Maths Skills Questions
Maths Skills Questions
Maths Skills Questions
Q1.
Ecologists investigated changes in grassland communities on large islands off the coast of
Scotland between 1975 and 2010. On each island, they used data from a number of sites
to determine the change in mean species richness and the change in mean index of
diversity.
(a) Table 1 shows plant species recorded at one site, on one island, in 1975.
Table 1
Hydrocotyle vulgaris 3
Plantago maritima 19
Ranunculus acris 3
Hieracium pilosella 3
Calliergon cuspidatum 10
Prunella vulgaris 16
Pseudoscleropodium purum 6
Calculate the index of diversity for this site using the formula:
d = ___________
(2)
(b) Outline a method the ecologists could have used to determine the plant species
richness at one site.
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(3)
(c) Some of the ecologists’ results are shown in Table 2. They carried out a statistical
test to find out whether any differences between the 1975 and 2010 means were
significant. The values for P that they obtained are also shown in Table 2.
Table 2
Do these data show that there were any significant changes in the grassland
communities on these islands? Give reasons for your answer.
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(3)
(Total 8 marks)
Q2.
Scientists investigated how the concentration of protein in blood plasma changes in
people between the ages of 60 and 95.
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The graph shows the scientists’ results. The bars show ±1 standard deviation.
(a) What is the difference between males and females in the fall in mean concentration
of protein in blood plasma between 60 and 95 years?
(b) Use the graph above to calculate the rate of change of the mean concentration of
protein in the blood plasma of males between the ages of 60 and 95.
(c) What can you conclude from the graph above about the effect of ageing on the
mean concentration of protein in the blood plasma in males and females?
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(2)
(d) The scientists measured the absorption of each sample of blood plasma using a
colorimeter. They used a calibration curve to find the concentration of protein in
samples of blood plasma.
Describe how the scientists could obtain data to produce a calibration curve and
how they would use the calibration curve to find the concentration of protein in a
sample of blood plasma.
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(3)
(e) Older people are more likely to suffer from infectious diseases.
Suggest how this may be linked to the decrease in the mean concentration of
protein in the blood as people get older.
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(1)
(Total 9 marks)
Q3.
Farmers use artificial fertilisers to maintain or increase yield from grain-producing crop
plants such as wheat.
(a) Artificial fertiliser is used to replace mineral ions removed from the land when crops
are harvested. One of the mineral ions is nitrate.
1. _________________________________________________________________
2. _________________________________________________________________
(2)
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(b) Scientists investigated changes in the use of artificial fertiliser in India between 1970
and 2005. They also investigated changes in the fertiliser response ratio. This
ratio shows how many kg of grain are produced for each kg of fertiliser used.
The graph shows their results in the form the scientists presented them. (A hectare
is a unit of area commonly used in agriculture)
Use these data to calculate the difference in the mass of grain produced per hectare
in 1970 compared with 2005.
(c) Use the data in the graph above to evaluate the use of artificial fertilisers on
grain-producing crops in India.
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(2)
(Total 6 marks)
Q4.
Arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) are fungi which grow on, and into, the roots of plants.
AMF can increase the uptake of inorganic ions such as phosphate.
(a) Suggest one way in which an increase in the uptake of phosphate could increase
plant growth.
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(1)
(b) Suggest one way in which AMF may benefit from their association with plants.
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(1)
(c) Scientists investigated the effects of different AMF species on the productivity of the
plant community of a prairie grassland ecosystem when growing in/on soil
containing different phosphate concentrations.
The scientists set up identical plots of prairie grassland soil containing seeds of the
plant species found in the ecosystem. The scientists added different AMF species
and different concentrations of phosphate to particular plots. Control plots without
AMF species were also set up. After 20 weeks the scientists determined the shoot
biomass for each plot.
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Explain why an increase in shoot biomass can be taken as a measurement of net
primary productivity.
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(2)
(d) Using the data from the graph in part (c), evaluate the effect on plant productivity of
adding AMF species and adding phosphate to the soil.
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(4)
(e) Using the ex button on your calculator, determine the rate of shoot biomass
production in grams per day for the control plot in soil with normal phosphate
concentration.
Q5.
(a) Give three properties of water that are important in biology.
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2. _________________________________________________________________
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3. _________________________________________________________________
(3)
The student:
• weighed each chip at the start
• placed each chip in a separate test tube, each containing 10 cm3 of sucrose solution
at a different concentration
• left the chips in the sucrose solution for 24 hours
• dried the surface of the chips and then weighed them again.
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0.8 2.72 2.20
(b) The student produced the sucrose solutions with different concentrations from a
concentrated sucrose solution.
Name the method she would have used to produce these sucrose solutions.
(c) Calculate the ratio of final mass to initial mass of potato chips and plot a suitable
graph of your processed data. Express the ratios in the table in part (a) as a single
number (for example 5.26:1 would be expressed as 5.26).
(3)
(d) Explain the result for the chip in 0.8 mol dm−3 sucrose solution.
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(2)
(Total 9 marks)
Q6.
Furosemide and CVT are drugs used to remove excess fluid from the body. Scientists
investigated the effect of these drugs on the volume of urine produced by human
volunteers. The scientists used the following method.
Table 1
Mean volume of urine
produced in 4 hours /
Group
cm3 (± 2 standard
deviations)
A 1980
(furosemide) (± 152)
B 1201
(CVT) (± 119)
C 312
(placebo) (± 57)
(a) All the volunteers were given the same food for 3 days.
Suggest and explain one reason why they were given the same food.
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(2)
(b) Using Table 1, what can you conclude about the effectiveness of furosemide and
CVT in the removal of excess fluid from the body?
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(d) Furosemide inhibits the absorption of sodium and chloride ions from the filtrate
produced in the nephrons.
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(3)
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The scientists also measured the mean rate of flow of blood plasma into the kidneys.
Table 2
A
380
(furosemide)
B
342
(CVT)
C
295
(placebo)
(e) The mean rate of flow of blood plasma is 60% of the mean rate of blood flow into the
kidneys.
How much greater is the flow of blood into the kidneys with furosemide than with
group C (placebo) over the 4 hours of the investigation? Give your answer in cm 3.
Answer = ____________________ cm 3
(1)
(Total 9 marks)
Q7.
The graph shows the volume changes in the left ventricle of a human heart during two
cardiac cycles. The numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4 represent times when heart valves open or
close.
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(a) Use information from the graph to complete the table in part (a). Place the number
1, 2, 3 or 4 in the appropriate box.
Semi-lunar valve
Atrioventricular valve
(2)
(b) Use the diagram above to calculate the volume of blood pumped per minute by the
left ventricle.
(c) Explain the role of the heart in the formation of tissue fluid.
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(d) Lymphoedema is a swelling in the legs which may be caused by a blockage in the
lymphatic system.
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(1)
(Total 7 marks)
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Q8.
In women, the first division of meiosis produces one daughter cell that has almost all of
the cytoplasm. The other daughter cell consists of a nucleus surrounded by a very small
amount of cytoplasm and a cell-surface membrane. This very small daughter cell is called
a polar body. Polar bodies do not usually divide. The same process occurs in the second
division of meiosis, resulting in one egg cell and two polar bodies.
The diagram shows the formation of an egg cell and two polar bodies during meiosis. It
also shows what happens to one pair of homologous chromosomes. This pair carries two
alleles of gene A.
(a) Complete the diagram by putting A or a in the boxes. One box has been completed
for you with A.
(1)
(b) Put a tick (✓) in the box next to the name of the process that produced the
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combination of alleles on the chromosome in the first polar body in the diagram.
Anaphase
Crossing over
Independent assortment
Semi-conservative replication
(1)
(c) A scientist measured the diameter of a polar body and the diameter of the nucleus
inside it. The diameter of the polar body was 10.4 μm and the diameter of the
nucleus was 7.0 μm. The density of mitochondria in the cytoplasm of the polar body
(outside of the nucleus) was 0.08 mitochondria per μm3.
Calculate the number of mitochondria in the polar body. You should assume polar
bodies and nuclei are spherical.
• removing the nucleus from an egg cell donated by a woman with healthy
mitochondria
• replacing this nucleus with the contents of the polar body from a woman
whose egg cells are affected by mitochondrial disease.
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(2)
(e) If most of the mitochondria in a cell are faulty, this prevents many important
enzyme-catalysed reactions taking place or slows them down.
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(2)
(Total 8 marks)
Q9.
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is a cancer that affects some B cells of a person’s
immune system.
Rituximab is a drug used to treat CLL. It binds to a protein called CD20 on the surface of
B cells. If enough Rituximab binds to a B cell, it can kill the cell. Rituximab kills both
healthy and cancerous B cells. The body then produces new B cells.
The amount of CD20 on the surface of B cells varies from one person to another. Doctors
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investigated the relationship between the amount of CD20 on the B cells of a patient and
the percentage of B cells destroyed by Rituximab.
The graph shows the doctors’ results. Each cross is the result for one patient.
(a) What statistical test could the scientists have used to determine whether there was
a significant relationship between the amount of CD20 on the surface of B cells and
the percentage of B cells destroyed by Rituximab?
Give a reason for your answer.
Reason ____________________________________________________________
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(1)
(b) From these data, what can you conclude about the effectiveness of Rituximab in
treating patients with CLL?
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(3)
Approximately 11 percent of people with CLL also have mutations of a gene called
NOTCH1. This leads to production of a non-functional transcription factor associated with
CD20 production.
Use the median values in the table to calculate the difference between the number
of B cells per dm3 in the blood of people treated with Rituximab with the NOTCH1
mutation and people without the NOTCH1 mutation.
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____________________ cells per dm 3
(2)
(d) Use all of the information to suggest how the mutation of NOTCH1 led to the
difference in the percentage of B cells destroyed by Rituximab.
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(3)
(Total 9 marks)
Q10.
Read the following passage.
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monkeys maintained two years of colour vision, there is debate on whether 15
this form of gene therapy is worthwhile. No clinical trials of this procedure
have been carried out on humans. Current research into the treatment of
red-green colour blindness involves the use of induced pluripotent stem cells
(iPS cells). The use of iPS cells could have advantages over the use of gene
therapy. 20
Use the information in the passage and your own knowledge to answer the following
questions.
(a) People with complete achromatopsia have difficulty in seeing detail (lines 2–3).
Explain why.
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(3)
(b) Ten percent of the population on the Pacific island of Pingelap are affected by
complete achromatopsia (lines 3–6).
Use the Hardy-Weinberg equation to calculate the percentage of this population who
are heterozygous for this disorder.
Show your working.
Answer = ____________________ %
(2)
(c) Red-green colour blindness affects more men than women (lines 7–8).
Explain why.
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(2)
(d) People with red-green colour blindness are unable to distinguish between red and
green, and also between other colours (lines 8–10).
Explain why.
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(3)
(e) Current research into the treatment of red-green colour blindness involves the use
of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) (lines 17–19).
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(2)
(f) The use of iPS cells could have advantages over the use of gene therapy to correct
red-green colour blindness (lines 19–20).
Using the information from the passage, suggest and explain reasons why.
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(3)
(Total 15 marks)
Q11.
Yeast cells can respire aerobically or anaerobically. A student used the apparatus shown
in Figure 1 to measure the rate of respiration in yeast.
She:
• positioned the flask in a water bath so that the yeast culture reached a constant
temperature
• then left the apparatus for one hour before starting her investigation.
Figure 1
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(a) Suggest one reason why it was important that the student left the apparatus for one
hour after the yeast culture reached a constant temperature.
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(1)
(b) During her investigation, the coloured liquid moved to the right.
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(2)
(c) The student found that the coloured liquid moved 1.5 cm in 24 hours. The diameter
of the lumen (hole) of the capillary tubing was 1 mm.
The volume of a capillary tubing is given by πr2l, where π is 3.14 and l = length.
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Answer = ____________________ cm 3 hour–1
(2)
Figure 2 shows a typical population growth curve for yeast under laboratory conditions.
Figure 2
(d) Explain why a log scale is used to record the number of cells.
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(f) The following equation can be used to make predictions of the growth in the
population of yeast cells under ideal laboratory conditions.
Xt = X0 ert
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Assuming no yeast cells died, calculate the predicted size of the population after 10
hours. Show your working.
Answer = ____________________
(2)
(Total 9 marks)
Q12.
(a) Formation of an enzyme-substrate complex increases the rate of reaction.
Explain how.
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(2)
(b) A scientist measured the rate of removal of amino acids from a polypeptide with and
without an enzyme present. With the enzyme present, 578 amino acids were
released per second. Without the enzyme, 3.0 × 10 –9 amino acids were released per
second.
Calculate by how many times the rate of reaction is greater with the enzyme
present.
Give your answer in standard form.
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Answer = ____________________ times faster
(2)
ATP → ADP + Pi
Experiment C used
• the enzyme
• different concentrations of ATP.
Experiment L used
• the enzyme
• different concentrations of ATP
• a sugar called lyxose.
The scientists measured the rate of reaction in each experiment. Their results are shown
in the graph.
(c) Calculate the rate of reaction of the enzyme activity with no lyxose at 2.5 mmol dm –3
of ATP as a percentage of the maximum rate shown with lyxose.
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Answer = ____________________ %
(2)
Suggest a reason for the difference in the results shown in the graph with and
without lyxose.
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(3)
(Total 9 marks)
Q13.
(a) What is digestion?
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(2)
One species of fungus digests cellulose using two types of enzyme, endocellulases and
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exocellulases.
Endocellulases act in the middle of the cellulose molecule and exocellulases act at the
ends of the cellulose molecule.
Suggest why.
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(2)
The mixtures had identical total volumes. She determined the mass of cellulose remaining
after 48 hours.
(c) Use information from the table to calculate the rate of digestion of cellulose when
both enzymes are present.
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Answer = ____________________ g min –1
(2)
(d) The scientist used the same concentration of endocellulase and exocellulase in the
mixtures. The rate of digestion of cellulose is greatest when both enzymes are
present.
Suggest why.
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(2)
(e) The scientist could have expressed her results as the percentage loss in mass of
cellulose.
In the space, write the equation for calculating the percentage loss in mass.
(1)
(Total 9 marks)
Q14.
A student investigated the effect of surface area on osmosis in cubes of potato.
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(a) Describe the method the student would have used to obtain the results in the graph.
Start after all of the cubes of potato have been cut. Also consider variables he
should have controlled.
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(3)
(b) The loss in mass shown in the graph is due to osmosis. The rate of osmosis
between 0 and 40 minutes is faster in B (the eight small cubes) than in A (single
large cube).
Is the rate of osmosis per mm 2 per minute different between A and B during this
time?
Use appropriate calculations to support your answer.
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(Total 6 marks)
Q15.
(a) A student used a dilution series to investigate the number of cells present in a liquid
culture of bacteria.
Describe how he made a 1 in 10 dilution and then used this to make a 1 in 1000
dilution of the original liquid culture of bacteria.
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(3)
(b) Using an optical microscope, the student determined there were 15 cells in 0.004
mm3 of the 1 in 1000 dilution of the culture.
(c) The student looked at cells in the 1 in 10 dilution during his preliminary work. He
decided not to use this dilution to determine the number of cells in the undiluted
liquid culture.
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(2)
(d) On some farms, animals are routinely given antibiotics in their food.
Percentage of
Antibiotic antibiotic-resistant
bacteria
Tetracycline 29
Streptomycin 13
Suggest and explain one reason why bacteria resistant to tetracycline are more
common than bacteria resistant to streptomycin in these farm animals.
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(2)
(e) In recent years, these farm animals have not been given tetracycline in their food.
Despite this, the percentage of bacteria resistant to tetracycline has remained
constant.
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(Total 10 marks)
Q16.
This question should be written in continuous prose, where appropriate.
Quality of Written Communication will be assessed in the answer.
(a) Explain how the ventilation mechanism of a fish and the structure of its gills result in
the efficient uptake of oxygen from water.
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(6)
Table 1
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Feature Fish Mammal
Table 2
(b) (i) The fish has a body mass of 0.2 kg. Calculate the volume of water it will need
to pass over its gills each hour to supply the oxygen required when resting.
Show your working.
(ii) Ventilation in mammals involves movement of air to and from the gas
exchange surface in a tidal pattern. Using information in the tables, explain
why it is easier to move water over the gas exchange surface of a fish in one
direction rather than in a tidal pattern.
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(2)
(c) A rise in the temperature of water decreases the amount of oxygen dissolved in the
water. As the water temperature rises, the rate of ventilation in a fish also rises.
Explain the advantage of this.
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(2)
(Total 12 marks)
Q17.
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(a) A student prepared a stained squash of cells from the tip of an onion root and
observed it using an optical microscope.
• cut the first 5 mm from the tip of an onion root and placed it on a glass slide
• covered this tip with a drop of stain solution and a cover slip
• warmed the glass slide
• pressed down firmly on the cover slip.
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(2)
Figure 1 shows the cells the student saw in one field of view. He used this field of view to
calculate the length of time these onion cells spent in anaphase of mitosis.
Figure 1
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(b) Scientists have found the mean length of time spent by onion cells in anaphase of
mitosis is 105 minutes. They also found the cell cycle of cells in the onion root
shown in Figure 1 takes 1080 minutes.
Use this information and Figure 1 to calculate the length of time the cells of this
onion root are in anaphase and then calculate the percentage difference between
your answer and the mean length of time found by the scientists.
Answer = ____________________ %
(2)
(c) Tick (✓) the name given to the division of cytoplasm during the cell cycle.
A Binary fission
B Cytokinesis
C Phagocytosis
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D Segregation
(1)
(d) Describe and explain what the student should have done when counting cells to
make sure that the mitotic index he obtained for this root tip was accurate.
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(2)
(e) A scientist treated growing tips of onion roots with a chemical that stops roots
growing. After 24 hours, he prepared a stained squash of these root tips.
Figure 2
Use all of this information to suggest how the chemical stops the growth of roots.
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(Total 10 marks)
Q18.
(a) Describe the relationship between size and surface area to volume ratio of
organisms.
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(1)
(b) A scientist calculated the surface area of a large number of frog eggs. He found that
the mean surface area was 9.73 mm 2. Frog eggs are spherical.
π = 3.14
Use this equation to calculate the mean diameter of a frog egg.
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Diameter = ____________________ mm
(2)
The scientist calculated the ratio of surface area to mass for eggs, tadpoles and frogs. He
also determined the mean rate of oxygen uptake by tadpoles and frogs.
Mean rate of
Stage of frog Ratio of surface
oxygen uptake /
development area to mass
μmol g–1 h–1
(c) The scientist used units of μmol g–1 h–1 for the rate of oxygen uptake.
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(1)
(d) The scientist decided to use the ratio of surface area to mass, rather than the ratio
of surface area to volume. He made this decision for practical reasons.
Suggest one practical advantage of measuring the masses of frog eggs, tadpoles
and adults, compared with measuring their volumes.
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(1)
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___________________________________________________________________
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___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
(1)
(f) A student who looked at these results said that they could not make a conclusion
about the relationship between stage of development and metabolic rate.
Use information in the table to explain reasons why they were unable to make a
conclusion.
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___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
(3)
(Total 9 marks)
Q19.
(a) State and explain the property of water that can help to buffer changes in
temperature.
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___________________________________________________________________
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___________________________________________________________________
(2)
1. _________________________________________________________________
2. _________________________________________________________________
(1)
A student investigated the effect of ATP concentration on the activity of ATP hydrolase.
She used shortening of strips of muscle tissue caused by contraction as evidence that
ATP was being hydrolysed.
• She took four slides A, B, C and D, and added strips of muscle tissue of the same
length to each slide.
• She then added the same volume of ATP solutions of different concentrations to the
four slides and left each slide for five minutes.
• She then recorded the final length of each strip of muscle tissue.
Concentration
Final length of muscle
of ATP solution
Slide tissue after 5 minutes
added to slide /
–6 –3 / mm
× 10 mol dm
A 2 36
B 4 31
C 6 29
D 8 26
(c) Other than those given, name two variables the student should have controlled.
1. _________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
2. _________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
(2)
(d) Describe and explain the pattern shown by the data in the table.
Description
__________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
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___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Explanation _________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
(2)
(e) The hydrolysis of 1 dm 3 of a 1 mol dm–3 solution of ATP releases 30 500 J of energy.
60% of the energy released during the hydrolysis of 1 mol dm –3 of ATP is released
as heat; the rest is used for muscle contraction.
Calculate the energy available from ATP for contraction of the muscle on this slide.
Answer = ____________________ J
(3)
(Total 10 marks)
Q20.
A technician investigated the effect of temperature on the rate of an enzyme-controlled
reaction. At each temperature, he started the reaction using the same concentration of
substrate.
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Time after start of reaction / minutes
(a) Give two other factors the technician would have controlled.
1. _________________________________________________________________
2. _________________________________________________________________
(1)
(b) Draw a tangent on each curve to find the initial rates of reaction.
Use these values to calculate the ratio of the initial rates of reaction at 60 °C : 37 °C.
Show your working.
Ratio = ____________________ :1
(2)
(c) Explain the difference in the initial rate of reaction at 60 °C and 37 °C.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
(2)
(d) Explain the difference in the rates of reaction at 60 °C and 37 °C between 20 and
40 minutes.
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___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
(4)
(Total 9 marks)
Q21.
The diagram shows part of a prokaryotic cell.
W ________________________________________________________________
X _________________________________________________________________
Y _________________________________________________________________
Z _________________________________________________________________
(2)
W ________________________________________________________________
X _________________________________________________________________
(2)
___________________________________________________________________
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(1)
(d) Some prokaryotic cells can divide every 30 minutes. A liquid culture contained a
starting population of 1.35 × 10 4 cells.
Assuming each cell divides every 30 minutes, calculate how many cells there will be
after 3 hours. Assume no cells die during this time.
Answer = ____________________
(2)
(Total 7 marks)
Q22.
(a) Draw and label a single DNA nucleotide.
(2)
(b) Give two features of DNA and explain how each one is important in the
semi-conservative replication of DNA.
1. _________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
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___________________________________________________________________
2. _________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
(2)
(c) Replication of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is different from that of nuclear DNA.
The replication of the second strand of mtDNA only starts after two-thirds of the first
strand of mtDNA has been copied.
Tick (✓) the box that shows how long it would take to copy this mtDNA.
A 330 seconds
B 440 seconds
C 550 seconds
D 660 seconds
(1)
(Total 5 marks)
Q23.
(a) What is a monomer?
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___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
(1)
(b) Lactulose is a disaccharide formed from one molecule of galactose and one
molecule of fructose.
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Other than both being disaccharides, give one similarity and one difference between
the structures of lactulose and lactose.
Similarity ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Difference __________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
(2)
(c) Following digestion and absorption of food, the undigested remains are processed
to form faeces in the parts of the intestine below the ileum.
The faeces of people with constipation are dry and hard. Constipation can be
treated by drinking lactulose. Lactulose is soluble, but is not digested or absorbed in
the human intestine.
Use your knowledge of water potential to suggest why lactulose can be used to help
people suffering from constipation.
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___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
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(2)
(d) Lactulose can also be used to treat people who have too high a concentration of
hydrogen ions (H+) in their blood.
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The normal range for blood H+ concentration is 3.55 × 10–8 to 4.47 × 10–8 mol dm–3
Calculate the minimum percentage decrease required to bring the patient’s blood H+
concentration into the normal range.
Answer = ____________________
(2)
(Total 7 marks)
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Mark schemes
Q1.
(a) Correct answer of 4.92, 2 marks;
If N(N-1) = 3540, OR ∑n(n-1) = 720, then award 1 mark
Accept 4.916 / 4.917 / 4.9
2
Q2.
(a) 6 (g dm−3);
1
(c) 1. Protein content decreases with age and decreases more in females;
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2. Difference (between sexes) only significant at 95 years because SDs do
not overlap;
OR
Differences not significant because 2 × SD would overlap;
2
Q3.
(a) Two suitable examples;
Examples
1. amino acid / protein / polypeptide / peptide;
2. nucleic acid / nucleotide / base;
3. DNA;
4. RNA;
5. ATP / ADP;
6. NAD / NADP (reduced or not);
7. Cyclic AMP / cAMP;
8. Chlorophyll;
List rule applies
Reject for either point nitrates / nitrites / ammonia /
ammonium / urea
4. Accept pre-mRNA / mRNA / rRNA / tRNA
2 max
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1. accept fertiliser becomes less effective over time
1. Accept use of figures from graph
1. Accept the idea of less grain / crop over time
2. Ignore whether correlation is positive or negative
2 max
[6]
Q4.
(a) Used to produce named phosphate compound in cells;
e.g. ATP / ADP / phospholipids / DNA / RNA / RuBP / TP /GP etc.
1
Q5.
(a) Accept any three suitable properties e.g.:
• Is a metabolite
• Is a solvent
• Has a (relatively) high heat capacity
• Has a (relatively) large latent heat of vaporisation / evaporation
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• Has cohesion / hydrogen bonds between molecules;
No explanations are needed
However do not accept ‘polar’ unqualified
3 max
(d) 1. (0.8 mol dm−3 sucrose) solution has a more negative / lower water
potential than potato (cytoplasm);
OR
potato (cytoplasm) has a less negative / higher water potential than (0.8 mol
dm−3 sucrose) solution;
2. (therefore) water moves out (of potato) into the (sucrose) solution by
osmosis (so cells decrease in mass);
1. Accept sucrose solution is hypertonic / potato
cytoplasm is hypotonic
2. Accept water moves down a water potential gradient
2
[9]
Q6.
(a) 1. Affects water potential (of blood/body);
Accept Ψ for water potential
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Accept nephron for filtrate/tubule.
Q7.
(a)
open closed
Semi-lunar valves 2 3
Atrioventricular valves 4 1
One mark for each correct column
General marker
2
Q8.
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(a) Lowercase a in both boxes
1
OR
(d) 1. Egg (created) has nucleus / DNA / genes of (affected) woman / mother;
Accept ref. to zygote / embryo / child for egg
Accept genetic information
Ignore references to alleles
Reject if nucleus from wrong egg / woman
Q9.
(a) Correlation coefficient and because looking for correlation / relationship /
association between two variables / between B cells destroyed and CD20;
Accept Pearson and Spearman
Accept factor for variable
Wrong test or wrong reason = 0 marks
1
(b) 1. The more CD20 (on B cells), higher the percentage of / more B cells destroyed
/ more effective it is;
Ignore ref. to ‘positive correlation’ unqualified
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Ignore ref. to correlation vs. causation
Ignore ref. to effects on the immune system
OR
4. Won’t cure CLL / cancer / slows but doesn’t stop CLL / cancer;
(d) 1. Mutation changes the tertiary structure / amino acid sequence of transcription
factor;
Do not accept unqualified statements about non-functional
transcription factor – this is in stem of question
Answers must be in context of transcription factor, not CD20,
or generic statements
4. (Not enough CD20 so) nothing / little for Rituximab to bind to, so few / no B
cells destroyed;
Accept converse for cells with a lot of CD20
Accept lower median percentage for fewer cells destroyed
3 max
[9]
Q10.
(a) 1. No (functional) cones
OR
Only rods;
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2. Cones are connected to a single neurone
OR
Several rods connected to a single neurone;
Accept correct reference to retinal convergence
Accept ‘bipolar/nerve cell’ for neurone
Accept ‘many’ 2 or more for ‘several’
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Reject develop into ‘green cones’/blue’ cones’/’red cones’
Ignore develop/differentiate into (blue/red sensitive) cones;
Reject reference to develop in to ‘green pigment’/ ‘blue
pigment/ ‘red pigment
2
Q11.
(a) (So the) oxygen is used/absorbed/respired;
1
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Figure 1.
Accept competition for glucose/oxygen.
Accept any named sugar
Accept decrease in pH
Accept increase in toxins
Ignore food/nutrients
1
Q12.
(a) 1. Reduces activation energy;
Accept ‘reduces Ea’.
578/3.0 × 10–9
(c) 31.4;;
32.8
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33.1
30
29.3
Accept any number of significant figures ≥2, if rounding
correct (31.4284714).
Same principle applies to 1 max answers.
32.8 = Both readings at 2.5 mmol dm–3 (0.44/1.34)
33.1 = Both readings at 2.5 mmol dm–3 (0.44/1.33)
30 = Incorrect reading for C (0.42/1.4)
29.3 = Incorrect reading for C (0.41/1.4)
2
OR
OR
Q13.
(a) 1. Hydrolysis (of);
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If the answer includes additional decimal places, award the
marks if it would round to a correct answer
Accept for 1 mark, correct answer not in standard form 0.002
/ 0.00201 / 0.002014;
OR
Correct calculation using incorrect figure from table (9.2)
0.003 / 0.0031 / 0.00319 / 3 × 10 –3 / 3.0 × 10–3 / 3.19 × 10–3 /
3.2 × 10–3
OR
Correct calculation with answer expressed as g hr–1, 0.12 /
0.121 / 1.2x10–1
2
(e)
Accept
((final mass – initial mass) ÷ initial mass) × 100
OR
((change in mass) ÷ initial mass) × 100
OR
100 – ( × 100)
OR
(1 – (F/I)) × 100
OR
((I – F) ÷ I) × 100 / ((F – I) ÷ I) × 100
OR
((15 – final mass) ÷ 15) × 100 / ((final mass - 15) ÷ 15) × 100
1
[9]
Q14.
(a) 1. Method to ensure all cut surfaces of the eight cubes are exposed to the
sucrose solution;
Credit valid method descriptions to fulfil mp1, 2 and 3 (no
explanation is required).
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Accept ‘weigh the cubes at stated time intervals’
3 max
Calculation of rate per mm 2 for both sets of data, accept answers in the range
1.6 × 10–5 to 1.8 × 10–5 and
1.5 × 10–5 to 1.6 × 10–5;;; Both correct = 3
One correct = 2
Allow 1 mark for calculation of surface area of two (sets of) cubes 7350 (mm 2) and
14700 (mm2)
Allow 1 mark for calculation of both rates of osmosis shown in first 40 minutes –
between 0.12 and 0.13 and between 0.22 and 0.23
If surface area and/or rate of osmosis is incorrect then, allow 1 mark for (their)
calculated rate divided by (their) calculated surface area
Accept answers not given in standard form or to any number
of significant figures ≥2sf as long as rounding correct.
3 max
[6]
Q15.
(a) 1. Add 1 part (bacteria) culture to 9 parts (sterile) liquid (to make 10 –1 dilution);
Accept water / nutrient / broth for liquid
2. Mix (well);
Accept stir
3. Repeat using 9 parts fresh (sterile) liquid and 1 part of 10 –1 and 10–2 dilutions
to make 10–3 dilution;
OR
Add 1 part 10–1 (suspension) to 99 parts (sterile) liquid (to make 10 –3 dilution);
Accept water / nutrient / broth for liquid
Reject 1 part (undiluted) culture added to 999 parts liquid
3
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2. Because too many cells;
OR
Because cells overlapping / not spread out;
2
Q16.
(a) (explanation must be linked to structures to gain second mark for each linked pair)
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6
Q17.
(a) 1. Where dividing cells are found / mitosis occurs;
OR
No dividing cells / mitosis in tissue further away / more than 5 mm from tip;
OR
To get (soft) tissue that will squash;
OR
Length that will fit under cover slip;
Accept most dividing cells
2. Single / thin layer of cells / spread out cells so light passes through (making
cells / nuclei visible);
Accept thin layer of tissue
Ignore to see cells clearly
2
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(c) Cytokinesis;
1
(d) Description;
Explanation;
E.g,
3. Repeat count;
5. Method to deal with part cells shown at edge /count only whole cells;
6. To standardise counting;
2 max
Q18.
(a) As size increases, ratio (of surface area to volume) decreases;
Accept converse.
Comparison required, e.g., smaller organisms have a larger
ratio
1
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equation, e.g.,
Radius =
OR
=
OR
=
OR
r2 = surface area ÷ 4 π
OR
r2 = 9.73 ÷ 12.56
OR
r2 = 0.77 / 0.774 / 0.775
2
(c) (Measures) small uptake / amount / quantity / volume / concentration / rate (of
oxygen uptake);
OR
Avoids use of powers of ten / standard form / many decimal places;
Ignore weight / accuracy
1
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3
[9]
Q19.
(a) 1. (water has a relatively) high (specific) heat capacity;
Ignore numbers relating to heat capacity
(d) Description
1. As concentration of ATP increases, length of muscle decreases;
Accept negative correlation
Explanation
2. More ATP (hydrolysed by ATP hydrolase), so more energy released, so
more muscle contraction / shortening of muscle;
Accept more ATP available for correct/named aspect of
muscle contraction
Idea of more is required once.
Reject energy produced
2
If answer incorrect
EITHER
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Allow 1 mark for 1.22 × 10–5
OR
Q20.
(a) Any two of the following:
Concentration of enzyme
Volume of substrate solution
pH.
Allow same concentration of substrate
1
(c) At 60 °C:
1. More kinetic energy;
2. More E–S complexes formed.
Allow converse for 37 °C
2
Q21.
(a) W – (cell surface) membrane
X – cell wall
Y – capsule
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Z – flagellum
Four correct = 2 marks.
Three or two correct = 1 mark.
Y - Ignore references to slime/mucus
Y - Reject capsid
Z - accept flagella
2
(b) W - Phospholipids;
X - Murein / glycoprotein;
X - Accept peptidoglycans.
Accept phonetic spellings
2
Q22.
(a) 1. Phosphate, deoxyribose and base correctly labelled;
Accept P in a circle / Pi / PO43– for phosphate.
Do not accept phosphorus for phosphate.
Do not accept only pentose for deoxyribose.
Ignore references to sugar.
Accept a named base, (eg adenine, thymine, guanine,
cytosine).
Do not accept uracil or only letters (eg A, T, G or C).
Ignore labelled bonds
2. Correct shapes and bonds in the correct positions (as shown below);
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Accept correct shapes with incorrect labels
Accept any orientation of diagram, eg inverted / mirror image
Accept any pentagon for deoxyribose
2
(b) 1. Weak / easily broken hydrogen bonds between bases allow two strands to
separate / unzip;
may appear in the same feature
Q23.
(a) (a monomer is a smaller / repeating) unit / molecule from which larger molecules /
polymers are made;
Reject atoms / elements / ’building blocks’ for units /
molecules
Ignore examples
1
(b) Similarity
1. Both contain galactose / a glycosidic bond;
Ignore references to hydrolysis and / or condensation
Difference
2. Lactulose contains fructose, whereas lactose contains glucose;
Ignore alpha / beta prefix for glucose
Difference must be stated, not implied
2
(c) 1. (Lactulose) lowers the water potential of faeces / intestine / contents of the
intestine;
Accept Ψ for water potential
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OR
OR
2
[7]
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