IGCSE BIOLOGY

ASSIGNMENT 02: CELLS AND BIOCHEMISTRY

Total mark: 64 Recommended time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Please read these instructions before you start:

- Candidates will answer on the question paper.

- This assignment should be done under test conditions.
- Answer all questions.
- The use of an electronic calculator is expected, where appropriate.
- You are reminded of the need for clear presentation in your answers.
- The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.
- There is a feedback section at the end of this assignment. Please use this to make
suggestions about the course or to bring any issues to my attention.
- After completion of the assignment, please scan the relevant pages and save them as a
single pdf file.
- Submit this pdf document on your dashboard.

OUTLINE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

For multiple choice questions (Section A):

- Write in soft pencil.

- Do not use staples, paper clips, glue, or correction fluid.
- 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 answer
page.
- Read the instructions on the answer page very carefully.
- Each correct answer will score one mark. A mark will not be deducted for a wrong answer.
- Any rough working should be done in this booklet.

For short answer and practical questions (Section B and C):

- Write in black ink.

- You may use an HB pencil for any diagrams or graphs.

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- Do not use red ink, staples, paper clips, highlighters, glue or correction fluid.
- Answer all questions.
- You may lose marks if you do not show your working or if you do not use appropriate
units.

Please complete the section below before you start:

Name and surname: __________________________ Date:______________________

Declaration:

I completed this assignment under test conditions: Without any resources such as
textbooks, notes or online resources.

Sign______________________________________

Be sure to scan this declaration together with your assignment for marking. No marking of
assignments will be done without this declaration.

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Section A – Multiple Choice

1. The diagram below shows the detailed structure of a plant cell:

What is organelle X?

A chloroplast
B mitochondrion
C nucleus
D vacuole

2. Onion plant cells swell but do not burst when placed in distilled water. Which cell
component prevents the onion plant cell from bursting?

A cell membrane
B cell wall
C nucleus
D vacuole

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3. The diagram below shows a sample of material taken from an organism.

Which level of organisation does the sample show?

A cell
B organ
C organ system
D tissue

4. The diagram shows an image of a chloroplast. The image is 5 cm long.

The actual length of the chloroplast is 5 µm. What is the magnification of the image?

A x 10 B x1000 C x10 000 D x100 000

5. What causes the diffusion of oxygen into a plant cell?

A active transport
B movement of molecules
C osmosis
D photosynthesis

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6. Blood glucose level is kept between 5–7 mmol per dm3. The concentration of glucose in
the intestine varies and is often less than that value.

What would be required for the absorption of glucose into the blood when the
concentration of glucose in the intestine is less than 5mmol per dm3?

1. mitochondria
2. oxygen
3. membrane proteins

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

7. The data below show the results of an investigation into osmosis using sticks of potato.

length of potato
concentration of sugar length of potato
stick after 24
solution/mol per dm3 stick at start/mm
hours/mm
0.6 60 54

Which statements explain this change in length?

Movement of water Cause of the movement

The sugar solution has a higher water
A into the potato cells
potential than the potato cells.
The sugar solution has a lower water
B into the potato cells
potential than the potato cells.
The sugar solution has a higher water
C out of the potato cells
potential than the potato cells.
The sugar solution has a lower water
D out of the potato cells
potential than the potato cells.

8. The diagram below represents two liquids, separated by a membrane through which
osmosis can occur.

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Which statement describes how the molecules will move?

A Molecules of dissolved substances move from left to right.

B Molecules of dissolved substances move from right to left.
C Overall, water molecules move from left to right.
D Overall, water molecules move from right to left.

9. Which element is found in proteins but not in carbohydrates?

A carbon
B hydrogen
C nitrogen
D oxygen

10. Which substances are made by linking together glucose molecules only?

A Cellulose, glycogen, and starch

B Fats, cellulose, and proteins
C Proteins, oils, and glycerol
D Starch, fats, and oils

11. The diagram below shows a section of DNA, with four bases identified on one strand.

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Which sequence of bases would be on the other strand, starting from the top?

A AGTC B CTGA C GACT D TCAG

12. The diagrams below show different levels of organisation in a plant (not drawn to scale).

Which sequence shows the levels of organisation in order from smallest to largest?

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13. The diagram below represents the shape of an enzyme molecule.

With which substrate would this enzyme most easily form an enzyme-substrate complex?

14. Many enzymes do not work at temperatures above 60°C. Which statement explains this?

A Product molecules are not made because the active site has changed shape.
B Product molecules change shape, so they do not fit the active site.
C Substrate molecules are moving too fast.
D Substrate molecules are moving too slowly.

15. Which food-testing solution shows a positive result when it turns from blue to purple?

A Benedict’s solution
B Biuret solution
C Ethanol
D Iodine solution

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Section A – Multiple choice answer sheet [Total: 15 marks]

1 A B C D E 21 A B C D E
Instructions:
2 A B C D E 22 A B C D E
Use a soft pencil (B or HB). 3 A B C D E 23 A B C D E
Shade ONE letter only for 4 A B C D E 24 A B C D E
each question. 5 A B C D E 25 A B C D E

6 A B C D E 26 A B C D E

Example: 7 A B C D E 27 A B C D E

8 A B C D E 28 A B C D E
For question 1, if you think B
9 A B C D E 29 A B C D E
is the right answer, fill in your
answer sheet like this: 10 A B C D E 30 A B C D E

11 A B C D E 31 A B C D E
1 A B C D E 12 A B C D E 32 A B C D E

13 A B C D E 33 A B C D E

14 A B C D E 34 A B C D E

15 A B C D E 35 A B C D E
Make sure you put your answer
in line with the correct question 16 A B C D E 36 A B C D E
number. 17 A B C D E 37 A B C D E

18 A B C D E 38 A B C D E
Rub out any answer you wish to
19 A B C D E 39 A B C D E
change
20 A B C D E 40 A B C D E

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Section B – Short answer questions [Total: 27 marks]

Question 1

Yeast cells have many structures in common with a plant cell.

Fig. 4.1 is a drawing of a yeast cell.

a) (i) State the names of the cell structures labelled A and D on Fig. 4.1.

A ______________________________________________________________

D ______________________________________________________________
[2]

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(ii) State the functions of the cell structures labelled B and C on Fig. 4.1.

B ______________________________________________________________

C ______________________________________________________________
[2]

(iii) State the name of one structure that is found in plant cells but is absent in yeast
cells.

______________________________________________________________
[1]
b) Fig. 1.2 shows an electron micrograph of a mitochondrion.

(i) Mitochondria have two membranes: an inner membrane and an outer membrane.
The inner membrane is folded and used in respiration.

Suggest why the inner membrane of mitochondria is folded.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
[1]

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(ii) The photo of the mitochondria in Fig. 1.2 is exactly 0.5 µm in length. Calculate the
magnification of the photo using appropriate formulae.
Space for working:
_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

[2]

c) Table 1.1 shows different specialised cells and the average number of mitochondria
each cell contains.
Table 1.1

Average number of
Specialised cell type
mitochondria
liver cell 1000 – 2000
red blood cell 0
sperm cell 25 – 75
heart muscle cell 1500

Explain the differences between the average numbers of mitochondria in the cells shown
in Table 1.1.

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

[4]
[Total: 12]

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Question 2

A new species of frog was discovered in 2009 in the Amazon rainforest in Peru.

Fig. 6.1 shows this frog, Osteocephalus castaneicola.

a) State the genus of this animal.

________________________________________________________________
[1]
b) In the past, anatomy was a way to classify species. DNA is now used to aid the
classification of organisms.
(i) Draw and annotate a diagram to show the structure of DNA.

[3]

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(ii) Describe how DNA can be used to classify organisms.

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________ [1]

[Total: 5]
Question 3

Fig. 2.1 depicts an electron micrograph showing the bacteria, Vibrio cholera.

a) Bacteria are prokaryotes.

State two distinguishing features of all prokaryotes.

1______________________________________________________________
2 ______________________________________________________________
[2]
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b) Many years ago, scientists discovered that V. cholera secretes a toxin. Fig. 2.2 shows
the results of an experiment to measure the flow of chloride ions out of human cells
with and without the toxin.

Calculate the difference in flow of chloride ions between the cells with the toxin and the
cells without the toxin at 50 seconds. Show your working and state the units in your
answer.

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________
[2]

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(i) Use the data in Fig. 2.2 to describe the effect of the toxin on the flow of chloride
ions out of the cells.

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________ [3]

(ii) Chloride ions cannot move out of cells by simple diffusion. Suggest and describe
how chloride ions could move out of cells.

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________ [3]

[Total: 10]

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Section C – Alternative to practical [Total: 22 marks]

The enzyme lipase catalyses the breakdown of fats into fatty acids and glycerol.

A student investigated how the concentration of lipase affected the breakdown of fat in milk.
An increase in the concentration of fatty acids in the milk will change the pH of the milk. The
student used a pH indicator, bromothymol blue, and observed the colour changes of the
indicator in the milk and lipase solution.

Table 1.1 shows the colour of the bromothymol blue indicator at different pH values.

Step 1: Four test tubes were labelled L1, L2, L3 and L4.
Step 2: Solutions containing different concentrations of lipase enzyme were made with the
volumes of 2% lipase solution and distilled water, shown in Table 1.2.

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(i) Calculate the percentage concentration of lipase solution in test-tube L3 using the
information in Table 1.2.

Space for working.

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

Step 3: Another four test tubes were labelled M1, M2, M3 and M4.
Step 4: Three different substances were added to each of test-tubes M1, M2, M3 and M4:
• 5 drops of bromothymol blue indicator
• 2 cm3 of sodium carbonate solution
• 2 cm3 of milk
The student observed that the contents of test tubes M1, M2, M3 and M4 were all
blue.
Step 5: All of the test tubes were put into a water bath containing warm water and left for
five minutes.
Step 6: After five minutes, test tubes M1 and L1 were removed from the water bath.
Step 7: The contents of test-tube M1 were poured into L1 and a stop-clock started.
Step 8: The colour of the bromothymol blue indicator in test-tube L1 was observed.
The time taken for the bromothymol blue indicator to become yellow was recorded. If the
colour had not changed to yellow in five minutes, the result was recorded as >300.

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Step 9: Steps 6, 7 and 8 were repeated for test-tubes M2 and L2, M3 and L3, M4 and L4.
The times from step 8 and step 9 are shown in Fig. 1.1.

(ii) Prepare a table for the results. Convert the times shown in Fig. 1.1 to seconds and
record them in your table.

[3]

(iii) State a conclusion for these results.

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________ [1]

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a) (i) Identify the control in this investigation and explain why a control was used.
control_______________________________________________________________

explanation____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

[2]

(ii) Using the information in Table 1.1 and the results, estimate the pH values in test-
tube L1 and test-tube L4 at the end of the investigation.
L1 ............................................

L4 ............................................ [1]

(iii) State the variable that was deliberately changed (the independent variable) in this
investigation.

______________________________________________________________

[1]

(iv) State two variables that were kept constant in this investigation.

1____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

2 ____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

[2]

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(v) Suggest why all of the test-tubes were placed into a water bath, in step 5, for five
minutes, before mixing their contents.
_______________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________ [1]

(vi) State the potential source of error in step 8.

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________ [1]

b) Describe how you would safely test lipase for the presence of protein and state the
result of a positive test.

method_________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________ [1]

positive result ___________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________ [1]

safety precaution ________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________ [1]

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c) The average temperature of the human body is 37°C. Humans produce lipase for fat
digestion. A student thought that lipase would work best at human body temperature.
Plan an investigation to find out if 37°C is the optimum (best) temperature for lipase
activity.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

[6]

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