Essential Biology Answers
Essential Biology Answers
Essential Biology Answers
Introduction
The answers to the Practice Questions are based on the contents of the book.
The mark schemes are intended as a guide to marking the work of your students. You may wish to
adapt the expected answers and accept alternative or simpler wording for the marking points.
Answers given by students may well include other correct information which should be credited.
However, the information given must answer the questions.
In the answers to the Practice Questions each marking point ends with a semi-colon. In many
questions there are more marking points than the total marks for the question. Do not award more
than the maximum marks given in the book.
Many marking points have alternative answers. These are indicated by oblique lines. For example:
alimentary canal / gut; the mark can be awarded for either term.
Often a comma is used to indicate that there are alternatives:
a vertebrate is an animal with a, vertebral column / backbone;
this means that there are two possible correct answers:
1. a vertebrate is an animal with a vertebral column
and
2. a vertebrate is an animal with a backbone
Some marking points contain two or more ideas separated by commas. For example:
an enzyme is like a lock, the active site is the key hole, the substrate is the key;
The comma acts as a ‘plus’ in this marking point. The three ideas must be present to award the mark.
If all three are not included then no mark is awarded.
Brackets surround additional material that is not required to gain the mark. Material in brackets is
often included to make sense of the marking point or put it into context.
Italics are used to indicate instructions for marking, advice about marking and further information
which is not included in the expected answers.
The results of calculations should be rounded up or rounded down to the appropriate number of
significant figures. If the answer is incorrect, but the working is correct, then one mark may be
awarded.
Some questions start with the command word ‘Suggest’. This implies that there is no one correct
answer. It is not possible to give definitive mark schemes for questions like this so use your judgment
if marking answers to this type of question that are not on the mark scheme.
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arthropod
feature
A B C D E
number of legs many eight many six eight
legs longer than the width ✗ ✓ ✓ (some) ✓ ✓
of the body
wings ✗ ✗ ✗ ✓ ✗
antennae ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✗
eyes clearly visible ✗ ✗ ✗ ✓ ✗
pointed abdomen ✗ ✗ ✓ ✓ ✓
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Unit 2 Cells
PRACTICE QUESTIONS:
Multiple Choice Questions (1 mark each)
1 B chloroplast
2 B cell wall
3 D cell, tissue, organ, organ system
4 D 3.5mm
5 B permanent vacuole
6 D ×40,000
7 B CO2 out, O2 in, nutrients in
8 B cell wall, cell membrane, cytoplasm, ribosomes
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(c)
20
10
–5
–10
0 50 100 150 200
Concentration of salt / gdm–3
• good use of space and axes correct with concentration of salt as the x-axis ;
• correct scaling on both axes ;
• both axes labelled as above with units on the x-axis ;
• data points plotted correctly ;
• straight lines between the points ;
Joining the points with straight lines indicates that we are not sure what happens
between concentrations investigated. [5]
(d) take an intercept at 0%
concentration of salt = 45 g dm−3 ; [1]
There is no change in mass because the water potential inside the onion cells is the same
as the water potential in the external solution. This means that there is no net diffusion of
water into or out of the onions.
9 (a) oxygen is required for respiration ;
respiration provides energy ;
energy is needed for active transport ;
by carrier proteins ; [3]
(b)
potassium ions / arbitrary units
25
20
Rate of uptake of
15
10
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Temperature / °C
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Unit 5 Enzymes
PRACTICE QUESTIONS:
Multiple Choice Questions (1 mark each)
1 A Enzymes are biological catalysts that function inside and outside cells.
2 B fatty acids are one of the products and they lower the pH
3 C 37 °C
4 D may change the rate or have no effect on the rate
5 A active site
6 C the protease is denatured
7C
8 C the rate of reaction is at its fastest
30
25
Relative activity
20
15
10
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Temperature / °C
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30
25
Relative activity
20
15
10
0
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
pH
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Stomach
E/F
Duodenum
F
Pancreas
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A B
Xylem
Phloem
Xylem
C Phloem
(b) one mark for each cell in the table – three marks for phloem and three marks for xylem
feature phloem xylem
composition of the sap two of: water, ions ;
sucrose, ions, amino acids, water ;
direction of flow in the stem up and down ; up only ;
destinations two of: two of:
flowers, seeds, fruits, roots, stem, leaves, stem, flowers,
new leaves, growing points ; seeds, fruits ;
[6]
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column labelled correctly ; all rates correctly calculated ; rates rounded to a whole number ; [3]
(b)
100
90
Rate of water movement / mm min–1
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
A B C D E
Conditions
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11 (a)
Rate of water loss
Rate of water absorption or 25
Rate of water
20 absorption
loss / g h–1
15
10
0
0000 0300 0600 0900 1200 1500 1800 2100 2400
Time / hours
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10 (a) A – sternum / breast bone ; allow ribs as not easy to see on the diagram
B – diaphragm ;
C – intercostal muscles ; [3]
(b) (i)
structure inspiration expiration
diaphragm contracts and, moves relaxes and moves upwards ;
downwards / flattens ;
external intercostal contracts to move the relaxes (ribs move downwards
muscle ribs upwards ; under influence of gravity) ;
internal intercostal relaxes ; contracts (during forced
muscle breathing) to move rib cage
downwards and inwards ;
[6]
(ii) inspiration
volume of lungs increases ;
air pressure in lungs decreases ;
atmospheric pressure is greater than air pressure in the lungs
(so air moves into the lungs) ;
expiration
volume of lungs decreases ;
air pressure in lungs increases ;
air pressure inside the lungs is greater than atmospheric pressure
(so air moves out of the lungs) ; [5]
11 (a) volume of breaths increases / breathe more deeply ;
data quote, e.g. 500 cm3 at rest to 1200 cm3 at 50 step-ups per minute / increases by a
factor of 4 ;
number of breaths increases ;
data quote, e.g. 18 breaths per minute at rest to 34 at 50 step-ups per minute / increase
by a factor of 1.9 ; [5]
(b) increases total volume of air into the lungs per minute ;
to allow, uptake of more oxygen / getting rid of more carbon dioxide ;
to fill alveoli completely / to stretch alveoli to their maximum volume ;
to increase surface area for, gas exchange / diffusion ;
to allow more oxygen into the blood / more carbon dioxide out of the blood ;
exercise requires an increase in supply of energy ;
increase in rate of aerobic respiration ;
requires more oxygen ;
produces more carbon dioxide ; [6]
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Unit 12 Respiration
PRACTICE QUESTIONS:
Multiple Choice Questions (1 mark each)
1 A diffusion of oxygen across the alveolar wall
2 B carbon dioxide and alcohol
3 D release energy
4 C little energy from each molecule of glucose
5 D red blood cell
6 D substrate
7 A carbon dioxide from anaerobic respiration needs to be removed from the muscles
8 B metabolism of lactic acid in the liver
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11 (a) (i) a water bath was used to maintain a constant temperature ; [1]
(ii) allow the beans to acclimatise to, the temperature / 27 °C ;
to make sure that the rate of respiration becomes constant before results are taken ; [2]
(b) droplet travelled 162 mm in 25 minutes (10 to 35 minutes) ;
162
= 6.48 mm min−1
25
volume of a cylinder = π r2 h
π = 3.14
r = 0.4 mm
h = 6.48
volume of oxygen = 3.14 x (0.4 × 0.4) × 6.48 ;
volume of oxygen = 3.26 mm3 min−1
oxygen uptake per hour = 3.26 × 60 ;
= 195.6 mm3 hour−1 ; [3]
(c) at 17 °C the rate would be slower / droplet would not move as far ;
there would be fewer collisions between enzyme and substrate ;
at 37 °C there would be no rate of respiration / the position of the droplet would remain
unchanged ;
increase in temperature increases enzyme activity up to the enzyme’s optimum temperature
before the enzyme denatures. (In plants enzymes denature below 50 °C) ; [4]
12 (a) mitochondria ; [1]
(b) the oxygen consumption increases steeply and then more gradually and then decreases ;
oxygen consumption increases from 0.2 dm3 min−1 at 5 minutes to 2.2 dm3 min−1
at 10 minutes ;
increases from 2.2 dm3 min−1 at 5 minutes to 2.4 dm3 min−1 at 20 minutes ;
decreases from 2.4 dm3 min−1 at 20 minutes to 0.2 dm3 min−1 at 30.5 minutes ; [4]
(c) (i) 5 – 10 minutes increase
there is more muscle contraction during exercise ;
exercise requires an increase in supply of energy ;
increase in aerobic respiration ;
to release more energy (from glucose / fat) ;
requires more oxygen ;
so oxygen consumption increases ;
10 – 20 minutes
breathing supplies insufficient oxygen for aerobic respiration ;
leading to anaerobic respiration ; [6]
(ii) 20 – 30 minutes
oxygen debt is repaid ;
body has produced lactic acid ;
during exercise ;
in anaerobic respiration ;
oxygen is required to respire lactic acid ;
in the liver ; [5]
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Unit 13 Excretion
PRACTICE QUESTIONS:
Multiple Choice Questions (1 mark each)
1 D salts and water
2 C liver
3 A excess amino acids
4 C renal vein
5 A active transport
6 D protein synthesis
7 C liver
8 D the concentration of the blood plasma increased at night
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(ii) both are reabsorbed, in the proximal convoluted tubule / by active transport ;
both are required in the body ;
glucose for respiration / amino acids for protein synthesis ; [2]
(iii) urea and (excess) salt are excreted ;
water is reabsorbed from the filtrate ;
water is reabsorbed from the urine ;
this conserves water in the body ; [3]
(iv) the renal artery transports blood with a high concentration of urea that has come
from the liver via the heart ;
urea is filtered from the blood, but not all of it is reabsorbed ;
urea is removed from the blood entering the kidney in the renal artery ;
the renal vein carries filtered blood with a lower concentration of urea away
from the kidney ; [2]
(c) blood flows into glomeruli ;
at high pressure ;
lining of capillaries, is a mesh / acts as a sieve ;
small molecules and ions pass through ;
blood cells and large molecules do not pass through ;
urea, water, salts, glucose are filtered ;
into Bowman’s capsule ; [4]
11 (a) 8 ;
steep decrease in urea concentration each time dialysis occurs (over 17 days) ; [2]
(b) 2.3 – 0.2 g dm−3 ;
= 2.1 g dm−3 ; [2]
(c) (i) concentration of urea fluctuates for 20 days ;
between 2.75 g dm−3 and 1.2 g dm−3 ;
nine, peaks / troughs ;
after day 20 concentration of urea increases and then decreases ;
decreases to very low concentration on day 26 ;
any other use of figures for concentration of urea for at least two of the days ; [4]
(ii) the concentration of urea decreases on the eight occasions between day 0 and
day 17 as a result of dialysis treatment ;
urea, diffuses from the blood to the dialysis fluid / is removed from the blood ;
the concentration of urea increases after each dialysis treatment as urea is
produced in the liver ;
kidneys do not function so urea concentration is not kept constant / below a
certain concentration ;
after day 17 the kidneys recover and dialysis treatment is stopped ; [3]
(d) can lead a normal life ;
no need to, attend a clinic regularly / have dialysis treatment ;
no need to maintain a restricted diet ;
less pain ; [3]
(e) if the blood group is different / if tissue type is different ;
immune system recognises transplanted kidney as foreign ;
destroys the tissues ;
high risk of rejection ; [3]
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✓
✓ ✓
A X Y B
3 marks for no cells at X and Y and cells at the other places across the retina [3]
(c) (i) one from
blinking, pupil constricting, pupil dilating, accommodation or focusing ; [1]
(ii) in an involuntary action impulses travel from receptor to CNS and then direct to
effector ;
impulses to and from the higher centres of the brain are not involved in controlling
the response ;
in a voluntary action impulses travel from the brain to the effector ;
after a decision is made ; [3]
(d) nervous system coordinates fast responses to stimuli ;
information is conducted to specific, organs / tissues, by neurones ;
endocrine system coordinates slow acting processes such as growth ;
hormones in the blood can coordinate the whole body ;
does not use as much energy as nervous system ;
so good for coordinating slow acting processes that occur all over the body ; [3]
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Unit 15 Drugs
PRACTICE QUESTIONS:
Multiple Choice Questions (1 mark each)
1 A any substance taken into the body that influences chemical reactions in the body
2 C nicotine
3 A the drug is a stimulant
4 D tar
5 D testosterone
6 B combines with receptors on nerves that transmit information about pain
7 D many bacteria are resistant to some antibiotics
8 B reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of haemoglobin
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Unit 16 Reproduction
PRACTICE QUESTIONS:
Multiple Choice Questions (1 mark each)
1 A anther, stigma, petal, sepal
2 C stigmas receive pollen grains, ovaries contain ovules, anthers produce pollen grains
3 D production of eggs, fertilisation, implantation
4 D testis
5 C 1, 4, 3, 2
6 D progesterone
7 B 13-15, 1-4, 6-25
8 C production of stem tubers
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Unit 17 Inheritance
PRACTICE QUESTIONS:
Multiple Choice Questions (1 mark each)
1 C meiosis produces haploid gametes
2 B 25%
3 C is not expressed when in a genotype with a dominant allele
4 C production of egg cells
5 B 50%
6 C 6, 3
7 A blood group
8 D the triplet of bases in DNA and RNA that code for the different amino acids in proteins
B b
b Bb bb
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It is possible that the allele for brachydactyly could be recessive, but only if 1, 3 and 7 were
all heterozygous, Bb. The pedigree diagram does not show that these three are related as is
often the case with recessive conditions.
11 (a) (i)
parental phenotypes parallel stripes × blotched pattern
parental genotypes TT × tt ;
parental gametes
T + t ;
F1 genotype Tt ;
F1 phenotype all parallel stripes ; [4]
(ii)
parental phenotypes parallel stripes × blotched pattern
parental genotypes Tt × tt ;
parental gametes
T , t + t ;
T t
t Tt tt
offspring genotypes Tt , tt ;
offspring phenotypes parallel stripes, blotched
ratio 1:1, 50% parallel stripes: 50% blotched ; [4]
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parental gametes CW CW CR
, C +
R
, ;
CW CR
CW CWCW CWCR
CR CWCR CRCR
parental gametes CW
, C + C ;
R R
CR
CW CWCR
CR CRCR
(ii) there are no white flowered-plants because there are no plants in the offspring with
the genotype CW CW ;
red flowered-plants have the genotype CR CR so cannot pass on the CW allele ;
white-flowered plants are only possible if pink is crossed with pink or with white ; [3]
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30
25
Frequency
20
15
10
0
9
9
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
0–
0–
0–
0–
0–
0–
0–
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
Handspan / mm
at least half the graph paper used and axes scaled correctly ;
axes correctly orientated with handspan on the x-axis ;
x-axis labelled with unit ;
y-axis labelled ;
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columns plotted accurately, all same width with no gaps between them ; [5]
(c) (i) continuous (variation) ; [1]
(ii) range of values between two extremes (160 mm to 229 mm) ;
an example from the data ; [2]
11 (a) bar chart
60
50
Percentage of sample
40
of each country
30
20
10 Pakistan
New Zealand
0
A B AB O
Blood groups
IB IO
IB IBIB IBIO
IO IBIO IOIO
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4 repeat the investigation but continually mix the apple pulp with the pectinase for
20 minutes ;
this will increase the contact between pectinase molecules with the substrate
5 repeat but leave pectinase with the apple pulp for longer than 20 minutes ;
this will increase the length of time that pectinase can be active at breaking down
apple cell walls [3]
10 (a) genetic engineering – changing the genetic material of an organism ;
by removing, changing or inserting individual genes ; [2]
(b) bacteria reproduce rapidly ;
they can make complex molecules ;
they have simple requirements ;
any e.g. ; examples
cheap substrates to provide energy
need low temperatures (unlike chemical processes) [2]
(c) some examples
making human medicines ;
making insulin ;
making human growth hormone ; (see Q.12)
making blood clotting agents ;
herbicide resistance in crop plants ;
insect / pest, resistance in crop plants ;
improving nutritional value of food / changing rice so it makes
carotene (used in humans to make vitamin A) ; [3]
11 (a) penicillin ; [1]
(b) conditions (c) how maintained why maintained
(any five of:)
pH addition of alkalis enzymes in Penicillium are influenced
by pH ; extremes of pH would denature
them
temperature cooling jacket enzymes in Penicillium are influenced by
around fermenter temperature ; high temperatures would
denature them
oxygen sterile air pumped Penicillium needs oxygen to respire
into fermenter aerobically
turbidity / degree paddles stir contents Penicillium is mixed with nutrients so are
of stirring of fermenter not in short supply
nutrients sugar and ammonium Penicillium needs sugars to respire and
salts added ammonium salts to make amino acids for
proteins
no competitors sterile conditions bacteria and other fungi would use
up nutrients and produce substances
that would contaminate contents in
fermenter
1 mark for each condition (up to 5) and 1 mark for each correct description of how each
condition is maintained and 1 mark for each correct reason why these conditions are
maintained [15]
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against
unforeseen consequences of changing DNA of, plants / livestock ;
adverse health effects on humans eating GM food ;
transfer of ‘foreign’ genes, to wild plants / relatives of crop plants ;
weeds may gain genes for herbicide-resistance and become ‘superweeds’ ;
spraying of more herbicides may decrease biodiversity ;
GM crops may become weeds ; [3]
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