Set A (AQA GCSE Biology): Exam Questions

Figure 4 below shows a plant cell.

Figure 4

Name each labelled part of the plant cell and give its function.

Identify the cell wall in Figure 4, label it as S and describe its function.

The cell wall of a plant is made from cellulose.

Name one type of cell, other than a plant cell, that has a cell wall made from cellulose.

The cell in Figure 5 below is a salivary gland cell.

Figure 5

Salivary gland cells are adapted to produce salivary amylase, an important enzyme in digestion.

Use the information above and your own knowledge to suggest how salivary gland cells are adapted to their function.

Describe how the root hair cell in Figure 3 is adapted for absorption of water by osmosis.

Figure 3

Figure 4 shows two cells after the effects of osmosis.

Figure 4

Draw a line from each cell to the correct description.

A student carried out an experiment into osmosis in plant tissue. They set up their investigation as shown in Figure 5.

Figure 5

Each beaker contained potato discs in a solution of sugar or distilled water. The student found that the potato discs in Beaker 5 decreased in mass.

Explain why this is with reference to osmosis.

Which of the following is a suitable control variable for the investigation carried out by the student in part (c)?

Describe the method used to prepare an onion cell specimen on a microscope slide for observation with a light microscope.

A student set up the investigation described in part (a) and produced a biological drawing of one cell that they observed with the microscope.

Give one rule which should be observed when creating a biological drawing.

Figure 7 shows a bacterial cell before it divides.

Figure 7

Describe the process by which bacteria cells divide.

One bacterium divides five times.

Calculate how many bacteria are now present in the population?

A typical food chain in the Pacific Ocean is: 

phytoplankton → zooplankton → sardines → tuna 

Figure 1 shows how a number of factors in the ocean change across the year. 

Figure 1

Light intensity is a major factor in controlling the number of phytoplankton. 

Explain why. 

Using the information from Figure 1, suggest two reasons why the population of phytoplankton decreases between summer and autumn.

During the summer, over a 24 hour period, the mean total amount of carbon dioxide taken in by the phytoplankton is greater than the total amount of carbon dioxide released.

Explain why this is important for the phytoplankton.

Figure 1 below shows a cross-section of a blood vessel taken from an arm.

Figure 1

Name the type of blood vessel in Figure 1 and describe the key evidence that supports your answer.

Using the letters S and T describe the usual direction of blood flow in the vessel shown in Figure 1.

Suggest a reason why blood usually flows in the same direction in the vessel shown in Figure 1 and describe why this is an advantageous adaptation.

The carotid arteries are major blood vessels in the neck that supply oxygenated blood to the brain, neck and face.

The blood flow of the left carotid artery of a patient during a 5 minute period was measured at 1.1 litres.

Calculate the rate of blood flow and the total volume of blood that passes through this vessel in one hour.

Complete the sentence using the correct words from the box.

A chromosome is a threadlike structure found in the nucleus of a _____________ cell. In a __________ human body cell, there are ______ pairs of chromosomes.  The ___________ of an organism is determined by the combination of _______ (different versions of genes) that are inherited from each parent.

A diploid nucleus from the body cell of a dog contains 78 chromosomes. 

How many chromosomes would be found in the nucleus of a dog's gamete?

Figure 1 shows a cell preparing for mitosis.

Figure 1

Which of the following statements indicates that the cell in Figure 1 is preparing to divide?

Identify the three stages of the cell cycle.

The immune system aims to destroy pathogens such as bacteria and viruses if they manage to enter the body and infect organs and tissues.

Pathogens make us feel unwell.

Give one reason why this is the case.

Describe the possible responses of white blood cells to infection caused by pathogens.

The measles virus can cause serious illness in humans. 

Vaccination can protect individuals and populations from diseases such as measles.

Explain how the measles vaccine works to prevent disease.

The measles vaccine will not give a child immunity against the influenza virus.

Explain why.

Parents are encouraged strongly by healthcare professionals to vaccinate their children.

In recent years, there has been a growing movement of parents who are not having their children vaccinated for diseases such as measles. These parents cite concerns about the side effects of vaccines. 

What might be a consequence of a reduction in the number of children who are vaccinated for measles?

Explain your answer. 

The bar chart in Figure 1 shows what happens in an athlete's muscles when running a 200 m race and a 3000 m race.

Figure 1

Compare what happens in the athlete's muscles when running in the two races.

Explain the differences measured in the muscles of the athlete as shown in Figure 1.

A woman completes a 100 m sprint.

Figure 2 shows the woman's heart rate before, during and after the race.

Figure 2

Explain why the woman's heart rate does not return to the resting heart rate as soon as she finishes the race.

The same woman runs a 400 m race.

Towards the end of the race, her muscles become fatigued and stop contracting efficiently.

Suggest an explanation as to why.

Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is a major cause of death worldwide.

Describe how CHD develops and the main causes.

Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is classed as a non-communicable disease.

Suggest what is meant by a non-communicable disease.

Two types of cholesterol in the blood can have a profound impact on a patient’s health; LDL and HDL.

• High levels of LDL are associated with coronary heart disease (CHD).

• High levels of HDL in the blood can reduce levels of LDL.

There are a number of drugs which can be prescribed to increase an individual’s HDL level to reduce their risk of developing CHD.

Scientists monitored the effect of five of these drugs on one person over 10 years, the results are shown in Figure 1 below.

The labelled arrows show when each new treatment was started.

Figure 1

Compare the effectiveness of the treatments in reducing the risk of CHD.

Statins are a commonly prescribed drug which can reduce an individual’s risk of developing Coronary Heart Disease (CHD).

Evaluate the use of statins to prevent CHD.

Plant leaves have many adaptations to maximise the rate at which they can photosynthesise.

A group of students wanted to investigate the behaviour of stomata in different plants.

Figure 2 is a drawing of the underside of a leaf of one of the plants as visualised under a light microscope.

Name cell X in Figure 2 and outline its role in the leaf.

Calculate the number of stomata per mm² of this leaf surface.

Another plant species has 200 stomata per mm² of its leaf surface. An increased number of stomata is not always advantageous.

Explain why.

The students then measured the mean widths of the stomata from three different species of plant which had been growing under different light conditions.

Table 1 shows their results.

Table 1

Species A is unlikely to be found growing in a hot, dry desert.

Explain why, using data from Table 1.