SECOND TERM EXAMINATION -2023
BIOLOGY
GRADE: 12 TIME: 3 HOURS
DATE: 24/11/23 MAX. MARKS: 70
__________________________________________________________________________
[The time stated above is the time allowed for writing the examination. In
addition, the first 15 minutes will be the time given for reading the question
paper]
This paper is divided into four sections – A, B, C and D.
Answer all questions.
Section – A consists of one question having sub-parts of one mark each.
Section – B consists of seven questions of two marks each.
Section – C consists of seven questions of three marks each, and
Section – D consists of three questions of five marks each.
Internal choices have been provided in one question each in Section B,
Section C and Section D.
The intended marks for questions or parts of questions are given in brackets [ ].
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SECTION A - 20 Marks
Question 1:
Answer the following questions briefly.
i. Name the toxin which is responsible for causing the symptoms of malaria. [1]
ii. If a segment of double stranded DNA has 22% adenine, calculate the percentage
of cytosine in the DNA. [1]
iii. Would you choose an exonuclease or endonuclease, while producing a
recombinant DNA molecule and why? [1]
iv. Define carrying capacity. [1]
v. Indicate the stages where meiosis and mitosis occur (1, 2 or 3) in the flowchart.
[1]
vi. Given below are the events in human reproduction. Write them in correct
sequential order. [1]
Insemination, gametogenesis, fertilization, parturition, gestation, implantation.
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vii. Mention the evolutionary change between Dryopithecus and Ramapithecus. [1]
i. Dryopithecus Ramapithecus
viii. The Net Primary Productivity (GPP) of the Congo rainforest in Africa is
approximately 2200 g C/m2/yr and the respiration losses (R) of 1800 g C/m2/yr.
Calculate the Gross Primary Productivity (NPP) of this ecosystem. [1]
ix. Name the technique used to detect fetal abnormalities. [1]
x. Expand the following, [2]
a. PAR b. MALT
xi. Choose the correct options from the following,
1. Decomposers like fungi and bacteria are. [1]
(i) autotrophs (ii) heterotrophs (iii) saprotrophs (iv) chemo-autotrophs
Choose the correct answer.
(a) (i) and (iii) (b) (i) and (iv) (c) (ii) and (iii) (d) (i) and (ii)
2. An antibiotic resistance gene in a vector usually helps in the selection of [1]
(a) competent cells (b) transformed cells
(c) recombinant cells (d) None of these
3. represents an equation used in [1]
(a) population genetics (b) Mendelian genetics
(c) biometrics (d) molecular genetics
4. A dicotyledonous plant bears flowers, but never produces fruits and seeds.
The most probable cause for the above situation is [1]
(a) plant is dioecious and bears only pistillate flowers
(b) plant is dioecious and bears both pistillate and staminate flowers
(c) plant is monoecious
(d) plant is dioecious and bears only staminate flowers
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5. A linear dsDNA virus has the following restriction sites in its genome. [1]
The solid bar represents a PCR fragment that was amplified, radioactively
labeled and used as a probe for the Southern Blot shows below. In each lane,
the viral DNA was digested with a restriction endonuclease and run through an
agarose gel. The gel was transferred onto a nylon membrane and probed with
the PCR fragment shown above.
Which lane corresponds to the viral DNA if it was digested with BamHI?
(a) A (b) B (c) C (d) D
vi. Assertion: When the two genes in a dihybrid cross are situated on the same
chromosome, the proportion of parental gene combinations is much higher than
nonparental type.
Reason: Higher parental gene combinations can be attributed to crossing over
between two genes. [1]
(a) Both assertion and reason are true, and reason is the correct explanation of
the assertion.
(b) Both assertion and reason are true, but reason is not correct explanation of the
assertion.
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(c) Assertion is true but reason is False.
(d) Bath assertion and reason are false.
xii. In the year 2020, the population of Pisum sativum flowers in an area was 500.
After one year, a botanist found that the population had an average natality of
100, average mortality of 60, immigration was 15 and emigration was 20.
Calculate the total number of flowers that were present in the area in 2022. [1]
xiii. Give scientific reason for the following, [2]
i. A person with cuts and bruises following an accident is administered
tetanus anti-toxin.
ii. Origin of life is not possible under the present atmospheric conditions.
SECTION B - 14 Marks
Question 2:
Give one significant contribution of the following scientists. [2]
(a) Benzer (b) Oparin
Question 3: [2]
Define the following terms :- (a) Cryopreservation. (b) Biodiversity Hotspots.
OR
Construct a pyramid of biomass starting with phytoplankton. Is the pyramid upright or
inverted?
Question 4 : Mention any four areas where genetic modification of plants has been
useful. [2]
Question 5: State any 2 measures taken by the government to improve the
reproductive health of the people under reproductive and child healthcare program. [2]
Question 6 : Name the microbe used as, [2]
a. Immunosuppressant
b. Production of swiss cheese
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Question 7 : In an association of two animal species, one is a termite which feeds on
wood and the other is a protozoan Trichonympha present in the gut of the termite. What
type of association they establish? Justify with reason. [2]
Question 8 : If a patient is advised anti-retroviral therapy, name the disease he might
be suffering from and its causative agent. How does our body respond to these kinds of
infections. [2]
SECTION C – 21 Marks
Question 9 :
State and explain any three factors that cause variations in populations. [3]
Question 10:
State the causative agent and one preventive measure of each of the following,
(a) Ringworm (b) Filariasis (C) Typhoid [3]
Question 11:
With a neat, labelled diagram, describe the parts of a mature angiosperm embryo sac.
Mention the role of synergids. [3]
OR
Draw a structure of a typical antibody molecule.
Question 12: For the pedigree shown, [3]
a. What are the genotypes of individuals C and D? Briefly justify your answer.
b. What can you say about the likely genotype of individuals A and B? Justify your
answer.
c. Is the inheritance shown autosomal or X-inked?
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Question 13: Based on the below diagram, answer the question that follows [3]
a. Identify and define the stage marked as A.
b. Name the structure that secretes progesterone.
c. Mention the significance of progesterone.
d. Name the cells in stage (e). How many days/ weeks it takes for the development
of heart in embryo.
Question 14: The following image is a flowering twig of Cannabis plant. [3]
a. Mention any two drugs which can be obtained from this plant?
b. Give 2 effects of these drugs on the body.
c. Can a drug obtained from plants be abusive and addictive. Discuss with
example.
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Question 15: Differentiate between the following, [3]
a. Detritivores and Decomposers
b. Commensalism and ammensalism
c. In- situ and Ex- situ methods of biodiversity conservation
SECTION D – 15 Marks
Question 16:
Explain briefly with a neat, labelled diagram about the working principle of lac operon in
E. coli. [5]
OR
Represent schematically the life-cycle of a malarial parasite.
Question 17: [5]
(a) Explain the ‘Species-Area Relationship’ with the help of a graph. Give its
mathematical expressions also.
(b) Explain ‘Rivet Popper Hypothesis’.
Question 18: In the given figure, Form (A) and Form (B) represents different forms of a
proteinaceous hormone secreted by pancreas in mammals. [5]
(a) What type of bonding is present between chains of this hormone?
(b) What are these form (A) and form (B). How these forms differ from each other?
(c) Explain how this hormone was produced by Eli Lilly, an American company, using
rDNA technology.
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