Basic Science Exam Questions for JSS3 First Term

You’re welcome to our school exams series where we provide you with termly examination questions in different subjects. In today’s post, we will focus on Basic Science exam questions. We will cover Basic Science exam questions for JSS3 First term with answers. This means that we’ll be providing you with answers to the questions at the end. Also, you will get a few success tips on how to pass Basic Science examinations with flying colors. Remember to use the comments sections if you have questions, and don’t forget to join our Free Online Tutorial Classes on Facebook. (Like and Follow Page)

Introduction to Basic Science as a School Subject

Before we venture into Past Basic Science Exam Questions for JSS3 First term, here’s a brief introduction to the subject:

Basic Science is a subject taught in junior secondary schools to help students understand the world around them. It introduces learners to the study of living things, non-living things, and the environment. The subject combines ideas from Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Earth Science in a simple way that young learners can understand.

Through Basic Science, students learn about their bodies, plants, animals, energy, matter, the solar system, and the importance of keeping the environment clean. It also helps them to develop curiosity, observation skills, and problem-solving abilities.

In summary, Basic Science builds a strong foundation for students who will later study science subjects in senior secondary school and beyond.

Basic Science Exam Questions for JSS3 First Term

Basic Science Exam Questions for JSS3 First Term are divided into two sections:

• Section A
• Section B

The first section, namely, Section A is the objective test, and students are expected to attempt all questions in the section. Section B is the theory part, and students are expected to follow specific instruction and answer the required number of questions.

Note that what you have below are JSS3 Basic Science First Term Exam Past Questions made available to assist students in their revision for 1st term examinations and also teachers in structuring standard examinations.

SECTION A: Objectives

Instruction: Answer all questions in this section by choosing from the options lettered A—D. Each question carries equal marks.

1. The passing on of inherited character from parents to offspring is known as
A. Genetics
B. Heredity
C. Reproduction
D. Traits

2. Factor that carries and transmits characters from one person to another is called
A. Chromosome     B. Gene
C. Nucleus              D. Mutation

3. The first person to carry out experiment on how characters are transmitted from parents to offspring is known as
A. Charles Darwin
B. James Chadwick
C. Gregor Mendel
D. Robert Hooke

4. The physical expression of an individual’s traits is called
A. Genotype
B. Phenotype
C. Skin colour
D. Dominant character

5. Continuity of life is maintained by
A. Reproduction     B. Growth
C. Immunization     D. Feeding

6. The following are hereditary characters but
A. Rhesus factor
B. Tribal mark
C. Height
D. Colour of skin

7. Absence of melanin in the skin may result to a condition called
A. Crentinism
B. Obesity
C. Albinism
D. Sickle cell anaemia

8. Which of these is a genotype?
A. RC         B. AA
C. HD.A     D. E.FF

9. Genes are located in a strand called
A. Liver        B. Chromosome
C. Brain       D. Spinal cord

10. The genetic constitution of an organism refers to
A. Phenotype
B. Heterozygote
C. Genotype
D. Blood group

11. The gradual wearing away of topsoil by rain or wind is called
A. Aeration       B. Leaching
C. Flooding      D. Erosion

12. The spreading of water over an area of land without easily flowing out is called
A. Flooding
B. Global warming
C. Percolation
D. Water logging

13. The following states are susceptible to flooding but
A. Enugu       B. Jigawa
C. Borno        D. Kastina

14. The environmental disaster which cannot be controlled by construction of dams, reservoirs and floodways refers to
A. Flooding      B. Drought
C. Erosion         D. Leaching

15. A drainage pattern that has numerous cracks forming a grid is called drainage pattern.
A. Dendritic      B. Rectangular
C. Parallel          D. Radial

16. Drainage pattern that is usually formed in area such as volcano is known as
A. Trellis        B. Deranged
C. Radial        D. Centripetal

17. The following are the effects of bush burning except
A. increase in nutrient content
B. Destruction of soil structure
C. Destruction of organic matter
D. Destruction of topsoil

18. The planting of trees to form forest is known as
A. Afforestation
B. Deforestation
C. Agro-forestry
D. vegetation

19. The conversion of grassland into a desert is called
A. Deforestation
B. Desertification
C. Modern agriculture
D. Mechanical agriculture

20. Which of these cannot cause deforestation?
A. Urbanization
B. Shifting cultivation
C. Farming
D. demand for timber

21. An area of land characterized by sand dunes, high temperature and little rainfall is best described as
A. Wetland       B. Dry land
C. Desert          D. Savanna

22. A fertile land with water in a desert is called
A. Osises       B. Delta
C. Lagoon     D. Oasis

23. Which of these is a diatomic molecule?
A. O₃        B. O₄
C. O₂        D. Na

24. Ozone gas was first discovered by _________ in the year _________
A. James Chadwick in 1839
B. Robert Hooke in 2013
C. Schonbein 1839
D. Earnst Rutherford 1803

25. Ozone layer which serves as a thin blanket of the earth is located in
A. Troposphere
B. Mesosphere
D. Ionosphere
D. Stratosphere

26. The part of the atmosphere with the highest composition is
A. Carbon (iv) oxide
B. Nitrogen
C. Noble gas
D. Water vapour

27. The layer of the atmosphere that is closest to the earth is said to be
A. Stratosphere
B. Mesosphere
C. Thermosphere
D. Troposphere

28. Depletion of ozone layer is caused mainly by
A. Smoke
B. deforestation
C. Chlorofluoro-carbon
D. Carbon (iv) oxide

29. Which of these is the major greenhouse gas?
A. CO         B. CO₂
C. CH₄        D. N₂O

30. The capacity of certain gas to trap heat emitted from earth’s surface is called
A. Greenhouse effect
B. Global warming
C. Photo emission
D. Gas emission

31. The retention of extra heat by the atmosphere and rise in earth’s average temperature is
A. Global warming
B. Greenhouse
C. Radiation
D. None of the above

32. The taking of drug without doctor’s prescription is known as
A. Self medication
B. Drug addiction
C. Drug therapy
D. Drug abuse

33. The following result to drug abuse except
A. Anxiety
B. Environmental friendly
C. Peer group pressure
D. Close contact with drug

34. Digestion of protein begins in the
A. Mouth
B. Stomach
C. Large Intestine
D. Small intestine

35. What do we call enzyme in the mouth that begins the breakdown of starch
A. Ptyalin        B. Trypsin
C. Erepsin       D. Sucrase

36. During the breakdown of food, hydrochloric acid contained in the gastric juice functions to
A. Digest food
B. Kill bacteria in food
C. Emulsifies fat
D. Produce enzyme

37. Which of these secretions assists the body in converting glucose to glycogen?
A. Lipase         B. Insulin
C. Trypsin       D. Ptyalin

38. Excess glucose is stored in the
A. Buttock    B. Body cell
C. Liver         D. Stomach

39. The process of eliminating amino acid from the body is called
A. Deamination
B. Absorption
C. Detoxification
D. Adsorption

40. What is the name given to a catalyst in an organism?
A. Manganese (iv) oxide
B. Enzyme
C. Reactant
D. Anode

41. The part of the digestive system in which absorption takes place is called
A. Large intestine
B. Stomach
C. Small intestine
D. Mouth

42. A thick creamy liquid food in the stomach is known as
A. Chyme      B. Cream
C. Chime       D. Fluid

43. A reserved glucose in the body is called
A. Simple sugar
B. Glycogen
C. Galactose
D. Glycerol

44. _________ is the functional unit of nervous system.
A. Nerve fibre
B. Neuron
C. Gland
D. Muscle

45. The gap between two adjoining neurons is called
A. Dendrite      B. Synapse
C. Cell body     D. Dendron

46. The central processing unit of the body is known as
A. Spinal cord
B. Brain
C. Heart
D. Liver

47. Which of these is an example of reflex action?
A. Jumping
B. Running
C. Knee jerking
D. Touching

48. The inner most layer of the human eye is called
A. Cornea        B. Retina
C. Choroid      D. Lens

49. The sense organ that produces sweet is called
A. Eye        B. Nose
C. Skin       D. Ear

50. Which of these is a bacterial disease?
A. Malaria
B. Smallpox
C. Athlete foot
D. Poliomyelitis

SECTION B: Essay

INSTRUCTION – Answer all six (6) questions in this section.

1. Define the following:
a. Gene
b. Phenotype
c. Drainage pattern
d. Erosion
e. Absorption

2. a. List any four family traits you know.
2. b. Draw a labeled diagram of the human brain showing its 3 major parts.
2. c. Write down any 2 drug control agencies in Nigeria and their roles each.

3. a. i. Define a drug.
ii. Define an enzyme and a catalyst.
iii. Mention 2 problems associated with food storage in the body.

3. b. Write down the end-product of digestion of the following:
i. Fats and oil (iii) Protein (iii) Starch

4. a. State the components of the central nervous system.
4. b. What is a reflex action?
4. c. Give two examples of reflex action.

5. a. Draw a labeled diagram of the eye.
5. b. State the function of the eye lens and pupil.

6. a. Mention 2 human practices that promote desertification.
6. b. State two causes of ozone layer depletion.
6. c. Outline 2 importance of atmosphere to us.

Read Also: JSS3 Second Term Exam Questions on Basic Science [From SSIA]

Answers to Basic Science Exam Questions for JSS3 First Term

Answers to Section A (Objective Test)

The following table gives the correct answers to the objective section of Basic Science exam questions for JSS3 First term. If you are using a mobile device, hold the table and scroll to the right or left for a complete view.

So here you have the answers to the objective section of Basic Science Exam Questions for JSS3 First term. Use the comments section to let me know if you have any questions you would want me to clarify or discuss further.

Answers to Section B (Theory)

1. Define the following:
a. Gene: A gene is the basic unit of inheritance found on the chromosome which carries information that determines traits.
b. Phenotype: This is the physical appearance or expression of a trait in an organism, such as height or eye colour.
c. Drainage pattern: The arrangement of river channels and their tributaries in an area, usually determined by the slope and rock type of the land.
d. Erosion: The gradual wearing away and removal of topsoil by agents such as water, wind, or ice.
e. Absorption: The process by which digested food nutrients pass into the bloodstream through the walls of the small intestine.

2a. Four family traits include:
– Height
– Eye colour
– Blood group
– Shape of nose

2b. A labeled diagram of the human brain showing its three major parts (Cerebrum, Cerebellum, and Medulla Oblongata) should be drawn here.

2c. Drug control agencies in Nigeria and their roles:
– NDLEA (National Drug Law Enforcement Agency): Responsible for fighting against drug trafficking and abuse.
– NAFDAC (National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control): Responsible for regulating and controlling the quality of drugs, food, and chemicals to ensure safety.

3a.
i. Drug: A drug is any substance taken into the body that can change the way the body works.
ii. Enzyme: A biological catalyst that speeds up chemical reactions in the body.
Catalyst: A substance that alters the rate of a chemical reaction without being used up.
iii. Two problems associated with food storage in the body are:
– Obesity
– Diabetes

3b. End-products of digestion:
i. Fats and oil → Fatty acids and glycerol
ii. Protein → Amino acids
iii. Starch → Simple sugars (Glucose)

4a. The components of the central nervous system are:
– Brain
– Spinal cord

4b. A reflex action is an automatic and involuntary response of the body to a stimulus without the involvement of the brain.

4c. Examples of reflex action:
– Knee-jerk reaction
– Withdrawal of hand from hot object

5a. A labeled diagram of the human eye should be drawn here (showing parts like cornea, lens, retina, pupil, iris, optic nerve).

5b. Functions:
– Lens: Focuses light rays on the retina.
– Pupil: Controls the amount of light that enters the eye.

6a. Human practices that promote desertification:
– Overgrazing of land
– Deforestation

6b. Causes of ozone layer depletion:
– Release of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
– Industrial emissions and air pollutants

6c. Importance of atmosphere:
– Provides air (oxygen and carbon dioxide) for living organisms.
– Protects the earth from harmful radiation from the sun.

How to Pass Basic Science Exam Questions for JSS3 First Term

Passing your Basic Science exam questions for JSS3 First term requires a combination of preparation, understanding, and strategy. Here are actionable tips to help you excel:

1. Study Your Notes and Textbooks: Read and revise all the topics taught in class. Pay attention to definitions, examples, and diagrams.

2. Understand Key Terms: Basic Science uses scientific words such as gene, erosion, phenotype, absorption, and so on. Learn their meanings and how they are applied in answers.

3. Practice Past Questions: Go through previous exam questions to know how they are set and to test your knowledge. This will also help you identify likely areas of focus.

4. Master Diagrams: Learn how to draw and label important diagrams such as the human brain, digestive system, and the eye. They are often asked in exams.

5. Prepare for Objective and Essay Questions: Revise both short questions and long essay-type questions. Objective questions require accuracy, while essay questions demand good explanations and neat presentation.

6. Manage Your Time During Exams: Read the instructions carefully, answer the easy questions first, and don’t spend too much time on one question.

It’s a wrap!

If you need more clarification on JSS3 First Term Questions on Basic Science, you can use the comments box below. We’ll be there to answer you asap.

Best wishes.