Cambridge IGCSE™

* 6 4 4 9 1 5 1 0 1 7 *

BIOLOGY 0610/61
Paper 6 Alternative to Practical May/June 2023

1 hour

You must answer on the question paper.

No additional materials are needed.

INSTRUCTIONS
● Answer all questions.
● Use a black or dark blue pen. You may use an HB pencil for any diagrams or graphs.
● Write your name, centre number and candidate number in the boxes at the top of the page.
● Write your answer to each question in the space provided.
● Do not use an erasable pen or correction fluid.
● Do not write on any bar codes.
● You may use a calculator.
● You should show all your working and use appropriate units.

INFORMATION
● The total mark for this paper is 40.
● The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ].

This document has 16 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.

DC (LE/CT) 312353/4 R
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1 A student investigated the effect of temperature on the rate of respiration in yeast cells.

When yeast cells respire they release carbon dioxide gas.

The student used this method:

Step 1 Fill a syringe with 15 cm3 of yeast suspension.

Step 2 Gently lower the syringe into the measuring cylinder, as shown in Fig. 1.1.

Step 3 Fill the measuring cylinder with hot water. Ensure that the water level in the measuring
cylinder is above the syringe nozzle.

measuring cylinder bubble of carbon

dioxide gas
water

syringe nozzle

yeast suspension

Fig. 1.1

Step 4 Measure the temperature of the water in the measuring cylinder.

Step 5 Start the stop-clock and wait for two minutes.

Step 6 After two minutes, reset the stop-clock to zero.

Step 7 Start the stop-clock again and count the number of bubbles produced by the yeast
suspension in three minutes.

Step 8 Pour the hot water in the measuring cylinder into the waste container. The syringe
containing the yeast suspension should remain in the measuring cylinder.

Step 9 Fill the measuring cylinder with cold water. Ensure that the water level in the measuring
cylinder is above the syringe nozzle.

Step 10 Repeat steps 4 to 7.

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Fig. 1.2 shows the thermometer during step 4 and step 10.

50 50

40 40

30 30

20 20

10 10

0 0

°C °C

hot water cold water

Fig. 1.2

Fig. 1.3 shows the number of bubbles the student counted in three minutes in step 7 and step 10.

hot water – 54 bubbles

cold water – 12 bubbles

Fig. 1.3

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(a) (i) Prepare a table for the results and record the temperatures shown in Fig. 1.2 and the
results shown in Fig. 1.3.

[3]

(ii) State a conclusion for the results.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(iii) Using the results, calculate the rate of bubble production in bubbles per minute for the
yeast suspension in hot water and in cold water.

rate of bubble production in hot water ............................... bubbles per minute

rate of bubble production in cold water ............................... bubbles per minute

[1]

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(iv) State the independent variable in this investigation.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(v) State two variables that were kept constant in this investigation.

1 ........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

2 ........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................
[2]

(vi) Suggest why the yeast suspension was left for two minutes in step 5 before starting to
count the number of bubbles.

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..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(vii) Suggest why counting bubbles is not the most accurate method of determining the rate
of respiration in yeast.

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...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

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(b) Measuring the volume of a gas is more accurate than counting bubbles. Using a gas syringe
is one method of collecting a volume of gas.

Fig. 1.4 shows part of the apparatus that can be used to measure the volume of a gas by a
different method.

Complete the diagram in Fig. 1.4 by drawing and labelling the two pieces of apparatus that
are missing.

bung

yeast
suspension
container
of water

Fig. 1.4
[2]

(c) Yeast can respire reducing sugars.

Describe the method you would use to test a substance for the presence of reducing sugars.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [2]

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(d) Bread is made from flour, water and yeast which are mixed to form a dough.

Fig. 1.5 shows a person making bread.

dough

Fig. 1.5

The carbon dioxide gas produced by yeast causes the volume of the dough to increase.

Sodium chloride (salt) is often added to dough when making bread. The sodium chloride
affects the rate at which the yeast respire.

Plan an investigation to determine the effect of the mass of sodium chloride on the volume of
dough.

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............................................................................................................................................. [6]

[Total: 20]
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2 Fig. 2.1 is a photograph of a cross-section of a root from a carrot plant, Daucus carota.

P Q

magnification ×6

Fig. 2.1

(a) (i) Draw a large diagram of the carrot root cross-section that shows the layers visible in
Fig. 2.1.

[4]
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(ii) Line PQ on Fig. 2.1 represents the diameter of the carrot root cross-section.

Measure the length of line PQ on Fig. 2.1.

length of PQ ............................................... mm

Calculate the actual diameter of the carrot root cross-section using the formula and your
measurement.
length of line PQ in Fig. 2.1
magnification = actual diameter of the carrot root cross-section

Give your answer to one decimal place.

Space for working.

................................................................... mm
[3]

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(b) A student investigated the effect of the concentration of a salt solution on the mass of carrot
cubes. The student used this method:

• Carrots were cut into cubes. Each side of the cube was 1 cm in length.
• The initial mass of each carrot cube was measured and recorded.
• Each carrot cube was put into a different concentration of salt solution.
• The carrot cubes were left in the salt solutions for one hour.
• After one hour, the carrot cubes were removed from the salt solution and dried with
a paper towel.
• The final mass of each carrot cube was measured and recorded.

(i) State the dependent variable in the investigation described in 2(b).

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) State two variables that were kept constant in this investigation.

1 ........................................................................................................................................

2 ........................................................................................................................................
[2]

(iii) Explain why it was important to dry the carrot cubes before measuring the final mass.

...........................................................................................................................................

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..................................................................................................................................... [1]

The results of the investigation are shown in Table 2.1.

Table 2.1

concentration of salt initial mass of final mass of

change in mass / g
solution / mol per dm3 carrot cube / g carrot cube / g
0.0 0.97 1.04 0.07
0.2 0.98 0.99 0.01
0.4 0.96 0.90 –0.06
0.6 0.98 0.86 –0.12
0.8 0.99 0.84 –0.15
1.0 0.95 0.79 –0.16
1.2 0.96 0.80 –0.16

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(iv) Using the data in Table 2.1, plot a line graph on the grid to show the effect of concentration
of salt solution on the change in mass of the carrot cubes.

One axis has been started for you.

0.0

[4]

(v) Using your graph, estimate the concentration of salt solution at which there is no change
in the mass of the carrot cube.

Show on the graph how you obtained your estimate.

........................................... mol per dm3

[2]

(vi) Using the information in Table 2.1, calculate the percentage change in mass of the
carrot cube that was placed in the 0.4 mol per dm3 salt solution.

Space for working.

........................................................... %
[2]
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(vii) The student did not repeat the investigation and only collected one set of results.

Explain why it is better to collect several sets of results.

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..................................................................................................................................... [1]

[Total: 20]

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© UCLES 2023 0610/61/M/J/23