KALA TRIAL EXAM

Name ………………………………….. School ……..…..……………….

Class …..……Adm. No. ……….……Index No. ………..…………………

KCSE PRE TRIAL EXAM
231/2
BIOLOGY
Theory
Paper 2
July 2024
2 hours

Instructions to candidates

This paper consists of two sections, A and B.

Answer all the questions in section A in the spaces provided.
In section B answer question 6(compulsory) and either question 7 or 8 in the spaces provided
after question 8.

This paper consists of 12 printed pages.

For Examiner’s use only

Section Question Maximum score Candidate’s score

1 8
2 7
A 3 9
4 8
5 8
6 20
B 7 20
8 20
Total score 80
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Section A (40 marks)

1. The figure below shows apparatus at the start of an experiment to investigate the digestion of
an emulsion of fat droplets by enzyme A.

The pH indicator is green in a pH of 7, blue when the pH is above 7 and red when it is below 7.
The apparatus was kept at 40oC for 20 minutes, during which time the indicator changed from
green to red.
(a)(i) State the identity of enzyme A. (1 mark)

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(ii) Why was the apparatus kept at 40oC ? (1 mark)

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(b) Name the products of digestion of the emulsion by enzyme A. (2 marks)

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(c) Describe the process which led to the change in pH. (3 marks)

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(d) Describe how the products of fat digestion enter a person’s blood. (1 mark)

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2. (a) What is osmotic potential? (1 mark)

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(b) Name the instrument used to measure the osmotic pressure of a solution. (1 mark)

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(c) A student set up an experiment to investigate a certain process, as shown in the figure below.

(i) What observation was made after 30 minutes? (1 mark)

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(ii) Explain the observation made in (c) (i) above. (3 marks)

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(iii) Suggest a control for this experiment. (1 mark)

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3. The diagram below represents an experimental set up to illustrate a certain physiological

process in plants.

(a) Name the compound labelled A, and state its role. (2 marks)

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(b) Name the liquid in both vessels B and D. (1 mark)

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(c)(i) What would be the expected results in vessels B and D after the 1 hour? (2 marks)

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(ii) Explain the observations in (c)(i) above. (2 marks)

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(d)(i) Why is it necessary to enclose the pot in a polythene bag? (1 mark)

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(ii) Explain the role of the black cloth covering the jar. (1 mark)

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4. Several pond weeds, each 7.5 cm long were placed in troughs containing water. Their lengths
were measured every week for a period of 8 weeks. The results obtained were as shown in the
table below.

Trough conditions Increase in length(cm)

4 weeks later 8 weeks later

A – Pond water, 20oC, normal day light. 4.8 5.3

B – Pond water, 20oC, kept in the dark. 3.2 Dead at 6th week.

C - Pond water, 10oC, kept in the dark. 0.4 0.5

D – Distilled water, 20oC, normal day light. 2.1 2.6

E - Distilled water, 20oC, kept in the dark, 1.2 Dead at 5th week

(a)(i)Which factor limited growth in trough B? (1 mark)

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(ii) Which factors limited growth in trough E? (2 marks)

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(b)(i) In which trough was maximum growth recorded? (1 mark)

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(ii) Which two factors promoted growth in the trough named in (b)(i) above? (2 marks)

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(c)(i) How can growth be improved in trough D? (1 mark)

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(ii) Name the region where growth takes place in the shoot of a water plant. (1 mark)

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5. In a certain species of birds, the color of feathers is determined by two alleles. The offspring
of a black bird and a white bird were all grey. Use W to represent the gene for white colour and
B to represent the gene for black colour.

(a) State the genotypes of the parents. (1 mark)

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(b) What are the genotypes of the offspring from the cross above? (1 mark)

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(c) What would be the phenotypic ratios of offspring produced by a cross between a white
coloured bird, and one of the offspring above? (4 marks)

(d) State two advantages of using plants in genetics studies. (2 marks)

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SECTION B (40 marks)

Answer question 6(compulsory) and either question 7 or 8 in the spaces provided after
question 8.

6. Surplus amino acids from proteins eaten by animals are deaminated and the resulting
nitrogenous waste excreted. During its lifecycle the frog excretes two nitrogenous waste
products, ammonia and urea. The proportions of ammonia and urea excreted at different ages is
as shown in the table below.

Age (days) 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110

Ammonia (%) 92 88 86 84 84 60 16 8
Urea (%) 8 12 14 16 16 40 84 92

(a) Plot a graph of percentage ammonia and urea against time. (8 marks)
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(b)What percentage:

(i) Ammonia is excreted on day 70? (1 mark)

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(ii) Urea is excreted on day 50? (1 mark)

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(c) Account for the proportions of ammonia and urea excreted over the following periods of
time:

(i) Day 0 to day 80. (3 marks)

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(ii) Day 80 to day 95. (3 marks)

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(iii) After day 95. (3 marks)

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(d) In which organ does conversion of ammonia to urea occur in tadpoles? (1 mark)

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7. (a) Explain how food as a factor regulates the population. (7 marks)

(b) Describe the flow of energy through the different trophic levels in an ecosystem.

(13 marks)

8. (a) What is meant by natural selection (3 marks)

(b) Describe how natural selection brings about adaptation of a species to its environment.

(17 marks)

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