Variation (Cambridge O Level Biology)

Exam Questions

27 mins9 questions
1
Sme Calculator
4 marks

Fig. 1 shows a group of male students. They are all the same age.

P8Lp6ctB_image

Fig. 1

(i)

The students in Fig. 1 show continuous variation in some of their characteristics.

State three characteristics in which these students show continuous variation.

[3]

(ii)

State one example of discontinuous variation.

[1]

Did this page help you?

2a
Sme Calculator
1 mark

Blood group is an example of discontinuous variation.

The blood groups of patients in a hospital were recorded.

Fig. 1 shows the results.

cie-igcse-2018-s2-may-p3-q8a-blood-group-variation

Fig. 1

Explain how Fig. 1 shows that blood group is an example of discontinuous variation.

2b
Sme Calculator
2 marks

Table 1 shows different examples of variation.

Tick all the boxes that show examples of discontinuous variation.

Table 1

Attached or unattached earlobes  
Foot length  
Height  
Tongue rolling  
Weight  
2c
Sme Calculator
3 marks

Variation can be caused by mutation.

The word mutation can be connected to the words in the boxes on the right to make a complete sentence.

Draw three lines to join the word ‘mutation’ to the words in the boxes to make three correct sentences.

cie-igcse-2018-s2-may-p3-q8c-mutation-question

Did this page help you?

1a
Sme Calculator
3 marks

An ecologist studied the features of a plant with leaves specialised into spikes.

Fig. 1 shows the variation in the type of leaf spike.

_TD9byGI_image

Fig. 1

(i)

State the type of variation shown in Fig. 1.

[1]

(ii)

Explain why the type of leaf spike is an example of the variation shown in Fig. 1.

[2]
1b
Sme Calculator
2 marks

The ecologist also measured other features of the leaves.

Fig. 2 shows the variation in leaf feature B.

OI0XG6v7_image

Fig. 2

State two named features of leaves that show the type of variation shown in Fig. 2.

1c
Sme Calculator
1 mark

After one year, the ecologist recorded the variation in leaf feature B again.

The results are shown in Fig. 3.

u2wOTig3_image

Fig. 3

Suggest one reason for the difference in variation of leaf feature B after one year.

Did this page help you?

2
Sme Calculator
6 marks

A student carried out a study on aquatic plants.

They investigated the submergence of leaves in a pond and the depth of the roots within sediment.

Table 1 shows their results. 

Table 1

submergence of leaf within  pond depth of roots within sediment / cm
floating 58

partially submerged

35

fully submerged 23

(i)

Explain which type of data is shown by the depth of roots within the sediment.

[2]

(ii)

Explain which type of graph would best display this data.

[2]

(iii)

Suggest a conclusion for the data.

[2]

Did this page help you?