Candidates’ Name: …………………………………..…………………………..…………………..

Signature: …………………..………………………

(Do not write your school / Center name or Number anywhere on this booklet)

553/2

BIOLOGY

Paper 2

July / Aug 2024 2 ½ HOURS

Uganda Certificate Of Education BIOLOGY

Paper 2

TIME: 2 hours 30 minutes

CONFIDENTIAL

Great care should be taken that the information given below does not reach the candidates either directly or indirectly.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PREPARING SPECIMENS AND APPARATUS

The teacher responsible for preparing specimens must ensure that candidates are provided with correct specimens and other materials as specified in these instructions. Specimens and solutions which have been assigned codes should be presented to candidates using those codes only and not any other identity. The head teacher must ensure that the teacher responsible for preparing the specimens hands in his/her trial results for the physiology/biochemistry question, properly sealed in a separate envelope and firmly fastened (attached) to the candidates’ script envelope(s).

In addition to the apparatus ordinarily contained in a Biology Laboratory, each candidate will require;

Each candidate must be provided with,

50cm³ of soil sample A: Mixture of sand + clay soil in a ratio 1:2 50cm³ of soil sample B: Mixture of sand + clay soil in a ratio 2:1 Access to all requirements for investigating soil physical and chemical properties.

Specimen O: freshly killed cockroach Specimen P: freshly killed Termite Specimen Q: freshly killed worker bee

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES

This paper consists of two examination items. Answer all the items in the spaces provided.

Drawings should be made in the spaces provided. Use sharp pencils for your drawings. Coloured pencils or crayons should not be used.

No additional sheets of writing paper are to be inserted in the booklet. Work on additional sheets will not be scored.

Item 1

A farmer would like to buy land to plant beans on a large scale for sale. A land broker has suggested to her two plots for her to make a better choice. Her bean variety does not grow well in extremely water-logged soils.

You are provided with soil samples A and B which have been obtained from the two plots of land.

Task

Design and conduct a scientific investigation on the soil samples and suggest a suitable recommendation to the farmer.

Item 2

Although many insects destroy plants and leads to poor yields, some are beneficial to farmers by improving crop yield. Tomato farmers are advised to use selective insecticides in their gardens mostly during the flowering stage, however some lack knowledge on which insects to be targeted by selective insecticides.

You are provided with specimens O, P and Q which are usually found in gardens.

Task

• Construct a dichotomous key to identify the

• Explain the suitability of the beneficial specimen to its role in the garden.

(c). Draw and label the hind limb of beneficial specimen.

END