MARPLE LEAF INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS
Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education
231/3 - BIOLOGY PAPER 3 - FORM 4
POST - MOCK EXAMINATIONS – Oct. 2024 – 2½ Hrs
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Name…………………………………………...……Adm No…………………..Class No……………
Candidate’s Signature……………………………………..Date………………………………………
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Instructions to candidates
(a) Write your name and index number in the spaces provided above.
(b) Sign and write the date of the examination in the spaces provided above.
(c) Answer ALL question in the spaces provided in the question paper.
(d) You are supposed to spend the first 15 minutes of the 2½ hours allowed for this paper reading the
whole paper carefully before commencing your work.
(e) Additional pages must not be inserted.
(f) This paper consists of 12 printed pages.
(g) Candidates must check the question paper to ascertain that all the pages are printed as
indicated and that no questions are missing.
(h) Candidates should answer all questions in English.
For examiner’s use only
Questions Maximum score Candidates score
1 35
2 22
3 18
4 09
5 16
100
© Marple Leaf International Schools – Post Mock Examinations 2024
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1. You are provided with specimen G
(a) (i) State the plant part represented by specimen G . (1mark)
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(ii) Give one reason for your answer. (1mark)
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(b) (i) Determine the total surface area of the specimen using the grid provided. (3 marks)
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(ii) Explain the significance of the surface area. (2 marks)
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(c) Explain three observable adaptations of G to its functions. (3 marks)
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(d) Explain the role of G in an ecosystem. (2 marks)
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(e) Using a scalpel cut off the petiole of G. Divide it transversely into two equal halves. Make several thin
transverse sections of one half of the petiole of G. Transfer the sections into water in a Petri dish. Choose the
thinnest section. Mount on a glass slide and stain with iodine. Cover with a cover slip and drain off excess stain.
Place on a light microscope and observe under low power objective lens.
(i) Make a drawing of your observations. (3 marks)
(ii) State the functions of any two labeled parts. (2 marks)
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(iii) Based on your observations of the section and the external features of the specimen, state the class of the
plant from which the specimen was obtained.
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Reasons (2 marks)
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(iv) Account for each of the following steps during preparation of the section.
Using a sharp scalpel. (1mark)
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Placing the sections in water. (1mark)
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Cutting very thin sections. (1mark)
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Staining the sections. (1mark)
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Blotting off excess iodine stain. (1mark)
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(f) Divide the other half of the petiole longitudinally into 2 equal pieces as shown below.
Put one piece into solution M in a petri dish. Put the second piece into solution N in a perti dish. Account for the
appearance of each piece after the 30 minutes.
(i) Piece in solution M. (3 marks)
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(ii) Piece in solution N. (3 marks)
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(g) In another experiment a thin layer of epidermis from the lower and upper epidermis of G was mounted on a
glass slide and observed under a microscope. Account for the difference in number of chloroplast between the two
sides. (3 marks)
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2. You are provided with specimen A and photographs of organisms labeled A, B, C, D, E and F.
(a) (i) State the phylum to which the specimens belong. (1mark)
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(ii) Give two reasons for your answer. (2 marks)
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(b) (i) State the class to which the organism in photograph A belongs. (1mark)
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(ii) Give two reasons for your answer. (2 marks)
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(c) With reference to specimen A, state how the body shape, colour and position of the legs adapt the specimen to
its environment.
Body shape (1mark)
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Colour (1mark)
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Position of legs (1mark)
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(d) (i) Draw the hind limb of specimen A. (3 marks)
(ii) How does the size of the hind legs differ from that of the forelegs? (1mark)
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(iii) Suggest a reason for the difference. (1mark)
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(f) Observe the wings of specimen A. Account for the difference between the forewings and the hind wings.
(2 marks)
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(g) Explain the role of specimen A in an ecosystem. (2 marks)
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(h) Using the organisms A to E construct four step dichotomous key under the following guidelines:
1. Number of body parts,
2. Presence or absence of wings
3. Number of wings
4. Number of legs. (4 marks)
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3. You are provided with an organism labeled K
(a) Using a mounting needle prick a little of specimen K from the substratum. Mount on a glass slide, observe
under a light microscope at low power magnification, then at medium power magnification.
(i) Make a drawing of your observation. (3 marks)
(ii) State the functions of any two labeled parts. (2 marks)
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(b) (i) State the kingdom to which the organism belongs. (1mark)
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(ii) Give two reasons for your answer. (2 marks)
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(c) Explain nutrition in specimen K. (3 marks)
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(d) Explain how reproduction occurs in specimen K. (3 marks)
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(e) (i) Explain the role of K in an ecosystem. (2 marks)
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(ii) Suggest why it is difficult to include K in a food chain in an ecosystem. (2 marks)
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4. You are provided with solution P and some reagents. Using the reagents provided carry out food tests on
solution P and hence complete the table below. (9 marks)
Food Procedure Observations Conclusion
Starch
Proteins
Vitamin C
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5. The photograph below shows two different view of the same mammalian bone.
(a) With a reason in each case identify each of the bones labeled G and H. (2 marks)
Bone Identify Reason
G
(b) Determine the magnification of the photograph of bone G. (2 marks)
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(c) State two differences between bone G and H. (2 marks)
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(c) State the part of the body from which the bones were obtained. (1mark)
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(d) (i) Make a drawing of the bone labeled G. (3 marks)
(ii) State the functions of any three labeled parts. (3 marks)
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(e) State the view from which bone H was observed. (1mark)
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(f) State two observable adaptations of bone H to its functions. (2 marks)
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