WASSCE Biology · Paper 1 style

Variation

One sample question with the full working. 1 more in the app, with instant feedback and repair sessions for the traps below.

Height in humans is an example of

Adiscontinuous variation
Ba mutation
Can acquired disease
Dcontinuous variation

Show the answer and working

Answer: D

Height: continuous variation.

Trap A Confuses continuous and discontinuous variation: Continuous: range of values, many genes + environment (height, weight). Discontinuous: distinct categories, few genes (blood group, tongue rolling).

Trap B Gives the job of a neighbouring structure or stage: Learn structures as pairs of 'name → one job' and contrast neighbours: ribosome makes protein, mitochondrion releases energy; cochlea hears, semicircular canals balance. When two options sit in the same organ or process, ask which one does exactly the job in the stem.

Trap C Disease and vector misconceptions: Malaria: Plasmodium, vector female Anopheles. Sleeping sickness: Trypanosoma, tsetse fly. Bilharzia: Schistosoma, water snail. Tuberculosis: bacterium, droplets. Control: break the vector's life cycle, vaccination, sanitation.

Traps in Variation

Confuses continuous and discontinuous variation
Continuous: range of values, many genes + environment (height, weight). Discontinuous: distinct categories, few genes (blood group, tongue rolling).
Gives the job of a neighbouring structure or stage
Learn structures as pairs of 'name → one job' and contrast neighbours: ribosome makes protein, mitochondrion releases energy; cochlea hears, semicircular canals balance. When two options sit in the same organ or process, ask which one does exactly the job in the stem.
Disease and vector misconceptions
Malaria: Plasmodium, vector female Anopheles. Sleeping sickness: Trypanosoma, tsetse fly. Bilharzia: Schistosoma, water snail. Tuberculosis: bacterium, droplets. Control: break the vector's life cycle, vaccination, sanitation.

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