes in different ways.
Explanation
The resulting offspring inherit combinations of alleles from both parents. This creates variation within a population, which can be important for adaptation and evolution.
Question Analysis
Answer
- Growth of multicellular organisms.
- Replacement and repair of damaged or worn-out cells.
- Asexual reproduction in some organisms.
Explanation
Mitosis produces daughter cells that generally retain the same chromosome number as the parent cell. This makes it suitable for growth and tissue replacement.
Question Analysis
Answer
Selective breeding is the deliberate selection of organisms with desirable inherited characteristics and using them as parents for subsequent generations.
Farmers use it to increase useful traits such as yield, growth rate, disease resistance or quality of products.
Explanation
If a desired characteristic has a genetic component, selecting suitable parents can increase its frequency in later generations. This is an example of artificial selection.
Question Analysis
Answer
- Starch — iodine solution.
- Reducing sugar — Benedict’s test with heating.
- Protein — Biuret test.
Explanation
Food tests use characteristic chemical reactions to indicate the presence of particular nutrients. Correct reagent choice and appropriate experimental conditions are essential when carrying out these tests.
Question Analysis
Answer
A control provides a comparison against which the effect of the variable being investigated can be assessed.
Explanation
Without an appropriate comparison, it can be difficult to determine whether the observed change was caused by the independent variable or by another factor.
Question Analysis
Answer
- Use clear, single lines rather than heavy artistic shading.
- Label structures accurately with straight label lines where appropriate.
- Make the drawing large enough for important structures to be visible.
- Include a suitable title when required.
Explanation
A biological drawing should communicate structure clearly. It should be accurate, proportionate and easy to label. Unnecessary artistic decoration should not replace scientific detail.
Question Analysis
Answer
Biodiversity provides a wide range of organisms and ecological roles. It supports food webs, nutrient cycling and ecosystem functioning and can increase resilience to environmental changes.
Explanation
Different organisms perform different ecological functions. Producers, consumers, decomposers, pollinators and other organisms contribute to the operation of ecosystems. Loss of biodiversity can disrupt these relationships.
Question Analysis
Section B — Fresh Biology MCQs
Attempt these questions independently before checking the marked answer.
Which term refers to the scientific naming of organisms using two names?
Which microorganism is commonly used in bread making?
Which mineral ion is particularly important for chlorophyll formation?
Root hair cells increase the efficiency of absorption mainly by increasing:
Pollen grains are produced in the:
The part of a flower that receives pollen is the:
What connects a muscle to a bone?
Which structure connects one bone to another bone at a joint?
Which receptor detects light?
Which part of the eye controls the amount of light entering?
Antibodies are produced by specialised:
Which practice can help prevent diseases transmitted through contaminated water?
Which process describes the gradual replacement of one community by another?
Which process removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere?
Which event directly adds individuals to a population?
Which process produces gametes with half the normal chromosome number?
Mitosis normally produces daughter cells that are:
Which event during meiosis can contribute to genetic variation?
A positive iodine test for starch produces a:
Which reagent is associated with the Biuret test?
The variable deliberately changed by a researcher is the:
The variable measured in an experiment is called the:
Biodiversity refers mainly to the:
Selective breeding is an example of:
Which tissue carries water upward through a flowering plant?
Which tissue transports sugars and other organic assimilates?
Which structure develops into a seed after fertilisation?
Which flower structure contains the ovules?
Muscles produce movement mainly by:
Which structure carries nerve impulses away from the cell body of a typical neuron?
What is an antigen?
Which organisms break down dead organic matter?
A food web represents:
Energy enters most ecosystems mainly through:
An organism with two identical alleles for a gene is:
An organism with two different alleles for a gene is:
Repeating an experiment several times mainly helps to:
Which instrument is commonly used to measure temperature?
Which plant hormone is strongly associated with cell elongation and tropic responses?
Which statement best describes an ecosystem?
WASSCE Biology Set 2 — Paper Analysis
| Area | Main Concepts | Expected Skill | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classification | Grouping and naming organisms | Recall | Easy |
| Microbiology | Useful microorganisms | Application | Easy |
| Plant Nutrition | Mineral requirements | Explanation | Moderate |
| Plant Reproduction | Pollination and fertilisation | Comparison | Easy |
| Human Movement | Bones, joints and muscles | Understanding | Moderate |
| Coordination | Receptors and sensory organs | Function | Easy |
| Immunity | Vaccination and immune response | Application | Moderate |
| Ecology | Succession and population | Reasoning | Moderate |
| Genetics | Variation and selection | Application | Challenging |
| Practical Biology | Food tests and experimental design | Scientific Method | Moderate |
| Biodiversity | Ecological importance | Explanation | Moderate |
How to Prepare for WASSCE Biology
Build Strong Definitions
Biology examinations often contain short questions where a precise definition earns marks. Learn the difference between closely related concepts instead of memorising only isolated words.
Practise Application Questions
After learning a topic, try applying it to a new situation. For example, use knowledge of osmosis to predict what happens to cells placed in different solutions.
Revise Practical Skills
Review food tests, variables, controls, observations, conclusions, biological drawings and basic experimental design.
Use Diagrams
Practise labelled diagrams of organs, cells, flowers and other structures. A clear diagram can make complex biological relationships easier to remember.
Review Wrong MCQs
Do not simply count your correct answers. Record the questions you missed, identify the topic behind each mistake and revise that topic before trying another test.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is included in WASSCE Biology Set 2?
This set contains 20 structured Biology questions with answers, explanations and individual question analysis, followed by 40 fresh MCQs.
Are these questions copied from the official 2019 paper?
No. These are original examination-style practice questions. They are designed around common Biology concepts and are not a verbatim reproduction of an official examination paper.
Which topics are covered in this set?
The set covers classification, microorganisms, plant nutrition, plant reproduction, human movement, coordination, immunity, disease control, ecology, genetics, practical Biology and biodiversity.
How many MCQs are available in Set 2?
Set 2 contains 40 multiple-choice questions. Every MCQ has four answer options and a clearly marked correct answer.
What difficulty level does this Biology set have?
The questions range from easy recall questions to moderate application questions and a smaller number of challenging reasoning questions.
How should students use this set?
First attempt the structured questions without looking at the solutions. Then compare your responses with the answers and explanations. Finish by attempting the MCQ section under timed conditions.
What should I revise after completing this set?
Focus on any topic where you made repeated errors. Genetics, practical Biology, ecology and human physiological processes are especially useful areas for deeper application practice.
Final Revision Summary
Biology preparation becomes more effective when students combine knowledge, application and regular testing. Instead of learning every topic as a list of facts, try to understand why a structure has a particular function and how biological processes are connected.
For examination preparation, revise one topic at a time, practise structured questions, check your explanations against mark-worthy points and then use MCQs to test speed and recall.
This Set 2 provides a different collection of Biology practice material so that students can continue revising without relying on exactly the same questions repeatedly.
Classification → Microorganisms → Plant Nutrition → Plant Reproduction → Human Movement → Coordination → Immunity → Ecology → Genetics → Practical Biology → Biodiversity → MCQ Revision