IBBiology: HLDPExam Questions6. Human Physiology6.1 Digestion & Absorption

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First teaching 2014

Last exams 2024

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Digestion & Absorption (DP IB Biology: HL)

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3 hours35 questions

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6.1 Digestion & Absorption

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6.1 Digestion & Absorption

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1
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The diagram shows a representation of the human digestive system.

digestive-system

Which of the labelled organs are involved with the digestion of lipids?

  • J and L.

  • I, J, and L.

  • I and J.

  • L and K.

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2
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The diagram shows part of the pancreas.

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What are the structures labelled X?

  • Acinar cells

  • Islets of Langerhans

  • Duct cells

  • Secretory vesicles

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3
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Which row correctly identifies the role of each enzyme?

A. Amylase digests starch into maltose Dipeptidase digests dipeptides into amino acids Phospholipase digests phospholipids into fatty acids and glycerol
B. Amylase digests starch into maltase Dipeptidase digests longer polypeptides into shorter polypeptides Lipase digests triglycerides into fatty acids and glycerol
C. Amylase digests starch into glucose Protease digests longer polypeptides into shorter polypeptides Phospholipase digests phospholipids into fatty acids, glycerol, and phosphate
D. Amylase digests starch into maltose Dipeptidase digests dipeptides into amino acids Lipase digests triglycerides into fatty acids and glycerol

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    4
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    Which of the statements about villi is correct?

    • The cell surface membranes on the capillary side of the villus epithelium are folded into microvilli.

    • The cell surface membranes on the capillary side of the villus epithelium have transport proteins in their cell surface membranes.

    • Villi epithelium contains goblet cells for the secretion of surfactant.

    • The useful products of digestion are all moved into the cells of the villi epithelium down their concentration gradient.

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    5
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    Which of the following statements about the absorption of nutrients are correct?

    I. Nutrients pass from the small intestine lumen to the blood via epithelium cells.

    II. Triglycerides enter the capillaries by exocytosis.

    III. Glucose uses facilitated diffusion, active transport, co-transport, and simple diffusion to enter the capillaries.

    • I only.

    • I and II only.

    • I, II, and III.

    • II and III only.

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    11 mark

    Which statement best describes the action of peristalsis in the alimentary canal?

    • Striated muscles contract to move the partially digested food in a wave-like movement along the alimentary canal.

    • Circular muscles contract behind the partially digested food and the longitudinal muscles shorten.

    • Skeletal muscle contractions force the food through the alimentary canal with valves preventing backflow.

    • Longitudinal muscles contract behind the partially digested food and the circular muscles shorten.

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    21 mark

    Which is the correct reason that cellulose passes through the gut undigested?

    • There are no enzymes present in the human digestive system capable of cellulose digestion.

    • Cellulose is not a required nutrient of the human body.

    • Cellulose provides bulk for effective peristalsis which forces the food through the alimentary canal.

    • It takes too long for the glucose monomers in cellulose to be hydrolysed, so cellulose is egested before it can be digested.

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    31 mark

    Which row of the table correctly states the monomers which combine to form the disaccharide named?

     

    		 Disaccharide Monomer 1 Monomer 2
    A Galactose Lactose  α-Glucose
    B Maltose  α-Glucose Fructose
    C Sucrose α-Glucose Fructose
    D Sucrose β-Glucose Fructose

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      41 mark

      Which of the following statements correctly describes the digestion of starch?

      1.  Involves enzymes in cell-surface membranes.
      2. Occurs primarily in the small intestine.
      3. Requires amylase to hydrolyse the 1,6 glycosidic bonds in amylopectin.
      4. Involves at least 3 different enzymes.

      • I and II

      • I, II and IV

      • I, III and IV

      • I, II, III, and IV

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      51 mark

      Which of the following is not a method of absorption in the small intestine?

      • Simple diffusion of glucose across the plasma membrane into the cells lining the small intestine.

      • Exocytosis of lipoproteins out of the epithelium cells and into the lacteal.

      • Simple diffusion of fatty acids and glycerol into epithelium cells.

      • Active transport of sodium from the cytoplasm of the epithelium cells to the inside of the villus.

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      61 mark

      In what way does the apparatus shown below provide an accurate model of digestion?

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      • The dialysis tubing represents the membrane of the stomach and shows how secretions can assist in the breakdown of food substances in the stomach.

      • The dialysis tubing acts as a membrane to show how substances may be taken up by active transport in the small intestine.

      • Passive movement of small particles through the partially permeable visking tubing mimics the absorption of nutrients in the small intestine.

      • The large surface area of the intestine is replicated in the structure of the visking tubing.

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      71 mark

      Which combination of secretions are produced by the pancreas?

      • Bile, amylase and maltase.

      • Pepsin, amylase and lipase.

      • Amylase, lipase and phospholipase.

      • Lactase, sucrase and exopeptidases.

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      81 mark

      Which of the following is triggered by the release of hormones in response to ingestion of food.

      • Production of insulin and glucagon by the pancreas.

      • Synthesis and secretion of digestive enzymes by the pancreas.

      • The reduced secretion of glucagon into the blood.

      • Increased sensitivity of insulin receptors in the small intestine.

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      91 mark

      Which of the following parts of the digestive system produce and secrete protein-digesting enzymes into the alimentary canal?

        Stomach Pancreas Small intestine
      A Yes No Yes
      B No Yes Yes
      C Yes Yes No
      D Yes Yes Yes

       

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        101 mark

        What is ‘X’ on the diagram?

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        • Longitudinal muscle

        • Circular muscle

        • Sub-mucosa

        • Serosa

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        1
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        The activity of two types of protease enzymes was measured in two different species of fish; species X and species Y. The results of the research are shown in the graph.

        The unit U denotes the enzyme required for the production of 1 μmol of product per minute. The bars represent the standard deviation.YI4IEjOY_h-1

        Which statement about protease enzymes is correct?

        • The activity of the stomach protease of species Y is 2.5 times greater than that of species X.

        • The activity of the intestinal protease of species X is significantly higher than the stomach protease of species X.

        • Endopeptidase proteases hydrolyse peptide bonds at the ends of polypeptides.

        • The activity of the intestinal proteases of both species X and Y are significantly higher than the stomach proteases.

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        2
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        Sucrase-isomaltase is a membrane-bound disaccharidase located in the cell surface membranes of the cells lining the small intestine. It digests the following molecules:

        • Dextrins
        • Glucose-glucose disaccharides
        • Glucose-frustose disaccharides

        A recessive mutation leads to congenital sucrase-isomaltase deficiency (CSID). Which of the following are likely to be symptoms of CSID?

        I. Diarrhoea due to water retention in the digestive tract.

        II. Bacterial fermentation of undigested sucrose.

        III. Difficulty digesting dairy products.

        IV. Difficulty digesting starchy foods.

        • I, II, and III only.

        • I, II, and IV only.

        • II, III, and IV only.

        • II and IV only.

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        3
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        An experiment was set up to model the digestion of starch in the small intestine. It was set up as follows:

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        Tube A Tube B
        • 1 ml of 1 % amylase solution
        • 10 ml of 1 % starch solution
        • 5 ml of pH 2 buffer
        • 1 ml of 1 % amylase solution
        • 10 ml of 1 % starch solution
        • 5 ml of pH 8 buffer

        Which statements regarding the experiment shown are correct?

        1. The dialysis tubing perfectly represents the lining of the small intestine.
        2. The iodine test in and around tube A would yield a blue-black colour inside the tubing and a brown-yellow colour outside the tubing.
        3. The Benedict's test in and around tube B would yield an orange precipitate inside the tubing and a blue colour outside the tubing.
        4. The distilled water imperfectly represents the blood.

        • I, II, and III only.

        • II, III, and IV only.

        • II and IV only.

        • IV only.

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        4
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        Inhibition of a transport protein known as SGLT1 has been studied as a possible treatment option for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The diagram shows the location of SGLT1, alongside two other types of transport protein.

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        Which statement regarding the impact of inhibiting SGLT1 is likely to be true?

        • It will prevent the active transport of glucose into the epithelial cell.

        • It will increase the release of insulin from the pancreas.

        • It will prevent the formation of a glucose gradient between the epithelial cell and the capillary.

        • It will prevent the formation of a sodium ion gradient between the intestine lumen and the epithelial cell.

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        5
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        The micrograph image below shows a transverse section through the wall of the small intestine.

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        Image courtesy of Ed Uthman, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license, and adapted and redistributed under conditions found at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

        Which tissue layers can be identified in the image?

        • Mucosa and sub-mucosa only.

        • Submucosa and muscle layer only.

        • Mucosa, submucosa, and muscle layer only.

        • Mucosa, submucosa, muscle layer, and serosa.

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