CIE iGCSE Co-Ordinated Science B1.1 Characteristics of living organisms Exam Style Questions Paper 3
Question
(a) Euglena are single-celled organisms that have features of both animal and plant cells.
Fig. 1.1 is a labelled diagram of a Euglena.
(i) The parts labelled in Fig. 1.1 are responsible for different characteristics of living organisms.
Identify the part responsible for:
(ii) State the name of one other characteristic of living organisms.
(iii) State one part from Fig. 1.1 that Euglena have in common with plant cells but not with animal cells.
(b) Euglena and animal cells do not have cell walls.
State the function of the cell wall.
(c) Cell walls are made from a type of carbohydrate called cellulose.
Cellulose is made up of smaller molecules of glucose.
(i) List the chemical elements in all carbohydrates.
(ii) Circle two other larger carbohydrate molecules made from glucose.
fat glycerol glycogen
oil protein starch
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans : 1(a)(i) contractile vacuole ;
flagellum ;
chloroplast ;
eyespot ;
1(a)(ii) respiration / growth / reproduction ; 1
1(a)(iii) chloroplast ;
1(b) strengthen cell / AW ;
1(c)(i) carbon, hydrogen, oxygen ;
1(c)(ii) glycogen circled ;
starch circled ;
Question
(a) Fig. 1.1 is a diagram of a flower.
State the letter in Fig. 1.1 that identifies the part:
that attracts insects …………………..
that produces pollen ……………………
where fertilisation occurs. ……………………
(b) State the name of the part in the human body where fertilisation takes place.
(c) Some plants reproduce both asexually and sexually.
Table 1.1 compares some of the features of asexual reproduction and sexual reproduction.
Place ticks (3) in the boxes in Table 1.1 to show the correct features of asexual reproduction and sexual reproduction.
(d) Bacteria reproduce by a type of asexual reproduction.
Fig. 1.2 is a diagram of the reproduction of a bacterium.
The original bacterium divides to form two bacteria.
A bacterium can divide every 30 minutes.
Calculate the number of bacteria after 4 hours if you start with one bacterium.
(e) Reproduction is one of the characteristics of living organisms.
State three other characteristics of living organisms.
1 …………………………………………………………………………
2 …………………………………………………………………………
3 …………………………………………………………………………
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans : 1(a) A ;
E ;
C ;
1(b) oviduct ;
1(c) 
1(d) ref to 8 divisions ;
28 = 256 ;
1(e) any three from:
movement ;
respiration ;
sensitivity ;
growth ;
excretion ;
nutrition ;
Question
(a) (i) Define the term enzyme.
(ii) Fig. 10.1 is a graph showing the activity of enzyme A at different pH values.
Describe the trend shown in Fig. 10.1.
Use data in your answer.
(b) Photosynthesis and respiration are both enzyme-controlled reactions.
The table shows some features of photosynthesis and aerobic respiration.
Place ticks (3) in the boxes to show the correct features of each process.
(c) Respiration is one of the characteristics of living organisms.
State three other characteristics of living organisms.
1 …………………………………………………………………………
2 …………………………………………………………………………
3 …………………………………………………………………………
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans : 10(a)(i) a protein ;
(that functions as) a biological catalyst ;
10(a)(ii) enzyme activity increases then decreases (with increasing pH) ;
optimum / peak / maximum activity, at pH7 ;
10(b) 
10(c) any three from:
movement ;
sensitivity ;
reproduction ;
growth ;
excretion ;
nutrition ;
Question
(a) A researcher collects some information about organisms that live in a desert environment.
Fig. 10.1 is a summary of the information.
(i) Construct a food chain from the information given in Fig. 10.1.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
(ii) Table 10.1 contains the names of the organisms from Fig. 10.1 and some of the terms that can be used to describe them.
Complete Table 10.1 by placing ticks (√) in the boxes to show all the terms that describe each organism. Use only the information given in Fig. 10.1.
One row has been done for you.
(b) State the name of the type of organisms that get their energy from dead and waste organic matter.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
(c) State the name of the principal source of energy for all food chains.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
(d) Nutrition is one of the characteristics of living things.
State the name of three other characteristics.
1 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
3 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
(e) State the name of the basic building blocks of which all living organisms are made.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: 10(a)(i) cactus → desert rats → snake → desert fox ;;
10(a)(ii)
1 mark for each correct row ;;;
10(b) decomposer ;
10(c) Sun ;
10(d) any three from:
movement ;
respiration ;
sensitivity ;
growth ;
reproduction ;
excretion ;
10(e) cells ;