Syllabus Edition

First teaching 2014

Last exams 2024

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Sexual Reproduction (DP IB Biology: HL)

Exam Questions

3 hours35 questions
11 mark

Which statement relating to gametogenesis is correct?

  • Sperm production occurs in the interstitial cells.

  • Gametogenesis in both males and females involves the process of mitosis.

  • The entire process of oogenesis occurs before birth.

  • Immature sperm cells with flagella are known as Sertoli cells.

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21 mark

Which statement relating to internal and external fertilisation is not correct?

  • External fertilisation reduces the risk of predation.

  • Aquatic animals often carry out external fertilisation

  • Internal fertilisation takes place in the female reproductive tract.

  • Internal fertilisation ensures that the male and female gametes are close to each other.

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31 mark

The following statements describe events that occur after fertilisation.

I.

Finger-like projections grow into the uterus lining.

II.

The fertilised egg cell divides by mitosis.

III.

The zona pellucida breaks down.

IV.

The embryo develops into a hollow ball of cells known as a blastocyst.

Which row in the table shows the correct sequence of events?

  First event → → Last event
A. III II I IV
B. II IV III I
C. II III IV I
D. III IV I II

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    41 mark

    Which of the following statements relating to the placenta are correct?

    I.

    The surface area of the placenta increases as the foetus grows.

    II.

    Maternal and fetal blood mixes in the intervillous spaces.

    III.
    The placental barrier is selectively permeable.
    • I and II only.

    • I and III only.

    • II and III only.

    • III only.

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    51 mark

    The diagram below shows an ovum.11-4_q5e

    Which row correctly identifies structures 1-4 in the diagram? Note that the term mitochondrion is the singular for mitochondria.

      1 2 3 4
    A. Follicle cells Cell wall Diploid nucleus Mitochondrion
    B. Follicle cells Zona pellucida Haploid nucleus Mitochondrion
    C. Zona pellucida Follicle cells Haploid nucleus Cortical granule
    D. Follicle cells Zona pellucida Haploid nucleus Cortical granule

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      11 mark

      Which of the following statements about spermatogenesis are correct?

      1. Spermatogenesis involves meiosis and mitosis.
      2. Spermatogonia form from the germinal epithelium.
      3. Primary spermatocytes form by differentiation from spermatids.
      • I only  

      • I and II only

      • II and III only

      • I, II, and III

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      21 mark

      Some of the stages of oogenesis are listed below.

      1. The oogonia enter meiosis I.
      2. Ovulation releases the secondary oocyte from the ovary.
      3. Cells in the germinal epithelium divide by mitosis.
      4. FSH stimulates a primary follicle to mature and divide.
      5. The secondary oocyte completes meiosis II.

      Which of the following gives the correct process of oogenesis?

      • III → I → IV → V → II

      • IV → III → I → V → II

      • III → I → IV → II → V

      • III → IV → I → II → V

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      31 mark

      Which of the following does not form part of the fertilisation process in humans?

      • The cortical granules release glycoproteins to harden the zona pellucida.

      • The cell surface membranes of the oocyte and sperm cell fuse together.

      • The sperm cell binds to proteins on the surface of the oocyte.

      • Digestive enzymes released from the acrosome break down the zona pellucida.

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      41 mark

      Which of the following gives a correct difference between a 48-hour-old embryo and a week-old blastocyst?

       

      Embryo

      Blastocyst

      A

      Undergoes the process of mitosis

      Begins the process of implantation

      B

      Contains around 50 cells

      Contains around 100 cells

      C

      Located in the ovary

      Located in the uterus

      D

      Moved by the action of hairs known as cilia

      Moves due to the contraction of muscles in the uterus wall

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        51 mark

        What can be concluded about the gestation periods of different mammal species from the graph below?q5_11-4_sexual_reproduction_ib_biology_hl_mcq

        • Precocial species have longer gestation lengths than altricial species.

        • Species with a larger body mass have a longer gestation length.

        • There is a positive correlation between body mass and gestation length for both precocial and altricial species.

        • Precocial species need longer gestation lengths to allow them to give birth to less dependent offspring.

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        61 mark

        Which of the following statements about human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) are correct?

        1. hCG is released by the ovaries.
        2. hCG stimulates the corpus luteum to continue secreting oestrogen and progesterone.
        3. Once hCG secretion stops, oestrogen and progesterone secretion also stops.
        • I and II only

        • II only

        • I, II, and III

        • II and III only

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        71 mark

        Which of the hormone functions shown below are correct?

         

        hCG

        Progesterone

        Oestrogen

        Oxytocin

        A

        Stimulates release of hormones by the corpus luteum

        Inhibits oxytocin production

        Inhibits progesterone production

        Stimulates relaxation of the cervix

        B

        Stimulates release of hormones by the corpus luteum

        Stimulates oxytocin production

        Inhibits progesterone production

        Stimulates contractions in the muscles of the uterus wall

        C

        Causes loss of the uterus lining

        Inhibits oxytocin production

        Decreases sensitivity of uterus wall to oxytocin

        Stimulates relaxation of the cervix

        D

        Inhibits loss of the uterus lining

        Inhibits oxytocin production

        Increases sensitivity of uterus wall to oxytocin

        Stimulates contractions in the muscles of the uterus wall

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          81 mark

          Which of the following statements can be correctly applied to the placenta?

          • Substances that move across the placenta from mother to foetus include oxygen, glucose, antibodies, carbon dioxide, and urea.

          • The placenta is needed because the surface area to volume ratio of the foetus becomes larger as it grows.

          • The placenta releases the hormone oxytocin in the late stages of pregnancy.

          • The placenta enables the passage of antibodies by the process of endocytosis.

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          91 mark

          Why was it important to carry out a full risk analysis of the female contraceptive pill?

          • The contraceptive pill could lower birth rates around the world.

          • There is currently not enough evidence to prove a causal link between the female contraceptive pill and feminisation in fish.

          • The synthetic oestrogen in the contraceptive pill can make its way into bodies of water where it can have previously unforeseen consequences.

          • Some people have moral objections to the use of birth control.

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          101 mark

          Which structures have been identified in the cross-section through part of a testis shown below?q10_11-4_sexual_reproduction_ib_biology_hl_mcq

           

          1

          2

          3

          4

          A

          Germinal epithelium

          Sertoli cell

          Cell surface membrane

          Mature sperm

          B

          Seminiferous tubule

          Sertoli cell

          Germinal epithelium

          Spermatid

          C

          Epididymis

          Leydig cell

          Testis endothelium

          Spermatocyte

          D

          Seminiferous tubule

          Leydig cell

          Germinal epithelium

          Mature sperm

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            1
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            1 mark

            The bambooleaf wrasse, Pseudolabrus japonicus, is a species of fish found off the coast of Japan. During the breeding season male wrasse release gametes (a process known as spawning) on a daily cycle in the presence of a single female.

            The graph below shows some of the events occurring inside the testes of bambooleaf wrasse during a 24 hour period.

            Note that lobules are regions within fish testes.11-4_q1h

            Which of the following statements relating to spermatogenesis and fertilisation in wrasse are correct?

            I.

            Wrasse spawning occurs between 06:00 and 10:00.

            II.

            Both mitosis and meiosis are occurring between 00:00 and 15:00.

            III.

            The percentage increase in the number of sperm per lobule between 00:00 and 06:00 is 66.6 with dot on top %.

            IV.
            Wrasse use external fertilisation.
            • I and II only.

            • I, II, III, and IV.

            • I, II, and IV only.

            • I and IV only.

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            21 mark

            The zona pellucida in mice contains three different types of glycoprotein, known as ZP1, ZP2, and ZP3. The roles of each glycoprotein type are thought to be as follows:

            ZP1 - provides structural support to the zona pellucida.

            ZP2 - a secondary binding protein to which sperm cells bind after the initial stages of fertilisation are complete. The enzymes contained in cortical granules are thought to break down ZP2.

            ZP3 - a primary binding protein to which sperm bind at the beginning of the fertilisation process.

            Which row correctly explains the mutation that is most likely to result in polyspermy?

              Mutation in gene that codes for... Explanation
            A. ZP1 ZP1 proteins are no longer complementary to the active sites of acrosome enzymes
            B. ZP2 Sperm can no longer bind to ZP2 and initiate the acrosome reaction
            C. ZP2 ZP2 proteins are no longer complementary to the active sites of cortical granule enzymes
            D. ZP3 Sperm can no longer bind to ZP3 and initiate exocytosis

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              31 mark

              The diagram below shows some of the organs and hormones involved in childbirth.11-4_q3h

              Which row in the table gives the correct labels for locations 1-4 in the diagram?

                1 2 3 4
              A. Stimulates Increases sensitivity to oxytocin Stimulates Inhibits
              B. Inhibits Decreases sensitivity to oxytocin Inhibits Stimulates
              C. Stimulates Decreases sensitivity to oxytocin Stimulates Stimulates
              D. Inhibits Increases sensitivity to oxytocin Inhibits Stimulates

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                41 mark

                The graph below shows the effect of ethinylestradiol concentration on egg and embryo production in the fish species Pimephales promenas, commonly known as fathead minnows. Note that ethinylestradiol is a type of synthetic oestrogen.11-4_q4h

                Which of the following conclusions can be drawn from the graph?

                I.

                Ethinylestradiol in rivers is harmful to fathead minnow populations.

                II.

                There is an association between ethinylestradiol concentration and reduced reproductive success in fathead minnows.

                III.

                There is an association between ethinylestradiol concentration and feminisation in fathead minnows.

                IV.

                At an ethinylestradiol concentration of 11 ng L-1 fish are unable to reproduce.

                • I, II, and III only.

                • II only.

                • II and IV only.

                • III and IV only.

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                51 mark

                The diagram below shows the events occurring inside an ovary during oogenesis.11-4_q5h

                Which row correctly identifies the structures labelled 1-4?

                  1 2 3 4
                A. Oogonium Layer of follicle cells Primary follicle Corpus luteum
                B. Primary follicle Layer of follicle cells Secondary oocyte Corpus luteum
                C. Primary follicle Zona pellucida Secondary oocyte Ovum
                D. Germinal epithelium cell Zona pellucida Ovum Secondary oocyte

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