Page 1 of 12

AGA KHAN UNIVERSITY EXAMINATION BOARD

HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL CERTIFICATE

CLASS XI EXAMINATION

MAY 2015

Biology Paper I

Time: 40 minutes Marks: 30

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Read each question carefully.
2. Answer the questions on the separate answer sheet provided. DO NOT write your answers on the
question paper.
3. There are 100 answer numbers on the answer sheet. Use answer numbers 1 to 30 only.
4. In each question there are four choices A, B, C, D. Choose ONE. On the answer grid black out
the circle for your choice with a pencil as shown below.

Candidate’s Signature

5. If you want to change your answer, ERASE the first answer completely with a rubber, before
blacking out a new circle.
6. DO NOT write anything in the answer grid. The computer only records what is in the circles.

H1501-1911110
Page 2 of 12

1. A flea lives in the fur of mammals and sucks blood from their skin. The given relationship is
studied in

A. parasitology.
B. biotechnology.
C. marine biology.
D. molecular biology.

2. The property of water which helps to resist temperature changes inside living organisms is its

A. high specific heat capacity.

B. high surface tension.
C. high viscosity.
D. high polarity.

3. The chemical structure given below is of aspartic acid.

H2N CH C OH

CH2

C O

OH

Which part of the structure is responsible for the acidic nature of the given compound?

A. OH
B. NH2
C. COOH

D. CH2

H1501-1911110
 Page 3 of 12

4. The following diagram shows an enzyme with its active site.

Which of the following can make an enzyme-substrate complex with the above enzyme?

A B C D

5. The graph shows the rate of an enzyme-catalyzed reaction at increasing substrate

concentrations.
Rate of reaction

I II III

Substrate concentration

At which of the following point(s) do all active sites of the enzyme seem occupied?

A. Point I only
B. Point III only
C. Points I and II
D. Points II and III

PLEASE TURN OVER THE PAGE

H1501-1911110
Page 4 of 12

6. The diagram below shows the action of enzymes in a series of chemical reactions.

Starting material (I)

Enzyme P
First intermediate (II)
Enzyme Q
Second intermediate (III)
Enzyme R
Third intermediate (IV)
Enzyme S

Final product (V)

In the given enzyme catalyzed reactions, which component(s) would act as inhibitor(s) of
enzyme P?

A. I only
B. V only
C. II and III
D. III and IV

7. Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells are similar because of the presence of

A. mitochondria.
B. golgi bodies.
C. ribosomes.
D. plastids.

8. The two organisms that do not fit into two kingdom system of classification are
A. hydra and moss.
B. euglena and bacteria.
C. paramaecium and fern.
D. amoeba and chlamydomonas.

9. With the development of modern research methods, viruses are now recognized as

A. cellular organisms with nucleic acid.

B. cellular organisms without nucleic acid.
C. particles of nucleic acid often with a protein coat.
D. particles of nucleic acid without a protein coat.

10. Which of the following is TRUE about the DNA component of the nucleoid of bacteria?

A. It is single stranded and linear.

B. It is double stranded and linear.
C. It is single stranded and circular.
D. It is double stranded and circular.

H1501-1911110
 Page 5 of 12

11. The diagram below shows a phenomenon in bacteria.

DNA
fragments Mixed
with

DNA fragment embedded in

bacterial chromosome
The above phenomenon is identified as
A. conjugation.
B. transduction.
C. transformation.
D. endospore formation.

12. Which of the following statements is TRUE about cyanobacteria?

A. They lack flagella.

B. They are true eukaryotes.
C. They consist of bunches of cells.
D. They do not contain chlorophyll.

13. The characteristic which differentiates amoeba from most of the members of zooprotoctists is

A. heterotrophic mode of nutrition.

B. presence of contractile vacuole.
C. absence of cilia.
D. aquatic habitat.

14. The characteristic which makes ciliates different from other protozoans is the presence of

A. hair-like locomotory structure.

B. contractile vacuoles.
C. two kinds of nuclei.
D. pellicle.

15. Which of the following features makes water moulds different from fungi?

A. Cellulose containing cell wall

B. Parasitic mode of nutrition
C. Lack of centrioles
D. Aseptate hyphae

PLEASE TURN OVER THE PAGE

H1501-1911110
Page 6 of 12

16. The type of hyphae shown in the diagram is found in

A. yeasts.
B. mushrooms.
C. bracket fungi.
D. black bread moulds.

17. The oyster mushroom penetrates the nematodes, kills them and absorbs their nutrients. This
type of feeding relationship in fungi is an example of

A. parasitism.
B. predation.
C. mutualism.
D. decomposition.

18. In the life cycle of a sun flower, which of the following structures are included in gametophyte
generation with haploid number of chromosomes?

I. Endosperm
II. Embryo
III. Egg cells
IV. Pollen grain

A. I and II
B. II and III
C. III and IV
D. I and IV

19. The diagram represents a pattern of cleavage in animals.

The organisms of which of the following phyla follow this pattern of cleavage?

A. Annelida
B. Mollusca
C. Nematoda
D. Echinodermata

H1501-1911110
 Page 7 of 12

20. The table below shows the groups of phylum annelida with their characteristic features.

Which of the following options is CORRECT?

Character Polychaeta Oligochaeta Hirudinae

A Distinct head Absent Absent Present
B Larvae Absent Absent Present
C Locomotory organ Present Absent Absent
D Bisexuality Absent Present Present

21. In which of the following processes is most of the carbon dioxide released as a result of
catabolism?

A. Oxidative phosphorylation
B. Lactate fermentation
C. Kreb’s cycle
D. Glycolysis

22. The diagram represents the digestive system of a cockroach. Which of the labelled parts stores
partly digested food?

PLEASE TURN OVER THE PAGE

H1501-1911110
Page 8 of 12

23. The given diagram shows the cross-section of a villus. In which of the labelled structures are
lipoproteins formed?

blood in blood out

24. Earthworms have the following structural adaptations.

I. Circulatory system is closed type.

II. Skin is richly supplied with blood vessels.
III. Body is always kept moist by the secretion of mucus glands.
IV. Body is covered with cuticle.

Which of the following options indicates that gaseous exchange takes place in earthworms
through general body surface?

A. I and II
B. II and III
C. III and IV
D. II and IV

25. Counter-current exchange during respiration takes place in birds to

A. maintain complete ventilation.

B. maintain incomplete ventilation.
C. increase the diffusion rate of oxygen.
D. decrease the diffusion rate of oxygen.

H1501-1911110
 Page 9 of 12

26. The capacity of oxyhaemoglobin to release oxygen at tissue level is mainly dependent on

A. high pressure of carbon dioxide.

B. low temperature of the body.
C. high pressure of oxygen.
D. low pH level of the body.

27. The picture below shows two states of human lungs.

Normal Lung Damaged Lung

This kind of damage to lungs results in

A. lungs losing their elasticity.

B. lung cells growing abnormally.
C. increase in the surface area of lungs.
D. accumulation of excess mucus in lungs.

28. The diagrams represent different types of white blood cells.

Which of the following cells produces antibodies in response to a disease?

A B C D

29. In the conduction of an impulse from S.A node to A.V node, there is a delay of 0.15 second.
This actually permits the

A. atrial systole to be completed.

B. atrial diastole to be completed.
C. ventricular systole to be completed.
D. ventricular diastole to be completed.

PLEASE TURN OVER THE PAGE

H1501-1911110
Page 10 of 12

30. In the apoplast pathway the movement of water takes place through

A. adjacent cell walls.

B. interconnected protoplasts.
C. sieve tubes.
D. vacuoles of adjacent cells.

END OF PAPER
H1501-1911110
 Page 11 of 12

H1501-1911110
Page 12 of 12

H1501-1911110