CIE iGCSE Co-Ordinated Science B9.3 Blood vessels Exam Style Questions Paper 3
Question
Most-appropriate topic codes (Cambridge IGCSE Co-ordinated Sciences 0654):
• Topic B9.2 — Heart (Part (a)(i), (a)(ii) & (b)(i))
• Topic B9.3 — Cardiovascular disease and risk factors (Part (b)(ii) & (b)(iii))
• Topic B8.1 — Xylem and phloem (Part (c)(i) & (c)(ii))
▶️ Answer/Explanation
(a)(i)
Q = septum
R = right atrium
The septum is the muscular wall dividing the heart into left and right halves, preventing mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood. The right atrium is the upper-right chamber that receives deoxygenated blood returning from the body via the vena cava. Together they form the right side of the double circulatory system, directing blood toward the lungs.
(a)(ii)
1. Arteries have a thicker, more muscular wall than veins, which have thinner walls.
2. Arteries have a smaller lumen than veins, which have a wider lumen.
3. Veins contain valves to prevent backflow; arteries do not.
Arteries carry blood away from the heart under high pressure, requiring thick elastic walls to withstand and maintain that pressure. Veins return blood to the heart at much lower pressure, relying on valves and surrounding muscle contractions to keep blood flowing in the correct direction.
(b)(i)
coronary arteries
The coronary arteries branch directly from the aorta and wrap around the outer surface of the heart, delivering oxygenated blood to the cardiac muscle. Blockage of these vessels deprives the heart muscle of oxygen, causing a heart attack. They are essential because the heart cannot extract oxygen directly from the blood flowing through its chambers.
(b)(ii)
1. Smoking
2. High-fat / high-cholesterol diet (or: obesity, high blood pressure, stress, genetic predisposition)
Smoking damages arterial walls and reduces blood oxygen levels, accelerating atherosclerosis. A diet high in saturated fats raises blood cholesterol, causing fatty deposits (atheromas) to build up inside artery walls and narrowing the lumen. Both factors increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke by restricting blood flow to the heart muscle.
(b)(iii)
• Increase in heart rate $= 104 – 64 = 40$ beats per minute
• Percentage increase $= \dfrac{40}{64} \times 100$
• $\boxed{\text{Percentage increase} \approx 62.5\%}$
The heart rate rose by 40 bpm from its resting value of 64 bpm. Dividing the change by the original resting value and multiplying by 100 gives approximately 62.5%. This increase reflects the body’s demand for more oxygen and faster removal of carbon dioxide during physical activity.
(c)(i)
X (xylem) — labelled at the centre of the root where the tissue forms a star- or cross-shaped core.
P (phloem) — labelled in the regions between the arms of the xylem star.
In dicotyledonous roots the vascular tissue is arranged centrally, with xylem forming the inner star and phloem nestled between its arms. This arrangement is distinct from the ring arrangement found in stems and is well-suited to withstanding the pulling forces of water uptake from soil.
(c)(ii)
The xylem transports water and mineral ions.
The phloem transports sucrose and amino acids.
Xylem consists of dead, lignified hollow tubes that move water and dissolved minerals upward from roots to leaves, driven by transpiration. Phloem is living tissue that moves the products of photosynthesis (sucrose) and nitrogen-containing compounds (amino acids) in both directions between sources and sinks — a process called translocation.
Question
Most-appropriate topic codes:
• Topic B10.1 — Diseases and immunity (Part (a))
• Topic B9.3 — Blood vessels (Part (b)(i))
• Topic B2.2 — Size of specimens (Part (b)(ii))
• Topic B8.1 — Xylem and phloem (Part (c))
▶️ Answer/Explanation
(a)(i) The word that describes a disease-causing organism is a pathogen.
A pathogen is a biological agent that causes disease or illness in its host. Common examples include viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites.
(a)(ii) HIV may lead to AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome).
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) attacks and weakens the immune system. If left untreated, it can progress to AIDS, which is a condition where the immune system is severely damaged, making the individual vulnerable to opportunistic infections.
(a)(iii) Two ways HIV is transmitted:
1. Unprotected sexual intercourse (with an infected person).
2. Sharing of needles (contaminated with infected blood).
HIV is present in certain body fluids like blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk. Transmission occurs when these fluids from an infected person enter the body of another. Common modes include sexual contact, sharing needles for drug use, blood transfusions with contaminated blood, and from mother to child during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
(b)(i) Blood vessel B. Evidence
1: Thin wall. Evidence
2: Large lumen.
Blood vessel B is a vein. Veins transport deoxygenated blood from the body back to the heart (with the exception of the pulmonary vein). They have thinner walls compared to arteries because blood is at lower pressure, and they have a larger lumen to facilitate blood flow. In contrast, vessel A is an artery (thick wall, small lumen) and C is a capillary (very thin wall, very small lumen).
(b)(ii) Magnification = image size / actual size = 10 / 0.008 = 1250
The formula for magnification is: \( \text{Magnification} = \frac{\text{Image Size}}{\text{Actual Size}} \).
The image size is 10 mm, and the actual size is 0.008 mm.
Therefore, \( \text{Magnification} = \frac{10}{0.008} = 1250 \).
(c) Two functions of part Q (xylem):
1. Transport of water (from roots to leaves).
2. Transport of mineral ions (from roots to leaves).
Part Q is the xylem tissue. Xylem is a vascular tissue in plants. Its main functions are to transport water and dissolved mineral ions from the roots to the rest of the plant. It also provides mechanical support to the plant stem.