THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATION AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
FORM ONE ANNUAL JOINT EXAMINATION
BIOLOGY
(For Both General and Vocational Stream)
TIME: 2:30 Hours Year 2026
INSTRUCTIONS
SECTION A (15 Marks)
Answer all questions in this section.
1. For each of the items (i)–(x), choose the correct answer from the alternatives given.
i. A unicellular organism that feeds and moves by using pseudopodia was identified when a drop of pond water was observed under a microscope. Which organism represents it?
ii. Viruses are considered to be non-living things because:
iii. Why should we obey laboratory rules?
vi. The kingdom containing bacteria is:
v. Which organelle is used for respiration in a living cell?
vi. Why is division Angiospermophyta more successful than other divisions?
vii. Filicinophytes are more advanced than Bryophytes because:
viii. Which of the following is a characteristic of Kingdom Fungi?
ix. What distinguishes a biology laboratory from other school facilities?
x. The following are features of class Monocotyledonae, except:
2. Match the phrases in List A with the correct responses in List B.
| List A | List B |
|---|---|
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SECTION B (70 Marks)
Answer all questions in this section.
3. (a) Identify the field and branch of Biology that you would use to solve the following problems:
(b) State four features that distinguish a biology laboratory from other school facilities.
(c) State three basic skills needed in studying Biology (scientific studies).
4. (a) Mention three phyla of Kingdom Fungi and give one representative organism for each phylum.
| Phylum | Example of organism |
|---|---|
| (i) | |
| (ii) | |
| (iii) |
(b) State four economic importance of Kingdom Fungi.
5. (a) Draw a diagram of a rabbit cell and label the parts that:
(b) Define cell differentiation.
(c) Give three examples of specialized plant cells and state their functions.
6. (a) Name four different shapes of bacteria.
(b) Briefly explain five ways in which bacteria are beneficial in our daily life.
7. (a) Explain the effects of the following organisms on human beings:
(b) Mtakuja villagers believe that all insects are dangerous. They have decided to kill them by spreading insecticide. As a biologist, give four reasons to convince them that insects are beneficial to their lives.
8. (a) State the taxonomic hierarchy of classification in the correct order.
(b) Lion and leopard cannot interbreed to produce viable offspring. Give a reason.
(c) Rewrite the following scientific names correctly:
9. (a) Draw and label the structure of a plant believed to be among the first plants to colonize land.
(b) Name the kingdom to which the organism drawn in 9(a) belongs.
(c) State the phylum or division to which the organism in 9(a) belongs.
(d) State three ways in which the organism drawn in 9(a) is important in daily life.
SECTION C (15 Marks)
10. Write an essay on photosynthesis using the following guidelines:
FORM ONE BIOLOGY EXAM SERIES 315
FORM ONE BIOLOGY EXAM SERIES 315
THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATION AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
FORM ONE ANNUAL JOINT EXAMINATION
BIOLOGY
Time: 3 Hours November, 2026
INSTRUCTIONS
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SECTION A (15 Marks)
Answer ALL questions in this section.
1. For each of the following items (i)–(x), choose the correct answer from the given alternatives and write its letter beside the item number.
i.During Josiah’s study tour to Serengeti National Park, a Form One student saw a moss plant. Identify the branch of biology to which the study of mosses belongs.
Zoology
Entomology
Ecology
Botany
ii. The process by which plants and some bacteria use energy from sunlight to produce glucose is called
Photolysis
Hydrolysis
Photosynthesis
Plasmolysis
iii. A person picks up a telephone after hearing it ring. Which characteristics of living things does this action show?
Excretion and reproduction
Respiration and nutrition
Irritability and movement
Respiration and growth
iv. The scientific name of the mango tree is Mangifera indica. Which taxonomic rank is represented by the name Mangifera?
Genus
Order
Family
Species
v. The statement that summarizes what a scientist has learnt from an experiment is called
Data interpretation
Experimentation
Hypothesis
Conclusion
vi. An instrument used to measure temperature is
Thermometer
Ruler
Beam balance
Watch
vii. Imagine you are observing a group of microscopic organisms. Which of these groups would you find within Kingdom Protoctista?
Bacteriophage and Paramecium
Euglena and yeast
Plasmodium and Amoeba
Bacteria and Trypanosoma
viii. Which nutrient provides the most energy per gram in the human body?
Carbohydrates
Protein
Fat
Fibre
ix. In the brewery industry, fungi play an important role because
They can reproduce sexually
They are used to manufacture antibiotics
They can ferment sugar
They produce hormones
x. Biologists have developed varieties of trees that grow well in dry areas. Such trees are used to reclaim dry land for human settlement. This shows that biology is important in the field of
Agriculture
Forestry
Nutrition
Medicine
2. Match each item in List A with the corresponding item in List B by writing the letter of the correct response.
| List A | List B |
|---|---|
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SECTION B (70 Marks)
Answer ALL questions in this section.
3. Name the parts of the cell described in each of the following statements.
4. (a) A Form Two student visited the school physics laboratory, chemistry laboratory and biology laboratory. The biology teacher asked the student to list six things that distinguish a biology laboratory from other laboratories. State the six things.
(b) Name the laboratory apparatus used for each of the following purposes:
5. Draw a well-labelled diagram of a cow cell and label the parts responsible for the following:
6. (a) Mention five common sense organs used for observation.
(b) Complete the following table by putting a tick (✓) under the sense used to observe each object.
| Object | Sight | Hearing | Smell | Touch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (i) Flower | ||||
| (ii) Perfume | ||||
| (iii) Whistle | ||||
| (iv) Cloth |
7. Due to the occurrence of ringworm caused by fungi, many people view fungi as a threat. How would you educate them about the beneficial aspects of fungi in daily life? Give any four points.
8. Identify the step of the scientific method illustrated by each of the following situations:
9. (a) Think about what distinguishes a living organism, such as a plant or animal, from a non-living object, such as a rock. List the essential life processes performed by living things.
(b) Although viruses are often viewed negatively, they can have a significant economic impact. Describe four ways in which viruses influence economic activities, considering both benefits and drawbacks.
SECTION C (15 Marks)
Answer only ONE question in this section.
10. Mtimanyongo villagers believe that all insects are dangerous. They decide to kill them by spraying insecticides. As a biologist, convince them that insects are beneficial to their lives.
FORM ONE BIOLOGY EXAM SERIES 313
FORM ONE BIOLOGY EXAM SERIES 313