Biology 0610/42 May/June 2024: question paper and mark scheme
Cambridge IGCSE Biology (0610), Paper 4 Theory (Extended), May/June 2024. Read both free below, or download them. Done the paper? Get it marked by AI against this mark scheme.
Fungal cells and plant cells contain mitochondria.
(a) (i) State the function of mitochondria.
…… [1]
(ii) State one feature of plants that is used to distinguish them from fungi.
…… [1]
(b) Yeast is a fungus that can respire to produce ethanol.
State the balanced chemical equation for this type of respiration in yeast.
…… [2]
(c) A scientist investigated the effect of sugar on respiration in yeast cells.
One flask contained 100 cm3 of a sugar solution and another flask contained 100 cm3 of water.
Both flasks contained the same mass of yeast. The temperature was maintained at 25 °C.
The scientist used the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.1.
thermometer
syringe to collect the gas produced
water bath at 25 °C
yeast in a sugar solution or yeast in water
Fig. 1.1
Fig. 1.2 is a graph of the results of the investigation.
45
Key
40 yeast in a sugar solution at 25 °C
35 yeast in water at 25 °C
30
volume of carbon 25 dioxide gas produced / cm3 20
15
10
5
0
0 10 20 30 40
time / minutes
Fig. 1.2
(i) Using the gradient shown in Fig. 1.2, calculate the rate of carbon dioxide gas produced by the yeast in a sugar solution between 10 minutes and 15 minutes.
Include the unit.
Space for working.
[3]
(ii) Suggest the reason for the oil layer in the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.1.
…… [1]
(iii) State one reason why no more carbon dioxide gas was produced after 35 minutes by the yeast in a sugar solution, shown in Fig. 1.2.
…… [1]
(iv) The scientist repeated the investigation using yeast and the sugar solution at a temperature of 95 °C.
Explain why no carbon dioxide was produced at a temperature of 95 °C.
…… [3]
(d) State one way in which humans use the carbon dioxide gas produced by yeast cells.
…… [1]
(e) State the name of one gas, other than carbon dioxide, that contributes to the enhanced greenhouse effect.
…… [1]
[Total: 14]
Mark scheme
1(a)(i) aerobic respiration ; 1
1(a)(ii) any one from: 1
(composition of) cell wall OR cell walls (in plants) are made
of cellulose / cell walls in fungi are made of chitin ;
(presence of) chloroplasts OR chlorophyll (in plants) ; ora
AVP ;
1(b) C6H12O6 → 2C2H5OH + 2CO2 ;; 2 MP1 for correct reactant
MP2 for correct products
1(c)(i) 1.6 cm3 per minute ;;; 3 MP1 correct volumes read from Fig. 1.2 i.e. 11 cm3 (at 10
minutes) and 19 cm3 (at 15 minutes)
MP2 correct calculation of rate
MP3 correct units for rate
1(c)(ii) any one from: 1
to prevent oxygen entering (solution) / to keep it anaerobic ;
allow carbon dioxide to (still) escape ;
1(c)(iii) (all) sugar / glucose / substrate, has been used up / broken 1 A alcohol is toxic (to yeast)
down / run out / AW (by the yeast cells) ;
1(c)(iv) any three from: 3
enzymes / active site, have denatured ;
enzyme / active site, has changed shape ;
(denatured) active site, does not fit / does not bind / is not
complementary to, substrate ;
(denatured enzymes / dead yeast) cannot, respire
(anaerobically) ;
1(d) bread(-making) / to make dough rise / leavening (agent) 1
/ AVP ;
1(e) methane / AVP ; 1
(a) Define the term sense organ.
…… [2]
(b) Fig. 2.1 shows the structure of the eye. It also shows the pathway taken by nerve impulses which help bring about changes in the eye in order to bring light to a focus.
K
J
A
H
B
G
C BRAIN
F
D
E NOT TO SCALE
Fig. 2.1
(i) Draw a label line and a letter X on Fig. 2.1 to identify a motor neurone.
[1]
(ii) Describe how the events that occur at a synapse generate an impulse in the next neurone.
…… [3]
(iii) Describe and explain the process of accommodation in the eye to view a near object.
Use the letters in Fig. 2.1 in your answer.
…… [4]
(c) Describe the distribution and function of rods and cones in the eye.
…… [4]
(d) Red‑green colour blindness is a sex‑linked characteristic. It is controlled by a gene on the X chromosome.
There are two alternative versions of this gene:
• no colour blindness XA
• colour blindness Xa.
(i) State the term used to describe an alternative version of a gene.
…… [1]
(ii) State the genotype of a male with colour blindness.
…… [1]
[Total: 16]
Mark scheme
2(a) 1 (groups of) receptor (cells / tissues) 2
OR
group of tissues, working together / to perform specific
function ;
2 detecting / sense / reacting / responding, (specific
named) stimuli / (change in) surrounding
OR
transmits impulse to (sensory) neurone ;
2(b)(i) label line and the letter X that touches the neurone coming 1
from the brain to the eye ;
2(b)(ii) any three from: 3
1 correct ref to neurotransmitter (molecules) ;
2 (neurotransmitters) released from vesicles (from first or
presynaptic neurone / into synaptic gap) ;
3 (neurotransmitters) diffuse across (gap / cleft) ;
4 (neurotransmitters) bind / fit / attach / receive to, receptor
(proteins / molecules) / membrane proteins (on the next
neurone) ;
2(b)(iii) total of four from: 4
1 identify E as ciliary muscle and K as suspensory
ligaments and F as lens ;
max three from:
2 ciliary muscle / E, contracts;
3 suspensory ligaments / K, slacken / loosen / AW ;
4 lens / F, becomes more convex / AW ;
5 more refraction ;
6 light / image (of object), is focussed onto the,
retina / fovea / A or B ;
2(c) any four from: 4
distribution:
1 both (rods and cones) found in, retina / A ;
2 (high concentration of / more) cones / no rods, are found
in the fovea / B ;
3 no rods or cones, at blind spot / C ;
function:
4 (rods / cones) are light receptors OR
detect / respond / sensitive, to light OR convert light
energy to, (nerve / electrical) impulse ;
5 rods sense / detect / respond to, low light intensity / dim
light / AW / give night vision and give, greyscale / black
and white, image ;
6 cones sense / detect / respond to, high light
intensity / bright light / AW and detect colour / give colour
vision / (different cones) absorb different wavelengths
(of light) ;
2(d)(i) allele ; 1
2(d)(ii) XaY ; 1
(a) Meiosis and mitosis are important processes in the life cycles of organisms.
Fig. 3.1 shows the life cycles of two different organisms.
Organism 1 has a simple life cycle.
Organism 2 has a complex life cycle. It has a stage A that produces spores and a stage B that produces gametes.
In the diagrams, the haploid number of chromosomes is represented by n. The diploid number of chromosomes is represented by 2n.
organism 1 adult (2n)
P
Q
embryo sperm egg
zygote
W
organism 2 multicellular stage A (2n)
R
embryo spores (n)
T female gamete (n) zygote multicellular stage B (n)
male gamete (n) S
Fig. 3.1
(i) Table 3.1 shows the letters P to T in Fig. 3.1 and the type of nuclear division.
Place a tick (✓) in each row to indicate the type of nuclear division that occurs at each of the letters, P to T.
Table 3.1
letter in Fig. 3.1 meiosis mitosis
P
Q
R
S
T
[3]
(ii) State the name of process W shown in Fig. 3.1.
…… [1]
(iii) An embryo contains stem cells.
Complete the sentences about stem cells and body cells.
Stem cells are …… cells that divide by
…… to produce daughter cells that can become
…… for a specific function.
Most body cells in an organism contain the same genes, but many genes in a
particular cell are not …… because the cell only makes the
specific …… it needs.
[5]
(b) State the events in the life cycle diagram for organism 1 in Fig. 3.1 that would not be present in a life cycle diagram for asexual reproduction.
…… [2]
[Total: 11]
Mark scheme
3(a)(i) 3
letter in R rows with more than one tick
meiosis mitosis
Fig. 3.1
5 rows correct = 3 marks
P
3 rows or 4 rows correct = 2 marks
2 rows correct = 1 mark
Q
1 row or no rows correct = 0 marks
R
S
T
;;;
3(a)(ii) fertilisation ; 1
3(a)(iii) 1 unspecialised / undifferentiated ; 5
2 mitosis ;
3 specialised / differentiated ;
4 expressed / AW ;
5 protein(s) / (poly)peptide(s) ;
3(b) any two from: 2
1 meiosis / P / haploid stage ;
2 formation of, gametes / egg / sperm ;
3 process W / fertilisation / fusion of nuclei (of gametes)
OR
zygote / embryo, formed ;
(a) Some algae are single‑celled organisms that can photosynthesise. Their cells contain the pigment chlorophyll.
State the name of one mineral ion that is needed to make chlorophyll.
…… [1]
(b) A student investigated the effect of light on photosynthesis in algae, using hydrogencarbonate indicator solution.
Carbon dioxide is an acidic gas.
Table 4.1 shows the colour of the hydrogencarbonate indicator solution at different pH values.
Table 4.1
pH 7.6 8.4 9.2
colour of indicator yellow red purple
(i) Two test‑tubes were set up at the same time. Both contained algae and hydrogencarbonate indicator. At the start of the investigation the hydrogencarbonate indicator was red in both test‑tubes.
One test‑tube was placed in the dark and one test‑tube was placed in the light.
After 20 minutes, the contents of the test‑tube in the dark were yellow and the contents of the test‑tube in the light were purple.
Explain these results.
…… [4]
(ii) Fig. 4.1 is a graph showing the effect of light intensity on the rate of photosynthesis.
Y
rate of photosynthesis
X
light intensity
Fig. 4.1
State which factors could be limiting the rate of photosynthesis at X and at Y in Fig. 4.1.
…… [3]
(c) Starch and sucrose are made by plants after photosynthesis.
(i) State the name of the tissue that transports sucrose around the plant and the name of one other biological molecule that is transported in this structure.
tissue ……
biological molecule ……
[2]
(ii) Describe how starch is broken down in the human digestive system so that it can be
absorbed into the blood.
…… [6]
Mark scheme
4(a) magnesium (ions) / AVP ; 1
4(b)(i) any four from: 4
1 (algae) photosynthesise in light / no photosynthesis in
the dark ;
2 carbon dioxide is, used / absorbed / taken / AW, in
photosynthesis ;
3 (purple because CO2 used in) photosynthesis results in,
pH increase / becomes (more) alkaline / less acidic ;
4 (algae) respire in light and dark ;
5 carbon dioxide is, produced / released / AW, in
respiration ;
6 in light there is a higher (rate of) photosynthesis than
(the rate of) respiration ;
7 (yellow because CO2 given off from) respiration results
in, pH decrease / more acidic / less alkaline / becomes
(nearer to) neutral ;
4(b)(ii) total of three from: 3
X: light (intensity) ;
Y max two from:
temperature ;
carbon dioxide concentration ;
(amount of) chlorophyll / (number of) chloroplasts ;
water ;
4(c)(i) tissue: phloem ; 2
molecule: amino acids ;
4(c)(ii) any six from: 6
1 (starch is broken down by) physical / mechanical,
digestion ;
2 (physical digestion / AW) uses teeth / occurs in the,
mouth / (involves churning) in stomach ;
3 (physical digestion) increases surface area (for faster
enzyme activity) ;
4 chemical digestion / break down (of insoluble molecules)
into (smaller) soluble molecules (by enzymes) ;
5 salivary glands / pancreas, secrete / make, amylase ;
6 amylase (breaks down) starch to maltose ;
7 maltase is found on epithelium (lining) of, small
intestine / duodenum / ileum ;
8 (maltase) breaks down maltose to glucose ;
9 (optimum) pH for, amylase / maltase / carbohydrase is,
neutral / 7 / 8 ;
Fig. 5.1 is a photograph of a koala.
Koalas are marsupial mammals that give birth to offspring that are incompletely developed.
The offspring develops further for several months inside the pouch of the mother.
Fig. 5.1
(a) State one feature visible in Fig. 5.1 that could be used to identify the koala as a mammal.
…… [1]
(b) Mammals use sexual reproduction to produce offspring.
Discuss the advantages of sexual reproduction in organisms such as the koala.
…… [3]
(c) Fig. 5.2 is a diagram of part of the human female reproductive system, viewed from the side of the body.
J
P K
L
M
N
Fig. 5.2
Complete Table 5.1 by writing the letters that identify the structures in Fig. 5.2, the names of the structures and the functions.
Table 5.1
function letter in Fig. 5.2 name
cervix
ovary
site of fertilisation
site of implantation
[4]
(d) Pregnant human females have a placenta.
(i) Describe the function of the placenta in humans.
…… [4]
(ii) The placenta is connected to the amniotic sac.
State two functions of the amniotic fluid that is found in the amniotic sac.
1 ……
2 ……
[2]
[Total: 14]
Mark scheme
5(a) any one from: 1
fur / hair ;
external ears / pinna(e) ;
5(b) any three from: 3
1 allows genetic, variation / diversity ; MP1 A genetically different offspring / variety of genotypes
2 (allows expression of) different combinations, MP2 A allows different recessive alleles to be expressed
alleles / DNA / mutations (from parents) ; / AW
3 allows adaptation / evolution / natural selection, in MP3 A allows new areas to be inhabited /AW OR allow
response to, changing / new / different / unpredictable, better / more, adaptation / fitness, to (same) environment
environment / conditions / AW ;
4 example of environment factor where adaptation would MP4 A adaptation to, new / different / changing,
be an advantage ; diet / climate / competition / (infectious) diseases / predators
/ pollutant etc.
5 reduces chances of extinction / increases chance of
survival ;
5(c) 4 one mark for each correct row
function letter from name
Fig. 5.2
dilates in the process
M cervix
of birth / AW / AVP
release / production,
of oestrogen /
egg / ovum / ova / L ovary
(female) gametes
/ AVP
site of fertilisation J oviduct
site of implantation P uterus (lining)
;;;;
5(d)(i) any four from: 4
1 gas exchange / oxygen transfers to fetus / oxygen
transfers from mother / carbon dioxide transfers to
mother / carbon dioxide transfers from fetus ;
2 transfers of (dissolved) nutrients, from maternal / to fetal
(circulation);
3 transfer of excretory products, from fetal / to maternal
(circulation) ;
4 (transfer of nutrients / excretory products) by diffusion ;
5 (placenta) produces / secretes, (named) hormone ;
6 transfer of antibodies, from maternal / to fetal
(circulation) OR passive immunity provided (to fetus) ;
7 (placenta) separates fetal and maternal blood supply ;
ora
8 AVP ;
5(d)(ii) any two from: 2
1 provides support to fetus ;
2 protect fetus from (mechanical) shock ;
3 maintains temperature (of fetus) / AW ;
4 allows movement (of fetus) / allows for development of
bones and muscles / lubricant ;
5 maintains osmotic balance / prevents dehydration ;
6 ref. to swallowing of (amniotic) fluid / involved in
digestive tract development / involved in lung
development ;
7 provides sterile environment ;
(a) Complete the sentences about human teeth.
The process of taking food into the mouth is called …… .
Flat sharp‑edged teeth at the front of the mouth, called …… ,
are used for biting off pieces of food.
The …… and …… are the large teeth
towards the back of the mouth that are used for …… the food.
[4]
(b) Fig. 6.1 is a diagram of a villus.
Fig. 6.1
(i) Draw labels and label lines on Fig. 6.1 to identify a capillary and a lacteal. [1]
(ii) State the part of the digestive system where villi are located.
…… [1]
(iii) State the function of the lacteal.
…… [1]
(c) Describe the pathway taken by the products of protein digestion from the villi to the liver.
…… [2]
[Total: 9]
Mark scheme
6(a) ingestion ; 4
incisors ;
molars and premolars ; MP3 either order
chewing / grinding / crushing / mashing / masticating ;
6(b)(i) one label line and label that identifies a capillary and one 1
label line and label that identifies the lacteal ;
6(b)(ii) small intestine ; 1
6(b)(iii) absorption / transport of, fatty acids / glycerol / fat / lipids ; 1
6(c) any two from: 2
1 (amino acids / products of protein digestion) move in(to)
capillaries (in villi / Fig. 6.1) ;
2 (amino acids / products of protein digestion) are carried
in (blood) plasma ;
3 (amino acids / products of protein digestion travel to the)
hepatic portal vein ;
Checked your answers against these? Let AI mark the whole paper, on your own working.
Examiners follow the generic marking principles at the front of the scheme, then each question's points: method (M), accuracy (A) and independent (B) marks, error carried forward where the scheme allows it, and positive marking, so you're credited for what you got right.
Check your answers against it
Done this paper? Upload your script and CIE Buddy's AI marker marks it question by question against this exact scheme, puts the ticks on your own working and says what each lost mark needed.
Where can I find the 0610/42 May/June 2024 mark scheme?+
On this page, free: the mark scheme for IGCSE Biology 0610/42, May/June 2024 (0610_s24_ms_42), and the question paper (0610_s24_qp_42), to read or download, with each question's marking points written out underneath.
How many marks is 0610/42 out of?+
Biology 0610/42 for May/June 2024 is out of 80 marks, with 1 hour 15 minutes to answer it, across 6 questions.
Can I get my 0610/42 answers marked?+
Yes. Upload your answers to 0610/42/M/J/24 as a PDF or photos, and CIE Buddy marks every question against this paper's official mark scheme, using Cambridge's marking rules. You get your score, each lost mark explained on your own script, and the topics to revise. It's a guide, not an official Cambridge grade.