Transport in Plants (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Biology)

Exam Questions

4 hours34 questions
1a
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1 mark

Fig. 1 shows a drawing of the cross-section of a plant root.

The transport tissues are labelled.

xylem

Fig. 1

Name the structure labelled X.

1b2 marks

Name the substances that are primarily transported in the phloem.

1c
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2 marks

Complete Table 1 below with a tick () or ticks to represent the direction(s) of movement of substances in the phloem and structure X.

Table 1

 

Structure X

Phloem

Up only

 

 

Up and down

 

 

1d
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1 mark

The flow of water from the roots to the leaves via the vascular network is an important process in plants.

Name this process.

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2a
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2 marks

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Complete the sentence by choosing the missing words from the box below.

The __________ transports food substances such as dissolved __________ made in the __________ to the rest of the plant. This process is called __________ .

xylem         sugars          phloem          mineral ions         translocation         water         leaves     transpiration          roots         photosynthesis

2b
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2 marks

Complete the sentences.

Choose the answers from the box below.

Water moves into the cytoplasm of root hair cells by the process of __________ .

Mineral ions move into the cytoplasm of root hair cells by the process of __________ .

evaporation         diffusion          active transport         

osmosis          translocation           transpiration          

2c
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2 marks

Root hair cells possess long hair-like projections.

Explain why this is a beneficial adaptation for absorbing water and mineral ions.

2d
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2 marks

The following statements are the structures that water passes through on its way through a plant.

  • leaf mesophyll cell

  • root cortex cell

  • root hair cell

  • xylem

Place the structures in the correct order in which water passes through them.

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3a1 mark

State the predominant process by which water is lost from the leaf.

3b
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2 marks

Suggest two reasons why transpiration is beneficial for the plant.

3c4 marks

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Fig. 1 shows the movement of water through a plant. Arrows indicate the direction of movement.

plant

Fig. 1

Explain how the transpiration stream happens in plants. Use the information in Fig. 1.

3d
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1 mark

Predict what would happen to the transpiration rate of the plant in Fig. 1 during the night time.

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4a
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3 marks

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State three adaptations of the xylem and for each, explain how it helps the xylem to perform its function.

4b
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1 mark

Xylem and phloem vessels running side-by-side make up a recognisable structure within a plant's stem and roots.

State the name of this structure.

4c
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3 marks

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Fig. 1 shows some data on the lignin content of various plants' stem tissues.

7p-uldVO_8-1-q4ce---sq

Fig. 1

Using your knowledge of the function of lignin, join the boxes with three straight lines to estimate the lignin content of the various species' plant stems. 

4d
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1 mark

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Explain an advantage of the xylem containing dead tissue as opposed to live tissue.

Your answer should refer to the xylem's role in transporting water and minerals. 

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5a
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1 mark

State the name of the piece of equipment that can be used to measure transpiration rate.

5b
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2 marks

Using the piece of equipment referred to in part (a), explain how an experimenter might do the following:

(i)

Vary the temperature to examine the effects on the rate of transpiration.

[1]

(ii)

Vary the wind speed to examine the effects on the rate of transpiration.

[1]

5c
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3 marks

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Table 1 shows the conditions that can be varied to cause differences in the rate of transpiration of a given piece of cut plant (stem and leaves).

The numbers of Table 1 give an expected level of the rate of transpiration, in arbitrary units on a scale 0 - 5, with 5 being the highest rate. 

Table 1

 

Level of each variable

Condition

High

Medium

Low

Wind speed

 

2.5

 

Temperature (range 10°C - 35°C)

 

2.5

 

Air humidity

 

2.5

 

Complete the missing boxes in Table 1 with numbers from 0 - 5 to show your predictions for the missing sets of conditions. 

5d
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1 mark

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State the condition of a plant whose water levels have fallen so low that the plant can no longer support itself.

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1a
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3 marks

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Fig. 1 shows a photomicrograph of a section of a root.

cie-igcse-2018-s1-oct-p4-q3a-xylem

Fig. 1

Structure J is a xylem vessel.

The xylem vessels conduct water from the roots to the stems.

State the features of xylem vessels that enable them to conduct water.

1b
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5 marks

Describe the pathway of water from outside the root to the xylem vessels (J) at the centre of the root.

Use the letters in Fig. 1 in your answer.

1c
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7 marks

Scientists wanted to determine the flow-rate of water in roots.

They measured the flow-rate in three zones of onion roots as shown in Fig. 2  

cie-igcse-2018-s1-oct-p4-q3c-flow-rate-in-onions

Fig. 2

They measured the flow-rate in healthy roots and roots that had been treated with a toxic solution.

Their results are shown in Table 1.

Table 1

zone in Fig. 2

average flow-rate of water / arbitrary units

healthy roots

treated roots

1

150

160

2

230

200

3

280

270

(i)

Calculate the percentage increase in the average flow-rate between zone 1 and 3 for healthy roots.

Give your answer to two significant figures.

Show your working.

[2]

(ii)

The scientists observed that the xylem vessels nearer the root tip were narrower than the xylem vessels higher up the root.

Describe how the width of xylem vessels in different zones of a root affects the average flow-rate of water.

Use the information in Table 1 in your answer.

[3]

(iii)

Suggest why there was little difference in the flow-rate in healthy roots and in roots treated with the toxic solution.

[2]

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2a
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5 marks

Complete the sentences by placing appropriate words in the spaces to give a definition of transpiration.

In transpiration water is lost from the .............................................. of a plant.

The water .............................................. from the surface of the ..............................................  cells and water vapour is produced.

The water vapour moves by .............................................. out of the plant through pores called ..............................................

2b
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4 marks

Complete Table 1 by

  • stating two environmental conditions that affect the rate of transpiration

  • stating how a decrease in each environmental condition affects the rate of transpiration

Table 1

Environmental condition

Effect of a decrease on the rate of transpiration

 

 

 

 

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3a
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2 marks

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When water is in short supply, plants can wilt as shown in Fig. 2

cie-igcse-2018-s3-p4-q3b

Fig. 2

State two conditions that are likely to increase the chances of wilting.

3b
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4 marks

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Explain what happens to the cells of a leaf to cause wilting.

3c
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2 marks

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Wilting may look harmful, but it is often a strategy for survival.

Suggest the advantages to a plant of wilting.

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4a
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4 marks

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Compare the plant processes of transpiration and translocation.

4b
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2 marks

Extended

Name the two main products of a plant's metabolism that are carried in the phloem. 

4c
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2 marks

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Define the term 'source' when used in the context of plant biology. 

4d
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1 mark

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The image shows a wild banana, cut lengthways. Inside the banana, its seeds are clearly visible. Seeds are usually regarded as sinks. 

Give an example of when seeds such as these act as a source. 

banana-with-seeds-1

 

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5a
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3 marks

Plant leaves have many adaptations to maximise the rate at which they can photosynthesise. A group of students wanted to investigate the behaviour of stomata in different plants.

Fig. 1 is a drawing of the underside of a leaf of one of the plants as visualised under a light microscope.

q2a-plant-tissues-and-organs-principles-of-organisation-gcse-aqa-biology-21

Fig. 1

Name cell X in Fig. 1 and outline its role in the leaf.

5b
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2 marks

Calculate the number of stomata per mm2 of this leaf surface.

5c
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2 marks

Another plant species has 200 stomata per mm2 of its leaf surface.

An increased number of stomata is not always advantageous.

Explain why.

5d
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3 marks

The students then measured the mean widths of the stomata from three different species of plant which had been growing under different light conditions.

Table 1 shows their results.

Table 1

Condition

Time in light or dark / hours

Mean width of stomata as a percentage of their maximum width

Species A

Species B

Species C

Light

1

45

67

7

Light

1

89

72

4

Light

1

98

78

2

Light

1

100

64

1

Dark

1

5

14

96

Dark

1

5

16

87

Dark

1

6

11

78

Dark

1

5

13

76

Light

1

49

57

4

Light

1

83

64

1

Light

1

100

79

0

Light

1

99

80

1

Species A is unlikely to be found growing in a hot, dry desert.

Explain why, using data from Table 1.

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1
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3 marks

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Describe and explain how a reduced concentration of water vapour in the air would increase the movement of water through crop plants.

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2a
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3 marks

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A student cut a section of a root and made an outline drawing of the distribution of tissues as shown in Fig. 1

061041-may-2018-paper-4-q3a-xylem---sq

Fig 1

(i)

Identify the position of the xylem tissue by drawing a label line and the letter X on Fig. 1

[1]

(ii)

State why the xylem is a tissue.

[2]

2b
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3 marks

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Water absorbed by the roots moves through the stem and enters the leaves. Most of this water is lost in transpiration.

Explain how the internal structure of leaves results in the loss of large quantities of water in transpiration.

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3a
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6 marks

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Aphids are insects that feed on the phloem sap in plants.

Fig. 1 shows a diagram of an aphid with its mouth parts inserted into the stem of a plant.

2018mj0610p42q3a

Fig. 1

The mouth parts of the aphid reach the phloem tissue of the stem. 

(i)

State the name of the foods the aphid could suck out of the phloem tissue.

[2]

(ii)

Explain the role of phloem in plant transport. Use the words source and sink in your answer

[4]

3b
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6 marks

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Fig. 1 shows some of the features of xylem.

Describe how xylem is adapted for its functions.

3c
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2 marks

Some farmers spray their crops with insecticides to kill pests such as aphids.

Explain the benefits of killing pests.

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4a
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7 marks

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Fig.1 is a photomicrograph of some xylem vessels.

screenshot-2022-10-12-11-31-11

Fig. 1

(i)

State one structural feature of xylem vessels and explain how this is related to the function of water transport.

[2]

(ii)

Explain the mechanism that is responsible for the movement of water in xylem vessels.

[4]

(iii)

State one role of xylem vessels other than transport.

[1]

4b
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3 marks

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The rate of transpiration is affected by several factors including the temperature and the humidity of the air.

State and explain the effect of an increase in temperature on the rate of transpiration.

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5a
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4 marks

Fig. 1 shows a potometer set up to measure the rate of transpiration in a piece of cut plant. 

HcAG7PNx_bubble-potometer-sq

Fig. 1

Identify labels W, X, Y and Z.

5b
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4 marks

In the experiment shown in Fig. 1, the bubble moved a distance of 23 mm in 47 minutes of experiment time. 

The bore (internal diameter) of the capillary tube that the bubble is in is 1 mm.

(i)

Calculate the volume of water taken up by the plant in the time of the experiment.

[2]

(ii)

Calculate the rate of transpiration of the piece of plant.

State your answer in mm3hr-1.

[2]

5c
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2 marks

For the experiment described in part (b), a subsequent experiment used an electric fan to blow air across the leaves of the plant throughout the experiment. 

Predict the rate of transpiration that would be measured. State your answer as a number with units. 

Explain your reasoning. 

5d
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6 marks

A different piece of the plant (from a species of tree) was measured and its transpiration rate was found to be 350 mm3hr-1.

The piece of the tree being studied contained 8 leaves whereas a mature tree of the same species would consist of an average of 65 000 leaves.

(i)

Estimate the rate of transpiration of a mature tree of this species.

Express your answer in litres per day (dm3day-1)

1dm3 = 1 000 000 mm3

[3]

(ii)

Give three reasons to suggest why the estimate in part (d) (i) is likely to be inaccurate.

[3]

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