100-ITEM OBJECTIVE TEST

BASIC SCIENCE — JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL (JSS) LEVEL

Instructions to Students
1. Answer ALL questions.
2. Each question has four options lettered A to D. Choose the correct option.
3. Shade or write only the letter of your chosen answer on the answer sheet.
4. Time allowed: 1 hour 30 minutes.

1. Which of the following is a characteristic of living things?

A. Growth
B. Rusting
C. Melting
D. Evaporation
2. An example of a non-living thing is:
A. Tree
B. Stone
C. Dog
D. Grass
3. Living things respond to changes in their environment. This is called:
A. Nutrition
B. Irritability
C. Respiration
D. Excretion
4. The process by which living things get rid of waste products is called:
A. Respiration
B. Excretion
C. Digestion
D. Reproduction
5. Which pair correctly matches a life process with its example?
A. Growth – increase in height
B. Excretion – eating food
C. Nutrition – removing waste
D. Reproduction – breathing
6. A car that moves and needs fuel is not considered a living thing mainly because it cannot:
A. Move
B. Use energy
C. Reproduce
D. Make noise
7. Which of these best explains why fire is not a living thing despite growing and needing oxygen?
A. It cannot reproduce itself
B. It moves
C. It gives off heat
D. It needs air
8. A student places a plant near a window and observes it bending towards the light after some days. This
shows the life process of:
A. Respiration
B. Growth and irritability
C. Excretion
D. Nutrition
9. Which set contains only living things?
A. Fish, mushroom, bacteria
B. Fish, stone, bacteria
C. Mushroom, cloud, fish
D. Bacteria, rock, cloud
10. A scientist finds an object that grows, moves, and reacts to touch but does not reproduce or respire. The
best conclusion is that the object is:
A. Definitely living
B. Definitely non-living
C. Possibly a virus, which shows some but not all characteristics of life
D. A plant
11. The basic unit of life is the:
A. Tissue
B. Cell
C. Organ
D. Organism
12. The part of the cell that controls its activities is the:
A. Cytoplasm
B. Cell membrane
C. Nucleus
D. Cell wall
13. Which structure is found in plant cells but not animal cells?
A. Nucleus
B. Cell wall
C. Cytoplasm
D. Cell membrane
14. The jelly-like substance where cell activities take place is called:
A. Nucleus
B. Cytoplasm
C. Cell wall
D. Vacuole
15. A group of similar cells working together to perform a function is called a:
A. Organ
B. Tissue
C. System
D. Organism
16. Which of these correctly orders cell organization from simplest to most complex?
A. Cell → Tissue → Organ → System
B. Organ → Cell → Tissue → System
C. System → Organ → Tissue → Cell
D. Tissue → System → Cell → Organ
17. The cell membrane is important because it:
A. Produces energy
B. Controls what enters and leaves the cell
C. Stores genetic material
D. Gives shape only to plant cells
18. A student views a cell under a microscope and sees a rigid outer layer plus a nucleus. The cell is most
likely a(n):
A. Animal cell
B. Plant cell
C. Bacterial cell
D. Blood cell
19. Red blood cells lack a nucleus. Based on this, they are:
A. Unable to carry oxygen
B. Unable to divide/reproduce by themselves
C. Not real cells
D. Found only in plants
20. If the cell membrane of a cell is damaged, the most likely immediate effect is:
A. The cell will grow faster
B. The cell will lose control over materials entering and leaving it
C. The nucleus will multiply
D. The cell wall will form
21. Grouping organisms based on their similarities and differences is called:
A. Nutrition
B. Classification
C. Reproduction
D. Respiration
22. The smallest unit of classification is the:
A. Kingdom
B. Species
C. Phylum
D. Class
23. Animals without a backbone are called:
A. Vertebrates
B. Invertebrates
C. Mammals
D. Amphibians
24. Which of these is a vertebrate?
A. Earthworm
B. Snail
C. Fish
D. Housefly
25. Which of the following animals belongs to the mammal group?
A. Frog
B. Whale
C. Lizard
D. Eagle
26. A key characteristic used to classify plants is:
 A. Whether they have flowers or not
B. Their color only
C. Their size only
D. Where they are sold
27. Which statement about classification is TRUE?
A. It groups organisms randomly
B. It helps scientists study and identify organisms easily
C. It is only used for animals
D. It never changes
28. An animal has fur, gives birth to live young, and feeds them milk. It belongs to the class:
A. Reptilia
B. Mammalia
C. Aves
D. Pisces
29. A student finds an organism that is cold-blooded, lays eggs on land, and has scaly skin. It is most likely a:
A. Fish
B. Bird
C. Reptile
D. Mammal
30. Two animals look similar but one has feathers and lays hard-shelled eggs, and the other has fur and gives
live birth. The best classification approach is to group them by:
A. Where they live
B. Their body covering and mode of reproduction
C. Their size
D. Their color
31. Digestion of food begins in the:
A. Stomach
B. Mouth
C. Small intestine
D. Large intestine
32. The organ that pumps blood around the body is the:
A. Lungs
B. Liver
C. Heart
D. Kidney
33. Air enters the lungs through the:
A. Esophagus
B. Trachea
C. Stomach
D. Intestine
34. The process of breathing in and out is called:
A. Digestion
B. Respiration
C. Excretion
D. Circulation
35. Which organ absorbs digested food into the bloodstream?
A. Stomach
 B. Small intestine
C. Large intestine
D. Esophagus
36. The main function of the lungs is to:
A. Digest food
B. Exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide
C. Pump blood
D. Filter waste from blood
37. Which of these correctly describes the path of food?
A. Mouth → Esophagus → Stomach → Small intestine → Large intestine
B. Mouth → Stomach → Esophagus → Intestine
C. Esophagus → Mouth → Stomach → Intestine
D. Stomach → Mouth → Intestine → Esophagus
38. A person who breathes rapidly after running needs more of this gas:
A. Carbon dioxide
B. Oxygen
C. Nitrogen
D. Hydrogen
39. If the small intestine is damaged, the body will most likely have difficulty:
A. Breathing
B. Absorbing nutrients from food
C. Pumping blood
D. Hearing sounds
40. A patient has trouble breathing and the doctor discovers a blockage in the trachea. This will most likely
affect the:
A. Digestive system only
B. Flow of air to the lungs
C. Flow of blood to the heart
D. Digestion of food
41. The male reproductive part of a flower is the:
A. Pistil
B. Stamen
C. Petal
D. Sepal
42. The process by which pollen grains are transferred from the anther to the stigma is called:
A. Fertilization
B. Pollination
C. Germination
D. Reproduction
43. Animals that give birth to live young are called:
A. Oviparous
B. Viviparous
C. Herbivorous
D. Carnivorous
44. The joining of a male and female gamete is called:
A. Pollination
B. Germination
 C. Fertilization
D. Reproduction
45. Which of these is an example of asexual reproduction in plants?
A. Pollination by bees
B. Growing a new plant from a stem cutting
C. Formation of seeds
D. Fertilization
46. Wind pollinated flowers are usually:
A. Brightly colored and scented
B. Small, dull colored and produce light pollen
C. Large with sticky pollen
D. Found only underwater
47. The correct sequence of plant reproduction is:
A. Pollination → Fertilization → Seed formation
B. Seed formation → Pollination → Fertilization
C. Fertilization → Seed formation → Pollination
D. Germination → Pollination → Fertilization
48. A farmer notices that his pumpkin plants are not producing fruits because bees are scarce this season. This
suggests pumpkin flowers depend mainly on:
A. Self-pollination
B. Insect pollination
C. Wind pollination
D. Water pollination
49. Chickens laying eggs that hatch outside the mother's body are classified as:
A. Viviparous
B. Oviparous
C. Asexual
D. Vegetative
50. A gardener wants to quickly produce many identical plants from one parent plant without waiting for seeds
to form. The best method is:
A. Pollination
B. Fertilization
C. Vegetative propagation (e.g., stem cutting)
D. Seed germination
51. Anything that has mass and occupies space is called:
A. Energy
B. Matter
C. Force
D. Weight
52. The three states of matter are:
A. Solid, liquid, gas
B. Solid, liquid, energy
C. Gas, force, solid
D. Liquid, weight, gas
53. A substance that has a definite shape and volume is a:
A. Liquid
B. Gas
 C. Solid
D. Vapor
54. The change of a liquid to a gas is called:
A. Melting
B. Evaporation
C. Condensation
D. Freezing
55. Which of these correctly matches a state change with its process?
A. Solid to liquid – melting
B. Gas to liquid – melting
C. Liquid to solid – evaporation
D. Gas to solid – boiling
56. Particles are most loosely arranged in:
A. Solids
B. Liquids
C. Gases
D. All equally
57. Condensation occurs when a gas:
A. Gains heat and becomes liquid
B. Loses heat and becomes liquid
C. Loses heat and becomes solid
D. Gains heat and becomes solid
58. Water left in an open cup disappears gradually over several days. This is due to:
A. Condensation
B. Evaporation
C. Freezing
D. Melting
59. Steam forming water droplets on a cold window is an example of:
A. Evaporation
B. Condensation
C. Sublimation
D. Melting
60. Ice, water and steam are all forms of the same substance (H2O) but behave differently mainly because:
A. They have different chemical formulas
B. The arrangement and movement of their particles differ
C. They come from different sources
D. Only ice is real matter
61. The ability to do work is called:
A. Force
B. Energy
C. Power
D. Mass
62. The sun is an example of a:
A. Non-renewable energy source
B. Renewable energy source
C. Chemical energy source
D. Man-made energy source
63. Energy stored in food is called:
A. Kinetic energy
B. Chemical energy
C. Sound energy
D. Light energy
64. Coal and petroleum are examples of:
A. Renewable energy sources
B. Non-renewable energy sources
C. Solar energy
D. Wind energy
65. The law of conservation of energy states that energy:
A. Can be created but not destroyed
B. Can be destroyed completely
C. Cannot be created or destroyed, only changed from one form to another
D. Only exists in one form
66. A moving car mainly possesses:
A. Potential energy
B. Kinetic energy
C. Chemical energy only
D. Sound energy only
67. Which of these is a renewable source of energy?
A. Coal
B. Natural gas
C. Wind
D. Petroleum
68. When you switch on an electric bulb, electrical energy is converted mainly to:
A. Chemical and sound energy
B. Light and heat energy
C. Kinetic energy only
D. Nuclear energy
69. A stretched rubber band possesses which form of energy?
A. Kinetic energy
B. Potential energy
C. Heat energy
D. Sound energy
70. Nigeria wants to reduce reliance on fossil fuels for electricity. Based on renewable energy sources, the best
option would be to invest in:
A. Building more coal plants
B. Solar panels and wind turbines
C. Only wood burning
D. Importing more petroleum
71. A push or pull on an object is called:
A. Work
B. Force
C. Energy
D. Power
72. Work is said to be done when:
 A. A force is applied and the object moves in the direction of the force
B. A force is applied but nothing moves
C. An object is at rest
D. Energy is stored
73. A simple machine that consists of a bar resting on a fixed point is a:
A. Pulley
B. Lever
C. Wheel and axle
D. Inclined plane
74. An example of an inclined plane is:
A. A ramp
B. A seesaw
C. A pair of scissors
D. A pulley wheel
75. Simple machines make work easier mainly by:
A. Increasing the amount of work done
B. Reducing the effort needed to do work
C. Eliminating the need for force
D. Creating new energy
76. Scissors work as an example of:
A. A single lever
B. Two levers joined together (double lever)
C. A pulley
D. An inclined plane
77. A wheelbarrow is an example of which class of lever?
A. First class
B. Second class
C. Third class
D. It is not a lever
78. A worker uses a ramp to push a heavy box into a truck instead of lifting it directly. This reduces:
A. The distance moved
B. The effort needed to move the box
C. The weight of the box
D. The height of the truck
79. A pair of scissors cutting paper demonstrates force being used to:
A. Increase distance
B. Overcome resistance and cut material
C. Store energy
D. Produce heat only
80. Comparing a single fixed pulley and a movable pulley, the movable pulley is generally more useful for
heavy lifting because it:
A. Changes direction of force only
B. Reduces the effort force needed to lift the load
C. Increases the weight of the load
D. Has no mechanical advantage
81. The continuous movement of water from the earth to the atmosphere and back is called:
A. Water cycle
 B. Air cycle
C. Carbon cycle
D. Rock cycle
82. The gas needed by living things for respiration is:
A. Nitrogen
B. Oxygen
C. Carbon dioxide
D. Hydrogen
83. The instrument used to measure rainfall is called a:
A. Thermometer
B. Rain gauge
C. Barometer
D. Anemometer
84. The layer of soil richest in humus and nutrients is the:
A. Topsoil
B. Subsoil
C. Bedrock
D. Parent rock
85. Evaporation of water from the ocean is mainly caused by:
A. Wind only
B. Heat from the sun
C. Cold temperatures
D. Gravity
86. Which gas makes up the largest percentage of the atmosphere?
A. Oxygen
B. Nitrogen
C. Carbon dioxide
D. Argon
87. Soil formed mainly from decayed plant and animal matter is rich in:
A. Sand
B. Humus
C. Clay
D. Gravel
88. A farmer notices his crops grow poorly in sandy soil because it:
A. Retains too much water
B. Drains water too quickly, losing nutrients
C. Has too much humus
D. Is too heavy
89. During the rainy season, clouds form because water vapor:
A. Sinks to the ground
B. Cools and condenses in the atmosphere
C. Disappears completely
D. Turns to ice permanently
90. A region with sandy soil, high temperatures, and little rainfall would most likely support:
A. Dense rainforest
B. Drought-resistant plants and grasses
C. Rice farming
 D. Large wetlands
91. The use of drugs for purposes other than medical reasons is called:
A. Drug abuse
B. Drug therapy
C. Prescription
D. Vaccination
92. A common laboratory safety rule is to:
A. Eat and drink while working
B. Wear protective clothing
C. Run around the laboratory
D. Mix chemicals without guidance
93. Substances like tobacco and alcohol that can lead to addiction are called:
A. Nutrients
B. Drugs
C. Vitamins
D. Minerals
94. The first thing to do after a chemical spill in the lab is to:
A. Ignore it
B. Report it immediately to the teacher/supervisor
C. Taste it to identify it
D. Take it home
95. Long term abuse of hard drugs can lead to:
A. Improved health
B. Addiction and damage to body organs
C. Increased intelligence
D. No effect on the body
96. Laboratory equipment should be handled with care mainly because:
A. They are cheap
B. They can be dangerous or fragile
C. They are unimportant
D. They cannot break
97. Which of these is NOT a sign of drug abuse?
A. Sudden change in behavior
B. Poor performance in school
C. Regular exercise and healthy eating
D. Withdrawal from family and friends
98. A student sees a classmate mixing unknown chemicals without supervision. The best action is to:
A. Join in
B. Ignore it
C. Stop the action and inform the teacher
D. Take a photo for social media
99. A person who takes cough syrup excessively for its intoxicating effect, not for treating cough, is engaging
in:
A. Proper medication
B. Drug abuse
C. Vaccination
D. First aid
100. Comparing a student who takes prescribed antibiotics correctly for an infection and one who takes
leftover antibiotics without a doctor's guidance for a different illness, the second student's behavior is best
classified as:
A. Correct self-medication
B. Drug misuse/abuse
C. Preventive health care
D. Recommended practice