Question 1
A person touches a hot object and rapidly moves their hand away from the hot object.
Which characteristic of living organisms is this an example of?
A) excretion
B) growth
C) reproduction
D) sensitivity
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: D
Question 2
Which types of organisms are used in genetic modification because they have plasmids?
A) arachnids
B) bacteria
C) myriapods
D) ferns
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: B
Question 3
The list shows some of the structures contained in cells.
• cytoplasm
• cell membrane
• cell wall
• chloroplast
How many of these structures are found in the cells of all living organisms?
A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: B
Question 4
A student draws a red blood cell.
The diameter of the red blood cell they draw is 20 mm.
The actual diameter of the red blood cell is 0.008 mm.
What is the magnification of the student’s drawing?
A) ×0.0004
B) ×0.16
C) ×250
D) ×2500
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: D
Question 5
Samples of plant cells from the same species are immersed in three different liquids. The low concentration sucrose solution has a higher water potential than the plant cell cytoplasm. The high concentration sucrose solution has a lower water potential than the plant cell cytoplasm.
What is the state of the cells in the different liquids?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: D
Question 6
Which process requires energy from respiration?
A) active transport
B) diffusion
C) osmosis
D) transpiration
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: A
Question 7
The diagram shows the sticky end of theDNA of a plasmid that has been cut by a restriction enzyme.
The unpaired bases are labelled.
What is the correct sequence of the missing bases?
A) CAGTG
B) GTGAC
C) GTCAC
D) CACTG
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: C
Question 8
A test was performed on a food substance. A positive result was shown by a colour change to blue-black.
What solution was used for the test?
A) biuret solution
B) DCPIP solution
C) iodine solution
D) Benedict’s solution
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: C
Question 9
A student investigates the breakdown of fats in milk by lipase. Four test-tubes labelled A, B, C and D are set up.
The table shows the contents of each test-tube.
In which test-tube will the contents become acidic most quickly?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: A
Question 10
The diagram shows an experiment to investigate the effect of increasing light intensity on the rate of photosynthesis in an aquatic plant.
The rate is found by measuring the rate of bubble release by the plant.
As the light intensity increases, the rate of bubble release increases and then becomes constant.
Which statement describes why the rate of bubble release becomes constant at high light intensities?
A) Carbon dioxide concentration becomes a limiting factor.
B) Light intensity becomes a limiting factor.
C) Oxygen availability becomes a limiting factor.
D) Water availability becomes a limiting factor.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: A
Question 11
The diagram shows a section through the leaf of a flowering plant.
Where does photosynthesis take place?
A) 1 and 2
B) 1 and 4
C) 2 and 3
D) 3 and 4
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: B
Question 12
The diagram shows part of the alimentary canal and associated organs.
Which labelled part stores bile?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: C
Question 13
The list contains statements about villi.
1. Villi increase the efficiency of the absorption of nutrients.
2. Villi increase the efficiency of the alveoli during gas exchange.
3. Villi provide a large surface area.
4. Villi filter urea from the blood.
Which two statements explain the role of the villi in humans?
A) 1 and 2
B) 1 and 3
C) 2 and 4
D) 3 and 4
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: B
Question 14
The diagrams show carbohydrate molecules as they pass through the alimentary canal.
Which row represents the molecules correctly?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: B
Question 15
Which row shows correct information about three digestive enzymes in humans?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: D
Question 16
Which substance found in a healthy diet helps to prevent constipation?
A) fat
B) fibre
C) minerals
D) vitamins
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: B
Question 17
When is the transpiration rate of a well-watered plant highest?
A) on a cool, dry, windy day
B) on a cool, wet, windy day
C) on a hot, dry, windy day
D) on a hot, wet, windy day
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: C
Question 18
Which statement is correct for a flowering plant during photosynthesis?
A) The flowers, fruits, leaves and roots are all sources of sucrose.
B) The fruits are a source of sucrose and the flowers are a sink.
C) The leaves are a source of sucrose and the fruits are a sink.
D) The roots are a source of sucrose and the leaves are a sink.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: C
Question 19
What is an advantage of having a double circulatory system?
A) It uses less energy because blood flows through the heart only once in each circuit around the body.
B) Concentration gradients of solutes and gases are kept low.
C) Deoxygenated and oxygenated blood are separated to allow a high rate of oxygen supply to the tissues.
D) It maintains high-pressure blood flow to the lungs and low-pressure blood flow to the body.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: C
Question 20
The diagram shows the external structure of the human heart.
Which part is blocked in coronary heart disease?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: B
Question 21
One of the symptoms of the disease cholera is diarrhoea. This is due to water loss by osmosis caused by the cholera toxin.
What is the effect of cholera toxins that results in diarrhoea?
A) secretion of chloride ions out of the small intestine lowering the water potential
B) secretion of chloride ions out of the small intestine raising the water potential
C) secretion of chloride ions into the small intestine lowering the water potential
D) secretion of chloride ions into the small intestine raising the water potential
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: C
Question 22
Which statement about immunity is correct?
A) A part of the antibody molecule has the same shape as the antigen it acts on.
B) Babies develop passive immunity from the antibodies they receive in breast milk.
C) Phagocytes produce antibodies.
D) Vaccines contain weakened antibodies.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: B
Question 23
What are the functions of the diaphragm and the cilia in the human gas exchange system?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: A
Question 24
Vigorous exercise can cause an oxygen debt.
Which process removes the oxygen debt?
A) aerobic respiration of lactic acid in the liver
B) a decrease in breathing rate
C) a decrease in heart rate
D) an increase in blood supply to the skin
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: A
Question 25
In healthy people, which substance is completely reabsorbed into the blood from the kidney nephrons?
A) glucose
B) salts
C) urea
D) water
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: A
Question 26
What would be the pupil size and lens shape of a person reading a mobile phone text message in a brightly lit room?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: C
Question 27
What describes how the body maintains a constant internal temperature on a hot day?
A) Vasoconstriction increases blood flow to the skin surface capillaries.
B) Vasoconstriction decreases blood flow to the skin surface capillaries.
C) Vasodilation increases blood flow to the skin surface capillaries.
D) Vasodilation decreases blood flow to the skin surface capillaries.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: C
Question 28
What would lead to a decrease in blood glucose concentration?
A) increased release of adrenaline
B) increased release of amylase
C) increased release of glucagon
D) increased release of insulin
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: D
Question 29
Which statement about antibiotics is correct?
A) Antibiotics do not affect bacteria but kill viruses.
B) Antibiotics do not affect bacteria or viruses.
C) Antibiotics kill bacteria and kill viruses.
D) Antibiotics kill bacteria but do not affect viruses.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: D
Question 30
The diagram shows the carpel of a flower just after pollination.
What is the name of the part labelled X?
A) filament
B) ovule
C) pollen tube
D) stigma
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: C
Question 31
The table shows the percentage of sperm with different abnormalities in samples from a person with normal fertility and two people with low fertility.
What are the causes of low fertility in person P and person Q?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: B
Question 32
Which word is used to describe stem cells?
A) gametes
B) haploid
C) homozygous
D) unspecialised
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: D
Question 33
The graph shows the concentration of four hormones during the menstrual cycle.
Which line represents progesterone?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: B
Question 34
The pedigree diagrams show the pattern of inheritance of a genetic disorder in four families.
This genetic disorder is not sex-linked.
Which pedigree diagram proves that the genetic disorder must be caused by a dominant allele?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: D
Question 35
What are correct statements about meiosis?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: D
Question 36
The photograph shows a species of fish called a leafy sea-dragon.
Leafy sea-dragons live in areas of the sea where seaweed is present.
Which statements explain how natural selection caused the leafy sea-dragon species to develop?
1. Leafy sea-dragons that looked like seaweed were better adapted to their environment.
2. Leafy sea-dragons that survived passed on the allele for their appearance to their offspring.
3. Humans selected leafy sea-dragons that looked like seaweed.
A) 1,2 and 3
B) 1 and 2 only
C) 1 and 3 only
D) 2 and 3 only
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: B
Question 37
What is the main source of energy input to biological systems?
A) glucose
B) oxygen
C) plants
D) the Sun
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: D
Question 38
Which organisms remove nitrate ions from soil?
A) denitrifying bacteria and nitrogen-fixing bacteria in root nodules
B) denitrifying bacteria and plants
C) nitrifying bacteria and plants
D) nitrogen-fixing bacteria in root nodules
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: B
Question 39
What are two reasons for organisms becoming endangered?
- habitat destruction
- monitoring
- education
- pollution
- capitive breeding programmes
A) 1 and 4
B) 1 and 5
C) 2 and 3
D) 3 and 4
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: A
Question 40
What is an example of the use of genetic modification in agriculture?
A) choosing cattle to breed so that alleles for high milk yield will be passed on to their offspring
B) increasing food production by using insecticides to improve quality and yield
C) inserting genes into crop plants to improve the nutritional qualities of the plant
D) selecting crop plants with desirable characteristics and crossing these to produce the next generation
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: C