KENDRIYA VIDYALAYA SANGATHAN, JAIPUR REGION

PRE-BOARD EXAM (2024-25)

CLASS XII
BIOLOGY (044)
MARKING SCHEME SET-I

ANSWER MARK
Q.NO.
1. B 1
2. C 1
3. A 1
4. D 1
5. B 1
6. D 1
7. D 1
8. A 1
9. D 1
10. B 1
11. C 1
12. C 1
13. D 1
14. A 1
15. C 1
16. A 1
17. A. Tapetum. 1
1
-Its function is to nourish the developing pollen grains.
OR
B. Failure of descent of testes leads to sterility because spermatogenesis
1
does not take place. Because spermatogenesis requires lower temperature. 1

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18. A. If both strands act as a template, they would code for RNA molecule with
different sequences (Remember complementarity does not mean
identical), and in turn, if they code for proteins, the sequence of amino 2

acids in the proteins would be different. Hence, one segment of the DNA
would be coding for two different proteins, and this would complicate the
genetic information transfer machinery.

The two RNA molecules if produced simultaneously would be

complementary to each other, hence would form a double stranded RNA.
This would prevent RNA from being translated into protein and the exercise
of transcription would become a futile one.
OR

B. tRNA has an anticodon loop that has bases complementary to the code,
and it also has an amino acid acceptor end to which it binds to amino
acids. tRNAs are specific for each amino acid. The secondary structure
of tRNA looks like a clover -leaf. In actual structure, the tRNA is a 2
compact molecule which looks like inverted L.
19. (i) Parrot fish 1+1
(ii) Shark, coral
20. A. Inborn error of metabolism-lacks enzyme for converting phenyl alanine
2
to tyrosine.
Phenyl pyruvic acid is excreted.
OR
B. Haplo-Diploid-unfertilized eggs become males, fertilized eggs become
females. 2

21. A. Alien species become invasive compete with the native species and cause
extinction of indigenous species.
(i) Introduction of Nile perch into Lake Victoria leads to extinction of 2
more than 200 species of cichlid fish in that lake.
(ii) Carrot grass and Lantana introduced in our country have
become invasive and cause environmental damage. They pose threat
to the native species of plants in our forests.
OR

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 B. (i) Speciation is a function of time. The temperate region were subjected
to frequent glaciations in the past, while the tropics have remain undisturbed
and so had longer time to evolve more species diversity.
(ii) More solar radiations is available in tropics which lead to more
productivity and indirectly to greater species diversity. 2
(iii) The environment of tropics is less seasonal and predictable, which
encourages to niche specialisation and species diversity.
22. (i) 1- Bagging 2- Artificial pollination. 1- Prevents contamination of stigma 1½
with unwanted pollens.
(ii) In parthenocarpy seedless fruits are formed without fertilization. E.g.
Banana 1½
In apomixis seed habit is retained,without fertilization. E.g.
Asteraceae/grasses
23. (1) i) No 1
(2) Examples: (a) Cereals / rice / wheat - pollen grains / loose viability within thirty
minutes of their release
(3) (b) In some members of Rosaceae / Leguminosae maintain viability for 1
months.
(4) (ii) Using cryopreservation techniques / in liquid nitrogen (-196° C)
(5) Maintaining viability / preserving threatened species / preserving 1
commercially important plants / to be used for crop breeding programmes.
24. (i) When an alien DNA or rDNA is ligated within the coding sequence of an 1
enzyme, the enzyme become inactivated, this phenomenon is called as
insertional inactivation.
(ii) (a) Ori (origin of replication) is a sequence of DNA where replication starts. 1
(b) Rop gene codes for the proteins involved in replication of the plasmid. 1
25. Ans. a)Amino acid Phe Val ½ X 6=3

DNA Code in Gene AAA CAC

Codon in mRNA (i) UUU (ii) GUG

Anticodon in tRNA (iii) AAA (iv) CAC

(b) (i) A polypeptide containing 14 different amino acid = 14 x 3 = 42 base

pairs.

(ii) 14 different types of RNA are needed for the synthesis of polypeptide.

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26. Specific Bt toxin genes isolated from Bacillus thuringiensis is incorporated 1
into cotton is coded by the genes crylAc and cryllAb that control the cotton
bollworms. 1
Bacillus forms protein crystals that contain a toxic insecticidal protein.
Once an insect ingest the inactive toxin, it is converted into an active form 1
The toxin in the form of crystals gets solubilized due to alkaline pH in the gut
The activated toxin binds to the surface of gut epithelial cells and perforates
the walls causing the death of insect larva.
27. Process of secondary treatment:
Passing of primary effluent into large aeration tank which is constantly
agitated mechanically & air is pumped into it that allows vigorous growth of
useful aerobic microbes into flocs
↓
Microbes consume major part of organic matter in effluent which significantly
1
reduces BOD
↓
Now effluent is passed into settling tank where flocs are allowed to settle/
1
sediment called activated sludge
↓
Digestion of activated sludge by anaerobic microbes and effluents from
1
secondary treatment can be released into river or stream.
↓
Resulted in production of Bio gas (CH4, H2S and CO₂) which can be used as
source of energy.
28. (a) 0.5 marks for each of the following:
- Rhinovirus
- spread if the droplets resulting from the cough or sneezes of an infected
person are inhaled or through shared contaminated items
(b) [1 mark for the sequence of organs and 1 mark for justification] 2
- Trachea>Bronchioles>alveoli
- Rhinovirus attaches and infects cells in the upper respiratory tract, and
typically does not reach this deep into the respiratory system.

1
29. (i) The primitive, reducing atmosphere on the Earth contained methane
(CH4), ammonia (NH3), hydrogen (H2), etc., in addition with higher
1
temperatures and volcanic storms. These conditions on Earth favoured the
chemical evolution.
(ii) (1) Water molecules split into hydrogen and oxygen by the action of Sun's
UV rays. The lighter hydrogen (H2) gas escaped from the surface, whereas 1

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 the oxygen gas combined with ammonia and methane to form water, CO 2
and other compounds.
(2) The early Earth's surface was covered by water vapour, methane, carbon
dioxide and ammonia released from molten mass.
(3) Many studies claimed that the depressions were initially filled with
hydrocarbons/basaltic compositions. (Any two)
(iii) according to Oparin Haldane theory,Life is originated from chemicals
which experimently proved by Stanley Miller by performing experiment in
laboratory. They explained that simple organic compound formed from
inorganic substances.
2
OR
(iv) Louis Pasteur rejected the theory of spontaneous generation and
conducted careful experiments to show that life evolved from pre-existing
life. He preserved a few dead yeast cells in two flasks, in a closed pre-
sterilized flask and in another flask, which kept in open air. He demonstrated
that life did not come in the former flask, whereas new living organisms
arose from dead yeast in the open flask. Finally the theory of spontaneous
generation was dismissed.
30. (i) Peak 1 represents primary and peak 2 represents secondary immune
responses.
1
The size of the two peaks is different since the increase in antibody levels in
the blood due to infection in the primary response is less intense than that of
the secondary response, which is aided by memory antibodies.

(ii) The causative agents of cowpox are similar to those of smallpox. A 1

cowpox infection induces active immunity (produces memory antibodies
in the blood) that protects people from smallpox.

(iii) Vaccination happens by artificially stimulating the body to develop

2
antibodies against infectious disease by the administration of antigens,
attenuated disease-causing organisms, or toxoids. Therefore, by
exposing an individual to an antigen in a controlled way, their body will
then be able to protect itself from disease-causing organisms later in life.

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 OR

(iv) Infants who are not breastfed have a higher risk of developing health
issues as it is baby’s first vaccine and provide the best protection against
disease as it contains colostrum which contains IgA. Colostrum is
responsible for providing passive immunity to the infant.

31. A. (i) Population control measures other than contraception are:

(a) Advertisements in the media, to generate awareness. People particularly

those in reproductive age group should be given education regarding the
advantages of small family and family planning methods. Mass media and 2
educational institutes can play an important role in this campaign, posters
exhibiting a happy couple with a slogan "Hum Do Hamare Do".

(b) Marriageable age: Statutory raising of marriageable age of the female to

18 years and that of males to 21 years, is more effective means to control
population. It help to delay the number of births.

(c) Incentives: This will certainly help to check population growth. Incentives
should be given to couples with small families and to families adopting family
planning methods and motivate others to comply.

(ii) Medical Termination of Pregnancy: Intentional or voluntary termination of

pregnancy before full term with help of an expert doctor is called MTP 2

MTP is advised in the following situations-

(a) When there is an unwanted pregnancy.

(b) When continuation of pregnancy is harmful or fatal to either mother or

foetus or both.

(c) When there is failure of contraceptive used during coitus or rapes, in

either case it is advisable to go for MTP during first trimester i.e., up to 12
weeks of pregnancy.

(d) MTP is also advised if the foetus suffers from incurable genetic and
metabolic disorder. (Any two)

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(iii) Amniocentesis and MTP are being misused for knowing the sex of the 1
foetus and destroying the same if the foetus is female.

OR

B. (i) (a) Corpus luteum secretes large amounts of progesterone and some
small amount of estradiol hormone. Both these hormones are essential for
the maintenance of the endometrium which is necessary for the implantation
of fertilised ovum. It also inhibits the release of FSH so that it may not
develop additional follicles and eggs.

Placenta secretes human placental lactogen (hPL) which ensures energy 2

supply to the foetus by modifying the metabolism of the mother during
pregnancy. It has anti-insulin property which reduces the maternal insulin
sensitivity there by increasing the level of blood glucose. It also secretes
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) hormone. It maintains the corpus
luteum in the pregnancy and stimulates the release of progesterone.

b) Gonadotropins like LH and FSH are secreted (during follicular phase.

They stimulate the follicular development as well as secretion of estrogens
by the growing follicles.

During parturition, oxytocin is released which leads to the contraction of

smooth muscles of myometrium of the uterus and directs the full term foetus
towards the birth canal.
1
(ii) (a) Corpus luteum and placenta co-exist in case of pregnancy.

(b) Corpus luteum ceases to exist during menstruation.

(iii) Signals originate from the fully developed foetus and placenta.

 Induce mild uterine contractions (foetal ejection reflex).

 Triggers release of oxytocin (from maternal pituitary). 2

 Oxytocin acts on uterine muscles and causes stronger uterine

contractions.

 Stimulatory reflex between the uterine contraction and oxytocin

secretion continues resulting in stronger and stronger contraction.

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  Expel the baby from the uterus.

32. A. (i) Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). 1½

It can be used to detect very small quantities of nucleic acid sequences as
would be the case with DNA from a single cell.
(ii) Yes, it can be used.
PCR can be used to amplify/detect any nucleotide sequence. 1½

(iii) Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.ELISA is based on the principle of

antigen-antibody interaction. Infection by pathogen can be detected by the
2
presence of antigens (proteins, glycoproteins, etc.) or by detecting the
antibodies synthesised against the pathogen.
OR
B. (i) Separation and Isolation of DNA Fragments (Gel Electrophoresis)
Firstly, the sample DNA is cut into fragments by restriction endonucleases.
The DNA fragments being negatively charged to move towards the anode
under an electric field through agarose medium/matrix.
The DNA fragments separate out according to their size by sieving action on
gel.
The separated DNA fragments are visualized after staining with ethidium
bromide followed by exposure to UV radiation.
The DNA fragments are seen as orange coloured bands. ½ X 6=3
The separated bands of DNA are cut out and extracted from the gel piece
(elution).
(ii) Proinsulin is called so because it is an inactive form of insulin.

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33. A. Impacts of loss of biodiversity on the ecosystem: 1½

(i) (a) Decline in plant production

(b) Lowered resistance to environmental perturbations such as drought

(c) Increased variability in certain ecosystems processes such as plant

productivity, water use, pest and disease cycles.

(ii) (a) Habitat loss and fragmentation

1½
(b) Over-exploitation

(c) Alien invasive species

(d) Co-extinctions

(iii) Criteria for determining biodiversity hotspots are: 2

High level of species richness

High degree of endemism

Hotspots in India- Western Ghats Himalaya (Indo- Burma / Sunderland to be

accepted)

OR

B. (i) Parasitism Predation

Lives and feed on the host. Only feeds on prey

2
Host specific. Prudent / not prey specific.

Co-evolve with the host. Control / check prey population.

T3
(ii) Fishes
T2 Zooplanktons 3
Phytoplanktons
T1
Pyramid of biomass
The pyramid is inverted because the biomass of fishes is much more
than that of Zooplanktons and Phytoplanktons.

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