WASSCE 2018 Integrated Science Past Questions and Answers
The WASSCE 2018 Integrated Science paper has 46 objective and 10 theory questions. Here are sample objective questions with the correct answers and explanations. Sit the full paper with the real time limit on ePrep.
Sample questions with answers
1. The component of white light which is most deviated when light is dispersed is
- A. blue
- B. red
- C. violet
- D. yellow
Answer: C. violet
Dispersion of Light by Prisms
Visible light, also known as white light, consists of a collection of component colors. These colors are often observed as light passes through a triangular prism. Upon passage through the prism, the white light is separated into its component colors - red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet.
The separation of visible light into its different colors is known as dispersion.
Different materials are distinguished from each other by their different optical densities. The optical density is simply a measure of the tendency of a material to slow down light as it travels through it.
The minimum the wavelength of the light,the more the deviation.
The visible colors from shortest to longest wavelength are: violet, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red.
Hence violet has the most deviation and red has the least deviation
Dispersion of Light by Prisms
Visible light, also known as white light, consists of a collection of component colors. These colors are often observed as light passes through a triangular prism. Upon passage through the prism, the white light is separated into its component colors - red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet.
The separation of visible light into its different colors is known as dispersion.
Different materials are distinguished from each other by their different optical densities. The optical density is simply a measure of the tendency of a material to slow down light as it travels through it.
The minimum the wavelength of the light,the more the deviation.
The visible colors from shortest to longest wavelength are: violet, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red.
Hence violet has the most deviation and red has the least deviation
2. Which of the following characters in human is sex - linked ?
- A. Baldness
- B. Skin colour
- C. Eye colour
- D. Sickle cell
Answer: A. Baldness
If a gene is found only on the X chromosome and not the Y chromosome, it is said to be a sex-linked trait
Because the gene controlling the trait is located on the sex chromosome (X Chromosome), sex linkage is linked to the gender of the individual
Male is made up of XY chromosomes and female XX
Females will have two copies of the sex-linked gene to have the trait while males will only have one copy of this gene to have the trait
Examples of Sex-linked Traits
* Hemophilia
* Red-green color blindness
* Congenital night blindness
* Some high blood pressure genes
* Duchenne muscular dystrophy
* Fragile X syndrome
Illustration
Let X$^{C}$ be the gene for a X chromosome without red-green colorblindness
X$^{c}$ be the red-green colorblindness gene
| Description | Genotypes |
|---|---|
| Normal vision male | X$^{C}$Y$^{o}$ |
| Colorblind male | X$^{c}$Y$^{o}$ |
| Normal vision female | X$^{C}$X$^{C}$ |
| Normal vision female (Carrier) | X$^{C}$X$^{c}$ |
| Colorblind female | X$^{c}$X$^{c}$ |
Red-green colorblindness: A form of colorblindness in which red and green are perceived as identical. This is the most common type of colorblindness. It is inherited in an X-linked recessive manner and affects 6% of males. It is also known as deutan colorblindness, deuteranopia, and Daltonism
Hemophilia is one of a group of inherited bleeding disorders that cause abnormal or exaggerated bleeding and poor blood clotting.
Hemophilia A and B are inherited in an X-linked recessive genetic pattern, so males are commonly affected while females are usually carriers of the disease.
If a gene is found only on the X chromosome and not the Y chromosome, it is said to be a sex-linked trait
Because the gene controlling the trait is located on the sex chromosome (X Chromosome), sex linkage is linked to the gender of the individual
Male is made up of XY chromosomes and female XX
Females will have two copies of the sex-linked gene to have the trait while males will only have one copy of this gene to have the trait
Examples of Sex-linked Traits
* Hemophilia
* Red-green color blindness
* Congenital night blindness
* Some high blood pressure genes
* Duchenne muscular dystrophy
* Fragile X syndrome
Illustration
Let X$^{C}$ be the gene for a X chromosome without red-green colorblindness
X$^{c}$ be the red-green colorblindness gene
| Description | Genotypes |
|---|---|
| Normal vision male | X$^{C}$Y$^{o}$ |
| Colorblind male | X$^{c}$Y$^{o}$ |
| Normal vision female | X$^{C}$X$^{C}$ |
| Normal vision female (Carrier) | X$^{C}$X$^{c}$ |
| Colorblind female | X$^{c}$X$^{c}$ |
Red-green colorblindness: A form of colorblindness in which red and green are perceived as identical. This is the most common type of colorblindness. It is inherited in an X-linked recessive manner and affects 6% of males. It is also known as deutan colorblindness, deuteranopia, and Daltonism
Hemophilia is one of a group of inherited bleeding disorders that cause abnormal or exaggerated bleeding and poor blood clotting.
Hemophilia A and B are inherited in an X-linked recessive genetic pattern, so males are commonly affected while females are usually carriers of the disease.
3. An example of an abiotic factor in an ecosytem is
- A. altitude
- B. grazing
- C. predation
- D. shading
Answer: A. altitude
An ecosystem is defined as any community of living and non-living things that work together
Biotic factors are all of the living organisms within an ecosystem. These may be plants, animals, fungi, and any other living things.
Abiotic factors are all of the non-living things in an ecosystem.
Both biotic and abiotic factors are related to each other in an ecosystem, and if one factor is changed or removed, it can affect the entire ecosystem. Abiotic factors are especially important because they directly affect how organisms survive.
Examples of Abiotic Factors
Abiotic factors found in aquatic systems may include
* water depth
* pH
* sunlight
* turbidity (amount of water cloudiness)
* salinity (salt concentration)
* available nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorous, etc.)
* dissolved oxygen (amount of oxygen dissolved in the water).
Abiotic variables found in terrestrial ecosystems may include
* rain
* wind
* temperature
* altitude
* soil
* pollution
* nutrients
* pH
* types of soil
* sunlight.
An ecosystem is defined as any community of living and non-living things that work together
Biotic factors are all of the living organisms within an ecosystem. These may be plants, animals, fungi, and any other living things.
Abiotic factors are all of the non-living things in an ecosystem.
Both biotic and abiotic factors are related to each other in an ecosystem, and if one factor is changed or removed, it can affect the entire ecosystem. Abiotic factors are especially important because they directly affect how organisms survive.
Examples of Abiotic Factors
Abiotic factors found in aquatic systems may include
* water depth
* pH
* sunlight
* turbidity (amount of water cloudiness)
* salinity (salt concentration)
* available nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorous, etc.)
* dissolved oxygen (amount of oxygen dissolved in the water).
Abiotic variables found in terrestrial ecosystems may include
* rain
* wind
* temperature
* altitude
* soil
* pollution
* nutrients
* pH
* types of soil
* sunlight.
4. Alkanoic acid contain
- A. carbon atoms and hydrogen atoms only
- B. carbon atom and oxygen atoms only
- C. carbon atoms, hydrogen atom and oxygen atoms only
- D. carbon atoms, hydrogen atoms and nitrogen atoms only
Answer: C. carbon atoms, hydrogen atom and oxygen atoms only
Alkanols are alkane-derived organic compounds that have an alcohol (-OH) functional group bonded to them. An alkane is an organic compound that is composed only of carbon and hydrogen atoms.
Alkanols can vary in complexity, but some examples include ethanol, propanol, butanol, and pentanol. These compounds differ from each other only in the number of carbon atoms they contain. Ethanol contains two carbons, propanol three, butanol four, and pentanol five
Alkanoic Acids
Alkanoic acids are alkane-derived organic compounds that contain the carboxylate (-COOH) functional group
Examples include ethanoic acid, propanoic acid, butanoic acid and pentanoic acid
Alkanols are alkane-derived organic compounds that have an alcohol (-OH) functional group bonded to them. An alkane is an organic compound that is composed only of carbon and hydrogen atoms.
Alkanols can vary in complexity, but some examples include ethanol, propanol, butanol, and pentanol. These compounds differ from each other only in the number of carbon atoms they contain. Ethanol contains two carbons, propanol three, butanol four, and pentanol five
Alkanoic Acids
Alkanoic acids are alkane-derived organic compounds that contain the carboxylate (-COOH) functional group
Examples include ethanoic acid, propanoic acid, butanoic acid and pentanoic acid
5. Which of the following mineral is not needed by crop in large quantities ?
- A. Calcium
- B. Iron
- C. Nitrogen
- D. Phosphorus
Answer: B. Iron
Crops obtain most of their carbon and oxygen from the air. Hydrogen is obtained from soil water. Carbon dioxide is especially important for plant growth. It is taken up by the plant from air through pores in the green leaves and combines with hydrogen from soil water, to form carbohydrate and other plant substances by energy from sunlight by the process of photosynthesis
Out of the 13 nutrients taken from the soil, Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium are used in large quantities and hence known as primary nutrients.
Calcium, Magnesium and Sulphur are needed in moderate to small quantities but they play an important role in formation of plant tissues. These are known as secondary nutrients
The remaining are needed in very small quantities and are known as micro-nutrients. Plants need 16 elements to grow. They get these from air, water and soil.
| Type | Nutrients | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Macro-nutrient | Carbon | Air & Water |
| Macro-nutrient | Hydrogen | Air & Water |
| Macro-nutrient | Oxygen | Air & Water |
| Macro-nutrient | Nitrogen | Soil |
| Macro-nutrient | Phosphorus | Soil |
| Macro-nutrient | Potassium | Soil |
| Micro-nutrient | Calcium | Skeleton Elements |
| Micro-nutrient | Magnesium | Fertilizers and Manures |
| Micro-nutrient | Sulphur | Fertilizers and Manures |
| Micro-nutrient | Iron | Fertilizers and Manures |
| Micro-nutrient | Manganese | Fertilizers and Manures |
| Micro-nutrient | Boron | Fertilizers and Manures |
| Micro-nutrient | Zinc | Fertilizers and Manures |
| Micro-nutrient | Copper | Fertilizers and Manures |
| Micro-nutrient | Molybdenum | Fertilizers and Manures |
| Micro-nutrient | Chlorine | Fertilizers and Manures |
Crops obtain most of their carbon and oxygen from the air. Hydrogen is obtained from soil water. Carbon dioxide is especially important for plant growth. It is taken up by the plant from air through pores in the green leaves and combines with hydrogen from soil water, to form carbohydrate and other plant substances by energy from sunlight by the process of photosynthesis
Out of the 13 nutrients taken from the soil, Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium are used in large quantities and hence known as primary nutrients.
Calcium, Magnesium and Sulphur are needed in moderate to small quantities but they play an important role in formation of plant tissues. These are known as secondary nutrients
The remaining are needed in very small quantities and are known as micro-nutrients. Plants need 16 elements to grow. They get these from air, water and soil.
| Type | Nutrients | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Macro-nutrient | Carbon | Air & Water |
| Macro-nutrient | Hydrogen | Air & Water |
| Macro-nutrient | Oxygen | Air & Water |
| Macro-nutrient | Nitrogen | Soil |
| Macro-nutrient | Phosphorus | Soil |
| Macro-nutrient | Potassium | Soil |
| Micro-nutrient | Calcium | Skeleton Elements |
| Micro-nutrient | Magnesium | Fertilizers and Manures |
| Micro-nutrient | Sulphur | Fertilizers and Manures |
| Micro-nutrient | Iron | Fertilizers and Manures |
| Micro-nutrient | Manganese | Fertilizers and Manures |
| Micro-nutrient | Boron | Fertilizers and Manures |
| Micro-nutrient | Zinc | Fertilizers and Manures |
| Micro-nutrient | Copper | Fertilizers and Manures |
| Micro-nutrient | Molybdenum | Fertilizers and Manures |
| Micro-nutrient | Chlorine | Fertilizers and Manures |
6. A rigid bar that is supported at a point which turning occurs is
- A. lever.
- B. pulley.
- C. wheel and axle.
- D. inclined plane.
Answer and explanation: practise this paper on ePrep.
7. One criterion used in the classification of domestic rabbit is the
- A. age.
- B. eye colour.
- C. height.
- D. size.
Answer and explanation: practise this paper on ePrep.
8. Which of the following chemical is toxic ?
- A. Potassium cyanide
- B. Sodium hydroxide
- C. Hydrogen peroxide
- D. Calcium oxide
Answer and explanation: practise this paper on ePrep.
9. The unit of heredity found in the chromosomes is
- A. centriole
- B. deoxyribonucleic acid
- C. mitochondrion
- D. endoplasmic reticulum
Answer and explanation: practise this paper on ePrep.
10. Which of the following element is constituent of brass?
- A. Iron
- B. Magnesium
- C. Tin
- D. Zinc
Answer and explanation: practise this paper on ePrep.
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