Cambridge IGCSE™

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BIOLOGY 0610/63
Paper 6 Alternative to Practical May/June 2020

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 12 pages. Blank pages are indicated.

DC (LEG/FC) 184705/3
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1 A student investigated the effect of concentration on the rate of diffusion in model cells.

Cubes of agar jelly containing universal indicator were used to represent the model cells.

(a) A student used a scalpel to cut four identical cubes from a large piece of agar. Each cube
had the dimensions shown in Fig. 1.1. Each agar cube was green in colour at the start of the
investigation.

10 mm

10 mm
10 mm
not to scale

Fig. 1.1

(i) Calculate the surface area and volume for the cube shown in Fig. 1.1.

surface area ....................................................... mm2

volume ....................................................... mm3

[2]

Step 1 The student used the information in Table 1.1 to add the appropriate volumes of
1.0 mol per dm3 hydrochloric acid (HCl) and water to four test-tubes labelled A, B, C
and D.

Table 1.1

volume of final concentration of HCl

volume of water
test-tube 1.0 mol per dm3 HCl
/ cm3
/ cm3 / ..............................

A 5.0 0.0 1.0

B 2.5 2.5 ..............................

C 0.5 4.5 0.1

D 0.0 5.0 0.0

(ii) Complete Table 1.1 by:

• stating the unit for the final concentration of HCl

• calculating the missing concentration for test-tube B.
[2]
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Step 2 One green agar cube was put into each of test-tubes A, B, C and D.

Step 3 A stop-clock was started.

Step 4 The student observed the colour change in the agar cubes. The agar cubes changed
colour from green to red, as shown in Fig. 1.2, in test-tubes A, B and C.

agar cube at the start green colour disappearing end-point

green red

Fig. 1.2

Step 5 After six minutes the agar cube in test-tube D had not changed colour. The student
stopped observing the agar cubes and stopped the stop-clock.

The times taken for the agar cubes in test-tubes A, B and C to change colour and the time at
which the student stopped the stop-clock in step 5 are shown in Fig. 1.3.

test-tube A test-tube B test-tube C test-tube D

minutes:seconds minutes:seconds minutes:seconds minutes:seconds

00:55 02:05 04:25 06:16

Fig. 1.3

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(iii) Convert the times in Fig. 1.3 to seconds.

Prepare a table and record these results.

If the time taken is greater than six minutes, record the time as >360 for that cube.

[4]

(iv) State a conclusion for these results.

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(v) Describe the purpose of test-tube D.

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(vi) Identify one safety hazard when carrying out this investigation and describe how the risk
of this hazard could be reduced.

safety hazard .....................................................................................................................

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

method of reducing the risk ...............................................................................................

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

...........................................................................................................................................
[2]
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(b) (i) A student calculated the rate of diffusion of acid into an agar cube.

The student observed that the acid travelled 2 mm in 120 seconds.

Suggest how the student could calculate the rate of diffusion.

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

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

(ii) Plan an experiment to investigate the relationship between the size of the agar cubes
and the time taken for the agar to change colour.

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

[Total: 19]

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2 (a) Fig. 2.1 shows a comparison of the nutrient content of beans and nuts.

nutrient facts
serving size 100 g
beans nuts
calories 333 660
total fat / g 0 54
• saturated 0 9
• trans fat 0 0
starch / g 60 15
sodium / mg 24 21
protein / g 24 26
vitamin C / mg 15 0

Fig. 2.1

A student was given a sample of food and wanted to know if it was from a bean or a nut.

The student decided to test for the presence of two of the substances listed in Fig. 2.1.

The results of the tests would enable the student to determine if the food sample was from a
bean or a nut.

Complete Table 2.1 by stating:

• which two substances in Fig. 2.1 will enable the student to determine if the food sample
is from a bean or a nut
• the food test that would be used to identify each substance
• the positive result for each food test.

Table 2.1

positive result for the

substance in Fig. 2.1 food test
food test

[5]

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(b) Fig. 2.2 shows the caterpillar of a codling moth. The codling moth damages walnut trees and
reduces the yield of the walnut crop.

Fig. 2.2

To reduce the damage to a walnut crop, scientists released wasps that can kill the codling
moth caterpillars. Wasps are flying insects.

The effect of releasing different numbers of wasps on the damage to a walnut crop was
investigated.

The results are shown in Table 2.2.

Table 2.2

number of wasps
percentage damage to
released
the walnut crop
/ ×105 per hectare
0.0 4.0
0.5 3.2
0.9 2.4
1.8 1.2
3.4 1.3
4.0 1.2

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(i) Plot a line graph on the grid of the data in Table 2.2.

[4]

(ii) Describe the pattern shown by the data on your graph.

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

(iii) Suggest the number of wasps that should be released into one hectare of walnut trees.

State the evidence from your graph that supports your choice.

number of wasps released ................................................................................................

evidence ............................................................................................................................

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

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

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(iv) Suggest one way the investigation could be modified to give a more accurate estimate of
the optimum (best) number of wasps to release into a walnut crop.

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

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

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

(c) Fig. 2.3 shows a photograph of a walnut tree leaf.

magnification ×0.5

Fig. 2.3

(i) Make a large drawing of the leaf shown in Fig. 2.3.

[4]
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(ii) Measure the length of line PQ on Fig. 2.3. Include the unit.

length of line PQ on Fig. 2.3 .........................................

Calculate the actual width of the leaf on Fig. 2.3 using the formula and your measurement.

length of line PQ on Fig. 2.3

magnification =
actual width of the leaf

Space for working.

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

[Total: 21]

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© UCLES 2020 0610/63/M/J/20