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IB DP Biology Mock Exam HL Paper 2 Set 2 - 2025 Syllabus

IB DP Biology Mock Exam HL Paper 2 Set 2

Prepare for the IB DP Biology Exam with our comprehensive IB DP Biology Exam Mock Exam HL Paper 2 Set 2. Test your knowledge and understanding of key concepts with challenging questions covering all essential topics. Identify areas for improvement and boost your confidence for the real exam

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Question 

Bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) are insects capable of both learning independently and learning from others. Researchers trained selected bees to slide either a blue tab or a red tab on a puzzle box so that the lid rotated, exposing a sucrose reward.
These trained bees were then placed with untrained bees to test for social learning. The groups were: B (one bee trained on the blue tab), R (one bee trained on the red tab), and C (control group with no trained bees). Untrained bees were considered “learners” once they successfully opened the box twice. The line graph shows the number of learners per day.
(a) Identify the number of learners in group R on day 6.
(b) Compare and contrast how the number of learners changes over time in groups B and R.
(c) Calculate the percentage increase in learners in group R from day 3 to day 6.
The total number of times bees opened the puzzle box using either tab was recorded after six days.
(d) Estimate how many times bees in group B opened the box using the red tab.
(e) Based on all provided results, suggest and justify whether group B or group R was more effective at opening the puzzle box.
The experiment continued for 12 days. A Learner Proficiency Index (LPI) was calculated for each bee:
LPI = Total openings ÷ Days taken to become a learner.
The LPIs for learners in both B and R groups were combined (\(B+R\)).
(f) Determine what percentage of the \(B+R\) group had an LPI value of 28 or below.
(g) The most skilled learner in the control (C) group, bee y12, produced 216 successful openings.
(i) State the LPI for bee y12.
(ii) Calculate how many days it took bee y12 to become a learner.
(h) Using all the experimental data, justify the conclusion that although spontaneous learning occurred, bees exposed to trained demonstrators were much more effective learners.
▶️ Answer/Explanation
Detailed solution

(a)
\(6\)

(b)
• Similarity: Both groups show a rising number of learners across the six days.
• Difference: Group B begins gaining learners immediately, while group R does not produce any learners until day 3. Group B consistently has more learners than group R throughout the period.

(c)
Day 3 learners: \(1\)
Day 6 learners: \(6\)
Percentage increase:
\[ \frac{(6 – 1)}{1} \times 100 = 500\% \]

(d)
Estimated 5–8 openings using the red tab (very small bar slightly above the red value in the control group).

(e)
Group R appears more efficient overall. Although group R produced fewer learners than group B (6 vs 8 by day 6), the R group recorded a much higher total number of box openings (~790 vs ~615), indicating greater overall proficiency.

(f)
The median for the \(B+R\) learners is at an LPI of about 28. Therefore, 50% of bees in the combined group had an LPI of 28 or lower.

(g)
(i) The LPI for bee y12 is approximately 24 (shown as an outlier point).
(ii) \[ \text{Days to learn} = \frac{216}{24} = 9 \] So y12 took 9 days to become a learner.

(h)
• The control group demonstrates that spontaneous learning is possible: bee y12 learned without any demonstration and produced 216 openings.
• However, bees in the trained groups (B and R) were far more proficient. Their median LPI (~28) was dramatically higher than that of the control (~2).
• Trained groups produced more learners sooner, and opened the box far more frequently, showing that social learning made bees significantly more effective at solving the task.

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