Cambridge International Examinations

Cambridge Ordinary Level

BIOLOGY 5090/12
Paper 1 Multiple Choice May/June 2015
1 hour
Additional Materials: Multiple Choice Answer Sheet
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Write in soft pencil.

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Write your name, Centre number and candidate number on the Answer Sheet in the spaces provided
unless this has been done for you.
DO NOT WRITE IN ANY BARCODES.

There are forty questions on this paper. Answer all questions. For each question there are four possible
answers A, B, C and D.
Choose the one you consider correct and record your choice in soft pencil on the separate Answer Sheet.

Read the instructions on the Answer Sheet very carefully.

Each correct answer will score one mark. A mark will not be deducted for a wrong answer.
Any rough working should be done in this booklet.
Electronic calculators may be used.

This document consists of 19 printed pages and 1 blank page.

IB15 06_5090_12/5RP
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1 The diagram shows a plant cell.

Which structure identifies this as a plant cell rather than an animal cell?

A cell membrane
B cell wall
C cytoplasm
D nucleus

2 Which processes are responsible for the uptake of ions from the soil by a plant and the uptake of
glucose into the villi of a human?

uptake of ions uptake of glucose

by a plant into the villi

A active transport active transport

B active transport osmosis
C diffusion osmosis
D osmosis active transport

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3 The diagram shows three plant cells labelled P, Q and R. The arrows show the direction of water
movement by osmosis.

Q
P

What is the correct order of water potential in the cells, from the highest to the lowest?

highest middle lowest

A P Q R
B P R Q
C Q P R
D R P Q

4 A dish is filled with agar jelly containing starch. Four holes are cut in the jelly and each hole is
filled as shown.

After 30 minutes, which hole will be surrounded by the largest area without starch?

amylase solution

gastric protease amylase solution and

solution and D B hydrochloric acid
hydrochloric acid

C
agar jelly

gastric protease solution

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5 The diagram shows a plant cell.

Compared with the rest of the cell, which row describes the concentrations of oxygen and
magnesium inside structure P during the daytime?

oxygen magnesium

A high high
B high low
C low high
D low low

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6 A plant has leaves that are green in the centre but white around the edges.

The plant is destarched and then has one of its leaves partly covered with black paper on both
sides of the leaf, as shown.

black paper

white area of leaf

green area of leaf

The plant is placed in bright light for 48 hours. The leaf is then tested for starch.

Which diagram shows the colours that are obtained?

A B
brown brown

black black

C D
black black

brown brown

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7 The diagram shows cells in a section through a leaf of a typical green plant.
(No cell contents are shown.)

3
4

Which cells usually contain chloroplasts?

A 1 and 2 B 1 and 4 C 2 and 3 D 2 and 4

8 What is an example of assimilation?

A absorption of glycerol into lacteals

B breakdown of alcohol in the liver
C building of proteins from amino acids
D release of a hormone from a gland

9 What are the basic units from which glycogen is synthesised?

A amino acids
B fatty acids
C glucose
D glycerol

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10 A food is known to contain protein, but no reducing sugar.

When this food is tested with biuret solution and Benedict’s solution which colours would a
student observe?

biuret test Benedict’s test

A blue blue
B blue brick red
C lilac / violet blue
D lilac / violet brick red

11 The diagrams show transverse sections of a plant stem and of a plant root.

stem root

1
3

Which regions contain xylem vessels?

A 1 and 3 B 1 and 4 C 2 and 3 D 2 and 4

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12 In an experiment to investigate transpiration, the leaves of four identical shoots are treated as
follows.

1 upper surfaces covered with waterproof jelly

2 lower surfaces covered with waterproof jelly
3 upper and lower surfaces covered with waterproof jelly
4 untreated

The graph shows the water lost by the four shoots.

Which line shows the result for shoot 4?

A
B

amount of
water lost
C

time

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13 The diagram represents the heart and some major blood vessels.

head

lungs
R S

rest of body

What are possible blood pressures (in kPa) for the vessels shown on the diagram?

P Q R S

A 1 4 2 16
B 4 16 2 1
C 16 2 4 1
D 16 4 1 2

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14 The diagram shows changes in pressure in the aorta and the left ventricle during one complete
heart beat.

20
Y
pressure
X in aorta
pressure
/ kPa 10

pressure in
left ventricle

0
0 0.8
time / s

What causes the increase in pressure between points X and Y?

A contraction of the left atrium

B contraction of the left ventricle
C relaxation of the left atrium
D relaxation of the left ventricle

15 The diagram shows the liver and its blood supply.

liver
W

alimentary
X
canal

What is the name of blood vessel X, and which substance increases in concentration between
vessel W and vessel X?

name of X substance

A hepatic artery carbon dioxide

B hepatic portal vein carbon dioxide
C hepatic artery oxygen
D hepatic portal vein oxygen

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16 Which word equation shows anaerobic respiration in yeast?

A glucose → ethanol

B glucose → ethanol + carbon dioxide

C glucose → lactic acid

D glucose → lactic acid + carbon dioxide

17 The table shows the effect of exercise on the rate and depth of breathing.

breathing rate / volume of each

breaths per minute breath / cm3

at rest 12 500
after exercise 24 1000

What is the increase in the volume of air exchanged per minute after exercise, compared to at
rest?

A 1000 cm3 B 6000 cm3 C 18 000 cm3 D 24 000 cm3

18 The diagram shows a section of an alveolus and a capillary in a lung.

air flow

blood flow

blood flow

What are the relative concentrations of carbon dioxide at X, Y and Z?

X Y Z

A high high high

B high low low
C low high high
D low high low

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19 The diagram represents a kidney machine.

dialysis fluid in
blood

pump

partially permeable
dialysis fluid out membrane

Which two substances are both present in the dialysis fluid entering the machine?

A glucose and protein

B glucose and salts
C protein and urea
D urea and salts

20 The diagram shows some of the structures in human skin.

Z
Y

Which labels describe the structures Y and Z in hot conditions?

Y Z

A active constricted
B active dilated
C inactive constricted
D inactive dilated

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21 What are characteristics of all neurones?

carry information stimulate transmit

within the brain muscles or glands electrical impulses

A   
B   
C   
D   

22 An antelope is grazing under a tree. It hears men shouting in the distance.

Which changes take place in the antelope’s eyes as it raises its head to look at the men?

suspensory
ciliary bodies lenses
ligaments

A contract become taut become more convex

B contract become slack become less convex
C relax become taut become less convex
D relax become slack become more convex

23 A patient complains to the doctor of unexplained weight loss, severe thirst and frequent need of
urination.

A test shows high levels of glucose in the urine.

Which condition does the doctor diagnose?

A cardiovascular disease
B diabetes
C kidney failure
D obesity

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24 The diagram shows part of the elbow joint.

X Y

Why are the muscles labelled X and Y described as antagonistic?

A They both affect the same bone.

B They have the same bending effect on two different bones.
C They have opposite effects on the same joint.
D They have opposite effects on different joints.

25 The diagrams show the structure of the alveoli in the lungs of a normal person and in a smoker
with emphysema.

normal emphysema

What is the effect of emphysema?

A increased chance of lung cancer

B inflammation of the walls of the airways
C less difficulty in breathing in and out
D less efficient gaseous exchange

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26 A student examined four different microorganisms. She noted whether the microorganisms had a
nucleus, chloroplasts and cytoplasm. She constructed the table below to identify the
microorganisms.

microorganism

has a nucleus does not have a nucleus

has chloroplasts has no chloroplasts has cytoplasm has no cytoplasm

organism P organism Q organism R organism S

What are organisms Q, R and S?

Q R S

A bacterium virus fungus

B bacterium virus plant
C fungus bacterium virus
D fungus bacterium plant

27 The diagram shows some of the stages in cheese production.

At which stage in the production of cheese are bacteria added?

milk
A

coagulation
B

curd separated
from whey

dehydration
D

storage

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28 Some types of bacteria make carbohydrates from carbon dioxide and water using the energy
from sunlight.

Which of the following describes these bacteria?

A carnivores
B decomposers
C herbivores
D producers

29 The diagram shows a food web.

fox

mouse

leaves eagle

caterpillar

hummingbird small birds

nectar

butterfly

Which statement about this food web is correct?

A Eagles obtain their energy from foxes.

B If the hummingbirds all die the caterpillars will have more food.

C Part of this food web is the food chain: nectar → caterpillar → small birds
D The small birds are carnivores.

30 How do nitrogen-fixing bacteria improve soil fertility?

A They convert nitrates to nitrites.

B They convert nitrites to nitrates.
C They release nitrogen gas from nitrates.
D They use nitrogen gas to make nitrogen-containing compounds.

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31 The malarial parasite can be transferred from mosquitoes to humans when

A humans swim in lakes containing mosquito larvae.

B female adult mosquitoes feed.
C mosquito larvae contaminate drinking water.
D mosquitoes lay eggs near places where humans live.

32 Which row shows a cause and an effect of eutrophication?

cause effect

A the overuse of insecticides an algal bloom in ponds and streams

B the release of fertilisers acidification of the atmosphere
C the release of oxides of nitrogen warming of the atmosphere
D the release of sewage anaerobic conditions in ponds and streams

33 A male gamete leaves the pollen tube immediately after the pollen tube has entered which
structure?

A ovary
B ovule
C stigma
D style

34 What is always essential for seeds to begin germinating?

A carbon dioxide
B light
C mineral salts
D oxygen

35 Which diseases can be cured with antibiotics?

lung cancer HIV infection syphilis

A    key
B    = can be cured with antibiotics
C    = cannot be cured with antibiotics
D   

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36 The diagram shows some cells in the life cycle of an animal.

Y
2n 2n
X
2n
Z key
2n n = haploid
n n
2n = diploid

n n n n

Which processes are occurring at X, Y and Z?

X Y Z

A maturation meiosis mitosis

B meiosis maturation mitosis
C mitosis maturation meiosis
D mitosis meiosis maturation

37 Which of these may be heterozygous?

A a haploid cell
B an allele of a gene
C an organism with a dominant phenotype
D an organism with a recessive genotype

38 Over time, a species of bird develops a more pointed beak. The more pointed shape of the beak
helps the birds to catch small insects that may be hiding in cracks in the rocks.

What is a reason for the change in the shape of the birds’ beaks?

A Birds develop more pointed beaks as they search for insects in cracks in the rocks.
B Individuals with less pointed beaks are better fitted to their environment and more likely to
survive.
C Individuals with more pointed beaks are better able to compete for food.
D When reproducing, birds are more likely to seek out mates with less pointed beaks because
these are better adapted.

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39 A person with Down’s syndrome is born with 47 chromosomes in each cell, instead of 46.

What could cause this?

A A mutation happened during the production of the egg cell.

B More than one sperm fused with the egg at fertilisation.
C Radiation caused a change in structure of a gene in the father’s sperm.
D The mother was exposed to harmful chemicals while she was pregnant.

40 Bacteria can be genetically engineered to produce human insulin.

Before this method was developed, the only insulin available was that from cattle or pigs. It was
obtained from extracts of animal pancreas.

Which statements about the two methods are correct?

W Large numbers of bacteria can be cultured in a small space.

X Bacteria reproduce very quickly and make insulin quickly.

Y People sometimes develop diseases from insulin taken from cows or pigs.

Z The insulin produced in bacteria is not the same as that produced in the human
pancreas.

A W, X and Y B W, X and Z C W, Y and Z D X, Y and Z

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