Question 1:
Topic 7.1 – Diet
Which process provides an organism with the raw materials needed for tissue repair?
(A) excretion
(B) growth
(C) nutrition
(D) respiration
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: C
Question 2:
Topic 1.3 – Features of organisms
Which name is given to a group of individuals that can reproduce to produce fertile offspring?
(A) a genus
(B) a kingdom
(C) a species
(D) an organ system
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: C
Question 3:
Topic 2.1 – Cell structure
Root hair cells are found on plant roots.
Which feature is present in a root hair cell but not in a sperm cell?
(A) cell membrane
(B) cell wall
(C) chloroplasts
(D) cytoplasm
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: B
Question 4:
Topic 6.2 – Leaf structure
The diagram shows a cross-section of part of a leaf.
Which type of cell carries out the most photosynthesis?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: A
Question 5:
Topic 3.3 – Active transport
Some examples of substances moving across membranes are listed.
1 glucose molecules into the epithelium that lines the small intestine
2 nitrate ions from a dilute solution in soil into a more concentrated solution in root hair cells
3 water molecules from mesophyll cells into the air spaces of a leaf For which examples must oxygen be present?
(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 6:
Topic 3.2 – Osmosis
The graph shows how the turgor pressure inside a plant cell varies when the cell is placed in external solutions of different concentrations.
What is the state of the cell at point X?
(A) It has gained water and is flaccid.
(B) It has gained water and is turgid.
(C) It has lost water and is flaccid.
(D) It has lost water and is turgid.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: C
Question 7:
Topic 17.1 – Chromosomes, genes and proteins
The diagram shows a length of DNA.
What is the sequence of bases in the unlabelled strand of DNA, starting from the top of the diagram?
(A) CGTACA
(B) TACGTG
(C) GCTAGA
(D) ATGCAC
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: B
Question 8:
Topic 5.1 – Enzymes
Amylase and pepsin are digestive enzymes. The shapes of their active sites are different.
What causes the difference in the shapes of their active sites?
(A) They are produced by different parts of the digestive system.
(B) They have different pH ranges.
(C) They contain different sequences of amino acids.
(D) They are made of different proportions of the bases A, T, C and G.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: C
Question 9:
Topic 5.1 – Enzymes
The rate of an enzyme-controlled reaction decreases when the temperature falls below the optimum.
Some possible reasons why it slows down are listed.
1 The enzyme molecules are denatured.
2 The molecules have less kinetic energy.
3 The shapes of the substrate molecules are changed.
4 There are less frequent collisions between molecules.
Which reasons cause the reaction to slow down?
(A) 1 and 3
(B) 1 and 4
(C) 2 and 3
(D) 2 and 4
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: D
Question 10:
Topic 5.1 – Enzymes
Which description of an enzyme-catalysed reaction is correct?
(A) The substrate binds to an enzyme with the same shape and a product is formed.
(B) The product binds to an enzyme with the same shape and a substrate is formed.
(C) The product binds to an enzyme with a complementary shape and a substrate is formed.
(D) The substrate binds to an enzyme with a complementary shape and a product is formed.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: D
Question 11:
Topic 6.1 – Photosynthesis
Four test-tubes are set up as shown. The test-tubes are kept at 20°C in a water-bath, in the light, for two hours.
In which test-tube does the hydrogencarbonate indicator turn yellow?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: B
Question 12:
Topic 6.1 – Photosynthesis
The substances listed are found in the leaf of a plant.
Which substance is obtained from the soil?
(A) carbon dioxide
(B) chlorophyll
(C) glucose
(D) mineral ions
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: D
Question 13:
Topic 3.2 – Osmosis
The cholera bacterium produces toxins that cause chloride ions to be secreted into the small intestine.
What is the immediate effect of this on the water potential of blood in the intestinal capillaries, and on the water potential of the contents of the small intestine?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: C
Question 14:
Topic 7.4 – Chemical digestion
The graph shows the concentration of maltose in different parts of the alimentary canal.
What causes the change in concentration at X?
(A) absorption of maltose
(B) action of amylase
(C) action of maltase
(D) assimilation of maltose
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: C
Question 15:
Topic 8.2 – Water uptake
The diagram shows a bean seedling soon after it has germinated.
Where is most water absorbed?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: C
Question 16:
Topic 8.4 – Translocation
Scientists investigate the movement of substances in a plant.
They cut a ring of tissue from the stem.
Removing the tissue removes some of the transport vessels found around the edge of the stem.
A few days later they notice swelling above the area where the tissue has been removed.
What causes the swelling?
(A) Phloem vessels have been removed and sucrose cannot move to the sink.
(B) Phloem vessels have been removed and sucrose cannot move to the source.
(C) Xylem vessels have been removed and minerals cannot move to the sink.
(D) Xylem vessels have been removed and minerals cannot move to the source.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: A
Question 17:
Topic 9.2 – Heart
The diagram shows the outside of a human heart.
Which structure is a coronary artery?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: D
Question 18:
Topic 9.2 – Heart
What happens in the heart when blood flows from the atria to the ventricles?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: B
Question 19:
Topic 10.1 – Diseases and immunity
Campylobacter is a bacterium that can cause food poisoning.
Which word describes Campylobacter?
(A) antibody
(B) disease
(C) pathogen
(D) symptom
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: C
Question 20:
Topic 11.1 – Gas exchange
What is the approximate percentage of oxygen in expired air?
(A) 0.04%
(B) 4%
(C) 16%
(D) 21%
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: C
Question 21:
Topic 12.1 – Respiration
Which row shows processes that all use energy from respiration?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: D
Question 22:
Topic 12.3 – Anaerobic respiration
What is the word equation for anaerobic respiration in yeast?
(A) glucose → alcohol + carbon dioxide
(B) glucose → alcohol
(C) glucose → lactic acid + carbon dioxide
(D) glucose → lactic acid
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: A
Question 23:
Topic 13.1 – Excretion in humans
Which substances are excreted from the human body?
1 carbon dioxide
2 urea
3 water
(A) 1 and 2 only
(B) 1 and 3 only
(C) 1, 2 and 3
(D) 2 and 3 only
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: C
Question 24:
Topic 14.4 – Homeostasis
What is a response to a low concentration of glucose in the blood?
(A) Glucagon will cause the body to convert glucose into glycogen.
(B) Glucagon will cause the body to convert glycogen into glucose.
(C) Insulin will cause the body to convert glucose into glycogen.
(D) Insulin will cause the body to convert glycogen into glucose.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: B
Question 25:
Topic 14.2 – Sense organs
Which structure can reduce how much light enters the eye?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: B
Question 26:
Topic 14.2 – Sense organs
The diagram shows a section through human skin.
What are the structures labelled X, Y and Z?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: B
Question 27:
Topic 10.1 – Diseases and immunity
A disease cannot be treated with antibiotics.
What could be the reasons for this?
1 It is not a bacterial disease.
2 The pathogen is a virus.
3 The patient has become resistant to the antibiotic.
(A) 1 and 2 only
(B) 1 and 3 only
(C) 2 and 3 only
(D) 1, 2 and 3
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: A
Question 28:
Topic 16.1 – Asexual reproduction
The diagram shows a strawberry plant. These plants can reproduce asexually by producing ‘plantlets’.
Why is this method of reproduction useful to strawberry farmers?
(A) Plantlets are produced by meiosis and are genetically different.
(B) Plantlets are produced by meiosis and are genetically identical.
(C) Plantlets are produced by mitosis and are genetically different.
(D) Plantlets are produced by mitosis and are genetically identical.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: D
Question 29:
Topic 16.4 – Sexual reproduction in humans
Which statement about human gametes is correct?
(A) The female gamete has an acrosome and is non-motile.
(B) The female gamete has a jelly coating and is motile.
(C) The male gamete has a flagellum and is non-motile.
(D) The male gamete has an acrosome and is motile.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: D
Question 30:
Topic 17.1 – Chromosomes, genes and proteins
The diagram shows the stages of protein synthesis in a cell.
Which row identifies molecules 1, 2 and 3?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: C
Question 31:
Topic 17.2 – Mitosis
Which description of stem cells is correct?
(A) unspecialised cells that divide by meiosis to produce daughter cells that may become specialised for specific functions
(B) specialised cells that divide by mitosis to produce daughter cells that may become further specialised for specific functions
(C) unspecialised cells that divide by mitosis to produce daughter cells that may become specialised for specific functions
(D) specialised cells that divide by meiosis to produce daughter cells that may become specialised for specific functions
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: C
Question 32:
Topic 17.4 – Monohybrid inheritance
In some breeds of cattle, hair colour shows codominance. The coats may be red, white or roan (a mixture of red and white hairs).
What are the expected phenotypes when a parent with a red coat (HRHR) is crossed with a parent with a roan coat (HRHW)?
(A) 50% red : 50% roan
(B) 75% red : 25% roan
(C) 75% red : 25% white
(D) 50% red : 50% white
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: A
Question 33:
Topic 18.1 – Variation
Which statement is correct?
(A) Discontinuous variation is mainly caused by environmental factors.
(B) Ionising radiation and some chemicals decrease the rate of mutation.
(C) A gene mutation is a change in the base sequence of a DNA molecule.
(D) Small variations in height within a human population are an example of discontinuous variation.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: C
Question 34:
Topic 17.4 – Monohybrid inheritance
A person who is homozygous for the sickle cell allele has a child with a person that is heterozygous.
What is the likelihood that the offspring would be homozygous for the sickle cell allele?
(A) 100%
(B) 75%
(C) 50%
(D) 25%
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: C
Question 35:
Topic 19.2 – Food chains and food webs
The diagram shows a food web.
How many organisms are feeding at more than one trophic level?
(A) 0
(B) 1
(C) 2
(D) 3
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: D
Question 36:
Topic 19.3 – Nutrient cycles
The diagram shows part of the nitrogen cycle.
Which row shows the correct labels?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: C
Question 37:
Topic 21.3 – Genetic modification
Which statement explains why bacteria are used in genetic engineering?
(A) Bacteria can only manufacture simple molecules.
(B) Bacteria growing in a laboratory cause ethical concerns.
(C) Bacteria have a slow reproduction rate.
(D) Bacteria have plasmids.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: D
Question 38:
Topic 21.2 – Biotechnology
The graph shows the growth of the fungus Penicillium and its production of the antibiotic penicillin in a fermenter.
Which stage of the Penicillium growth curve produces the highest concentration of penicillin?
(A) lag phase
(B) exponential phase
(C) stationary phase
(D) death phase
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: C
Question 39:
Topic 20.4 – Conservation
Which statement about sustainable resources is correct?
(A) They include fossil fuels.
(B) They include non-renewable resources.
(C) Their production rate is equal to their removal rate.
(D) Their production rate is smaller than their removal rate.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: C
Question 40:
Topic 20.4 – Conservation
What is the least sustainable method of helping to maintain a population of fish in a lake?
(A) Only allow female fish to be caught and eaten.
(B) Only allow fishing at certain times of the year.
(C) Only allow fishing in certain areas of the lake.
(D) Only allow the largest fish to be caught and eaten.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: A