O–Level

Biology P-6 ATP Notes

Article # 208

Features:
 Comprehensive notes and guidance for each topic
 Methods of attempting ATP questions
 Every experiment is followed by result and discussions for better
understanding of phenomenon
 Practice sections include classified past papers 2010-17
 Unseen exam based sample questions included

Author:
Muhammad Shahid
Salamat International Campus for Advance Studies (SICAS-SLC)

Review Board:
Asad Jamil (LGS, Beaconhouse, Ex. Head of Deptt. Aitchison College)
Zafar Sulehri (LGS, Beaconhouse, SICAS, The City School)
Hamid Fiaz (LGS, The City School, LACAS, SICAS)
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted,
in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior
written permission of the Publisher.

Title Biology P-6 O-Level ATP Notes

Author Muhammad Shahid
Cell: +92 334 4463339

Published by Read & Write Publications

Printed by Sadaat Printers, Urdu Bazar, Lahore.
Composing Department Sharjeel Khan, Salman Buksh, Hayat, Shahab, Waqas, M. Awais
Zulifqar Ali
Graphics Department Rashid Mehmood, Raja Naveed Mumtaz
Legal Advisor Mian Tariq Ahmad (Advocate Supreme Court)
Room No. 10, 11, 12 Al-Majeed Centre
1-Mozang Road, Lahore.
Tel: 042-37236145, Fax: 042-37241367

Edition: 2017 – 18 Edition

Price Rs. 550/-

For Books Order Call Or SMS: 0336-5314141

DISTRIBUTORS
LAHORE KARACHI
 READ & WRITE SALE POINT  BURHANI BOOK CENTRE
Shop No. 25-28 Lower Ground Floor, Shop # 6 Hashmi Trust Building Rotson Road
Haadia Haleema Centre, Ghazni Street, New Urdu Bazar Karachi
Urdu Bazar, Lahore. Ph: 042-35714038 Tel: 021-32212640
 MARYAM ACADEMY
Tayyab Ali Building, Urdu Bazar,
Karachi.
Tel: 021-32214243 , 021-32634243
RAWALPINDI / ISLAMABAD
 BOOK VALLEY
Shop No. A-P-4,China Market 5 Brothers
Plaza College Road, Rawalpindi
Tel: 051-35770894, 051-35551630
Shop No. 3 4-5-6-7, Sheh re Kitab, F-7 Markaz
Islamabad. Tel: 051-2650895, 0300-5292272
 Contents
Introduction to ATP paper ................................................................................................ 10
Unit 1: Cells ....................................................................................................................... 12
Preparing a temporary slide of onion epidermis cells ...................................................... 12
Observing the effect of surface area on rate of diffusion.................................................. 13
Practice Questions related to Cells ................................................................................. 14
Sample Question (1) ................................................................................................... 14
Sample Question (2) ................................................................................................... 14
Sample Question (3) ................................................................................................... 15
Sample Question (4) ................................................................................................... 15
Sample Question (5) ................................................................................................... 16
Unit 2: Diffusion and Osmosis ......................................................................................... 20
Observing the effect of temperature on diffusion ............................................................. 20
Observing the effect of concentration gradient and distance on diffusion ........................ 20
Observing the effect of particle size on diffusion.............................................................. 21
Observing osmosis across partially permeable membrane .............................................. 21
Observing effect of water and sugar solution on potato tissue (Method 1) ....................... 22
Observing effect of water and sugar solution on potato tissue (Method 2) ....................... 23
Observing plasmolysis .................................................................................................... 23
Observing the effects of varying the concentration of sucrose solution on potato tissue .. 24
Observing the partial permeable ability of a membrane ................................................... 25
Practice Questions related to Diffusion and Osmosis ................................................... 26
Sample Question (1) ................................................................................................... 26
Oct/Nov 2011-P61 ....................................................................................................... 27
Oct/Nov 2013-P62 ....................................................................................................... 28
Unit 3: Food Tests ............................................................................................................. 32
Tests for Carbohydrates .................................................................................................. 32
Tests for Fats (The Ethanol Emulsion Test) .................................................................... 32
Tests for Proteins (The Biuret Test)................................................................................. 32
Observing presence of vitamins ...................................................................................... 33
Practice Questions related to Food Tests ....................................................................... 34
May/June 2012-P61, Q3.............................................................................................. 34
May/June 2012-P62, Q3.............................................................................................. 35
May/June 2013-P61, Q1.............................................................................................. 36
May/June 2013-P62, Q2.............................................................................................. 38

Home Delivery# 0321-1100570 www.readnwrite.org

 May/June 2014-P61, Q2.............................................................................................. 38
May/June 2015-P61, Q1.............................................................................................. 39
Oct/Nov 2012-P61, Q4 ................................................................................................ 40
Oct/Nov 2013-P61, Q4 ................................................................................................ 40
Oct/Nov 2016-P61, Q2 ................................................................................................ 41
Oct/Nov 2014-P62, Q3 ................................................................................................ 41
Oct/Nov 2015-61, Q1 .................................................................................................. 41
Oct/Nov 2016-P62, Q1 ................................................................................................ 42
Unit 4: Application of Enzymes ........................................................................................ 44
Characteristics of Enzymes ............................................................................................. 44
Extracting and testing enzyme from living cells ............................................................... 44
Observing the effect of temperate on enzyme activity ..................................................... 45
Observing the effect of pH on enzyme activity ................................................................. 46
Practice Questions related to Application of Enzymes .................................................. 48
May/June 2015-P61, Q1.............................................................................................. 48
May/June 2015-P62, Q3.............................................................................................. 50
May/June 2016-P61, Q1.............................................................................................. 51
Oct/Nov 2011-P62, Q1 ................................................................................................ 52
Oct/Nov 2012-P61, Q1 ................................................................................................ 54
Oct/Nov 2012-P62, Q1 ................................................................................................ 57
Unit 5: Photosynthesis ..................................................................................................... 62
Testing starch in a leaf .................................................................................................... 62
Testing the necessity of chlorophyll for photosynthesis ................................................... 62
Testing the necessity of light for photosynthesis.............................................................. 63
Testing the necessity of carbon dioxide for photosynthesis ............................................. 63
Testing the production of oxygen as result of photosynthesis .......................................... 63
Testing the effect of varying light intensity on rate of photosynthesis (Method 1)............. 64
Testing the effect of varying light intensity on rate of photosynthesis (Method 2)............. 65
Testing the effect of varying carbon dioxide concentration on rate of photosynthesis. ..... 66
Testing the effect of changing temperature on rate of photosynthesis ............................. 67
Observing the importance of different mineral elements in plant growth .......................... 68
Practice Questions related to Photosynthesis ............................................................... 69
Sample Question (1) ................................................................................................... 69
Sample Question (2) ................................................................................................... 70
Sample Question (3) ................................................................................................... 71
Sample Question (4) ................................................................................................... 72
Home Delivery# 0321-1100570 www.readnwrite.org
 Sample Question (5) ................................................................................................... 73
Unit 6: Nutrition in Human ................................................................................................ 76
Calculating the energy from food sample ........................................................................ 76
Observing the action of salivary amylase on starch ......................................................... 76
Modelling the action of salivary amylase on starch .......................................................... 77
Testing the action of pepsin on egg-white protein............................................................ 78
Observing the action of lipase ......................................................................................... 79
Practice Questions related to Nutrition in Humans ........................................................ 80
Sample Question (1) ................................................................................................... 80
Sample Question (2) ................................................................................................... 81
Sample Question (3) ................................................................................................... 83
Sample Question (4) ................................................................................................... 83
Unit 7: Transport in Plants ............................................................................................... 86
Observing transport in vascular bundles of plant stem .................................................... 86
Observing transport of water in xylem ............................................................................. 86
Observing water loss by plant ......................................................................................... 86
Observing rate of water uptake by plant under varying environmental conditions ............ 87
Observing which surface of leaf loses more water........................................................... 88
Practice Questions related to Transport in Plants.......................................................... 90
Sample Question (1) ................................................................................................... 90
Unit 8: Transport in Humans ............................................................................................ 92
Observing and dissecting sheep’s or goat’s heart ........................................................... 92
Observing the effect of exercise on pulse rate ................................................................. 93
Practice Questions related to Transport in Humans ...................................................... 94
Sample Question (1) ................................................................................................... 94
Sample Question (2) ................................................................................................... 95
Sample Question (3) ................................................................................................... 97
Sample Question (4) ................................................................................................... 97
Unit 9: Respiration .......................................................................................................... 100
Observing oxygen in exhaled air ................................................................................... 100
Observing carbon dioxide in exhaled air ........................................................................ 100
Calculating the volume of air in lungs ............................................................................ 101
Investigating the effect of exercise on carbon dioxide production .................................. 101
Observing the usage of oxygen during respiration (Method I)........................................ 102
Observing the usage of oxygen during respiration (Method II)....................................... 103
Observing anaerobic respiration by yeast ..................................................................... 104
Home Delivery# 0321-1100570 www.readnwrite.org
Practice Questions related to Respiration .................................................................... 105
Sample Question (1) ................................................................................................. 105
Sample Question (2) ................................................................................................. 106
Sample Question (3) ................................................................................................. 107
Sample Question (4) ................................................................................................. 109
Unit 10: Germination ....................................................................................................... 112
Observing the effect of temperature on rate of respiration of germinating seeds ........... 112
Observing the release of energy as result of respiration ................................................ 112
Investigating the need of water for germination (Method 1) ........................................... 113
Investigating the need of water for germination (Method 2) ........................................... 113
Investigating the need of suitable temperature for germination...................................... 114
Experimental and Control Group ................................................................................... 114
Practice Questions related to Germination ................................................................... 115
Sample Question (1) ................................................................................................. 115
Sample Question (2) ................................................................................................. 115
Sample Question (3) ................................................................................................. 117
Unit 11: Drawings and Labelling .................................................................................... 120
Parameters of making a larger drawing and labelling it ................................................. 120
Practice Questions of Drawings and Labelling ............................................................. 121
May/June 2010-P61, Q3............................................................................................ 121
May/June 2010-P62, Q1............................................................................................ 121
May/June 2010-P62, Q1............................................................................................ 122
May/June 2011-P62, Q3............................................................................................ 123
May/June 2011-P62, Q3............................................................................................ 124
May/June 2012-P61, Q2............................................................................................ 125
May/June 2012-P61, Q3............................................................................................ 126
May/June 2012-P62, Q2............................................................................................ 127
May/June 2015-P62, Q2............................................................................................ 128
May/June 2016-P61, Q2............................................................................................ 129
Oct/Nov 2012-P61, Q2 .............................................................................................. 130
Oct/Nov 2013-P61, Q3 .............................................................................................. 132
Oct/Nov 2014-P62, Q2 .............................................................................................. 132
Oct/Nov 2016-P61, Q2 .............................................................................................. 134
Oct/Nov 2016-P62, Q1 .............................................................................................. 135
Unit 12: Drawings and Magnification ............................................................................. 138
How to work out magnification and other sizes of drawings/Images .............................. 138
Home Delivery# 0321-1100570 www.readnwrite.org
Practice Questions of Drawings and Magnification ..................................................... 140
May/June 2010-P61, Q2............................................................................................ 140
May/June 2011-P61, Q3............................................................................................ 141
May/June 2011-P62, Q3............................................................................................ 141
May/June 2012-P62, Q3............................................................................................ 142
May/June 2014-P61, Q2............................................................................................ 143
May/June 2014-P62, Q2............................................................................................ 145
May/June 2015-P61, Q2............................................................................................ 147
May/June 2015-P61, Q3............................................................................................ 148
May/June 2015-P62, Q1............................................................................................ 149
Oct/Nov 2010-P61, Q2 .............................................................................................. 150
Oct/Nov 2010-P62, Q2 .............................................................................................. 151
Oct/Nov 2011-P61, Q1 .............................................................................................. 152
Oct/Nov 2011-P61, Q2 .............................................................................................. 153
Oct/Nov 2012-P62, Q2 .............................................................................................. 154
Oct/Nov 2013-P62, Q1 .............................................................................................. 155
Oct/Nov 2014-P61, Q2 .............................................................................................. 156
Oct/Nov 2015-P61, Q1 .............................................................................................. 158
Oct/Nov 2015-P61, Q2 .............................................................................................. 159
Oct/Nov 2015-P62, Q2 .............................................................................................. 160
Oct/Nov 2016-P61, Q2 .............................................................................................. 161
Oct/Nov 2016-P62, Q1 .............................................................................................. 161
Unit 13: Features of a Photograph or Drawing ............................................................. 164
Recognizing and observing features of a photograph or drawing .................................. 164
Practice Questions of Features of a Photograph or Drawing ...................................... 165
May/June 2010-P61, Q1............................................................................................ 165
May/June 2011-P61, Q3............................................................................................ 165
May/June 2011-P62, Q2............................................................................................ 166
May/June 2011-P62, Q3............................................................................................ 167
May/June 2012-P61, Q2............................................................................................ 168
May/June 2012-P61, Q3............................................................................................ 168
May/June 2015-P62, Q2............................................................................................ 169
May/June 2012-P62, Q1............................................................................................ 169
May/June 2012-P62, Q4............................................................................................ 171
May/June 2013-P61, Q2............................................................................................ 172
May/June 2013-P62, Q2............................................................................................ 172
Home Delivery# 0321-1100570 www.readnwrite.org
 Oct/Nov 2010-P61, Q2 .............................................................................................. 173
Oct/Nov 2010-P61, Q3 .............................................................................................. 174
Oct/Nov 2010-P62, Q1 .............................................................................................. 175
Oct/Nov 2010-P62, Q1 .............................................................................................. 176
Oct/Nov 2011-P61, Q2 .............................................................................................. 177
Oct/Nov 2011-P62, Q2 .............................................................................................. 178
Oct/Nov 2012-P61, Q2 .............................................................................................. 179
Oct/Nov 2012-P61, Q3 .............................................................................................. 180
Oct/Nov 2012-P62, Q2 .............................................................................................. 181
Oct/Nov 2012-P62, Q3 .............................................................................................. 182
Oct/Nov 2013-P61, Q2 .............................................................................................. 183
Oct/Nov 2013-P61, Q3 .............................................................................................. 184
Oct/Nov 2014-P61, Q3 .............................................................................................. 185
Oct/Nov 2015-P61, Q2 .............................................................................................. 186
Oct/Nov 2016-P61, Q1 .............................................................................................. 187
Oct/Nov 2016-P62, Q1 .............................................................................................. 188
Oct/Nov 2016-P62, Q1 .............................................................................................. 188
Unit 14: Graph ................................................................................................................. 190
Constructing and interpreting graph .............................................................................. 190
Specific guidelines for a bar chart ................................................................................. 190
Specific guidelines for a histogram ................................................................................ 191
Specific guidelines for a line graph ................................................................................ 191
Specific guidelines for a pie chart .................................................................................. 191
Practice Questions related to Graph ............................................................................. 192
May/June 2010-P61, Q1............................................................................................ 192
May/June 2011-P62, Q3............................................................................................ 193
May/June 2013-P61, Q2............................................................................................ 194
May/June 2013-P62, Q2............................................................................................ 195
May/June 2016-P61, Q1............................................................................................ 196
Oct/Nov 2014-P61, Q2 .............................................................................................. 198
Oct/Nov 2016-P62, Q3 .............................................................................................. 200
Practice Questions for Making Graph and then Suggesting or Concluding............... 203
May/June 2010-P62, Q3............................................................................................ 203
May/June 2011-P61, Q2............................................................................................ 204
May/June 2014-P61, Q2............................................................................................ 206
May/June 2014-P62, Q1............................................................................................ 208
Home Delivery# 0321-1100570 www.readnwrite.org
 Oct/Nov 2010-P61, Q1 .............................................................................................. 211
Oct/Nov 2010-P62, Q1 .............................................................................................. 212
Oct/Nov 2011-P61, Q3 .............................................................................................. 214
Oct/Nov 2013-P61, Q1 .............................................................................................. 216
Oct/Nov 2013-P62, Q3 .............................................................................................. 219
Oct/Nov 2014-P62, Q1 .............................................................................................. 222
Oct/Nov 2015-P61, Q1 .............................................................................................. 225
Oct/Nov 2015-P62, Q1 .............................................................................................. 226
Unit 15: Water and Carbon Dioxide ............................................................................... 230
Testing Presence of Carbon dioxide with Hydrogen carbonate Indicator ....................... 230
Testing Presence of Water with Cobalt Chloride Paper ................................................. 230
Practice Questions Related to Testing of Water and Carbon Dioxide......................... 231
May/June 2013-P62, Q3............................................................................................ 231
May/June 2015-P61, Q2............................................................................................ 231
May/June 2015-P62, Q2............................................................................................ 232
Oct/Nov 2010-P62, Q3 .............................................................................................. 232
Oct/Nov 2014-P61, Q1 .............................................................................................. 234
Unit 16: Observations and Deductions.......................................................................... 236
Techniques to record observations and making deductions .......................................... 236
Practice Questions Related to Observations and Deductions..................................... 237
May/June 2012-P61, Q1............................................................................................ 237
May/June 2012-P62, Q2............................................................................................ 238
May/June 2015-P62, Q1............................................................................................ 239
Oct/Nov 2013-P62, Q1 .............................................................................................. 241
Unit 17: Designing and Planning ................................................................................... 244
How to design and plan an investigation ....................................................................... 244
Practice Questions Related to Designing and Planning .............................................. 245
May/June 2010-P61, Q1............................................................................................ 245
May/June 2010-P62, Q1............................................................................................ 245
May/June 2011-P61, Q1............................................................................................ 246
May/June 2011-P62, Q3............................................................................................ 247
May/June 2012-P61, Q1............................................................................................ 247
May/June 2013-P61, Q2............................................................................................ 248
May/June 2013-P61, Q3............................................................................................ 249
May/June 2014-P62, Q2............................................................................................ 250
May/June 2015-P61, Q1............................................................................................ 250
Home Delivery# 0321-1100570 www.readnwrite.org
 May/June 2016-P61, Q1............................................................................................ 251
Oct/Nov 2010-P61, Q3 .............................................................................................. 251
Oct/Nov 2011-P61, Q1 .............................................................................................. 252
Oct/Nov 2012-P62, Q2 .............................................................................................. 252
Oct/Nov 2015-P61, Q3 .............................................................................................. 253
Oct/Nov 2015-P62, Q3 .............................................................................................. 254
Unit 18: Suggestions and Improvements ...................................................................... 258
Recommending suggestions and making improvements in experimentation ................. 258
Practice Questions Related to Suggestions and Improvements ................................. 259
May/June 2010-P61, Q1............................................................................................ 259
May/June 2010-P62, Q1............................................................................................ 259
May/June 2010-P61, Q2............................................................................................ 260
May/June 2010-P62, Q3............................................................................................ 261
May/June 2011-P62, Q1............................................................................................ 261
May/June 2011-P62, Q3............................................................................................ 263
May/June 2012-P61, Q2............................................................................................ 264
May/June 2014-P62, Q1............................................................................................ 264
May/June 2015-P61, Q3............................................................................................ 265
May/June 2015-P62, Q1............................................................................................ 266
May/June 2015-P62, Q2............................................................................................ 267
Oct/Nov 2010-P61, Q3 .............................................................................................. 268
Oct/Nov 2015-P61, Q1 .............................................................................................. 269
Oct/Nov 2015-P61, Q3 .............................................................................................. 270
Oct/Nov 2016-P62, Q2 .............................................................................................. 271
Unit 19: Interpreting Data and Drawing Conclusion ..................................................... 274
Basis of interpreting data and drawing conclusion form that .......................................... 274
Practice Questions Related to Interpreting Data and Drawing Conclusion ................ 275
May/June 2010-P61, Q2............................................................................................ 275
May/June 2010-P62, Q2............................................................................................ 276
May/June 2013-P62, Q1............................................................................................ 277
May/June 2014-P61, Q1............................................................................................ 280
May/June 2015-P61, Q2............................................................................................ 282
May/June 2016-P61, Q3............................................................................................ 283
Oct/Nov 2013-P62, Q2 .............................................................................................. 284
Oct/Nov 2014-P61, Q1 .............................................................................................. 287
Oct/Nov 2016-P61, Q1 .............................................................................................. 289
Home Delivery# 0321-1100570 www.readnwrite.org
Unit 20: Practice Questions related to Measurements ................................................. 292
May/June 2012-P61, Q3............................................................................................ 292
May/June 2015-P62, Q1............................................................................................ 293
May/June 2012-P62, Q1............................................................................................ 294
Oct/Nov 2015-P61, Q1 .............................................................................................. 295
Oct/Nov 2015-P62, Q1 .............................................................................................. 296
Oct/Nov 2016-P61, Q2 .............................................................................................. 297
Oct/Nov 2014-P62, Q2 .............................................................................................. 298
Oct/Nov 2016-P61, Q3 .............................................................................................. 299
Oct/Nov 2016-P62, Q3 .............................................................................................. 300

Home Delivery# 0321-1100570 www.readnwrite.org

O-LEVEL ATP NOTES 10 Introduction
Read & Write Publications

Introduction to ATP paper

In O-Level Biology ATP paper (P-VI) is equally important as P-I and P-II. It carries 40 marks.
According to the instructions in syllabus document ATP paper could be categorized into
some key ideas and on basis of these ideas students’ abilities could be assessed in the
paper (assessment objectives related to ATP given below). Those ideas have been separated
with mentioned details of the concept and some clues on the assessment of the same ideas
in the past papers are also mentioned along with that. Have a look at these categories and
their details given here in this booklet.
Also realize yourself that a significant proportion of your ATP assessment would be
unfamiliar; so that needs a lot of practice and applying learnt concepts in different and difficult
context.
Further booklet gives all possible experiments from your syllabus and moreover results and
discussion provides an analysis of your interpretation as expected by the examiner.
In accordance to that ideology if you are projecting for A* then simply practice all the
questions (given in practice section) but after reading relevant theory and practical
section.

Assessment objectives of CIE

The Alternative to Practical is designed to test candidates’ abilities:
 to follow carefully a sequence of instructions.
 to describe familiar and suggest unfamiliar techniques to record observations and make
deductions from them.
 to recognize and observe features of photographs and drawings of familiar and unfamiliar
biological specimens, record their observations and make deductions about functions of
whole specimens or their parts.
 to make clear line drawings of the images of specimens, indicate magnification and to label
familiar structures.
 to interpret unfamiliar data and draw conclusions from their interpretations.
 to design/plan an investigation to solve a problem.
 to comment on a procedure used in an experiment and suggest an improvement.
 to observe images of reactions; read from photographs, diagrams and simple measuring
instruments, and perform simple arithmetical calculations.
 to measure to an accuracy of 1 mm, using a ruler.
 to describe simple physiological experiments, involving tests for food substances, enzyme
reactions, hydrogen carbonate indicator solution, cobalt chloride paper.
 to describe simple physiological experiments.

Home Delivery# 0321-1100570 www.readnwrite.org

O-LEVEL ATP NOTES 11 Unit-1: Cell
Read & Write Publications

Topics
Unit-1
 Preparing a temporary slide
of onion epidermis cells.
 Observing the effect of
surface area on rate of

Cells
diffusion.

O Level

Biology
ATP NOTES

Muhammad Shahid
Cell: 0334-4463339
muhammadshahid2u@gmail.com

| Gulberg | Johar Town | Wapda Town |

| DHA Phase-1 | DHA Phase-4 | Saddar Cantt |

Home Delivery# 0321-1100570 www.readnwrite.org

O-LEVEL ATP NOTES 12 Unit-1: Cell
Read & Write Publications

Unit 1: Cells
Preparing a temporary slide of onion epidermis cells
The onion provides a very useful source of epidermal plant tissue which is one cell thick,
making it relatively easy to set up as a temporary slide. The onion is made up of fleshy leaves.
On the incurve of each leaf there is an epidermal layer which can be peeled off.
 By using forceps, peel a piece of epidermal
tissue from the incurve of an onion bulb
leaf.
 Place the epidermal tissue on a glass
microscope slide.
 Use a scalpel, cut out a 1 cm square of
tissue and arrange it in the centre of the
slide.
 Add two to three drops of iodine solution.
(This will stain any starch in the cells and
provides a contrast between different
components of the cells.)
 Use a forceps, a mounted needle or a
wooden splint to support Cover slip with
one edge resting near to the onion tissue,
at an angle of about 45°.
 Gently lower the cover slip over the onion
tissue, trying to avoid trapping any air
bubbles.
 Leave the slide for about 5 minutes to allow
the iodine stain to react with the specimen.
The iodine will stain the cell nuclei pale
yellow and the starch grains blue.
 Place the slide on to the microscope stage,
select the lowest power objective lens and
focus on the specimen. Increase the
magnification using the other objective
lenses.
 Make a large drawing of one cell and label
the following parts: cell wall, cell
membrane, cytoplasm, and nucleus.

Home Delivery# 0321-1100570 www.readnwrite.org

O-LEVEL ATP NOTES 13 Unit-1: Cell
Read & Write Publications

Observing the effect of surface area on rate of diffusion

Surface area impact the rate of diffusion very significantly; in order to observe the effect we
will use starch agar instead of living specimen.
 Use a large block of starch agar at least 3 cm thick. Using a ruler and a sharp knife,
measure and cut four cubes from the jelly with sides of 3.0 cm, 2.0 cm, 1.0 cm and 0.5
cm.
 Place the cubes into a beaker of methylene blue dye or potassium permanganate solution.
 After 15 minutes, remove the cubes with forceps and place them on to a white tile.
 Cut each of the cubes in half and measure the depth to which the dye has diffused.
 Calculate the surface area and volume of each cube and construct a table of your data.
Remember to state the units in the heading for each column.
Results and Discussion
Formula to calculate surface area = 6 * (L)2
For example the surface area for each cube is:
Smallest cube = 1.50
Smaller cube = 6
Medium cube = 24
Larger cube = 54
By comparing surface area to the volume ratio we can conclude that a smaller cube will be
having a greater rate of diffusion; though its surface area is smaller.
Now assume that each cube was representing a small living organism with each having
different body size. We can conclude that the organism with smaller body size like unicellular
can simply rely on diffusion for their oxygen needs but for larger organisms diffusion can’t
work as rate of diffusion would be lower as compared to their need so they need a well-
developed system like respiratory system.

Home Delivery# 0321-1100570 www.readnwrite.org

O-LEVEL ATP NOTES 14 Unit-1: Cell
Read & Write Publications

Practice Questions related to Cells

Sample Question (1)

Fig. 1.1
(i) Mark the following on Fig. 1.1: cell wall, cell membrane, sap vacuole,
nucleus, chloroplast. [5]
(ii) What role do chloroplasts perform during photosynthesis?

[2]

(iii) Which structure enables a plant cell to retain its shape better than an
animal cell?
[1]

(iv) Name two types of plant tissue.

[2]

[Total: 10]
Sample Question (2)

(i) Draw a labelled diagram of an animal cell in the space below:

[5]

Home Delivery# 0321-1100570 www.readnwrite.org

O-LEVEL ATP NOTES 15 Unit-1: Cell
Read & Write Publications

(ii) If the diameter across an animal cell measures 0.01 mm, calculate the
magnification of your diagram.

[4]

(iii) Compare animal cells with plant cells in Table 2.1:

Table 2.1
Feature / Characteristic Animal cell Plant cell
Cell wall
Vacuole
Mode of nutrition
Chloroplasts
Stored food
[5]
[Total: 14]
Sample Question (3)

(i) A student observed red blood cells, muscle cells, and root hair cells
under a microscope. List two features for each type of cell that could
help him to identify the cells.

[6]

(ii) How are ciliated cells adapted for filtering air entering the lungs?

[2]

(iii) Name two cells that require a large surface area to perform their
function.
[2]
[Total: 10]
Sample Question (4)

(i) Use arrows to illustrate how specialized cells combine into complex
organ systems.

[4]

Home Delivery# 0321-1100570 www.readnwrite.org

O-LEVEL ATP NOTES 16 Unit-1: Cell
Read & Write Publications

(ii) Why is cell specialization observed in multicellular organisms?

[2]

[Total: 6]
Sample Question (5)

The maximum size of most living cells is determined by the ratio of their surface area
to their volume. As cells increase in size, their volume increases proportionally more
than their surface area, thus limiting the ability of the surface area to supply the cell
with all the nutrients the cell needs.
A student investigated the relationship between the volume and surface area in model
cells made of red-coloured agar jelly and the absorption of a liquid by those model cells
using the method outlined below.
The student was provided with a piece of red-coloured agar, labelled A1 and a solution,
labelled A2.
These are the instructions that the student used.
 Using a sharp knife a scalpel, cut the agar block into
three cubes, each approximately 1cm × 1cm × 1cm.
 Place one of these cubes into a large test-tube.
 Cut one of the remaining cubes into 8 blocks so that
each block is approximately 0.5cm × 0.5cm × 0.5cm.
 Put all 8 blocks into another large test-tube.
 Cut the remaining cube into two equal pieces.
 Put these two equal pieces into a third large test-
tube.
The agar blocks in the test-tubes are the model cells.
The student added solution A2 to each test-tube
knowing that, as this solution diffused into the agar,
the agar would change colour from red to pale
orange.
The student measured the time taken for each of the
model cells in each of the test-tubes to change colour completely after A2 was
added.
This is what the student recorded.

Home Delivery# 0321-1100570 www.readnwrite.org

O-LEVEL ATP NOTES 17 Unit-1: Cell
Read & Write Publications

(a) Prepare a table in the space below in which to record:

 the total surface area of the blocks in each test-tube,
 the time taken for the colour change.
Transfer the information the student recorded into your table.
Carry out any calculations needed and complete the table.

[5]
(b) The student carried out a similar experiment and went on to compare the
surface area to volume ratio with the time taken for the blocks to lose their red
colour.
The results are shown in Table 1.1
Table 1.1

surface area time/sec

volume
1.5 120
2 105
3 84
4 60
6 30

Home Delivery# 0321-1100570 www.readnwrite.org

O-LEVEL ATP NOTES 18 Unit-1: Cell
Read & Write Publications

(i) Construct a graph of these results on the grid below.

[5]
(ii) State the relationship between the surface area to volume ratio of the
blocks and the time taken for substances to diffuse into them that is
shown by the graph you have drawn.

[1]

(c) Suggest two possible sources of experimental error, other than variations in
temperature, which may have affected the results of the investigation.

[2]

(d) Describe how the structure and function of a living animal cell differs from the
model cells in the movement of substances into the cell.

[2]

Home Delivery# 0321-1100570 www.readnwrite.org

 Your feedback is important to us
please give your reviews about this book by filling this form and sending us by whatsapp
Book in which this card was found Article No.

Note: Please mark with aor X

Are you satisfied by Paper, Printing & Binding quality of this book.

Are you satisfied by contents of this book.

Will you recommend this book to others.

Have you found any Mistakes in this book (if any).

Page Nos / Questions Nos where you found Mistakes

Remarks:

Note: Please give your details if you want to be added in our Loyalty discount schemes
Name Facebook Id:

Address

City Country

E-mail: Whatsapp Phone No:

Please send your feedback at +92-321-1100570, E-mail:readandwriteoffice@gmail.com

PLEASE FILL AND SEND WHATSAPP PHOTO OF THIS CARD TO RECEIVE

OUR LATEST CATALOG AND PROMOTIONAL ITEMS FREE OF CHARGE
Book in which this card was found Article No.

Check here to receive our catalog. To Send you wholesale information

Name Shop/School Name:

Address

Facebook Id: City Country

E-mail: Whatsapp Phone No:

Please check area(s) of interest to receive related announcements:

O-Level Checkpoint Primary Topical Past Papers Revision Notes Series
IGCSE Checkpoint Secondary Topical Workbooks Sciences Subjects
A-Level Kangaroo Contest Text book Series Business Subjects

Subjects: Article Nos: , , ,

Please send a catalog to my friend:
Name Company
Address Phone/Whatsapp
City Country
You can place your Order at +92-321-1100570, Website: www.readnwrite.org
E-mail:readandwriteoffice@gmail.com
E-commerce: www.Yayvo.com/read & write publications