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AGA KHAN UNIVERSITY EXAMINATION BOARD

HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL CERTIFICATE

CLASS XII EXAMINATION

MAY 2016

Biology Paper I

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Time: 40 minutes Marks: 30

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AT
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AM
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INSTRUCTIONS
AY

1. Read each question carefully.

2. Answer the questions on the separate answer sheet provided. DO NOT write your answers on the
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question paper.
B

3. There are 100 answer numbers on the answer sheet. Use answer numbers 1 to 30 only.
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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.
U
AK

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.

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1. The release of uric acid as a nitrogenous waste product helps birds to

A. store energy.
B. consume fats.
C. conserve water.
D. dissolve body salts.

2. The process in kidneys that mainly contributes to the maintenance of water and minerals in the
body is

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A. secretion.
B. reabsorption.

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C. counter current.
D. pressure filtration.

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3. One of the major disadvantages of exoskeleton in organisms is that it limits their

N
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A. growth.
B. support.
C.
D.
protection.
dehydration.
AT
IN
4. The given diagram shows the ultra-structure of a sarcomere.
AM
EX
AY

The muscle in this diagram is in relaxed form because in its sarcomere

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A. I band is short.
B. A band is short.
B

C. H zone is visible.
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D. Z lines are visible.

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5. When new animals are brought to zoos initially they get scared, but after sometime they
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become used to the environment.

The above statement describes

A. imprinting.
B. habituation.
C. latent learning.
D. insight learning.

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6.
CNS Gland

The substance responsible for the transfer of impulse at X is

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A. nicotine.
B. sodium ions.
C. acetylcholine.

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D. potassium ions.

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7. Which of the following shows the charge distribution inside a neuron compared to its outer side

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during resting condition?

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Potassium Ions Sodium Ions Organic Anions
A More Less AT More
B Less More Less
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C Less More More
D More Less Less
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8. The diagram below shows arrangement of flowers on a branch of a plant.

EX
AY
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B

The inflorescence shown above is

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A. cyme.
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B. spike.
C. umbel.
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D. raceme.

9. Considering a menstrual period of 28 days, the highest concentration of luteinising hormone

would be on around day

A. 7
B. 14
C. 21
D. 28

PLEASE TURN OVER THE PAGE

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10. Gastrulation is a process in embryonic development characterised by the formation of

A. blastoderm.
B. neural tube.
C. germ layers.
D. blastomeres.

11. Which of the following structures converts into neural tube when neural folds grow towards
one another and meet in mid dorsal line?

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A. Notochord

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B. Neural plate
C. Neural groove
D. Neural ectoderm

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12. The table below shows sequence of nucleotides on a chromosome before and after mutation.

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Before Mutation After Mutation
GCCTAATCG GCCATATCG
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The type of mutation in the given case is
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A. deletion.
B. insertion.
C. substitution.
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D. transposition.

13. Eukaryotic messenger RNA (mRNA) once transcribed in the nucleus is not directly released
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into the cytoplasm. Eukaryotic mRNA is modified by adding a 7 methyl GTP cap and a poly A
tail to
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A. convert it into proteins.

B

B. protect it from degradation.

C. terminate its further synthesis.
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D. provide active site for translation.

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14.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

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9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

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17 18 19 20 21 22 23

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The information in the given karyotype indicates that the individual is a

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A. male with Tay-Sachs disease.
B. female with Down’s syndrome. AT
C. female with Sickle-cell anaemia.
D. male with Klinefelter’s syndrome.
IN

15. The process of apoptosis can be differentiated from necrosis by the

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A. bursting of cell.
B. shrinking of cell.
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C. swelling of neighbouring cells.

D. rupturing of neighbouring cells.
AY

16. Given are some events of cell division.

I. Two cell divisions take place

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II. DNA replicates during interphase

III. Haploid cells are produced from diploid cells
B
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Which event(s) differentiate(s) meiosis from mitosis?

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

PLEASE TURN OVER THE PAGE

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17. A baby with blood group O is found in a hospital. Four couples claim to be his parents. Which
of the following couples would most probably be his parents?

Father Mother
A IOIO IAIB
B IOIO IAIA
C IAIO IOIO
D I BI B IOIO

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18. In a particular family, sons are normal while daughters are carriers of haemophilia.

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What would be the genotype of their parents?

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Father Mother

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A XhY XHXH

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B XHY XHXh
C XhY XHXh AT
D XHY XhXh
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19. What does structure P in the given diagram always contain?

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P
A. Y chromosome only
B. X chromosome only
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C. Both X and Y chromosomes

D. Either an X or a Y chromosome
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20. Given below are steps of genetic engineering through recombinant DNA technology.

I. Insertion of vector into host

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II. Incorporation of gene into vector

III. Multiplication of host by cloning
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IV. Isolation of the gene of interest

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Which of the following shows CORRECT sequence of these steps?

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

21. Woody forest is considered as the climax in a xerarch because they are

A. large.
B. stable.
C. independent.
D. photosynthetic.

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22. In the evolution of eukaryotes from prokaryotes, it is assumed that the initial raw material for
photosynthesis has been

A. O2
B. CO
C. H2S
D. H2O

23. It is the change in frequency of alleles at a locus that occurs by chance.

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The above statement refers to

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A. mutation.
B. propagation.
C. genetic drift.

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D. non-random mating.

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24. Plants Aphids Lady birds Sparrows

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If we draw a pyramid of energy for the above food chain, the broadest part would be of
AT
A. plants.
IN
B. aphids.
C. sparrows.
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D. lady birds.

25. All the living organisms present in your school/ college garden would be referred as a/ an
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A. biosphere.
B. ecosystem.
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C. population.
D. community.
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26. The distinguishing feature of tundra ecosystem is its

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A. low latitude.
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B. high rainfall.
C. low temperature.
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D. high productivity.
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27. In which of the following zones of a lake is the greatest diversity of animals found?

Zone Availability of Light Level of Water Place for Attachment

A Abundant Deep Present
B Abundant Shallow Present
C Limited Shallow Present
D Limited Deep Absent

PLEASE TURN OVER THE PAGE

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28. The reason that coniferous forests mainly comprise of evergreen coniferous trees is

A. low altitude.
B. heavy rainfall.
C. highly fertile soil.
D. short summer season.

29. The diagram below shows an effect of seepage of nitrogen and phosphorus in a lake.

nitrogen phosphorus
Increase in growth of X

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20
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In the given case X refers to AT
A. fungi.
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B. algae.
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C. zooflagellates.
D. aquatic plants.
EX

30. Catalytic converters in some car exhausts reduce oxides of nitrogen to nitrogen gas.
Based on this information, which of the following can be reduced by catalytic converters?
AY

A. Acid rain
B. Soil erosion
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C. Eutrophication
D. Ozone depletion
B
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END OF PAPER
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