Practice for Biology (Topic 1 until 4)

1. The following terms are used to describe how substances move into or out
of cells.
Active transport
Diffusion
Osmosis
Choose the correct term to complete each sentence below.
Gas exchange in the lungs occurs by .......................................................
Water absorption by root hair cells occurs
by .......................................................
The absorption of mineral ions from the soil, using energy, occurs
by .......................................................
2. The diagram shows a typical bacterium. Name the parts labelled P, Q, R and

S.

P ..............................................................................................................................
......
Q .............................................................................................................................
......
R .............................................................................................................................
......
S .............................................................................................................................
.......
3. Some plants can be grown in water using the technique of hydroponics. The
roots are in water and supplied with the ions that they need at the
concentrations that support maximum growth. Some ions can be absorbed
both by diffusion and by active transport.
(a) State two features of diffusion that do not apply to active transport.
1 ...................................................................................................................
.....................

.............................................................................................

..............................................
2 ..................................................................................................................

Practice for Biology (Topic 1 until 4)

...................... ...............................................................................................
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4. Different types of cells may contain different structures. Complete the table
to show the structures contained in the different cells. If the cell contains
the structure put a tick () in the box. If the cell does not contain the
structure put a cross (). Some have been done for you.

Cell
Nucleus

5.

neurone
(an animal
cell)
Pneumoco
ccus (a
bacterial
cell)
yeast (a
fungal
cell)

Structure
Cytoplas
Cell
m
Wall

Chloropl
ast

The list gives five different types of living organism.

PLANTS
ANIMALS FUNGI
BACTERIA VIRUSES
The table lists features of living organisms. Complete the table by writing
the correct type of living organism that has the feature. The first one has
been done for you.
Feature
have cellulose cell walls
all are parasitic and have a
protein coat
are microscopic and contain
circular DNA

some have structures called

hyphae
cells have a nucleus but no cell
wall

Type of Living Organism

plants

Practice for Biology (Topic 1 until 4)

6. All organisms share common basic characteristics. Some of these are given
below with a simple description.
(a) Complete the table by adding the missing characteristics and the
missing descriptions.
Characteristics

Description

nutrition
releasing energy in cells
producing offspring
growth and development

(b) Organisms can be classified into different groups depending on their

structure.
State two ways in which
(i) a typical plant cell differs from a typical animal cell
1.......................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
............................................................................
2.......................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
............................................................................
(ii) a bacterium differs from a virus
1.......................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
.............................................................................
2.......................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
.............................................................................

7. Explain how roots are adapted to absorb ions.

Practice for Biology (Topic 1 until 4)

8. A student carried out some food tests on two samples of food, A and B. The
table shows the results
Sample

Reagent used in food

Colour seen after

test
adding the reagent
A
Iodine solution
Blue black
B
Benedict
Brick red
The student concluded that both samples of food contained carbohydrates.
Do you agree with this conclusion? Give reasons for your answer.

9. A group of students investigated the effect of soaking small onion bulbs in

different concentrations of sodium chloride solution. They peeled off the
outer papery leaves of the onion bulbs and divided the onions into 6
batches, each with 10 onions. The onions were surface dried with paper
towels and weighed. The mean mass of the onions in each batch was
calculated. The onions were then left in sodium chloride solutions for three
hours. After three hours the students surface dried the onions and weighed
them again. Their results are given in Table 2.1.

Practice for Biology (Topic 1 until 4)

concentration of
sodium chloride

mean mass of onions / g

percentage change
in mass

before change

after soaking for 3

147

hours
173

+17.7

25

153

165

+7.8

50

176

172

-2.3

100

154

149

-3.2

150

149

142

-4.7

200

183

175

solution / g dm3

(i) Calculate the percentage change in mass of the onions that were in the most
concentrated solution of sodium chloride. Show your working. Write your answer
in Table 2.1.

(ii) Explain why the students calculated the percentage change in mass of the
onions. ....................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
....................................................
(c) The students plotted a graph of the results as shown in Fig. 2.1.

Practice for Biology (Topic 1 until 4)

(i) Complete the graph using your answer to (b)(i).

(ii) Use the graph in Fig. 2.1 to estimate the concentration of the sodium
chloride solution that has the same water potential as the onions.

(d) Using the term water potential, explain why the onions: gained mass when
soaked in dilute solutions of sodium
chloride ...................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................
lost mass when soaked in concentrated solutions of sodium
chloride. ..................................................................................................................
........................................................ .......................................................................
................................................................................................................................
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............ ...................................................................................................................
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