CAMBRIDGE IGCSE BIOLOGY TEST

TIME : 120 MNTS (scores attached for each answer)

Two characteristics of living organisms are nutrition and respiration.

(1) List three other characteristics of living organisms.

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

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

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

(2) Name the process by which green plants produce carbohydrates.

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

(3) Table 1 describes some of the characteristics of living organisms. Complete the table by
identifying each characteristic described. The first one has been completed as an example.

Table 1

Description Characteristic
Responding to stimuli in the environment Irritability
Releasing energy from sugars
Producing more organisms of the same type
Getting rid of waste chemicals made in the organism
Obtaining the materials for growth

[Total:4)

(4) Fig. 1 shows a red blood cell and a root hair cell.
 Fig 1

Select two structures in the root hair cell which are also present in the red blood
cell. In each case state the letter, A to E, and name the structure.

1. Letter.....................................................................................................

Name of structure .........................................................................(2)....

2. Letter ....................................................................................................

Name of structure .......... .................................................................. [2]

(5) Name one structure which is typical of many plant cells but which is not
present in the root hair cell.

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

(6) An experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of different concentrations of sucrose
solution on the length of potato strips.

Five test-tubes were set up, each containing a different concentration of sucrose solution.
Another tube was set up containing the same volume of distilled water.

A strip of potato tissue was placed in each tube. The strips were of equal size and as shown in Fig.
2

Fig. 2
These strips were completely covered by the solutions and were left in the tubes for 30 minutes.
The potato strips were removed and measured. The results are shown in Table 2.

TABLE 2
concentration of initial length final length change in length
sucrose solution (mm) (mm) (mm)
3
(mol dm )

0 70 73.0
0.2 70 71.5
0.4 70 69.0
0.6 70 67.0
0.8 70 66.0
1.0 70 64.5

Complete Table 2 to show the change in length of each strip..(3)

(7) Plot the changes in length against the concentration of sucrose solution on
the axes provided. Join the points using ruled lines.(3)

(8) What conclusions can be drawn from these results?

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

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

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

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

(9)
Name the process that has taken place to bring about these changes in the
lengths of the potato strips.

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

(10) Distinguish between the following groups of organisms: (i)

viruses and bacteria;

(ii) arachnids and crustacea;

(iii) monocotyledons and dicotyledons. [12] (11)

Using an example, explain the term binomial system. [3] [Total : 15]

(12) Fig. 5 shows the proportion of all known species in each of the main groups of organisms.

Fig. 5
Apart from insects, which group of organisms in Fig. 5 has the most known species?

[1]

(13) Fungi are shown as a separate group of organisms. State two reasons why fungi are not
classified as plants.
 1. ..............................................................................................................

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

(14) Use information from the pie chart to calculate what percentage of the arthropods are
insects. Show your working.

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

(15) State one feature of insects which contributes to their success and explain how this feature is
beneficial to the group.

Feature .............................................................................................................

Explanation .......................................................................................................
[3]

(16) 2.7% of all known species are vertebrates. Birds is one class of vertebrates.

State one feature which distinguishes this class from ail the other vertebrate classes.

[1]
(17) State one external feature which birds have in common with fish. [1]

(18) It is estimated that 1.7 million species of organisms have been named. Use data from the pie
chart to calculate the total number of plant species known. Show your working.

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

[Total: 12)

(19) Fig. 4 shows a food web for a freshwater pond.

 Fig. 4

(organisms 3 and 16 are greatly enlarged)

Two trophic levels are listed below. For each level, state two examples from Fig. 4
Identify them by their numbers.

Primary consumers (herbivores) .................... and ....................... (ii)

Secondary consumers (carnivores) .................... and ....................

[2]

(20) Using only the numbers in Fig. 4 construct a simple food chain with five stages.

(5)
(21) Fig. 2 shows single leaves from each of six different trees.

Figure 2.

Use the key below to identify from which tree each leaf comes. Write the name of each tree in the
correct box of Table 2. As you work through the key, tick the boxes in Table 2 to show
how you identified each leaf. Leaf A has been identified for you as an example.

Key

Name of tree
1 (a) Leaf with a smooth outline 2
(b) Leaf with a jagged outline 3
2 (a) Leaf about the same length as width Cydonia
(b) Leaf about twice as long as it is wide Magnolia
3 (a) Leaf divided into more than two distinct parts 4
(b) Leaf not divided into more than two distinct parts 5
4 (a) Leaf divided into five parts Aesculus
(b) Leaf divided into ten or more parts Fraxinus
5 (a) Leaf with pointed spines along its edge Ilex
(b) Leaf with rounded lobes along its edge Quercus

Leaf 1a 1b 2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b Name of tree

A Cydonia
B
C
D
E
F
Table 2.

(total : 4)
(22) Fig 1 shows five arthropods, each of which could carry disease organisms.

Use the key to identify each of the animals. Complete Table 1 to show your identifications.

KEY

1 Wings present ................................................................................................... Go to 2

Wings absent .................................................................................................... Go to 3

2 Wings longer than the abdomen ........................................................................ Musca

Wings shorter than the abdomen ................................................................ Anopheles

3 Has three pairs of legs ...................................................................................... Go to 4

Has four pairs of legs ............................................................................... Ornithodorus

4 All pairs of legs of similar length ................................................................... Pediculus

One pair of legs shorter than the other two pairs ................................................ Pulex
 Table 1

Name of arthropod Letter

Anopheles
Musca
Ornithodorus
Pediculus
Pulex

[4]

[Total : 4]

(23) Classify the following invertebrates under the headings, 'Protozoan', 'Annelid', 'Crustacean',
'Insect', or 'Mollusc' .

earthworm, slug, woodlouse, wasp, butterfly, lugworm, snail, lobster, Amoeba,

cockroach, whelk, shrimp, housefly, malarial parasite, mussel
(4)

(24) Which of the features listed below are possessed by all of the groups 'Mosses', 'Ferns' and
'Flowering plants'?

made up of many cells, have cell walls, contain chlorophyll, have roots, stems and
leaves, produce seeds, get energy from respiration
(3)

(25) Which of the following are not characteristics which could be used to distinguish a
mammal from other vertebrates?

eyes, fur, mammary glands, five toes, diaphragm, ears, teeth, ear pinnae, suckling its
young, milk teeth

(2)

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