Questions................................................................................................................

1
HKALE 1990 Biology Paper II......................................................................................1
HKALE 1993 Biology Paper II......................................................................................1
HKALE 1996 Biology Paper II......................................................................................1
HKALE 1999 Biology Paper II......................................................................................1
Suggested Solution.................................................................................................3
HKALE 1990 Biology Paper II......................................................................................3
HKALE 1993 Biology Paper II......................................................................................4
HKALE 1996 Biology Paper II......................................................................................6
 Questions

HKALE 1990 Biology Paper II

5. (b) Discuss the importance of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and roughage in the
human diet.
(8 marks)

Suggested Solution

HKALE 1993 Biology Paper II

6. Based upon its properties, discuss the role of water in the functioning of organisms . (20
marks)

Suggested Solution

HKALE 1996 Biology Paper II

4. Describe the functions of lipids, proteins and nucleotides in living organisms. Illustrate
your answer with examples and provide explanations where appropriate. (20 marks)

Suggested Solution

HKALE 1999 Biology Paper II

1. (a) State four properties of water which make it essential for life and explain why they
are essential.
(6 marks)

Suggested Solution
 Suggested Solution

HKALE 1990 Biology Paper II

5 (b) carbohydrates structural component of membranes 0.5)
nucleic acid 0.5)
any 2
and ATP 0.5)
as energy source 0.5)

lipids as energy reserve 0.5)

as primary component of membrane 0.5)
as insulating layer 0.5)
as carrier of fat soluble vitamins (e.g. A & D) 0.5)

proteins : source of (essential) amino acids for

growth and repair / structural proteins / enzymes 0.5, 0.5, 0.5)
hormones 0.5)
enzymes 0.5)
antibodies 0.5)
any 4
contractile proteins 0.5)
energy reserve in starvation 0.5)

roughage : make food more bulky to stimulate peristalsis of the gut,

0.5
prevent excessive absorption of water in colon / constipation
0.5

Discussion : Each of the four food substances has at least one unique
function which cannot be replaced by other food substance.
0.5
therefore they are all important in the diet i.e. a balanced diet
must consist all of them.
 0.5
However, there is still some possible interconversion of food
substance
0.5
e.g. between carbohydrates, lipids and proteins (excluding the
essential a.a.) except roughage.
0.5
(8)
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HKALE 1993 Biology Paper II
6. The following properties of water are essential to the normal physiological
functioning of cells / living organisms :

(1) As a reagent participating in many of the metabolic activities of

protoplasm
e.g. it provides the reducing hydrogen in the photosynthetic
process of green plants
it is essential to the multitude of hydrolytic reactions which
take place in all living organisms
(3)

(2) As the principal solvent for most of the substances concerned in

protoplasmic activity
e.g. all the materials which enter or leave living cells can do so
only in aqueous solution (osmosis, diffusion)
within the organism, transport takes place only in aqueous
solution e.g. nutrients, excretory products, dissolved gases,
inorganic ions, hormones, etc.
(3)

(3) It has a high specific heat capacity and thus will not be subject to
extremely rapid fluctuations in temperature which would affect the rate
of all chemical changes. The chemical reactions in an organism's body
may produce enormous amounts of heat. Were it not for the high
capacity of water to absorb heat, an organism's temperature might rise
so far that life would cease. That is, water offers a fairly stable
temperature background.
(2)

(4) The thermal conductivity of water is comparatively high; this allows of

reasonably good heat transference where it is required, eliminating the
chances of destructive local hot spots.
(2)

(5) Water has its greatest density at 4C. That is, an expanse of water
always freezes from the top downwards; this saves the lives of many
aquatic organisms. It is because the inhabitants of aquatic environments
are not subject to the sudden freezing of the water throughout its bulk.
(2)
 (6) The low viscosity of water allows its rapid movement into and through
cells. It is known that any change affecting the viscosity of water, such
as lowering its temperature will decrease its rapidity of movement and
hence affect the many physiological processes in which water is
concerned. The low viscosity also makes water a useful lubricant e.g.
mucus, synovial fluid, pleural fluid, etc.
(3)

(7) Water is a good evaporative coolant because it takes a lot of heat to

vaporize. Many terrestrial organisms dispose of excess heat by this
means. e.g. sweating in humans and panting in dogs.
(2)

(8) Water is cohesive and adhesive. These properties account for its
capillary in soil and in plants. The cohesive force between water
molecules also accounts for the upward pull of water in xylem when
evaporation occurs at the leaves.
(2)

(9) Water is incompressible. This makes it a useful means of supporting

organisms e.g. hydrostatic skeleton in earthworm, turgor pressure in
plants, etc.
(2)

(10) Water readily allows the dissociation of substances dissolved in it, and
hence affects their chemical and electrical activities. These, in turn,
affect the functioning of the organism e.g. osmotic concentration of
ionized solution
(2)
max. 20
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HKALE 1996 Biology Paper II
4. Lipids (max. 7 marks out of 16 marks)
(a) As energy source / respiratory substrate ()
Has a higher energy value / yield double the amount of energy
compared to carbohydrate (0.5)
When body is short of carbohydrates, lipids will be mobilized to
supply energy (0.5)
(1.5)

(b) As energy reserve / storage compound (0.5)

In the form of fat in animals / oil in plants (0.5)
Store more energy per unit mass therefore efficient in minimizing
space in the bodies of both plants and animals (1)
Fat can serve as insulation against heat loss, when stored beneath
the skin of mammals / subcutaneous fat (0.5+ 0.5) due to low heat
conductivity of fat (0.5)
Fat can serve to cushion against shock, when stored around the
essential organs (0.5+ 0.5)
(4.5)

(c) As structural component (0.5)

Phospholipids (0.5) are basic components of membrane (0.5),
contribute to differential permeability of the membrane (0.5) and
help to maintain membrane / cell / organelle integrity (0.5)
High lipid content in myelin sheath of nerve fibre (0.5) insulates
against cross-talks (0.5) and facilitates the transmission of nerve
impulse (0.5)
Waxy layer in exoskeleton of insects / cuticle of plants (0.5) as a
moisture barrier (0.5) (5)

(d) Other acceptable answers for markers' reference only

Certain steroid hormones / sex hormones / example (0.5) regulate
physiological processes (0.5)
Cholesterol (0.5) assists metabolism (0.5)
Bile acid (0.5) helps fat digestion (0.5)
As transport medium (0.5) for fat-soluble vitamins / example (0.5)
Protective function (0.5) e.g. sebum (0.5) secreted by mammalian
skin keeps the epidermis waterproof and supple
(5)
Proteins (max. 7 marks out of 16 or 16.5 marks)
(a) As structural component (0.5)
material for growth (0.5) and repair (0.5) / protoplasm of cell (0.5) /
body building material (0.5)
example of structural protein (e.g. keratin) (0.5)
component of membrane (0.5)
(2 or 2.5)

(b) Physiological functions

Three-dimensional conformation of proteins (1) and their binding
sites (1) essential for these functions.
2

Catalyse cellular chemical reactions (0.5) as enzyme / example

(0.5)
Regulate physiological processes (0.5) as hormone / example
(0.5)
Transport (0.5) e.g. haemoglobin (0.5)
Defence / immunity (0.5) as antibody / immunoglobulin (0.5)
Act as carrier molecules for transport of materials across
membrane (0.5) thus active transport (0.5), channel proteins (0.5),
membrane-bound enzymes (0.5), receptor / antigen molecules
(0.5), electron carriers (0.5)
(7)

(c) Other functions

Provide movement / muscle contraction (0.5) by actin / myosin
(0.5)
For blood clotting (0.5) by fibrinogen / thrombin (0.5)
Help to keep blood water potential (0.5) by plasma proteins (0.5)
Help to buffer blood pH (0.5) by plasma proteins (0.5)
Energy source / respiratory substrate (0.5) when body is short of
carbohydrates and lipids (0.5)
(5)

Nucleotides (max. 7 marks out of 9 or 9.5 marks)

(a) Basic unit in DNA (0.5) and RNA (0.5) / mRNA, tRNA and rRNA (0.5),
DNA is genetic material (0.5) because codons / genetic information
determined by sequence of nucleotides (1)
For protein synthesis (0.5) : DNA is transcribed into RNA / mRNA
 (0.5) then RNA is translated (0.5)
(4 or 4.5)

(b) Provide energy for cellular chemical reactions and other functions (0.5) e.g.
ATP (0.5) / ADP.
(1)
(c) As coenzymes (0.5)
NAD / FAD (0.5) as hydrogen carrier (in respiration) (0.5)
NADP (0.5) becomes NADPH in light reaction in photosynthesis
(0.5)which provides hydrogen / reducing power (and energy) for
carbon fixation (0.5)
Coenzyme A (0.5) activates acetyl group as acetyl CoA for entering
Krebs cycle (0.5)
(4)

(Accept alternative answers which are correct.) Max. 20

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