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JAMB UTME Biology 2017 past questions and answers

This 2017 JAMB UTME Biology set has 40 practice questions. Try these 5 free sample questions, tap a question to reveal the answer and explanation. Then practise the whole 2017 set with instant marking.

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Sample JAMB UTME Biology 2017 questions

1. Which rule is correctly applied when writing the scientific name of an organism using binomial nomenclature?
  1. The genus name begins with a capital letter and the species name with a lower-case letter.
  2. Both names begin with capital letters and are written in plural form.
  3. The species name is written before the genus name, with both names capitalized.
  4. The genus name is omitted whenever the organism has a common name.

Answer: A. The genus name begins with a capital letter and the species name with a lower-case letter.

A binomial has the genus first with an initial capital and the specific epithet second in lower case.

2. Which feature distinguishes a typical bacterium from a cell of kingdom Protista?
  1. It has cytoplasm and a cell membrane.
  2. It lacks a membrane-bound nucleus.
  3. It contains genetic material.
  4. It carries out metabolic reactions.

Answer: B. It lacks a membrane-bound nucleus.

Bacteria are prokaryotes and therefore do not have a membrane-bound nucleus.

3. Which combination of features is characteristic of most fungi?
  1. Cellulose cell walls and chlorophyll in every cell
  2. No cell wall and nutrition by photosynthesis
  3. Chitin cell walls and absorption of dissolved nutrients
  4. Peptidoglycan cell walls and an ability to fix nitrogen

Answer: C. Chitin cell walls and absorption of dissolved nutrients

Fungal cell walls contain chitin, and fungi commonly obtain food by absorbing nutrients.

4. A student observes a small green plant with rhizoids but no true roots, stems, leaves or vascular tissue; it is most likely a
  1. fern
  2. conifer
  3. flowering plant
  4. moss

Answer: D. moss

Mosses are bryophytes that lack vascular tissue and use rhizoids for anchorage.

5. A plant cell is placed in a dilute solution. Which process explains the net entry of water into the cell?
  1. Osmosis across the selectively permeable cell membrane
  2. Active transport of water using ATP
  3. Diffusion of solute from the cell into the solution
  4. Plasmolysis caused by water leaving the cell

Answer: A. Osmosis across the selectively permeable cell membrane

Water moves by osmosis from the more dilute solution into the cell across its selectively permeable membrane.

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