CBSE 2016 Biology Question Paper for Class 12

About this paper

This is the CBSE Class 12 Biology (Theory) question paper code 57/2 (Series ONS, Set 2) from the 2016 board examination. It carries 70 marks over three hours and has 26 compulsory questions in five sections, from one-mark very short answers to three five-mark long answers. Section D is a four-mark value-based question on childless couples, asking why the female partner is often blamed in India and which values a biology student can promote against this. Internal choices are given in one two-mark question, one three-mark question and all three five-mark questions, including a choice between explaining a 9 : 3 : 3 : 1 dihybrid ratio and describing Griffith's experiments. This copy has the questions only, without answers.

Exam

CBSE Class 12

Subject

Biology

Year

2016

Paper code

57/2

Maximum marks

70

Time allowed

3 hours

Questions

26

Pages

11

Answers included

No, questions only

Paper pattern

• Section A

  5 marks

  Questions 1–5, very short answers, one mark each

• Section B

  10 marks

  Questions 6–10, short answers, two marks each; internal choice in one

• Section C

  36 marks

  Questions 11–22, short answers, three marks each; internal choice in one

• Section D

  4 marks

  Question 23, value-based question on infertility and social attitudes

• Section E

  15 marks

  Questions 24–26, long answers, five marks each, each with an internal choice

Topics covered

• Reproduction in flowering plants
• Human reproduction and reproductive health
• Principles of inheritance and variation
• Molecular basis of inheritance and the Human Genome Project
• Evolution
• Human health and disease
• Strategies for enhancement in food production
• Microbes in human welfare
• Biotechnology principles and applications
• Organisms and populations
• Ecosystem
• Environmental issues

Questions from this paper

1. Mention two advantages of preferring CNG over diesel as an automobile fuel.
2. A male honeybee has 16 chromosomes whereas the female has 32 chromosomes. Give one reason.
3. Name a genus of baculovirus. Why are baculoviruses considered good biocontrol agents?
4. Differentiate between divergent and convergent evolution, giving one example of each.
5. Explain enzyme replacement therapy for treating adenosine deaminase deficiency, and mention two disadvantages of this procedure.
6. When a tall pea plant with round seeds was crossed with a dwarf pea plant with wrinkled seeds, all the F1 plants were tall with round seeds, but selfing the F1 gave a 9 : 3 : 3 : 1 phenotypic ratio. Give a genetic explanation.