Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) topic quiz

Biochemistry
Instructions and answers for teachers
These instructions cover the learner activity section which can be found on page 9.

This Lesson Element supports OCR AS and A Level Biology A (H020/H420) and Biology B
(Advancing Biology) (H022/H422).

When distributing the activity section to the learners either as a printed copy or as a
Word file you will need to remove the teacher instructions section.

The Activity
This Lesson Element contains 20 multiple choice questions on the theme of biochemistry.
Some questions might require synoptic thinking, using knowledge and ideas from various
topics across the full A Level content.

This resource can be used to test and consolidate understanding at the end of a topic or to
revisit and refresh knowledge at a later point in the course.

Introduction
Multiple choice questions allow rapid coverage of a wide range of sub-topics.

Contrary to a widespread belief among students, multiple choice questions are not
necessarily easy – they can be easy, moderate or difficult.

The questions are written so that the incorrect answers are plausible distractors based on
common errors or misconceptions.

The questions in this quiz cover topics mainly from specification sections:

Biology A
2.1.2 Biological molecules

Biology B (Advancing Biology)

2.1.2 Water and its importance in plants and animals
2.1.3 Proteins and enzymes.

Version 1 1 © OCR 2016

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) topic quiz - answers

1 A 0.5 mol dm3 solution of sucrose was heated at 80 °C for 5 min with Benedict’s
reagent. What was the resulting colour?

A blue

B blue-black

C purple

D brick-red
Your answer A

2 A carbon compound extracted from living tissue was found to contain exactly twice as
many hydrogen atoms as oxygen atoms.

To which of the following classes of biological molecule is it likely to belong?

A carbohydrate

B lipid

C nucleic acid

D protein
Your answer A

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 For the processes shown in questions 3-6, identify the reaction type A – D.

A reduction

B oxidation

C hydrolysis

D condensation

3 maltose → glucose

Your answer C

4 amino acids → polypeptide

Your answer D

5 cytochrome C Fe 2+ → cytochrome C Fe 3+

Your answer B

6 NADH → NAD+

Your answer B

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Below are four types of bond. For questions 7-10, identify the bonds found in the biological
molecule.

A glycosidic

B peptide

C ester

D phosphodiester

7 Haemoglobin
B
Your answer

8 Triglyceride

Your answer C

9 Collagen

Your answer B

10 RNA

Your answer D

11 Which of these compounds would contain the smallest number of oxygen atoms?

A a saturated fatty acid

B a polypeptide

C a polysaccharide

D glycerol
Your answer A

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12 What is the general formula for a disaccharide?

A C12H25O12

B C12H24O11

C C12H22O12

D C12H22O11
Your answer D

13 Which one of these carbohydrates contains 1-6 glycosidic bonds?

A amylose

B amylopectin

C maltose

D cellulose
Your answer B

14 On complete hydrolysis, which of the following would produce the fewest molecules?

A phospholipid

B triglyceride

C sucrose

D polypeptide
Your answer C

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15 Which monosaccharide is shown in the diagram below?

A ribose

B deoxyribose

C α glucose

D β glucose
Your answer D

16 Amino acids vary according to their R group. Which one of the following R groups would
be hydrophobic?

A CH3

B CH2 OH

C CH2 COOH

D H
Your answer A

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17 Substances which can act as both acid and base are used in experiments to maintain a
constant pH. What are the substances known as?

A polar molecules

B buffers

C cofactors

D reducing agents
Your answer B

18 Which of the following molecules does not yield only α glucose molecules on complete
hydrolysis?

A amylose

B glycogen

C maltose

D sucrose
Your answer D

19 Which of these techniques could be used to separate molecules according to their

differential solubility in a given solvent?

A electrophoresis

B chromatography

C ultracentrifugation

D filtration
Your answer B

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 20 How many different tripeptides can be made using the 20 commonly occurring amino
acids?

A 40

B 400

C 4000

D 8000
Your answer D

This formative assessment resource has been produced as part of our free Biology teaching and learning support package. All the
Biology teaching and learning resources, including delivery guides, topic exploration packs, lesson elements and more are available on
the qualification webpages.
If you are looking for examination practice materials, you can find Sample Assessment Materials (SAMs) and a link to the Practice
Papers on the qualification webpages: Biology A, Biology B.

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Version 1 8 © OCR 2016

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) topic quiz

Biochemistry
Learner Activity

1 A 0.5 mol dm3 solution of sucrose was heated at 80 °C for 5 min with Benedict’s
reagent. What was the resulting colour?

A blue

B blue-black

C purple

D brick-red
Your answer

2 A carbon compound extracted from living tissue was found to contain exactly twice as
many hydrogen atoms as oxygen atoms.

To which of the following classes of biological molecule is it likely to belong?

A carbohydrate

B lipid

C nucleic acid

D protein
Your answer

Version 1 9 © OCR 2016

 For the processes shown in questions 3-6, identify the reaction type A – D.

A reduction

B oxidation

C hydrolysis

D condensation

3 maltose → glucose

Your answer

4 amino acids → polypeptide

Your answer

5 cytochrome C Fe 2+ → cytochrome C Fe 3+

Your answer

6 NADH → NAD+

Your answer

Version 1 10 © OCR 2016

Below are four types of bond. For questions 7-10, identify the bonds found in the biological
molecule.

A glycosidic

B peptide

C ester

D phosphodiester

7 Haemoglobin

Your answer

8 Triglyceride

Your answer

9 Collagen

Your answer

10 RNA

Your answer

11 Which of these compounds would contain the smallest number of oxygen atoms?

A a saturated fatty acid

B a polypeptide

C a polysaccharide

D glycerol
Your answer

Version 1 11 © OCR 2016

12 What is the general formula for a disaccharide?

A C12H25O12

B C12H24O11

C C12H22O12

D C12H22O11
Your answer

13 Which one of these carbohydrates contains 1-6 glycosidic bonds?

A amylose

B amylopectin

C maltose

D cellulose
Your answer

14 On complete hydrolysis, which of the following would produce the fewest molecules?

A phospholipid

B triglyceride

C sucrose

D polypeptide
Your answer

Version 1 12 © OCR 2016

15 Which monosaccharide is shown in the diagram below?

A ribose

B deoxyribose

C α glucose

D β glucose
Your answer

16 Amino acids vary according to their R group. Which one of the following R groups would
be hydrophobic?

A CH3

B CH2 OH

C CH2 COOH

D H
Your answer

Version 1 13 © OCR 2016

17 Substances which can act as both acid and base are used in experiments to maintain a
constant pH. What are the substances known as?

A polar molecules

B buffers

C cofactors

D reducing agents
Your answer

18 Which of the following molecules does not yield only α glucose molecules on complete
hydrolysis?

A amylose

B glycogen

C maltose

D sucrose
Your answer

19 Which of these techniques could be used to separate molecules according to their

differential solubility in a given solvent?

A electrophoresis

B chromatography

C ultracentrifugation

D filtration
Your answer

Version 1 14 © OCR 2016

20 How many different tripeptides can be made using the 20 commonly occurring amino
acids?

A 40

B 400

C 4000

D 8000
Your answer

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