Practical Skills (OCR Gateway GCSE Biology)

Exam Questions

3 hours35 questions
1
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When preparing a slide of cells to examine down a light microscope, which is the best reason for needing to achieve a sample that is just one cell thick?

  • To ensure a 2-dimensional view of the cell is achieved

  • So fewer cells are visible in the field of view but in more detail

  • To reduce the chance of bubbles forming under the coverslip

  • To be thin enough to allow light to transmit through the sample

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2
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Which of the tables (A - D) gives the correct food tests for all four major food groups?

  •   Glucose (a reducing sugar) Lipids Proteins Starch
    Benedict's test X      
    Biuret test     X  
    Ethanol test   X    
    Iodine test       X
  •   Glucose (a reducing sugar) Lipids Proteins Starch
    Benedict's test   X    
    Biuret test     X  
    Ethanol test X      
    Iodine test       X
  •   Glucose (a reducing sugar) Lipids Proteins Starch
    Benedict's test X      
    Biuret test   X    
    Ethanol test       X
    Iodine test     X  
  •   Glucose (a reducing sugar) Lipids Proteins Starch
    Benedict's test     X  
    Biuret test   X    
    Ethanol test X      
    Iodine test       X

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3
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When calculating the rate of an enzyme-controlled reaction as part of an experiment into factors that affect the rate, which of the following would be the most unsuitable unit of measurement of the rate?

  • mg cm-3 min-1

  • mmol ml s-1

  • g dm-3 s-1

  • g cm-3 mmol-1

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4
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When carrying out work with microorganisms in a school laboratory, which of the following is not an aspect of aseptic technique that should be followed by students?

  • Disinfecting work surfaces before and after an experiment

  • Working in a dust-free atmosphere with filtered air to reduce contamination

  • Working in the area immediately surrounding a lit Bunsen burner

  • Flaming the necks of bottles used to contain microorganisms to prevent contamination

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5
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What is the surface area : volume ratio of a cube that has a side length of 3cm?

  • 0.5

  • 1

  • 2

  • 6

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6
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A student uses a microscope to look at plant cells on a slide.

Which of these methods should they use first?

  • Highest power objective lens and focus moving the lens away from the slide

  • Highest power objective lens and focus moving the lens towards the slide

  • Lowest power objective lens and focus moving the lens away from the slide

  • Lowest power objective lens and focus moving the lens towards the slide

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7
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The diagram shows positive results in two different food tests.q8-paper1h-june2019-ocrgcsebio

What do the results show in each tube?

  Tube 1 Tube 2
A sugar lipid
B starch sugar
C protein sugar
D starch protein

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    8
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    The pictures show four foxes.

    Which fox has the largest surface area : volume ratio?
    q1-paper1f-spec2018-ocrgcsebio

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      9
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      A student uses a microscope.

      • The magnification on the eyepiece lens is ×10.
      • The magnification on the objective lens is ×4.

      What is the total magnification?

      • 2.5

      • 6

      • 14

      • 40

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      10
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      Which substance gives a positive test with Benedict’s reagent?

      • Lipid

      • Protein

      • Starch

      • Sugar

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      11
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      A student places an antibiotic disc onto the surface of agar that is covered in bacteria.

      She calculates the area around the disc that is free from bacteria.

      q5-paper2h-june2019-ocrgcsebio









      Which formula should she use?

      • 2πb2 – 2πa2

      • πb2 + πa2

      • πb2 – πa2

      • π(b – a)2

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      12
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      The diagram shows a variegated leaf.

      q7-1-paper1f-june2018-ocrgcsebio

      Which diagram shows the correct starch test results for the variegated leaf?

      X66N~iq3_q7-2-paper1f-june2018-ocrgcsebio

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        13
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        A student wants to test for protein.

        What would they use to test for protein?

        • Benedict’s reagent

        • Biuret reagent

        • Iodine solution

        • Ethanol

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        14
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        A scientist is estimating the number of rabbits in a field.

        He has eight different estimates, 12, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 22 and 26.

        Which is the median value for his estimates?

        • 8

        • 12

        • 16

        • 17

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        15
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        A group of students collected some measurements from a field.
        They plotted the measurements on this graph.

        q2-paper2h-nov2020-ocrgcsebio

        Which technique have the students used to collect the data?

        • Capture-recapture

        • Random quadrats

        • Scaling up

        • Transect line with quadrats

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        16
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        A student uses a simple potometer to study the effect of different temperatures on the cut shoot of a plant.

        What does the potometer actually measure?

        • Volume of water evaporating from the leaves of the shoot

        • Volume of water produced by respiration in the shoot

        • Volume of water taken up by the shoot

        • Volume of water used in photosynthesis in the shoot

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        17
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        A plant cell is placed in a solution with a higher solute concentration than the cell contents.

        What will happen to the plant cell?

        • Absorb water until it bursts.

        • Absorb water until it is turgid.

        • Lose cytoplasm and shrink.

        • Lose water and become flaccid.

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