IGCSE Biology (0610) — May–June 2023, Paper 23

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 · Characteristics and classification of living organisms

What are two characteristics of all living organisms? A breathing and reproduction B photosynthesis and excretion C reproduction and respiration D respiration and photosynthesis

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Question 2 · 1 mark · Characteristics and classification of living organisms

The photograph shows an organism (a bird). Which visible feature can be used to classify this organism as a bird? A feathers B lays eggs C two legs D wings

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Question 3 · 1 mark · Cells

Which statement about cell structure is correct? A An animal cell has a cell wall. B A bacterium has a cell wall. C An animal cell has chloroplasts. D A bacterium has chloroplasts.

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Question 4 · 1 mark · Cells

The diameter of an egg cell from a frog is 2.5 mm. The diameter of an egg cell from a human is 120 µm. Which value shows approximately how many times larger an egg cell from a…

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Question 5 · 1 mark · Movement into and out of cells

When a plant cell is put into pure water it ...1... water by osmosis and becomes ...2... . Which words should be used to fill gaps 1 and 2 to complete the sentence? Columns: 1; 2.…

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Question 6 · 1 mark · Movement into and out of cells

The graph shows the results of an investigation into the effect of oxygen on the uptake of glucose by cells, comparing 'with oxygen' and 'no oxygen' over time. Glucose uptake is…

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Question 7 · 1 mark · Biological molecules

The table shows the results of food tests carried out on a fruit. Columns: Benedict's solution = positive; biuret = positive; ethanol emulsion = negative; iodine solution =…

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Question 8 · 1 mark · Inheritance

What describes the structure of DNA? A Each strand contains chemicals called fatty acids. B Each strand contains a sequence of amino acids. C Each strand contains mRNA. D Two…

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Question 9 · 1 mark · Enzymes

The statements are about enzymes. 1 Enzymes are catalysts. 2 Enzymes are proteins. 3 Enzymes are used up during chemical reactions. Which statements are correct? A 1, 2 and 3 B 1…

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Question 10 · 1 mark · Enzymes

When the temperature increases, the rate of an enzyme-catalysed reaction increases until the optimum temperature is reached. Which statement explains why the rate increases? A The…

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Question 11 · 1 mark · Plant nutrition

A plant with variegated leaves was placed in a dark cupboard for 48 hours so that all the starch was removed from the leaves. The variegated leaves have green parts and white…

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Question 12 · 1 mark · Plant nutrition

The graph shows the rate of photosynthesis with increasing light intensity, with points 1, 2, 3 and 4 marked along the curve. The rate rises steeply at low light then levels off.…

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Question 13 · 1 mark · Human nutrition

In humans, which two components of the diet can be broken down to release energy? A carbohydrate and fat B carbohydrate and mineral ions C protein and water D vitamins and protein

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Question 14 · 1 mark · Human nutrition

Which is a part of the small intestine? A colon B ileum C oesophagus D rectum

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Question 15 · 1 mark · Transport in plants

Which combination of environmental factors will cause the largest increase in the transpiration rate in a plant? Columns: wind speed; humidity; temperature; light intensity. A…

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Question 16 · 1 mark · Transport in plants

The diagrams represent the movement of substances between plant cells through the phloem; the arrows indicate the direction the substance is moving in, between a source and a…

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Question 17 · 1 mark · Transport in animals

The diagram shows a section of the human heart with four parts labelled A, B, C and D. Which label identifies the right ventricle? A B C D

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Question 18 · 1 mark · Transport in animals

The diagrams show sections through three types of blood vessel (1, 2 and 3); they are not drawn to the same scale. In which order will red blood cells flow through these vessels…

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Question 19 · 1 mark · Diseases and immunity

When a person is given a vaccine, a harmless pathogen is injected. The pathogen has ...1... which cause lymphocytes to produce ...2... . This is an example of ...3... immunity.…

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Question 20 · 1 mark · Gas exchange in humans

What happens when a person breathes in? A The external intercostal muscles and the internal intercostal muscles contract. B The external intercostal muscles and the internal…

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Question 21 · 1 mark · Enzymes

Which graph shows the effect of temperature on enzyme activity? Each option A–D plots enzyme activity against temperature. The correct graph (C) rises to a peak at the optimum…

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Question 22 · 1 mark · Respiration

After running a fast race, some students have pains in their leg muscles due to a build up of lactic acid. A student wrote this explanation. 1 During the race, the cells did not…

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Question 23 · 1 mark · Excretion in humans

What is the name of the process that produces urea and the organ where urea is formed? Columns: process producing urea; organ where urea is formed. A deamination; kidney B…

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Question 24 · 1 mark · Coordination and response

The diagram shows the gap between two neurones, with a structure X in the gap. What is the name of X? A neurotransmitter B receptor C synapse D vesicle

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Question 25 · 1 mark · Coordination and response

Which statements are correct for cone cells in the eye? 1 Cone cells are located in the fovea of the retina. 2 Cone cells detect colour. 3 Cone cells are more sensitive to light…

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Question 26 · 1 mark · Coordination and response

The diagram shows the structure of the human skin with four structures labelled A, B, C and D. Which structure constricts to reduce heat loss? A B C D

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Question 27 · 1 mark · Reproduction

Where are the hormones oestrogen and progesterone produced during pregnancy? A amniotic sac B oviducts C placenta D umbilical cord

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Question 28 · 1 mark · Reproduction

The umbilical artery takes blood from the fetus to the placenta. The umbilical vein carries blood from the placenta to the fetus. How do the contents of the umbilical artery…

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Question 29 · 1 mark · Variation and selection

Which row shows some of the features involved in natural selection? Columns: many offspring are produced; humans choose desirable features; alleles are passed onto offspring (key:…

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Question 30 · 1 mark · Inheritance

Which substance is coded for by a length of DNA? A base B glucose C glycerol D lipase

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Question 31 · 1 mark · Inheritance

The diagram shows the sex chromosomes of a woman (genotype XᴬXᵃ) and of a man (genotype XᵃY) for a recessive sex-linked condition (key: A is dominant, a is recessive). What are…

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Question 32 · 1 mark · Inheritance

Which Punnett square shows a test cross that identifies a heterozygous parent? Each option A–D is a 2×2 Punnett square crossing a parent with gametes T/t or T/T against a…

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Question 33 · 1 mark · Variation and selection

What is a definition of variation? A having two identical alleles of a particular gene B individuals of the same species in one area C differences between individuals of the same…

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Question 34 · 1 mark · Organisms and their environment

What is a feature of some xerophytes? A large air spaces in the tissues B leaves rolled up and covered with hairs C leaves with stomata on the upper surface D thin cuticle

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Question 35 · 1 mark · Organisms and their environment

Where does the energy being transferred along a food chain originally come from? A producer B photosynthesis C carbon dioxide D the Sun

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Question 36 · 1 mark · Organisms and their environment

Which diagram shows a pyramid of biomass for a forest? Each option A–D is a different pyramid shape. The correct one (A) has a broad base (the producer/tree biomass) narrowing at…

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Question 37 · 1 mark · Biotechnology and genetic modification

Which substance is an enzyme used in fruit juice production? A lactase B maltose C pectinase D pepsin

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Question 38 · 1 mark · Human influences on ecosystems

The diagram shows some of the effects of human activity on a river: aquatic plants grow quickly, bacteria use up dissolved oxygen, and fish die from lack of oxygen. What could…

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Question 39 · 1 mark · Biotechnology and genetic modification

Genetic modification has been used to produce human insulin in bacterial cells. What is inserted into the bacterial cells to produce human insulin? A a human nucleus B human…

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Question 40 · 1 mark · Biotechnology and genetic modification

Penicillin is made in a fermenter by growing organisms. Which type of organism is used in the production of penicillin? A bacterium B fungus C protoctist D virus

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