General Biology I — 2026-test Past Questions

University of Ilorin BIO101: 126 questions.

Topics: Chromosomes, genes, their relationships and importance, Functions of cellular organelles, General reproduction, Cell structure and organisation, Heredity and evolution, Characteristics and classification of living things, Living things, Characteristics and Reproduction, Interrelationships of organisms

1. Who was the first to observe a chromosome?
   1. Wilhelm von Waldeyer
   2. Wilhelm Hofmeister
   3. Robert Hooke
   4. Eduard Strasburger
2. In which forms can a ribosome exist?
   1. 70S and 80S
   2. 40S and 50S
   3. 10S and 20S
   4. 50S and 60S
3. What is the typical range of a cell's size?
   1. 10 - 100 mm
   2. 1 - 100 µm
   3. 0.1 - 10 m
   4. 1 - 10 mm
4. Which of the following organelles is non-membrane bound?
   1. Lysosomes
   2. Ribosomes
   3. Peroxisomes
   4. Endoplasmic reticulum
5. Which of the following is present in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells?
   1. Ribosomes
   2. Mitochondria
   3. Nuclear membrane
   4. Chloroplasts
6. Chlorophyll is primarily involved in which biological process?
   1. Respiration
   2. Transpiration
   3. Photosynthesis
   4. Fermentation
7. Which of the following stores food, water, and waste within a cell?
   1. Mitochondria
   2. Vacuoles
   3. Golgi apparatus
   4. Nucleus
8. Which of the following best describes the Independent Assortment of genes?
   1. Alleles of different genes separate independently during gamete formation.
   2. Two alleles for a trait separate during meiosis.
   3. One allele is always dominant over the other.
   4. Genes are always inherited together if they are on the same chromosome.
9. Cytosol is defined as?
   1. The solid protein filaments of the cell.
   2. The external coating of the cell wall.
   3. The internal space of the nucleus.
   4. The fluid portion of the cytoplasm, excluding organelles.
10. The ripened ovary of a flower is known as the?
    1. Seed
    2. Fruit
    3. Ovule
    4. Stigma
11. The seed develops from which part of the plant?
    1. The Ovule
    2. The Anther
    3. The Style
    4. The Receptacle
12. The primary reproductive part of a plant is the?
    1. Stem
    2. Root
    3. Flower
    4. Leaf
13. Color blindness is a sex-linked condition. Which chromosome is primarily affected in males?
    1. The X chromosome
    2. The Y chromosome
    3. Chromosome 21
    4. The mitochondrial chromosome
14. Which of the following is not a chromatin-associated protein?
    1. Histones
    2. SMC (Structural Maintenance of Chromosomes) proteins
    3. Tubulin
    4. HMG (High Mobility Group) proteins
15. What is the primary function of microvilli in cellular structures?
    1. To facilitate cellular movement and locomotion.
    2. To increase the surface area for absorption and secretion.
    3. To protect the cell from external pathogens.
    4. To synthesize proteins for the plasma membrane.
16. The following are characteristic features of heterochromatin as opposed to euchromatin, except?
    1. It is more densely packed and highly condensed.
    2. It is generally transcriptionally inactive (genes are "turned off").
    3. It stains more lightly when viewed under a microscope.
    4. It is typically found at the periphery of the nucleus.
17. Plants that complete their life cycle from germination to seed production over the course of two years are called?
    1. Annuals
    2. Biennials
    3. Perennials
    4. Ephemerals
18. The primary function of a Histone is?
    1. Chromosome Heterozygosity
    2. Chromosome Homozygosity
    3. Chromosome packaging
    4. Chromosome division
19. The most conserved form of Histone across eukaryotic organisms is?
    1. H1
    2. H2A
    3. H2B
    4. H4
20. Which of the following scientists provided evidence that refuted Jean Lamarck's theory of "inheritance of acquired traits"?
    1. Charles Darwin
    2. August Weismann
    3. Gregor Mendel
    4. Alfred Wallace
21. Dihybrid inheritance obeys which of Mendel's laws?
    1. Law of Dominance
    2. Law of Segregation
    3. Law of Independent Assortment
    4. Law of Allele Combination
22. In a dihybrid cross (AaBb × AaBb), what is the fraction of offspring with the "Homozygous Dominant" genotype (AABB)?
    1. 3/16
    2. 4/16
    3. 9/16
    4. 1/16
23. In the biological study of a classroom ecosystem, which of the following is not typically observed?
    1. Listing the organisms
    2. Collecting the organisms
    3. Observing characteristic features
    4. Artificial selection of species
24. The primary function of a Ribosome is?
    1. Reproduction
    2. Synthesis of proteins
    3. Energy production
    4. Transportation of nutrients
25. The cytoskeleton is primarily composed of?
    1. Protein filaments (Actin, Microtubules)
    2. Enzymes and carbohydrates
    3. Lipids and nucleic acids
    4. Cellulose and pectin
26. The metabolism of lipids and the catabolism of long-chain fatty acids is a primary function of the?
    1. Vacuole
    2. Nucleus
    3. Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum
    4. Peroxisome
27. The phospholipid bilayer structure of the cell membrane, with proteins floating within it, is described by which scientific model?
    1. Fluid mosaic model
    2. Lock-and-key model
    3. Sliding filament model
    4. Induced fit model
28. The specialized protective caps at the end of chromosomes are called?
    1. Centromeres
    2. Telomeres
    3. Chromatin
    4. Chromatids
29. Which of the following is lightly stained and transcriptionally active?
    1. Heterochromatin
    2. Euchromatin
    3. Centromere
    4. Telomere
30. Reproduction, nutrition, and irritability (response to stimuli) are characteristics of?
    1. Some animals and plants
    2. All animals only
    3. All plants only
    4. All animals and plants
31. Which of the following organisms belongs to Kingdom Plantae?
    1. Starfish
    2. Jellyfish
    3. Daisy
    4. Mushroom
32. All the following are recognized types of chromosomes except?
    1. Autosomes
    2. C-chromosomes
    3. B-chromosomes
    4. Sex chromosomes
33. The protein complex that holds sister chromatids together after DNA replication until they are separated during mitosis is?
    1. Topoisomerase
    2. Histone
    3. Condensin
    4. Cohesin
34. A flower that possesses only one type of reproductive organ is described as?
    1. Monocarpic
    2. Unisexual
    3. Dioecious
    4. Hermaphroditic
35. A flower is scientifically described as "complete" if it possesses how many whorls?
    1. 2 whorls
    2. 3 whorls
    3. 4 whorls
    4. 5 whorls
36. What are the thread-like structures found in the nucleus that become visible during cell division?
    1. Nucleolus
    2. Chromosomes
    3. Spindle fibers
    4. Cytoskeleton
37. The core or internal structural arrangement of cilia and flagella is known as the?
    1. Axoneme
    2. Centriole
    3. Basal body
    4. Microfilament
38. Which of the following protein complexes is primarily responsible for the condensation of chromosomes during mitosis?
    1. Cohesin
    2. Condensin
    3. Histone H1
    4. Topoisomerase
39. Which organelle is primarily responsible for detoxifying harmful substances, such as drugs and alcohol, in a cell?
    1. Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (SER)
    2. Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (RER)
    3. Vacuole
    4. Golgi Apparatus
40. The Kinetochore is a specialized structure found at the centromere of a chromosome. It is also sometimes referred to as the?
    1. Centromere (primary constriction)
    2. Telomere cap
    3. Nucleolar organizer
    4. Chromomere
41. Which enzyme is specifically used to untangle and relieve the tension in coiled or supercoiled DNA during replication?
    1. DNA Polymerase
    2. DNA Ligase
    3. Topoisomerase
    4. Helicase
42. Which DNA-protein filaments condense to form distinct chromosomes during cell division?
    1. Spindle fibers
    2. Chromatin
    3. Microfilaments
    4. Plasmodesmata
43. The structural organization of DNA and histones that appears as beads on a string under a microscope is called?
    1. The Chromatin
    2. The Centromere
    3. The Kinetochore
    4. The Ribosome
44. Which of the following are examples of biological macromolecules?
    1. Oxygen, Carbon, and Hydrogen
    2. Proteins, Nucleic acids, Carbohydrates, and Lipids
    3. Glucose, Amino acids, and Nucleotides
    4. Vitamins, minerals, and water
45. Which of the following processes takes place in plants but not in animals?
    1. Aerobic respiration
    2. Active transport
    3. Mitosis
    4. Photosynthesis
46. At what phase of mitosis do the sister chromatids separate and move toward opposite poles?
    1. Anaphase
    2. Prophase
    3. Metaphase
    4. Telophase
47. The process of pollination by insects is known as?
    1. Entomophily
    2. Anemophily
    3. Hydrophily
    4. Chiropterophily
48. Parasitic nutrition is found in all of the following organisms except?
    1. Roundworm
    2. Tapeworm
    3. Mosquito
    4. Liver fluke
49. What are the four main whorls that make up a complete flower?
    1. Corolla, Calyx, Pedicel, and Gynoecium
    2. Corolla, Sepals, Androecium, and Gynoecium
    3. Sepals, Petals, Androecium, and Gynoecium
    4. Perianth, Corolla, Androecium, and Gynoecium
50. Plants that complete their life cycle in one growing season are called?
    1. Annuals
    2. Biannuals
    3. Perennials
    4. Biennials
51. What is a major limitation or refutation of Lamarck's Theory of Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics?
    1. Acquired traits, such as a bodybuilder's muscles, cannot be passed to offspring.
    2. Giraffes' necks grew longer over time.
    3. Organisms do not change over time.
    4. DNA is only found in the nucleus.
52. The Plasma Membrane is primarily composed of which molecules?
    1. Carbohydrates and Proteins
    2. Carbohydrates, Proteins, and Lipids
    3. Carbohydrates and Lipids
    4. Proteins and Nucleic acids
53. The proteins that span across the entire lipid bilayer of the plasma membrane are known as?
    1. Peripheral proteins
    2. Integral proteins
    3. Glycoproteins
    4. Lipoproteins
54. Who was the first person to observe and name "cells" while looking at cork?
    1. Robert Hooke
    2. Charles Darwin
    3. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek
    4. Matthias Schleiden
55. What is the primary difference between Chromoplasts and Leucoplasts?
    1. Chromoplasts store pigments; Leucoplasts store starch/nutrients.
    2. Chromoplasts are for respiration; Leucoplasts are for photosynthesis.
    3. Chromoplasts are found in animals; Leucoplasts are found in plants.
    4. Chromoplasts store water; Leucoplasts store oils.
56. How many pairs of sex chromosomes are found in a human cell?
    1. 1 pair
    2. 2 pairs
    3. 23 pairs
    4. 46 pairs
57. Which of the following best defines pollination?
    1. The fusion of male and female gametes to form a zygote.
    2. The transfer of pollen grains from the anther of a stamen to the receptive stigma of a carpel.
    3. The dispersal of seeds away from the parent plant by wind or water.
    4. The process by which a seed begins to grow into a seedling.
58. Which of the following animals is not viviparous?
    1. Snake
    2. Apes
    3. Gorilla
    4. Cheetah
59. What is the outermost whorl of a flower, which is usually green and protects the flower during the bud stage?
    1. Corolla (Petals)
    2. Calyx (Sepals)
    3. Androecium (Stamens)
    4. Gynoecium (Carpels)
60. Mycoplasma organisms are generally smaller than typical bacteria.
    1. True
    2. False
    3. Partly true
    4. Cannot be determined
61. Which of the following is a type of protein found within the plasma membrane?
    1. Tubulin
    2. Transmembrane protein
    3. Ribophorin
    4. Keratin
62. The outermost whorl of a flower, which is typically green and leafy in appearance, consists of structures called?
    1. Pedicels
    2. Petals
    3. Sepals
    4. Stamens
63. How many autosomes are present in a normal human somatic cell?
    1. 20 pairs
    2. 46 pairs
    3. 22 pairs
    4. 23 pairs
64. What is the primary function of microbodies?
    1. Cellular respiration
    2. Detoxification and lipid metabolism
    3. DNA replication
    4. Protein synthesis
65. Which organelle is primarily responsible for the processing, packaging, and intracellular transport of proteins and lipids for secretion?
    1. Golgi apparatus
    2. Lysosome
    3. Mitochondria
    4. Ribosome
66. Sickle cell trait is best described as a?
    1. Morphological trait
    2. Physiological trait
    3. Disease susceptibility trait
    4. Behavioral trait
67. A Test Cross is performed by crossing an individual with an unknown genotype with a homozygous recessive individual. If the resulting offspring show a 1:1 ratio of traits, the unknown genotype is?
    1. Hemizygous
    2. Homozygous Dominant
    3. Homozygous Recessive
    4. Heterozygous
68. The DNA filaments that become visible as thick, thread-like structures during cell division are?
    1. Chromatin
    2. Chromosomes
    3. Centrioles
    4. Spindle fibers
69. The process by which a new plant grows from a fragment or specialized reproductive structure of the parent plant is?
    1. Pollination
    2. Meiosis
    3. Fertilization
    4. Vegetative propagation
70. An organism's behavior is typically influenced or determined by?
    1. Genetic factors
    2. Environmental factors
    3. Both Genetic and Environmental factors
    4. Physical traits only
71. Filamentous algae such as Spirogyra grow and multiply rapidly in the presence of water and nutrients primarily through?
    1. Fragmentation
    2. Budding
    3. Spore formation
    4. Pollination
72. The primary method of asexual reproduction in bread molds is?
    1. Budding
    2. Fragmentation
    3. Spore formation
    4. Binary fission
73. Reproduction in plants that does not involve flowers, fruits, or seeds is known as?
    1. Sexual reproduction
    2. Vegetative propagation
    3. Double fertilization
    4. Pollination
74. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek was the first to discover and describe little animals which he called?
    1. Animalcules
    2. Cork cells
    3. Lysosomes
    4. Nuclei
75. What is the primary function of the cytosol?
    1. To protect the cell from the external environment.
    2. To act as the site for many metabolic reactions and suspend organelles.
    3. To generate ATP via aerobic respiration.
    4. To synthesize proteins for export.
76. The part of the cell that consists of the jelly-like substance holding all the organelles in place is the?
    1. Cytoskeleton
    2. Cell wall
    3. Nucleoplasm
    4. Cytoplasm
77. Which organelle is specifically responsible for detoxifying metabolic waste and harmful substances?
    1. Mitochondria
    2. Ribosome
    3. Peroxisome
    4. Nucleolus
78. Which of the following is not a process associated with sexual reproduction?
    1. Gamete formation
    2. Fertilization
    3. Parthenocarpy
    4. Meiosis
79. Which of the following concepts best represents the core of Darwin's theory (Darwinism)?
    1. Inheritance of Acquired Traits
    2. Survival of the Fittest
    3. Independent Assortment of Genes
    4. Use and Disuse of organs
80. In genetics, a trait that is expressed and masks the effect of another trait in a heterozygous individual is described as?
    1. Dominant
    2. Recessive
    3. Co-dominant
    4. Incomplete
81. Systematics is the study of the diversification of living forms. Which of the following is not a characteristic or goal of Systematics?
    1. Covering and naming all known organisms
    2. Classifying organisms based on shared traits
    3. Following and reconstructing genetic trends
    4. Focusing only on classifying organisms based on relationship between them
82. The transfer of pollen grains from the anther of one flower to the receptive stigma of another flower is known as?
    1. Self-pollination
    2. Cross-pollination
    3. Fertilization
    4. Germination
83. The confusion or complexity in understanding animal diversity is often increased by the processes of?
    1. Evolution and extinction
    2. Replication
    3. Uniform reproduction
    4. Constant environments
84. What scientific discipline provides the system for organizing, naming, and recalling the roughly 1.5 million known species groups?
    1. Taxonomy
    2. Classification
    3. Genetics
    4. Ecology
85. The saying "Omnis cellula e cellula" emphasizes which biological concept?
    1. Abiogenesis
    2. Cells arising from pre-existing cells
    3. Spontaneous generation
    4. Cells being created from inorganic matter
86. The Tonoplast is a specialized membrane found surrounding which organelle?
    1. Mitochondria
    2. Nucleus
    3. Large Central Vacuole
    4. Lysosome
87. The fusion of the haploid nucleus of a sperm cell with the haploid nucleus of an egg cell results in a?
    1. Diploid zygote (2n)
    2. Haploid gamete (n)
    3. Triploid endosperm (3n)
    4. Tetraploid embryo (4n)
88. The primary function of the large central vacuole in a plant cell is?
    1. Storage of nutrients/waste and maintaining cell rigidity
    2. Detoxifying harmful substances
    3. Synthesizing genetic materials
    4. Producing energy (ATP)
89. Viruses are generally smaller than?
    1. Most bacteria
    2. Atoms
    3. Lipids
    4. Water molecules
90. Who is credited with coining the term "Chromosome" in 1888?
    1. H. Waldeyer
    2. Gregor Mendel
    3. Robert Hooke
    4. Charles Darwin
91. Which part of the cell acts as the primary boundary and facilitates the physical connection and communication between adjacent cells?
    1. Nucleus
    2. Cell membrane
    3. Vacuole
    4. Golgi body
92. Which organelle or structure is responsible for the organization and formation of spindle fibers during animal cell division?
    1. Centrioles
    2. Lysosomes
    3. Ribosomes
    4. Mitochondria
93. What is the typical size range for most eukaryotic cells?
    1. 1 to 10 micrometers
    2. 10 to 100 micrometers
    3. 100 to 500 micrometers
    4. 1 to 10 millimeters
94. The pistil of a flower is composed of which three parts?
    1. Anther, Filament, and Pollen
    2. Stigma, Style, and Ovary
    3. Sepal, Petal, and Receptacle
    4. Stigma, Anther, and Ovary
95. The total collection of all the different genes and alleles present in a breeding population is called the?
    1. Genotype
    2. Gene pool
    3. Genome
    4. Phenotype
96. What is the primary function of the chloroplast in a plant cell?
    1. Cellular respiration
    2. Protein synthesis
    3. Photosynthesis
    4. Lipid storage
97. In the hierarchy of biological classification, which level is the most exclusive and contains only one type of organism?
    1. Kingdom
    2. Phylum
    3. Genus
    4. Species
98. Which of the following is a primary function of lysosomes?
    1. Intracellular digestion and waste removal
    2. ATP production
    3. DNA replication
    4. Carbohydrate synthesis
99. Polymerization is the chemical process of?
    1. Breaking down large molecules into smaller units.
    2. The movement of water across a semi-permeable membrane.
    3. Combining small repeating units to form a large molecule.
    4. Oxidizing molecules to release energy.
100. Which of the following statements about chromosomes is true?
     1. They are only found in the cytoplasm.
     2. The terminal ends of a chromosome are called telomeres.
     3. They are always X-shaped regardless of the cell cycle stage.
     4. They do not contain proteins.

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