Everything we need to know to pass CSEC

Question 1

What are the essential functions performed by all living organisms?

Answer 1

Life Processes

Includes movement, nutrition, respiration, excretion, growth, reproduction, sensitivity, and homeostasis.

Question 2

Define movement in the context of living organisms.

Answer 2

The ability to change position of the whole body or parts of the body.

Question 3

What is nutrition?

Answer 3

The process by which organisms obtain and utilize food for energy, growth, and maintenance.

Question 4

What is respiration?

Answer 4

The biochemical process of releasing energy from organic compounds, especially glucose.

Question 5

What does excretion refer to in living organisms?

Answer 5

The removal of metabolic waste products from the body.

Question 6

Define growth in living organisms.

Answer 6

The permanent increase in size, volume, or mass of an organism.

Question 7

What is reproduction?

Answer 7

The process by which organisms produce offspring of their own kind.

Question 8

What is sensitivity or irritability in living organisms?

Answer 8

The ability to detect and respond to changes in the internal or external environment.

Question 9

What is homeostasis?

Answer 9

The maintenance of a relatively stable internal environment despite changes in the external environment.

Question 10

What does the cell theory state?

Answer 10

• All living organisms are composed of cells
• Cells are the basic structural and functional units of life
• All cells arise from pre-existing cells

Question 11

What is the function of the cell membrane?

Answer 11

Controls movement of substances into and out of the cell.

Question 12

Define cytoplasm.

Answer 12

The gel-like substance between the cell membrane and nucleus.

Question 13

What is the function of the nucleus?

Answer 13

Controls cellular activities and contains genetic information.

Question 14

What are mitochondria known for?

Answer 14

Site of aerobic respiration; produces ATP (cellular energy).

Question 15

What is the role of ribosomes?

Answer 15

Site of protein synthesis.

Question 16

Differentiate between rough ER and smooth ER.

Answer 16

• Rough ER: Contains ribosomes; involved in protein synthesis
• Smooth ER: Lacks ribosomes; involved in lipid synthesis and detoxification

Question 17

What is the function of the Golgi apparatus?

Answer 17

Modification, packaging, and distribution of proteins and lipids.

Question 18

Define lysosomes.

Answer 18

Membrane-bound vesicles containing digestive enzymes.

Question 19

What are vacuoles used for in cells?

Answer 19

Storage of water, nutrients, waste products, and maintaining turgor pressure.

Question 20

What is a cell wall?

Answer 20

Rigid layer outside the cell membrane providing structural support and protection.

Question 21

What are chloroplasts responsible for?

Answer 21

Site of photosynthesis.

Question 22

List the differences between plant and animal cells.

Answer 22

• Cell wall: Present in plant cells, absent in animal cells
• Chloroplasts: Present in plant cells, absent in animal cells
• Vacuoles: Large central vacuole in plant cells, small multiple vacuoles in animal cells
• Shape: Regular in plant cells, irregular in animal cells
• Size: Generally larger in plant cells, generally smaller in animal cells
• Storage: Starch granules in plant cells, glycogen granules in animal cells

Question 23

What is the basic structural and functional unit of all living organisms?

Answer 23

Cell.

Question 24

What is a tissue?

Answer 24

Group of similar cells that work together to perform a specific function.

Question 25

Define an organ.

Answer 25

Structure composed of different tissues working together for specific functions.

Question 26

What is an organ system?

Answer 26

Group of organs working together to perform a particular function.

Question 27

What does an organism refer to?

Answer 27

Complete living entity capable of carrying out all life processes.

Question 28

What are the four main types of tissue?

Answer 28

* Epithelial Tissue * Connective Tissue * Muscular Tissue * Nervous Tissue

Question 29

What is the function of the digestive system?

Answer 29

Breaks down food for absorption and eliminates waste.

Question 30

What does the respiratory system do?

Answer 30

Exchanges gases between organism and environment.

Question 31

What is the role of the circulatory system?

Answer 31

Transports materials throughout the body.

Question 32

What is the function of the excretory system?

Answer 32

Removes metabolic wastes from the body.

Question 33

What is the purpose of the nervous system?

Answer 33

Coordinates responses to internal and external stimuli.

Question 34

What does the endocrine system regulate?

Answer 34

Body functions through hormones.

Question 35

What is the reproductive system responsible for?

Answer 35

Produces offspring for continuation of species.

Question 36

What does the skeletal system provide?

Answer 36

Support, protection, and enables movement.

Question 37

What is the function of the muscular system?

Answer 37

Enables movement through contraction.

Question 38

What does the integumentary system provide?

Answer 38

Protection from external environment.

Question 39

Define an ecosystem.

Answer 39

A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.

Question 40

What are biotic components of an ecosystem?

Answer 40

Living organisms (producers, consumers, decomposers).

Question 41

What are abiotic components of an ecosystem?

Answer 41

Non-living factors (temperature, water, soil, light, pH).

Question 42

What is a food chain?

Answer 42

Linear sequence showing energy transfer from one organism to another.

Question 43

What is a food web?

Answer 43

Interconnected food chains showing complex feeding relationships.

Question 44

What are the trophic levels?

Answer 44

* Producers (Autotrophs) * Primary Consumers (Herbivores) * Secondary Consumers * Tertiary Consumers * Decomposers

Question 45

How does energy flow in ecosystems?

Answer 45

Energy enters ecosystem through photosynthesis.

Question 46

What is the 10% rule in energy transfer?

Answer 46

Only about 10% of energy transfers between trophic levels.

Question 47

What are ecological pyramids?

Answer 47

* Pyramid of Numbers * Pyramid of Biomass * Pyramid of Energy

Question 48

What is the carbon cycle?

Answer 48

* Carbon dioxide removed from atmosphere by photosynthesis * Carbon returned through respiration, decomposition, combustion * Carbon stored in fossil fuels, oceans, and biomass

Question 49

What is nitrogen fixation?

Answer 49

Conversion of atmospheric N₂ to ammonia.

Question 50

What is the process of nitrification?

Answer 50

Conversion of ammonia to nitrites and nitrates.

Question 51

What is the water cycle?

Answer 51

* Evaporation * Condensation * Precipitation * Runoff and infiltration

Question 52

What is pollution?

Answer 52

Introduction of harmful substances into the environment.

Question 53

What are the effects of climate change?

Answer 53

* Rising temperatures * Extreme weather * Sea level rise

Question 54

What is autotrophic nutrition?

Answer 54

Organisms produce their own food.

Question 55

What is photosynthesis?

Answer 55

Process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods from carbon dioxide and water.

Question 56

What is the equation for photosynthesis?

Answer 56

6CO₂ + 6H₂O + light energy → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂.

Question 57

What are the light-dependent reactions?

Answer 57

Occur in thylakoid membranes; chlorophyll absorbs light energy.

Question 58

What is the role of the small intestine in digestion?

Answer 58

Main sites of digestion and absorption; villi increase surface area for absorption.

Question 59

What is the function of the liver?

Answer 59

Produces bile, detoxifies blood, stores glycogen, vitamins, minerals, and produces plasma proteins.

Question 60

What is the function of amylase?

Answer 60

Breaks down starch into maltose.

Question 61

What is mechanical digestion?

Answer 61

Physical breakdown of food.

Question 62

What is chemical digestion?

Answer 62

Enzymatic breakdown of food molecules.

Question 63

What is absorption in the context of digestion?

Answer 63

Passage of digested nutrients into the bloodstream.

Question 64

What are macronutrients?

Answer 64

* Carbohydrates * Proteins * Lipids (Fats and Oils)

Question 65

What are micronutrients?

Answer 65

* Vitamins * Minerals

Question 66

What is the function of water in the body?

Answer 66

Transport medium, temperature regulation, solvent.

Question 67

What is protein-energy malnutrition?

Answer 67

Kwashiorkor and Marasmus.

Question 68

What causes iron deficiency anemia?

Answer 68

Insufficient iron intake.

Question 69

What is the definition of obesity?

Answer 69

Excessive fat accumulation (BMI ≥ 30).

Question 70

What is aerobic respiration?

Answer 70

Breakdown of glucose in the presence of oxygen.

Question 71

What is the energy yield from aerobic respiration?

Answer 71

36-38 ATP molecules per glucose molecule.

Question 72

What is anaerobic respiration?

Answer 72

Breakdown of glucose in the absence of oxygen.