Cambridge O Level

BIOLOGY 5090/11
Paper 1 Multiple Choice May/June 2024
1 hour

You must answer on the multiple choice answer sheet.

*9296255164*

You will need: Multiple choice answer sheet

Soft clean eraser
Soft pencil (type B or HB is recommended)

INSTRUCTIONS
 There are forty questions on this paper. Answer all questions.
 For each question there are four possible answers A, B, C and D. Choose the one you consider correct
and record your choice in soft pencil on the multiple choice answer sheet.
 Follow the instructions on the multiple choice answer sheet.
 Write in soft pencil.
 Write your name, centre number and candidate number on the multiple choice answer sheet in the
spaces provided unless this has been done for you.
 Do not use correction fluid.
 Do not write on any bar codes.
 You may use a calculator.

INFORMATION
 The total mark for this paper is 40.
 Each correct answer will score one mark.
 Any rough working should be done on this question paper.

This document has 20 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.

IB24 06_5090_11/3RP
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1 The diagram shows some of the structures in a plant cell.

Which labelled parts show a sap vacuole, a nucleus and a chloroplast?

sap vacuole nucleus chloroplast

A X Y Z
B X Z Y
C Y Z X
D Z Y X

2 A new organism is discovered. It contains DNA in a cellular structure.

To which group of organisms could it belong and to which group could it not belong?

could could not

belong to belong to

A bacteria fungi
B bacteria viruses
C fungi bacteria
D viruses bacteria

3 When animal cells and plant cells are placed in distilled water, the animal cells burst but the plant
cells do not.

Which statement explains this difference?

A Animal cells do not contain starch grains, so there is no osmosis.

B Only plant cells have a permanent vacuole which stores water.
C Plant cells have a stronger cell membrane than animal cells.
D The cell wall of plant cells resists turgor pressure.

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4 The diagram shows the concentration of magnesium ions in a root hair cell of a healthy plant and
in the soil water surrounding the root hair cell. The plant continuously uses up magnesium ions.

soil particle

concentration of
magnesium ions concentration of
5 mmol per dm3 magnesium ions
3 mmol per dm3

For the plant to remain healthy, how will the magnesium ions move?

A into the cell by active transport

B into the cell by diffusion
C correct
out of the cell by active transport
D out of the cell by diffusion

5 The key shows shapes representing small food molecules.

key

amino acid

fatty acid

glucose

glycerol

Large food molecules are made from smaller food molecules.

Which diagram represents part of a glycogen molecule?

D correct

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6 Enzymes are biological catalysts.

Which type of molecule can be an enzyme?

A carbohydrate
B fat
C nucleotide
correct
D protein

7 The graphs show factors affecting the rate of photosynthesis.

2 4
rate of rate of
photosynthesis photosynthesis
1 3

light intensity carbon dioxide

concentration

rate of
photosynthesis
6

temperature

At which points on the graphs could the rate of photosynthesis be limited by light intensity?

A 1, 3 and 6 B 1, 4 and 5 C 2, 3 and 5 D 2, 4 and 6 option d

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8 The diagram shows a section through a leaf.

What are the functions of the parts labelled 1, 2, 3 and 4?

1 2 3 4

A gaseous exchange transporting sucrose transporting water photosynthesis

B gaseous exchange transporting water transporting sucrose photosynthesis
C photosynthesis transporting sucrose transporting water gaseous exchange
D photosynthesis transporting water transporting sucrose gaseous exchange
option d
9 Which pathway is taken by water and mineral ions through a plant?

A root hair cells  mesophyll cells  xylem  cortex cells

B root hair cells  cortex cells  phloem  mesophyll cells

C root hair cells  mesophyll cells  phloem  cortex cells

D root hair cells  cortex cells  xylem  mesophyll cells

option d

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10 A student investigated the rate of transpiration in a green plant. The plant was growing in soil in
a pot.

The student watered the plant and then put a plastic bag around the pot, leaving the leaves of the
plant outside the bag. She measured the mass of the plant in the pot at the start and repeated
this every two hours for six hours.

plant

plastic bag

balance
1276

The results of the investigation are shown.

mass of pot
time of day
and plant / g

09:00 1276
11:00 1270
13:00 1258
15:00 1252

What is the mean rate of transpiration over the six-hour period?

A 43 g / h B 12 g / h C 8g/h D 4g/h

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11 The diagram shows what happens to amino acids in part of the human body.

blood body
ileum stream cell

amino amino amino

acids acids acids NOT TO
SCALE
proteins

P Q

What describes processes P and Q?

P Q

A absorption assimilation
B absorption digestion
C digestion absorption
D digestion assimilation

12 A dish is filled with agar jelly containing starch. Four holes are cut in the jelly and each hole is
filled as shown in the diagram.

After 30 minutes, which hole will be surrounded by the largest area without starch?

amylase solution

gastric protease
solution and amylase solution and
hydrochloric acid D B hydrochloric acid

C
agar jelly

gastric protease solution

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13 A healthy person eats a meal containing carbohydrates.

Two hours later, which structure will contain a liquid with an increased concentration of glucose?

A colon
B hepatic portal vein
C renal artery
D ureter

14 Which cells in the gas exchange system produce mucus?

A ciliated cells
B goblet cells
C lymphocyte cells
D red blood cells

15 Which equation represents anaerobic respiration in humans?

A glucose + carbon dioxide  lactic acid

B glucose  alcohol + carbon dioxide

C glucose  lactic acid

D glucose  lactic acid + carbon dioxide

16 The heart acts as a pump, pushing blood through the circulatory system.

The arrows on the diagram of the heart indicate the direction in which blood flows.

At which point is the pressure of the blood the greatest?

B C
A D

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17 A person’s cuts and grazes do not heal and their blood does not clot easily.

What may be the cause of these symptoms?

A a higher than normal level of fibrinogen in the blood

B a higher than normal level of red blood cells in the blood
C a lower than normal level of platelets in the blood
D a lower than normal level of iron in the blood

18 How is the malarial parasite transmitted to humans?

A by close contact with a person infected with malaria

B by drinking water infested with parasites
C by eating food contaminated with mosquito saliva
D by mosquito saliva entering the bloodstream

19 Some fatal diseases are associated with smoking tobacco.

In 1990, the government of a country began a campaign to persuade people to stop smoking.
The graph shows the numbers of people dying from smoking-related diseases in the years after
1990.

200

150
number of deaths
due to smoking-
100
related illness
/ 100 000 people
50

0
1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035
year

If the number of people dying from smoking-related diseases continued to fall at the same rate, in
which year would there be no deaths caused by smoking?

A 2020 B 2025 C 2030 D 2035

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20 Which diseases can be treated effectively with antibiotics?

1 HIV
2 malaria
3 cholera

A 1, 2 and 3 B 1 only C 2 and 3 only D 3 only

21 In 2022, many countries required travellers to be fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus.
New Zealand’s requirements stated: ‘You need to have had the last vaccination at least 14 days
before you arrive.’

Why did New Zealand require a period of 14 days after vaccination before entry was allowed?

A to make sure there were no bad side effects from the vaccination
B to allow time for the production of antibodies
C to allow time for the production of antigens
D to make sure the person did not have COVID-19

22 Which row identifies the contents of urine in a healthy person?

glucose urea water ions

A    
B    
C    
D    

23 Which statement describes the roles of components of the nervous system?

A Effectors respond to environmental changes and send impulses to the central nervous
system (CNS).
B Parts of the central nervous system (CNS) can only transmit impulses to a single effector at a
time.
C Parts of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) carry impulses to effectors and receptors from
the central nervous system (CNS).
D Receptors respond to environmental changes and send impulses to the central nervous
system (CNS).

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24 The diagram shows a section through the eye.

4
1

In the pupil reflex, which row gives the sites of the effectors and receptors involved?

effectors receptors

A 3 1
B 3 2
C 4 1
D 4 2

25 The graph shows changes in the body temperature of a person over a 60-hour period.

37.5

37.0
body
temperature 36.5
/ °C
36.0

35.5
12:00 00:00 12:00 00:00 12:00 00:00
18:00 06:00 18:00 06:00 18:00
time of day

Which statement about the graph is correct?

A The temperature of the person is always lower at 18:00 than at 06:00.

B The range shown by the data is 1.0 C.

C The temperature of the person after 9 hours from the start is 36.8 C.

D Over this period, the mean temperature of the person at 18:00 is 36.8 C.

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26 Which process is stimulated by adrenaline in the cells of the liver?

A breakdown of glycogen, increasing the blood glucose level

B breakdown of excess amino acids, forming urea
C breakdown of proteins, releasing amino acids into the blood
D conversion of excess blood glucose to glycogen

27 The diagrams show experiments to investigate the response of plant shoots to light.

Which shoot will not grow towards the light?

A B

light light

thin glass plate thin glass plate separates

inserted half-way the two sides of the
below the tip shoot lower down

C D

light light

the tip of the the tip of the

shoot removed shoot removed and
and then replaced replaced to one side

28 The diagram shows the life cycle of a species of plant.

During which stage does meiosis (reduction division) occur?

mature plant
A
C
ovule pollen
D daughter
plant

seed B

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29 What is an advantage of sexual reproduction in plants?

A It is faster than asexual reproduction.

B Offspring show genetic variation. b
C Only one parent is needed. c
D Pollinators are not needed.

30 Some features of four flowers, A, B, C and D, are recorded in the table.

Which flower is most likely to be pollinated by wind?

anthers stigma
smooth sticky small large option c
inside outside
pollen pollen petals petals
petals petals

A       key
B        = present
C        = absent
D      

31 What is the path taken by sperm cells during ejaculation from the male reproductive system?

A sperm duct  testis  urethra

B sperm duct  urethra  testis

C testis  sperm duct  urethra

D testis  urethra  sperm duct option c

32 The diagram shows the female reproductive system.

Which label identifies the cervix?

option b
B C
D

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33 The graph shows the percentage of the population with different ABO blood groups in one region.

50

40

percentage 30
of population
20

10

0
O A B AB
blood groups

How does the graph suggest that variation in ABO blood groups is discontinuous?

A There are intermediates.

B The percentage of the population with each blood group is different.
C There is a limited number of phenotypes.
D There is a range of phenotypes between two extremes.

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34 For a gene with two alleles, A and a, which diagram identifies these alleles and the genotypes
they can form?

A B

homozygous homozygous

Aa

recessive AA a recessive

A a a A

aa AA
dominant dominant

Aa

heterozygous heterozygous

C D

homozygous homozygous

recessive aa AA recessive aa AA
a A

Aa
dominant dominant

Aa a
no idea
heterozygous heterozygous

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35 Over time, a species of bird develops a more pointed beak. The more pointed shape of the beak
helps the birds to catch small insects that may be hiding in cracks in the rocks.

What is a reason for the change in the shape of the birds’ beaks?

A Birds develop more pointed beaks as they search for insects in cracks in the rocks.
B Individuals with less pointed beaks are better fitted to their environment and more likely to
b
survive.
C Individuals with more pointed beaks are better able to compete for food.
D When reproducing, birds are more likely to seek out mates with less pointed beaks because
these are better adapted.

36 In the process of genetic modification to make artificial insulin (a protein), which material is
inserted into the host bacterium and what effects does this have?

material inserted effects in bacterium

A bacterial DNA synthesis of protein and multiplication of bacteria

B bacterial DNA synthesis of protein and cell death
C human DNA assembly of amino acids and synthesis of a protein
D human DNA assembly of amino acids and multiplication of bacteria

37 The diagram shows a food web for an ecosystem.

long-eared owl

mole shrew bank vole rabbit

beetle field mouse

grass growing in a field

Which group of organisms in an ecosystem is not shown in this food web?

A carnivores
B decomposers
C herbivores
D producers
c

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38 The graph shows the atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration from 1968 to 2000 in a country.

372
364
356

carbon dioxide 348

concentration 340
/ parts per million
332
324
316

1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000

year

Every year there are variations in carbon dioxide concentration.

What is the best explanation for these variations?

A increased rate of photosynthesis in the summer months of each year

B increased rate of respiration in the winter months of each year
C higher rainfall in the summer months of each year
D increasing yearly temperatures due to global warming d

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39 The diagrams show what happens to rain when it falls on an area of forested land before and
after houses are built.

1 2

rainfall rainfall
100% 100%
transpiration transpiration

40%
25%
surface 10% surface
runoff runoff ?%

groundwater 32%
groundwater 50%

before houses are built after houses are built

What is the difference in the percentage of surface runoff before and after building the houses?

A increases by 33%
B increases by 43%
C decreases to 43%
D decreases to 33%

40 The graph shows the concentration of oxygen in a river, measured at stations 1 to 5, each 100 m
apart. There is a sewage outflow just after station 1.

oxygen
concentration

1 2 3 4 5
direction of
station number river flow
sewage
outflow

At which stations are the concentrations of organic matter lowest?

A 1 and 5 B 2 and 3 C 3 and 4 D 4 and 5

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