Contest 1, Round 1a

Indicate how the given feature adapts toads to life.

1. Short and stout limbs
For absorbing shock on landing

2. Long sticky tongue

For capturing insects/prey

3. Secretions from poison glands in the skin.

Distasteful, this prevents being eaten. (accept Defense against predators)
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Contest 1, Round 1b
Give one function of auxins in plant growth.

1. Cell division.
2. Plant propagation.
3. Promote flowering in plants.
4. Initiation of roots in stem cuttings.
5. Prevent premature dropping of fruits and leaves.

……………………………………………………………………………….

Contest 2, Round 1a
Explain the benefit of the given feature on the parasitic mode of life of a parasite
living in the gut of its host.

1. Flat body
Provides large surface area for absorption of food/ easy diffusion of
nutrients

2. Production of large number of eggs

To increase chances of survival

3. Respire anaerobically.
Allows it to survive an environment (intestine) where oxygen is absent.
Contest 2, Round 1b
Name one important nematode parasite of human
1. Pinworm
2. Hookworm
3. Filarial worm
4. Pook worm
5. Ascaris / Giant intestinal roundworms
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Contest 3. Round 1a
Mention one of the reasons or causes of seed dormancy.

1. Light
2. Temperature
3. Hard Seed Coat
4. Period after ripening.
5. Germination inhibitors
6. Immaturity of the seed embryo
7. Impermeability of seed coat to water / oxygen
8. Mechanically resistant seed coat
9. Presence of high concentrate solutes

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Contest 3. Round 1b
Mention one of the evolutionary adaptations of parasitic nematodes to their way of
life.
1. High reproductive potential
2. Organism possesses enzyme resistant cuticle
3. Production of resistant eggs
4. Encysted larvae
5. Life cycle that increases the likelihood of transmission from host to
another.
Contest 4. Round 1a
There are separate treatments to overcome seed dormancy which are divided into 5
main groups. Mention one of the groups.
1. Seed coat treatment / scarification.
These treatments make a hard seed coat permeable to water or gases either
by softening or cracking.
2. Embryo treatments
3. Stratification
The incubation of seeds at an appropriate low temperature over a moist layer
before transferring to a temperature suitable for germination.
4. High-temperature treatment
Incubation at 40-50 °C for a few hours to a few days may have an effect in
overcoming dormancy in some species.
5. Chemical treatments
…………………………….

Contest 4. Round 1b
Mendel’s law of segregation is based on four basic concepts. State one each.

1. A gene exists in more than one form of an allele.

2. When gametes are produced by meiosis, the allelic pairs separate,
leaving each gamete with a single allele.
3. Every organism inherits two alleles for each trait.
4. The two alleles of a pair are different, i.e., one is dominant, and one is
recessive.

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Contest 5 Round 1a
Indicate the edible parts of the following fruits.
1. Banana
Endocarp

2. Coconut
Endosperm

3. Apple
Thalamus
Contest 5 Round 1b
Mention the class to which the organisms responsible for the given disease
belongs.
1. Taeniasis
Cestoda

2. Bilharzia
Trematoda

3. Schistosomiasis
Trematoda
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Contest 6 Round 1a

Provide the common names of the following bones.

1. Patella
Kneecap

2. Tibia
Shin bone

3. Clavicle
Collar bone
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Contest 6 Round 1b
1. Which group of algae are found primarily in marine habitats.
Phaeophyceae or brown algae

2. Name the carotenoid pigment which imparts a brown colour to algae.

Fucoxanthin

3. What name is given to the group of blue photosynthetic pigments present in

cyanobacteria.
Phycocyanin
……………………………………………..
Contest 7 Round 1a
The wall of the human digestive tract consists of 4 layers. Mention one each.
1. Mucosa
2. Submucosa
3. Muscularis externa
4. Serosa/adventitia

…………………………..

Contest 7 Round 1b
Name the edible part of the given fruit.

1. Groundnut
Cotyledons

2. Mango fruits
Mesocarp

3. Jack fruit
(succulent) perianth

Contest 8 Round 1a

6. What is the total number of teeth per arch in the primary dentition of humans?
Ten per arch.

7. The primary dentition in humans differs from permanent dentition in not having
which type of teeth.
Premolar

8. What is the total number of teeth per quadrant in the primary dentition of humans?
Five per quadrant
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Contest 8 Round 1b

4. What is Xerach succession?

A form of plant succession that starts in the bare ground that is very
dry or is limited by the availability of water.

5. What is hydrarch succession?

A plant succession that starts in shallow water.

6. What are the pioneer species in Xerach and hydrarch respectively?

Lichens and Phytoplankton

………………………………….
Contest 9 Round 1a
Indicate the ploidy of the following structures in a fertilized embryo sac in
angiosperms.

4. Zygote
Diploid

5. Synergids
Haploid

6. Primary endosperm nucleus

Triploid

Contest 9 Round 1b
6. Which stage of meiosis involves division of centromere?
Anaphase II

7. Mention the sub-stage of prophase1 of meiosis in which the process of

appearance of recombination nodules occur.
Pachytene

8. Mention the stage of meiosis in which chromosomes align at the equator of

the cell.
Metaphase I and II (2 pts for 1 of one of the answers; 1 pt for Metaphase)
………………………………………
Contest 10 Round 1a

Indicate the type of vascular bundle in plants to which the following descriptions
refer.

6. A vascular bundle in which the phloem is situated on the peripheral and

inner side of the xylem.
Bicollateral bundle.

7. A vascular bundle in which one type of vascular tissue surrounds the other.
Concentric bundle.

8. A vascular bundle in which xylem encircles the central strand of phloem.

Amphivasal bundle / leptocentric bundle.
……………………………………
Contest 10 Round 1b
Mention the mineral element needed for the following.
5. Synthesis of auxin
Zinc

6. Component of nitrogenase and nitrate reductase enzyme.

Molybdenum

7. Cell elongation and cell differentiation

Boron

Contest 11 Round 1a
Give the structures in plants to which the following descriptions refer.
4. Lens-shaped opening that permits the exchange of gases between the
external environment and the internal tissue of a stem.
Lenticel

5. Outermost layers of stems and roots of woody plants.

Bark

6. A dividing zone of cells that forms phellem to the outside and phelloderm to
the inside of a woody stem.
Cork cambium / Phellogen
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Contest 11 Round 1b
Indicate the part of the mammalian eye to which the following descriptions refer.
4. The point of greatest visual acuity or resolution.
Fovea

5. The visible coloured portion of the eye which regulates the diameter of the
pupil.
Iris

6. The point where optic nerve leaves the eyeball and photoreceptor cells are
absent.
Blind spot
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Contest 12 Round 1a
Mention the type of joints that exist at the following locations.

4. Between adjacent vertebrae in the vertebral column of humans

Cartilaginous joint

5. Flat skull bones of humans

Fibrous joint/Sutures/Synarthroses

6. Between carpel and metacarpal of the thump of humans

Saddle joint

…………………………………….

Contest 12 Round 1b
State where the following reactions take place.
4. Krebs' cycle
In the mitochondrial matrix. (1 pt for mitochondrion)

5. Glycolysis
In the cytoplasm

6. Oxidative phosphorylation
On the inner membrane of the mitochondrion. (1pt for mitochondrion, 2pts for
inside the mitochondrion)
Contest 13 Round 1a
Describe the vascular bundles of monocotyledonous stems with respect to the
following.

10.Location of the smaller vascular bundles.

They are restricted to the peripheral sides. (only found in the outer
portions of the stem area)

11.Location of the bundle sheath

They encircle the vascular bundles.

12.Location of the bundle cap

There is no bundle cap.
………………………………………….

Contest 13 Round 1b
Mention the cells in mammals that secrete the following.
5. Mucus
Mucus neck cells

6. The proenzyme pepsinogen

Peptic/Chief cells

7. HCl and intrinsic factor for the absorption of vitamin B

Parietal / Oxyntic cells