This question was popular among candidates and their performance was very good.  In part (a)(i) candidates correctly define sexual maturity and in (a) (ii) candidates also correctly state physical change that occur in females during sexual maturity.  In part (b) candidates correctly list hormones associated  with human reproduction.  In part (c) candidates correctly explain terms associated with human reproduction such as fertilization and menstrual cycle.  However, candidates could not correctly explain test tube baby, they confused test tube baby with baby kept in an incubator.

The expected answers were s follows:

• (a) (i)   Sexual maturity

            This is the age of puberty, at which the reproductive organs are fully
           developed coupled with physical changes through the activities of
           hormones

 (ii)    Changes that occur in females during sexual maturity
        -     hair grows in the pubic/armpit region and on the vulva
        -     breasts begin to grow and develop
        -     hips, thighs, buttock and shoulder start becoming bigger with fat
              deposit
        -     pelvic girdle get wider for child birth
        -     menstruation begins
        -     the vagina, vulva and uterus reach maturity
        -     the ovaries enlarge and start to release ova/ovulation starts.

(b)         Hormones in humans

• oxytocin          -           FSH (Follicle stimulating hormone)
• oestrogen        
• testosterone     -           LH (Luteinizing hormone)
• progesterone
• prolactin

             *     Spellings must be correct to  score
 

(c)         Explanation of reproductive terms

•        Fertilization

           The union/fusion of the nucleus of an egg cell/ovum, with the nucleus of
            sperm cell/spermatozoon, resulting in the formation of a zygote.

• Menstrual Cycle

            Monthly Periodic discharge of blood, as a result of changes in the lining
            of the uterus,  in the absence of pregnancy.

• Test tube baby

            A baby born through the process in which an ovum is removed from a woman
            and artificially fertilized by a sperm in a test tube and implanted in the
            uterus/womb.

• ADDING    SALT
• meat
• fish
• melon
• locust beans

• SUNDRYING
• meat
• fish
• vegetables
• pepper
• groundnut
• beans
• maize
• cassava
• yam
• unripe plantain
• melon seed

 
  (c)(i)  ADVANTAGES OFCANNING AS A METHOD OF FOOD PRESERVATION      

• it makes seasonal food available at all time
• prevents mass wastage
• it reduces the incidence of immediate spoilage /improve durability

 
            DISADVANTAGES OFCANNING AS A METHOD OFFOOD PRESERVATION             

• very expensive method of food preservation which leads to hike in price of goods
• meat/fish tends to deteriorate after seven/eight years,
• fruit juice tends to corrode if kept for long.
• loss of natural taste mixed with chemical substance as preservative e.g. lacquer
• it can cause food poison

 
     (ii)   FOOD SUBSTANCES WHICH COULD BE CANNED

• fish
• cornbeef/meat
• corn/sweet corn
• tomatoes
• butter
• baked beans
• beverages/tea
• fruits
• milk.