Question 1
The human body has different hormones that are produced by endocrine glands.
(a) The diagram labels some of the endocrine glands in the body
(i) Which gland produces insulin?
A
B
C
D
(ii) Which gland produces progesterone?
A
B
C
D
(b) The human body has two systems of communication, nervous and hormonal.
(i) Students research the speed of nervous and hormonal communication.
They find this data
• hormones travel at a speed of 420 centimetres per minute
• nerve impulses travel at a speed of 55 metres per second
Determine the ratio of the speed of nervous communication to the speed of hormonal communication.
Give your answer in the form n:1
ratio = ……………………………………………………..
(ii) Describe three other differences between the nervous system and the hormonal system.
▶️Answer/Explanation
1(a)(ii) The only correct answer is
D structure produces progesterone
A is not correct as it does not produce progesterone
B is not correct as it does not produce progesterone
C is not correct as it does not produce progesterone
1(b)(i) Calculation method not marking points convert hormonal speed to m / min
= 4.2 m per min
convert hormonal speed to m / sec
= 4.2÷60 m per sec
= 0.07 m per sec
division
55÷0.07
= 786 :1 scores 3
allow 2 sig figs so allow 790:1 scores 3
1 (b) (ii) A description that makes reference to three of the following:
• uses neurones / nerve cells (1)
• electrical (1)
• goes to target cells only / specific (locus) / eq (1)
• (response) is usually short (term) (1)
Question 2
Biologists classify organisms into different groups. One group of organisms is fungi.
(a) Complete the passage about fungi by writing a suitable word or words in each blank space.
(4)
Fungi do not carry out photosynthesis. Their body is usually organised into a mycelium made from thread-like structures called …………………………………………………….. .
Fungal cell walls are made of …………………………………………………….. .
Fungi feed by extracellular secretion of …………………………………………………….. onto food material and absorption of the organic products. This is known as …………………………………………………….. nutrition.
(b) A student investigates the effect of temperature on the rate of anaerobic respiration in yeast.
The student measures the rate of gas produced in cm3 per minute.
The graph shows their results.
(i) Name the gas produced by yeast during anaerobic respiration.
(ii) Explain the effect that increasing temperature has on the rate of gas production by the yeast.
(iii) Describe how the student could measure the rate of gas production in this experiment.
▶️Answer/Explanation
2(a) • hyphae (1)
• chitin (1)
• enzymes(1)
• saprotrophic / saprophytic (1)
2(b)(i) • carbon dioxide / CO2 (1)
2(b)(ii) An explanation that makes reference to the following:
• increasing (kinetic) energy / molecules move more (1)
• more collisions/ more enzyme substate complexes formed / eq (1)
• above 37 / 400C /optimum / eventually / at higher temperature enzyme denatures / change in active site / substrate and enzyme can no longer bind /fit /eq (1)
2(b)(iii) A description that makes reference to two of the following
• use (collect gas in) measuring cylinder / (gas) syringe / eq (1)
• measure volume / cm3 in time / or time to produce volume /eq (1)
Question 3
(a) Vital capacity is the maximum volume of air that a person can force out of their lungs in one breath.
The graph shows the relationship between vital capacity and age for a large number of people.
The vital capacity plotted is the median value for each age.
(i) State what is meant by the term median.
(ii) Give a reason why the median is used rather than the mean.
(iii) Describe the relationship between vital capacity and age shown by the graph.
(iv) Explain why vital capacity changes with age.
(v) Age is not the only variable that can change vital capacity.
Give two other variables that can affect a person’s vital capacity.
(b) Describe a method you could use to demonstrate the effect of exercise on breathing rate in students.
▶️Answer/Explanation
3(a) (i) • the middle value / eq (1)
3(a)(ii) • median used as each age has wide / high range /not (influenced by) affected by / any reference to / reduces effect of extreme values / data is skewed / less affected by anomalies / eq
3(a)(iii) A description that makes reference to two of the following
• increases (steeply) up to 20-25 years (1)
• levels off / peaks 20-25 years (1)
• decreases (steadily at constant rate) from 20-25 years (1)
3(a)(iv) An explanation that makes reference to two of the following
• (increases) (up to 20 years) as body / size / mass / chest cavity / lungs / muscle increases / grows / develops / eq (1)
• no / little change (from 20) no further growth / stop growing / eq (1)
• (decreases) (from 25 years) as diaphragm /intercostal muscle weaker / lungs less elastic / less recoil / eq (1)
3(a)(v) An answer that makes reference to two of the following
• smoking (1)
• lung disease / infection / condition / asthma / bronchitis / emphysema / eq (1)
• fitness / how active you are / eq (1)
• body size/ height / mass / genetics / eq (1)
• sex /eq (1)
• altitude at which you live / eq (1)
• pregnancy (1)
• pollution / eq(1)
3(b) A description that makes reference to three of the following
• count number of breaths per minute / number of breaths in stated time (at rest) / eq (1)
• breathing rate count per minute / number of breaths in stated time after / during exercise /eq (1)
• repeat / using more participants /use group/ eq (1)
• control age / sex / fitness of subjects / amount / period of exercise / eq (1)
Question 4
Scientists collect data from a grassland ecosystem.
For each trophic level they determine
• the mean number of organisms in a square metre
• the mean dry mass of these organisms in a square metre
The table shows the scientists’ data.
(a) (i) Draw a labelled pyramid of numbers for this data.
(ii) Describe how you could collect data to find the mean number of producers per square metre in the ecosystem.
(b) The mass of organisms at each trophic level is called the biomass.
The percentage of biomass in the producers that is transferred to the primary consumers is 4.5%.
(i) Calculate the percentage of biomass in the secondary consumers that is transferred to the tertiary consumers.
percentage = …………………………………………………….. %
(ii) Comment on the energy transfers in this ecosystem.
In your answer, refer to data from the table and the percentages of biomass transferred.
▶️Answer/Explanation
4(a)(i) • correct order of names (1)
• correct shape (1)
4(a)(ii) an answer that makes reference to three of the following
• quadrat / use grid /eq (1)
• random sample (1)
• count (all) plants / producers / eq (1)
• repeat / divide total sum of plants by area (1)
4(b)(i) calculation
2.40 ÷ 10.60 x 100
= 22.6% / 23 % (1)
4 (b) (ii) An answer that makes reference to four of the following:
• fewer organisms at top of pyramid / eq (1)
• less biomass/ dry mass at top of pyramid/ eq (1)
• energy / biomass lost (at each transfer) / less energy / biomass transferred / not all energy/ biomass transferred/ eq (1)
• most energy lost from producer to primary consumer / less energy/ less biomass transferred from producer to primary consumer /eq (1)
• allow any two causes of energy loss (2)
• movement / heat loss / respiration / metabolism
• not all material digested / cellulose not digested / energy lost in faeces / energy present in faeces
• not all organism eaten /eq
• some energy excreted / in urine / eq
• some organisms die / decomposed / eq
Question 5
The diagram shows a wind-pollinated flower with some structures labelled W, X and Y.
(a) (i) Describe how structures W, X and Y are adapted for wind pollination.
(ii) Structures W, X and Y are adapted for wind pollination.
Give two other differences between wind-pollinated flowers and insect-pollinated flowers.
(b) Wind-pollinated flowers often cause an allergic response in people. This is known as hay fever.
Most people in the United Kingdom who get hay fever have the symptoms from April to September.
The graph shows the changes in total pollen count for three different plant types from March to September during one year in the United Kingdom.
As part of an investigation into pollen allergy, five people keep a diary of their hay fever symptoms. They do this for the same year as the pollen count.
The table gives their results.
Using the data in the table and the information from the graph, discuss the likely causes of the allergic responses in each person.
(c) The allergic response to pollen is part of the body’s immune response.
Explain what is meant by the term immune response.
▶️Answer/Explanation
5 (a)(i) A description that makes reference to three of the following:
• W or stigma / feathery / large surface area / W stigma outside flower / exposed ( to catch pollen )/eq (1)
• X or anther outside flower/ exposed (to disperse pollen) / eq (1)
• Y or filament long / hinged / not rigid / can move (to disperse pollen)/eq (1)
5 (a)(ii) An answer that refers to two of the following
• smaller / dull / green flowers /petals / no petals / eq (1)
• no nectar/ nectary (1)
• no scent / eq (1)
• smaller / lighter / smooth pollen grains / more pollen produced (1)
5 (b) An answer that makes reference to five the following:
• link between pollen number and symptoms /eq (1)
• Person A allergic to tree pollen (only) / eq (1)
• Person B allergic to (mainly) grass pollen / eq (1)
• Person B some / mild allergy to tree and weed / eq (1)
• Person C allergic to all pollen / tree and grass and weed/eq (1)
• Person D no pollen allergy / eq (1)
• Person E allergic to (mainly) grass and weed / eq (1)
• Person E some / mild allergy to tree / eq (1)
• no species level data / eq (1)
• only one year / eq (1)
5(c) An explanation that makes reference to two of the following
• response to antigens / pathogen / allergen / bacteria / virus /eq (1)
• by white blood cells/ phagocytes / lymphocytes /eq (1)
• antibodies produced / phagocytosis / engulf / eq (1)
Question 6
The diagram shows a plant cell in distilled water and a plant cell in a concentrated solution of sodium chloride.
(a) (i) Which structure is labelled M?
A cell membrane
B cell wall
C nucleus
D vacuole
(ii) Which structure is labelled N?
A cell membrane
B cell wall
C cytoplasm
D vacuole
(b) (i) Give the name of the liquid found in the gap labelled O in the cell in the concentrated solution of sodium chloride.
(ii) Explain the differences in the appearance of the cell in distilled water and the cell in the concentrated solution of sodium chloride.
(c) Describe an experiment you could do to show how different concentrations of sodium chloride solution affect the appearance of plant cells.
▶️Answer/Explanation
6(a)(i) The only correct answer is
B M is the cell wall.
A is not the answer as M is not the cell membrane
C is not the answer as M is not the nucleus
D is not the answer as M is not the vacuole
6(a)(ii) The only correct answer is
C N is the cytoplasm.
A is not the answer as N is not the cell membrane
B is not the answer as N is not the cell wall
D is not the answer as N is not the vacuole
6(b)(i) • sodium chloride (solution) / salt solution / bathing solution / eq (1)
6(b)(ii) An explanation that makes reference to four of the following in distilled water
• water enters cell / eq(1)
• by osmosis (1)
• from dilute solution to more concentrated solution / from high(er) water potential to low(er) water potential / water / outside has a higher water potential / eq (1)
• cytoplasm pushed against cell membrane/ cell wall / eq (1)
• cell is turgid / (1)
6(c) A description that makes reference to four of the following
• (immerse) onion epidermis /rhubarb epidermis / named suitable plant tissues / leaf epidermis / eq (1)
• same volume of solutions / stated volume of solutions /eq (1)
• at least two different concentrations of salt solution / eq (1)
• leave cells for stated time / same time / eq (1)
• (observe / draw / photograph under) microscope / eq (1)
Question 7
(a) The diagram shows the human heart with four chambers and four blood vessels labelled.
(i) Which blood vessel brings deoxygenated blood to the heart?
A U
B V
C W
D X
(ii) Which chamber pumps oxygenated blood away from the heart?
A S
B T
C Y
D Z
(iii) Explain the difference in the wall of chamber S and the wall of chamber Z.
(b) Humans need a balanced diet for healthy growth and development.
Give the function of three different components of a balanced diet.
(c) Scientists investigated the link between body mass and coronary heart disease in a population in Australia.
The scientists recorded the number of heart attacks in a population of 850 people for a period of 20 years.
They classified the people as normal mass, overweight or obese.
They calculated rates of heart attacks that allowed a valid comparison to be made between the groups.
Evaluate what the data shows about the relationship between classification of body mass, age and heart attacks
▶️Answer/Explanation
7(a)(i) The only correct answer is
A vessel U brings deoxygenated blood to heart
B is not correct as V does not bring deoxygenated blood
C is not correct as W does not bring deoxygenated blood
D is not correct as X does not bring deoxygenated blood
7(a)(ii) The only correct answer is
D chamber Z pumps oxygenated blood away from heart
A chamber S does not pump oxygenated blood away
B chamber T does not pump oxygenated blood away
C chamber Y does not pump oxygenated blood away
7 (a)(iii) An explanation that makes reference to three the following:
S
• thinner /eq (1)
• less muscle /eq (1)
(muscle thinner scores MP 1 and MP 2)
• (generates) low / less pressure force /eq (1)
• pumps blood to lungs / eq (1)
7 (b) An explanation that includes 3 of
• carbohydrate for energy / energy store / respiration /eq (1)
• protein for growth / repair / enzymes / eq (1)
• fat / lipid for energy / energy store / insulation / respiration/ eq (1)
• one named mineral and function (1)
• one named vitamin and function (1)
• fibre for peristalsis / move food through gut / eq (1)
• water for solvent / medium for chemical reactions /constituent of cells / eq
(c) An explanation that includes 5 of
• large study / reliable / eq (1)
• long term study / eq (1)
• only in one place / country / population / eq (1)
• (across all ages) increasing mass increases CHD/ eq (1)
• heart attacks / CHD more common in older groups / eq (1)
• if obese under 40 3 times as likely to have heart attack / CHD / greatest effect under 40 / eq (1)
• up to 60 most likely to have heart attack if obese / eq (1)
• in over 60 group more likely to have heart attack / CHD if normal or overweight / eq (1)
• over 60 obese less likely to have heart attack / CHD/ eq (1)
• other factors smoking / diet / exercise / stress / blood pressure / eq (1)
• other factors genetics / sex / family / eq (1)
Question 8
Fur colour in rats is controlled by a gene with two alleles.
One allele codes for black fur colour. The other allele codes for agouti fur colour.
Several female rats with agouti coloured fur are mated with several male rats with black coloured fur.
All of the offspring have agouti coloured fur.
(a) (i) Explain which allele is dominant.
(ii) A male and female rat from these offspring are then mated together in a second cross.
Some of the offspring of this second cross have agouti coloured fur and some have black coloured fur.
Draw a genetic diagram to show this second cross. Include the genotypes of the parents, the gametes they produce, and the genotypes and the phenotypes of the offspring.
(iii) Calculate the probability of any one offspring from this second cross being male with agouti coloured fur.
(b) Scientists observed that genes that control fur colour in rats can affect rat behaviour, such as how tame they are.
Other genes that control the size of the adrenal glands and the production of neurotransmitters also affect rat behaviour.
Scientists also noticed that coat colour is associated with differences in anatomy and physiology, such as the size of the adrenal glands and the production of neurotransmitters.
(i) State the name of the type of genetic control where many genes control one phenotype.
(ii) Explain why the size of the adrenal glands and the production of neurotransmitters would affect rat behaviour.
(c) Some rats with white fur also have pink eyes.
These rats have pink eyes because they do not have pigment in their irises.
This means that their irises let light pass through, unlike the coloured irises found in other rats.
Explain how this difference in the iris affects vision in the rats with pink eyes.
▶️Answer/Explanation
8 (a)(i) • agouti (1)
• all offspring are agouti / no offspring are black / as allele always expressed / shown / visible in all phenotype / expressed in heterozyg
8 (a)(ii) An answer that makes reference to two the following:
• parent genotypes Aa and Aa (1)
• parent gametes (1) A or a A or a
• offspring genotypes AA Aa aa (1)
• offspring phenotypes labelled or ratio 3 : 1 (1)
8 (a)(iii)
• probability of agouti / probability of male
• multiplied
⅜ or 0.375 or 37.5% (2)
8 (b)(i)
polygenic (1)
8 (b)(ii) An explanation that makes reference to three of the following:
• more adrenaline produced / affects amount of adrenaline produced / eq (1)
• affects heart rate / fear response / fight or flight idea /eq (1)
• neurotransmitter levels affects synapses / eq (1)
• quicker reflex / reaction time / quicker response / more responsive / eq (1)
8 (c) An explanation that makes reference to three of the following:
• iris does not block / blocks less light / eq (1)
• so pupil change / dilate / constrict has little / no effect / (iris) cannot regulate / control amount of light entering eye / eq (1)
• too much light / more light enters eye / falls on retina / eq (1)
• poor vision / damages retina / (goes) blind / eq (1)
Question 9
9 Selective breeding has been used to develop modern varieties of wheat.
(a) Describe how scientists could use selective breeding to increase wheat yield.
(b) During a long-term study of selective breeding, scientists collected data for the mean yield of wheat in tonnes per hectare.
The table shows the scientists’ data.
(i) Plot a line graph to show how the mean yield changes from 1840 to 2020.
Use a ruler to join the points with straight lines.
(ii) In 1960, a dwarf variety of wheat replaced the old variety.
Scientists compared the percentage change in yield for the two varieties.
The percentage change in yield per year from 1840 to 1960 was 0.06% per year.
Calculate the percentage change in yield per year from 1960 to 2020.
(iii) Dwarf wheat has a shorter, thicker stem than the old variety.
Suggest why growing dwarf wheat is an advantage for farmers.
▶️Answer/Explanation
9 (a) A description that makes reference to three of the following points
• cross / breed / mate / allow to self- pollinate parent plant(s) with (grains) with highest mass / yield / desired characteristics / eq (1)
• select offspring plants with (grains) with highest mass / yield / desired characteristics / eq(1)
• repeat for more / many generations / eq (1)
9 (b)(i) • Scale half grid and linear (1)
• Lines straight and through all points (1)
• Axes correct way round (1)
• Points correctly plotted within half a small square (1)
• Units (yield in) tonnes per hectare (1)
9 (b)(ii) 6.7-2.8= 3.9
3.9 ÷2.8 x 100 = 139.3 % in 60 years
139.3 ÷60 = 2.3% per year (3)
9(b)(iii) An explanation reference to three of the following points:
• less energy used to grow tall /eq (1)
• more energy available for grain/ eq (1)
• higher yield / harvest / more grain(s) / grains heavier / eq (1)
• less likely to fall over / less likely to be damaged by wind and rain / eq (1)
• easier to harvest / eq (1)
Question 10
There is a relationship between the colour of a flower and pollination by insects.
Design an investigation to find out if the colour of a flower affects how attractive it is to pollinators.
Include experimental details in your answer and write in full sentences.
▶️Answer/Explanation
10 C use plants with different coloured flowers / (1)
O of same species / size / shape / (of flower) eq (1) R repeat each colour (1)
M1 count / see how many insects land on / visit flower / eq (1)
M2 in a stated time / eq (1) S1 same scent / nectar / use paper flowers / same location/ temperature /sunlight / same season /same time of day /eq (1)
S2 same number of / same insects / bees / pollinators / same distance from hive / eq (1)