Biology 9700/11 May/June 2021: question paper and mark scheme
Cambridge AS & A Level Biology (9700), Paper 1 Multiple Choice, May/June 2021. Read both free below, or download them. Done the paper? Get it marked by AI against this mark scheme.
The diagram shows a mitochondrion drawn from an electron micrograph.
Y
X
The actual length of the mitochondrion, using the line X–Y, is 3000 nm.
What is the magnification of the drawing of the mitochondrion?
A ×100 B ×1000 C ×10 000 D ×100 000
A specimen of plant tissue is observed twice with a microscope, firstly using red light with a wavelength of 650 nm and then using green light with a wavelength of 510 nm.
What happens to the magnification and resolution when using green light compared to red light?
magnification resolution
A decreases decreases
B increases increases
C remains the same decreases
D remains the same increases
The electron micrograph shows a structure found in the cytoplasm of an animal cell.
What is this cell structure?
A centriole
B lysosome
C ribosome
D vesicle
Which statements about mitochondria, chloroplasts or prokaryotes are correct?
1 Mitochondria and chloroplasts have a fully permeable inner membrane and a partially permeable outer membrane.
2 Prokaryotes and chloroplasts have 70S ribosomes that are the sites for translation and polypeptide synthesis.
3 Prokaryotes and mitochondria have an outer membrane and an inner, folded membrane where ATP synthesis occurs.
4 Prokaryotes and mitochondria have circular DNA where genes coding for information are located.
A 1, 2 and 3 B 1, 2 and 4 C 1 and 3 only D 2 and 4 only
The very large (1000 nm) Pandora viruses found in Chile and Australia are considered to be viruses because they cannot replicate their own genome and cannot make proteins.
They also share essential structural features with other viruses.
What are the essential structural features of viruses?
1 non-cellular
2 protein coat
3 both DNA and RNA
4 either DNA or RNA
A 1, 2 and 3 B 1, 2 and 4 C 1 and 3 only D 2 and 4 only
A sample of food was heated with Benedict’s solution which changed colour to green.
A second sample of the same food was boiled with dilute hydrochloric acid and neutralised using sodium hydrogencarbonate. It was then heated with Benedict’s solution which changed colour to red.
What did these results show?
glucose present
A reducing D non-reducing sugar present sugar present
C B
Which pair of molecules only includes macromolecules that can be found in animal cells?
A amylase and amylopectin
B collagen and glycogen
C deoxyribose and starch
D sucrose and haemoglobin
Homogalacturonan is a polysaccharide found in plant cell walls.
The diagram shows a molecule of the monomer used to form homogalacturonan.
CO2H
O
HO H
OH H
H OH
H OH
A student studied the structure of this monomer and compared it with the structure of the monomer used to form cellulose.
Which carbon atoms in the monomer in the diagram have hydroxyl groups arranged in different positions to those found in the cellulose monomer?
A carbon one and carbon four
B carbon one only
C carbon three and carbon four
D carbon three only
Which statement is correct for triglycerides and phospholipids?
A A phosphate group is joined to a glycerol molecule.
B Hydrocarbon chains may be saturated or unsaturated.
C They are polar molecules.
D They contain three ester bonds.
Which description of collagen is correct?
A A collagen molecule consists of three polypeptide chains, each in the shape of a helix. The three chains are wound together into a triple helix called a fibre.
B A collagen molecule consists of three polypeptide chains, each of which is an α-helix. The three chains are wound tightly together into a triple helix. Many of these triple helices bind together as a fibre.
C A collagen molecule consists of three polypeptide chains wound tightly into a triple helix called a fibre.
D A collagen molecule consists of three polypeptide chains in which every third amino acid is glycine. The three polypeptides are wound tightly together into a triple helix. Many of these helices form a fibre.
In a healthy human, the mean value for the number of haemoglobin molecules in one red blood cell is 260 million.
How many α-globin chains does one red blood cell contain in a healthy human?
A 1.3 × 108 B 2.6 × 108 C 5.2 × 108 D 1.04 × 109
Which statements about a peptide bond are correct?
1 It joins two monomers which are always identical to each other.
2 It contains four different atoms.
3 It can be broken by the addition of water at room temperature.
4 It is important in the primary structure of proteins.
A 1, 2 and 3 B 1 and 3 only C 2, 3 and 4 D 2 and 4 only
Which graph correctly shows the activation energy of a reaction when an enzyme is added?
A B activation activation energy no enzyme energy no enzyme enzyme enzyme
energy products energy products
reactants reactants
progress of reaction progress of reaction
C D activation activation energy no enzyme energy no enzyme enzyme enzyme
energy reactants energy reactants
products products
progress of reaction progress of reaction
The enzyme lactase is found in the membranes of epithelial cells lining the small intestine.
The enzyme is formed by a single polypeptide that folds to give three regions.
an active site with the free amino group outside the cell
a short section inside the membrane
a short section inside the cell
What type of amino acid would be found in each of the three regions?
inside the inside the outside the cell membrane cell
A hydrophilic hydrophobic hydrophilic
B hydrophilic hydrophobic hydrophobic
C hydrophobic hydrophilic hydrophobic
D hydrophobic hydrophobic hydrophilic
A student wrote three statements about cell signalling.
1 A signal chemical always has the same shape as a protein receptor on a target cell.
2 An increase in temperature may decrease the effect of cell to cell signalling.
3 A mutation may decrease production of active protein receptors for the cell surface membrane.
Which statements are correct?
A 1, 2 and 3 B 1 and 3 only C 1 only D 2 and 3 only
At which stages of mitosis are chromosomes composed of two chromatids that are held together by a centromere?
A anaphase and telophase
B anaphase and prophase
C metaphase and prophase
D metaphase and telophase
The jellyfish, Turritopsis dohrnii, is described as being immortal. If T. dohrnii is not eaten by predators or diseased, it seems to be able to live forever. There is no way to determine the biological age of a T. dohrnii individual.
Which feature of the cells in T. dohrnii could explain these observations?
A very long G phases in the cell cycle
B a very short S phase in the cell cycle
C an ability to restore telomeres to their original length
D fewer chromosomes than other eukaryotic organisms
Some chemicals, used to stop tumour growth, work by preventing the DNA double helix from uncoiling and separating.
During which stage of the cell cycle would they act?
A anaphase
B interphase
C metaphase
D prophase
Four nucleotides, A, B, C and D, each consist of three phosphate groups, a nitrogenous base and a pentose sugar. Characteristics of the base and sugar components before they are joined to form each nucleotide are shown in the table.
Which nucleotide could pair with an adenine base during DNA replication?
ratio of carbon to ring structure of oxygen atoms in nitrogenous base pentose sugar
A double 1:1
B double 5:4
C single 1:1
D single 5:4
The statements describe the process of translation.
1 A peptide bond forms between adjacent amino acids.
2 Hydrogen bonds form between the anticodon and the codon.
3 mRNA binds to the ribosome.
4 tRNA enters the ribosome carrying a specific amino acid.
In which order does this process take place?
A 3→2→1→4
B 3→4→2→1
C 4→2→1→3
D 4→2→3→1
The sequence of amino acids in a section of a polypeptide is:
… histidine–proline–aspartic acid–leucine...
amino acid possible DNA triplet codes
aspartic acid CTA CTG histidine GTA GTG leucine GAT GAC proline GGA GGG
What is a correct sequence of mRNA codons for this polypeptide section?
A …CAC CCC GAA CUG…
B …CAU CCU GAC CUA…
C …GTA CCA CTG GAT…
D …GUA GGA CUG GAU…
What contributes to the upward movement of water in a xylem vessel of a plant?
1 cohesion of water molecules by hydrogen bonding
2 adhesion of water molecules to the cellulose walls of xylem vessels by hydrogen bonding
3 removal of water from xylem vessels in a leaf reduces the hydrostatic pressure in the xylem
A 1, 2 and 3 B 1 and 2 only C 1 and 3 only D 2 and 3 only
The diameter of a tree trunk usually decreases slightly during the day.
Which changes in environmental factors during the day could cause the diameter to decrease even more?
increased light intensity
C A
D increased increased wind speed B temperature
The diagram shows a xerophytic leaf in different conditions, P and Q.
Y
Y
P Q
Which statements describe the difference between the cells in layer Y in conditions P and Q?
1 more negative water potential in P than Q
2 more cells plasmolysed in P
3 cells less turgid in Q
4 water potential becomes zero in Q
A 1, 2 and 3 B 1 and 2 only C 2 and 4 D 3 and 4
Different substances, such as sucrose and amino acids, can move in different directions in the phloem sieve tube elements.
Which statement explains this?
A Active transport occurs in some phloem sieve tube elements and mass flow occurs in other sieve tube elements.
B Both active transport and mass flow occur in each individual phloem sieve tube element.
C Mass flow occurs in both directions at the same time in each individual phloem sieve tube element.
D Mass flow occurs in different directions in different phloem sieve tube elements at the same time.
The statements list some of the events in a cardiac cycle. The statements are not in the correct order.
Which statement describes the fourth of these events to occur in the cardiac cycle?
1 The impulse travels through Purkyne tissue.
2 A wave of excitation sweeps across the atria.
3 The atrioventricular node delays the impulse for a fraction of a second.
4 The sinoatrial node contracts.
5 The wave of excitation sweeps upwards from the base of the ventricles.
6 The ventricles contract.
7 The atria contract.
A 1 B 3 C 4 D 7
Which row correctly identifies components of both lymph and tissue fluid?
red sodium white antibodies blood cells ions blood cells
A key
B = component present
C = component not present
D
Which row is correct for the mean blood pressure in different parts of the human circulatory system?
mean blood pressure right artery in vein in capillary atrium arm arm in arm key
A + ++++ ++ +++ ++++ highest mean blood pressure
B ++ ++++ +++ + +++
C +++ ++ ++++ + ++
D ++++ +++ + ++ + lowest mean blood pressure
Which mechanism accounts for the way most of the carbon dioxide is transported in blood?
A Carbon dioxide dissolves in plasma and is carried in solution.
B Carbon dioxide is converted to carbaminohaemoglobin inside red blood cells.
C Carbon dioxide is converted to carboxyhaemoglobin inside red blood cells.
D Carbon dioxide is converted to hydrogencarbonate ions inside red blood cells.
The graph shows the dissociation curves for haemoglobin at two different partial pressures of carbon dioxide.
At which position on the graph, A, B, C, or D, is the concentration of haemoglobinic acid lowest in red blood cells?
low carbon dioxide partial pressure
C
D
percentage saturation of haemoglobin with oxygen high carbon dioxide partial pressure
A
B
partial pressure of oxygen / kPa
The table shows the partial pressure of carbon dioxide and oxygen in two blood vessels.
partial pressure of partial pressure of gas in pulmonary gas in pulmonary artery / kPa vein / kPa
carbon dioxide 6 5 oxygen 5 15
What explains the difference in the partial pressures of oxygen in the pulmonary artery and pulmonary vein?
A Oxygen diffuses from the alveoli into the blood in the capillaries.
B Carbon dioxide diffuses into the alveoli from the blood in the capillaries.
C Oxygen diffuses from the body cells into the blood in the capillaries.
D Carbon dioxide diffuses into the body cells from the blood in the capillaries.
Which graph shows the effect of carbon monoxide on the percentage saturation of haemoglobin with oxygen?
A B
percentage percentage saturation of saturation of haemoglobin haemoglobin with oxygen with oxygen key
= without carbon partial pressure partial pressure monoxide of oxygen of oxygen
= with carbon monoxide
C D
percentage percentage saturation of saturation of haemoglobin haemoglobin with oxygen with oxygen
partial pressure partial pressure of oxygen of oxygen
Which row shows the correct methods of transmission of the named pathogens?
method of transmission airborne droplets insect vector water
A Morbillivirus Mycobacterium Vibrio
B Mycobacterium Plasmodium Vibrio
C Plasmodium Vibrio Morbillivirus
D Vibrio Plasmodium Mycobacterium
What is the initial mechanism by which bacteria become resistant to antibiotics?
A genetic mutation
B overuse of antibiotics
C natural selection
D patients not finishing a course of antibiotics
What are functions of T-lymphocytes?
1 production of cytokines
2 production of toxins
3 recognition of an antigen bound to an antigen-presenting cell
A 1, 2 and 3 B 1 and 2 only C 1 and 3 only D 2 and 3 only
What is correct about the role of memory cells in long-term immunity?
1 They divide to form plasma cells and memory cells when the pathogen enters the body a second time.
2 They produce a fast response so that the person infected with the pathogen does not become ill again.
3 They produce more antibodies than were produced during the primary immune response.
4 They remain in the blood and lymphatic system after the pathogen has been destroyed.
A 1, 2 and 3 B 1, 2 and 4 C 1 and 3 only D 2 and 4 only
Which events result in a person developing actively acquired immunity?
1 becoming infected by TB bacteria
2 drinking breast milk
3 receiving an injection of antigens
4 receiving an injection of antibodies
A 1, 2 and 3 B 1, 3 and 4 C 1 and 3 only D 2 and 4
Answer
C
Checked your answers against these? Let AI mark the whole paper, on your own working.
It's multiple choice: one mark for each correct answer, and nothing taken off for a wrong one. The mark scheme is the answer key.
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 9700/11 May/June 2021 mark scheme?+
On this page, free: the mark scheme for AS & A Level Biology 9700/11, May/June 2021 (9700_s21_ms_11), and the question paper (9700_s21_qp_11), to read or download, with each question's marking points written out underneath.
How many marks is 9700/11 out of?+
Biology 9700/11 for May/June 2021 is out of 40 marks, with 1 hour to answer it.
Can I get my 9700/11 answers marked?+
Yes. Upload your answers to 9700/11/M/J/21 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.