General Practical Biology I — 2026 Past Questions

University of Ilorin BIO107: 180 questions.

Topics: Measurements in biology, Use of common laboratory apparatus, Common laboratory hazards, Compound and dissecting microscope, Biological drawings and illustration, scaling, accuracy and proportion, Prevention and first aid, Uses and care of microscope

1. In microscopy, resolution is defined as
   1. The ability to increase the size of an image
   2. The ability to distinguish two closely spaced objects as separate
   3. The intensity of light passing through the specimen
   4. The thickness of the specimen being viewed
2. What is a ruler used for in biological drawing?
   1. To draw freehand biological curves
   2. To measure dimensions and ensure accurate proportions
   3. To shade the darker parts of the specimen
   4. To point at structures during observation
3. If the actual size of a specimen is 3 mm and it is drawn as 30 mm, what is the magnification?
   1. ×3
   2. ×10
   3. ×30
   4. ×90
4. Convert 2.5 hours to minutes.
   1. 120 minutes
   2. 150 minutes
   3. 180 minutes
   4. 250 minutes
5. Find the average of 2.34, 2.4 and 2.345. Round off to the correct significant figure.
   1. 2.361
   2. 2.36
   3. 2.4
   4. 2.3
6. What is the full meaning of PPE?
   1. Personal protection equipment
   2. Personal protective equipment
   3. Private protective equipment
   4. Peripheral protective equipment
7. Which prefix represents one thousand?
   1. Centi-
   2. Milli-
   3. Kilo-
   4. Micro-
8. Which is a derived unit of volume?
   1. Litre
   2. g
   3. kg
   4. m³
9. Which microscope is used for viewing internal structures of a cell?
   1. Scanning electron microscope
   2. Transmission electron microscope
   3. Dissecting microscope
   4. Simple microscope
10. The area of a room is measured in
    1. Square metres
    2. Inches
    3. Litres
    4. Grams
11. What is the purpose of a desiccator?
    1. To heat samples to a high temperature
    2. To keep substances dry and moisture-free
    3. To measure the pH of a solution
    4. To centrifuge biological samples
12. What should be used to remove hot test tubes from a flame?
    1. Test tube holder
    2. Bare hands
    3. Plastic forceps
    4. Laboratory towels
13. 'Milli' is represented as
    1. 10⁻¹
    2. 10⁻²
    3. 10⁻³
    4. 10⁻⁵
14. Why do we calibrate a pH meter?
    1. To improve its life span
    2. To keep the electrode durable
    3. For accurate measurements
    4. To prevent chemical contamination
15. Which skill is used for drawing transparent diagrams in biological illustration?
    1. Shading and colouring
    2. Using thick, blurry lines
    3. Stippling
    4. Sketching with multiple overlapping lines
16. How is a pH meter calibrated?
    1. Using a buffer solution
    2. Using distilled water only
    3. Using a strong concentrated acid
    4. Using a saline solution
17. What is the function of the condenser in a microscope?
    1. To magnify the specimen
    2. To focus light onto the specimen
    3. To adjust the focus of the eyepiece
    4. To hold the slide in place
18. Which lens is closest to the specimen?
    1. Ocular lens
    2. Objective lens
    3. Condenser lens
    4. Eyepiece lens
19. How should a microscope be carried?
    1. With one hand, holding the stage
    2. With two hands, one holding the arm and the other supporting the base
    3. With one hand, holding the eyepiece
    4. With two hands, holding the stage and the eyepiece
20. What is the purpose of eye goggles?
    1. To see the specimen more clearly
    2. To protect the eyes from splashes and hazards
    3. To prevent the eyes from getting tired
    4. To filter the light from the microscope
21. What should you do when a chemical enters your eyes?
    1. Rub the eyes until the chemical is out
    2. Rinse with water for a long period
    3. Apply a neutralizing acid immediately
    4. Close the eyes and wait for medical help
22. The word 'microscope' comes from two Greek words that mean
    1. Small view
    2. Vision and light
    3. Large sight
    4. Life study
23. Which microscope is used to observe specimens (such as living cells) without the need for staining?
    1. Compound light microscope
    2. Phase-contrast microscope
    3. Transmission electron microscope
    4. Dissecting microscope
24. Which of the following is considered a biological illustration?
    1. Starry Night
    2. Mona Lisa
    3. Haeckel's Forms of Art in Nature
    4. The Vitruvian Man
25. Convert 1 litre to millilitres.
    1. 10 ml
    2. 100 ml
    3. 1,000 ml
    4. 10,000 ml
26. A centrifuge runs at 500 revolutions per minute (rpm). Calculate the total revolutions in 10 minutes.
    1. 50,000
    2. 5,000
    3. 500
    4. 50
27. Convert 250 micrometres (µm) to millimetres (mm).
    1. 0.25 mm
    2. 0.025 mm
    3. 2.5 mm
    4. 0.00025 mm
28. Which of the following is Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)?
    1. Laboratory coat
    2. Casual denim jacket
    3. Wristwatch
    4. Open-toed sandals
29. What should you do with your lab coat when moving from the laboratory to a non-laboratory area?
    1. Take it off before leaving the laboratory
    2. Keep wearing it everywhere
    3. Hang it over your arm and carry it around
    4. Wear it only in the corridor
30. Magnification is calculated as
    1. Actual size × image size
    2. Actual size ÷ drawing size
    3. Drawing size ÷ actual size
    4. Drawing size + actual size
31. What is the main use of a stereo (dissecting) microscope?
    1. 3D visualization of solid, opaque or thick specimens
    2. Viewing ultra-thin internal cell sections
    3. Measuring the pH of a liquid specimen
    4. Magnifying atoms and molecules
32. If you are wearing contact lenses in the lab, you should
    1. Keep the information to yourself
    2. Inform the lab instructor
    3. Remove them and work without any eye protection
    4. Wear them only when using the microscope oculars
33. Which is an example of a microscope that uses visible light as its radiation source?
    1. Transmission electron microscope
    2. Scanning electron microscope
    3. Compound light microscope
    4. Atomic force microscope
34. Convert 0.246 g to milligrams (mg).
    1. 256 mg
    2. 0.0246 mg
    3. 246 mg
    4. 2.46 mg
35. What is the standard unit of temperature used in the metric (SI) system for scientific data?
    1. Kelvin
    2. Celsius
    3. Fahrenheit
    4. Rankine
36. Which unit is used for measuring time in the metric (SI) system?
    1. Day
    2. Hour
    3. Second
    4. Minute
37. Which method is used for the proper sterilization of a glass Petri dish?
    1. Wipe with alcohol and leave it open
    2. Dust with a dry broom
    3. Put in an autoclave at 121 °C for 15 minutes
    4. Wipe with dry cotton wool
38. What is used for measuring large lengths, such as the dimensions of a lab room?
    1. Metre rule
    2. Measuring tape
    3. Vernier calipers
    4. Micrometer screw gauge
39. If you or your lab partner is seriously hurt, what should you shout to alert the instructor?
    1. Nothing, stay quiet
    2. Red alert, red alert
    3. Help, help!
    4. Code blue
40. What is the primary function of a water bath in the laboratory?
    1. To provide drinking water for students
    2. To incubate samples at a constant temperature
    3. To wash contaminated glassware
    4. To store chemical waste
41. What is a major advantage of a compound light microscope over an electron microscope?
    1. It has much higher magnification
    2. It can be used to observe living cells
    3. It uses electrons instead of light
    4. It provides 3D images of internal organelles
42. What is the metric (SI) unit of mass?
    1. Kilogram (kg)
    2. Millimetre (mm)
    3. Metre (m)
    4. Second (s)
43. Which of these is NOT equal to 1 litre?
    1. 1,000 cm³
    2. 1 dm³
    3. 1 kg
    4. 1,000 ml
44. What is the metric unit for luminous intensity?
    1. Candela
    2. Kilogram
    3. Ampere
    4. Second
45. What is the use of a spatula in the laboratory?
    1. To stir large volumes of liquid
    2. To transfer small amounts of solid substances
    3. To measure the temperature of a flame
    4. To clean the inside of test tubes
46. Why should an analytical balance be placed on a flat, smooth table?
    1. To prevent the balance from getting scratched
    2. To ensure accurate and stable mass measurements
    3. To make it easier to clean the table
    4. To keep the lab looking organized
47. Convert 2.5 km into metres.
    1. 25 m
    2. 250 m
    3. 2,500 m
    4. 25,000 m
48. Which instrument is used to take mass measurements?
    1. Measuring cylinder
    2. Analytical balance
    3. Thermometer
    4. Voltmeter
49. How many significant figures are in the number 123.45?
    1. 3
    2. 4
    3. 5
    4. 6
50. The air in a laminar flow cabinet is filtered using
    1. Activated charcoal filters
    2. UV filters
    3. HEPA filters
    4. Millipore filters
51. Convert 27 °C to kelvin.
    1. 273 K
    2. 300 K
    3. 310 K
    4. 246 K
52. What are the standard pressure and temperature settings for an autoclave?
    1. 15 psi at 100 °C
    2. 15 psi at 121 °C
    3. 10 psi at 115 °C
    4. 20 psi at 132 °C
53. Which part of a microscope must you NOT touch?
    1. The base
    2. The glass surface of the lenses
    3. The stage clips
    4. The revolving nosepiece
54. When are goggles to be taken off inside the lab?
    1. Only when you are out of the lab
    2. They should never be taken off
    3. When your practical partner tells you to
    4. When you are finished with your own experiment but others are still working
55. When should you taste or smell a chemical in the lab?
    1. When the instructor explicitly tells you to
    2. You should never taste or smell any chemical
    3. Only if the chemical is labelled as organic
    4. When you need to identify an unknown liquid
56. How should forceps be handled after use?
    1. Left on the lab bench
    2. Cleaned and returned to the equipment kit
    3. Disposed of in the biohazard bin
    4. Placed in a beaker of used chemicals
57. Why are Petri dishes stacked upside down?
    1. To prevent condensation from dripping onto the agar
    2. To make them easier to carry
    3. To allow oxygen to reach the bacteria more easily
    4. To prevent the agar from falling out
58. Convert 0.02 L to mL.
    1. 2 mL
    2. 20 mL
    3. 200 mL
    4. 0.2 mL
59. When should good laboratory practices be followed?
    1. Only when the instructor is watching
    2. Only when the instructor says so
    3. At all times in the laboratory
    4. Only during chemical experiments
60. What is the primary aim of first aid?
    1. To cure the injury completely
    2. To preserve life and prevent the condition from worsening
    3. To replace the need for a professional doctor
    4. To document the laboratory accident
61. If you see an interesting-looking object in the laboratory, what should you do?
    1. Touch it to see how it feels
    2. Leave it alone and ask the instructor
    3. Take it home for further study
    4. Call your friends over to play with it
62. When dealing with volatile chemicals you should make use of
    1. A ceiling fan
    2. A fume hood
    3. An open window
    4. A Bunsen burner
63. What is the function of the coarse adjustment knob?
    1. For sharp focus under high power
    2. To move the stage rapidly for initial focusing
    3. To adjust the amount of light entering the condenser
    4. To switch between objective lenses
64. When heating a conical flask with a Bunsen burner, you should
    1. Heat it slowly and evenly
    2. Hold it directly in the hottest part of the flame without moving
    3. Fill it to the brim before heating
    4. Seal it with a tight rubber stopper
65. After using a Bunsen burner, you should
    1. Leave the pilot light on for the next student
    2. Switch off the gas source completely
    3. Blow the flame out with your breath
    4. Turn the air hole to the fully open position
66. Which of the following is NOT a conventional method to be followed in biological drawing?
    1. Using a sharp pencil
    2. Using imagination to add additional features
    3. Including a scale or magnification
    4. Labelling with straight horizontal lines
67. Who is credited with inventing the compound microscope?
    1. Robert Hooke
    2. Zacharias Janssen
    3. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek
    4. Charles Darwin
68. What is the total magnification of a microscope with a 10× eyepiece and a 40× objective lens?
    1. 40×
    2. 50×
    3. 400×
    4. 4000×
69. What should you do if you accidentally break a mercury-in-glass thermometer?
    1. Pick up the mercury beads with your fingers
    2. Sweep it under the lab bench
    3. Immediately inform the instructor for proper cleanup
    4. Wash it down the sink with plenty of water
70. Convert 500 g to kg.
    1. 0.5 kg
    2. 5 kg
    3. 50 kg
    4. 500 kg
71. Convert 0.002 L to mL.
    1. 2 mL
    2. 0.2 mL
    3. 200 mL
    4. 2,000 mL
72. Convert 750 mL to litres.
    1. 0.75 L
    2. 7.5 L
    3. 75 L
    4. 0.075 L
73. Which part of a microscope is used to hold a slide in place?
    1. Stage
    2. Stage clip
    3. Objective lens
    4. Eyepiece
74. How does a centrifuge work?
    1. By heating samples until they evaporate
    2. By using centrifugal force to separate substances of different densities
    3. By using light to magnify small particles
    4. By chemical neutralization
75. What is another name for the eyepiece of a microscope?
    1. Ocular lens
    2. Objective lens
    3. Condenser
    4. Diaphragm
76. What should you do when you see a new piece of equipment in the lab?
    1. Never touch it unless instructed
    2. Take it to your friend to see if he knows how it works
    3. Plug it in to see if it turns on
    4. Try to disassemble it to see the internal parts
77. What should you do when there is a laboratory fire?
    1. Inform your instructor immediately
    2. Run for the fire extinguisher without telling anyone
    3. Open all windows to let the smoke out
    4. Hide under the laboratory bench
78. Which of the following is a laboratory hazard?
    1. Electrical hazard
    2. Chemical hazard
    3. Biological hazard
    4. All of the above
79. What is the use of an oil immersion lens?
    1. To increase the refractive index and achieve high resolution
    2. To prevent the slide from cracking
    3. To cool down the specimen during observation
    4. To stain the specimen automatically
80. A student preparing a buffer measures 0.75 L of distilled water. What is this in millilitres?
    1. 75 mL
    2. 750 mL
    3. 7,500 mL
    4. 0.075 mL
81. Rice sold at the market is measured in
    1. Mole
    2. Gram
    3. Kilogram
    4. Litre
82. Convert 259 °F to degrees Celsius.
    1. 100 °C
    2. 126.1 °C
    3. 142.5 °C
    4. 98.6 °C
83. Which of the following is used to measure the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution?
    1. pH meter
    2. Viscometer
    3. Thermometer
    4. Barometer
84. How should flammable chemicals be handled and stored?
    1. In heat-resistant containers, away from ignition sources
    2. In open beakers near windows
    3. Next to Bunsen burners
    4. In direct sunlight
85. A place where scientific experiments take place is called a
    1. Morgue
    2. Hospital
    3. Laboratory
    4. Oven
86. Convert 250 µL to mL.
    1. 2.5 mL
    2. 0.25 mL
    3. 0.025 mL
    4. 25 mL
87. Who made a major contribution to the study of microorganisms?
    1. Louis Pasteur
    2. Gregor Mendel
    3. Ernest Haeckel
    4. Charles Darwin
88. Which of the following is used to clean a microscope lens?
    1. Tissue paper
    2. Lens paper
    3. Cloth towel
    4. Filter paper
89. Which instrument is used for dissecting an insect?
    1. TEM
    2. Compound light microscope
    3. Stereomicroscope
    4. Phase contrast microscope
90. Which of the following microscopes uses electrons instead of light?
    1. Scanning electron microscope
    2. Compound microscope
    3. Stereo microscope
    4. Dissecting microscope
91. What is used to accurately measure the volume of liquids?
    1. Beaker
    2. Conical flask
    3. Measuring cylinder
    4. Watch glass
92. What is the best way to hold a hot test tube?
    1. Clamp
    2. Test tube holder
    3. Hot apron
    4. Forceps
93. What is the best way to store test tubes after washing?
    1. Upside down in a test tube rack
    2. In a dry paper
    3. On the lab table
    4. Stacked inside a beaker
94. Laboratory rules should be followed by
    1. Students only
    2. Teachers only
    3. Everyone in the laboratory
    4. Visitors only
95. What type of shoes is most advisable to wear in the lab?
    1. Sandals
    2. Closed shoes covering your toes
    3. Closed shoes showing your toes
    4. High-heeled shoes
96. Which lens is responsible for the primary magnification of the specimen?
    1. Objective lens
    2. Ocular lens
    3. Condenser lens
    4. Diaphragm lens
97. Convert 1 m to cm.
    1. 100 cm
    2. 0.01 cm
    3. 0.1 cm
    4. 10 cm
98. Convert 2.5 kg to g.
    1. 2,500 g
    2. 25,000 g
    3. 250 g
    4. 0.25 g
99. Why must a centrifuge be balanced before use?
    1. To prevent vibration and damage to the machine
    2. To increase the speed of rotation
    3. To reduce temperature
    4. To change the density of the solution
100. Why must you wear eye protection in the lab?
     1. To prevent eye strain
     2. When dealing with chemicals, corrosives and glassware
     3. To look professional
     4. To see microscopic objects better

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