MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, HERITAGE & ARTS

FIJI YEAR 12 CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION 2019

BIOLOGY

Time Allowed: 3 hours

(An extra 10 minutes is allowed for reading this paper)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Write your Index Number on the front page and inside the back flap of the Answer
Booklet.

2. Write all your answers in the Answer Booklet provided.

3. If you use extra sheets of paper, be sure to show clearly the question number(s) being
answered and to tie each sheet in your Answer Booklet at the appropriate places.
Ensure that your Index Number is written on the extra sheets.

4. Answer all the questions with a blue or black ballpoint pen or ink pen. Do not use red
ink. You may use a pencil only for drawing.

5. You may use a calculator, provided it is silent, battery-operated and non-programmable.

SUMMARY OF QUESTIONS

TOTAL SUGGESTED
STRAND GUIDELINES
MARK TIME
There are 14 Multiple Choice questions, 18 Short
1 Answer questions; and one essay question. 64 115 minutes
Questions 1-32 are compulsory
There are 3 Multiple Choice questions, 3 Short
2 Answer questions, and one essay question. 14 25 minutes
Questions 1-6 are compulsory.
There are 3 Multiple Choice questions, 2 Short
3 Answer questions; and one essay question. 12 21 minutes
Questions 1-5 are compulsory.
Essay There is one essay question under each strand.
Answer only one question from any strand of your 10 19 minutes
choice.

TOTAL 100 180 minutes

COPYRIGHT: MEHA, FIJI, 2019.

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INSTRUCTIONS

The multiple-choice questions in this section are all compulsory. Each question is worth
1 mark.
INSTRUCTIONS

1. In your Answer Booklet, circle the letter of the best answer. If you
change your mind, put a line through your first choice and circle the letter of your
next choice.

For example: 12 A B C D

2. If you change your mind again and like your first answer better, put a line through
your second circle and tick (P) your first answer.

For example: 12 A B C D
P

3. No mark will be given if you circle more than one letter for a question.

Short Answer Questions

Write your answers in the spaces provided in the Answer Booklet.

Essay Questions
There is one essay question given in each strand. Answer ONE essay question from any
strand of your choice.
Write the essay in the spaces provided in the Answer Booklet.

STRAND 1 STRUCTURE AND LIFE PROCESSES [64 marks]

There are thirty-three (33) questions in this strand.

1. Which of the following structures are formed from the ectoderm?

A. Pancreatic cells
B. Skeletal muscle cells
C. Skin cells of the epidermis
D. Cardiac muscles of the heart

2. In the process of photolysis, the light energy trapped by pigments is used to

A. split water molecules.

B. reduce coenzyme NADPH.
C. transport ATP to the Calvin cycle.
D. add phosphate to ADP to form energy.

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3. One product of anaerobic respiration in bacteria and animals is

A. alcohol. C. pyruvic acid.

B. lactic acid. D. a disaccharide sugar.

4. The diagram given below shows a nucleotide.

Adapted from: https://www.tes.com

The structure labelled X is a

A. glycerol. C. disaccharide.
B. fatty acid. D. nitrogenous base.

5. Study the diagram given below which shows the karyotype of Individual M.

Adapted from: https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov

Individual M suffers from

A. Downs Syndrome.
B. Turners Syndrome.
C. Klinefelter Syndrome.
D. Cri du chat Syndrome .

Turn Over
© MEHA, FY12CE 2019: BIOLOGY
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STRAND 1 (continued)

6. Human Blood type with alleles IA, IB and IO is an example of

A. dominance.
B. multiple alleles.
C. sex linked genes.
D. incomplete dominance.

7. The diagram given below shows the forelimbs of several vertebrates having similar
forms but serving different functions.

Adapted from: https://www.thinglink.com

The above structures are called

A. fossils. C. convergent.
B. analogous. D. homologous.

8. Organisms who feed on dead organic matter and carry out extracellular digestion are

A. fungi. C. protists.
B. insects. D. bacteria.

9. Which of the following is correctly matched regarding the type of respiratory surface
present in the given animals ?

Organism Type of Respiratory Surface

A. coral polyp tentacles
B. earthworms skin
C. sea urchins madreporite
D. sponges spicules

10. Water moves into the roots of plants from the soil by

A. osmosis. C. root pressure.

B. diffusion. D. turgor pressure.

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11. Plants accumulate and eliminate wastes in the vacuoles of aging leaves through
the process of

A. secretion. C. abscission.
B. debarking. D. metabolism.

12. The simple nerve net is a sensory system found in

A. starfish. C. bivalves.
B. hydra. D. earthworms.

13. When compared to an exoskeleton, one disadvantage of an internal skeleton is

A. that it limits the growth of the animal.

B. its brittle nature - made of calcified bone.
C. its inflexibility due to surrounding muscle.
D. that any damage to the structure is permanent.

14. The endosperm of seed plants is

A. diploid – it contains the zygote.

B. tetraploid – it grows into the fruit.
C. triploid – it is the food source for the zygote.
D. haploid –awaiting fertilisation by a pollen grain.

15. The diagram given below shows a summary of the process of respiration.

Adapted from: https://alevelbiology.co.uk/notes

(i) Name molecules X and Z in the diagram. (2 marks)

(ii) Name and describe the process occurring in Stage II of respiration. (2 marks)

Turn Over
© MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, FY12CE 2019: BIOLOGY.
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STRAND 1 (continued)

16. A Year 12 student placed a piece of paper with the letter ‘p’ written on it and viewed
it under the low power of the microscope.
In your Answer Booklet, draw a diagram to show its appearance as the student
would see it. (2 marks)

17. Describe one difference between prokaryotes and eukaryotes. (2 marks)

18. The graph given below shows the effect of carbon dioxide concentration and
temperature on the rate of photosynthesis. Study the diagram to answer the
questions that follow.
Rate of Photosynthesis (arbitrary units)

Light Intensity (arbitrary units)

Adapted from: https://socratic.org

(i) Name the organelle responsible for photosynthesis. (1 mark)

(ii) Make an inference about the effect of carbon dioxide concentration
on the rate of photosynthesis. Give a reason for your inference. (2 marks)
(iii) At point X, the rate of photosynthesis is constant.
Suggest how it may be increased further. (1 mark)

19. The graph given below shows the periods of mating activity between frogs of the
same species. The different periods of mating activity is a reproductive barrier.

Pickerel Frog Bull Frog

Lithobates palustris L. catesbeianus
Mating Activity

March April May June July

1 1 1 1 1

Adapted from: http://www.solpass.org

With reference to the diagram, explain why speciation is most likely to occur. (2 marks)
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20. In chickens, the trait for frizzled feathers (F) and the trait for straight feathers (S)
are co-dominant. When they are inherited together, the result is a slightly frizzled chicken.

(i) In the punnett square provided in the Answer Booklet, show the cross
between a slightly frizzled hen and a slightly frizzled rooster. (2 marks)

(ii) In a population of 20 chicks from the cross in (i) above, how many chicks
are expected to have straight feathers? (1 mark)

21. The diagram given below shows a summary of the protein synthesis process.

(i) Identify the correct bases (first letters only) for the parts labelled Y and Z. (1 mark)
(ii) Describe process A which results in mRNA. (2 marks)

22. The diagram given below shows the four stages of food digestion in an animal.

Adapted from: http://www.sliderbase.com

(i) Name stages I and III in the diagram. (1 mark)

(ii) Describe the process taking place in Stage III. (2 marks)

Turn Over
© MEHA, FY12CE 2019: BIOLOGY
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STRAND 1 (continued)

23. The diagram given below shows a section of a tree stem.

Adapted from: https://www.slideshare.net

(i) Name the part labelled A. (1 mark)

(ii) Explain the importance of the role of part A. (2 marks)

24. Explain the suitability of the tracheal system of insects. (2 marks)

25. Describe one difference between circulation in a grasshopper and circulation

in a toad. (2 marks)

26. A student set up an experiment as shown below.

Leaf
Clip
Plant

Pot
Slides

Cobalt Chloride
paper

Adapted from: http://www.biologydiscussion.com

(i) Name the process being investigated in the above experiment. (1 mark)
(ii) Explain the significance of cobalt chloride paper in the above experiment. (2 marks)

27. List two roles of hormones in plants. (2 marks)

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28. The table given below shows information on different processes taking place in the kidney
of four animal species. Use the information to answer questions that follow.

Animal species Filtration rate Urine flow Proportion

(mL/Kg body (mL/Kg body Reabsorbed (%)
weight/h) weight/h)
R 14 6 57
S 24 16 32
T 40 10 75
U 156 3 98

(i) State which species is most likely to have the shortest kidney tubule. (1 mark)
(ii) Explain why Species U is most likely a desert dweller. (2 marks)

29. Complete the table below regarding structures that lower animals use to sense
stimuli and coordinate response. Fill the correct response in the spaces provided
in the Answer Booklet.

Name of structure Role Example

I Responsible for sensing II
stimuli
Communication system III IV
V VI Muscles and glands
(3 marks)
30. The diagram given below shows the life cycle of the fern.

Leaf
underside
Spores

Sperm
cell

Egg Cell
Sperm

Mature fern Fertilised

plant egg cell
Developing
fern plant
Adapted from: https://teara.govt.nz

(i) Identify the processes occurring at X and Y. (1 mark)

(ii) Name structure Z and state its function. (2 marks)
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© MEHA, FY12CE 2019: BIOLOGY.
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STRAND 1 (continued)

31. Reproductive success may be defined as an individual’s production of live and fertile
offspring per breeding period, and ensuring that offspring pass on their genes.

(i) State one factor that contributes to reproductive success in mammals. (1 mark)
(ii) Describe how the factor you have named in (i) above contributes to
the reproductive success of mammals. (2 marks)

32. (i) Name a group of animals that use external fertilisation. (1 mark)
(ii) Describe one way that animals who use external fertilisation ensure
survival of their gametes. (2 marks)

33. Essay - Option Question

The skeletal system is the supporting structure of an organism which serves to

protect internal organs, support the weight of the organism and facilitate
movement. Different types of skeletal systems have developed adaptive features
suitable to an organism’s way of life.

With reference to the above statement:

(i) describe any two types of skeletal systems of your choice
with examples of organisms that have these systems; and (4 marks)
(ii) explain how each skeletal system you have chosen in (i) above is
suitable for the organism and the environment it lives in. (4 marks)

STRAND 2 LIVING TOGETHER [14 marks]

There are seven (7) questions in this strand.

1. The diagram given below shows a community pattern.

Time

Adapted from: https://www.biology.tutorvista.com

The community pattern in the above diagram is known as

A. tolerance. B. succession. C. stratification. D. community divisions.

© MEHA, FY12CE 2019: BIOLOGY.

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2. The population size that an environment can sustain indefinitely is known as the

A. carrying capacity.
B. equilibrium phase.
C. maximum population size.
D. exponential population size.

3. In biology, a graph showing a J-shaped curve indicates a population growth that is

A. regulated.
B. unregulated.
C. exponential.
D. independent.

4. A farm that is 200m in width and 300m in length has 10,000 coconut trees
growing on it. Calculate the
(i) range of the coconut tree population; (1 mark)
(ii) population density of coconut trees on the farm. (2 marks)

5. The diagram given below shows the distribution of organisms in a community

along the intertidal area.

Adapted from: https://oimb.uoregon.edu

(i) Name the community pattern shown in the diagram. (1 mark)

(ii) State one factor that influences the distribution of organisms in the above
community. (1 mark)
(iii) Describe one characteristic of the above community. (2 marks)

6. (i) Describe one difference between density dependent and density

independent factors. (2 marks)
(ii) Explain how any one density dependent factor regulates a population. (2 marks)

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© MEHA, FY12CE 2019: BIOLOGY.
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STRAND 2 (continued)

7. Essay - Option Question

Seasonal or cyclic periodicity shown by animals and plants play an important role
in their coexistence in a community.

With reference to the above statement:

(i) describe any two types of cyclic periodicity of your choice with
examples of organisms that show this type of periodicity; (4 marks)
(ii) explain one advantage each of cyclic periodicity that contributes to
organisms being able to coexist. (4 marks)

STRAND 3 BIODIVERSITY, CHANGE AND SUSTAINABILITY [12 marks]

There are six (6) questions in this strand.

1. Carolus Linnaeus is also often called the Father of

A. genetics. C. toxicology.
B. taxonomy. D. microscopy.

2. In the levels of classification, the diversity of organisms decreases the most from

A. genus to order. C. phylum to species.

B. class to phylum. D. species to kingdom.

3. A major cause of coral bleaching is

A. siltation. C. ocean acidification.

B. eutrophication. D. overharvesting of reef fish.

4. (i) Name the two kingdoms whose organisms are prokaryotes. (1 mark)
(ii) Explain one criteria used to place organisms in their respective domains
or kingdoms. (2 marks)

5. (i) List one common greenhouse gas. (1 mark)

(ii) Describe how large quantities of this gas (named in (i) above)
contribute to global warming. (2 marks)
(iii) State one effect of global warming. (1 mark)
(iv) Explain one way of reducing the production of this greenhouse gas
named in (i) above. (2 marks)
 
   
 
 
 
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6. Essay - Option Question

Saltwater intrusion, the movement of saline water into coastal freshwater aquifers,
springs and wells, presents many challenges to communities in Madhuvani, Ra.

With reference to the above statement:

(i) describe one cause and one effect of saltwater intrusion faced
by communities; (4 marks)
(ii) explain two ways of reducing or adapting to the effects of saltwater
intrusion. (4 marks)

THE END

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COPYRIGHT: MEHA, FIJI, 2019.