CE BIO 1996

1.

(a)

Alex Lam
(i)

(1)

The major plant group to which maize belongs

produces flowers / fruits while the other group does not ----------------------------------------1

(ii)

(2)

gymnosperm -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

(1)

To form a new plant/to protect the embryo/for dispersal of the plant ------------------------1

(2)

To carry the male gamete ------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

to the female gamete for fertilization-----------------------------------------------------------------1

(iii)

dry, small, light (any ONE) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

(iv)

Bread mould has branching rhizoids / root-like structures---------------------------------------------1

to provide a large surface area -----------------------------------------------------------------------------1
for secreting digestive enzymes / enzymes to digest the organic food -----------------------------1
and then absorb the digested products --------------------------------------------------------------------1
Effective communication (C) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
Total: 10 + 1 marks

1.

(a)

(i)

(1)

Some candidates thought that both pine and bread mould do not possess chlorophyll
or seeds.

(2) The sub-group to which pine belongs should be gymnosperm, as stated in the syllabus,
and not conifer. Many candidates could not spell this term correctly.
(ii)

(1)

Some candidates stated that the seed could be dispersed by wind without pointing out
that the role of the seed is to help in the dispersal of the offspring in order to avoid
overcrowding or to exploit new habitats.

(2)

A large number of candidates wrongly stated that the pollen grain is the male gamete
of the plant and that it fertilizes the egg directly. Candidates should be aware that the
role of the pollen grains in reproduction is to produce the male gametes and to carry
them to the female part of the flower for fertilization.

(iv)

When answering this part, many candidates did not refer to the features shown in the
diagram that are responsible for obtaining nutrients from the substrate, such as the
branching hyphae that form the rhizoids.

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1.

(b)

Alex Lam
(i)

(1) artery -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

(2) capillary--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

(ii)

Blood vessel A has thick wall

to withstand a high blood pressure

OR
Blood vessel A has elastic wall

to withstand / maintain a high blood pressure

any ONE set --------------- 1,1

OR
Blood vessel A has muscular wall

to control the blood flow / the diameter of the blood vessel )

The wall of blood vessel B is one-cell thick ---------------------------------------------------------------1
so as to facilitate the exchange of substances between the blood and the tissue cells --------1
(iii)

To provide a large surface area to volume ratio ----------------------------------------------------------1

to facilitate the diffusion of gases ----------------------------------------------------------------------------1

(iv)

The blood supply to the heart muscle is reduced, -------------------------------------------------------1

so there is less food and oxygen supply to the heart muscle cells ----------------------------------1
The heart muscle cells would die/heart attack would occur -------------------------------------------1
Effective communication (C) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
Total: 11+1 marks

1.

(b) Candidates made a lot of spelling mistakes, such as 'artery' for the 'artery', 'capillary' for 'capillary',
and 'think wall' for 'thick' or 'thin' wall.
(i)

(2)

Many candidates did not refer to the information given in the photograph and wrongly
stated that blood vessel B was a vein. This mistake indicates that many candidates
simply answered the question by rote and regurgitated what had been memorised
without thinking.

(ii)

Many candidates did not correctly relate the observable feature of the artery wall to its
functional significance. Some of the common misconceptions shown by the candidates are
given below :
-

the thick wall maintains a high blood pressure ;

the muscular wall helps to pump the blood under high pressure.

Such answers indicate that many of the candidates simply memorised information without
understanding. Some candidates erroneously described vessel A/B as having a thick/thin
cell wall. A considerable number of the answers were ambiguous or inaccurate, such as 'the
thick wall enables the artery to accept or adapt to the high blood pressure'.
(iii)

Most candidates correctly stated that the biconcave shape of the red blood cells provides a
relatively large surface area. But instead of relating this feature to facilitating the diffusion of
gases, many of them wrongly asserted that it enables the red blood cell to carry more
oxygen.

(iv)

Some candidates misinterpreted the question by describing the possible effects of blocking
the vessel on other parts of the body instead of on the heart.

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1.

(c)

Alex Lam
(i)

(1)

short sight --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

(2)

The eyeball might be too long -------------------------------------------------------------------------1

The lens might be too thick ----------------------------------------------------------------------------1

(ii)

Large, accurate diagram with smooth lines and parallel incident rays (D) ------------------------1
Title ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Presence of an arrow sign --------------------------------------------------------------------------------Focus in front of retina -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Light rays continue to retina -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Path of light rays from the bus 10m away entering the boy's eye
(iii)

Wear a concave lens / have an operation to decrease the curvature of the cornea ------------1

(iv)

Cones, which are responsible for colour vision, ---------------------------------------------------------1

cannot function properly in dim light ------------------------------------------------------------------------1
Total : 9 marks

1.

(c)

(i)

Most candidates answered this part correctly.

(ii)

The ray diagrams showed a number of mistakes which are also found in some local
textbooks. It is likely that some candidates might have memorised such errors from the
textbooks without genuine understanding. Some of the common mistakes made by the
candidates are illustrated in the following figures :

(1)

(2)

(3)

(1)

The two parallel light rays come from different points on the object.

(2)

The light rays stop after converging in front of the retina.

(3)

The incident rays from the distant object are diverging instead of being nearly parallel.
The quality of drawing was rather poor; many drawings were too small, untidy and not
in proportion. Most candidates failed to give a title to their drawings.

(iv)

Some answers were quite concise and accurate. Many candidates, however, confused the
functions of the rods and of the cones. For example, some stated that rods cannot detect
colour but failed to mention the role of the cones. A small number of candidates wrongly
related the phenomenon to night-blindness.

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2.

(a)

Alex Lam
(i)

As the plant lost water by transpiration/evaporation, --------------------------------------------------1

it absorbed water from the set-up, -------------------------------------------------------------------------1
so the air bubble moved towards the left.

(ii)
Light intensity

Rate of water loss

(arbitrary unit)

(mm min-1)

10

1.5

15/10 = 1.5

20

2.0

(22-2)/10=2.0

30

2.5

(26-1)/10=2.5

40

3.0

(33-3)/10=3.0

Rate of water loss at different light intensities

Results presented in a table with proper headings and units (T) ------------------------------------1
Correct results ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4 x
(iii)

The rate of water loss increased with an increase in light intensity ---------------------------------1
Reason:
The temperature increased at higher light intensity

(1)

so the rate of diffusion of water vapour/evaporation became faster (1)

OR

any ONE set -----2

The stomatal pore increased in size at higher light intensity

(1)

so the rate of diffusion of water vapour became faster

(1)

Effective communication (C) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

(iv)

Open the tap of the reservoir until the bubble moved to the desired position -------------------1
Total : 9 + 1 marks

2.

(a)

(ii)

Most candidates calculated the rate of water loss correctly and presented their results in a
table. Many, however, did not put down the unit for light intensity.

(iii)

Many candidates did not give a satisfactory explanation. They did point out the increase in
stomata! size at higher light intensity, but failed to state that this resulted in a faster rate of
diffusion of water vapour from the leaf.
Instead, they wrongly asserted that the increase in stomatal size led to a higher rate of
photosynthesis or evaporation, which therefore caused a more rapid water loss from the
plant.

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2.

(b)

Alex Lam
(i)

Leguminous plants contain nitrogen-fixing bacteria -----------------------------------------------------1

which can change atmospheric nitrogen ------------------------------------------------------------------1
into nitrogenous compounds----------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
for protein synthesis of the plants ---------------------------------------------------------------------------1
Effective communication (C) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

(ii)

Vaccination involves the introduction of a

weakened or killed pathogen/antigen into the body -----------------------------------------------1
It stimulates certain white blood cells which will develop a memory for the antigen ------------1
When the body is attacked by similar pathogen / antigen, -------------------------------------------1
it will produce a large amount of antibodies in a short time,
so as to destroy the pathogen ---------------------------------------------------------------------------1

(iii)

Birth control serves to limit the increase in population ------------------------------------------------1

Too large a population will lead to faster exhaustion of natural resources,

destruction of natural habitats and

)any TWO... 1, 1

production of larger amount of waste/more serious pollution

)
Total : 11 + 1 marks

2.

(b)

(ii)

There were some good answers which were accurate and organised descriptions. A
considerable number of candidates, however, did not distinguish between antibodies and
antigens, or pathogens and the disease.

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2.

(c)

Alex Lam
(i)

to close the opening of the trachea / to prevent food

from entering the trachea during swallowing ------------------------------------------------------------1

(ii)

*peristalsis ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

(iii)

It contains protease --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

to digest protein into short peptides / amino acids / polypeptides ----------------------------------1
It is alkaline -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
to neutralize the acid from the stomach/to provide a suitable pH for the
functioning of protease ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

(iv)

The faeces will become more watery ---------------------------------------------------------------------1

because less water is absorbed if a large part of D is removed ------------------------------------1

(v)

breakdown of excess amino acids/formation of urea )

storage of iron / vitamin A / Vitamin D / glycogen

regulation of blood sugar level

any TWO -------------------- 1,1

Total : 10 marks
2.

(c)

(iii)

Most candidates mentioned the presence and action of protease in the pancreatic juice, but
only a small number indicated the alkaline nature of the juice and its significance.

(iv)

This part was generally well answered, showing that the candidates could apply their
knowledge to explain a novel situation.

(v)

A common misconception of the candidates was that deamination of proteins or amino acids
forms urea. This indicates that the candidates just memorised the term 'deamination' without
understanding its exact meaning. For the CE level, it is sufficient and appropriate for the
candidates to understand that the liver breaks down excess proteins or amino acids to form
urea. Introducing the term 'deamination' does not help their understanding and, in fact, may
result in misconceptions.

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3.

(a)

Alex Lam
(i)

Spherical fruits --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

In cross B, some offspring must have received an allele for spherical fruits and
an allele for pear-shaped fruits from their parents / heterozygous ---------------------------------1
All daughter plants have spherical fruits -------------------------------------------------------------------1
Therefore, the allele for pear-shaped fruits must be masked by the allele for
spherical fruits ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
Effective communication (C) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

(ii)

Let F represents the allele for spherical fruits

f represents the allele for pear-shaped fruits ------------------------------------------------1 or 0
(1)

Ff -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

(2)

FF ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

(iii)

Parent

(F)

Gamete

Offspring

Plant with pearPlant with pearshaped fruit

shaped fruit
ff
ff ----------------------------

f -----------------------------

ff ------------------------------------------Pear-shaped fruit --------------------------------

Format (F) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1 or 0

(iv)

Sexual reproduction ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1+

because the self-cross involves the fusion of two gametes/fertilization ----------------------------1
Total : 12 + 1 mark

3.

(a)

(i)

Most candidates did not make a sound, logical deduction based on the results of the genetic
crosses. In general, candidates' communicative skills, as shown in this part, was far from
satisfactory.

(ii)

Many candidates did not give a proper definition of the symbols used for the alleles. The
most common error was using a letter to represent the character instead of the allele for that
character.

(iii)

The quality of most candidates' genetic diagram was satisfactory.

(iv)

Some candidates stated wrongly that the self-cross was a kind of asexual reproduction
because it involved only one parent. Some answered correctly that the self-cross was a
sexual process but wrongly explained that variation occurred in the offspring. This was not

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Alex Lam
true in the context of this question.

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3.

(b)

Alex Lam
(i)

Urea is present in the blood but not in the solution ----------------------------------------------------1

It diffuses into the surrounding solution -------------------------------------------------------------------1

(ii)

(1)

Because only a small volume of blood enters the kidney )

machine per unit time.

(2)

To allow time to remove most of the urea from the body

To remove urea which is continually produced / harmful

at high concentration
To remove excess salts taken up in the diet
(iii)

(1)

) any ONE --------------------1

) any ONE --------------------1

)

All useful substances in the glomerular filtrate are reabsorbed back

into the blood along the kidney tubule -------------------------------------------------------------1

(2)

As the solution contains the same concentration of glucose, amino

acids and minerals as the normal plasma, -------------------------------------------------------1
there is no net movement of these substances from the blood into
the solution -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

(iv)

Not many people are willing to donate their kidneys after their death ----------------------------1
The kidney transplanted must match with the tissue of the patient --------------------------------1
Total: 9 marks

3.

(b)

(i)

Some candidates could not distinguish diffusion from osmosis and answered that 'urea goes
out of the blood by osmosis'.

(ii)

(1)

Most candidates did not point out precisely that the kidney machine could only treat a
small volume of blood of the body at a time. Many wrongly stated that 'a long time was
required for urea to diffuse across the dialysis tubing in the kidney machine'.

(iii)

(2)

Some candidates answered this question accurately by comparing the solute

concentrations of the circulating solution and plasma, showing an understanding of the
mechanism of the kidney machine. A number of candidates wrongly stated that 'the
circulating solution was isotonic with the normal plasma', or 'no osmosis occurs'.

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3.

(c)

Alex Lam
(i)

(ii)

(1)

food + oxygen

carbon dioxide + water (+ energy) -------------------------------------1 or 0

(2)

oxygen ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

The water level in limb X would rise -----------------------------------------------------------------------1

Reasons:
The live grasshoppers take up oxygen during respiration -------------------------------------------1
and give out carbon dioxide which is absorbed by the sodium hydroxide solution ------------ I
As a result the air pressure inside flask A becomes lower than that in flask B ------------------1
Effective communication (C) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

(iii)

To eliminate the error caused by changes in environmental temperature/pressure -------------1

(iv)

The rise in the water level is faster/ the water level rises higher -----------------------------------1
because the rate of respiration of grasshoppers is faster at a higher temperature ------------1
Total : 9 + 1 marks

3.

(c)

(i)

(1)

Some candidates did not follow the instruction; they wrote a chemical equation for
respiration instead of using a word equation.

(2)

Although the question referred to a standard experiment in biology, most candidates

wrongly stated that the set-up measured the change in the amount of carbon dioxide
instead of oxygen.

(ii)

Most candidates answered this part correctly, although many of them asserted that the
set-up measured change in the amount of carbon dioxide in (i)(2). This suggests that these
candidates actually did not understand the principle of the investigation, but simply
answered from rote memory using information given in textbooks or by teachers. Some
common mistakes were detected in the candidates' explanations, e.g. the consumption of
oxygen by respiration results in a drop in air volume in flask A; heat released from
respiration of the grasshoppers causes the air in flask A to expand.

(iii)

Most candidates mentioned that flask B was a control but did not explain its use. Very few
candidates correctly stated that the presence of flask B was to eliminate the error caused by
changes in environmental temperature or pressure during the experiment.

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4.

(a)

Alex Lam
(i)

As the water potential of the sucrose solution is lower than that of the distilled water, -------1
water passes through the potato ---------------------------------------------------------------------------1
into sucrose solution, ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
causing the level to rise.
Effective communication (C) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

(ii)

Osmosis occurs when two solutions of different concentrations are separated,

by living tissue -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
which serves as a selectively permeable membrane ------------------------------------------------- I

(iii)

Large, clear drawing with smooth lines (D) -------------------------------------------------------------- I

* Labels (any three): cell wall, cell membrane, cytoplasm -----------------------------------

X3

(optional: starch grains, nucleus, vacuole)

Title ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Signs of plasmolysis and turgidity (S) ---------------------------------------------------------------------1

(iv)

The cell membrane of potato cells became freely permeable/was destroyed

after boiling --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 +
so sucrose can diffuse out to the distilled water --------------------------------------------------------1
Total: 11+1 marks

4.

(a)

(ii)

The poor performance on this question shows that the candidates were still quite weak in
drawing conclusions by comparing the results of two set-ups with reference to the different
set-up conditions.

(iii)

The quality of drawing was poor. Various cellular features were not drawn in the right way,
e.g. the cell wall wrongly represented as a single line, the cell membrane in a turgid cell
incorrectly shown as detached from the cell wall, and the vacuole and cytoplasm incorrectly
positioned. There were a lot of spelling mistakes on the labels. Most candidates did not give
an appropriate title for their drawings.

(iv)

Many answers were incomplete with the candidates simply saying that the boiled potato was
no longer selectively permeable, without pointing out specifically that the tissue became
freely permeable after boiling. Some candidates erroneously stated that 'the sucrose
solution (rather than sucrose) diffuses out to the distilled water'.

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4.

(b)

Alex Lam
(i)

(ii)

(1)

competition -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

(2)

predation and competition ----------------------------------------------------------------------1 or 0

The shorter period of daylight would result in a lower photosynthetic activity -------------------1
so the algal population would decrease ------------------------------------------------------------------1

(iii)

DDT is leached into the sea from farming areas in other regions ----------------------------------1
It is absorbed by microscopic algae -----------------------------------------------------------------------1
DDT or microscopic algae are carried by oceanic currents to the South Pole region ---------1
As penguins feeds on squids, while squids feed on shrimps,
and shrimps feed on algae,. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
and DDT cannot be metabolized or excreted by the organisms, -----------------------------------1
so it accumulates up the food chain into the body of penguin.
Effective communication (C) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
Total: 9 + 1 marks

4.

(b)

(i)

(2)

Most candidates mentioned predation but left out competition as a type of relationship
between the squid and the sea bird.

(iii)

Most answers failed to include a clear, organised explanation for the concentration effect of
DDT along the food chain. Some candidates did not even mention the role of the algae or
the non-biodegradable nature of DDT There was a general lack of communicative skills
shown by the candidates in answering this question.

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4.

(c)

Alex Lam
(i)

(1)

The skin temperature increased ----------------------------------------------------------------------1

(2)

Vasodilation occurs in the arterioles of the skin ---------------------------------------------------1

so that more blood bringing heat flows to the skin -----------------------------------------------1

(ii)

(1)

The body temperature remains constant -----------------------------------------------------------1

(2)

Sweating ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
As the room temperature was higher than the body temperature, ---------------------------1
heat could not be lost by conduction / convection / radiation ----------------------------------1
so sweating was the main way of heat loss.

(3)

Evaporation of sweat is too slow to lose heat effectively ---------------------------------------1

while the body absorbs heat from the environment ----------------------------------------------1
Thus the body becomes overheated ----------------------------------------------------------------1
Total : 10 marks

4.

(c)

(i)

(2)

Some candidates did not seem to understand what was meant by physiological
change. Some wrongly stated that vasodilation occurs in the capillaries instead of the
arterioles of the skin. Many did not point out the significance of vasodilation of the skin
in causing a rise in skin temperature.

(ii)

(2)

Although most candidates knew that heat loss from the body could occur in different
ways, they did not understand the significance of these ways in different situations. For
instance, heat cannot be lost from the body by conduction or radiation when the room
temperature is higher than the body temperature. As a result, many candidates did not
point out correctly that sweating is the main way to lose body heat under the specified
condition.

(3)

Some candidates erroneously stated that sweating is very slow when the relative
humidity of a room becomes high. As body heat cannot be removed efficiently by the
evaporation of sweat in such a situation, sweat production actually increases. Only a
small number of candidates mentioned the consequence of a rise in body temperature.
Very few pointed out that the body actually absorbs heat from the surroundings in such
a situation.

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