AcePapers
AS Level Biology B (Edexcel specification 8BI0)
Paper 2: Core Physiology and Ecology
Practice question paper
Practice for 8BI0 Paper 2
Time allowed 1 hour 30 minutes
Total marks 80
Equipment Calculator, ruler, HB pencil
Before you start
• Write in black ink. A pencil may be used for graphs and drawings.
• Attempt every question and write each answer in the space below it; you may not need
all of the space.
• The number of marks for each part is given in brackets. Use it to judge how much to
write and how long to spend.
• Questions labelled with an asterisk (*) also reward a clear, logically sequenced answer in
which your points are connected.
• Show your working in calculations and give units where they are needed.
• Leave time at the end to read through your answers.
Written by AcePapers
Independent practice paper written for revision. Not an official Pearson paper
and not affiliated with or endorsed by Pearson.
AcePapers · 8BI0 Paper 2 · independent practice material Page 1
, Answer every question. Where a multiple-choice question has boxes, mark your chosen answer with a
cross. To change it, draw a line through the cross and mark the new box.
1 Living organisms are classified into groups using a range of evidence.
(a) Which feature is found in organisms in the domain Archaea but not in the
domain Bacteria? (1)
A 70S ribosomes
B circular DNA
C cell walls that lack peptidoglycan
D a membrane-bound nucleus
(Put a cross in one box.)
Species P Species Q Species R Species S
Species P – 11 3 9
Species Q 11 – 10 4
Species R 3 10 – 8
Species S 9 4 8 –
(b)(i) The table shows the number of amino acid differences in the protein
cytochrome c between four mammal species.
Name the two species that are most closely related. (1)
(ii) Explain why comparing amino acid sequences gives more reliable
evidence of relationships than comparing physical features. (2)
(c) The scientific name of the tiger is Panthera tigris. Give the genus of the tiger. (1)
(d) A mule is produced when a horse (2n = 64) mates with a donkey (2n = 62).
Explain why horses and donkeys are classified as separate species. (2)
AcePapers · 8BI0 Paper 2 · independent practice material Page 2
, (e) Suggest one reason why scientists sometimes reclassify a species. (1)
[Question 1: 8 marks]
2 Two hedgerows, A and B, were surveyed by counting the number of woody plants of
each species along a 30 m length.
Species Hedgerow A Hedgerow B
hawthorn 12 25
blackthorn 8 3
hazel 5 0
holly 3 0
elder 2 2
Index of diversity, D 1.43
(a) The index of diversity, D, can be calculated using the formula
D = (N2 − N) ÷ Σ(n2 − n)
where N is the total number of plants and n is the number of plants of each
species.
Calculate the index of diversity for hedgerow A. (2)
D = ................................................
(b) Explain why the index of diversity is a better measure of biodiversity than
species richness when comparing these hedgerows. (2)
(c) Describe how students could use quadrats to estimate the number of plant
species in a meadow without bias. (3)
AcePapers · 8BI0 Paper 2 · independent practice material Page 3
AS Level Biology B (Edexcel specification 8BI0)
Paper 2: Core Physiology and Ecology
Practice question paper
Practice for 8BI0 Paper 2
Time allowed 1 hour 30 minutes
Total marks 80
Equipment Calculator, ruler, HB pencil
Before you start
• Write in black ink. A pencil may be used for graphs and drawings.
• Attempt every question and write each answer in the space below it; you may not need
all of the space.
• The number of marks for each part is given in brackets. Use it to judge how much to
write and how long to spend.
• Questions labelled with an asterisk (*) also reward a clear, logically sequenced answer in
which your points are connected.
• Show your working in calculations and give units where they are needed.
• Leave time at the end to read through your answers.
Written by AcePapers
Independent practice paper written for revision. Not an official Pearson paper
and not affiliated with or endorsed by Pearson.
AcePapers · 8BI0 Paper 2 · independent practice material Page 1
, Answer every question. Where a multiple-choice question has boxes, mark your chosen answer with a
cross. To change it, draw a line through the cross and mark the new box.
1 Living organisms are classified into groups using a range of evidence.
(a) Which feature is found in organisms in the domain Archaea but not in the
domain Bacteria? (1)
A 70S ribosomes
B circular DNA
C cell walls that lack peptidoglycan
D a membrane-bound nucleus
(Put a cross in one box.)
Species P Species Q Species R Species S
Species P – 11 3 9
Species Q 11 – 10 4
Species R 3 10 – 8
Species S 9 4 8 –
(b)(i) The table shows the number of amino acid differences in the protein
cytochrome c between four mammal species.
Name the two species that are most closely related. (1)
(ii) Explain why comparing amino acid sequences gives more reliable
evidence of relationships than comparing physical features. (2)
(c) The scientific name of the tiger is Panthera tigris. Give the genus of the tiger. (1)
(d) A mule is produced when a horse (2n = 64) mates with a donkey (2n = 62).
Explain why horses and donkeys are classified as separate species. (2)
AcePapers · 8BI0 Paper 2 · independent practice material Page 2
, (e) Suggest one reason why scientists sometimes reclassify a species. (1)
[Question 1: 8 marks]
2 Two hedgerows, A and B, were surveyed by counting the number of woody plants of
each species along a 30 m length.
Species Hedgerow A Hedgerow B
hawthorn 12 25
blackthorn 8 3
hazel 5 0
holly 3 0
elder 2 2
Index of diversity, D 1.43
(a) The index of diversity, D, can be calculated using the formula
D = (N2 − N) ÷ Σ(n2 − n)
where N is the total number of plants and n is the number of plants of each
species.
Calculate the index of diversity for hedgerow A. (2)
D = ................................................
(b) Explain why the index of diversity is a better measure of biodiversity than
species richness when comparing these hedgerows. (2)
(c) Describe how students could use quadrats to estimate the number of plant
species in a meadow without bias. (3)
AcePapers · 8BI0 Paper 2 · independent practice material Page 3
