Student Number: ....

2006
HIGHER SCHOOL CERTIFICATE
Sample Examination Paper

BIOLOGY
General Instructions

Total Marks 100

Section I
75 marks
This section has two parts, Part A and Part B

Reading Time 5 minutes

Working Time 3 hours
Write using blue or black pen
Board-approved calculators may be used
Draw diagrams using pencil
Write your student number at the top of
this page

Part A 15 marks
Attempt Questions 115
Allow about 30 minutes for this section
Part B 60 marks
Attempt Questions 1625
Allow about 1 hour and 45 minutes for this
section
Section II
25 marks
Attempt ONE question from
Questions 2630
Allow about 45 minutes for this section

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All care has been taken to ensure that this sample examination paper is error free and that it follows the style, format
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cannot in any way guarantee that the actual Board of Studies Examination will have a similar content or format.

Reed International Books Australia Pty Ltd 2006

Product code: 734850

Biology HSC 2006

Section I
75 marks
Allow about 2 hours and 15 minutes for this section
This section has TWO parts
Part A 15 marks Questions 115
Part B 60 marks Questions 1625

Part A
15 marks
Select the alternative A, B, C, or D that best answers the question. Fill in the response sheet
clearly.

If you think you have made a mistake, blank out the incorrect answer and fill in the new
answer.
1

If you change your mind and have crossed out what you consider to be the correct answer,
then indicate the correct answer by writing the word correct and drawing an arrow.

Correct

Biology HSC 2006

Section I
75 marks
Part A 15 marks
Attempt Questions 115
Allow about 30 minutes for this section
Use the multiple choice answer sheet.
1

Which of the following is the best definition of the term homeostasis?

A
B
C
D

During your studies you performed a first-hand investigation to demonstrate the effect
of dissolved carbon dioxide on the pH of water. What is the effect of increasing the
amount of dissolved carbon dioxide on the pH of water?
A
B
C
D

There is no effect.
The pH is increased.
The pH is reduced.
Water does not have a pH so this could not be determined.

Which of the following is a non-specific defence barrier to prevent entry of pathogens

into humans?
A
B
C
D

The production of ATP by mitochondria during cellular respiration at a

constant rate
The maintenance of a relatively stable external environment by living things
The use of a simple model to describe the specificity of enzymes on substrates
The process by which organisms maintain a relatively stable internal
environment

T cells
Antibodies
B memory cells
Cilia

Which of the following triggers the immune response?

A
B
C
D

Antigens
Antibodies
Phagocytosis
The lymph system

Biology HSC 2006

Pesticide resistance is a problem affecting farmers who depend upon chemicals to

control insect pests. Which of the following would be the result of the increased use of
pesticides?
A
B
C
D

New species of pests evolving that are resistant to the pesticides

Genetic resistance in insect pests that is passed on to the next generation
Greater time between applications of the pesticides
The use of pesticides with lower concentrations of chemicals so as not to harm
the environment

The diagram below shows the chromosomal compliment (karyotype) of a person with
Down Syndrome.

What is this an example of?

A
B
C
D

A non-infectious inherited disease

A non-infectious environmental disease
An infectious disease caused by a virus
A deliberate suppression of the immune system

Biology HSC 2006

The table below contains the names of important scientists and their contributions to
science in terms of theories, discoveries and experimental methods. Which
alternative (A, B, C or D) correctly matches all scientists with their contributions?
Darwin

Pasteur
Germ theory of
disease
Germ theory of
disease

Evolution

DNA structure

Disease Postulates

Evolution

DNA structure

Evolution

Chromosomal
inheritance

Evolution

DNA structure

Koch
Disease Postulates
Chromosomal
inheritance
Germ theory of
disease
Disease Postulates

In a species of plants there are three possible flower colours: red, blue and purple.
When plants with red flowers are crossed with plants with purple flowers the resulting
offspring have either red flowers or purple flowers. What is this mode of inheritance
called?
A
B
C
D

Sutton and
Boveri
Chromosomal
inheritance

Sex linkage
Recessive
Codominant
Dominant

The following diagram shows the behaviour of chromosomes during a certain stage of
meiosis.

What is the process that is occurring here called?

A
B
C
D

Crossing over
Cytokinesis
Mitosis
Random segregation of chromosomes

Biology HSC 2006

10

In humans, pattern baldness is sex linked, recessive and carried on the X chromosome.
If a carrier female has a child with a normal male, what is the probability that one of
their children will have pattern baldness?
A
B
C
D

11

Which of the following alternatives includes all of the factors that are essential for
osmosis to occur?
A
B
C
D

12

A selectively permeable membrane in water

A selectively permeable membrane separating solutions of equal
concentrations of solutes in water
An impermeable membrane separating solutions of unequal concentrations of
solutes in water
A selectively permeable membrane separating solutions of unequal
concentrations of solutes in water

Mammalian blood contains a substance called haemoglobin. What is the purpose of

this substance?
A
B
C
D

13

0%
25%
50%
100%

Enable oxygen to be carried through the walls of blood vessels to where it is

needed
Maintain the correct pH of the blood by neutralising the excess carbon dioxide
Increase the bloods capacity to carry oxygen
Decrease the need for oxygen as it takes its place, particularly at higher
altitudes

Which of the following (A, B, C or D) is a correct comparison of arteries and veins?

Arteries

Veins

Thick, elastic walls and narrow

Thin, inelastic walls and large diameter
A
diameter tube to resist the higher blood
tube because of low blood pressure.
pressure.
Thick, elastic walls and narrow
Walls one cell thick to allow for the
B diameter tube to resist the higher blood exchange of materials between blood
pressure.
and surrounding tissues.
Valves and a wide diameter tube to
Walls one cell thick to allow for the
C allow for the flow of blood to the
exchange of materials between blood
heart.
and surrounding tissues.
Thick, elastic walls and narrow
Valves and a wide diameter tube to
D diameter tube to resist the higher blood allow for the flow of blood to the
pressure.
heart.

Biology HSC 2006

\

14

The following passage has some words missing. These words have been replaced with
numbers. Which alternative (A, B, C or D) has all of the missing words correctly
identified?
Enzymes are 1 . Every reaction and process within a cell (2....) is controlled by
a 3. enzyme.

15

lipids

metabolism

non-specific

proteins

metabolism

specific

carbohydrates

respiration

non-specific

proteins

digestion

specific

Which of the following is a correct description of the concentration of gases in blood

leaving the heart to go to the body compared to blood entering the heart from the
body?
A
B
C
D

A higher concentration of oxygen and a lower concentration of carbon dioxide

A higher concentration of carbon dioxide and a lower concentration of oxygen
Equally high concentrations of both carbon dioxide and oxygen
Equally low concentrations of carbon dioxide and oxygen

Biology HSC 2006

Section I (continued)
Part B 60 marks
Attempt Questions 1625
Allow about 1 hour and 45 minutes for this section
Answer the questions in the spaces provided.
Marks
Question 16 (8 marks)
Temperature has a very large effect upon organisms, for example, it may influence
where they live, their daily activity and their metabolism.
(a)

(b)

(c)

Using examples of organisms, identify the broad range of temperatures over

which life is found compared with the narrow limits for individual species.

For a named Australian endothermic organism, outline one response to an

increase in the ambient temperature and explain how this response assists
temperature regulation.

During your course of study you had to perform a first-hand investigation to

test the effect of increased temperature on the activity of a named enzyme.
(i)
Identify your data sources
AND
(ii)
Describe the effect of increasing temperature on the activity of your
named enzyme as the temperature is increased from 10C to 100C.

1
1

Biology HSC 2006

Marks
(d)

Explain the effects you described in part (c) above.

Question 17 (6 marks)
During your course of study you had to analyse information from secondary sources to
prepare a case study to show how an environmental change can lead to changes in a species.
(a)

Outline what your case study was about, name the environmental change
involved and how the species you investigated had changed.

Biology HSC 2006

Marks
(b)

Define the term natural selection. Describe the change in your species brought
about by natural selection.

Question 18 (5 marks)
Present information about the occurrence, symptoms, cause, treatment/management of a
named non-infectious disease.

10

Biology HSC 2006

Marks
Question 19 (13 marks)
(a)

In your studies you would have performed a dissection, used a model or visual
resource to identify the regions involved in the excretion of waste products by
the kidney. The diagram below shows a dissected mammalian kidney.

Label, on the diagram, the two main internal regions of the kidney involved in the
excretion of waste products.

(b)

Outline the role of the kidney in mammals.

(c)

Distinguish between active and passive transport.

11

Biology HSC 2006

Marks
(d)

(e)

Justify the use of hormone replacement therapy in people who cannot

secrete aldosterone.

Outline the role of the hormone ADH.

Question 20 (8 marks)
(a)

Using examples, distinguish between the terms allele and gene.

12

Biology HSC 2006

Marks
(b)

A geneticist crossed pure breeding yellow-flowered pea plants with pure

breeding white-flowered pea plants. The F1 that were grown from this cross
were all yellow.
(i)

(ii)

Using appropriate symbols, give the genotypes and phenotypes for both
of the parents and the F1 from this study.

What would be the phenotypes of the F2 if the F1 were self-fertilized and

in what ratios would they be present? Show your workings.

Please turn over for Question 21

13

Biology HSC 2006

Marks
Question 21 (4 marks)
The diagram below represents the pedigree of a family. It shows the inheritance of a
particular trait being studied by geneticists at a hospital clinic.
Key

Male with the

trait.
Male without the
trait.

II

Female with the

trait.
Female without
the trait.

III
1

(a)

Is the trait dominant or recessive? Explain your answer.

(b)

What is the probability that the parents of children 1 and 2 in generation III will
have another child with the trait? Give your reasoning.

14

Biology HSC 2006

Marks
Question 22 (8 marks)
(a)

Define the term transgenic species.

(b)

Outline in detail the steps needed to produce transgenic species.

(c)

Discuss two ethical issues arising from the development and use of transgenic
species, including an example of a transgenic species and a reason for its use.

15

Biology HSC 2006

Marks
Question 23 (3 marks)
During your study of biology you had to identify data sources, plan and choose
equipment or resources to perform a first-hand investigation to identify microbes in
food or water.
(a)

(b)

Identify two safe work practices you used during this investigation and justify
their use.

Identify how you carefully and safely disposed of a named waste material
produced during the investigation.

Please turn over for Question 24

16

Biology HSC 2006

Marks
Question 24 (3 marks)
Answer the following questions in terms of the infectious disease you have studied.
Name the disease: _____________________________________
(a)

Which of the following groups does the cause of the disease fall into: prions,
viruses, bacteria, protozoans, fungi or macro-parasites?

(b)

What is the host response to this infectious disease?

(c)

How is the disease transmitted?

Question 25 (2 marks)
Outline the way in which vaccinations prevent infection.

End of Section I

17

Biology HSC 2006

Section II
25 marks
Attempt ONE Question from Questions 2630
Allow about 45 minutes for this section
Answer the question in a SEPARATE writing booklet

Pages
Question 26

Communication

19

Question 27

Biotechnology

20

Question 28

Genetics: The Code Broken

21

Question 29

The Human Story

22

Question 30

Biochemistry

2325

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Biology HSC 2006

Marks
Question 26 Communication (25 marks)
(a)

Justify, using examples, the following statement:

Animals that produce vibrations also have organs to detect vibrations.

Draw a schematic diagram of the human ear and label the positions of each of
the following:
pinna, cochlea, oval window, ear ossicles, auditory nerve, tympanic membrane,
round window and the organ of Corti.

(c)

Relate the structure of the tympanic membrane to its function.

(d)

Construct a flowchart showing the pathway from stimulus to response.

(e)

(i)

Define the term accommodation.

(ii)

Identify the conditions under which refraction of light occurs.

(iii)

During your study of this unit of work you had to perform a first-hand
investigation to model the process of accommodation by passing rays of
light through convex lenses of different focal lengths.

(b)

(f)

(g)

Justify the use of convex lenses of different focal lengths for this
investigation.

(i)

What is the difference between a nerve and a neurone?

(ii)

Explain why not all stimuli detected generate an action potential.

(iii)

Graphically represent a typical action potential. There is no need for

units on either axis but they must be labelled.

Define myopia and outline how a technology can be used to correct this
condition.

End of Question 26

19

Biology HSC 2006

Marks
Question 27 Biotechnology (25 marks)
(a)

Define the term biotechnology.

(b)

Explain why the collection of seeds and breeding of animals with desired
characteristics could be described as early biotechnology.

(c)

During your study of this unit of work you had to gather and process
information from secondary sources to investigate an industrial fermentation
process. Use the information that you gathered to answer the following
questions.
(i)

(d)

Name and describe an industrial fermentation process. Include in your

description the micro-organism used in the fermentation process and the
products of the fermentation.

(ii)

Outline the use of the product of the fermentation process.

(iii)

Assess the impact of the use of the fermentation product on society at the
time of its introduction.

Define the following terms: recombinant DNA, polymerase

and DNA vectors.

Construct a flow chart for the sequence of events that result in the
formation of recombinant DNA.

Explain why different groups in society may have different views about the use
of DNA technology.

(i)
(ii)

(e)

(f)

(g)

Cell chemistry has a very important role in biotechnology. One biochemical

pathway is the synthesis of proteins in the cell.
Briefly outline the steps involved in the synthesis of proteins by cells.

Outline the role of transfer RNA.

End of Question 27

20

Biology HSC 2006

Marks
Question 28 Genetics: The Code Broken (25 marks)
(a)

Distinguish between polygenic inheritance and characteristics determined by

multiple alleles. Use one example of each to illustrate your answer.

Amanda has type A blood while her mother has type B blood. What would be
the possible genotypes of Amanda, her father and mother? Give your reasons.

In pea plants, red flowers (R) are dominant to white flowers (r) and green seed
pods (G) are dominant to yellow seed pods (g).
What will be the outcome in terms of phenotypes and their ratios of a cross
between two plants that are heterozygous for red flowers and heterozygous for
green seed pods? No working required.
What is this type of cross called?

Predict the outcome of the cross described in (c) above if the genes for flower colour
and seed pod colour are linked? Explain your answer.

Describe evidence which indicates the presence of ancestral vertebrate gene

homologues in lower animal classes.

(f)

Assess the value of the Human Genome Project.

(g)

The royal families of Europe have been plagued by the disease haemophilia.
This is a sex-linked recessive disease that reduces the ability of the persons
blood to clot. When studies of the family tree of royals were done the disease
was traced back to Queen Victoria of England. It is thought that there may have
been a mutation in an X chromosome that she inherited.

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(i)

Is this a germ line or somatic mutation? Explain.

(ii)

Distinguish between germ line and somatic mutations in terms of their

effect on species and explain why their effects are different.

End of Question 28

21

Biology HSC 2006

Marks
Question 29 The Human Story (25 marks)
(a)

A scientist has found the partial skeletal remains of what appears to be an

ancestor of Homo sapiens. State one feature that would that would her to classify
the species as each of the following:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)

(b)

a primate
a hominid and
a member of the genus Homo.

A study of a woolly mammoth that died in Siberia several millennia ago has
yielded the complete DNA sequence of the creature's mitochondria, the energy
factories of the animals cells. Comparison with the mitochondrial genomes of
living elephants indicates that the mammoth is slightly more closely related to
the Asian elephant than to the African elephant.
From Mammoth Finding by Sid Perkins, Science News, 3 January 2006
(i)
(ii)

(iii)

Discuss how DNADNA hybridisation can be used to determine

relationships between organisms.

Previously scientists thought that mammoths were more closely related

to the African elephant than to the Asian elephant. This conclusion was
based on a comparison of fossils with modern elephants. Outline three
difficulties with this.

Explain how mitochondrial genomes can be used as a molecular clock

to trace evolutionary history.

(c)

Analyse the purpose and implications of the Human Genome Project.

(d)

There has been much debate and many theories put forward about the origin of the
different groups or types of people that inhabit the earth.

(e)

(i)

Outline the mechanisms that have led to this human diversity.

(ii)

Describe one example of polymorphism in humans that would have

evolutionary significance and analyse the evolutionary significance of
the phenotypes displayed.

Outline the Out of Africa model and provide one piece of evidence in support
of this theory.
End of Question 29
22

Biology HSC 2006

Marks
Question 30 Biochemistry (25 marks)
(a)

From December 1st through to 11th, 1997, more than 160 nations met in Kyoto,
Japan, to negotiate binding limitations on greenhouse gases for the developed
nations, pursuant to the objectives of the Framework Convention on Climate
Change of 1992. The outcome of the meeting was the Kyoto Protocol, in which
the developed nations agreed to limit their greenhouse gas emissions, relative to
the levels emitted in 1990. The United States agreed to reduce emissions from
1990 levels by 7 per cent during the period 2008 to 2012.
Source: The Energy Information Administration (www.eia.doe.gov)

(b)

In the light of what we now know about the greenhouse effect and greenhouse
emissions, justify studying photosynthesis and the importance of reducing
carbon dioxide levels.

In the 18th century, Ingen-Housz demonstrated the importance of sunlight for

oxygen production by plants. Outline the progress that occurred in the
understanding of plant growth as a result of this experiment.

Question 30 continues on the next page

23

Biology HSC 2006

Marks
(c)

The diagram below shows the radioactive decay of an isotope over time.
HALF LIFE OF ISOTOPE X

Mass of Radioactive Isotope (g)

80-

40-

00

10

11 12

13

Time (hours)

(d)

(i)

Discuss the suitability of isotope X for use in plant growth experiments.

(ii)

Explain how a named isotope can be used as a radioactive tracer.

Describe how this isotope can be incorporated into plants to follow a
biochemical pathway, such as photosynthesis.

(i)

Draw and label the structure of a chloroplast.

(ii)

Identify and explain the location of the sites of light absorption and the
site of the Calvin cycle.

24

Biology HSC 2006

Marks
(e)

The diagram below shows a biologically important molecule.

(i)

Name the molecule illustrated above.

(ii)

Use a pen/pencil to draw the biologically important part of this molecule.

(iii)

Outline the discovery of the synthesis of this substance in the mid-20th

century in terms of the discovery of photophosphorylation in chloroplasts
of plants and that its synthesis involves an electron transfer reaction
occurring across a membrane.

End of paper

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Biology HSC 2006

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Biology HSC 2006

Section I Multiple Choice

Answer sheet
Place an in the response box for the alternative A, B, C or D that best answers the
question.
A

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15

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Biology HSC 2006

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