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IB MYP Biology : Data-based question Practice Question

Question

The agave plant can be processed to produce fibres that can be used in the textile industry. The plant fibres can be removed by hand or using a machine. Once the plant fibres have been removed, they can be tested to measure how easily they stretch or break.


After processing, the conditions under which the plant fibres are stored can be varied to alter their properties.

Some students wanted to study the effects of humidity on the strength of plant fibres. They set up a preliminary investigation to test their method. The equipment below can be used to test how easily the plant fibres break.

Question  (1 mark)

Formulate a research question for this investigation.

▶️Answer/Explanation

Ans:

How does the humidity affect the mass needed to break the fibre?

Question  (2 mark)

Identify the independent and dependent variables in this investigation.

Independent variable
Dependent variable

▶️Answer/Explanation

Ans:

Independent variable: humidity
Dependent variable: mass and needed to break the fibre

Question  (2 mark)

Suggest two control variables that should be used in this investigation.

Control variable 1
Control variable 2

▶️Answer/Explanation

Ans:

Accept any two reasonable control variables, for example [max 2]
• diameter of fibre
• storage or room temperature
• length of fibre
• age of plant
• storage time
• type of plant

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