IGCSE Biology Revision Quiz 218 marks

Topic 1

1. State 3 characteristics of fungi. (3)

They have a cell wall made of chitin, They are made from thread like structures called hyphae
which join together to form mycelium and they do not contain chloroplasts
2. State 3 characteristics of viruses. (3)
They have antigens and contain no nucleus and contain either DNA or RNA instead
3. State 3 differences between plant and animal cells. (3)
Plant cells have a cell wall, vacuole, and contain chloroplasts and animal cells dont
4. Describe saprotrophic nutrition? (3)
When extracellular digestive enzymes located outside the mycelium are secreted onto the
food and then absorbing the digesting molecules
5. Define pathogen? (1)
Any microorganism that can cause disease in another organism

Topic 2

1. Define active transport. (2)

The moment of particles from an area of low concentration to an area of high concentration
using energy from respiration and a carrier protein.
2. Why is it important that plant cells are turgid? (2)

3. How are enzymes affected by a pH lower than their optimum? (2)

Enzyme activity decreases as the active site changes shape making the enzyme denatured.
This means that it is no longer complementary to its substrate

4. How are enzymes affected by a temperature lower than their optimum? (2)
Enzyme activity decreases as the substrate and enzyme has less kinetic energy meaning they
move slower and there are fewer collisions
5. Describe how to test a food sample for glucose. (3)

Topic 3

1. Why is fibre required in our diet? (2)

It prevents constipation and adds bulk to food
2. State one function of vitamin D. (1)
Helps absorb calcium
3. State one function of calcium. (1)
It strengthens teeth and bones
4. How are the villi are adapted for efficient absorption of food? (2)
They contain many microvilli which increase the surface area for diffusion and have a wall
that is one cell thick giving a short diffusion distance
5. Where is bile produced and what is its role? (3)
Bile is produced by cells in the liver and stored in the gall bladder and then released into the
small intestine. It neutralises HCl is the stomach to keep the optimum pH for enzymes in the
small intestine as they have a higher optimum pH than those in the stomach. It also
emulsifies large droplets of fats into smaller ones to increase their surface area for
absorbtion

Topic 4

1. State the word equation for anaerobic respiration in plants? (2)

Glucose → ethanol +carbon dioxide
2. Write the balanced symbol equation for aerobic respiration. (2)
C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6H2O + 6CO2
3. Where does aerobic respiration occur? (1)
In the mitochondria
 4. What is the energy generated from respiration used for? (3)
It is used for active transport. Required for living processes to occur within cells and organs
5. State two differences between aerobic and anaerobic respiration. (2)
Aerobic respiration requires oxygen and has complete glucose breakdown

Topic 5

1. Describe the role of intercostal muscles. (2)

They are muscles between the ribs which control their movement causing inhalation and
exhalation
2. How are alveoli adapted for efficient gas exchange? (3)
They have thin walls to ensure short diffusion distance. They have good ventilation with air
so that the diffusion gradient can be maintained. They have a good blood supply to maintain
a concentration gradient so diffusion occurs faster.
3. How does tar affect the respiratory system? (2)
Tar increasing the risk of cancerous cells forming in lungs and causes chronic bronchitis and
emphysema to occur simultaneously
4. Why is extensive network of capillaries surrounding alveoli necessary? (2)
To give them a good blood supply to maintain a concentration gradient for a fast rate of
diffusion
5. Define diffusion. (2)
The movement of particles from an area of high concentration to an area of low
concentration

Topic 6

1. Why do multicellular organisms require a transport system? (3)

They need it in order to keep the rate of diffusion and a fast enough rate to keep the
organism alive as without it then the diffusion distance would be too high meaning that the
rate would be too slow. They have a low SA: Vol ratio
2. Compare the structure of arteries, veins and capillaries. (6)
Arteries carry oxygenated blood at high pressure because they have a thick muscular wall
containing elastic fibres whereas capillaries carry oxygenated and deoxygenated blood at a
low pressure within tissues and veins carry deoxygenated blood and a low pressure back to
the heart. Veins have thin walls and a wide lumen. Veins contain valves neither of which the
arteries or capillaries contain. Capillaries have a wall that is one cell thick
3. Describe the process of phagocytosis. (4)
The process in which phagocytes engulf and digest pathogens using enzymes
4. Describe the role of platelets. (2)
Platelets are fragments of cells that form blood clots and scabs where the skin has been cut
to prevent significant blood loss and the entry of harmful bacteria
5. Describe the role of memory cells. (3)
Memory cells remember the antibody released in case of the same pathogen returning
allowing the correct antibody to be released faster

Topic 7

1. Why do plants need magnesium ions? (1)

To make chlorophyll
2. Write is the balanced symbol equation for photosynthesis? (2)
6H2O + 6CO2 → C6H12O6 + 6O2
3. Why do plants store glucose as starch? (1)
Because starch is insoluble
4. Describe how to test a leaf for starch. (4)
Add the leaf to a test tube filled with ethanol and then place it in a water bath. Then place
the leaf on a white tile and add iodine. Parts of the leaf containing starch will turn blue -
black
5. List 4 tissues found in the leaf. (4)
The waxy cuticle, the spongy mesophyll, the palisade mesophyll, and the vascular bundle
Topic 8

1. What is the role of the waxy cuticle. (2)

It is a protective layer on the top of the leaf that prevents water from evaporating
2. Where does gas exchange occur in a plant? (1)
The Stomata
3. Describe what happens to oxygen produced by plants during photosynthesis. (2)
It diffuses out of the leaf via the stomarta
4. What factors affect / limit the rate of photosynthesis? (3)
Light intensity, temperature, and the CO2 concentration
5. When do plants photosynthesise and respire? (2)
Photosynthesise during the day but respire during the day and night

Topic 9

1. Describe the role of phloem in plants. (2)

The phloem transports sucrose and amino acids around the plant
2. Define transpiration. (2)
The loss of water vapour form the leaves of plants
3. Describe the role of xylem in plants. (2)
To transport water and mineral ions from roots to the stem and leaves
4. Explain the effect of humidity on transpiration rate. (3)
Humidity causes the rate of transpiration to decrease as the water potential gradient is
shallower
5. How do plants absorb minerals? (2)
Using active transport which is the movement of particles from an area of low concentration
in the soil to an area of high concentration in the root hair cell.

Topic 10

1. Define ecosystem. (2)

Community of living organism together with their non – living environment
2. Describe the role of nitrogen fixing bacteria. (2)
They convert nitrogen in the air into ammonia/ammonium then into nitrites and then into
nitrates
3. List the stages in the water cycle. (4)
4. Compare a pyramid of numbers with a pyramid of biomass. (4)
Pyramid of biomass is always pyramid shaped whereas a pyramid of numbers wont always
be a pyramid shape. Pyramid of numbers contains the number of organisms in an ecosystem
whereas a pyramid of biomass comtians the dry mass of the organisms in an ecosystem
5. State the names of the different trophic levels in a food chain. (4)
Produces, Primary consumer, secondary consumer, predator
Topic 11

1. Describe how acid rain is formed. (3)

When fossil fuels are burned sulphur dioxide is released and it combines to form water
droplets in the air. It then falls as acid rain
2. Explain how deforestation affects the greenhouse effect? (4)
Less CO2 is absorbed meaning there is increased level of CO2 in the atmosphere and
therefore increased levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Increased levels of
greenhouse gases mean that more heat is absorbed causing global warming. Deforestation
causes the greenhouse effect to increase
3. State 4 greenhouse gases. (4)
Water vapour, CO2, methane, nitrous oxide
4. Describe the process of eutrophication. (5)
Excessive nitrates from fertilisers run off from land into water known as leaching. Aquatic
plants begin to grow faster because of this as well as algae because the algae use the nitrates
to make proteins. An algal bloom reduces sunlight from reaching aquatic plants. This
prevents them from photosynthesising and therefore the levels of oxygen decrease. The
decomposition rate increases and their anaerobic respiration reduces dissolved oxygen
further. Death of organisms requiring dissolved oxygen in water
5. Name an organic source of nitrates, which can contribute to leaching. (1)
Nitrates

Topic 12

1. Name two excretory organs. (2)

Kidneys and lungs
2. List 4 features of the human urinary system. (4)
The ureter, the urethra, nephrons, and thecollecting duct
3. Where does selective reabsorption of glucose occur? (1)
Proximal convoluted tubule
4. Compare the composition of glomerular blood and glomerular filtrate. (3)
The glomerular blood contains white blood cells, red blood cells, and large proteins, whereas
the glomerular filtrate contains none
5. List the contents of a healthy person’s urine. (3)
Urea and water

Topic 13

1. Define homeostasis. (2)

Maintaining constant conditions in the body. Marinating a constant internal environment
2. Compare hormonal and nervous control. (3)
Hormonal control is a longer response that and is a chemical response whereas nercous
control uses electrical signals and is much faster.
3. List the steps involved in a reflex arc. (3)

4. Describe the function of the cornea and retina. (4)

The cornea refracts light as it enters the eye and the retina contains rods and cones of which
cones detect light intensity and rods detect colour
5. Describe the role of skin in thermoregulation. (4)

Topic 14

1. State 4 differences between insect and wind pollinated plants. (4)

2. What is the role of the amniotic fluid? (1)

 To protect the baby from bumbs against the womb
3. Describe the steps required for a zygote to become a baby. (4)
After fertilisation in the oviduct the zygote travels to the uterus. During this period the
zygote divides via mitosis to form an embryo. At the uterus the embryo embeds itself into
the uterus lining and it continues to grow and develop. A placenta forms where the embryo
is attached. For the next nine months the embryo grow in the uterus in which it develops
into a foetus before birth.
4. What is the role of progesterone in females? (1)
Causes further thickening of the uterus lining and maintains the thickness during pregnancy
5. Where is sperm produced and stored in males? (1)
Testes

Topic 15

1. State 2 factors which can increase the incidence of DNA mutation? (2)
2. State 3 differences between mitosis and meiosis. (3)
Meiosis has two cell divisions whereas mitosis only has one. Meiosis only happens in the
reproductive organs whereas mitosis happens all across the body. Meiosis produces gametes
for sexual reproduction whereas mitosis is asexual reproduction
3. Define Co dominance and Selective breeding. (2)
Codominance: pattern of inheritance where neither allele of a gene is dominant over the
other so that both alleles are expressed in the phenotype
Selective Breeding: When animals or plants that show certain desired characteristics are
bred together
4. State 2 causes of variation within a species. (2)
Disease and mutation
5. Describe the process of evolution by natural selection. (6)
Organisms with characteristics that fit their environment best are more likely to survive than
those organisms who do not. This means they are more likely to reproduced and therefore
pass their characteristics to their offspring. This process continues over many generations all
the while these characteristics become more common in the population. This happens until
the organisms not containing these characteristics die out and the whole population has
these certain characteristics

Topic 16

1. Describe the process of micropropogation to clone plants. (6)

The tools used are sterilised. Then a scalpel is used to cut explants from the original plant.
These explants are soaked in a sterile solution whilst being slowly stirred. The explants are
then placed in a growth medium which is agar jelly containing plant hormones and nutrients
needed for them to grow. When the explants develop roots they are transferred to a
different growth medium, usually soil, to finish the growth process
2. Describe the use of enzymes in genetic engineering. (6)
Restriction enzymes are used to isolate the required genes and leave them with sticky ends.
The same restriction enzyme is then use to cut a plasmid from a bacteria which leaves it with
corresponding sticky ends. Then DNA ligase joins the isolated jeans and the plasmid together
to form a single DNA molecule
3. Define the word: Transgenic. (1)
A transgenic organism contains DNA from a different species
4. Describe the ways in which farmer can increase crop yield. (10)
5. State two uses of cloned transgenic animals. (2)
To make antibodies, to make insulin.