NAME /EXAM NO_________________________________________________ CLASS_______________

CHIRADZULU DISTRICT MOCK EXAMINATION

2023 MALAWI SCHOOL CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION EXAMINATION

BIOLOGY
PAPER 1
(100 marks)
Subject number: Mo22/I
Time allowed: 2: hours
Tuesday, 21 March 8:00-10:00 am

Instructions
1. This paper contains 12 pages.
Please check.

2. Before you begin, fill in your Examination Question Tick if

number at the top of the question paper and on number answered
all other sheets. 1
2
3. This paper has two sections, A and B. Section 3
A has ten questions and section B has three 4
questions. 5
6
4. Answer all the 13 questions in the spaces 7
provided. The maximum number of marks for 8
9
each answer is indicated against each question.
10
11
12
5. In the table provided on this page, tick against
13
the question number you have answered.

6. At the end of the examination, hand in your

question paper to the invigilator when time is
called to stop writing.

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NAME /EXAM NO_________________________________________________ CLASS_______________

SECTION A (70 marks)

1. a. (i) Define the term Biotechnology.
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(1mark)
(ii) State one disadvantage of genetically modified crops.
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(1mark)

(iii) Describe how the shelf life of tomatoes can be lengthened using gene splicing technique.
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(5marks)

b. Explain one weakness of inbreeding as one of the methods of breeding animals.

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(2 marks)

2. a. Figure 1 is a diagram showing a section of a trachae. Use it to answer the questions that follow.

(i) Name the parts marked M and N.

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(1mark)
N _______________________________________________________________________
(1mark)
(ii) Mention any two functions of the structure in figure 1 in the human body.
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(2 marks)

b. Explain how the part marked X helps in the body defence.

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(3 marks)

3. a. (i) Name one enzyme produced by the wall of the small intestines.

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NAME /EXAM NO_________________________________________________ CLASS_______________

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(1mark)

(ii) What is the end product of digestion if the enzyme mentioned in 3 a (i) above acts on the food

substrate?

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(1 mark)

b. (i) State one function of gastric juice.

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(1 mark)

(ii) Describe one adaptation of a blood vessel which transports digested food from the small
intesines to the liver.
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(2 marks)

c. Explain the fate of excess amino acids in the liver.

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(3 marks)

4. In chickens, the gene for feather colour has two alleles; the dominant allele, G for grey feathers and
the recessive allele, g for white feathers.
(i) What is the genotype of a chicken with grey feathers?

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NAME /EXAM NO_________________________________________________ CLASS_______________

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(2 marks)
(ii) What is the genotype of a chicken with homozygous white feathers?
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(1 mark)

(iii)What would be the result of a cross between a grey heterozygous with a white chicken. Show your

Working. (4 marks)

(iv) State the phenotypic ratio of F1 generaration for the cross in 4 (iii) above.
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(1 mark)
5. Students at a certain school carried out an investigation using pawpaw petiole. They filled distilled
water in the cavity of the petiole. They then immersed the base of the petiole in a salt solution
contained in the beaker as illustrated in the diagram below. The petiole was supported by a clamp as
shown in figure 2 below. Use it to answer the questions that follow.

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NAME /EXAM NO_________________________________________________ CLASS_______________

a. What was the role of the petiole base in this investigation?

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(1 mark)
b. Explain why after 20 minutes, the level of water in the petiole decreased.
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(3 marks)
c. Suggest one possible control of this investigation.
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(1 mark)

6. a. Describe the process of conception.

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(2 marks)
b. Outline any one structural difference between a male gamete and a somatic cell of a human being.
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(2 marks)

c. Which of the cells in 6b. above is produced by reduction process?

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(1 mark)

7. Figure 3 is a diagram of a cell organelle, use it to answer the questions that follow.

Page 6 of 12
NAME /EXAM NO_________________________________________________ CLASS_______________

Figure 3: a cell organelle

a. Identify the organelle.

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(1 mark)
b. Explain the process that takes place in part labelled A.
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(3 marks)
c. Relate this organelle with mitochondrion with respect to their function.
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(3 marks)

8. A house maid at Mulanje Boma was running at a speed of 100 m per minute to buy air time at Chitakale
Trading Centre. When she crossed Chitakale River, she met a mad dog and her speed immediately rose to
200m per minute.

(i) Mention the hormone that caused the change in speed.

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(1 mark)
(ii) What led to the secretion of the hormone in the maid’s body?

Page 7 of 12
NAME /EXAM NO_________________________________________________ CLASS_______________

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(1 mark)
(iii) Explain how the hormone led to the change in speed of the maid.
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(3 marks)
9. (i). Explain why comparative anatomy can sometimes be described as divergent evolution.
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(2 marks)
(ii) Explain how isolation leads to speciation.
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(3 marks)

(iii) List any two ways how mutations can be beneficial to an organism.
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(2 marks)

(iv) In a maize plot, it was observed that all albino maize plants died prematurely. What contributed
to this death?

Page 8 of 12
NAME /EXAM NO_________________________________________________ CLASS_______________

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(2 marks)
10. Figure 4 is a diagram showing a particular cycle. Use it to answer the questions that follow.

(i) Mention one process in the diagram that leads to formation of acid rain.
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(1 mark)

(ii) Describe any two negative effects of acid rains to the environment.
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(4 marks)

(iii) State any one way of mitigating problems caused by pollutions as shown in figure 4.
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(1 mark)

(iv) Suggest one long lasting solution to the problem of charcoal burning in Malawi.
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(1 mark)

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NAME /EXAM NO_________________________________________________ CLASS_______________

SECTION C (30 marks) Essays

11. Explain any five ways how xerophytes reduce water loss through transpiration.
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(10 marks)

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NAME /EXAM NO_________________________________________________ CLASS_______________

12. Briefly explain five ways of controlling cholera.

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(10 marks)

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NAME /EXAM NO_________________________________________________ CLASS_______________

13. In an essay form, briefly describe how a dialysis machine works

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(10 marks)

End of question paper

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