Biology 0610/62 February/March 2020: question paper and mark scheme
Cambridge IGCSE Biology (0610), Paper 6 Alternative to Practical, February/March 2020. Read both free below, or download them. Done the paper? Get it marked by AI against this mark scheme.
(a) Beetroot is the large fleshy root of a beet plant. The cells of beetroot contain a coloured pigment. This pigment may leak from the cells if the cell membranes are damaged.
A student investigated the effect of temperature on the leakage of pigment from beetroot cells.
Step 1 Cylinders of varying length were cut from a beetroot. The student was provided with two of the beetroot cylinders. The student cut both cylinders to 3 cm in length.
Step 2 The student labelled one test-tube C and another test-tube H.
Step 3 The student put some cold water into test-tube C and some hot water into test-tube H.
Step 4 The student measured the temperature of the water in test-tube C and in test-tube H.
Sections of the thermometers are shown in Fig. 1.1.
80 80
70 70
60 60
50 50
40 40
30 30
20 20
thermometer thermometer in cold water in hot water
Fig. 1.1
Step 5 The student put one beetroot cylinder into test-tube C and one beetroot cylinder into test-tube H. A stopper was placed in each test-tube.
Step 6 The student waited for 10 minutes.
Step 7 After 10 minutes the student shook both test-tubes.
Step 8 The student observed the colour of the liquid in both test-tubes.
The student’s observations are shown in Fig. 1.2.
— test-tube C light red
— test-tube H dark red
Fig. 1.2
(i) Prepare a table to record the results shown in Fig. 1.1 and Fig. 1.2.
[3]
(ii) State a conclusion for these results.
…… [1]
(iii) In step 1 the two beetroot cylinders were cut to the same length.
Suggest why this was necessary.
…… [1]
(iv) Identify one possible source of error in step 3.
Suggest a piece of apparatus that could be used to reduce this error.
error ……
apparatus ……
[2]
(v) In step 7 the student shook the test-tubes. It was important that the shaking of both test- tubes was the same.
Suggest two ways that this could be achieved.
1 ……
2 ……
[2]
(b) A student repeated the investigation in 1(a) at five different temperatures. They carried out three trials at each temperature.
The student measured the percentage of light that passed through the liquids in the test-tubes.
The coloured pigment reduces the percentage of light that can pass through the liquid. The higher the pigment concentration the less light passes through the liquid.
The student’s results are shown in Table 1.1.
Table 1.1
percentage of light that passes through the liquid temperature / °C trial 1 trial 2 trial 3 average
10 100 99 98 99
20 94 48 96 95
40 80 77 77 78
60 26 30 31 29
90 1 2 0 1
(i) State the variable that was changed (independent variable) in the investigation described in 1(b).
…… [1]
(ii) Suggest two ways in which the method described in 1(b) is an improvement to the method used in 1(a).
1 ……
2 ……
[2]
(iii) The student decided that the result for trial 2 at 20 °C was anomalous.
State what is meant by an anomalous result.
…… [1]
(iv) State how the student dealt with the anomalous result when calculating the average value for 20 °C.
…… [1]
(v) Plot a line graph on the grid of the temperature against the average percentage of light that passes through the liquid using the data in Table 1.1.
[4]
(vi) Estimate the percentage of light passing through the liquid at 50 °C.
Show on your graph how you obtained your estimate.
……%
[2]
[Total: 20]
Mark scheme
1(a)(i) 1 table drawn with header lines and at least 2 columns ; 3
2 headings with unit for temperature ; R units in data cells
3 recording of two correct temperatures and 2 observations
that correspond with the temperatures ;
1(a)(ii) more (pigment) is leaked at higher temperatures / AW ; ora 1
1(a)(iii) same, surface area / area of beetroot exposed to water / AW ; 1
ora
same, number of cells / amount of pigment (of tissue at start) ;
ora
1(a)(iv) error 2
volume (of water was not stated) / AW ;
apparatus
measuring cylinder / syringe / (graduated) pipette / burette ;
OR
error
temperature would change over time ;
apparatus
(named) insulating material / lid ; A (thermostatically) controlled water-bath
named correct equipment matching an error from a different
step in the procedure ;
1(a)(v) duration of shaking / AW ; 2
intensity / AW ;
1(b)(i) temperature ; 1
1(b)(ii) wider range (of temperatures) ; ora 2
repeats ; ora A calculates an average / identifies anomalies ; ora
measured light (that passes through liquid) ; ora A collects numerical / quantitative, data / not subjective
1(b)(iii) result that does not fit the pattern / does not fit with the other 1
results / not concordant / AW ;
1(b)(iv) did not include anomaly (in the average) / AW ; 1
1(b)(v) Axes – labelled with units ; 4
Scale – suitable scale and plotted points occupies at least half
the grid ;
Plots – all points plotted accurately ± half a small square ;
Lines – suitable line drawn ;
1(b)(vi) intersection on trendline at 50°C shown ; 2
value from graph ;
Fig. 2.1 is a photograph of a leaf from a beet plant.
P Q
magnification ×1.2
Fig. 2.1
(a) (i) Make a large drawing of the leaf shown in Fig. 2.1.
[4]
(ii) Measure the length of the line PQ on Fig. 2.1. Include the unit.
length of line PQ ……
Calculate the actual length of the leaf using the formula and your measurement.
length of line PQ magnification = actual length of the leaf
Give your answer to the nearest whole number and include the unit.
Space for working.
[3]
(b) Some athletes drink beetroot juice because they think it improves their performance.
Scientists investigated the effect of drinking 100 cm3 of beetroot juice on the length of time that athletes were able to run at their fastest pace before stopping due to exhaustion.
The results of the investigation are shown in Fig. 2.2.
600
550 average time athletes were able to run / s
500
450
400 control beetroot group group
Fig. 2.2
(i) Explain why a control group was used in this investigation.
…… [1]
(ii) Suggest a suitable control experiment for this investigation.
…… [1]
(iii) Calculate the percentage increase in the average time athletes were able to run for the beetroot group compared to the control group.
Give your answer to one decimal place.
Space for working.
……%
[2]
(c) An athlete suggested the hypothesis:
‘Drinking a greater volume of beetroot juice would increase the length of time that athletes are able to run.’
Plan an investigation to test this hypothesis.
…… [6]
(d) Athletes often consume energy drinks.
Describe how you could test a sample of an energy drink to determine if reducing sugars are present.
…… [3]
[Total: 20]
Mark scheme
2(a)(i) Outline – single clear line no shading ; 4
Size – larger than image ;
Detail ;;
2(a)(ii) length of PQ correctly measured with units as 67 ± 1 mm or 3
6.7 ± 0.1 cm ; MP1 is a measurement mark with matching units
56 (mm) / 6 (cm) ;; MP2 correct manipulation of formula
MP3 correct rounding to a whole number
2(b)(i) to show that the beetroot causes the effect ; 1
2(b)(ii) replace beetroot juice with (same volume of) water ; 1 A no beetroot juice
2(b)(iii) 8.5 (%) ;; 2 MP1 correct graph readings 510 (s) and 470 (s)
MP2 correct calculation
2(c) 1 at least 2 different volumes of beetroot juice ; 6
2 details of when juice is consumed / ref to fasting / AW ;
3 details of method to measure running time ;
4 rest breaks between repeat measurements ;
5, 6 and 7 named constant variables ;;;
e.g.
• concentration of beetroot juice
• correct detail of consistency in running
• age / stature / sex / fitness, diet, health, of athletes
• same (named) environment conditions of exercise
8 many participants in each group
OR
repeat (whole experiment) with same individual(s) for many
trials ;
9 safety precaution ;
2(d) add Benedict’s (solution) ; 3
heat ;
red / orange / green / yellow (if reducing sugars are present) ;
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On this page, free: the mark scheme for IGCSE Biology 0610/62, February/March 2020 (0610_m20_ms_62), and the question paper (0610_m20_qp_62), to read or download, with each question's marking points written out underneath.
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Biology 0610/62 for February/March 2020 is out of 40 marks, with 1 hour to answer it, across 2 questions.
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