Explanation​:
Choice A - There are still stem cells that can be found in the adult body. For example, stem cells are present in the bone marrow, skin, and liver.

Choice B - The foetal stage of development happens from the ninth week after conception until birth. In this stage, the organs have begun to form, and these developing organs come from differentiated stem cells.

Choice C - Stem cells are characterised by their capacity to divide and differentiate. These cells are similar to a blank canvas with the possibility of becoming any type of cell.

Choice D - Stem cells are yet to undergo specialisation through the process of differentiation.

Explanation​:
Water is cohesive because it is a polar molecule. The oxygen atom in one water molecule forms a hydrogen bond with the hydrogen atom of another water molecule. In xylem vessels water is attracted to the hydrophilic regions of the cell wall and hydrogen bonds are formed. This an accurate description of the adhesive properties of water in the context of water transport in plants (Choice A). These statements are reversed in Choice D.

Ions dissolve in water, but this is not related to the cohesive (Choice B) or adhesive (Choice C) properties of water.

Explanation​:
The enzyme lactase breaks down the substrate lactose into glucose and galactose.

Glucose and galactose are products of the reaction (Choices A and B).

Fructose is not a substrate for the enzyme lactase (Choice D).

Explanation​:
Choice B is correct because Rubisco is the name of the enzyme which is responsible for the fixation of carbon during photosynthesis. Choice A is incorrect as rhodopsin is a pigment found in the retina which is responsible for detecting light . Choices C and D are incorrect as neither are enzymes, with collagen being a structural component of tissues such as skin and insulin being a hormone responsible for regulating blood glucose levels.

Explanation​:
Amino acids (Choice B) can form polypeptides through the formation of peptide bonds as a result of condensation reactions. Fatty acids (Choice A) are involved in the formation of lipids and are not monomers. Proteins (Choice C) are composed of one or more polypeptides and are polymers. Nucleotides (Choice D) are the building blocks of DNA and RNA.

Explanation:
Saprotrophs are decomposers that secrete digestive enzymes onto organic molecules and then absorb the digested nutrients. This is a form of extra-cellular nutrition. Fungi and certain bacteria are examples of saprotrophs. Woodlice or pill bugs are detritivores. Detritivores are decomposers, but they ingest the organic molecules before digesting them into smaller, soluble ones. Choice D is, therefore, correct. Mushrooms and yeast are fungi, and Bacillus subtilis is a bacterium. Therefore Choices A, B and C are all saprotrophs and therefore are incorrect.

Explanation:
In arid environments, water availability is often a primary limiting factor. However, soil compaction (Choice C) can exacerbate this limitation by reducing water infiltration and root penetration. High humidity (Choice A), excessive rainfall (Choice B), and low light intensity (Choice D) are less likely to be limiting factors in arid environments.

Explanation:
The disaccharide sucrose is made up of the monosaccharides glucose and fructose. Sucrose forms when glucose and fructose combine in a condensation reaction (a reaction that releases water).

Maltose (Choice A) is a disaccharide made up of two glucose molecules. Lactose (Choice B) is a disaccharide made up of glucose and galactose. Galactose (Choice D) is a monosaccharide, not a disaccharide.

Explanation:
For oxygen to diffuse into the blood, there must be a higher concentration of oxygen in the alveoli than in the blood (Choice D). This is because gases only diffuse down their concentration gradients.

Similarly, for carbon dioxide to diffuse into the alveoli, there should be a lower concentration of carbon dioxide in the alveoli (Choice C) and a higher concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood (Choice B).

Explanation​:
Choice D is correct because starch is made of chains of alpha glucose, proteins are made of chains of amino acids and triglycerides are made of fatty acids and glycerol. Choice A is incorrect because starch is not composed of beta glucose and peptides are not the simplest units of proteins. Choice B is incorrect because starch is not composed of beta glucose and triglycerides do not contain glycogen. Choice C is incorrect because peptides are not the smallest unit of proteins and triglycerides do not contain glycogen.

Explanation​:
Choice C – The statement is false. Phospholipids are a class of lipids which have a hydrophilic “head” and two hydrophobic “tails.” The heads contain a phosphate group and the two tails each contain one fatty acid.

Choice A, B, and D – These statements are all true.

Explanation​:
Veins carry deoxygenated blood from the body back to the heart. As muscles surrounding the veins contract, they push the blood towards the heart and venous valves open to allow the flow of blood. When the muscles relax, the valves close to prevent the blood from flowing backwards in response to gravity. So, venous valves help prevent the backflow of blood away from the heart (Choice B).

The relaxation of skeletal muscles decreases blood pressure in veins and does not play a role in preventing the backflow of blood in veins (Choice A). When the heart relaxes, this decreases blood pressure in arteries, it does not affect blood pressure in veins and plays no role in preventing the backflow of blood in veins (Choice C). Thin vessel walls are most exemplified in capillaries whose walls are one cell thick and allow exchange of substances. Thin walls play no role in preventing the backflow of blood (Choice D).

Explanation​:
Obligate anaerobes are single-celled organisms that will not survive if oxygen is present. Facultative anaerobes are organisms that can either respire aerobically or anaerobically. Obligate aerobes can only respire if oxygen is present and cannot survive in conditions low in oxygen. Therefore Choice A is correct.

Choices B and D are incorrect because obligate anaerobes cannot respire when oxygen is present. Choice C is incorrect as obligate anaerobes require anoxic conditions, and obligate aerobes cannot carry out anaerobic respiration.

Explanation​:
When two monosaccharides are joined together to form a disaccharide, water is produced, therefore it is a condensation reaction. Choice A is correct.

Choice B is incorrect as hydrolysis uses water to break bonds, in this case converting a disaccharide into a monosaccharides. Choice C is incorrect as catabolism breaks down large molecules into smaller molecules. Choice D is incorrect as oxidation means adding oxygen or losing electrons.

Explanation​:
Autotrophs are producers (Choice A) which synthesize their own organic compounds. Consumers gain their nutrition by feeding (Choice B) on other organisms. Detritivores consume dead organic matter (Choice C) by ingestion. Saprotrophs break down food outside their bodies (Choice D) by secreting enzymes and then ingesting the digested compounds.

Explanation:
Structure X is a peripheral protein that is attached to one surface of the cell membrane.

Protein channels span the width of membranes (Choice B) as do transmembrane proteins (Choice A). Cholesterol molecules do not have a globular structure (Choice D).

Explanation​:
During exhalation, the diaphragm relaxes and lifts upwards to form a dome shape (Statement I). The internal intercostal muscles contract and pull the ribcage inwards and downwards (Statement II).

This causes the volume inside the thorax to decrease which increases pressure inside the thorax (Statement III). Thus the air is forced out of the lungs.

Explanation​:
Choice A - The surface area of a cell affects the rate of diffusion of materials in and out of the cell.

Choice B - A small cell will have a bigger surface area to volume ratio which means that diffusion will be easier and other cell processes will become faster.

Choice C - The volume of the cell affects the rate at which materials are produced.

Choice D - A larger spherical cell will have a low surface area to volume ratio. Therefore, the comparatively large volume of cytoplasm may produce waste products at a rate too high to rely on diffusion through the comparatively small surface area of the cell membrane.

Explanation​:
A potometer is used to measure the rate of transpiration in a plant. When transpiration takes place, water loss occurs because water evaporates inside the leaves and then diffuses out of the leaves. The bubble in the capillary tube will move in the direction of the plant along with the water in the capillary tube which is being absorbed by the plant (Choice C).

Choice B is incorrect because the water and bubble are moving towards the plant, not away from it.

Choice A is incorrect because the water in the reservoir will stay at the same level. The reservoir contains a switch that is used to refill the capillary tube and push the bubble back to the start position. This is done at the end of the experiment to reset the apparatus for the next measurement.

Choice D is incorrect as the water level in the beaker will decrease as water enters the capillary tube and also because of evaporation from the beaker to the atmosphere.

Explanation:
Choice C is correct because the habitat is a place a community, population, species, or organism lives. Choice A refers to an organism's niche, Choice B refers to the ecosystem, and Choice D refers to a community.

Explanation​:
Ducks and fish are consumers (Choice B, C and D), which is a type of heterotroph, whereas Azolla and rice can carry out photosynthesis and are, therefore, autotrophs (self-feeding).

Explanation​:
Sieve plates (Statement I) and plasmodesmata (Statement II) are features found in phloem. Sieve plates possess pores which allow continual flow of sap through the sieve tubes. Plasmodesmata are small channels which connect the sieve tube elements to the adjacent companion cells. A high lignin content (Statement III) is found in xylem vessels. It provides support to withstand hydrostatic pressure, and is also impermeable to water.

Explanation:
Choice C is correct because Y is the nucleus and is an organelle, whereas X is the cytosol and not an organelle.

Choice A is incorrect because only X, the cytosol, is primarily composed of water and solutes, Y, the nucleus, primarily contains the DNA. Choice B is incorrect because Y, the nucleus, has a specialised function. Choice D is incorrect because Y, the nucleus, is not found in prokaryotes, but both X, the cytosol, and Y, the nucleus, are found in eukaryotes.

Explanation:
Water is transported passively via protein channels known as aquaporins.

Cholesterol (Choice A) and glycoproteins (Choice B) are not components responsible for transport while protein pumps (Choice C) carry out active transport which is not utilized in the transport of water.

Explanation​:
Choice B is correct because disease is a living factor and is, therefore, a biotic factor, not an abiotic one. Sunlight (Choice A), precipitation (Choice C), and pH (Choice D) are all non-living factors and are therefore abiotic.