Divinely guided biologist

NAME:……………………………………………………………………………………………..

SIGNATURE:…………………………………………… STUDENT NUMBER……………

553/2
BIOLOGY PAPER 2
(PRACTICAL)
FEB/MARCH 2024
2 HOURS

UGANDA CERTIFICATE OF LOWER SECONDARY EDUCATION

COMPETENCE BASED ASSESMENT
SENIOR FOUR
BIOLOGY PRACTICAL
TIME: 1 ½ hours

Instructions to candidates:
• This paper consists of one item
• Answers should be written in the spaces provided
• Your work should be clearly presented and tidy. Dirty work will lead to loss of marks
• Your answers should be precise and concise

FOR EXAMINERS’ USE ONLY

ITEM TOTAL MARKS ACTUAL MARKS

1 45

DR. SMUTES 1
 Divinely guided biologist

ITEM ONE
Mariam, a three-year-old girl, is always sickly, failed to gain any weight and is
always tired and crying. During her 6-monthly visit to the hospital, the doctor
wanted to know the food she has been feeding on, and a sample was brought to
him. He labeled it P. He recommended a different food material for Mariam for the
next months and gave her month the sample labeled Q.
During their next visit to the hospital, Mariam’s health had greatly improved and
she had gained at least 5kgs of weight.

Task: you are provided with samples of food solutions P and Q. You are required
to investigate the nature of these food substances to determine why solution Q
was able to promote Mariam’s recovery and explain why this food combination is
good for growing children
Your response should include the following
 Aim of the experiment
 Hypothesis
 Risks and precautions
 Materials and apparatus used
 Procedure
 Presentation of results
 Conclusion

DR. SMUTES 2
 Divinely guided biologist

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DR. SMUTES 3
 Divinely guided biologist

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DR. SMUTES 4
 Divinely guided biologist

Advance information.
Solution P is 2% starch solution (made by dissolving 2 grams of starch in 100cm3
of water, heat to 700C, cool and filter.)
Solution Q is made by mixing the following solutions in a ratio of 1:1:1
 2% starch solution (prepared as above)
 1% egg white solution (made by dissolving 1cm3 of egg white in 100cm3
of water, heat to 700C, cool and filter)
 Fresh, undiluted juice from ripe orange

Food test reagents provided.

• Iodine solution
• Benedict’s reagent
• DCPIP
• NaOH
• HCl only.

DR. SMUTES 5
 Divinely guided biologist

Marking scheme.
Aim: to determine the food substances present is samples P and Q (2 scores)
Hypothesis: food sample Q contains carbohydrates like starch, reducing sugars
and non-reducing sugars, proteins and vitamin C. solution p lacks some nutrients
essential for proper growth (3 scores)
Risks (and correct one with appropriate precaution earns 2 scores)
Burns during heating of substances.
Precautions
Wear proper personal protective equipment
Don’t handle hot substances with bear hands
Apparatus and materials. (3 scores)
Test tubes, boiling tubes, iodine solution, Benedict’s solution, DCPIP solution,
Sodium hydroxide, Hydrochloric acid.
Tests (2 scores @) Observations (1 score @) Conclusion (1 score @)
To 1cm3 of food sample in P. the turbid solution Much starch present
a test tube was added 2 turned black
drops of Iodine solution

Q. the turbid solution Much/moderate starch is

turned black/blue present

To 1cm3 of food sample in P. the turbid solution Reducing sugars are

a boiling tube was added turned pale blue absent
1cm3 of benedict’s
solution and boiled for 1
minute Q. the turbid solution Much reducing sugars
turned to pale blue, to present. (Allow moderate)
green, to yellow, to orange
ppt
To 1cm3 of food sample in P. the turbid solution Moderate non-reducing
a boiling tube was added turned to pale blue, to sugars present
1cm3 of HCl, boiled and green, to a yellow ppt
cooled followed by 1cm3 of
Q. The turbid solution Much reducing sugars
NaOH and 1cm3
turned to pale blue, to present. (Allow moderate)
benedict’s solution and
green, to yellow, to orange
boiled for 2 minutes.
ppt
To 1cm of food sample in P. turbid solution turned
3 Proteins absent
a test tube was added pale blue

DR. SMUTES 6
 Divinely guided biologist

1cm3 of NaOH and 5 Q. the turbid solution Much proteins present

drops of copper (ii) turned purple
sulphate solution
To 1 cm3 of DCPIP in a P. blue colour persisted Vitamin C absent.
test-tube was added the
food solution dropwise Q. Blue solution turned Much vitamin C present
until in excess colorless with addition of
(5-8) drops
Total =30 scores
Note: Allow non-tabular representation of data
Conclusion. Food sample Q contains food nutrients like starch, reducing sugars,
non-reducing sugars, proteins and vitamin C while food sample P contains only
starch and non-reducing sugars. (2 scores)
Explanation: food sample P lacks nutrients such as proteins and vitamin C which
are essential for growth. Food sample Q provided essential nutrients for proper
growth. (3 scores)

DR. SMUTES 7