SKILLS AND APPLICATIONS TASK – PRACTICE TEST

TOPIC 2: Cells as the Basis of Life

1. A cell that has a high proportion of ribosomes attached to the endoplasmic reticulum is most
likely specialised to produce:
J. glucose for energy
K. phospholipids for cell growth
L. starch for storage
M. proteins for export

2. Individual cells are usually very small because:

J. there is a greater concentration of enzymes in smaller cells than in larger cells
K. materials move more efficiently in and out of smaller cells than larger cells
L. the cell membrane encloses the cell and prevents it from increasing in size
M. by osmosis, water enters smaller cells more slowly than it enters larger cells

3. Refer to the following diagram, which shows a type of transport that occurs in some cells:

Which type of transport is shown in the diagram above?

J. endocytosis
K. exocytosis
L. osmosis
M. active transport

4. Which of the following combinations matches a type of organism, its type of nutrition, and one
of its products of fermentation?

Type of Organism Type of Nutrition Product of Fermentation

J Yeast Heterotrophic Ethanol
K Animal Heterotrophic Carbon Dioxide
L Decomposer Autotrophic Water
M Plant Autotrophic Oxygen
5. Refer to the following diagrams, which show how the arrangement of the same pair of
homologous chromosomes would look at two different stages of cell division:

Which one of the alternatives is unique to mitosis?

J. Stage 1
K. Stage 2
L. both Stage 1 and Stage 2
M. neither Stage 1 nor Stage 2

6. A prokaryotic cell can be identified by the:

J. presence of a cell wall.
K. absence of a nucleus.
L. presence of ribosomes.
M. absence of ribosomes.

7. Refer to the following electron micrograph, which shows organelle X in a cell:

Organelle X is
J. the site of protein synthesis
K. involved in the packaging of molecules
L. the site of lipid synthesis
M. involved in the storage of molecules
8. A group of biology students performed an experiment in which they investigated the effect of
sucrose solutions of different concentrations on the mass of strawberries. Three individual
strawberries were weighed and then each was put in a sucrose solution of different
concentrations for 30 minutes. The strawberries were then reweighed. The results are shown in
the table below:

Assuming that the initial internal composition of each strawberry was the same, which one of
the following statements is consistent with the data above?
J. strawberry C was put in a sucrose solution of lower concentration than was strawberry A
K. strawberry A was put in a sucrose solution of higher concentration than was strawberry B
L. strawberry B was put in a sucrose solution of higher concentration than was strawberry C
M. strawberry B was put in the sucrose solution of the lowest concentration

9. Refer to the diagram below which is a flowchart of the life cycle of a mammal.

III: Growth and

II: Differentiation
Fertilisation

Gametes

I: Formation of IV: Growth and

Gametes Differentiation

Which one of the

following process (es) enables genetic variation in the genotype of the offspring?
J. I only
K. I and II
L. III and IV
M. IV only
10. Refer to the following graph, which shows changes in the concentrations of various
chemical substances in the thigh muscles of a person exercising vigorously on a bicycle.

Which one of the following statements is correct?

J. Line J represents ATP.
K. Line K represents CO2.
L. Line L represents O2.
M. Line M represents C3H6O3.

11. Aerobic respiration is a metabolic pathway that occurs in many small steps. One of these
steps is called a ‘link reaction’.

Refer to the following simplified word equation, which shows the link reaction in which an enzyme
called CoA (coenzyme A) binds to pyruvate, forming a complex called acetyl CoA and releasing
carbon dioxide:

Acetyl CoA is an intermediate compound of aerobic respiration. It feeds into another step in the
metabolic pathway, releasing CoA for reuse.

a. Explain why reactions such as aerobic respiration occur in many small steps. (2)

- Each step is catalysed by a specific enzyme and involves intermediate compounds.

- Energy is released gradually, maximizing ATP production and minimizing heat loss.

b. Cellular respiration results in the production of ATP, which is an immediate source of energy.
Explain how the energy stored in ATP is released for use in cells. (2)
- ATP consists of three phosphate groups; the bond between the second and third
phosphate is unstable and high in energy.
 - When this bond is broken (ATP → ADP + Pi), energy is released for cellular processes.
12. Describe three differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. (3)
- Prokaryote: small (1-10um), little organisation, circular DNA, no nucleus, no membrane
bound organelles, singular chromosome, most have cell walls, unicellular
- Eukaryote: large (10-100um), complex, linear DNA with proteins (histones), nucleus,
membrane bound organelles, 2 or more chromosomes, some have a cell wall, uni- or
multicellular
-

13. Describe the type of cell division that produces egg cells and sperm cells. In your answer
refer to the terms diploid and haploid. (6)
Option 1
- Meiosis is the process by which a diploid cell (with two sets of chromosomes) divides to
form haploid gametes (with one set of chromosomes).
- It consists of two consecutive divisions: meiosis I and meiosis II.
- During prophase I, crossing over occurs, where homologous chromosomes exchange
genetic material.
- Independent assortment during metaphase I causes random distribution of maternal and
paternal chromosomes into gametes.
- These processes result in genetic variation among the offspring.
- By the end of meiosis, four haploid cells are produced, each genetically different from the
original diploid cell and from each other.
Option 2
- Start (Interphase): A diploid cell duplicates its DNA so each chromosome consists of two
sister chromatids.
- Prophase I: Homologous chromosomes pair up, and crossing over occurs—this is where
segments of DNA are exchanged, increasing genetic variation.
- Metaphase I: Homologous pairs line up randomly along the equator of the cell; this
independent assortment contributes further to genetic variation.
- Anaphase I: Homologous chromosomes (not chromatids) are pulled to opposite ends—
each new cell will now have only one chromosome from each pair.
- Telophase I and Cytokinesis: Two cells form, each with half the original number of
chromosomes, but they are still duplicated—these cells are now haploid.
- Meiosis II: Similar to mitosis—sister chromatids separate. Four genetically unique haploid
gametes are produced due to crossing over and independent assortment.

14. Describe the features of the inner mitochondrial and chloroplast membrane that allow efficient
material exchange and biochemical processes to occur. (4)
Inner Mitochondrial Membrane:
 - Highly folded into cristae, increasing surface area for ATP production.
Inner Chloroplast (Thylakoid) Membrane:
- Arranged in thylakoid stacks called grana, increasing surface area for light-dependent
reactions.
- Contains photosynthetic pigments (like chlorophyll) and enzymes for the light-dependent
stage of photosynthesis.

15. The maintenance of the internal composition of a eukaryotic cell is critical to its survival.

a. Describe the structure of the cell membrane. (5)

- The membrane is made of a phospholipid bilayer, with hydrophilic heads facing outward and
hydrophobic tails facing inward.
- The structure is described by the fluid mosaic model, where lipids and proteins move freely within the
layer like a flexible mosaic.
- Proteins are scattered throughout the bilayer—some span the membrane (integral proteins) and
others are on the surface (peripheral proteins).
- Cholesterol is embedded within the bilayer, helping maintain membrane fluidity and stability.
- Carbohydrate chains attach to proteins and lipids on the outer surface, forming glycoproteins and
glycolipids for cell recognition and signalling.

b) Describe the role of the cell membrane in the regulation of the internal composition of a cell. (4)

- responsible for controlling what enters and exits the cell -> selectively permeable
- separates the internal from the external environment
- enables attachment of the cytoskeleton
- semi-permeable
- passive and active processes can take place
- recognition of other cells and substances

16. There are several processes by which materials enter cells.

Describe one process in which substances move passively across a membrane. (3)
- Osmosis – a passive process of water moving via an aquaporin from a low solute
concentration to a high solute concentration until equilibrium is reached
- Diffusion – a passive process where molecules move from high concentration to low
concentration until equilibrium is reached
- Facilitated diffusion – a passive process where molecules move from high concentration
to low concentration via a channel protein in the cell membrane until equilibrium is reached

17. State two organelles found in a eukaryotic cell and describe their function. (4)
Any 2 organelles and their function
 18. Plants are often grown commercially in the controlled environment of a greenhouse such as
the one shown below:

Plant growers want their crops to grow quickly and they will often artificially increase the
concentration of carbon dioxide in the greenhouse air during the day to about 0.100%, compared
with the normal level of about 0.034%. In cooler weather the greenhouses are heated. The rate
of photosynthesis can change in patterns similar to those shown in the table of results below:

a. Write a balanced chemical equation for photosynthesis. (1)

6CO2 + 6H2O -> light/chlorophyll -> C6H12O6 + 6O2
b. State the site of photosynthesis in a plant cell. (1)

Chloroplasts
c. Using the data in the table on the page opposite: (5)
• Plot two graphs on the same set of axes on the grid below.
• Draw two lines of best fit to show the effect of the concentration of CO2 in the greenhouse air on
the relative rate of photosynthesis at the two temperatures.

d. Describe the change in

relative photosynthesis rate at each temperature. (2)
As the concentration of carbon dioxide increases, so does the rate of photosynthesis until 0.090
where 20 deg plateaus at a photosynthetic rate of 117 and 35 deg plateaus at a photosynthetic
rate of 123.
e. State one factor of this experiment that may affect the reliability of the results. (1)
- Different types of plants
- Light intensity/cloudiness
- Water concentration
f. State the independent variable in this experiment. (1)
Concentration of carbon dioxide (%)
g. It was later found that a systematic error had affected the results of the experiment. Explain how
this systematic error would have been identified. (2)
- The experiment is completed on a different day using different apparatus
- If there are differences in data, suggests systematic limitation
h. State one reason why the relative rate of photosynthesis does not increase when the
concentration of CO2 in the greenhouse air exceeds 0.090%. (1)
The water molecules are saturated – they become the limiting factor.
i. Explain why the carbon dioxide concentration in the greenhouse air increases at night, even
though none is artificially added at this time. (2)
There is no sun, so photosynthesis stops, however aerobic respiration continues. CO2 is a
product of respiration, hence the concentration will continually increase, even when there is not
any artificially added.
 Score

MCQ /10

SAQ /50
TOTAL /60