This was the most popular question among the candidates. It was also well
answered but candidates could not state the animal and plant features possessed
by the named organism.
The expected answers are:
Explanation of characteristics of living Organisms
(ii) Movement
Living things change the position of the whole body/parts of the body;
from one place to another; in search of food/shelter/mates, etc.
Excretion
This involves the removal/getting rid of waste products of cell metabolism;
metabolic wastes are poisonous if allowed to accumulate.
Respiration
This is the breakdown/burning of food substances; by aerobic/anaerobic respiration;
to release energy needed for all processes of life.
Reproduction
This is the ability of living organisms to produce new individuals of their own
kind; this ensures the continuity of the species of an organism.
Irritability
Response/reaction of organisms; towards changes in the environment; to ensure
survival.
Nutrition
The process involved in obtaining/manufacturing food; can be autotrophic/
heterotrophic; and utilizing it for growth and maintenance/life processes.
Growth
This is the irreversible increase; in size and weight of an organism; which
leads to complexity and maturation.
Competition
Ability of organisms to struggle; for all necessity of life; to survive in their
environment.
Adaptation
Ability of organisms to adjust; to changes in environment; for survival.
Life span/Death
All living organisms have definite period of existence; all organisms die.
(b) Differences between plants and animals
Animals |
Plants |
- Move from place to place/locomotion; move with the whole body |
Are fixed/do not move from place to place; and move only parts of the body, root/stem/leaves; |
- Heterotrophic mode of nutrition that depend on already-made food
|
Autotrophic mode of nutrition/manufacture their own food using the energy from the sun; |
- No chlorophyll/chloroplast
|
Chlorophyll/chloroplast present; |
|
Sense organs absent; |
|
Has a cell wall made of cellulose; |
- Growth is limited/definite; growth in all parts of the body
|
Growth is unlimited/indefinite; growth is apical or terminal; |
- Store carbohydrate as glycogen
|
Store carbohydrate as starch; |
- Has special excretory organs
|
No special excretory organs; |
- Response is fast/ short termed
|
Response very slow/long termed; |
- Respiratory organs present
|
No respiratory organs; |
Note: Points must correspond to score.
No tabulation minus (-) 1 mark.
(c)(i) Name of organism
Euglena/Chlamydomonas
Note: Spelling must be correct to score.
(ii) Animal Features
For Euglena For Chlamydomonas
- Gullet for feeding; - Flagella;
- Has flagellum for locomotion in water; - eye spot;
- Myonemes for movement; - contractile vacuole
- Has pellicle that gives it a definite shape;
- Has eye spot to detect light intensity;
- Has contractile vacuole for osmoregulation and excretion.
Plant features
- definite shape;
- has chloroplasts containing chlorophyll used to absorb light;
- Paramylum granules;
- Pyrenoid.
