AS & A Level Biology (9700) — May–June 2023, Paper 12

40 questions · every question answerable online with instant point-by-point AI marking against the official mark scheme.

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Question 1 · 1 mark · 1 Cell structure

A graticule and a micrometer scale can be used to measure the size of biological structures that are viewed with a microscope. A diagram of a microscope is shown with three…

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Question 2 · 1 mark · 1 Cell structure

Six organelles found in eukaryotic cells are shown (not to scale), labelled 1 to 6: 1 a nucleus, 2 a mitochondrion, 3 a ribosome/rough ER fragment, 4 smooth endoplasmic reticulum,…

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Question 3 · 1 mark · 1 Cell structure

Which cell structures can have mRNA inside them? 1 chloroplast; 2 mitochondrion; 3 nucleus; 4 rough endoplasmic reticulum. A 1, 2, 3 and 4 B 1, 2 and 3 only C 2, 3 and 4 only D 3…

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Question 4 · 1 mark · 1 Cell structure

A scientist carried out an experiment to separate the organelles in an animal cell by mass. The cells were mixed with a buffer solution which had the same water potential as the…

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Question 5 · 1 mark · 1 Cell structure

Which structures are found in palisade mesophyll cells and photosynthetic prokaryotes? 1 cell surface membrane; 2 cellulose wall; 3 ribosomes; 4 chloroplasts. A 1, 2, 3 and 4 B 1,…

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Question 6 · 1 mark · 2 Biological molecules

Which polymers are present in all viruses and all prokaryotes? 1 polynucleotides; 2 polypeptides; 3 polysaccharides. A 1, 2 and 3 B 1 and 2 only C 1 and 3 only D 2 and 3 only

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Question 7 · 1 mark · 2 Biological molecules

Which set of steps is the best method for conducting the emulsion test for lipids? A Add 2 cm3 of water to the sample. Pour the water into a test-tube containing 2 cm3 of ethanol.…

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Question 8 · 1 mark · 2 Biological molecules

A student was provided with a solution of carbohydrate. They removed two samples and performed tests on each. Sample one was tested directly with Benedict's test, and the…

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Question 9 · 1 mark · 2 Biological molecules

The Venn diagram shows three overlapping circles for sucrose, collagen and haemoglobin. Region C is the overlap of sucrose and collagen; region A is the overlap of sucrose and…

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Question 10 · 1 mark · 2 Biological molecules

What describes cellulose? A a branched chain of 1-4 alpha-glucose B a branched chain of 1-4 beta-glucose C an unreactive linear chain of 1-4 alpha-glucose D an unreactive linear…

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Question 11 · 1 mark · 2 Biological molecules

Which part of the structure of haemoglobin carries oxygen? A four polypeptide chains B haem groups C hydrogen bonds D hydrophilic R groups

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Question 12 · 1 mark · 2 Biological molecules

What is the maximum number of hydrogen bonds that can form between two single water molecules? A 1 B 2 C 3 D 4

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Question 13 · 1 mark · 3 Enzymes

CYP3A4 is an important enzyme in the human digestive system where it is needed to break down a range of different toxins. The activity of CYP3A4 has been shown to be reduced by…

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Question 14 · 1 mark · 3 Enzymes

A fixed volume and concentration of substrate and enzyme were mixed. All other variables were kept constant. The enzyme-catalysed reaction was left until it was complete. Four…

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Question 15 · 1 mark · 4 Cell membranes and transport

Which molecules in cell surface membranes are typically involved in cell recognition? The options are given as a table with a tick for 'involved' and a cross for 'not involved'…

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Question 16 · 1 mark · 4 Cell membranes and transport

What can increase the fluidity of the cell surface membrane? 1 single bonds between carbon atoms in the fatty acid chains; 2 cholesterol; 3 longer-chained fatty acids. A 1, 2 and…

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Question 17 · 1 mark · 4 Cell membranes and transport

The three main factors that affect the rate of diffusion across a membrane can be expressed by the relationship: rate of diffusion is proportional to (surface area x concentration…

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Question 18 · 1 mark · 4 Cell membranes and transport

A student measured the time taken for complete diffusion of a dye into agar blocks of different sizes which were suspended in the dye. The results are shown. size of agar block…

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Question 19 · 1 mark · 4 Cell membranes and transport

An experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of concentration of sucrose solution on cells in a plant tissue. A sample of plant tissue was cut into seven cylinders of…

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Question 20 · 1 mark · 5 The mitotic cell cycle

The diagram shows part of the organisation of a section of a DNA molecule and the associated histones, P and R, in prophase of mitosis, with the DNA labelled Q. Which statement…

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Question 21 · 1 mark · 5 The mitotic cell cycle

How many copies of each DNA molecule will be found in a cell at the start of the stages of the mitotic cell cycle shown? The options are given as a table for G1 of interphase and…

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Question 22 · 1 mark · 6 Nucleic acids and protein synthesis

One characteristic of DNA is that it is a universal genetic code. What is meant by a universal genetic code? A All living organisms use the same triplet code for amino acids. B…

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Question 23 · 1 mark · 6 Nucleic acids and protein synthesis

Which statement about mRNA is correct? A It is a polymer made of nucleotides all joined with hydrogen bonds. B Each nucleotide subunit contains the sugar ribose. C It always has…

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Question 24 · 1 mark · 6 Nucleic acids and protein synthesis

The diagram shows part of the process of translation, with structures labelled X, Y and Z. X is the loop of a tRNA molecule that pairs with the mRNA, Y is a part of the mRNA…

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Question 25 · 1 mark · 6 Nucleic acids and protein synthesis

The DNA triplets of genes are translated as amino acids or stop signals during protein synthesis. The table shows some of these triplets. DNA triplet name of amino acid --- ---…

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Question 26 · 1 mark · 7 Transport in plants

Which row identifies cells with plasmodesmata? The options are given as a table with a tick for 'plasmodesmata present' and a cross for 'not present' across phloem sieve tube…

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Question 27 · 1 mark · 7 Transport in plants

Which statements about the apoplast and symplast pathways are correct? 1 In the apoplast pathway, water molecules move through free spaces in the cellulose cell walls of plant…

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Question 28 · 1 mark · 7 Transport in plants

Where does water evaporate from during transpiration? A intercellular spaces B leaf surface C mesophyll cell walls D stomatal pores

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Question 29 · 1 mark · 7 Transport in plants

The diagram shows the outline of three xerophytic leaves of the same type in three different conditions, P, R and S. In condition P the leaf is flat and open, layer Y labelled; in…

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Question 30 · 1 mark · 7 Transport in plants

The photomicrograph shows a transverse section of the leaf of a species of grass that is specially adapted to grow in a dry habitat, with rolled leaves and hair-like structures.…

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Question 31 · 1 mark · 7 Transport in plants

Which statement supports the theory of active loading of sucrose into companion cells? A The pH decreases in the cell wall of the companion cells compared with the cytoplasm. B…

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Question 32 · 1 mark · 8 Transport in mammals

Which properties of water are essential for its role in the transport of blood in mammals? The options are given as a table with a tick for 'essential' and a cross for 'not…

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Question 33 · 1 mark · 8 Transport in mammals

The diagram shows some of the events that happen between the plasma and the red blood cells in the circulatory system. A substance 1 moves from the plasma into the red blood cell…

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Question 34 · 1 mark · 8 Transport in mammals

The diagrams show the valves in the heart when viewed in cross-section from above at different stages in the cardiac cycle. Diagram 1 shows the semilunar valves open and the…

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Question 35 · 1 mark · 9 Gas exchange

Where are squamous epithelial cells found in the human gas exchange system? The options are given as a table with a tick for 'found' and a cross for 'not found' across trachea,…

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Question 36 · 1 mark · 9 Gas exchange

Which statement about gas exchange between air in the alveoli and blood in the pulmonary capillaries is correct? A The oxygen concentration in the capillaries leaving the…

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Question 37 · 1 mark · 9 Gas exchange

The average thicknesses for some structures in the human respiratory system are shown. structure average thickness of structure /nm --- --- human cell membrane 5 cytoplasm of…

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Question 38 · 1 mark · 10 Infectious disease

The statements refer to the disease tuberculosis (TB). 1 The pathogen is not accessible to the immune system. 2 The bacterial pathogen reproduces slowly. 3 The pathogen is not…

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Question 39 · 1 mark · 10 Infectious disease

The average sizes of some pathogens are shown. pathogen average size /nm --- --- HIV particle 100 Mycobacterium tuberculosis 3000 Plasmodium 20000 Vibrio cholerae 1500 One type of…

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Question 40 · 1 mark · 11 Immunity

A successful vaccination programme provides a level of immunity where the majority of a population is protected. There are several factors that can affect the success of a…

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