Cambridge IGCSE™

BIOLOGY 0610/23
Paper 2 Multiple Choice (Extended) October/November 2024
45 minutes

You must answer on the multiple choice answer sheet.

*6444223348*

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 16 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.

IB24 11_0610_23/4RP
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1 What is a description of excretion?

A a chemical reaction that releases energy

B a permanent increase in size and dry mass
C removal of waste products of metabolism
D taking in materials for energy, growth and development

2 The scientific name for a domestic horse is Equus caballus.

Which row shows the two parts of the name using the binomial system?

Equus caballus

A kingdom species
B species genus
C genus kingdom
D genus species

3 The diagram shows a type of plant cell.

nucleus

cytoplasm

cell wall

vacuole

Where does this type of cell come from?

A root
B cuticle
C palisade mesophyll
D spongy mesophyll

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4 What is the formula for calculating magnification?

actual size
A
image size

B actual size  image size

image size
C
actual size

D image size  actual size

5 The diagram represents a substance moving across a cell membrane, using energy from
respiration.

cell membrane cytoplasm

substance

Which method of transport does the diagram represent?

A active transport
B diffusion
C evaporation
D osmosis

6 Which food-testing reagent shows a positive result when it turns from blue to purple?

A Benedict’s solution
B biuret
C ethanol
D iodine solution

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7 What are the characteristics of an enzyme?

the active site is it is used up

it is made
the same shape during the
of protein
as the substrate reaction

A no no yes
B no yes no
C yes yes no
D yes no yes

8 An enzyme in potato cells causes oxygen to be produced from the breakdown of

hydrogen peroxide.

Cubes of potato tissue were placed in a hydrogen peroxide solution at different temperatures.

The number of bubbles of oxygen released per minute was counted at each temperature.

The table shows the results.

temperature / °C 15 25 35 45 55
number of bubbles of oxygen
96 98 82 36 1
released per minute

The results suggest the optimum temperature for the enzyme is between which two values?

A 15 °C and 35 °C
B 35 °C and 45 °C
C 35 °C and 55 °C
D 45 °C and 55 °C

9 Which molecules contain nitrogen?

A amino acids
B fats
C glucose
D starch

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10 The photomicrograph shows the lower surface of a leaf.

Which part of the leaf is labelled X?

A guard cell
B palisade cell
C stoma
D xylem vessel

11 Which row shows the correct enzyme, its substrate and the site of enzyme action in the
alimentary canal?

site of
enzyme substrate
enzyme action

A amylase starch colon

B lipase fatty acid duodenum
C maltase maltose ileum epithelium
D trypsin protein stomach

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12 A student set up the experiment shown in the diagram on a hot and dry day. The air bubble
moved towards the leafy shoot by 30 mm in 1 hour.

reservoir
leafy of water
shoot

scale

air capillary
bubble tube

The student was asked to predict and explain the result that would have been obtained on a hot
and humid day.

Which row is correct?

distance
explanation
moved / mm

A 15 water evaporates more quickly in humid air

B 15 water evaporates more slowly in humid air
C 45 water evaporates more quickly in humid air
D 45 water evaporates more slowly in humid air

13 Which statement describes the process of translocation?

A the movement of sucrose and amino acids in the xylem from the source to the sink
B the movement of sucrose and water in the phloem from the sink to the source
C the movement of sucrose and amino acids in the phloem from the source to the sink
D the movement of water and amino acids in the xylem from the source to the sink

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14 The diagram shows the human heart.

X
W

Z Y

What are the semilunar valves?

A W and X B W and Z C X and Y D Y and Z

15 Which component of the blood transports hormones?

A plasma
B platelets
C red blood cells
D white blood cells

16 During the process of vaccination, what stimulates an immune response?

A antibodies
B antigens
C lymphocytes
D phagocytes

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17 Muscles are responsible for the ventilation of the lungs during breathing.

Which row describes their action during the inspiration of air?

diaphragm external internal

muscles intercostal muscles intercostal muscles

A contract contract relax

B contract relax contract
C relax contract relax
D relax relax contract

18 Which molecule is a product of anaerobic respiration in yeast?

A C2H5OH B C6H12O6 C H2O D O2

19 In a kidney nephron, which substances are filtered out of the blood in the glomerulus?

A glucose, protein, ions and water

B glucose, protein, urea and water
C glucose, ions, urea and water
D ions, urea and water only

20 How many types of cone cells are there in the human eye?

A 1 B 2 C 3 D 4

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21 The diagram shows a plant shoot growing towards the light.

J K light
L

Which row describes where auxin is produced, and which side of the shoot has the lowest
concentration of auxin?

the side of the

where auxin shoot with the
is produced lowest auxin
concentration

A K J
B K L
C M J
D M L

22 Which statement about antibiotics is correct?

A Antibiotics are produced by memory cells.

B Antibiotics are used to treat rickets.
C Antibiotics are used to treat viral infections.
D Antibiotics should only be used when essential.

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23 The diagram shows a strawberry plant.

Which labelled part of the plant can only be produced by asexual reproduction?

C
B D

24 Which part of a flower can contain a pollen tube?

A anther
B filament
C stamen
D style

25 To avoid extinction of rare plant species, a botanical garden keeps a collection of seeds known
as a seed bank.

Which condition will prevent these seeds germinating while they are in storage?

A high humidity
B high oxygen levels
C low light intensity
D low temperature

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26 The graph shows the changes to the thickness of the lining of the uterus during the menstrual
cycle.

thickness
of the lining
of the uterus

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28

day of the menstrual cycle

Which hormone is responsible for the change to the thickness of the lining of the uterus shown
between days 5 and 16?

A FSH
B LH
C oestrogen
D progesterone

27 Which hormone concentrations are high during pregnancy?

LH oestrogen progesterone

A no no yes
B yes no no
C no yes yes
D yes yes no

28 By which route would an HIV infection not be transmissible?

A blood
B saliva
C sharing needles for injections
D semen

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29 Which description of a human gamete is correct?

A a diploid cell with 23 chromosomes

B a diploid cell with 46 chromosomes
C a haploid cell with 23 chromosomes
D a haploid cell with 46 chromosomes

30 Which statements about meiosis are correct?

produces involved in the

genetically production of
identical cells gametes

A yes no
B yes yes
C no yes
D no no

31 A female parent who is heterozygous for red-green colour blindness has a female child with a
red-green colour-blind male parent.

What is the chance of the female child being colour-blind?

A 0% B 25% C 50% D 100%

32 A pure-breeding plant with smooth stems was crossed with a heterozygous plant with hairy
stems.

What will be the ratio of hairy to smooth stems in the resulting plants?

A 1 hairy : 1 smooth
B 1 hairy : 3 smooth
C 3 hairy : 1 smooth
D all hairy

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33 Which row shows the adaptive features of a xerophyte?

leaves with small many stomata

deep roots thin leaf cuticle
surface area on leaves

A yes yes no no
B yes no yes no
C no yes no yes
D no no yes yes

34 The diagram shows a marine food web.

phytoplankton zooplankton cod harbour seal

shrimp mackerel

At which trophic levels is the cod found?

A primary consumer and secondary consumer

B secondary consumer and tertiary consumer
C secondary consumer only
D tertiary consumer only

35 The diagram shows part of the carbon cycle.

Which labelled arrow would have the balanced chemical equation

6CO2 + 6H2O  C6H12O6 + 6O2?

air
A

fossil fuels B C

D
plant animal

36 Which statement explains why there is a lag phase in a population graph?

A The build-up of waste products limits population growth.

B The low population size limits the birth rate.
C The number of births is equal to the number of deaths.
D The number of deaths is greater than the number of births.

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37 The flow chart describes the process of eutrophication.

step X

increased growth of producers

increased decomposition after death of producers

step Y

death of organisms in water

What should be at step X and step Y in the flow chart?

step X step Y
A decrease in nitrate decreased dissolved
ion concentration oxygen concentration
B increase in nitrate decreased dissolved
ion concentration oxygen concentration
C decrease in nitrate increased dissolved
ion concentration oxygen concentration
D increase in nitrate increased dissolved
ion concentration oxygen concentration

38 How can fish stocks be conserved?

A closed seasons
B decreased mesh size
C increased quotas
D reduction in protected areas

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39 Penicillin is produced in a fermenter by growing the fungus Penicillium. The graph shows how the
mass of living Penicillium fungus and the concentration of penicillin change over time.

concentration

mass of living
mass concentration
Penicillium
of penicillin
fungus

0 1 2 3 4 5
time / days

When is the best time to collect the penicillin?

A at 1.5 days
B at 3.0 days
C at 3.5 days
D at 5.0 days

40 Which enzymes are required to produce human proteins, using genetic modification?

to form a to isolate the DNA

to cut the bacterial
recombinant making up the
plasmid DNA
plasmid human gene

A DNA ligase restriction enzymes DNA ligase

B DNA ligase restriction enzymes restriction enzymes
C restriction enzymes DNA ligase restriction enzymes
D restriction enzymes DNA ligase DNA ligase

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