Ordinary level 2026 South West regional mock human biology 1

1. Which cell organelle is the site of protein synthesis?

• A) Nucleus.

• B) Lysosome.

• C) Ribosome.

• D) Golgi apparatus.

2. Identify a characteristic feature of mammals;

• A) Possession of mammary glands

• B) Possession of opposable thumbs

• C) Presence of thick hairs on the body

• D) Presence of lungs for gas exchange.

3. Active transport differs from simple diffusion and osmosis as it requires:

• A) A selectively permeable membrane.

• B) A concentration gradient.

• C) Energy in the form of ATP.

• D) A high concentration of substances.

4. Blood is classified as which type of tissue?

• A) Connective tissue.

• B) Epithelial tissue.

• C) Nervous tissue.

• D) Muscular tissue.

5. Identify a correct difference between mitosis and meiosis.

Mitosis	Meiosis
A) It produces haploid genetically identical daughter cells.	It produces diploid genetically identical daughter cells.
B) It occurs in somatic cells.	It occurs in reproductive cells.
C) It halves the chromosome number of the parent cell.	It doubles the chromosome number of the parent cell.
D) It results in variation in offspring.	There is no variation in offspring.

6. What happens during ossification?

• A) Bones fracture more easily.

• B) Bone is replaced by cartilage.

• C) Cartilage is replaced by bone.

• D) Bones lose mineral and mass.

7. Which type of muscle tissue is striated and under voluntary control?

• A) Cardiac muscle.

• B) Smooth muscle.

• C) Loose muscle.

• D) Skeletal muscle.

8. Identify the joint which is correctly matched with its location in the human body.

• A) Hinge joint—hip.

• B) Suture joint—thumb.

• C) Ball-and-socket joint—shoulder.

• D) Condyloid joint—elbow.

9. Which of the following is the correct path of a nerve impulse in a typical reflex arc?

• A) Effector $\rightarrow$ sensory neurone $\rightarrow$ relay neurone $\rightarrow$ motor neurone $\rightarrow$ receptor.

• B) Receptor $\rightarrow$ sensory neurone $\rightarrow$ relay neuron $\rightarrow$ motor neurone $\rightarrow$ effector.

• C) Effector $\rightarrow$ motor neurone $\rightarrow$ relay neurone $\rightarrow$ sensory neurone $\rightarrow$ receptor.

• D) Receptor $\rightarrow$ motor neurone $\rightarrow$ relay neurone $\rightarrow$ sensory neurone $\rightarrow$ effector.

10. The diagram below shows the structure of a motor neurone.

(Note: The image shows a motor neuron with labels 1 through 5. Label 3 points to the myelin sheath.)

What is the role of the part labelled 3 in nerve impulse transmission?

• A) Produces neurotransmitters.

• B) Insulates the axon against heat loss.

• C) Speeds up the transmission of a nerve impulse by boosting its strength.

• D) Generates action potential.

11. In the human ear what is the function of the eustachian tube?

• A) Protects the inner ear from damage.

• B) Transmits sound waves to the brain.