ICSE Class 10 Biology · Exam Practice

Biology Practice Paper — Set 1

Biology Practice Paper — Set 1. ICSE Class 10 Biology, covering cell division, genetics, the circulatory, excretory, nervous and endocrine systems, transpiration, photosynthesis, evolution and pollution, with a full answer key and worked solutions.

🎯 Full Marks: 50⏱️ Time: 1½ Hours📝 Questions: 30
SectionType of questionsQsMarks
AMultiple Choice Questions1010
BFill in the Blanks & True / False88
CShort Answer Questions816
DProblem Solving416
Total3050
Before you start
  • This paper samples across the ICSE Class 10 Biology chapters on MuskMeadow: cell division, genetics, the circulatory, excretory, nervous and endocrine systems, transpiration, photosynthesis, evolution and pollution.
  • Attempt the paper first, without looking at the answer key at the bottom of the page.
  • Show your working for Sections C and D — method marks are given even if the final answer is wrong.
  • This is a MuskMeadow practice paper. It is not an official CISCE paper and its mark scheme does not copy the board's exact pattern.
10 MARKS

Section A — Multiple Choice Questions

Choose the correct option. (1 mark each)

1. The number of chromosomes in a normal human body cell is

A. 23B. 44C. 46D. 48

2. In Mendel’s monohybrid cross the F₂ phenotypic ratio is

A. 1 : 1B. 3 : 1C. 9 : 3 : 3 : 1D. 1 : 2 : 1

3. Insulin is secreted by the

A. thyroidB. pancreasC. adrenal glandD. pituitary

4. The part of the brain that controls balance and posture is the

A. cerebrumB. cerebellumC. medullaD. hypothalamus

5. The pulmonary vein carries

A. oxygenated blood to the heartB. deoxygenated blood to the lungsC. oxygenated blood to the bodyD. lymph

6. Most transpiration takes place through the

A. stomataB. barkC. rootsD. flowers

7. The sugar produced in photosynthesis is

A. sucroseB. glucoseC. maltoseD. lactose

8. The functional unit of the kidney is the

A. nephronB. neuronC. alveolusD. villus

9. Which pair are greenhouse gases?

A. CO₂ and CH₄B. N₂ and O₂C. He and ArD. H₂ and Ne

10. Gametes are formed by

A. mitosisB. meiosisC. binary fissionD. budding
8 MARKS

Section B — Fill in the Blanks & True / False

Fill in each blank, or write True / False. (1 mark each)

11. The universal blood donor group (ABO system) is ______.

12. The “fight or flight” hormone is ______.

13. Meiosis produces four daughter cells. (   )

14. The xylem carries food in plants. (   )

15. The sex chromosomes of a human female are ______.

16. The plant hormone responsible for fruit ripening is ______.

17. The retina contains rods and cones. (   )

18. Root hairs absorb water mainly by ______.

16 MARKS

Section C — Short Answer Questions

Show your working. (2 marks each)

19. Define genotype and phenotype.

20. Name two functions of the kidney.

21. What is a reflex action?

22. State one difference between mitosis and meiosis.

23. Name two greenhouse gases.

24. Define transpiration and give one significance.

25. What is the function of the iris of the eye?

26. State the role of insulin in the body.

16 MARKS

Section D — Problem Solving

Show all steps. (4 marks each)

27. A heterozygous tall plant (Tt) is crossed with a dwarf plant (tt). Show the cross with a Punnett square and state the genotypic and phenotypic ratios. If it gives 200 offspring, how many are expected to be tall?

28. Describe the double circulation of blood in humans with the path of blood through the heart.

29. Write the equation of photosynthesis, name four factors that affect it and state two significances.

30. Arrange in order the stages of human evolution and name one feature of the last stage.

ICSE Class 10 Biology · Biology Practice Paper — Set 1 · Answer Key

Answers & Worked Solutions

Check your paper, then read the solutions for the questions you missed.

Section A — Multiple Choice Questions (10 marks)
Q1. C. 46

Humans have 23 pairs, i.e. 46 chromosomes, in each body cell.

Q2. B. 3 : 1

Dominant : recessive appear in a 3 : 1 ratio in F₂.

Q3. B. pancreas

The β-cells of the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas secrete insulin.

Q4. B. cerebellum

The cerebellum coordinates movement and maintains balance.

Q5. A. oxygenated blood to the heart

It carries oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the left atrium.

Q6. A. stomata

Stomata on the leaf surface are the main route for water vapour loss.

Q7. B. glucose

6CO₂ + 6H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂.

Q8. A. nephron

Each kidney has about a million nephrons that filter blood and form urine.

Q9. A. CO₂ and CH₄

CO₂ and methane trap heat in the atmosphere.

Q10. B. meiosis

Meiosis halves the chromosome number, giving haploid gametes.

Section B — Fill in the Blanks & True / False (8 marks)
Q11. O

Group O red cells have no A or B antigens (ignoring Rh).

Q12. adrenaline

Adrenaline from the adrenal medulla prepares the body for emergencies.

Q13. True

One diploid cell gives four haploid cells.

Q14. False

Xylem carries water and minerals; phloem carries food.

Q15. XX

Males have XY.

Q16. ethylene

Ethylene is a gaseous hormone that hastens ripening.

Q17. True

Rods work in dim light and cones give colour vision.

Q18. osmosis

Water moves from the soil into the root hair cell along a water-potential gradient.

Section C — Short Answer Questions (16 marks)
Q19. Genotype: genetic makeup; phenotype: visible trait
  1. Genotype is the genetic constitution of an organism, e.g. Tt.
  2. Phenotype is the observable character, e.g. tall.
Q20. Filter blood to form urine; osmoregulation
  1. It removes urea and other wastes from blood as urine.
  2. It regulates water and salt balance.
Q21. A quick, involuntary response to a stimulus
  1. A reflex action is an automatic, rapid response to a stimulus without conscious control.
  2. It follows the path receptor → sensory neurone → spinal cord → motor neurone → effector.
Q22. Mitosis: 2 identical cells; meiosis: 4 haploid cells
  1. Mitosis gives two genetically identical diploid cells and occurs in body cells.
  2. Meiosis gives four haploid cells with variation and occurs in gamete formation.
Q23. Carbon dioxide and methane
  1. CO₂ comes mainly from burning fossil fuels.
  2. Methane comes from paddy fields, cattle and landfills.
Q24. Loss of water vapour from aerial plant parts
  1. Transpiration is the loss of water as vapour from the aerial parts of a plant, mainly through stomata.
  2. It pulls water upward and cools the plant.
Q25. Controls the size of the pupil
  1. The iris adjusts the pupil size.
  2. It lets in less light in bright conditions and more in dim light.
Q26. Lowers blood glucose
  1. Insulin helps cells absorb glucose and converts excess glucose to glycogen in the liver.
  2. This lowers blood sugar; shortage causes diabetes mellitus.
Section D — Problem Solving (16 marks)
Q27. Tt : tt = 1 : 1; tall : dwarf = 1 : 1; 100 tall
  1. Gametes: Tt gives T and t; tt gives t and t.
  2. Offspring: Tt, Tt, tt, tt: genotypic ratio 1 : 1, phenotypic ratio tall : dwarf = 1 : 1.
  3. Expected tall plants = 200 × 1/2 = 100. This is a test cross.
Q28. Right atrium → right ventricle → lungs → left atrium → left ventricle → body
  1. Pulmonary circulation: right ventricle → pulmonary artery → lungs (blood gets oxygen) → pulmonary veins → left atrium.
  2. Systemic circulation: left atrium → left ventricle → aorta → body → vena cava → right atrium.
  3. Blood passes through the heart twice in one complete circuit, hence double circulation.
Q29. 6CO₂ + 6H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂
  1. 6CO₂ + 6H₂O (light, chlorophyll) → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂.
  2. Factors: light intensity, CO₂ concentration, temperature and water supply.
  3. Significance: it makes food for nearly all living things and releases oxygen.
Q30. Australopithecus → Homo habilis → Homo erectus → Homo sapiens
  1. Order: Australopithecus → Homo habilis → Homo erectus → Homo sapiens.
  2. Homo sapiens has a large brain (about 1400 cc), upright posture and the ability for speech and complex tool use.
  3. Other features: reduced jaw and brow ridges.
← All ICSE Class 10 Exams