BECE 2008 Integrated Science Past Questions and Answers

Paper 1: Objectives

1. A metre rule can be used for measuring the
   1. A. volume of a liquid
   2. B. area of a ball
   3. C. length of a table
   4. D. diameter of a wire
   Answer: C
2. Heat travels through vacuum by
   1. A. conduction
   2. B. convection
   3. C. radiation
   4. D. convection and radiation
   Answer: C
3. A mirror is used to direct sunlight onto the wall of a classroom by
   1. A. dispersion
   2. B. refraction
   3. C. reflection
   4. D. radiation
   Answer: C
4. Which of the following energy changes takes place in ringing bell?
   1. A. Potential to kinetic
   2. B. Potential to sound
   3. C. Mechanical to sound
   4. D. Sound to light
   Answer: C
5. A fuse is connected in an electric circuit to
   1. A. prevent electric shock
   2. B. increase the current
   3. C. prevent current from increasing
   4. D. increase the heat generated
   Answer: C
6. Which of these objects is a magnetic substance?
   1. A. Aluminium
   2. B. Brass
   3. C. Copper
   4. D. Iron
   Answer: D
7. Which of the following bodies are natural sources of light?
   
   I. Moon
   
   II. Sun
   
   III. Firefly
   1. A. I and II only
   2. B. I and III only
   3. C. II and III only
   4. D. I, II and III
   Answer: C
8. Which of the following statements describes the nature of light?
   1. A. It passes through all objects
   2. B. It is absorbed at a polished surface
   3. C. It travels in a straight line
   4. D. It is always reflected in a medium
   Answer: C
9. Metals are able to conduct electricity because they possess
   1. A. free electrons
   2. B. neutrons
   3. C. atoms
   4. D. free protons
   Answer: A
10. Beriberi is caused by deficiency of vitamin
    1. A. Vitamin A
    2. B. Vitamin B
    3. C. Vitamin C
    4. D. Vitamin K
    Answer: B

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11. Which of the following fruits is adapted for dispersal by air?
    1. A. Succulent fruit
    2. B. Brightly coloured fruit
    3. C. Sticky fruit
    4. D. Hairy fruit
12. The food substance needed for growth and repair of tissue is
    1. A. Carbohydrates
    2. B. Oil
    3. C. Protein
    4. D. Vitamin
13. The type of teeth used for biting and cutting are the
    1. A. Canines
    2. B. Incisors
    3. C. Molars
    4. D. Premolars
14. Water is absorbed by roots in plants and transported to the leaves through the
    1. A. Chlorophyll
    2. B. Phloem
    3. C. Stomata
    4. D. Xylem
15. The outer ear consists of the
    1. A. Ossicles and eardrum
    2. B. Cochlea and pinna
    3. C. Ossicles and cochlea
    4. D. Pinna and eardrum
16. Changes in pressure in the middle ear are regulated by the
    1. A. Ampullae
    2. B. Cochlea
    3. C. Eustachian tube
    4. D. Eardrum
17. The amount of light that enters the eye is reduced by the size of the
    1. A. Lens
    2. B. Iris
    3. C. Pupil
    4. D. Retina
18. In humans, features of parents are passed on to offspring through
    1. A. Breastfeeding
    2. B. Reproduction
    3. C. Good training
    4. D. Sharing the same things
19. The taste of water changes when it is boiled because
    1. A. Heat is absorbed during boiling
    2. B. Evaporation takes place during boiling
    3. C. Air is lost during boiling
    4. D. Steam is produced during boiling
20. Arrange the following types of water in order of increasing hardness.
    
    I. Tap water
    
    II. Sea water
    
    III. Distilled water
    
    IV. Rain water
    1. A. IV, III, II, I
    2. B. III, IV, I, II
    3. C. II, I, IV, III
    4. D. I, II, III, IV
21. Which of these methods is used to separate insoluble solids from liquids?
    1. A. Distillation
    2. B. Evaporation
    3. C. Filtration
    4. D. Winnowing
22. A uniform mixture of two or more metals is called
    1. A. An alloy
    2. B. A compound
    3. C. A solvent
    4. D. A suspension
23. Which of the following liquids cannot dissolve an oil paint?
    1. A. Kerosene
    2. B. Petrol
    3. C. Turpentine
    4. D. Water
24. An atom which contains more electrons than protons becomes a
    1. A. Positive ion
    2. B. Negative ion
    3. C. Neutral atom
    4. D. Binary compound
25. The following substances are mixtures except
    1. A. Air
    2. B. Carbon dioxide
    3. C. Salt solution
    4. D. Smoke
26. The fish is protected from injury by the
    1. A. Fins
    2. B. Gills
    3. C. Operculum
    4. D. Scales
27. Which of the following substances is an air pollutant?
    1. A. Water vapour
    2. B. Oxygen
    3. C. Nitrogen
    4. D. Hydrogen sulphide
28. Bathing in lakes and slow moving streams can lead to one getting
    1. A. Bilharziasis
    2. B. Cholera
    3. C. Dysentery
    4. D. River blindness
29. Some plants shed their leaves during the dry season to prevent
    1. A. Water loss
    2. B. Heat loss
    3. C. Catching fire
    4. D. Losing nutrients
30. Caterpillar is an example of
    1. A. An animal parasite that feeds on plant host
    2. B. A plant parasite that lives on an animal host
    3. C. An animal parasite that feeds on animal host
    4. D. A plant parasite that grows on plant host
31. How long does it take the moon to go completely round the earth?
    1. A. 1 day
    2. B. 28 days
    3. C. 30 days
    4. D. 365 days
32. An unripe orange is said to be acidic because it
    1. A. Has low sugar content
    2. B. Has bitter taste
    3. C. Turns red litmus paper blue
    4. D. Turns blue litmus paper red
33. The chemical symbol of potassium is
    1. A. K
    2. B. N
    3. C. P
    4. D. S
34. The property of a metal that makes it possible for it to be drawn into a wire is called
    1. A. Conductivity
    2. B. Ductility
    3. C. Malleability
    4. D. Resistivity
35. Which of the following methods of preserving food make use of heat energy?
    
    I. Drying
    
    II. Frying
    
    III. Salting
    
    IV. Canning
    1. A. I and II only
    2. B. I and IV only
    3. C. III and IV only
    4. D. I, II and IV only
36. Weight is an example of
    1. A. Energy
    2. B. Force
    3. C. Work
    4. D. Power
37. Blood is prevented from flowing back into the veins by the
    1. A. Arteries
    2. B. Capillaries
    3. C. Heart
    4. D. Valves
38. The force that binds molecules of the same substances together is called
    1. A. Adhesion
    2. B. Cohesion
    3. C. Capillary action
    4. D. Surface tension
39. Soluble digested food substances enter the blood of the human body by a process called
    1. A. Absorption
    2. B. Egestion
    3. C. Excretion
    4. D. Ingestion
40. Capillary action is applied in the following activities except
    1. A. Blotting an ink with a blotting paper
    2. B. Absorption of water with a towel
    3. C. Rising of water in a very narrow glass tube
    4. D. Sticking of water droplets on the surface of a glass tube

Paper 2: Theory

1. (a)
   
   In an experiment, as in the set-up above, two glass containers A and B of different sizes are joined together with a tube and clipped.
   
   Water is poured into container A to a height of 30 cm and a red liquid is poured into B to a height of 10 cm. The clip is then removed so that the liquids join together.
   
   (i) State two observations that will be made immediately the clip is removed.
   
   (ii) Explain the observations in (i).
   
   (iii) What two observations will be made after a long time? Explain.
   
   (b)
   
   (i) Name the parts labelled a, b and c.
   
   (ii) What is the meaning of the arrow sign d?
   
   (iii) What is the function of the calcium oxide?
   
   (iv) Why has c been tilted downwards?
   
   (v) State the method by which the gas is collected.
   
   (vi) How will you test for the gas?
   
   (vii) Give the names and the chemical formulae of the compounds that form the content of c.
   
   (c) In an experiment, a leaf that is partly green and partly yellow is plucked from a tree and the leaf is
   
   I boiled for a minute,
   
   II dipped in warm alcohol,
   
   III washed in cold water,
   
   IV dipped in iodine solution.
   
   One part of the leaf turns blue-black after the dipping in iodine solution while the other part remains unchanged.
   
   (i) Explain why each of the processes I, II and III
   
   (ii) Which part of the leaf turns blue-black? Explain.
   
   (iii) Why does the other part of the leaf not change colour?
   
   (iv) What conclusion can you draw from the experiment?
2. (a) (i) State the difference between an opaque object and a translucent object.
   
   (ii) Give one example each of an opaque and a translucent material.
   
   (b) (i) What is the importance of seed dispersal?
   
   (ii) Name two types of fruits and state their mode of dispersal.
   
   (c) (i) What is recycling?
   
   (ii) Give two advantages of recycling of materials.
   
   (iii) List three recycled products in Ghana.
3. (a) (i) Explain the term bedwetting?
   
   (ii) State two diseases that may result from bedwetting.
   
   (b) (i) State the difference between hard water and impure water.
   
   (ii) Give the stages involved in the treatment of water for a community.
   
   (c) A piece of stone has a mass of 36.0 g. When it is put into water in a glass container, the level of water rises from 60.0 cm³ to 90.0 cm³.
   
   (i) Calculate the density of the stone.
   
   (ii) Explain what will be observed when the stone is put into another liquid of density 1.4 g/cm³?
4. (a) (i) What is an echo?
   
   (ii) State two uses of echoes.
   
   (b) (i) State three diseases that affect the respiratory system.
   
   (ii) Name one method each by which the diseases you have named can be prevented.
   
   (c) (i) What is biotechnology?
   
   (ii) List three products that are obtained from biotechnology.
5. (a) (i) Define pressure.
   
   (ii) State three applications of pressure in everyday life.
   
   (b) State four functions of the liver in digestion.
   
   (c) (i) What is a compound?
   
   (ii) Give two properties of a compound.
   
   (iii) Write down the name and the chemical formula of the compound formed between the following elements:
   
   (α) hydrogen and chlorine
   
   (β) magnesium and oxygen

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