UNIT: 3 Human Biology & Health: 3.3. The Human Respiratory System
UNIT: 3 Human Biology & Health: 3.3. The Human Respiratory System
UNIT: 3 Human Biology & Health: 3.3. The Human Respiratory System
Bronchioles: are small tubes branching from each bronchi in the lung
They are much smaller than bronchi.
Alveoli (singular alveolus): are tiny air sacs which are used for exchange of gases between the lungs
and the blood capillaries, they are called functional unit of the lung.
The lung
Is the major breathing organ of human; it is surrounded by membranous structure called pleural
membrane.
o The lung is spongy and elastic organ which is protected by ribs, vertebral column, diaphragm and
intercostal muscle.
o Diaphragm: muscle separating the muscle from abdomen.
o Intercostal muscle: are muscle that are found between the ribs and used in breathing.
There are two sets of intercostal muscle in normal quite breathing only external intercostal muscle is
involved , however if we need to breath deliberately internal intercostal muscle is involved
The normal rate of breathing in adult human being is 12-14 times per breath
Depth of breathing: is the amount of air per breath
Tidal volume: is the amount of air that one can breathed in & out at normal resting
situation
Vital capacity: is the maximum amount of air that breathed in and out:
The rate of breathing can be affected by the following major factors. These are:
A. Exercise
During exercise when muscular activity increases, the breathing rate and depth of breathing increases
to supply more oxygen to release energy for the body.
B. Anxiety
During anxiety the body reacts as it is in danger, extra oxygen needed to more energy in order to
survive danger, therefore the rate & depth of breathing increases .
C. Drugs
Stimulant drugs such as khat and cocaine can increases the rate and the depth of breathing.
D. Altitude
At places of higher altitude; the level of oxygen becomes lower &lower. This makes breathing
difficult thus the rate and depth of breathing becomes higher.
E. Weight
Excess weight can also affect the breathing rate.
It can be difficult to breathe deeply because of the fat around the abdominal organs, which makes it
difficult for the diaphragm & other structures around the lungs to relax properly.
F. Smoking
Smoking is a habit that directly affects your respiratory system as well as other areas of your body
The effect of smoking on The health
The cigarette smoke consists of around 4000 chemicals that are inhaled into the lungs.Some of these
include:
The build-up of tar in the delicate lung tissue can also lead to a breakdown in the alveolar structure.
In these chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) the structure of the alveoli break down
and much larger air spaces develop.
Cancers of lung, lips and throat can be caused due to carcinogenic substances
Smoking also effects on heart & blood vessels which increases the risk of the heart attack and stroke.
Second semester grade 9 biology contents and practice questions
The body cannot get rid of lactic acid by breathing it out as it does CO2, so when the exercise is
over, lactic acid has to be broken down.
This needs oxygen, and the amount of oxygen needed to break down the lactic acid is known as the
oxygen debt
After exercise, the lactic acid is oxidized by oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and water
Anaerobic respiration:-Glucose → Lactic acid + Energy (ATP)
Oxygen debt repayment:- Lactic acid + oxygen → carbon dioxide and water
Anaerobic respiration in microorganisms
It is also used in other organisms particularly yeast
Yeast is a single-celled fungus w/c is one of the micro-organisms that is most useful to people
When yeast cells break down sugar in the absence of oxygen they produce ethanol and Co2.
umbilical artery which carries blood away from a foetus into the placenta
Veins: carry blood towards the heart.
▲ They have much thinner walls than arteries & less elastic wall\
▲ They do not have a pulse but they often have valves
▲ Most veins carry deoxygenated blood except:
▲ Pulmonary vein, which carry oxygenated blood back from lungs to the left-hand side of heart.
▲ Umbilical vein, which carries oxygenated blood from the placenta back to the developing foetus.
Second semester grade 9 biology contents and practice questions
Capillaries
▲ They are narrow , thin walled blood vessels
▲ It help to connect arteries with veins and take blood to the tissues & cells
▲ They have no valve
▲ They are site of the exchange of substances within the body.
▲ Blood from the arteries passes into the capillaries, which have thin walls & massive surface area.
Valves
Valves: mechanism in the veins that allows blood to flow in one direction only.
Inside the heart there are many different valves.
Their names describe their appearance;
bicuspid (two parts): are found between the left atrium & left ventricle
Tricuspid (three parts) are valves between the atrium & right ventricles.
semilunar (half-moon):
Diastole is when the heart muscles relax and it fills with blood.
Systole is when the heart muscles contract and force the blood out of the heart
The pressure at which the blood travels around our arteries varies as the heart beats.
o A normal blood pressure is about 120 mmHg/80 mmHg –the nominator is systolic & the
denominator is diastolic pressure.
o Sphygmomanometer: is an instrument that is used to measure blood pressure.
C. The blood
Blood is a complex mixture of cells and liquid that carries a huge range of substances around the
body
Blood consists of a liquid called the plasma.
Plasma: - is a pale yellow liquid that transports all the blood cells & also number of other things.
There are components of blood cells. These are:
In areas where the concentration of oxygen is lower, such as the cells and organs of the body, the
reaction reverses
The oxyhaemoglobin splits to give purple-red haemoglobin (the colour of venous blood) and oxygen
The oxygen then passes into the cells where it is needed by diffusion.
Viruses
are even smaller than bacteria
They usually have regular geometric shapes, and
They are made up of a protein coat surrounding genetic material containing relatively few
genes.
They do not carry out any of the functions of normal living organisms except reproduction
They are obligate intracellular parasites
They have either DNA or RNA as genetic material
Fungi (Yeast and mould)
Yeast are single –celled organisms
Each yeast cell has a nucleus, cytoplasm and a membrane surrounded by a cell wall.
They reproduce is by asexual budding – splitting to form new yeast cells.
Second semester grade 9 biology contents and practice questions
Moulds
They are made up of, threadlike structures called hyphae.
The hyphae are not made up of individual cells – they are tubes consisting of a cell wall
containing cytoplasm and lots of nuclei.
They reproduce asexually by spore formation.
The germ theory of disease
o Germs are micro-organisms responsible for cause of some diseases
o The development of microscope Anton van Leeuwenhoek in 17th century helped different biologists
to explain the relationship between infectious diseases & micro organisms
o The development of knowledge about micro-organisms is actually related to the theory of
spontaneous generation.
o The theory of spontaneous generation
States that living things could arise from non-living things spontaneously. This theory is opposed by
many biologists & a French biologist Louis Pasteur disproved it finally by using an S- shaped flask
that traps dust & microorganisms.
Pasteur was convinced that any growths that appeared –
for example, mould on food as it decayed – came from microscopic organisms already present in the
air.
First he showed that the theory of spontaneous generation was wrong. Then he showed
that if he boiled broth and sealed the container, the broth would stay clear until he introduced
material which had been exposed to the air.
At this point micro-organisms grew and the broth turned cloudy
Pasteur went on to identify the micro-organisms that caused a number of diseases including anthrax,
rabies and diphtheria.
The immune system
Immune system the system in the body which protects the body against invading microorganisms
and foreign proteins.
Like all living cells, pathogens carry unique protein molecules called antigens on their cell surfaces.
When a pathogen gets into the body the antigens on the surface stimulate a response by the
immune system.
White blood cells (lymphocytes) produce antibodies to disable the pathogen. Other white blood cells
(the phagocytes) then engulf and digest the disabled pathogens.
Once someone have had a disease, the immune system ‘remembers’ the antigen and the right
antibody to deal with it.
Control of microorganisms
Sterilization is the killing of all micro-organisms in a material or on the surface of an object,
making it safe to handle. These include the use of:
High temperatures or heat
It is highly efficient means of sterilization
o Autoclaving: it involves the killing of microorganisms by boiling in water at 121 °C. under high
pressure for 15–45 minutes of ‘cooking’ at these temperatures
o Ultra high temperature (UHT) is a way of treating food to kill all the micro-organisms on it.
The temperatures used range from around 135 °C to 150 °C
o Dry heat sterilization: Dry heat, over a long time, kills all micro-organisms. Special
ovens used in microbiology use temperatures of 171 °C for an hour, or 160 °C for 2hours,.
Incineration – burning substances at high temperatures in the air – also kills micro-organisms.
Second semester grade 9 biology contents and practice questions
o Pasteurization: it involves boiling or heating of milk, beer and other foodstuffs at 71.6 °C for at least 15
seconds or 62.9 °C for 30 minutes.
A chemical approach to controlling micro-organisms
o Possible pathogens can be attacked chemically in a number of ways .for e.g.
A disinfectant is a chemical or physical agent that is applied to an inanimate object to kill micro-
organisms.
Disinfection means reducing the number of living micro-organisms present in a sample
This method discovered by Joseph Lister
some of example of disinfectant include: house hold bleach, Dilute bleach and calcium hypochlorite
Antiseptics: are chemical agents that are applied to living tissue to kill micro-organisms –
disinfectants for the skin.
It help to protect entrance of germs if the skin is cut or wounded.
Growing of microorganisms
Micro-organisms can be grown in laboratories under controlled condition.
It is important for various purposes; these include:
To know how to killed them
To develop vaccines
To identify their useful & harmful aspects
For growing microorganism’s biologist need to fulfill the following precondition:
4.2. Diseases
Disease is any form of disorder in or on the body distorts it’s normal functioning
Some of the most commonly known diseases which are caused by pathogenic organisms
among them include:
i. Tape worm(cestoda)
o Flat shaped worm that parasitizes the wall of intestine of humans
o They have no digestive system & but have cuticle to absorb nutrients
o The most common are beef tape worm(Taenia saginata) & the pork tapeworm(Taenia solium)
o They have complex life cycle which involves at least two different hosts.
Transmission :eating improperly cooked or raw meat
Symptoms: feeling weakness, weight loss, segments of tape worm in feaces
Control & prevention: avoid eating raw meat, use antiworm drug & proper disposal
of feaces
Life cycle of beef tape worm
Cows raised in unsanitary conditions may contain cysticerci ‘bladder worms’ embedded in their
muscles.
These consist of a capsule containing a scolex. When a bladderworm is ingested (e.g. in undercooked
beef), The scolex turns inside out and attaches by suckers and hooks to the wall of intestine.
It then begins to produce buds, called proglottids, which remain attached to each other for a time
and, as they mature, each develops both male and female sex organs.
The most mature proglottids eventually break loose and are passed out in the faeces. If conditions are
such that cows get access to the human faeces, they take in the eggs and the whole cycle starts again.
ii. Tuberculosis
It is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis
It can affect anyone of any age, but People with weakened immune systems (such as people
suffering from HIV/AIDS) are at increased risk
Transmission :
Droplet infection, but need prolonged exposure to someone with TB for infection to occur.
work in overcrowded conditions
Symptoms
Some people may not have obvious symptoms (asymptomatic), however the symptoms of TB include:
Secondary stage (six weeks after): The most common symptom during this stage is a rash.
Other symptoms can include:
Tiredness sore throat hoarseness patchy hair loss
Fever headaches loss of appetite
swollen glands
Untreated the disease then goes into a long quiet phase
Tertiary stage (late syphilis):
Involve illness in the skin, bones, central nervous system and heart.
It causes severe and irreversible problems that cannot be treated successfully.
If a pregnant woman has untreated syphilis she may transmit the disease to her unborn child. This may
result in death or deformity of the child.
treatment t:is treated easily with antibiotics such as penicillin or tetracycline
Pregnant women can be treated with antibiotics to cure them and protect their baby
Prevention& control: similar with gonorrhea
C. Chancroid
It is a bacterial STD that is caused by the bacterium Haemophilus ducreyi
It is more commonly seen in men than in women.
Transmission : having sex with an infected person & increase risk of becoming HIV-positive
Symptoms:
The first symptoms of chancroid are sore ulcerations on the genitals, particularly penis, it is soft and
filled with pus.
The second stage of the infection is that the lymph glands in the groin also become infected,
Permanent loss of penis
Treatment : it can be treated easily with a dose of antibiotics
Prevention & control:
be faithful sexual partner
Use a male or female condom
Good genital hygiene & male circumcision
Transmission:
sexual intercourse which is un protected
It can pass from a mother to her baby in the womb, during birth or when she breastfeeds
Infected blood on needles used for injecting illegal drugs, or knives used for female genital mutilation.
Symptoms
Patients often have few symptoms to begin with but eventually their weakened immune system means
they get many diseases.
Treatment
Antiretroviral drugs can slow down the progress of HIV/AIDS and protect unborn babies from
infection.
The sooner people can start taking antiretroviral after infection, the longer they will stay healthy.
Prevention & control
It can be controlled by ABC rule means that :
A:abstain from sex
B: be faithful to sexual partner
C: condom use
HIV and the immune system
How does HIV attack the immune system?
There are two main types of white blood cells in the immune system. these are:
T-cells actually bind to the antigens on the invading micro-organism and destroy it.
B-cells make antibodies which bind to the antigen and destroy it.
HIV attacks the T-cells of immune system. It gets inside them and so they can no longer work.
As more T-cells are invaded by the virus, the immune system is less and less effective.
This is why people with HIV/AIDS get so many other infections
Stigma and discrimination
Stigma is a mark of disgrace on people with HIV, while discrimination is an act of
neglecting some from the group or other.& are the most serious cases that affects people
living with HIV/AIDS
Care and support
It is important for people living with HIV/AIDS since it helps them live longer & healthier.
Unit 5: Classification
5.1. Principles of classification
On Earth today there are many types of living things. This great variety of life is called biodiversity.
Classification: is grouping of similar living things.
Taxonomy : is study of classification of organisms(Greek, taxis-to arrange , nomos-law)
Need for classification
Biologists classify living things for the following reasons:
To simplify their study.
To bring order out of chaos or confusion
To try to understand how life originated.
Second semester grade 9 biology contents and practice questions
What is a species?
A group of organisms that can breed successfully with one another to produce fertile offspring.
Aristotle: Greece a philosopher .who tried to create a classification system for the living world, and
grouped animals by: animals that live on land’ and ‘animals that live in water
The modern classification method is introduced by Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in 18th century.
He developed the binomial system of nomenclature for organisms
He published in a book called The System of Nature
Binomial means two names. The two names of an organism are in Latin
Simple rules for writing scientific names
The first name is the name of the genus name & it is starts with capital letter. e.g. Homo sapiens,
The second name is the name of a species & it is written with a small letter.
The two names are underlined when handwritten or in italics when printed.
Table 5.1 Examples of scientific names of some common organisms
Subkingdom protozoa
They are microscopic & have no chloroplasts
They live as parasite or free living
Have locomotory structure. e.g. Amoeba: pseudopodia , Paramecium: cilia
subkingdom algae
They are photosynthetic & eukaryotic
They live either in aquatic habitat or on land
They have undifferentiated body called thallus.
E.g. Dinoflagellates, red algae & green algae
3. Kingdom Fungi
Fungi are eukaryotic and usually multicellular.
They are heterotrophic
Many fungi are saprotrophs, which means they feed on dead material.
They play a vital role within ecosystems as decomposers
Second semester grade 9 biology contents and practice questions
4. Kingdom Plantae
The plants – includes a great variety of organisms, which range from tiny mosses to giant trees &
80% of these are flowering plants
The main characteristics of all plants include
They have eukaryotic cells.
They are multicellular organisms
They contain chlorophyll and carry out photosynthesis.
They are predominantly land dwelling.
Their cell wall composed of cellulose
Most have a waxy cuticle that helps to prevent drying out
The kingdom is split into a number of divisions. Plant divisions are the same as animal phyla. The
four most important divisions are:
A. Division Bryophyta (mosses and liverworts)
They are the simplest land plants.
They do not have a true leave , stem & root system
They are non-vascular (do not have xylem and phloem).
The best examples of bryophytes are mosses like Etodon concinnus,and Funaria species.
A moss plant has
A simple, slender stem.
They also have thin simple leaves
Also have simple root-like structures called rhizoids and attach the mosses to the
soil & used for absorption of water.
The other example is the liverworts, which only grow in very wet places.
Bryophytes are commonly found in rainforests and at high altitudes on mountains
Second semester grade 9 biology contents and practice questions
Ferns
C. Spermatophytes(seed-bearing plants )
They are the most successful because of the following characteristic features that they possess:
They have well-developed roots, stem and leaves.
They have well-developed vascular tissues.
The male gametes are contained within pollen grains and female gamete is contained within the
embryo sac.
The product of fertilisation in sexual reproduction is a seed that may or may not be enclosed in a
fruit.
The spermatophyta are divided into two divisions. these are:
Division Gymnospermae(coniferopyta)- non-flowering plants
These are more commonly known as the conifers or ‘naked seed plants’. Pine trees, spruces and
cedars
▲ The main characteristics of the gymnospermae are:
Their seeds are not enclosed in fruits.
They have small needle-shaped leaves with a thick waxy cuticle that reduces water loss and
minimises damage by excess heat or cold.
They are evergreen so they can photosynthesize all year long
The reproductive structures are found in cones.
Second semester grade 9 biology contents and practice questions
They different types of cone. The male cone forms huge numbers of pollen grains that are blown by
wind to a female cone.
Fertilisation results in a small winged seed.
The genus Pinus (for example, Pinus sylvestris, Pinus resinosa,) is a good example of a conifer
Some common examples of dicots include sunflowers, peas, roses and beans. Most trees, such as
Jacaranda, Eucalyptus, Cassia and mangos are dicotyledons. Shrubs include Hibiscus, Lantana camara,
Bauhinia and oranges
5. Kingdom Animalia
This kingdom includes the animals. There are at least two million species of animals alive today.
They are multicellular, eukaryotic and heterotrophic
They exhibit locomotion, that is, can move their bodies from one place to another, and
Their cells do not have cell walls.
They have nervous systems so they are sensitive to their surroundings.
They are either invertebrates (not have a backbone.) or the vertebrates( – all
the animals which have a spinal cord enclosed in a backbone of vertebrae)
There are33 animal phyla but the main ones are
Phylum Porifera (the sponges)
They are the simplest invertebrates. Most of them are hermaphroditic
They have hollow filter feeders, and the body cavity is connected to its external environment by pores.
There is little co-ordination or control.
They range in size from a few millimetres to two metres and are supported by a calcareous spicules.
Phylum Coelenterata(cnidaria)
They include some exceptionally beautiful creatures and also
Some very poisonous ones. Sea anemones, hydra, jelly fish and coral are among the members of this
phylum.
They have soft bodies with a ring of tentacles for capturing prey.
They have stinging cells on their tentacles for poisoning or immobilising prey and predators.
They have two layers of cells in their bodies that surround a central cavity.
They have only one opening, the mouth, and their bodies have radial symmetry
Radial symmetry : is a body that can be divided into many halves.
E.g. of coelenterate
Second semester grade 9 biology contents and practice questions
Phylum Echinodermata
They are spiny skinned animals
they have a mouth, a gut and an anus
They are all marine animals, and move around using tube feet.
The adults have five arms, but the larval stages do not.
Examples include Asteris, the common starfsh, Echinus, the common sea urchin and
Paracucumana tricolor, a brightly coloured sea cucumber known as a sea apple.
Phylum Arthropoda
This phylum gets its name from two Greek words, arthron – joint, and podos – foot.
They have an external exoskeleton made of chitin that prevents excessive water loss.
They are animals with segmented bodies and jointed limbs.
They have a well-developed nervous system and a complete gut from the mouth to anus.
They divided into a number of classes according to the number of limbs, presence and number of
antennae and number of body parts.
Class insecta
They live almost everywhere although most are land-based.
They have a body divided into three body parts; head, thorax and abdomen.
They have three pairs of jointed legs on the thorax along with one or two pairs of wings.
On their head they have a pair of antennae and one pair of compound eyes.
Insects include flies, butterflies and moths, beetles, wasps and bees and many other common groups.
Class crustacea
Vertebrates
6. The chordates, the best known of which are the vertebrates (animals with vertebral
column/backbone)
Frog Toad
Has a smooth skin Has a rough skin
Has a moist skin Has a dry skin
Has more webbed feet Has less webbed feet
Has a brightly coloured body Has a dull-coloured body
Has a more streamlined body Has a less streamlined body
Has extra-long hind legs Has hind legs that are not extra long
Table 5.6 Differences between a frog and a toad
iii. Class Reptilia
The reptiles are mainly terrestrial animals They have bony skeleton
They have dry skin with scales and their gas exchange takes place exclusively in the lungs
They have developed internal fertilisation
Some reptiles even keep the eggs within their body and give birth to fully developed young.
They are poikilothermic (ectothermic) & have no external ears
Examples , snakes, crocodiles
Two pair of pentadactyl limbs usually present
UNIT 6:ENVIRONMENT
6.1. Ecosystems
Ecosystem : all the animals and plants that live in an area along with the things that affect them
It is the home or habitat of the living organisms within it
Habitats may be on land – when they are known as terrestrial habitats or
They may be in water, when they are called aquatic habitats.
Second semester grade 9 biology contents and practice questions
there are two main types of aquatic habitat – the marine habitat, which is the salt water of the seas
and oceans, and the freshwater habitat of lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams
They are affected by both the abiotic components and the biotic components of the ecosystem
A. Abiotic components
o Abiotic factors are the non-living elements of an ecosystem
o The climate and weather produce several important abiotic components. They include the amount of
sunlight, and the amount of rainfall.
o Temperature is a factor which often affects whether animals and plants can survive in an ecosystem.
o Other abiotic factors include the type of soil and rocks, the drainage of the soil and the pH (acidity).
B. Biotic components
o Are factor of the living organisms within an ecosystem which affect the ability of an organism to survive
o Each organism is the part of another organisms environment thus they interact in various ways: these
are:
I. Intraspecific factor : occur between members of the same species, such as Competition for food,
territory& finding mate.
II. Interspecific factor: which occur between members of different species. This include predator-prey
relationship & symbiosis
Predator-prey relationship (predation): in which predator animal like lion, tiger feed on other
animal (prey) like buffalo, rabbit, etc.
Symbiosis: is relationship between two organism of different species in which one or both get
benefited from the relationship: this can classified as:
Commensalism: is the relationship in which one organism is benefited while the other is
neither benefited nor harmed. E.g. The r/ship between big trees& epiphytes
Mutualism : is relationship in which get benefited & it’s an obligatory relationship
For example: lichen (algae & fungi).
Parasitism: is the relationship in which one organism is benefited (the parasite) & another
organism is harmed (host). e.g. R/ship between human & parasite like tape worm.
Protocooperation: the relation which both organism are benefited but it is not an obligatory
relationship. e.g. the r/ship between teeth cleaning bird & crocodile
6.2 Food relationships
According to their mode of nutrition organism can be classified as:
A. Autotrophs: organism that can synthesize their own food to release energy from the raw material
in their surrounding environment. they can be classified as :
▲ Phototrophs: organisms that feed off light to synthesize their organic food .This group of
organisms are called producers. E.g. green plants, algae& photosynthetic bacteria.
▲ Chemotrophs: organisms that get energy from the breakdown of inorganic chemical
E.g . nitrifying bacteria
▲ B. heterotrophs: organisms that rely on eating other organisms. They cannot produce their own
food so they are called Consumer. They can be grouped as:
Herbivores: animals that eat plants only. E.g. cow, buffalo, sheep, etc.
Carnivores: animals that feed on other animals only. e.g. tiger ,lion
Omnivores: animals whose diet includes both plants and animals. e.g., human
Second semester grade 9 biology contents and practice questions
Decomposers: organism that break down the remains of animals and plants and return the
mineral nutrients to the soil e.g. bacteria & fungi
Food chains
Food chain: is simple & direct feeding interrelationship which involve transfer of energy & nutrients
from one organism to another.
In a food chain energy flow is unidirectional (from producer to consumer)
Each organisms occupies particular tropic level within a food chain
Trophic levels: levels in a food chain to which an organism belongs.
The main tropic levels are:
i. Producer (first tropic level): are green plants & algae.
All organisms depend directly or indirectly on producer.
The sun is ultimate source of energy for all food chains.
ii. Primary consumers (second trophic level): includes herbivores & omnivores.
iii. Secondary consumers (third tropic level): are carnivores which mostly eat herbivores &omnivores.
iv. Tertiary consumers (fourth tropic level ): are carnivores (sometimes called top carnivores)which
mostly eat other carnivores.
Decomposer are found at the of each food chain
Many aquatic food chains start with the microscopic photosynthetic organisms known as
phytoplankton (plant plankton).
These tiny organisms are eaten by the equally microscopic zooplankton (animal plankton) and these
two groups of organisms underpin food chains which involve almost every animal in the water, from
tiny shrimps to enormous whales.
Examples food chain
Oak(Leaves( → grasshopper → rodent → leopard
Producer primary consumer 2ndary consumer tertiary consumer
grass → zebra → lion
phytoplankton → zooplankton →fish →man
Food web
Food web is network of food chains
In a food web the interactions between many different food chains can be shown
Example of food web
Pyramid of Biomass
Biomass: Is a term that describes all the organic material produced by living organisms.
It all comes originally from plants as they photosynthesize at the beginning of all food chains.
This biomass is then passed on through a food chain or web into the animals which eat the plants and
then on into the animals which eat other animals.
The total amount of biomass in the living organisms stage of the food chain can be drawn to scale
and shown as a pyramid of biomass
The biomass supported at each trophic level decreases as it goes from one tropic level to the next.
Birds
Lizard
Insect
Grass
Pyramid of biomass
At each tropic level biomass is lost in various forms :
Heat from respiration, urine, feaces, to provide energy
Pyramid of numbers
The number of organism decreases it moves from one tropic level to the next.
In most ecosystems producers contain large number of organisms than consumer, however
sometimes this may not work
For e.g. the breadfruit tree can grow to around 20 m tall, yet it can be attacked by mealybugs. They
in turn are eaten by ladybirds. However, the pyramid of numbers for this food chain doesn’t look like
a pyramid at all.
Human
Corn
Pyramid of number
Pyramid of energy
In ecosystem there is always be transfer of energy from one tropic level to the next tropic level
There is progressively less energy available for organisms further down a food chain.
Energy is cannot be recycled in an ecosystem, it always flows in one directly.
Man
Fish
Zooplankton
Phytoplankton
Pyramid of energy
Important of decomposers
They are important in various way to the environment.
Break & digest dead bodies of plants, animals & waste materials or dropping of animals & add them
into the soil. This increases the fertility of the soil which is useful for plants.
Removes unpleasant waste materials from an environment
Used to make compost in garden
Recycling of substances in an ecosystem includes chemical, physical &biological processes.
i. The nitrogen cycle
▲ Nitrogen is a vital part of the structure of amino acids and proteins, DNA and RNA
▲ It involves the conversion of nitrogen gas by various processes into usable form by plants
▲ Green plants absorb nitrogen in the form of nitrates dissolved in the soil water.
▲ They use these nitrates to make proteins, and then this protein is passed along the food chain.
▲ The atmospheric nitrogen is fixed by microorganisms living in a symbiotic relationship certain plants,
specially legumes ,it includes pea, beans and clover – have nodules on their roots which are full of
nitrogen-fixing bacteria
The nitrogen cycle involves the following bacteria
A. Nitrogen fixing bacteria-convert free atmospheric nitrogen into nitrate
Note: lightining has also a role in fixing atmospheric nitrogen
B. Nitrifying bacteria : convert ammonium to nitrite then to nitrate
Ammonium Nitrite
Nitrite Nitrate
C. Putrefying (amonifying) bacteria: they convert protein in the dead bodies & decay of plants into
ammonium compounds.
D. Denitrifying bacteria –are bacteria that convert nitrates into free atmospheric nitrogen .
ii. The carbon cycle
Carbon cycle: cycling of carbon compounds between the living and the nonliving world.
The main molecules of life are based on carbon atoms.
It mainly involves the conversion of the inorganic molecule carbon dioxide to form organic molecules
which are formed within the tissues of organisms.
Carbon dioxide is removed from the air by green plants in the process of photosynthesis.
Then when the plants are eaten by animals the carbon is passed on and becomes part of the animal
bodies
when animals respire they release carbon dioxide as a waste product into the air
Finally when both plants and animals die, their bodies are broken down by the action of decomposers
Carbon dioxide is also released into the atmosphere in the process of combustion.
o This build-up of carbon dioxide gas in the atmosphere is generally believed to contribute to the
greenhouse effect, also referred to as global warming
o Methane is another greenhouse gas which causes air pollution and the levels of this gas are rising too.
Second semester grade 9 biology contents and practice questions
6.4 Adaptation
Features organisms develop which make it possible for them to survive in particular habitats.
Organisms in different climatic condition have different adaptation mechanisms to survive in
their ecosystem.
I. Animals in cold climates
Animals in very cold climates have other adaptation
o Thick layer of fat under the skin to keep to store more internal heat &a thick fur coat on the outside
o Reduced surface area to volume ratio
o Usually have Very small ears
o camouflageof an Arctic animal in summer would stand out against the snow in winter
o E.g. Arctic fox change the greys and browns of their summer coats for pure white in the winter.
II. Adaptation in dry climates
Many animals which live in hot or dry conditions have other adaptations for cooling down
They are often most active in the early morning and late evening
Second semester grade 9 biology contents and practice questions
They often have large, thin ears as well to increase their surface area for losing heat
They don’t have much fur & relatively little body fat stored under the skin.
III. Some adaptation of plants
Plants take in water through their roots in the soil & lose water all the time through their leaves.
There are small openings called stomata in the leaves of a plant. These open to allow gases in and
out for photosynthesis and respiration.
When it is hot and dry, photosynthesis and respiration take place fast
most plants that live in dry conditions have reduced the surface area of their leaves so they lose less
water e.g. cacti
plants can cope with dry conditions to store water in their tissues
Plants which store water in their fleshy leaves, stems or roots are known as succulent
Animal dispersed plants have seeds which have hocks & spines
IV. Some animal adaptation
Carnivores animals have sharp & pointed canines to tear flesh.
Porcupine(dhaddee) has skin surface which is covered with long stiff parts like needle called quills,
which it can raise to protect itself when it is attacked by enemy
6.5 Tree-growing project
Ecosystem our country has been changing dramatically because of deforestation. Now Only 3% of land
is covered with forests.
Trees produce oxygen and remove carbon dioxide from the air. They help to reduce the effects
of air pollution and also reduce global warming.
It hold the soil in place and without them our soil is becoming unstable and blowing away.
it also help absorb water – they prevent soil erosion and help to prevent the formation of great areas of
Desert
tree planting procedure
To plant a tree successfully;
I. The soil must be prepared,
II. a big hole must be dug and
III. Water must be put into the hole before the tree is planted.
IV. Once the sapling is in place, the soil must be pressed very frmly around it and
V. Often a stake is used to support the young tree as it starts to grow and get established.
VI. The young trees need to be cared.
Second semester grade 9 biology contents and practice questions
15. The two side of the heart fill& empty at the same time to give strong coordinated beat. this means:
A. The right atrium contract with right ventricle C. The right atrium contract with left atrium
B. The left atrium contract with left ventricle D. The right ventricle contract with left atrium
16. The term double circulation more correctly refers to:
A. Presence of inferior & superior venacava C. Division of the heart into left and right halves.
B. Presence of pulmonary & systemic circulation. D. Presence of pulmonary vein & artery
17. The pain known as muscle cramps that one may experience after a heavy physical exercise results from the
accumulation of:
A. Alcohol in muscle cells C. Carbon dioxide in muscle cells
B. Energy in muscle cells D. Lactic acid in muscle cells
18. If certain substance is injected into the blood in the right atrium of the mammalian heart, at which of the
following parts would the substance detected last?
A. Right ventricle B. Left atrium C. Left ventricle D. Right atrium
19. The exchange of substance between the blood &the tissues of the body takes place in the:
A. Arteries B. Veins C. Capillaries D. Aorta
20. If you detected lots of mitochondria in the cells of a tissue from an animal , this suggests that the cells,
A. Use lots of energy C. Has stopped active growth
B. Respire anaerobically D. Are from portion of an organ with dead
21. Which of the following event is true during exhalation?
A. Intercostal muscles contract C. The diaphragm muscle relax
B. The ribs move upward and outwards D. The lung filled with air
22. One of the following structures is serves as a passage of both air and food?
A. Larynx B. epiglottis C. Trachea D. Pharynx
23. Which of the following statement about the human respiratory system is false?
A. When we breathe in, air travels from alveoli to trachea
B. The bronchioles are larger and more branched than bronchi.
C. Mucus in nasal passage used to trap dust and small particles
D. Gas exchange between the lung and blood takes place in the trachea
24. Which is the correct order of airflow during inhalation?
A. Nasal cavity→ trachea→ larynx →pharynx → bronchi→ bronchioles →alveoli
B. Nasal cavity→ pharynx →larynx→ trachea→ bronchi →bronchioles →alveoli
C. Nasal cavity→ pharynx →larynx→ trachea→ bronchioles→ bronchi →alveoli
D. Nasal cavity→ pharynx →trachea→ larynx→ bronchi→ bronchioles→ alveoli
25. Which of the following reaction is indicating release of energy to the cells?
A. ATP+ H2O→ ADP + Pi C. ADP + Pi → ATP+ Pi
B. ADP + Pi → ATP D. ATP+ H2O→ ATP + Pi
26. Which of the following is true of aerobic respiration?
A. It is involved without requirement of oxygen C. It yields less energy than anaerobic respiration
B. It takes place in cytoplasm of the cell D. It release CO2 as waste product
27. Which of the following reaction is true of oxygen debt repayment?
A. Glucose → lactic acid+ energy C. Glucose → ethanol + CO2 + energy
B. Glucose +oxygen → CO2 +O2 + Energy D. Lactic acid + oxygen→ CO2+ H2O
28. Which of the following smoking related disease is result of breaking down of Alveolar structure?
A. Bronchitis C. Pulmonary TB
B. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease D. Throat cancer
29. Which of the following is true of vital capacity?
A. the maximum amount of air that breathed in and out
B. The amount of air breathed in and out at normal resting situation
C. The minimum amount of air per breath D. The number of breath per unit time
30. It is not true that:
A. In normal quite breathing both internal and external intercostal muscles are involved.
B. When air is breathed into the lungs oxygen passes into the blood by diffusion.
C. The blood that the heart pumps to the lungs is low in oxygen.
D. The volume the thorax increases when air is breathed in.
Second semester grade 9 biology contents and practice questions
31. Which of the following chemical in cigarette smoke decreases the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood?
A. Tar B. Nicotine C. Carbon monoxide D. Arsenic
32. The role of the mucus on the epithelium of the trachea is:
A. To move dirt and mucus down the trachea into the lung C. To prevent food getting into the lungs
B. To trap microorganism & dust particles D. To move dirt and mucus away from the lungs
33. Fermentation of glucose by yeast yields
A. CO2, energy & lactic acid C. CO2, energy & ethanol
B. CO2, H2O & ethyl alcohol D. CO2, ethanol & lactic acid
34. Controlling of micro-organisms through heated to either 71.6 °C for at least 15 seconds or 62.9 °C for 30 minute
is called?
A. Pasteurization C. Dry heat sterilization
B. Autoclaving D. Ultra high temperature
35. Immunity passed from mother to foetus by way of the placenta is described as:
A. natural active B. Artificial active C. Natural passive D. Artificial passive
36. Which of the following animal is the vector for malaria?
A. Aedes aegypti mosquito C. Anopheles mosquito
B. housefly D. Plasmodium falciparum
37. Which of the following statement is not true of microorganisms?
A. All are harmful and cause disease C. All are parasites
B. Some of them have useful aspects in ecosystem D. A&C are not true
38. All of the following are useful effects of growing of micro-organisms in laboratories. Except:
A. To know how to killed them C. To identify their useful & harmful aspects
B. To develop biological weapon D. To develop vaccines
39. Which of the following disease is only caused by bacteria?
A. Malaria B. Bilharzia C. gastro enteritis D. cholera
40. The chemical approach to controlling micro-organisms that are applied to living tissue to kill micro-organisms
are:
A. Antiseptics B. Disinfectant C. Autoclaving D. Sterilization
41. A solid nutrient medium which is extracted from red algae & used for growing of microorganisms on Petridish is
A. Agar B. Broth C. Crystal violet D. Iodine
42. Artificial passive immunity:
A. It involves giving specific antibodies in the form of infection
B. It can be passes from mother to child though breast feeding
C. It has long-lasting effect on the body
D. It can damage all types of pathogenic antigen
43. Which of the following method is used prevent the disease which is caused by tape worm?
A. Avoid work in overcrowded conditions C. Avoid eating improperly cooked or raw meat
B. Taking effective antibiotic D. Use insecticide-treated mosquito nets
44. One of the following is not characteristics of viruses
A. They are obligate intracellular parasites
B. They have either DNA or RNA as genetic material
C. They can reproduce without host cells
D. They do not carry out of the functions of normal living organisms
45. Which of the following bacteria doesn’t cause intestinal infection & result in diarrhea?
A. Salmonella typhi C. Mycobacterium tuberculosis
B. Escheria coli D. Vibrio cholerae
46. Controlling the Anopheles mosquitoes which are vector of causative agent of malaria can be done by the
following. Except :
A. Having screens on doors and windows
B. Having Good ventilation
C. insecticide-treated mosquito nets
D. Minimize any opportunities for the mosquitoes to breed
47. Among the Sexually transmitted disease, which is not caused by bacteria?
A. Syphilis B. Gonorrhea C. Chancroid D. HIV/AIDS
Second semester grade 9 biology contents and practice questions
48. At which stage of syphilis, symptoms of illness in the skin, bones, central nervous system and heart developed?
A. Primary stage B. Secondary stage C. Tertiary stage D. Quaternary stage
49. Which of the following sexually transmitted disease affects males than females?
A. Chancroid B. Syphilis C. Gonorrhea D. HIV/AIDS
50. Which of the following are the most serious cases that affects people living with HIV/AIDS?
A. Care & support C. Stigma and discrimination
B. Guidance and counseling D. Developing positive attitude
51. Which of the following cells of immunity are attacked by Human Immuno deficiency viruses?
A. T- cells B. Red blood cells C. B-cells D. Plasma cells
52. All of the following practice have to be applied while you using modern medicine. Except:
A. Stop using the medicines if you are in good health condition.
B. Follow the instruction given by physician.
C. Do not take more than you are prescribed. D. Do not take less than you are given.
53. Choose the alternative contains the disease caused by what is known as droplet infection?
A. Typhoid fever B. Cholera C. Malaria D. Tuberculosis
54. What is the mode of transmission of diseases such as gastroenteritis & cholera?
A. Blood to blood contact C. Eating contaminated food
B. Bites of animal vectors D. Sexual contact
55. All of the following are practices that increase risk of HIV/AIDS. Except:
A. Having sex with an infected person
B. Sharing knives for female genital mutilation
C. Receive infected blood
D. Having positive attitude with an infected individual
56. Which of the following of the following human body system does HIV attacks?
A. Circulatory system C. Digestive system
B. Immune system D. Breathing system
57. What is the huge role played by micro-organisms such as bacteria and fungi in the ecosystem?
A. Producing organic substances C. Recycling of nutrients
B. Antibiotic production D. Causing of diseases
58. Which of the following is true about antibodies:
A. Are substances that destroy the cells of sick person
B. Antibodies against one disease can be used for curing any other infection.
C. Antibodies function the same way as antibiotics
D. Antibodies will give protection to the person against reinfection
59. Different biologists used different criteria to classify living things into different categories. What is the need for
the classification?
A. To simplify their study. C. To try to understand how life originated
B. To bring order out of chaos or confusion D. All are the reason for need of classification
60. Which of the following is not true of subkingdom algae
A. All are microscopic C. They live either in aquatic habitat or on land
B. They are photosynthetic & eukaryotic D. They have undifferentiated body called thallus
61. Liverwort is from which of the division of plant kingdom?
A. Bryophyta B. Pteridophyta C. Spermatophyta D. Seed bearing plant
62. The scientific name of dog is:
A. Musca domestica B. Canis familiaris C. Felis domesticus D. Panthera leo
63. Large prominent leaves of ferns are:
A. Fronds B. Rhizomes C. Spores D. Rhizoids
64. Monocotyledons are differ from dicotyledons .because monocotyledon possess:
A. The stem contains scattered vascular bundles. C. The stem contains a ring of vascular tissue.
B. The leaves are often relatively broad. D. The leaves contain have a network of veins
Second semester grade 9 biology contents and practice questions
85. Which of the following is not true about insects? they possess:
A. Three segmented body parts C. Two pairs of legs
B. A pair of antennae D. One or Two pairs of wings
86. Which class of the vertebrata has scaly skin on the legs, lays eggs and can regulate its own body temperature?
A. Birds B. Fish C. Mammals D. Reptiles
87. Mammals are the best known of all animals, then which of the following is not feature of mammals make them
different from other vertebrate groups?
A. Produces milk for its young in mammary glands. C. They have two pairs of pentadactyl limbs
B. They sweat to help control their body temperature. D. They are poikilothermic
88. Which major group of the plant kingdom is best characterized by having needle shaped leaves and production of
seeds in structures called cones?
A. Monocotyledons B. Ferns C. Angiosperms D. Conifers
89. Which one of the following is not closely related to the others?
A. Frog B. Turtle C. Crocodile D. Snake
90. In which of the following features are eukaryotic cells differ from prokaryotic cells?
A. They have cell membrane C. They have no ribosome
B. They have distinctive nucleus D. They have cytoplasm
91. Which of the following is not true of protozoa?
A. They represent both plants and animals C. They have no chloroplast
B. They are microscopic organisms D. They are prokaryotes
92. In which kingdom of life are the unicellular prokaryotes grouped?
A. Monera B. Fungi C. Protista D. Plantae
93. Which of the following has a unidirectional flow in an ecosystem?
A. Carbon B. Energy C. Nitrogen D. Water
94. In a given ecosystem, members of which one of the following groups release nutrients that are locked up in
organic substances?
A. Herbivores B. Producers C. Decomposers D. Carnivores
95. The adult frog in a pond feeds on insects. What type of consumer is the frog?
A. Primary consumer C. Tertiary consumer
B. Primary producer D. Secondary consumer
96. Which of the following trophic level contains the least amount of total energy in an ecosystem?
A. First trophic level C. Fourth trophic level
B. Second trophic level D. Third trophic level
97. Which is the appropriate term that collectively refers to the fungi & bacteria that the dead organic matter to the
small elemental units?
A. Producers B. Decomposers C. Carnivores D. Omnivores
98. In a food chain: - grass → rodents → snakes → eagles .Which group contains the high amount of energy?
A. Grass B. Snakes C. Eagles D. Rodents
99. Which of the following bacteria converts nitrate in the soil to atmospheric nitrogen?
A. Denitrifying bacteria C. Amonifying bacteria
B. Nitrifying bacteria D. Nitrogen fixing bacteria
100. The food web is differ from food chain because in the food web:
A. There are many trophic level C. There are many interconnected food chain
B. There is clear sign of recycling nutrients D. There are high number of organisms
101. Which of the following statement is true concerning matter & energy in the ecosystem?
A. Both matter & energy are recycled C. Matter is not recycled; energy is recycled
B. Matter is recycled; energy is not recycled D. Matter is recycled more than energy does
102. The biomass of ecosystem is refers to :
A. The dead parts of organisms in the ecosystem
B. The total mass of producer in the ecosystem
C. The total mass of materials produced by living organisms.
D. The total mass producer & consumer in the ecosystem
103. In an ecosystem, presence of which of the following group is essential in order for the other to be present?
A. Autotrophs B. Herbivores C. Carnivores D. Decomposers
Second semester grade 9 biology contents and practice questions
104. Which of the following groups has the highest efficiency of obtaining energy from grasses?
A. Omnivorous C. Primary carnivores
B. Herbivores D. Secondary carnivores
105. Which of the following is true about the cycle of energy in nature?
A. Energy obtained from various kinds of food can be used 100%
B. Energy can be converted from one from to another
C. Light energy can be utilized by all organism to carry out basic life processes.
D. Energy flow from producer to consumer in the same amount.
106. Which of the following factor that affect ecosystem is biotic component?
A. Temperature B. Rain fall C. Diseases D. Water
107. The process which release carbon dioxide to atmosphere is:
A. Photosynthesis B. Combustion C. Respiration D. B & C
The next two question is based on the diagram of food chain given below
Birds
Green plants
Insects lizards
108. Which of the following is true concerning birds and lizards? They are:
A. Primary consumers C. Primary producers
B. Secondary consumers D. Tertiary consumers
109. Which of the following is belongs to quaternary trophic level?
A. Snails B. Insects C. Hawks D. Lizard
110. It is not true that:
A. Nitrifying bacteria converts ammonium to nitrite then to nitrate
B. Energy is cannot be recycled in an ecosystem
C. The number of organisms increases it moves from one tropic level to the next.
D. Intraspecific competition occur between members of the same species.
111. Which of the following gases are contribute to the greenhouse effect?
A. Methane & carbon dioxide C. Carbon dioxide & nitrogen dioxide
B. Methane & oxygen D. Nitrogen oxide & methane
112. Which of the following adaptation of animal is important in hot climate?
A. Having thick fur to reduce heat loss C. Increase their surface area for losing heat
B. Having fatty insulated layer under skin to store heat. D. Usually have thick & Very small ears
113. The Golden back jackal chases, catches, kills & feeds up on small herbivorous gazelle. The ecological
interaction between these two organisms can be best described as:
A. Protocooperation C. Parasite –host interaction
B. Predator –prey interaction D. Mutualistic relation
114. The importance of the valves of the mammalian heart is that they
A. Control the amount of blood flow C. Prevent the blood from flowing back ward
B. Prevent pathogenic microorganisms from heart D. Control the speed at which blood is flowing
Second semester grade 9 biology contents and practice questions