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AGA KHAN UNIVERSITY EXAMINATION BOARD

HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL CERTIFICATE

CLASS XII EXAMINATION

MAY 2016

Biology Paper II

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Time: 2 hours 20 minutes Marks: 55

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INSTRUCTIONS
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Please read the following instructions carefully.

1. Check your name and school information. Sign if it is accurate.

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I agree that this is my name and school.

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Candidate's signature
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2. RUBRIC. There are ELEVEN questions. Answer ALL questions. Questions 10 and 11 offer
TWO choices. Attempt any ONE choice from each.

3. When answering the questions:

Read each question carefully.

Use a black pointer to write your answers. DO NOT write your answers in pencil.
Use a black pencil for diagrams. DO NOT use coloured pencils.
DO NOT use staples, paper clips, glue, correcting fluid or ink erasers.
Complete your answer in the allocated space only. DO NOT write outside the answer box.

4. The marks for the questions are shown in brackets ( ).

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Q.1. (Total 4 Marks)

Mention TWO features of each of the following fish that make it possible for them to maintain water
and salt concentration in their bodies according to their respective environments.

i. A fresh water fish

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ii. A marine fish

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Q.2. (Total 4 Marks)

a. In which part of the central nervous system does the processing of eye reflexes occur? Give a
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reason to support your answer. (2 Marks)

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b. Differentiate between chromosomal aberration and gene mutation. (2 Marks)

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Q.3. (Total 4 Marks)

a.
24 hours

Case I Day Night

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Case II Day Night

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Plant X Plant Y
Critical dark period

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i. Why does plant X produce flower in the first case but it does not produce in the second
case? (1 Mark)

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ii. If the dark period is interrupted by a flash of red light in case II, what would be its effect
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on plant Y? Give a reason to support your answer. (2 Marks)

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b. How is hydrogen bonding present between the two strands of DNA important? (1 Mark)
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PLEASE TURN OVER THE PAGE

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Q.4. (Total 5 Marks)

a. The diagrams below show two different types of connective tissues.

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Give TWO differences between tissue R and tissue S. (2 Marks)

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b. Besides support and movement, what are the other THREE functions of the skeletal system?
(3 Marks)
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Q.5. (Total 5 Marks)

a. State any ONE advantage of apical dominance in plants. (1 Mark)

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b. Which part of a plant contains intercalary meristematic tissues? What is its function? (2 Marks)

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c.
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Write ONE similarity and ONE difference between anaphase I and anaphase II of meiosis.
(2 Marks)
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PLEASE TURN OVER THE PAGE

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Q.6. (Total 5 Marks)

a. A cross between two pea seeds is shown below.

Parent seeds ×

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Offspring

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Round seeds Wrinkled seeds

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Find the genotype of round parent seed using test cross. (3 Marks)

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Note: Your answer should include working of the crosses.

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Genotype of round parent seed: ____________________________________________________

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b. Suggest TWO uses of the tissue culture technique. (2 Marks)

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Q.7. (Total 5 Marks)

a. Describe parasitism and mutualism with the help of ONE example for each. (4 Marks)

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b. What is the role of root nodules of leguminous plants in the nitrogen cycle? (1 Mark)
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Q.8. (Total 4 Marks)

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a. According to Darwin, natural selection leads to evolution.

Give an example to support the above statement. (2 Marks)
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b. Define gene pool and gene frequency. (2 Marks)

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Q.9. (Total 4 Marks)

The picture given below shows a type of ecosystem.

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i. Identify this ecosystem. (1 Mark)

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ii. Mention ONE adaptive feature each that is present in the animals and plants of this ecosystem.
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iii. What is the effect of less rainfall on this ecosystem? (1 Mark)

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Q.10. (Total 7 Marks)

EITHER

a. Given below are different lengths of loops of Henle, X, Y and Z, found in three animals.

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i. Identify the habitat of each animal containing X, Y or Z.

ii. Describe the effect of varied length of loop of Henle on the amount of urine produced.
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iii. Mention the effect of increased and decreased production of antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
on the rate of water reabsorption.
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OR

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i. Describe the formation of female gametophyte in angiosperms. Name any THREE types of
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cells formed at the end of the process.

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ii. Mention ONE significance of double fertilisation in angiosperms.

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PLEASE TURN OVER THE PAGE

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Q.11. (Total 8 Marks)

EITHER

a.

i. Describe the phenomena of greenhouse effect and acid rain considering methane and
sulphur dioxide as the main sources respectively.
ii. Mention any TWO effects of global warming and acid rain.

OR

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b.

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i. Describe the expression of Rh factor referring to gene D.

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ii. Describe what happens when an Rh–ve mother conceives an Rh+ve baby. What is its effect

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on the baby?

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PLEASE TURN OVER THE PAGE

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END OF PAPER
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