Topic 1: Introducing biology

1. A seed germinates and becomes a seedling in spring after a cold winter. Which of the following are
involved in this phenomenon?
(1) Growth
(2) Reproduction
(3) Irritability
A (1) and (2) only B (2) and (3) only
C (1) and (3) only D (1), (2) and (3)

2. Which of the following matching of the characteristics of organisms and their examples is incorrect?
Characteristic of organisms Example
A Irritability Humans feel cold and put on a coat
B Reproduction Birds lay eggs
C Nutrition Plants produce flower
D Movement Plants grow towards light

3. In humans, undigested food substances are removed as faeces. Removal of faeces is not an example
of excretion because
(1) faeces do not contain toxic materials.
(2) faeces contain dietary fibre.
(3) faeces are not produced as a result of chemical reactions in the body.
A (1) only B (3) only
C (2) and (3) only D (1), (2) and (3)

4. In order to approach a wounded man in the sea, the shark should be able to
(1) Response to external stimuli
(2) Move from place to place
(3) Release energy from food

A (1) and (2) only B. (1) and (3) only

C. (2) and (3) only D. (1), (2) and (3)

5. Which of the following is not the evidence that plants are living organisms?
A. Plants are green in colour.
B. Plants carry out respiration all the time.
C. The roots of plants grow towards water.
D. Plants excrete by storing the waste products in leaves which then fall off in dry
seasons.

6. Which of the following are examples of applications of biological knowledge?

A. Beer making
B. Preservation of food
C. Test tube baby
D. Prevention of the outbreak of H1N1 swine flu
A. (1), (2) and (3) only
 B. (1), (3) and (4) only
C. (2), (3) and (4) only
D. (1), (2), (3) and (4)

7. Which of the following statements about the control set-up of an experiment is/are correct?
(1) It is identical to the experimental set-up except that the factor under investigation is absent.
(2) It is to ensure that the result of the experiment is due to the factor under investigation.
(3) Not all the investigations require a control set-up.
A (1) only
B (1) and (2) only
C (2) and (3) only
D (1), (2) and (3)

8. In an investigation of the effect of pH on the browning of cut apple, a student sprayed a piece of cut
fresh apple with some acid. After 30 minutes, he found that the apple did not turn brown. The control
set-up for this investigation should be the same with the experimental set-up except
A using lemon juice instead of acid.
B using distilled water instead of acid.
C using boiled apple instead of fresh apple.
D using alkali instead of acid.

9. Which of the following best describes the term ‘hypothesis’?

A. Hypothesis can be proved by experiments.
B. Hypothesis is an explanation for an observation.
C. Hypothesis is a possible explanation for a particular situation which has not yet
been proved to be correct.
D. Hypothesis is a statement made before the conclusion can be drawn.

10. Which of the following statements about ‘theory’ in a scientific investigation is correct?
A It is the aim of the experiment.
B It is a possible explanation to the hypothesis.
C It is the conclusion of our observations.
D It is proposed with plenty of evidences.

11. John observes that leaflets of the following plant fold when they are touched. He wonders if the
plant gives the same response to other stimuli.
Which of the following hypotheses is not testable?
A The plant gives the same response to sound.
B Leaflets of the plant never fold in response to burning.
C Leaflets of the plant do not fold when green light is shown on them.
D The plant gives a different response when wind is blown towards it.

12. Which of the following is not a biological discovery or an invention?

A the identification of DNA structure
B the birth of the first cloned sheep, Dolly
C the manufacture of optical fibres
D the production of the vaccine for hepatitis B

13. The correct sequence of the following biological developments and inventions is
(1) the production of the first cloned sheep
(2) the invention of the first microscope
(3) the discovery of the 3-D structure of DNA
(4) the completion of the Human Genome Project
A (1), (2), (4), (3) B (1), (3), (4), (2)
C (2), (3), (1), (4) D (2), (4), (3), (1)

14. If the result of the experiment does not match predictions based on the hypothesis, which of the
following is least likely to be done next?
A To revise the hypothesis.
B To propose a new hypothesis.
C To carry out another experiment.
D To develop a theory.

Question 15 & 16 refer to the following directions:

(1) irritability
(2) producing offspring
(3) movement
(4) making food with sunlight
(5) breaking down food to supply energy for activities inside the body
(6) removing waste produced from reactions inside the body
(7) growth
(8) obtaining food for energy
(9) observation

15. Which of the above processes are characteristics of life?

A (2), (4), (5), (6) and (7) only
B (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6) and (7) only
C (1), (2), (3), (5), (6), (7) and (8) only
D (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8) and (9)

16. Which of the following is a biological process but not a characteristic of organisms?
A irritability B memory
C excretion D respiration

17. Which of the following is not inside the scope of biology?

A the study of the interactions between organisms
B the study of the passing on of characteristics to the next generation
C the study of the reactions of organisms to changes in the environment
D the study of changes of the state of matter under different conditions

18. Which of the following correctly arranges the major biological discoveries and inventions in
chronological order?
(1) Darwin’s theory of evolution
(2) The birth of the first cloned sheep
(3) The completion of the Human Genome Project
(4) The birth of the first test tube baby
A (1) → (2) → (3) → (4)
B (1) → (4) → (2) → (3)
C (2) → (1) → (3) → (4)
D (3) → (4) → (2) → (1)