THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA NATIONAL EXAMINATION COUNCIL OF TANZANIA

ADVANCED CERTIFICATE OF SECONDARY EDUCATION EXAMINATION

133/1 BIOLOGY 1

(For Both Private and School Candidates)

Duration: 3 Hour Year: 2025

Instructions

1. This paper consists of section A and B with a total of ten (10) questions.
2. Answer all questions in section A and two (2) questions from section B
3. Section A carries seventy(70) marks and section B carries thirty(30) marks
4. All writing must be in black or blue ink except drawings which must be in pencil
5. Communication devices and any unauthorized are not allowed in the examination room
6. Write your Examination Number on every page of your answer booklet(s).

1. (a) Briefly explain how each of the following features of a mitochondrion helps in breaking down food to release energy: 

1. Folded inner membrane 
2. Matrix 
3. Circular DNA 
4. Ribosomes

(b) State two importance of each of the following organelles: 

1. Microtubules 
2. Golgi body 
3. Lysosomes

2. (a) Analyse five differences between yeast cells and bacterium cells.

(b) Using two points, justify the need for a plant cell to have a vacuole.

3. (a) Study the structure of the molecule shown in the given figure and answer the questions that follow: 

1. Identify the molecule. 
2. Explain three ways in which the molecule is important in human body.

(b) Analyse four features that are shared by gills and lungs.

4. Draw well labelled diagrams to show the arrangement of neurons for transmitting impulse from receptor to the effector.

5.Differentiate spermatogenesis from oogenesis based on the following aspects: 

1. Specific site of occurrence 
2. Number of cells formed 
3. Result of cytoplasmic division during meiotic I and meiotic II 
4. Size of cell formed 
5. Transformation of the cells formed

6. With the help of a diagram, explain how a 6 carbon compound is converted to two molecules of a 3 carbon compound in respiration.

7. (a) Evaluate the rate of respiration based on each of the following criteria:

1. Size of organisms
2. Age of organisms
3. Health condition of organisms
4. Body temperature

(b) Justify the fact that when the same amount of lipid and glucose is respired, lipid releases more energy than glucose.

8. (a) Analyse four features which are found in the virus but not in bacterium cell.

(b) Viruses have merits and demerits in human life. Justify this statement by giving two merits and demerits.

9. Osmosis and diffusion are ways for transporting materials in living organisms. Evaluate four benefits of each way to living organisms.

10. In four points, justify the fact that animals cannot survive without plants.

11. With the aid of a diagram, describe the life cycle of a bryophyte.

THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA NATIONAL EXAMINATION COUNCIL OF TANZANIA

ADVANCED CERTIFICATE OF SECONDARY EDUCATION EXAMINATION

 133/2 BIOLOGY 2

(For Both Private and School Candidates)

Duration: 3 Hour Year: 2025

Instructions

1. This paper consists of six(06) questions.
2. Answer five(05) questions
3. Each question carries twenty(20) marks.
4. All writing must be in black or blue ink except drawings which must be in pencil
5. Communication devices and any unauthorized are not allowed in the examination room
6. Write your Examination Number on every page of your answer booklet(s).

1. Describe five merits and three demerits of bacteria in human life.

2. A certain scientist went to Kalahari Desert with his dog for exploration. Despite the high temperature in the desert, they both survived. Elaborate four adaptive mechanisms that helped them to survive.

3. (a) Describe the process of metamorphosis in housefly.

(b) “Mitosis is a helpful process in multicellular and unicellular organisms.” In five points, justify this statement.

4. A cross carried out between purple flowered plant with short stem and red flowered long stem produced purple short stem plants in the first filial generation. Test crossing of the individuals in F₁ produced individuals with the ratio of 1:1:1:1. Use appropriate letter to carry out outcross to show the formation of the ratio.

5. “There is no single type of ecological pyramid which is perfect on its own.” Justify this statement by giving three advantages and limitations of each type of the ecological pyramid.

6. Describe the formation of the following types of fossils and give an example for each:

1. Coprolite
2. Compressed and carbonized plant fossils
3. Imprints
4. Mould and casts
5. Mould and casts