New Senior Secondary Mastering Biology (Third Edition)

Book 2

Ch 15 Detecting the environment

Exercise
Section 15.1
Level 1 (p. 15-49)
1 D 1
C 1
A 1
B 1

Section 15.2
Level 1 (p. 15-49)
2 D 3 C 4 C 5 C
6 A 7 C

Level 2 (p. 15-50)

8 A 9 B 10 A

11 a Cone cell 1
Cell X is in cone shape. 1
b i Choroid 1
It contains a black pigment that absorbs light. This reduces reflection of light
within the eye and thus helps form a sharp image. /
It is rich in capillaries which supply nutrients and oxygen to the retina and sclera
and remove wastes from them. 1
ii If layer P (retina) is detached from layer Q (choroid), some photoreceptors in the
retina cannot obtain enough oxygen and nutrients. 1
The photoreceptors die and can no longer generate nerve impulses when light
falls on them. This results in vision loss. 1

12 a i When a person walks out from a dark room into bright light, the circular muscles
of the iris contract 1
and the radial muscles relax. 1
As a result, part Y (pupil) constricts (i.e. becomes smaller). 1
ii To prevent the photoreceptors in the retina from being damaged by bright light.
1
b Aged/weakened structure X (ciliary muscle) is not able to generate enough force for
contraction. 1
The tension in the suspensory ligament remains high. 1

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 New Senior Secondary Mastering Biology (Third Edition)
Book 2

Therefore, the lens cannot become thick enough 1

to focus light rays from a near object onto the retina. 1

13 a When the bus was approaching the bus stop, the ciliary muscles in the boy’s eyes
contracted. 1
The tension in the suspensory ligaments was reduced and the suspensory ligaments
became slackened. 1
The lens became thicker (more convex) and tried to focus the light rays from the
approaching bus onto the retina. 1
b Long sight 1
c

Diverging incident light rays and light rays focusing behind the retina (with arrow
sign) 1
Correct title 1
d Wearing convex lenses. 1

Level 3 (p. 15-51)

14 B

15 a Area C is the blind spot (i.e. the region of the retina where the optic nerve leaves the
eyeball). 1
There are no photoreceptors in the blind spot. 1
b Area A is the yellow spot. 1
There is a high density of cone cells, but no rod cells. 1
As cone cells work best in bright light, points of light on area A can be detected under
high light intensity only. 1
c The patient might blink. / looked in a wrong direction. 1
(or other reasonable answers)

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 New Senior Secondary Mastering Biology (Third Edition)
Book 2

16 CE Bio 2010 I Q5

Performance

Section 15.3
Level 1 (p. 15-53)
17 A 18 D

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 New Senior Secondary Mastering Biology (Third Edition)
Book 2

19 DSE Bio 2018 IB Q1

Performance

20 DSE Bio 2015 IB Q1

Performance

Level 2 (p. 15-54)

21 B 22 D 23 C

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 New Senior Secondary Mastering Biology (Third Edition)
Book 2

Level 3 (p. 15-54)

24 AL Bio 2011 II Q4a

Performance

Section 15.4
Level 1 (p. 15-54)
25 D 26 A 27 C

28 a i The response of coleoptiles to light is easy to observe. 1

Coleoptiles grow rapidly. 1
(or other correct answers)
ii In darkness, the coleoptile grew straight. This ensures any directional growth
observed is caused by subsequent light exposure. 1
b i Auxins are produced at the coleoptile tip. 1
Under unilateral light, auxins move from the illuminated side to the shaded side
of the coleoptile. 1

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 New Senior Secondary Mastering Biology (Third Edition)
Book 2

The high auxin concentration on the shaded side promotes growth there. So, the
coleoptile bends towards light. 1
ii This enables leaves to reach a position where they can obtain the maximum
amount of light for photosynthesis. 1

29 D

Level 2 (p. 15-55)

30 C 31 A 32 D

33 a i To prevent the lateral transport of auxins. 1

ii In set-up X, the coleoptile tip was exposed to uniform light. In set-up Y, the
lateral transport of auxins was prevented by the mica plate though the coleoptile
was exposed to unilateral light. 1
Under such conditions, the auxins in the coleoptile tips and hence the agar
blocks in both set-ups were distributed evenly. 1
As a result, the illuminated side and the shaded side of the decapitated
coleoptiles grew at the same rate and no bending occurred. 1
In set-up Z, the coleoptile tip was exposed to unilateral light. This caused auxins
to move from the illuminated side of the tip to the shaded side. Thus the agar
block on the right contained more auxins than that on the left. 1
As a result, under the action of auxins, the right side of the decapitated coleoptile
grew more rapidly than the left side. The coleoptile bends to the left. 1
b i

Correct drawing 1
Correct labels 1
ii Since the right side of the root receives more auxins than the left side 1
and a high concentration of auxins inhibits root growth, 1
the right side of the root grows more slowly, causing the root to bend towards
the right. 1

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 New Senior Secondary Mastering Biology (Third Edition)
Book 2

34 DSE Bio 2013 IB Q7

Performance

Level 3 (p. 15-57)

35 C 36 B

37 a i 1 ppm 1
3
ii 1 to 10 ppm 1
−4
b i An auxin concentration of 10 ppm causes equal elongation of the shoot tips
and root tips. 1
ii An auxin concentration of 103 ppm causes elongation of the shoot tips, 1
but has no effect on the elongation of root tips. 1

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 New Senior Secondary Mastering Biology (Third Edition)
Book 2

Reading to learn (p. 15-59)

1 The vision becomes blurred. 1
2 Cornea 1
3 An artificial lens cannot change its curvature 1
to adjust the degree of refraction of light. 1
(or other reasonable answers)
4 Possible arguments:
The experiments may cause pain and suffering to the animals. 1
However, they are necessary for the safety of the new eye drops. 1
The eye drops can benefit millions of people and even animals suffering from cataracts. 1
(or other reasonable answers)

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