WAEC Biology 1999 past questions
Ten questions from the 1999 WAEC Biology paper, with answers and explanations. We hold 50 questions from this paper, and the Skolra app has all of them.
WAEC Biology 1999 questions and answers
-
1.One of the similarities between algae and mosses is their possession of
- Atrue roots, stems and leaves
- Bseeds
- CchlorophyllCorrect
- Dvascular tissue
Show answerHide answer
Answer: C
Algae and mosses (bryophytes) differ in many structural respects but share the possession of chlorophyll, the photosynthetic pigment that allows both groups to manufacture their own food through photosynthesis.
- A
-
2.Which of the following organisms can be found in fresh water habitat?
- AWhale shark
- BSea urchin
- CCoral polyp
- DTilapia fishCorrect
Show answerHide answer
Answer: D
Tilapia is a cichlid fish native to freshwater rivers, lakes, and ponds, particularly in Africa. It is well adapted to low-salinity environments and is widely farmed in freshwater aquaculture.
- A
-
3.Which of the following habitats cannot be used for the study of succession?
- ABare rock surface
- BMature tropical rainforestCorrect
- CAbandoned farmland
- DFreshwater pond
Show answerHide answer
Answer: B
Ecological succession is the gradual, directional process by which communities of organisms change over time, progressing through a series of stages (seres) until a stable climax community is reached. Succession can therefore only be studied where the process is still ongoing — either from an early pioneer stage or partway through the sequence.
- A
-
4.Which of the following is an effect of carbon monoxide on man?
- AIt accelerates the rate of breathing
- BIt stimulates increased production of red blood cells
- CIt combines with haemoglobin to reduce oxygen transportCorrect
- DIt directly dissolves lung tissue on inhalation
Show answerHide answer
Answer: C
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless, toxic gas produced by incomplete combustion. Its primary toxic effect on the human body is its very high affinity for haemoglobin — approximately 200–250 times greater than that of oxygen.
- A
-
5.
Turgor pressure occurs in a cell when the
- Acell membrane is fully permeable to all substances
- Bcell loses water by osmosis and the protoplasm shrinks away from the wall
- Ccell is placed in a hypertonic solution
- Dcell gains water by osmosis and the protoplasm presses against the cell wallCorrect
Show answerHide answer
Answer: D
When a plant cell is placed in a hypotonic solution (or plain water), water enters the cell by osmosis because the cell sap has a lower water potential. The vacuole swells and the protoplasm pushes outward against the rigid cell wall. The pressure exerted by the cell contents on the cell wall is called turgor pressure, and the cell is described as turgid.
- A
-
6.Which of the following diseases results from the deficiency of insulin?
- AGoitre
- BCretinism
- CAddison's disease
- DDiabetes mellitusCorrect
Show answerHide answer
Answer: D
Insulin is a hormone produced by the beta cells of the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas. Its role is to lower blood glucose levels by promoting uptake of glucose by cells and conversion of glucose to glycogen.
- A
-
7.The dentition of a herbivore is distinct from that of other animals due to the presence of
- Aa diastema between the incisors and premolarsCorrect
- Breduced molars and enlarged fangs
- Clarge, pointed canine teeth
- Dsharp carnassial teeth for shearing
Show answerHide answer
Answer: A
Herbivores such as cows, rabbits, and horses possess a characteristic gap called the diastema — a toothless space between the incisors (used to crop vegetation) and the premolars/molars (used for grinding). This gap is where canine teeth would normally be found in omnivores and carnivores, but herbivores have either vestigial or absent canines.
- A
-
8.Which of the following is not a characteristic feature of a wind dispersed fruit?
- AFeathery or hairy pappus extensions
- BPresence of hooks and spines on the fruit surfaceCorrect
- CFlat, wing-like outgrowths on the seed or fruit
- DVery light and small seeds
Show answerHide answer
Answer: B
Wind-dispersed fruits and seeds are adapted to be carried by air currents. Their typical features include:
- Very light and small mass so they remain airborne
- Feathery or hairy parachute-like structures (pappus), as in dandelion
- Flat wing-like extensions, as in maple (Acer) and ash fruits
- Inflated or bladder-like coverings that increase buoyancy
- A
-
9.The importance of a balanced diet is to
- Asupply the body with all essential nutrients required for growth, energy, and maintenanceCorrect
- Bincrease body weight as rapidly as possible
- Cprevent all forms of microbial infection
- Dreduce the need for physical exercise
Show answerHide answer
Answer: A
A balanced diet contains all seven classes of food — carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, water, and dietary fibre — in the correct proportions for the age, sex, and activity level of the individual.
- A
-
10.Which of the following is a renewable natural resources?
- AIron ore
- BForestCorrect
- CCoal
- DNatural gas
Show answerHide answer
Answer: B
Renewable natural resources are those that can be replenished naturally over relatively short time scales through biological or physical processes. A forest is renewable because trees grow, reproduce, and replace themselves — provided the rate of harvesting does not exceed the rate of regrowth and proper management is applied.
- A
The questions come from past JAMB, WAEC and NECO papers. We use software to help write the answer options and explanations, and every answer is checked twice before it goes on the site. How we check
Spotted a wrong answer? Tell us from the app or on the contact page and we check it.
Practise all 50 questions we hold from the 1999 paper, on a timed CBT screen
Every question has the answer and an explanation, in the Skolra app.