Biology

HKDSE Mock Exam VI

Answers
Paper 1 Section A

*Questions which are common items.

Question no. Answer Question no. Answer Question no. Answer
*1 C *13 C 25 B
*2 B *14 D *26 B
*3 A *15 B 27 A
*4 A 16 A 28 B
*5 C 17 C 29 D
*6 B *18 B 30 D
*7 C *19 A *31 D
*8 C 20 A 32 D
*9 D *21 B 33 B
*10 D *22 A 34 D
*11 B 23 B *35 B
*12 A *24 C *36 A

Paper 1 Section B
Question 1 is a common item.
1 C 1m
D 1m
B 1m

Question 2 is a common item.

2 a 2–4 s 1m
b The intercostal muscles contract, causing the rib cage to move upwards and outwards. 1m
The diaphragm muscles contract, causing the diaphragm to become flattened. 1m
The above movements increase the volume of the thoracic cavity, and hence the volume of the lungs.
1m
c (3050 – 2600) cm3 x (21% – 16%) x (60/4) 1m
= 337.5 cm3 1m

This is an item for Biology only.

3 a The seed developed from the fertilized ovule of a flower. 1m
b The seed is dispersed by wind. 1m
The seed has a wing-like structure which allows the seed to be carried away from its parent plant by wind.
1m
c Lack of water. / Lack of oxygen. / The seed is not viable. / Dormancy is not complete.
(or other reasonable answers) 1m

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Question 4 is a common item which is equivalent to CS (Biology) question 3.
4 a X  sclera 1m
Y  iris 1m
b The choroid in the eye contains a black pigment which absorbs the light entering the eye. 1m
As no light is reflected out of the eye through part Z, part Z appears black. 1m
c Pupil constriction is a reflex action. It slows down when the blood alcohol level reaches a certain value.
1m

Question 5 (a and b) is a common item which is equivalent to CS (Biology) question 4.

5 a It carries the neurotransmitter to the end of the synaptic knob. 1m
b Only the endings of axons can release neurotransmitter. 1m
Therefore, synapses allow nerve impulses to travel in one direction only. 1m
c In both cases, neurotransmitter moves across the synaptic clefts by diffusion. 1m
In the synapse between two neurones, when the neurotransmitter reaches the dendron of the next neurone,
it stimulates the dendron of the next neurone to generate a nerve impulse. 1m
In the neuromuscular junction, when the neurotransmitter reaches the membrane of the muscle fibre, it
stimulates the membrane of the muscle fibre to generate an electrical impulse. 1m

Question 6 is a common item which is equivalent to CS (Biology) question 5.

6 a After the removal of their pancreases, the dogs could not produce insulin to regulate the blood glucose
level. 1m
When the blood glucose level was high, their body failed to reabsorb all the glucose, thus some sugar was
excreted in urine. 1m
b Scientific knowledge is tentative and subject to change. 1m

This is an item for Biology only.

7 a The percentage of healthy women having HPV was not studied. / No control group was included in the
study. /
The results cannot show the causative relation. (or other reasonable answers) 1m
b The antigens on other types of HPV are different from those on HPV 16 and 18. 1m
The memory cells produced cannot recognize the antigens on other types of HPV. / The immunological
memory developed is specific to HPV 16 and 18. 1m

Question 8 is a common item which is equivalent to CS (Biology) question 6.

8 a The bile salts in tube X emulsify lipids in the milk into small droplets. 1m
This increases the surface area of lipids for lipase to act on. 1m
Fatty acids are produced more quickly and so the pH drops more quickly. 1m
b All the lipids in the milk are digested. / The lipase is denatured at acidic pH. 1m
c i Measure the pH more frequently. / Use a pH meter accurate to two decimal places to measure the pH.
(or other correct answers) 1m
ii Prepare more tubes for each condition and take average of the measurement. / Use milk with higher
fat content to ensure that the substrates (lipids) are not limiting the rate of the reactions.
(or other correct answers) 1m
d i Yellow-brown bile pigments cannot enter the duodenum and be passed out with faeces. 1m
ii Yellow-brown bile pigments deposit in the skin. 1m

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This is an item for Biology only.
9 a i The total fresh mass of the seeds increased in the first five days. 1m
The seeds absorbed water when they germinated. 1m
ii

fresh mass
20
total mass (g)

10

dry mass
0
1 2 3 4 5
time (day)

Correct curve (lower than fresh mass; decrease and then increase) 1m
Correct labels 1m
iii The plants are killed. (or other reasonable answers) 1m
b i Aceto-orcein stain (or other reasonable answers) 1m
ii The region of cell division in the root tip 1m
The cells were dividing actively. 1m
iii The cells have no vacuoles. / The cells are smaller. / The cells have thin cell walls. 1m

Question 10 is a common item which is equivalent to CS (Biology) question 7.

10 a Primary succession 1m
Because there was no soil at the beginning of the succession. 1m
b The growth of lichens and mosses on the rocks led to an accumulation of organic matter on the rocks.
1m
The organic matter broke up the rocks into smaller particles, forming soil which was essential for the
growth of larger plant species / shrubs and trees. 1m
c Shrubs became the dominant species at time P. 1m
They grew over lichens and mosses and so the abundance of lichens and mosses was decreasing. 1m
The abundance of trees was increasing 1m
because the soil became thick enough for trees to grow. 1m
d Competitions among different types of plants
(or other reasonable answers) 1m

This is an item for Biology only.

11 a At a high carbon dioxide concentration, the supply of carbon dioxide is not a limiting factor of carbon
dioxide fixation. 1m
In carbon dioxide fixation, one molecule of carbon dioxide combines with one molecule of the 5-C
compound to form two molecules of the 3-C compound. Thus, the amount of the 3-C compound is twice
that of the 5-C compound. 1m
b As less carbon dioxide is available for carbon dioxide fixation, less 5-C compound is converted to the
3-C compound. 1m
The 5-C compound is regenerated from the 3-C compound through a series of reactions. Thus, the amount
of the 5-C compound increases. 1m
c ATP and NADPH 2m
ATP is formed by photophosphorylation in photochemical reactions when the excited electrons of
chlorophyll molecules pass through an electron transport chain. 1m
NADPH is formed when NADP accepts the hydrogen released from photolysis of water in photochemical
reactions. 1m
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Question 12 (a, b and d) is a common item which is equivalent to CS (Biology) question 8.
12 a Individual 9 has the disease, he must have at least one allele for the disease that is inherited from either of
his parents. 1m
Both individuals 5 and 6 do not have the disease. They must have at least one normal allele. 1m
Hence, at least one of individuals 5 and 6 is heterozygous with the dominant allele being expressed.
1m
As both individuals 5 and 6 do not have the disease, the allele for the disease is recessive. 1m
b If the allele for the disease is located on the X chromosome, individual 8, who has the disease, would
carry two alleles for the disease on her two X chromosomes. 1m
These alleles would be inherited from her parents, individuals 3 and 4. Therefore, individual 3 would have
an allele for the disease on his X chromosome, and he would have the disease. 1m
However, individual 3 does not have the disease. Therefore, it is not possible for the allele for the disease
to be located on the X chromosome. 1m
c A base G was replaced by a base A. 1m
d No. 1m
The treatment does not alter the genetic composition of the gamete-producing cells of the patient. 1m

Question 13 is a common item which is equivalent to CS (Biology) question 9.

13 The heart consists of four chambers and their walls are made up of cardiac muscles which can contract and
relax continuously without fatigue. 1m
When the atria contract, blood is pushed to the ventricles through the tricuspid valve and the bicuspid valve.
1m
When the atria relax and the ventricles contract, the tricuspid valve and the bicuspid valve are closed to
prevent the backflow of blood into the atria. 1m
The tricuspid valve and the bicuspid valve are also held in place by tough heart tendons which prevent the
valves from turning inside out. 1m
Blood is pushed out of the heart through the pulmonary artery and the aorta. 1m
The muscular walls of the ventricles are thick and they can provide a strong force of contraction to drive
blood over a long distance to all parts of the body. 1m
When the ventricles relax, the semilunar valves at the bases of the pulmonary artery and the aorta are closed
to prevent the backflow of blood into the ventricles. 1m
Communication 3m

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Paper 2

1 a i The cortex of the kidney 1m

ii C and D are cut at different angles / planes. 1m
iii The concentration of glucose in A (glomerulus) is the same as that in B (Bowman’s capsule). 1m
During ultrafiltration, glucose molecules in the blood in A pass through the walls of A and B and
enter the capsular space. 1m
The concentration of proteins in A is higher than that in B. 1m
Protein molecules in A are too large to pass through the walls of A and B. They are retained in A.
1m
iv A large volume of dilute urine will be produced each day. 1m
As the kidney tubules become insensitive to antidiuretic hormone, the walls of the collecting ducts
become less permeable to water. 1m
A smaller proportion of water is reabsorbed from the glomerular filtrate. Therefore a larger volume of
dilute urine is produced. 1m
b i As less water is available for producing sweat, 1m
less heat is lost from the body by evaporation. 1m
ii From 0 to 2 minutes, the core body temperature dropped 1m
because body heat was lost to the cold water by conduction. 1m
From 2 to 10 minutes, the core body temperature dropped at a lower rate. 1m
The cold water caused vasoconstriction in the skin. Less blood flowed through the capillaries near the
skin surface, resulting in reduced heat loss from the body. 1m
The man might also shiver.
During shivering, the rate of respiration in muscle cells increased, 1m
thus producing more heat. 1m
iii The warm air reduces the temperature gradient between the body and the environment, so less heat is
lost from the body. 1m
The humid air reduces heat loss from the lungs by evaporation. 1m
Raising the body temperature helps restore normal body functions. 1m

2 a i (1) To ensure that the degrees of shading / light intensities of the regions were similar. 1m
(2) Repeated sampling and then calculating an average value gives a more reliable result. 1m
(3) The lichen patches may have variable sizes. 1m
ii (1) Exhaust fumes from motor vehicles
(or other reasonable answers) 1m
(2) Blown by wind from industrial, commercial or residential regions
(or other reasonable answers) 1m
iii Quadrats cannot be used to sample fast-moving organisms. / The size of the organisms must be small
enough so that a reasonable number of individuals is enclosed by the quadrat. / Quadrats can be used
alone only when the habitat is fairly uniform. (any 2) 2m
iv Sulphur dioxide can dissolve in fine water droplets in air and becomes a constituent of respirable
suspended particulates. 1m
Exposure to respirable suspended particulates can irritate our breathing system and lead to respiratory
problems. 1m
Sulphur dioxide can dissolve in rainwater, forming acid rain. 1m
Acid rain can damage the leaves of trees, leading to death of forests and reduced biodiversity. 1m
(or other reasonable answers)

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 b i As the remains of the mangrove plants decayed, more food became available for the primary
consumers. 1m
Therefore, the number of the primary consumers as well as other organisms in the habitat increased.
1m
(or other reasonable answers)
ii From 45 weeks after the mangrove clearance, the population sizes of both species were lower than
those before the clearance. 1m
iii The change in the population size of species Y is always lagging behind that of species X. 1m
iv Species Y 1m
The stable compound accumulated in the body tissues of species X by feeding. 1m
As species Y feeds on a large number of species X, a higher concentration of the stable compound
became accumulated in the body of species Y. 1m
v No new development within the area is allowed. 1m
Consideration must be given to conservation when development near the area is proposed. 1m

3 a i A known volume (e.g. 1 cm3) of sample is removed from one of the fermenters and mixed with a
known volume (e.g. 9 cm3) of sterile culture medium. 1m
3 3
A known volume (e.g. 1 cm ) of this mixture is mixed with a known volume (e.g. 9 cm ) of sterile
culture medium. 1m
The process is repeated to give a series of increasingly diluted cultures. 1m
ii To obtain a diluted culture that contains a suitable number of E. coli for counting. 1m
iii Glucose is readily usable in respiration. 1m
Lactose needs to be digested before it can be used in respiration. 1m
iv In the first hour, there is only a small increase in the number of E. coli because the bacteria are in a
period of adaptation and preparation for growth in the new environment. 1m
During 1–2 hours, the number of E. coli increases rapidly because the supply of glucose is in excess
and the other conditions are favourable for growth. 1m
During 2–2.3 hours, the number of E. coli levels off because glucose is running out. 1m
During 2.3–3 hours, the number of E. coli increases rapidly again because lactase has been
synthesized in the bacteria to digest lactose. 1m
During 3–4.5 hours, the number of E. coli levels off again because lactose is running out and the
accumulation of toxic waste has made the conditions less favourable for growth. 1m
b i To separate liquid from solids. 1m
ii The air pump provides oxygen 1m
for the breakdown of organic substances in the liquid into inorganic substances 1m
by the decomposers. 1m
iii To provide the optimal temperature for the action of enzymes of the bacteria in tank IV. / for the
growth / reproduction of the bacteria in tank IV. 1m
iv (1) Methane 1m
(2) It can be used as a fuel for heating / cooking / lighting / vehicles / to generate electricity / to
produce town gas. (or other correct answers) 1m
v Dried sludge contains nitrates, ammonium compounds, phosphates, etc. and can be applied to
farmland as fertilizers. 1m
vi Heavy metal / disinfectant (or other correct answers) 1m

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4 a i P contained the sequence AAGCTT. It was cut by the restriction enzyme. 1m
Two kinds of fragments with lengths shorter than 180 bp were formed. 1m
Q did not contain the sequence AAGCTT. It was not cut by the restriction enzyme. 1m
The DNA molecule remained intact. It gave only one fragment of 180 bp. 1m
ii Three bands appeared in the lane loaded with the DNA sample of Mrs Chan. Two of them were
formed from P and one was from Q. 1m
She have both the normal allele and the allele for haemophilia. 1m
She is normal / a carrier of haemophilia. 1m
iii Males have only one X chromosome. 1m
They have either a normal allele or an allele for haemophilia, but not both. 1m
iv 1/2 1m
b i Cut the DNA encoding human insulin and a plasmid using the same restriction enzyme. 1m
Join the DNA encoding human insulin and the plasmid together using a DNA ligase. 1m
Introduce the recombinant plasmid into Agrobacterium. 1m
Let the Agrobacterium infect plant cells. The DNA encoding human insulin will be integrated into the
DNA of the plant cells during infection. 1m
ii The antibiotic resistance gene present in the plasmid can be used for the selection of the transformed
Agrobacterium / as a selective marker. 1m
Culture the Agrobacterium in a medium containing an antibiotic after mixing the Agrobacterium with
the recombinant plasmid. 1m
Only the transformed Agrobacterium will survive. 1m
iii Genetic pollution happens when the GM plant breeds with the wild type. 1m
If the GM plant flowers in a different season, the pollen grains of the GM plant will never reach the
stigma of the wild type flower. 1m
iv The antibiotic resistance genes may be accidentally transferred to pathogens to produce ‘superbugs’,
which may lead to outbreaks of incurable diseases. (or other reasonable answers) 1m

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