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Biology 9700/12 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.

9700_s21_qp_129700_s21_ms_129700/12/M/J/21

Paper
Paper 1 Multiple Choice
Total marks
40
Time
1 hour
Code on the paper
9700/12/M/J/21
9700_s21_ms_12.pdf

9700/12 answers, question by question

Each question and its answer from the key, as text. Diagrams and graphs are in the question paper above.

Question 11 mark

Question

Which row describes the membranes surrounding each cell structure? chloroplast mitochondrion nucleus A single single double B double single single C single double single D double double double

Answer

D

Question 21 mark

Question

The mean width of mitochondria in an electron micrograph is 6 mm. The magnification of the electron micrograph is ×9600. What is the actual mean width of the mitochondria? A 6 × 10–3 mm B 6 × 10–4 mm C 6 × 10–2 μm D 6 × 103 μm

Answer

B

Question 31 mark

Question

Which sequence shows the correct order of some of the stages in the production and secretion of an enzyme? A Golgi body → ribosome → rough endoplasmic reticulum → mRNA B mRNA → smooth endoplasmic reticulum → Golgi body → vesicle C ribosome → rough endoplasmic reticulum → vesicle → Golgi body D smooth endoplasmic reticulum → mRNA → vesicle → ribosome

Answer

C

Question 41 mark

Question

Different antibiotics function in different ways. Ideally, the antibiotic kills the bacteria, but does not harm the infected human. One type of antibiotic, tetracycline, can affect the way in which human mitochondria function. What explains the effect of tetracycline on human mitochondria? 1 The antibiotic prevents the synthesis of peptidoglycan cell walls. 2 The antibiotic prevents synthesis of linear DNA. 3 The antibiotic prevents translation by binding to 70S ribosomes. A 1 and 2 B 2 and 3 C 2 only D 3 only

Answer

D

Question 51 mark

Question

A prokaryotic cell is 5.0 μm in length. A virus particle is 300 nm in length. How many times larger is the prokaryotic cell compared to the virus particle? A 2 B 17 C 60 D 167

Answer

B

Question 61 mark

Question

A student carries out a semi-quantitative test with Benedict’s solution. Which statement about this procedure is correct? A It detects only the presence or absence of glucose. B It provides an indication of relative reducing sugar concentrations. C The precipitate needs to be filtered, dried and weighed to give the reducing sugar concentration. D A colorimeter needs to be used to determine the glucose concentration.

Answer

B

Question 71 mark

Question

Which row is correct for carbohydrates? macromolecule monomer polymer A sucrose starch α-glucose B glycogen sucrose starch C α-glucose glycogen sucrose D starch α-glucose glycogen

Answer

D

Question 81 mark

Question

Which shows the correct general formula for glycogen? A (C5H10O5)n B (C5H10O6)n C (C6H10O5)n D (C6H12O6)n

Answer

C

Question 91 mark

Question

Chitin is a structural polysaccharide found in the hard, outer shells of animals such as crabs. Chitin is made of chains of amino sugars that contain NH groups. The diagram shows two sugars in the chain of a chitin molecule. CH2OH H NHCOCH3 H O H O H OH H O OH H H O H H O H NHCOCH3 CH2OH Which polysaccharide is most like chitin? A amylopectin B amylose C cellulose D glycogen

Answer

C

Question 101 mark

Question

Four fatty acids and their formulae are listed. caprylic acid CH3(CH2)6COOH lauric acid CH3(CH2)10COOH oleic acid CH3(CH2)7CH=CH(CH2)7COOH palmitoleic acid CH3(CH2)5CH=CH(CH2)7COOH Which fatty acids are saturated? A caprylic acid and lauric acid B caprylic acid and oleic acid C lauric acid and palmitoleic acid D oleic acid and palmitoleic acid

Answer

A

Question 111 mark

Question

Which molecule contains the smallest number of hydrogen atoms? A α-glucose B glycine, an amino acid in which the R group is H C glycerol D a saturated fatty acid containing eight carbon atoms

Answer

B

Question 121 mark

Question

The diagram shows sucrose and sucralose. CH2OH CH2OH CH2OH CH2Cl O O Cl O O OH HO OH HO OH O CH2OH O CH2Cl OH OH OH OH sucrose sucralose The enzyme sucrase breaks down sucrose but cannot break down sucralose. Four students were asked to suggest why sucrase can break down sucrose but not sucralose. Three of the students gave correct suggestions. Which suggestion cannot be correct? A The Cl atoms change the shape of the sucralose molecule so it is not the same shape as the active site of sucrase. B The Cl atoms of the modified fructose cannot bind to the active site of sucrase. C The Cl atoms cannot cause an induced fit, so sucralose does not enter the active site of sucrase. D The Cl atoms cause fewer temporary hydrogen bonds between sucralose and the active site of sucrase.

Answer

A

Question 131 mark

Question

The graph shows the energy levels involved in an enzyme-catalysed reaction. Substrate molecules X and Y combine to give product Z. Which arrow shows the reduction in activation energy due to the enzyme? B C energy X+Y A D Z 0 0 time / s

Answer

B

Question 141 mark

Question

Which roles of the cell surface membrane result from the properties of the phospholipids? 1 to allow cytokinesis to occur in mitotic cell division 2 to allow entry and exit of oxygen and carbon dioxide 3 to allow the phagocytosis of a bacterium into a cell A 1, 2 and 3 B 1 and 2 only C 1 and 3 only D 2 and 3 only

Answer

A

Question 151 mark

Question

Which factors can be changed to affect the rate of facilitated diffusion across a cell surface membrane? 1 the surface area of the membrane 2 the concentration gradient 3 the number of specific protein channels A 1, 2 and 3 B 1 and 2 only C 1 and 3 only D 3 only

Answer

A

Question 161 mark

Question

The diagram shows an experiment using a model cell to investigate the movement of substances. membrane permeable model cell to monosaccharides and water solution containing 0.03 mol dm–3 sucrose 0.02 mol dm–3 glucose solution containing 0.01 mol dm–3 sucrose 0.01 mol dm–3 glucose Which statements are correct? 1 There is net movement of sucrose out of the model cell. 2 There is net movement of glucose out of the model cell. 3 There is net movement of water into the model cell. A 1, 2 and 3 B 1 and 2 only C 1 and 3 only D 2 and 3 only

Answer

D

Question 171 mark

Question

Human chromosomes have different parts. Some parts are more numerous than others. Which parts are listed in order from most numerous to least numerous in a human white blood cell? A centromere → nucleotide → histone protein B DNA molecule → telomere → centromere C histone protein → telomere → DNA molecule D telomere → centromere → nucleotide

Answer

C

Question 181 mark

Question

The diagram represents the cell cycle of a human cell. During the cell cycle the number of chromatids changes. mitosis G2 M S C cytokinesis G1 Which row is correct for the number of chromatids in M, G1, and G2? M G1 G2 A 46 46 92 B 46 92 92 C 92 46 92 D 92 92 92

Answer

C

Question 191 mark

Question

A single skin cell was isolated and transferred to growth medium in a sterile Petri dish. The Petri dish was incubated for 16 days. During this time, the number of skin cells multiplied as a result of repeated mitotic divisions. One of the chromosomes in the nucleus of each skin cell has a telomere that contains many repeats of the base sequence TTAGGG. On each of days 4, 8, 12 and 16 of the incubation period, a single cell was removed from the Petri dish. The total number of bases in the telomere of this chromosome was determined for each cell. Each of the four cells had a different total number of telomere bases for this chromosome: 5548, 5580, 5645 and 5700. What was the total number of telomere bases in the chromosome from the cell that had undergone the most mitotic divisions? A 5548 B 5580 C 5645 D 5700

Answer

A

Question 201 mark

Question

A short piece of DNA, 18 base pairs long, was analysed to find the number of nucleotide bases in each of the polynucleotide strands. Some of the results are shown in the table. number of nucleotide bases adenine cytosine guanine thymine strand 1 4 7 strand 2 5 How many nucleotides containing thymine were present in strand 2? A 2 B 4 C 5 D 7

Answer

A

Question 211 mark

Question

The diagram shows a strand of DNA and mRNA during transcription. 1 2 P C G P P G C P 3 Which row correctly identifies 1, 2 and 3? 1 2 3 A purine deoxyribose two hydrogen bonds B purine ribose three hydrogen bonds C pyrimidine deoxyribose two hydrogen bonds D pyrimidine ribose three hydrogen bonds

Answer

D

Question 221 mark

Question

Two students were discussing the involvement of DNA and RNA in transcription and translation. Student 1 always stated correct facts. Student 2 gave further information, which was sometimes correct. correct facts given by student 1 further information given by student 2 1 A length of mRNA is 747 nucleotides This mRNA can produce a polypeptide long, including stop and start codons. that is 249 amino acids long. 2 Adjacent mRNA codons of AAU There is a total of 14 hydrogen bonds and CUG bind to complementary formed between these two codons and tRNA anticodons. their anticodons. 3 RNA polymerase catalyses the formation During translation, an RNA adenine of the mRNA from the template strand nucleotide will pair with a DNA thymine of DNA. nucleotide. 4 A DNA adenine nucleotide is structurally The difference is in the hexose sugars; different to an RNA adenine nucleotide. DNA is deoxyribose and RNA is ribose. Which further information, given by student 2, is correct? A 1 and 4 B 2 and 3 C 2 only D 4 only

Answer

C

Question 231 mark

Question

Which descriptions of the adaptations of xylem vessel elements to their function are correct? 1 They have pits between vessels allowing water to pass from one vessel to another. 2 They are thickened with lignin to stop them collapsing when the column of water is under tension. 3 They form a continuous hollow tube through the plant providing little resistance to water movement. A 1, 2 and 3 B 1 and 3 only C 2 only D 2 and 3 only

Answer

A

Question 241 mark

Question

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 humidity C A D increased increased wind speed B light intensity

Answer

B

Question 251 mark

Question

A student wanted to find out the rate of transpiration using a potometer as shown. cut shoot reservoir air bubble capillary tube volume beaker scale of water The student was told to work out a value for transpiration using the units mm3, m–2 and hour–1. Which measurements would the student need to take? A volume of water in the reservoir, length of the capillary tubing, temperature and how many leaves are on the shoot B volume of water in the reservoir, radius of the capillary tubing, time and surface area of the leaves C distance air bubble moves, radius of the capillary tubing, time and surface area of the leaves D distance air bubble moves, length of the capillary tubing, temperature and how many leaves are on the shoot

Answer

C

Question 261 mark

Question

In plants, assimilates such as sucrose are loaded from source cells into sieve tube elements. The assimilates are then transported from source to sink. What is needed to transport sucrose from source cells through phloem tissue to sink cells? water potential gradient between A B ATP the source and the sink C D hydrostatic pressure gradient between the source and the sink

Answer

C

Question 271 mark

Question

The sinoatrial node initiates the cardiac cycle. What is the correct order in which the chambers of the heart contract? A atria and ventricles at the same time B both atria then both ventricles C left atrium, then left ventricle, then right atrium, then right ventricle D right atrium, then right ventricle, then left atrium, then left ventricle

Answer

B

Question 281 mark

Question

The graph shows pressure changes in different parts of the heart during a mammalian cardiac cycle. W, X, Y and Z indicate when a valve opens or closes. Y X pressure key / kPa aorta ventricle Z atrium W 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 time / s Which row is correct? W X Y Z A opens closes closes opens B opens opens closes opens C closes opens closes opens D closes closes opens opens

Answer

C

Question 291 mark

Question

What can combine with the haem group of a haemoglobin molecule? 1 oxygen 2 carbon dioxide 3 carbon monoxide A 1, 2 and 3 B 1 and 3 only C 1 only D 2 and 3 only

Answer

B

Question 301 mark

Question

What is the main reaction occurring in blood capillaries at the gas exchange surface in a human lung? A Carbonic acid dissociates into carbon dioxide and hydrogen ions. B Carbonic anhydrase converts carbon dioxide into hydrogencarbonate ions. C Carbon dioxide combines with haemoglobin to form carbaminohaemoglobin. D Carbon dioxide is produced from hydrogencarbonate ions by carbonic anhydrase.

Answer

D

Question 311 mark

Question

Which reactions take place in blood that is passing through active tissues? 1 HbO8 → Hb + 4O2 2 HbO8 + H+ → HHb + 4O2 3 HCO3– + H+ → H2CO3 4 H2O + CO2 → H2CO3 A 1, 2, 3 and 4 B 1, 2 and 4 only C 1, 3 and 4 only D 2 and 3 only

Answer

B

Question 321 mark

Question

Which row shows the tissues that are present in the wall of the trachea and in the wall of the bronchus? squamous cartilage goblet cells epithelium A key B = present C = not present D

Answer

C

Question 331 mark

Question

In some cases where a person has lung disease, the partial pressure of oxygen in the pulmonary veins is less than the partial pressure of oxygen in the alveoli. What could explain the difference in partial pressure of oxygen? 1 A high proportion of alveoli are collapsed and do not have enough alveolar capillaries. 2 The partial pressure of oxygen in the pulmonary arteries is lower than in the alveolar air. 3 The rate of diffusion of oxygen from the alveolar air to the surrounding alveolar capillaries is too slow. A 1, 2 and 3 B 1 and 2 only C 1 and 3 only D 2 and 3 only

Answer

C

Question 341 mark

Question

How many times must a molecule of carbon dioxide pass through a cell surface membrane as it diffuses from the plasma, through a cell in the capillary wall, into an alveolus? A 1 B 2 C 3 D 4

Answer

D

Question 351 mark

Question

Which disease is spread by a vector? A AIDS / HIV B cholera C malaria D measles

Answer

C

Question 361 mark

Question

Which statement explains why a one-dose vaccination programme for measles has not yet eliminated the disease? A Many infants under the age of eight months have passive immunity. B Some children need several booster doses to develop full immunity. C The one-dose measles vaccine has a success rate of 93%. D The virus does not often change its antibodies.

Answer

B

Question 371 mark

Question

What has contributed to the increase in antibiotic resistance in bacteria? 1 increased use of vaccines for animal diseases 2 mutations in bacterial DNA 3 patients not completing their antibiotic treatment A 1, 2 and 3 B 1 and 2 only C 1 and 3 only D 2 and 3 only

Answer

D

Question 381 mark

Question

What explains why monoclonal antibodies can be used to target cancer cells? A Cancer cells have different antigens from normal body cells. B Specific cancer drugs can be attached to the monoclonal antibody. C They secrete a type of antigen that binds to a specific antibody. D They are secreted by hybridomas of cancer cells and B-lymphocytes.

Answer

A

Question 391 mark

Question

Which statements correctly describe lymphocytes? 1 Each B-lymphocyte has the ability to make several types of antibody molecules. 2 Some B-lymphocytes and T-lymphocytes become memory cells. 3 Plasma cells secrete antibodies into the blood plasma. 4 Some T-lymphocytes stimulate macrophages to kill infected cells. A 1, 2, 3 and 4 B 1, 2 and 3 only C 1 and 4 only D 2, 3 and 4 only

Answer

D

Question 401 mark

Question

A country introduced a measles vaccination during a measles epidemic. Later, it was realised that vaccinated children were more likely to survive childhood than unvaccinated children, even when there were no measles epidemics. The vaccine had given the children some protection against other pathogenic infections. Which statement could account for this extra protection? A B-lymphocytes produced memory cells which gave the children passive immunity to these infections. B Memory cells produced plasma cells which secreted anti-measles antibodies that bound to antigens that closely resembled measles antigens. C Memory cells produced plasma cells which secreted anti-measles antibodies that bound to any antigen. D T-lymphocytes produced memory cells which gave the children natural immunity against these other infections.

Answer

B

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Where can I find the 9700/12 May/June 2021 mark scheme?

On this page, free: the mark scheme for AS & A Level Biology 9700/12, May/June 2021 (9700_s21_ms_12), and the question paper (9700_s21_qp_12), to read or download, with each question's marking points written out underneath.

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Biology 9700/12 for May/June 2021 is out of 40 marks, with 1 hour to answer it.

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