Transport Systems (Edexcel IGCSE Science (Double Award): Biology)

Exam Questions

2 hours12 questions
1a
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1 mark

Plant roots absorb water from soil.

This water is transported to the leaves and then moves into the air.

Which of these processes is used to absorb water from the soil?

A

Active transport

B

Diffusion

C

Evaporation

D

Osmosis

1b
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1 mark

Name the tissue that transports water to the leaves.

1c
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2 marks

Give two uses of water in a plant.

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2a
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4 marks

Blood consists of cells and plasma.

Plasma transports various substances to and from different parts of the body.

Describe the function of plasma in transporting named substances in the body.

2b
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5 marks

The diagram shows a white blood cell called a phagocyte.

edexcel-igcse-1br-jan-21-q10bi1

(i) The magnification of the cell is calculated using this formula.

edexcel-igcse-1br-jan-21-q10b

The actual diameter of the cell is 0.013 mm.

Calculate the magnification of the cell. A ruler has been added to the diagram to help your calculations.

(2)

(ii) Name the structure labelled A in the diagram.

(1)

(iii) Describe the function of this cell in defending the body from infection.

(2)

2c
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1 mark

Other white blood cells produce proteins called antibodies.

State how you could test a sample of plasma for protein.

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1a
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4 marks

The diagram shows a magnified image of a root hair cell from a young plant.

untitled-9-1

Give the names of structures labelled W, X, Y and Z.

1b
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2 marks

The actual length of the cell, along the line between A and B, is 1000 μm.

Calculate the magnification of this drawing.

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2
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2 marks

P. multocida is a bacterium that causes cholera in chickens.

The diagram shows the bacterium.

p2bq2a

Give two structures in this bacterium that are also found in all eukaryotic cells.

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3a
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2 marks

The diagram shows the human heart with four blood vessels labelled A, B, C and D.

screenshot-2022-11-01-11-44-58

(i) Which blood vessel brings oxygenated blood to the heart? 

(1)

A

B

C

D

(ii) Which blood vessel contains blood at the highest pressure?

(1)

A

B

C

D

3b
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3 marks

(i) Draw a label line on the diagram to show the position of a semi-lunar valve.

(1)

(ii) Describe the function of the semi-lunar valves.

(2)

3c
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5 marks

In the heart of a foetus, the two upper chambers (atria) are linked by a hole so that blood can pass between them.

(i) Explain why this hole is normally closed before the baby is born.

(2)

(ii) Sometimes the hole does not close.

Explain what effect this will have on the baby.

(3)

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4a
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4 marks

Sickle cell anaemia is a condition in which some of the person’s red blood cells develop abnormally.

The diagram shows red blood cells from a healthy person and red blood cells from a person with sickle cell anaemia.

JXDenrFU_edexcel-igcse-1b-jan-21-q9a

(i) A person with sickle cell anaemia often suffers pain as some of their blood vessels become blocked by the sickle cells.

Suggest why the person’s blood vessels may become blocked.

(1)

(ii) People with sickle cell anaemia have symptoms of tiredness and joint pain that get worse if they are exposed to cold temperatures and high altitudes.

Suggest why these symptoms get worse.

(3)

4b
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3 marks

Sickle cell anaemia is caused by a single recessive allele.

(i) State what is meant by the term recessive.

(1)

(ii) A man and a woman who are both heterozygous for the sickle cell allele have a child.

Calculate the probability that the child will be female and not have sickle cell anaemia.

(2)

4c
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1 mark

Sickle cell anaemia is more common in countries where malaria is found. This is because having an allele for sickle cell anaemia can reduce the likelihood of developing malaria.

Which type of organism causes malaria?

A

Bacterium

B

Fungus

C

Plant

D

Protoctist

4d
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1 mark

What is the name of the pigment found in red blood cells?

A

chlorophyll

B

haemoglobin

C

iron

D

magnesium

4e
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2 marks

Give two differences in structure between red blood cells and white blood cells.

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5a
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1 mark

Read the passage below. Use the information in the passage and your own knowledge to answer the questions that follow.

edexcel-igcse-2b-nov-21-q1

Suggest why cardiomyopathy can cause heart failure (lines 6 to 7).

5b
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3 marks

During the transplant procedure the patient’s heart is removed, leaving behind a section of the right and left atria.

Describe the functions of the atria in the body.

5c
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2 marks

Describe how the blood in the pulmonary artery differs from the blood in the aorta.

5d
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3 marks

Explain the function of the heart-lung bypass machine (lines 11 to 12).

5e
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2 marks

Explain why the patient needs to be given immunosuppressants (lines 19 to 20).

5f
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2 marks

Explain why patients should not smoke after their heart transplant (lines 28 to 29).

5g
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1 mark

State what is meant by the term balanced diet.

5h
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2 marks

Calculate the number of patients in the United Kingdom who have a heart transplant in one year that are still alive five years later (lines 2 to 3 and lines 35 to 36).

5i
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1 mark

Suggest why patients are advised to avoid strenuous activities after their heart transplant (line 24).

5j
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1 mark

Suggest why patients are more likely to be at risk of food poisoning after their heart transplant (lines 32 to 33).

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6a
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2 marks

Aerobic respiration uses oxygen and produces ATP.

Complete the word equation for aerobic respiration.

oxygen + .......................... → .......................... + .......................... + ATP

6b
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3 marks

A scientist investigates the rates of aerobic respiration of some animals.

The scientist calculates the rate of respiration per gram of each animal.

The results are shown in the table.

Animal

Rate of aerobic respiration per gram of animal in arbitrary units

Frog

150

Human

200

Mouse

1500

Explain why a mouse uses more oxygen per gram than a human.

6c
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7 marks

The structure of a frog heart is different from the structure of a human heart.

The diagram shows a section of a frog heart with arrows showing the direction of blood flow.

edexcel-igcse-1br-jan-21-q8b-frog-heart

(i) What is the name of the blood vessel labelled X?

(1)

A

aorta

B

pulmonary artery

C

pulmonary vein

D

vena cava

(ii) Give one difference between the structure of the frog heart and a human heart.

(1)

(iii) Humans can run for long periods of time. Frogs can only move for short periods of time.

Explain how the structure of the heart of a frog means that it is unable to move for long periods of time.

(5)

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1a
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2 marks

Human blood contains red blood cells and white blood cells.

The table shows the number of these blood cells in a sample of blood.

Type of cell

Number of cells per mm3

Number of cells per mm3 in standard form

Red blood cell

5 000 000

5.0 × 106

White blood cell

6000

 

(i) Complete the table to give the number of white blood cells per mm3 in standard form.

(1)

(ii) What is the number of red blood cells in 1000 cm3 of this person's blood?

(1)

A

5.0 × 106

B

5.0 × 109

C

5.0 × 1011

D

5.0 × 1012

1b
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4 marks

The table gives names, descriptions and symptoms of two blood conditions.

Name of condition

Description

Symptom

Anaemia

Low red blood cell count

Often tired

Leukopenia

Low white blood cell count

Likely to get infections

(i) Explain why a person with anaemia is often tired.

(2)

(ii) Explain why a person with leukopenia is more likely to get an infection.

(2)

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2a
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1 mark

Cholesterol is needed in the diet for making cell membranes.

State the role of the cell membrane.

2b
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2 marks

Too much cholesterol is a health risk because fatty deposits build up in arteries.

The lumen of an artery had a diameter of 4.0 mm before the build-up of a fatty deposit.

The fatty deposit covers 45 % of the original area of the lumen.

Calculate the area in mm2 of the lumen that is available for blood flow.

[area of the lumen = πr2]

[π = 3.14]

2c
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8 marks

A scientist tests the blood cholesterol concentration in a sample of men between 25 and 34 years old.

The scientist groups the men in ranges of blood cholesterol concentration and counts the number of men in each range.

The table gives the scientist’s results.

Range of blood cholesterol concentration in mg per cm3

Number of men in each range

80 to 119

13

120 to 159

150

160 to 199

442

200 to 239

299

240 to 279

115

280 to 319

34

320 to 359

9

360 to 399

5

(i) Plot a suitable graph on the grid to show these results.

(5)

screenshot-2022-10-21-9-24-13-am

(ii) Which range of blood cholesterol levels is the mode for this sample? 

(1)

A

80 to 119

B

80 to 379

C

160 to 199

D

360 to 399

(iii) A blood cholesterol level greater than 239 mg per 100 cm3 means a person has a higher risk of heart disease.

Calculate the percentage of men in the sample at a higher risk of heart disease. 

(2)

2d
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4 marks

Statins are drugs that reduce blood cholesterol levels.

A scientist investigates the use of one type of statin on the risk of having a heart attack.

He gives the statin to one group of people and gives a control substance to another group of people.

He calculates the percentage of people in each group that has a heart attack during the next four years.

The table gives the scientist’s results.

Group

Percentage (%) having heart attacks

Statin

2.2

Control substance

3.8

A conclusion from this data is that statins reduce the risk of heart attacks.

Discuss this conclusion.

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3a
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7 marks

The diagram shows the human circulation system with some blood vessels labelled A to J. The arrows show the direction of blood flow.

edexcel-igcse-1b-jan-21-q3a

The table gives some statements about the content of blood vessels in this circulation system.

(i) Complete the table by giving the letter of the blood vessel that matches each statement.

(5)

Statement

Letter

Contains the least carbon dioxide

 

Contains the most glucose after a meal

 

Contains the least oxygen

 

Contains the least urea

 

Contains blood at the highest pressure

 

(ii) State two ways in which the structure of blood vessel A differs from the structure of blood vessel J.

(2)

3b
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5 marks

Muscles in the legs contain capillaries.

A scientist investigates how long-term training affects the number of capillaries in an athlete’s leg muscles.

The scientist determines the mean number of capillaries per mm2 in samples of leg muscle from the athlete before and after a period of training.

The table shows the scientist’s results.

Muscle sample

Mean number of capillaries per mm2

Before training

313

After training

349

The scientist concludes that training improves the athletic performance.

Discuss this conclusion.

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4a
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1 mark

Read the passage below. Use the information in the passage and your own knowledge to answer the questions that follow.

screenshot-2022-10-24-12-26-46
untitled-27

César Astudillo from Collado Villalba, Spain, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons. Image cropped and colour removed.

screenshot-2022-10-24-12-26-24

Blood group

Antigens present

A

A

B

B

AB

A and B

O

Neither A nor B

screenshot-2022-10-24-12-28-33
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Name the type of cell that produces antibodies. (Lines 8 and 9)

4b
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2 marks

Calculate the number of blood donations collected per year from the high‐income countries. (Lines 14 and 15)

Give your answer in standard form.

4c
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3 marks

Some scientists have suggested that spherical artificial red blood cells transport oxygen less efficiently than normal human red blood cells.

Explain why the shape of the artificial red blood cells reduces the efficiency of oxygen transport compared to normal human red blood cells. (Lines 18 and 19)

4d
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2 marks

Explain why the artificial red blood cells are suspended in sodium chloride solution instead of in water. (Line 20)

4e
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4 marks

Separate: Biology Only

(i) Explain why stem cells can be used to make large quantities of red blood cells. (Lines 22 and 23)

(2)

(ii) Suggest why the scientists made red blood cells with blood group O. (Lines 22 and 23)

(2)

4f
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2 marks

Give two substances found in blood plasma that are not present in the artificial blood. (Lines 28 and 29)

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