Biology 0610/41 May/June 2025: question paper and mark scheme

Question

(a) Fig. 1.1 shows a pyramid of energy for an ecosystem. energy / J trophic level 98 4 822 3 9804 2 11 212 1 Fig. 1.1 (i) State where the organisms in trophic level 1 in Fig. 1.1 get their energy from. …… [1] (ii) Calculate the percentage of energy transferred between trophic levels 2 and 3 in Fig. 1.1. Give your answer to one significant figure. …… [2] (iii) State two reasons why the energy decreases between trophic levels 1 and 4, as shown in Fig. 1.1. 1 …… 2 …… [2] (iv) Describe the advantages of representing food chains using a pyramid of energy compared with a pyramid of biomass. …… [2] (b) A new species was introduced to an ecosystem. Fig. 1.2 shows the changes in the population as the species established itself in the ecosystem. X population size of the new species time Fig. 1.2 (i) Complete the sentence to describe the term population. A population is a group of organisms of one species living in the same …… at the same …… . [1] (ii) Describe and explain the reasons for the shape of the graph at X in Fig. 1.2. …… [5] [Total: 13]

Question

(a) The human retina contains receptor cells called rods and cones. Fig. 2.1 shows the distribution of receptor cells in a human retina. fovea blind spot 150 000 100 000 number of receptors per mm2 50 000 0 80 60 40 20 0 20 40 60 80 distance from the fovea / arbitrary units key rods cones Fig. 2.1 Using the information in Fig. 2.1, describe the differences in the distribution of rods and cones. …… [4] (b) Nocturnal animals are active at night. Suggest how the number of receptor cells in the retina of a nocturnal animal differs from those in the retina of an animal that is active in the day. Explain your suggestion. …… [2] (c) In humans, the size of the iris increases in bright light conditions. During this response one effector in the iris contracts and one effector relaxes. (i) State the name of this response. …… [1] (ii) State the name of the effector that contracts in this response. …… [1] (iii) State the name of the type of action shown by the paired effectors during this response. …… [1] (d) The optic nerve contains many neurones. Fig. 2.2 shows a synapse between two neurones. neurone 1 direction of impulse A C synaptic gap neurone 2 B Fig. 2.2 (i) State the names of the parts labelled A, B and C in Fig. 2.2. A …… B …… C …… [3] (ii) Explain how part C in Fig. 2.2 moves across the synaptic gap. …… [2] [Total: 14]

Question

(a) Fig. 3.1 shows one stage involved in plant reproduction after pollination. pollen grain stigma X carpel Fig. 3.1 (i) State the name of the part labelled X in Fig. 3.1. …… [1] (ii) Describe the events that occur after the stage shown in Fig. 3.1 that result in fertilisation. …… [3] (b) A species of plant can use self-pollination and cross-pollination. (i) Suggest reasons for this species of plant to use self-pollination rather than cross-pollination. …… [3] (ii) Discuss the potential effects of only using self-pollination in a population of plants. …… [3] (c) Meiosis produces gametes and is a source of genetic variation. State two other sources of genetic variation in populations. 1 …… 2 …… [2] (d) Describe mitosis and its roles in organisms. …… [4] (e) State the name of the unspecialised cells that divide by mitosis. …… [1] [Total: 17]

Question

The kidney is an organ in the excretory system. (a) Describe what is meant by the term excretion. …… [2] (b) State the name of the substance excreted by the lungs. …… [1] (c) Fig. 4.1 shows a simplified diagram of a cross-section of a kidney. P R Q Fig. 4.1 State the names of the parts labelled P, Q and R in Fig. 4.1. P …… Q …… R …… [3] (d) Fig. 4.2 shows the structure of a kidney nephron. X Y Z direction of flow to structure Q in Fig. 4.1 Fig. 4.2 Describe and explain the difference in the composition of the fluids in structures X, Y and Z in Fig. 4.2. …… [6] (e) The liver is also involved in excretion. Describe two ways that amino acids are processed in the liver. 1 …… 2 …… [2] [Total: 14]

Question

(a) Organisms can be classified by their features and by studying the sequence of bases in their DNA. Fig. 5.1 is a diagram showing the evolutionary relationships between some different groups of organisms. Each branch shows the point at which organisms developed new features that classify them as a new group. The point where the branch starts also indicates a common ancestor shared by the new groups. today sharks bony fish apes rodents crocodiles birds B A millions of years ago Fig. 5.1 (i) Suggest which visible features have developed at A and B in Fig. 5.1. A …… B …… [2] (ii) Identify the names of the two groups that share the most recent common ancestor in Fig. 5.1. …… and …… [1] (iii) Suggest the groups with the most similar and least similar DNA base sequences to crocodiles in Fig. 5.1. most similar …… least similar …… [2] (b) Describe the structure of a DNA molecule. …… [4] (c) Outline how the base sequences in DNA control cell function. …… [3] [Total: 12]

Question

(a) Some maize seeds were pinned on a board and provided with light from all directions. The board was placed in a clinostat that rotated the board. The board was rotated continuously as the seeds germinated and the roots grew. Fig. 6.1 shows the apparatus and results after 5 days. board root clinostat maize seed pinned to the board Fig. 6.1 (i) Complete the sentences to explain the root growth in Fig. 6.1. Auxin is produced in shoot and root …… . The auxin travels down the root by the process of …… . As the clinostat rotates, the effect of …… on all sides of the root is equal. This causes the distribution of auxin in the root to be …… . Auxin stimulates cell …… causing the roots to grow horizontally. [5] (ii) The rotation of the clinostat was stopped. Predict the change in growth that will occur in the germinating maize seeds in Fig. 6.1. …… [1] (iii) State the name of the tropic response to light. …… [1] (b) A student observed cells from a plant that had wilted. State and explain the expected appearance of the cells. …… [3] [Total: 10]