Transport in plants — IGCSE Biology (0970) questions by topic

Water's journey through a plant structures this topic: tracing the pathway from root hair to stomata, judging which conditions produce the lowest transpiration rate, circling substances carried in the phloem, and identifying where most water evaporates from a leaf.

Choose, state, identify, describe and explain span 1 to 12 marks across 38 real questions from 2023 to 2025 papers. Multiple-choice questions here often hinge on one reversed step in a sequence or one wrong tissue, so submitting each attempt for instant marking pinpoints exactly which stage of the transpiration or transport pathway needs revisiting.

May–June 2025, Paper 11

Question 18 · 1 mark

The roots of a plant are cut off and the stem is placed in a beaker containing a liquid red stain. After a few hours, in which part of the plant stem will the red stain be…

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May–June 2025, Paper 12

Question 16 · 1 mark

The diagram shows the movement of water molecules from a plant leaf to its environment. Part of a leaf cross-section is shown with mesophyll cells and a stoma in the lower…

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May–June 2025, Paper 21

Question 13 · 1 mark

Which graph shows the effect of humidity in the air on the rate of transpiration in a plant? Four graphs plot rate of transpiration (y-axis) against percentage humidity (x-axis,…

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Question 14 · 1 mark

In some countries, spring is the time of year when daffodil plants have green leaves and produce flowers. Which parts of the daffodil plants act as sources and sinks in spring?…

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May–June 2025, Paper 22

Question 14 · 1 mark

Which row shows the features of xylem vessels? vessel walls mitochondria present --- --- --- A thick yes B thick no C thin yes D thin no

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Question 15 · 1 mark

A student wanted to investigate the effect of humidity on transpiration. She set up two sets of apparatus with identical-sized plants of the same species. Tube X holds a leafy…

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May–June 2024, Paper 11

Question 14 · 1 mark

The diagram shows a cross-section of a leaf with cells labelled A, B, C and D. Which type of cell controls the entry of carbon dioxide into the leaf? A B C D

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Question 20 · 1 mark

What is present in a vascular bundle? A anthers B guard cells C palisade cells D xylem vessels

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Question 21 · 1 mark

What is the pathway taken by water from the soil to the leaf? A root hair cells → root cortex → mesophyll → xylem B root hair cells → root cortex → xylem → mesophyll C root cortex…

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May–June 2024, Paper 12

Question 13 · 1 mark

The diagram shows a cross-section of part of a leaf with cells labelled A, B, C and D. Which cell controls the rate of gas exchange? A B C D

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Question 20 · 1 mark

Which statement describes transpiration? A Water is pulled upwards by active transport. B Water is pulled up from the roots by phloem. C Water moves by osmosis inside the xylem…

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May–June 2024, Paper 21

Question 17 · 1 mark

When is the transpiration rate of a well-watered plant highest? A on a cool, dry, windy day B on a cool, wet, windy day C on a hot, dry, windy day D on a hot, wet, windy day

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Question 18 · 1 mark

Which statement is correct for a flowering plant during photosynthesis? A The flowers, fruits, leaves and roots are all sources of sucrose. B The fruits are a source of sucrose…

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May–June 2024, Paper 22

Question 15 · 1 mark

Which feature of xylem vessels provides support to plants? A cells are joined end to end B no cell contents C no cross-walls D lignin present

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Question 16 · 1 mark

Which change in an environmental factor will increase the rate of transpiration? A decreasing humidity B decreasing light intensity C decreasing temperature D decreasing wind speed

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Question 17 · 1 mark

Which statement describes translocation? A the movement of amino acids and sucrose from the source to the sink in phloem B the movement of amino acids and sucrose from the source…

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May–June 2024, Paper 32

Question 3 · 8 marks

Fig. 3.1 is a photomicrograph of a section through the stem of a plant. Use a label line and label to identify and name a structure that transports sucrose in Fig. 3.1.

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May–June 2024, Paper 41

Question 5 · 8 marks

Fig. 5.1 is a graph showing the effect of temperature on the rate of transpiration from the upper and lower surfaces of a leaf provided with a constant supply of water (with…

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October–November 2024, Paper 12

Question 21 · 1 mark

The diagram shows a cross-section of a stem with two structures labelled R and S. Which statement correctly describes the location and function of phloem?

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Question 22 · 1 mark

Some environmental factors are listed. 1 carbon dioxide concentration 2 temperature 3 oxygen concentration 4 wind speed Which factors directly affect the rate of transpiration?

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October–November 2024, Paper 22

Question 16 · 1 mark

Which conditions lead to the lowest rate of transpiration in a plant?

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Question 17 · 1 mark

The table shows the transport tissues of plants and some substances that may or may not travel through these tissues. Which row is correct for translocation? plant tissue…

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October–November 2024, Paper 32

Question 5 · 12 marks

A student investigated the effect of windspeed on the rate of transpiration. The student placed a fan at different distances from a plant shoot and measured the distance the air…

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May–June 2023, Paper 11

Question 17 · 1 mark

Which row shows the functions of xylem and phloem? Columns: transports amino acids; transports mineral ions; transports sucrose. A phloem; xylem; phloem B xylem; xylem; phloem C…

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Question 18 · 1 mark

What is the effect on a plant of not having any root hairs? A The plant absorbs less water from the soil. B The plant absorbs more water from the soil. C The plant loses water to…

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May–June 2023, Paper 12

Question 17 · 1 mark

Which pathway is taken by water through a plant? A root hair → root cortex → xylem → mesophyll → stomata B root hair → xylem → mesophyll → root cortex → stomata C stomata → root…

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Question 18 · 1 mark

Which row shows the transpiration rate for the conditions described? Columns: wind speed; atmospheric temperature; transpiration rate. A low; low; fast B high; high; slow C low;…

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May–June 2023, Paper 21

Question 15 · 1 mark

Which statement describes the effect of atmospheric humidity on the rate of transpiration? A In high humidity, the transpiration rate is high because there is slow diffusion of…

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Question 16 · 1 mark

Sucrose and amino acids move around a plant from sources to sinks. Which row shows the sources and sinks? Columns: root cortex cells; xylem vessels; palisade mesophyll cells. A…

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May–June 2023, Paper 22

Question 15 · 1 mark

Humidity and wind speed are two factors that affect the rate of transpiration. How do these two factors affect the concentration gradient of water molecules between the inside of…

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Question 16 · 1 mark

During an investigation into the movement of substances in a plant, a ring of tissue containing the outer part of the transport tissue (epidermis and outer part of transport…

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May–June 2023, Paper 31

Question 4 · 10 marks

Fig. 4.1 is a diagram of a cross-section of a root, with the part labelled X (phloem). Circle two substances transported by the part labelled X in Fig. 4.1. amino acids cellulose…

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October–November 2023, Paper 12

Question 16 · 1 mark

From which part of a leaf does most water evaporate during transpiration? A the cuticle B the guard cells C the spongy mesophyll cells D the xylem vessels

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Question 17 · 1 mark

The photograph shows a cross-section through a sunflower stem, with the tissue labelled Z. What is the name and function of the tissue labelled Z? Columns: name of tissue;…

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Question 38 · 1 mark

Scientists studied the uptake of potassium ions from chemical fertilisers by wheat plants. The results show potassium uptake (kg per hectare) against days after planting (0 to…

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October–November 2023, Paper 22

Question 16 · 1 mark

From which part of a leaf does most water evaporate during transpiration? A the cuticle B the guard cells C the spongy mesophyll cells D the xylem vessels

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Question 17 · 1 mark

The photograph shows a cross-section through a sunflower stem, with the tissue labelled Z. What is the name and function of the tissue labelled Z? Columns: name of tissue;…

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October–November 2023, Paper 32

Question 6 · 8 marks

Fig. 6.1 is a diagram showing the pathway of water into a plant (the arrows show the direction of water movement), with a soil particle, soil water, cell A, cell B and a xylem…

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