Biology 9700/31 October/November 2023: question paper and mark scheme
Cambridge AS & A Level Biology (9700), Paper 3 Advanced Practical Skills 1, October/November 2023. Read both free below, or download them. Done the paper? Get it marked by AI against this mark scheme.
You will investigate the effect of temperature on the production of carbon dioxide gas by yeast cells.
Yeast cells contain enzymes that break down glucose to release carbon dioxide and ethanol as shown in Fig. 1.1.
enzymes in yeast cells glucose carbon dioxide + ethanol
Fig. 1.1
You are provided with the materials shown in Table 1.1.
Table 1.1
labelled contents hazard volume / cm3
Y yeast cell suspension none 100
G glucose solution none 20
H hydrogencarbonate indicator harmful irritant 15
If any solution comes into contact with your skin, wash off immediately under cold water.
It is recommended that you wear suitable eye protection.
You will need to:
• maintain samples of a yeast cell suspension at different temperatures
• count the number of bubbles of carbon dioxide produced.
(a) (i) Decide which temperatures you will use for your investigation. These temperatures should be below 65 °C.
State the temperatures that you will use in your investigation.
[2]
Carry out step 1 to step 9.
step 1 Use the beakers labelled water-bath, hot water and cold water to set up and maintain a water-bath at the highest temperature you stated in (a)(i). The temperature of the water-bath must be maintained.
step 2 Stir the yeast cell suspension, Y, and put 20 cm3 of Y into the large test-tube.
step 3 Add 1 cm3 of glucose solution, G, to the large test-tube and mix well.
step 4 Set up the apparatus as shown in Fig. 1.2.
You will use the same test-tube of hydrogencarbonate indicator for each trial.
bung delivery tube
small test-tube water-bath prepared in step 1
15 cm3 hydrogencarbonate indicator large test-tube of Y + G
Fig. 1.2
step 5 Start timing and leave the apparatus for 60 seconds.
step 6 After 60 seconds, start counting the number of bubbles produced during the next 60 seconds.
Record your result in (a)(ii).
step 7 Take the large test-tube out of the water-bath and remove the bung and delivery tube. Pour the contents of the large test-tube into the container labelled
For Waste.
step 8 Adjust the temperature of the water-bath to the next highest temperature you stated in (a)(i).
step 9 Repeat step 2 to step 8 until you have tested all the temperatures stated in
(a)(i).
(ii) Record your results in an appropriate table.
[5]
(iii) State the dependent variable in this investigation.
…… [1]
(iv) Observe the final colour of the hydrogencarbonate indicator.
State the final colour of the hydrogencarbonate indicator …… [1]
(v) Suggest one conclusion from your observation in (a)(iv).
…… [1]
(vi) Identify one source of error in the procedure. Suggest an improvement to reduce this source of error.
error ……
improvement ……
[2]
(b) A student investigated the effect of copper ions on the growth of yeast cells.
Six yeast suspensions were made. For each suspension, 0.4 g of yeast was added to a nutrient solution. Different concentrations of copper ions were added to each yeast suspension. The mass of yeast in each suspension was measured after 24 hours.
The results are shown in Table 1.2.
Table 1.2
concentration of copper ions mass of yeast
/ parts per million (ppm) /g
0.00 19.4
0.10 21.2
0.25 5.6
0.50 2.0
0.75 0.8
1.00 0.4
(i) Plot a graph of the data shown in Table 1.2 on the grid in Fig. 1.3.
Use a sharp pencil.
Fig. 1.3
[4]
(ii) Use your graph in Fig. 1.3 to estimate the concentration of copper ions that would result in a mass of 10.0 g of yeast cells.
Show on your graph how you obtained your answer.
concentration of copper ions = …… ppm
[2]
(iii) Copper ions act as non-competitive inhibitors for some enzymes.
Suggest an explanation for the results shown in your graph in Fig. 1.3.
…… [2]
(iv) Until the 1930s, most commercial fermenting equipment for growing yeast cells was made of copper. After this time, fermenting equipment was made using stainless steel instead of copper.
Use your graph in Fig. 1.3 to suggest why stainless steel was used instead of copper.
…… [1]
[Total: 21]
Mark scheme
1(a)(i) 1 states at least five temperatures below 65 °C ; 2
2 states units as °C ;
1(a)(ii) 1 heading for independent variable: 5
temperature / °C ;
2 heading for dependent variable:
number of bubbles ;
3 records number of bubbles for stated temperatures in (a)(i) ;
4 correct trend ;
5 number of bubbles recorded to nearest whole number ;
1(a)(iii) number of bubbles ; 1
1(a)(iv) yellow / orange ; 1
1(a)(v) pH falling / becoming more acidic ; 1
1(a)(vi) any two from: 2
1 (error) using same indicator each time ;
(improvement) use separate indicator each time ;
2 (error) bubble size varies ;
(improvement) measure volume of gas instead of counting bubbles ;
3 (error) temperature of yeast not measured directly ;
(improvement) place thermometer in test-tube ;
4 (error) difficult to identify colour of indicator ;
(improvement) use a colorimeter ;
1(b)(i) 1 label on x-axis: concentration of copper ions (/) ppm 4
and
label on y-axis: mass of yeast (/) g ;
2 scale on x-axis: 0.2 to 2 cm, labelled at least every 2 cm
and
scale on y-axis: 4 to 2 cm, labelled at least every 2 cm ;
3 correct plotting of all six points using small crosses or dots in circles ;
4 six plots joined with thin line passing through all points and line is either smooth curve or joined plot to plot ;
1(b)(ii) 1 shows on y-axis reading taken at 10 g ; 2
2 correct reading according to candidate’s graph ;
1(b)(iii) 1 ref. to changes to shape of active site ; 2
2 idea of fewer, ESCs / yeast enzymes, unable to bind to substrate ;
1(b)(iv) copper will, reduce growth of yeast / reduce fermentation ; 1
J1 is a slide of a stained transverse section through a plant stem.
(a) (i) Draw a large plan diagram of the region of the stem on J1 indicated by the shaded area in Fig. 2.1. Use a sharp pencil.
Use one ruled label line and label to identify one vascular bundle.
draw this region
Fig. 2.1
[5]
(ii) Observe one vascular bundle of the section on J1.
Select one large xylem vessel element and a group of three adjacent, smaller xylem vessel elements.
• Make a large drawing of this group of four xylem vessel elements.
• Use one ruled label line and label to identify the cell wall.
[5]
(b) Fig. 2.2 is a photomicrograph showing the epidermis from another type of plant.
Fig. 2.2
The actual area of the epidermis visible in the photomicrograph in Fig. 2.2 is 0.04 mm2.
The leaf from which Fig. 2.2 is taken has a total surface area of 2000 mm2.
(i) Use Fig. 2.2 to estimate the total number of stomata on the leaf.
Show your working.
total number of stomata = ……
[3]
(ii) One way to improve the accuracy of the estimate of the total number of stomata on a leaf is to use a photomicrograph with a larger area.
State one other way to improve the accuracy of the estimate of the total number of stomata on a leaf.
…… [1]
(iii) Fig. 2.3 and Fig. 2.4 are photomicrographs of sections through the leaf surface of two different plants.
The photomicrographs in Fig. 2.3 and Fig. 2.4 have the same magnification.
Fig. 2.3
Fig. 2.4
Identify three observable differences between the leaf section shown in Fig. 2.3 and the leaf section shown in Fig. 2.4.
Record these three observable differences in Table 2.1.
Table 2.1
feature Fig. 2.3 Fig. 2.4
[4]
(iv) Suggest the environment where the plant shown in Fig. 2.3 has grown.
…… [1]
[Total: 19]
Mark scheme
2(a)(i) 1 uses most of the available space and no shading ; 5
2 draws correct region of stem and no cells ;
3 correct proportions of tissues ;
4 draws at least one subdivision of the vascular bundle ;
5 label line and label to the vascular bundle ;
2(a)(ii) 1 lines continuous, thin and sharp ; 5
2 draws one large xylem vessel element ;
3 two lines around each cell and three lines where cells touch ;
4 draws detailed shapes of xylem vessel elements ;
5 label line and label to cell wall ;
2(b)(i) 1 counts number of stomata in the photomicrograph in Fig. 2.2 ; 3
2 shows 2000 divided by 0.04 ;
3 correctly calculates number of stomata by multiplying number of stomata in section by 50 000 ;
2(b)(ii) repeat / sample more areas ; 1
2(b)(iii) describes only differences that are observable in the photomicrographs ; 4
any three from:
feature Fig. 2.3. Fig. 2.4.
location of, guard cells / stomata sunken on surface ;
epidermal cell walls have thickenings no thickenings ;
size of epidermal cells cells all similar size cells vary in size ;
cuticle thick / present thin / absent ;
AVP ;
2(b)(iv) dry environment / AW ; 1
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On this page, free: the mark scheme for AS & A Level Biology 9700/31, October/November 2023 (9700_w23_ms_31), and the question paper (9700_w23_qp_31), to read or download, with each question's marking points written out underneath.
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Biology 9700/31 for October/November 2023 is out of 40 marks, with 2 hours to answer it, across 2 questions.
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