assessment for learning

year 9

Science Interactive LTD. PO BOX 50764 LONDON NW6 9AT

web: www: science-interactive.co.uk

9C Plants and photosynthesis

Assessment for learning...year 9 (level 3-6)
Answer all questions:
Total marks
Time allowed

31
25 mins.

Question 1:
The drawing shows an experiment to investigate photosynthesis in weed
from a pond.

test-tube
beaker

gas
water

funnel
plasticine

pond weed

Bubbles of gas produced during photosynthesis were given off from the
pond weed and collected in the test tube.
(a) Name the gas given off in photosynthesis
......................................................................................................................
1 mark

(b) What two substances are taken in by the plant and used for
photosynthesis?
1. ..................................................................................................................
2. ..................................................................................................................
2 marks

Light of different intensities was shone onto the pond weed. The number of
gas bubbles given off in one minute at each light intensity was counted. The
results are shown in the graph.

number of
bubbles per
minute

light intensity
(c) Which letter on the horizontal axis shows the light intensity at which
the rate of photosynthesis first reaches its maximum?
............................................................
1 mark

Blue, green and red light were then shone, in turn, onto the pond weed.
The number of bubbles of the gas given off in one minute was counted.
The results are shown in the table.

colour of light

number of
bubbles in one
minute

blue

85

green

10

red

68

The leaves of the pond weed contain a green pigment which absorbs light for
photosynthesis
(d) (i) Name this pigment.
.............................................................................................................
1 mark

(ii) Using the information in the table, tick a box by one colour of light
which is strongly absorbed by the pigment.
blue

green

red
1 mark

(e) Sugar is also produced during photosynthesis.

Give two ways in which the plant uses sugar.
1. ..................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................
2. ..................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................
2 marks
Maximum 8 marks

Question 2:
Hydrogencarbonate indicator solution changes colour when the amount of
carbon dioxide dissolved in it changes. This is shown in the table.
colour of indicator
amount of dissolved carbon dioxide
solution

reddish orange

same amount of carbon dioxide as in the air

yellow

more carbon dioxide than in the air

purple

less carbon dioxide than in the air

Five test tubes were set up as shown below. Air was bubbled through
hydrogencarbonate indicator solution, which was then poured into each test tube.

The test tubes were left in sunlight for two hours.

(a) (i) What would be the colour of the indicator solution in tube A?
............................................................................................................
1 mark

(ii) Name the process taking place in the cells of the snails which causes this colour
change.
............................................................................................................
1 mar

(b) (i) What would be the colour of the indicator solution in tube B?
............................................................................................................
1 mark

(ii) Name the process taking place in the cells of the waterweed which causes this
colour change.
............................................................................................................
1 mark

(c) The colour of the indicator solution in tube C did not change. Explain why.
....................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................
1 mark

Tube D is wrapped to keep the light out. It contains waterweed but no snails.
(d) After twenty four hours in the dark what would be the colour of the indicator
solution in tube D?
Tick the correct box.
Reddish orange
Yellow
Purple
1 mark
Maximum 6 marks

Question 3:
Some pupils grew carrot plants for a project on plant growth. At the end of the
summer they dug up the carrots. The drawings show two of their carrots.

(a)
Plant A came from a part of the garden which was covered with weeds.
Plant B came from a part of the garden which had been kept free of weeds.

Suggest two ways in which the weeds may have stopped plant A from growing
as large and healthy as plant B.
1. ......................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
2. ......................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
2 marks

(b) Explain why the pupils plants produced bigger roots when they received
more light.
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
3 marks
Maximum 5 marks

Question 4:
Mango trees are grown in hot, dry countries where the soil can be hard and
tightly compacted. Farmers water the mango trees by spraying water onto the
soil around them.
(a) (i) Only a small amount of the water actually reaches the roots of the trees.
Suggest one reason why.
.................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................
1 mark

(ii) Suggest one other reason why mango trees do not grow well in soil which is
hard and tightly compacted.
.................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................
1 mark

(b)

Give two reasons why mango trees and other plants need water.

1. ......................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
2. ......................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
2 marks

(c) There is a new method of watering mango trees. Trenches are dug between
the trees and filled with small pieces of rock. Plastic pipes with small holes in
them are placed on top of the pieces of rock and water is pumped along the
pipes.
Mango trees watered by this method produce 15% more fruit.

(i) Suggest one reason why pieces of rock are placed in the trenches under
the pipes.
.................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................
1 mark

(ii) With the new method, farmers can also add nitrates to the water in the
pipes. Give one reason why plants need compounds which contain nitrogen.
.................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................
1 mark
Maximum 6 marks

Question 5:
The drawing shows a bottle garden which is kept in a brightly lit room.
The cork in the neck of the bottle is not taken out.

(a) The plants in the bottle use oxygen for respiration.

Explain why, over a week, the amounts of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the
bottle stay about the same.
.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
3 marks

(b) Cross-pollination is the transfer of pollen from one plant to another.

Give two reasons why cross-pollination is less likely to happen in this bottle
garden than in an outdoor garden.
1. .................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
2 ......................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
2 marks

(c) Micro-organisms in the soil break down the dead parts of plants.
This releases minerals such as nitrates. Nitrates are a source of nitrogen for
living plants.
Why does a plant need nitrogen to grow?
.........................................................................................................................
1 mark
Maximum 6 marks