1983

JAMB Biology 1983 past questions

43 questions from the 1983 JAMB UTME Biology paper. Free, with answers where available.

Practice with CBT mock -> All Biology years
Biology JAMB 1983 Q1
Root hairs are developed from the …
A
root apex
B
epidermis of roots
C
vascular bundles
D
endodermis
E
pericycle Use Fig. 1 to answer questions 2-4 Fig 1 Fig 1 represents a cross-section of a part of a dicot plant.
Biology JAMB 1983 Q2
Which of the following features can be used to identify Fig 1?
A
Position of 7
B
Its circular nature
C
Number of 5
D
Presence of 3
E
Width of 2.
Biology JAMB 1983 Q2
Internal gills 3. Forelimbs 4. Hindlimbs 5. Mouth.
A
1 2 3 4 5 B.1 5 2 4 3
C
1 3 4 5
D
5 3 4 1 2
E
5 4 3 2 1.
Biology JAMB 1983 Q3
The main function of 6 is to
A
separate 5 from 7
B
produce more of 5 and 7.
C
produce cork
D
translocate water and mineral salt
E
conduct carbon dioxide to the other parts.
Biology JAMB 1983 Q4
The main function of 4 is to
A
surround the inner tissues
B
produce cork
C
produce root hairs
D
produce lateral roots
E
produce more of 3.
Biology JAMB 1983 Q5
In a dicot leaf, guard cells differ from other epidermal cells because they
A
have no definite shape
B
lack nuclei
C
are smaller
D
contain chloroplasts
E
lack vacuole.
Biology JAMB 1983 Q6
Which of the following structures is NOT found in the female agama lizard?
A
Pre-anal pads
B
Eardrum
C
Gular fold
D
Nasal scale
E
Nuchal crest.
Biology JAMB 1983 Q7
Herbs differ from shrubs because they
A
do not produce fruits
B
are useful to herbalists
C
do not become woody
D
are only annuals
E
are only perennials.
Biology JAMB 1983 Q8
If an isolated living cell is left in distilled water for two hours, it is likely to
A
lose some of its water to the surrounding water
B
lose all of its water to the surrounding water
C
reproduce by binary fission
D
become more turgid.
E
die due to excess water.
Biology JAMB 1983 Q9
If an organic compound has its Hydrogen: Oxygen ratio as 2:1, it is likely to be
A
a protein
B
a carbohydrate,
C
a fat
D
a fatty acid and glycerol
E
an amino acid.
Biology JAMB 1983 Q10
Which of the following elements are necessary for the formation of chlorophyll in a plant?
A
Magnesium and iron
B
Calcium and potassium
C
Calcium and sulphur
D
Potassium and sulphur
E
Phosphorus and potassium.
Biology JAMB 1983 Q11
Which of the following statements is NOT true of mammalian erythrocytes?
A
They have haemoglobin
B
They appear yellow when looked at singly
C
They are disc-shaped
D
The cells are more numerous than leucocytes
E
They have nuclei at maturity.
Biology JAMB 1983 Q12
In woody plants, gases and water vapour are transported across the stems by the
A
xylem fibres
B
medullary fibres
C
medullary rays
D
phloem fibres
E
phloem parenchyma.
Biology JAMB 1983 Q13
Which of the following substances is NOT found in urine?
A
Water
B
Sodium chloride
C
Nitrogenous compounds
D
Calcium chloride
E
Nitrogenous salts.
Biology JAMB 1983 Q14
The kidneys of all vertebrates act as osmo regulators. This means that they
A
keep the composition of the plasma constant
B
regulate osmotic processes
C
Control the volume of blood entering the kidneys
D
decrease the osmotic pressure of blood
E
increase the osmotic pressure of blood.
Biology JAMB 1983 Q15
The movement of part of a plant in response to external stimulus of no particular direction is
A
taxism
B
tropism C haptotropic movement D nastic movement
E
phototropism
Biology JAMB 1983 Q16
The part of the mammalian brain responsible for maintaining balance is the
A
medulla oblongata
B
olfactory lobe
C
cerebellum,
D
cerebrum
E
frontal lobe.
Biology JAMB 1983 Q17
Fig vertical section of onion bulb. Which of the labelled parts in Fig 2 will develop into a new bulb?
A
1
B
4
C
2
D
3
E
5.
Biology JAMB 1983 Q18
In the onion bulb, food is stored in the
A
stem
B
lateral buds
C
cotyledons
D
outer scale leaves
E
leaf bases. [PAGE 3]
Biology JAMB 1983 Q19
Groundnut is not really a ‘nut' in the biological sense because
A
it is harvested from inside the ground
B
its pericarp is not hard and tough.
C
the fruit is succulent
E
it is an achene.
Biology JAMB 1983 Q20
What type of fruit is formed from a single flower having several free carpels?
A
multiple fruit
B
Simple fruit
C
Aggregate fruit
D
Dehiscent fruit
E
Indehiscent fruit.
Biology JAMB 1983 Q21
A 28g soil sample was heated to a constant weight of 24g. When further heated to red hot and cooled, it weighed 18g. What is the percentage of hurmus in the soil?
A
22.2
B
55.6
C
75.0
D
25.9
E
35.7.
Biology JAMB 1983 Q22
Which of the following diseases is NOT caused by a virus?
A
Rinderpest
B
Maize rust
C
Newcastle disease
D
Swine fever
E
Cassava mosaic disease.
Biology JAMB 1983 Q24
An organism having one pair of identical genes is
A
a heterozygote
B
a hybrid
C
an allelomorph
D
a homozygote
E
a diploid
Biology JAMB 1983 Q26
Banana, plantain and pineapple can be grouped together because they
A
produce small seeds
B
are multiple fruits
C
produce suckers
D
have runners
E
have bulbils.
Biology JAMB 1983 Q29
The dental formular i 3/3: c 1/1: pm4/4: m2/3 = 42 represents that of a
A
rabbit
B
full grown man
C
young child
D
dog
E
sheep.
Biology JAMB 1983 Q30
Which of the following statements is NOT true of insectivorous plants?
A
They obtain part of their food by trapping and feeding on insects
B
They attract insects simply because of pollination.
C
They can grow in soils poor in nitrogenous salts.
D
They can supplement the nitrogen supply by feeding on insects
E
Examples include butterworts, sundews and pitcher plants.
Biology JAMB 1983 Q31
Which of these worms is beneficial to man?
A
Hookworm
B
Tapeworm
C
Roundworm
D
Earthworm
E
Guniea worm.
Biology JAMB 1983 Q32
Starting from the skull end, the vertebrae are arranged in the following order:
A
axis, atlas, cervical, thoracic and limbar
B
atlas, cervical, axis, thoracic and lumbar
C
atlas, axis, thoracic, cervical and lumbar
D
atlas, axis, cervical, thoracic and lumbar
E
atlas, thoracic, cervical axis and lumbar.
Biology JAMB 1983 Q33
Which of the following diseases could be exclusively associated with a river basin?
A
Malaria
B
Syphilis
C
Onchocerciasis
D
Cholera
E
Poliomyelitis.
Biology JAMB 1983 Q34
Which of the following represents the evolutionary sequence in these plants? 1. Flowering plants, 2. Ferns, 3. Mosses, 4. Algae, 5. Conifers.
A
2a1a4a3a5
B
5a4a3a2a1
C
2a4a5a1a3
D
3a2a4a5a1
E
4a3a2a5a1
Biology JAMB 1983 Q35
Which of the following will NOT allow osmosis to take place?
A
pig's bladder
B
Cellophane
C
Parchment paper
D
Transparent polythene
E
Cow's bladder.
Biology JAMB 1983 Q36
Which of the following statements on the mammalian circulatory system is Not true?
A
Blood in the pulmonary artery is richer in oxygen content than blood in the pulmonary vein
B
The blood in the hepatic portal vein is the richest in food substances.
C
Blood flow is controlled by valves in the veins
D
Arteries are generally thicker and larger than veins.
E
Fibrin helps in the formation of blood clot.
Biology JAMB 1983 Q37
In a positive phototropic response of a coleoptile, the region of greatest curvature is brought about by the
A
movement of auxins away from the region of curvature,
B
even distribution of auxins in all parts of the coleoptile,
C
inhibition of growth by auxins in the region of smaller curvature
D
concetrationn of auxins in the region of curvature
E
absence of auxins in the coleptile.
Biology JAMB 1983 Q38
The tuber of cassava is NOT a stem tuber because it
A
is distended with food reserve
B
has an aerial shoot portion
C
has other structures that could be called roots
D
lacks axillary buds
E
has a bark over its stored food.
Biology JAMB 1983 Q39
The function of the ossicles (maleus, incus and stapes) in the mammalian ear is the
A
transmission of vibrations
B
regulation of pressures
C
support of the inner ear
D
maintenance of balance during motion
E
secretion of oil.
Biology JAMB 1983 Q40
Which of the following instruments is used for determining turbidity of water?
A
Thermometer
B
Secchi Disc
C
Rain gauge
D
Hygrometer
E
Wind vane.
Biology JAMB 1983 Q41
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of monocot plants? [PAGE 4]
A
occurrence of secondary thickening
B
Parallel venation
C
Scattered vascular bundles
D
Floral parts arranged in threes,
E
Periath is usually insignifdicant
Biology JAMB 1983 Q42
Which sequence represnts the correct order of organism in a food chain? 1. Toad, 2.Mucuna, 3. Grasshopper, 4.Snake, 5.Hawk.
A
5 4 1 3 2
B
1 2 3 4 5
C
2 1 3 4 5
D
2 3 1 5 4
E
2 3 1 4 5
Biology JAMB 1983 Q43
In Rhizopus, carbonhydrate is stored in the form of
A
glucose
B
paramylon
C
glycogen
D
starch
E
oil
Biology JAMB 1983 Q44
Which of the following statements about the rate of transpiration is INCORRECT? It is
A
dependent on temperature
B
affected by changes in light intensity
C
unaffected by humidity
D
dependent on air movement
E
affected by availability of water.
Biology JAMB 1983 Q45
‘Jointed skeleton' is absent in the
A
cockroach
B
spider
C
millipede
D
snail
E
dragon fly.
Biology JAMB 1983 Q46
Which of the following statements about the definition of man is Incorrect? Man has
A
more molars than incisors
B
no diastema
C
the same number of teeth on upper and lower jaws
D
a total of thirty-two teeth
E
a total of six molars. Biology 1984