Biological Molecules (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Biology)

Exam Questions

3 hours31 questions
1a
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3 marks

Table 1 lists a number of chemical substances.

Table 1

 hydrogen

 

 water

 

 sulfur

 

 silicon

 

 titanium

 

 nitrogen

 

 carbon

 

Place a tick (✓) in the boxes next to the chemical elements that are found naturally in living organisms.

1b
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1 mark

Name a group of biological molecules that contain carbon, hydrogen and oxygen only.

1c
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4 marks

Table 2 lists some carbohydrates.

Place a tick () in the boxes that classify each carbohydrate as either a monosaccharide, a disaccharide or a polysaccharide. 

 Table 2

Carbohydrate

Monosaccharide

Disaccharide

Polysaccharide

 Glycogen

 

 

 

 Glucose

 

 

 

 Starch

 

 

 

 Maltose

 

 

 

1d
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1 mark

Name the molecule that, in certain fats, binds to three fatty acid molecules.

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2a
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3 marks

Fig.1 shows a partial view of the structure of an amino acid.

Using the appropriate chemical symbols, complete Fig. 1 to show the full structure of the amino acid.

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Fig. 1

2b
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1 mark

State what the R group in Fig. 1 represents.

2c
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2 marks

Place these three chemical structures in size order, starting with the smallest.

  • Peptides

  • Proteins

  • Amino acids

2d
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4 marks

Read this passage:

There are only around ______ amino acids that are found in living organisms. They can be arranged in any order in proteins, creating a __________ of combinations. Even if one of the amino acids is altered or not present, a very __________ protein will be formed. This may result in a __________.

Complete the passage by using some of the phrases in the box below.

You may use each word once, more than once or not at all.  

               non-functioning protein             

three

carbohydrate being formed instead

hundreds of

small number

different

large number

twenty

large

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3a
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5 marks

Fig. 1 shows five food tests and the food groups that those tests are designed to be used for. 

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Fig. 1

Using five straight lines, link each food test to the food group that the test is used for.

3b
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2 marks

Describe the colour change that is observed when a sample of food has tested positive in the Benedict's test.

3c
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3 marks

(i)

Describe two safety precautions that need to be taken when performing the Benedict's test on a sample of food.

[2]

(ii)

Describe one additional safety precaution when performing the ethanol emulsion test on a sample of food.

[1]

3d
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2 marks

A student tested a sample of three different foods for starch.

The student's partial results are shown in Table 1.

Table 1

food sample

colour of test sample after testing

lasagne

blue/black

fish

 

 bread

 

Complete Table 1 to predict the results that would be obtained.

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4a
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1 mark

A student processed a sample of food into an aqueous solution and tested it with a test solution. The test solution changed from blue to violet.

Name the solution used in this test.

4b
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1 mark

State the food group that the experiment in part (a) showed a positive result for.

4c
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1 mark

A sample of butter was shaken with ethanol, followed by an equal volume of cold water.

Predict the appearance of the mixture after the addition of water.

4d
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2 marks

A sample of freshly-squeezed orange juice was mixed with DCPIP solution.

Predict the result of this food test, and explain your prediction. 

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5a
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3 marks

Extended only

Fig. 1 shows a nucleotide. 

nucleotide-labelling-1

Fig.1

Label the parts of the nucleotide molecule shown as A, B, and C.

5b
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1 mark

Extended only

State the base pairings between A, C, G and T in a DNA molecule. 

5c
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2 marks

Define the term 'double helix' in the structure of DNA.

5d
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1 mark

State a part of the nucleotide shown in part (a) that occupies the outside of the DNA double helix.

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1
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7 marks

This question is about biological molecules.

Choose words or phrases from the list to complete the sentences.

Each word or phrase may be used once, more than once, or not at all.

calcium 

carbon 

carbon dioxide

carbohydrate

cellulose 

chloroplasts 

fat 

glycerol

glycogen 

iron 

methane 

nitrogen

oxygen 

protein 

starch

 

Fats are composed of the elements .............................................. , hydrogen and .............................................. only. All proteins contain these three elements and the element .............................................. .

Glucose is a type of ............................................... . Animals store excess glucose as .............................................. in the liver.

Plants store excess glucose as .............................................. . Plants also convert glucose to .............................................. which is used to make cell walls. 

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2a
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2 marks

Table 1 contains some statements about biological molecules.

Table 1

 

Correct? (✓)

 They contain carbon, hydrogen and oxygen only

 

 All are sugars

 

 They are all formed from long chains of glucose molecules 

 

 They are the principal energy source in the animal diet

 

 They include starch, cellulose and triglycerides

 

 They form solids at room temperature but melt into liquids when warmer

 

 The sequence of the building blocks determines their function

 

Place ticks (✓) in Table 1 to indicate statements that apply to carbohydrates.

2b
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3 marks

Compare the chemical elements found in carbohydrates and proteins.

2c
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2 marks

Fig. 1 shows the structure of glucose.

Structure of α-D-glucose

Fig. 1

Fig. 2 shows the structure of another sugar.

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Fig. 2

Identify the sugar depicted in Fig. 2. Explain your choice of answer.

2d
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3 marks

Fig. 3 shows groups of biological molecules and the building blocks that make them up.

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Fig. 3

Join the boxes in an appropriate manner using straight lines. 

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3a
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2 marks

Fig. 1 shows the components of fats and oils as shapes.

Using these shapes, sketch the appearance of a triglyceride molecule that would be found in fats and oils.

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Fig. 1

3b
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2 marks

Fig. 2 shows the chemical structure of an amino acid called serine.

serine

Fig. 2

(i)

 Draw a label line to indicate serine's central carbon with an X on Fig. 2.

[1]

(ii)  

Draw a line around the R group of serine on Fig. 2.

[1]

3c
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3 marks

Table 1 contains some statements about the fate of proteins in an animal's body.

Table 1

 A. 

 Protein undergoes chemical digestion

B.

 Amino acids circulate in the blood

C.

 Food is ingested

D.

 Peptides are put together in protein synthesis

E.

 Peptides are synthesised

Place these events into a logical chronological order.

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3d
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2 marks

Describe the test that would be used to show a positive result for the presence of protein in a sample of food.

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4a
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1 mark

Extended only

State the type of bonding that holds DNA bases together in base pairs. 

4b
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2 marks

Extended only

Fig. 1 shows the base sequence on one strand of DNA. 

A

C

G

G

A

T

C

A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fig. 1

Complete Fig.1 to show the base sequence of the opposite strand of DNA.

4c
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2 marks

Extended only

Fig. 2 shows outlines that represent the bases of DNA.

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Fig. 2

Use your knowledge of base-pairing to label each one with the letter that each could represent.

Note: there is more than one possible correct answer. 

4d
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3 marks

The following are all aspects of the structure and organisation of an organ such as the liver.

  • Chromosome

  • Tissue

  • Base

  • DNA double helix

  • Nucleus

  • Cell

  • Nucleotide

Using an imaginary powerful microscope with a full zoom function, list the order in which the above structures would become visible when zooming in on a piece of liver tissue. 

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5a
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2 marks

Table 1 shows four samples of food that were tested for glucose (reducing sugar) using the Benedict's test. 

Table 1

test number

contents

1

 Water

2

 Potato juice

3

 Dilute orange juice

4

 Glucose sports drink e.g. Lucozade™

The results are shown in Fig.1 

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Fig. 1

The Benedict's test is referred to as being semi-quantitative.

Use the information provided in Table 1 and Fig. 1 to suggest what the term 'semi-quantitative' means. 

5b
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2 marks

Explain the purpose of the test tube containing just water in the experiment shown in Fig. 1.

5c
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2 marks

Explain why the test for lipids is known as an emulsion test.

5d
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3 marks

Predict the colour changes (if any) of the iodine test on the food samples shown in Table 2.

Table 2

food sample

iodine test result

Bagel

 

Eggs

 

Fish

 

Rice

 

Grapefruit

 

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