Name……………………………………………………. Index No…………………/…….

School……………………………………………………… Candidates Signature………………

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231/1
BIOLOGY
THEORY
Paper 1 KCSE PREDICTION 2021
2 Hours

Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (K.C.S.E)

1. (a) State two structural adaptations that make xylem vessels suitable for transport of water
and mineral salts. (2mks)

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(b) List any three adaptations of the root hair cells to their functions (3mks)

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2. (a) Why would you give an athlete glucose and not sucrose after a race? (1mk)

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(b) What happens to lactic acid after oxygen debt recovery? (2mks)

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3. (a) What is gene mutation (1mk)

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(b) State two disorders in human beings caused by gene mutations (2mks)

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(c) What name is given to the factors in the environment that encourage or speed up
mutation? (1mk)

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4. State the role of the following elements to the growth and development of plants (3mks)
(i) Calcium

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(ii) Magnesium

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(iii) Nitrogen

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5. State three environmental factor that affect the rate of stomatal transpiration (3mks)

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6. (a) What is the function of the following parts of the male reproductive system (3mks)
(i) Epididymis:-

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(ii) Seminal vesicle:-

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(iii) Interstitial cells:-

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(b) The diagram bellow shows the structure of a sperm cell. Identify the parts labeled A, B
and C and state their functions (6mks)

PART IDENTITY FUNCTION

A
B
C

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7. (a) Define the following terms:- (2mks)
(i) Species:

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(ii) Binomial nomenclature:-

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(b) A certain sea animal has a smooth skin, lungs, regulates its body temperature and gives
birth to young ones. The animal belong to the class………………………………….(1mk)

8. For a leaf to be efficient for photosynthesis it has to be broad and flat. Explain (2mks)

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9. (a) In an accident, a victim suffered brain injury. Consequently the heart beat was affected.
Name the part of the brain which was injured (1mk)

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(b) State two differences that may be observed between a normal male and one who is
incapable of producing testosterone. (2mks)

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10. Differentiate between convergent evolution and divergent evolution (2mks)
Convergent

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 Divergent

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11. (a) State two physiological changes that take place in a human skin in order to facilitate heat
loss from the body. (2mks)

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(b) State two functions of sebum (2mks)

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12. (a) Define the term Homeostasis (1mk)

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(b) State one way by which mammalian blood carry out homeostasis function (1mk)

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(c) Differentiate between nervous and endocrine communication in animals (3mks)

Nervous communication Endocrine communication

(i)

(ii)

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13. (a) Name the cartilage found between the bones of the vertebral column (1mk)

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(b) State the function of the cartilage named in (a) above (1mk)

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14. State the functions of the following organelles:
(a) Lysosomes:- (2mks)

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(b) Golgi apparatus:-

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15. What is parthenocarpy? (1mk)

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16 State three reasons why geneticists prefer to use drosophila melanogaster (fruitfly) for genetic
experiments. (3mks)

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17. What is the significance of active transport in the human body. (3mks)

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18. In an attempt to clear a certain weed from St. Thomas Moore fish pond, Riang’ombe Sec. School
Biology students introduced a species of beetles into the pond.
(a) Give the term used for this method of control (1mk)

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(b) State two advantages of this method over the use of herbicides (2mks)

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19. (a) State the causative agent of cholera (1mk)

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(b) What is the cause of dehydration in cholera victims (1mk)

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20. (a) The numbers of chromosomes in a Gorilla cheek cell is 48. State the number of
chromosomes in a Gorilla’s ovum. (1mk)

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(b) Give the role of each of the following during cell division (2mks)
(i) Centrides:-

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(ii) Spindle fibres:-

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21. The diagram below shows a germinating seedling

(a) Name the part of the seedling labeled B (1mk)

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(b) State the type of germination exhibited above (1mk)

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22. (a) Name two hormones that control metamorphosis in insects (2mks)

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(b) Identify the plant hormone responsible for
(i) Callus tissue formation (1mk)

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(ii) Formation of abscission layer (1mk)

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(iii) Fruit ripening (1mk)

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23. (a) Name three ways by which flowering plants eliminate waste products from their body
(3mks)

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(b) What is the importance of the following excretory products from plants (3mks)
(i) Papain:-

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(ii) Nicotine:-

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(iii) Quinine:-

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24. State three types of skeletons found in animals (3mks)

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