GCSE Biology Foundation Short Paper A
Covers Cell Structure and Transport, Cell Division and Stem Cells, Digestion and the Circulatory System and 3 more.
Questions
Question 1 [2 marks]
Cell Structure and Transport
A student is studying an animal cell under a microscope.
State the function of the mitochondria and state the function of the ribosomes in the cell.
Question 2 [2 marks]
Human Defence Systems and Treating Disease
State what an antibiotic is, and state what type of pathogen antibiotics are effective against.
Question 3 [2 marks]
Digestion and the Circulatory System
Name the enzyme that breaks down starch, and name the products it breaks starch down into.
Question 4 [2 marks]
Photosynthesis
State the word equation for photosynthesis, and state whether the reaction is exothermic or endothermic.
Question 5 [3 marks]
Pathogens and Communicable Disease
Salmonella is a bacterial disease that can cause food poisoning.
Describe how Salmonella can be spread, and describe one way its spread can be reduced.
Question 6 [3 marks]
Photosynthesis
State the name of the green pigment found in chloroplasts that absorbs light for photosynthesis, and state two ways a leaf is adapted to absorb light efficiently.
Question 7 [3 marks]
Cell Division and Stem Cells
State three differences between mitosis and meiosis.
Question 8 [4 marks]
Photosynthesis
A student counted bubbles of oxygen released by pondweed placed at different distances from a lamp.
At 10 cm from the lamp, 45 bubbles were counted in 3 minutes.
Calculate the mean rate of oxygen production. Give an appropriate unit with your answer.
Question 9 [4 marks]
Cell Structure and Transport
A student views a cheek cell using a light microscope.
The image of the cell measured on the photograph is 24 mm wide.
The actual width of the cheek cell is 60 micrometres.
Calculate the magnification of the image. Give your answer as a whole number.
Question 10 [5 marks]
Pathogens and Communicable Disease
Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial disease that mainly affects the lungs.
Describe how TB is spread between people, describe one symptom of TB, and describe one way its spread can be reduced.
Question 11 [5 marks]
Cell Structure and Transport
A row of 40 root hair cells absorbs a total of 0.008 mm^3 of water by osmosis in one minute.
Calculate the mean volume of water absorbed by one root hair cell per minute, and calculate how many minutes it would take one root hair cell to absorb 0.0006 mm^3 of water at this rate.
Question 12 [5 marks]
Human Defence Systems and Treating Disease
Explain, in terms of antigens and antibodies, why a person's white blood cells can produce an antibody that is specific to just one type of pathogen.
Model solutions
| Question 1[2 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| mitochondria: site of (aerobic) respiration, releasing energy | B1 |
| ribosomes: site of protein synthesis | B1 |
| Final answer: Mitochondria: aerobic respiration (releases energy); ribosomes: protein synthesis | |
| Question 2[2 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| an antibiotic is a medicine/drug that kills bacteria (or prevents their growth) inside the body | B1 |
| antibiotics are effective against bacterial pathogens (not viruses) | B1 |
| Final answer: An antibiotic kills bacteria (or stops them growing) inside the body; antibiotics are effective against bacteria, not viruses | |
| Question 3[2 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| amylase | B1 |
| simple sugars, such as maltose or glucose | B1 |
| Final answer: Amylase breaks starch down into sugars (maltose/glucose) | |
| Question 4[2 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| carbon dioxide + water -> glucose + oxygen | B1 |
| endothermic | B1 |
| Final answer: Carbon dioxide + water -> glucose + oxygen; endothermic | |
| Question 5[3 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| Salmonella can be spread by eating food contaminated with the bacteria or their toxins | B1 |
| a source, such as undercooked poultry or eggs, or poor food hygiene | B1 |
| a valid prevention, such as cooking food thoroughly, vaccinating poultry, or good food hygiene practices | B1 |
| Final answer: Salmonella spreads through food (e.g. undercooked poultry/eggs) contaminated with the bacteria; thorough cooking or vaccinating poultry reduces its spread | |
| Question 6[3 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| chlorophyll | B1 |
| leaves being broad, giving a large surface area to absorb more light | B1 |
| leaves being thin, so light can penetrate to the cells inside, or containing many chloroplasts | B1 |
| Final answer: Chlorophyll; leaves are broad (large surface area) and thin, allowing them to absorb light efficiently | |
| Question 7[3 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| mitosis produces two genetically identical (diploid) cells, while meiosis produces four genetically different (haploid) cells | B1 |
| mitosis is used for growth, repair or asexual reproduction, while meiosis produces gametes for sexual reproduction | B1 |
| mitosis involves one division of the cell, while meiosis involves two divisions | B1 |
| Final answer: Mitosis makes two identical diploid cells for growth/repair in one division; meiosis makes four genetically different haploid gametes in two divisions | |
| Question 8[4 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| using rate = number of bubbles / time | M1 |
| substituting 45 / 3 | M1 |
| 15 | A1 |
| the correct unit, bubbles per minute | B1independent |
| Final answer: 15 bubbles per minute | |
| Question 9[4 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| converting the actual width to the same units as the image: 60 micrometres = 0.06 mm | M1 |
| using magnification = image size / actual size | M1 |
| substituting 24 / 0.06 | M1 |
| magnification = x400 | A1 |
| Final answer: x400 | |
| Question 10[5 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| TB is spread through the air, in droplets from the coughs or sneezes of an infected person | B1 |
| spread is more likely in crowded or poorly ventilated conditions | B1 |
| a valid symptom, e.g. a persistent cough, coughing up blood, weight loss or fever | B1 |
| a valid prevention: vaccination (BCG vaccine) | B1 |
| a further valid prevention: people with TB avoiding close contact with others until treated, or improved ventilation | B1 |
| Final answer: TB spreads through airborne droplets from coughs and sneezes, especially in crowded conditions, causing symptoms such as a persistent cough and weight loss; vaccination and avoiding close contact while infectious reduce its spread | |
| Question 11[5 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| using mean volume per cell = total volume / number of cells | M1 |
| substituting 0.008 / 40 | M1 |
| 0.0002 mm^3 per cell per minute | A1 |
| using time = volume required / rate per minute | M1 |
| 0.0006 / 0.0002 = 3 minutes | A1 |
| Final answer: Mean volume absorbed = 0.0002 mm^3 per cell per minute; it would take 3 minutes to absorb 0.0006 mm^3 | |
| Question 12[5 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| pathogens have proteins on their surface called antigens | B1 |
| different pathogens have antigens with different shapes | B1 |
| antibodies have a shape that is complementary to a specific antigen, like a lock and key | B1 |
| an antibody produced against one pathogen's antigen will not fit (bind to) a different pathogen's antigen | B1 |
| this means each type of antibody is specific and can only be used to target one type of pathogen | B1 |
| Final answer: Pathogens have surface antigens of a specific shape, and antibodies have a complementary shape that binds only to that antigen (like a lock and key), so each antibody type is specific to one pathogen | |