GCSE BIOLOGY Name: ________________________
Practice Questions
March 2021 Class: ________________________
Date: ________________________
Time: 88 minutes
Marks: 85 marks
Comments:
Page 1 of 32
,Q1.
Some students investigated phototropism in plant seedlings.
This is the method used.
1. Measure the lengths of the shoots of 20 seedlings.
2. Set up four groups of seedlings as follows:
• A − bottom of shoot covered in aluminium foil
• B − tip covered in aluminium foil
• C − tip removed
• D − no changes.
3. Put the seedlings in a cardboard box.
4. Use a lamp to shine a light into the box through a hole in one side.
5. After one day, re-measure the lengths of the shoots.
6. Make a drawing of the appearance of one seedling from each group.
Figure 1 shows the appearance of one seedling in each group at the start of the
investigation.
Figure 1
(a) Which two conditions should the students have kept constant for each group of
seedlings?
Tick two boxes.
The length of the roots
The number of seedlings in each group
The temperature
Page 2 of 32
, The thickness of the aluminium foil
The volume of water added to the soil
(2)
(b) What is the purpose of the aluminium foil?
Tick one box.
To hold the shoot straight
To keep the shoot warm
To remove the effect of gravity
To stop light reaching the shoot
(1)
Figure 2 shows the students’ results.
Figure 2
A B C D
Mean length of shoot at start in mm 23 24 21 25
Mean length of shoot after 1 day in mm 28 30 23 30
Mean change in length of shoot in mm 5 6 2 5
(c) Suggest how the students measured the lengths of the curved shoots of seedlings A
and D at the end of the investigation.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Page 3 of 32
, ___________________________________________________________________
(2)
(d) The students concluded that the tip of the shoot is needed for the plant to respond
to light.
Give evidence for this conclusion from Figure 2.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
(2)
(e) A hormone stimulates growth in shoots.
Which distribution of the hormone would cause the results seen in shoot D?
Tick one box.
(1)
(Total 8 marks)
Page 4 of 32
Practice Questions
March 2021 Class: ________________________
Date: ________________________
Time: 88 minutes
Marks: 85 marks
Comments:
Page 1 of 32
,Q1.
Some students investigated phototropism in plant seedlings.
This is the method used.
1. Measure the lengths of the shoots of 20 seedlings.
2. Set up four groups of seedlings as follows:
• A − bottom of shoot covered in aluminium foil
• B − tip covered in aluminium foil
• C − tip removed
• D − no changes.
3. Put the seedlings in a cardboard box.
4. Use a lamp to shine a light into the box through a hole in one side.
5. After one day, re-measure the lengths of the shoots.
6. Make a drawing of the appearance of one seedling from each group.
Figure 1 shows the appearance of one seedling in each group at the start of the
investigation.
Figure 1
(a) Which two conditions should the students have kept constant for each group of
seedlings?
Tick two boxes.
The length of the roots
The number of seedlings in each group
The temperature
Page 2 of 32
, The thickness of the aluminium foil
The volume of water added to the soil
(2)
(b) What is the purpose of the aluminium foil?
Tick one box.
To hold the shoot straight
To keep the shoot warm
To remove the effect of gravity
To stop light reaching the shoot
(1)
Figure 2 shows the students’ results.
Figure 2
A B C D
Mean length of shoot at start in mm 23 24 21 25
Mean length of shoot after 1 day in mm 28 30 23 30
Mean change in length of shoot in mm 5 6 2 5
(c) Suggest how the students measured the lengths of the curved shoots of seedlings A
and D at the end of the investigation.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Page 3 of 32
, ___________________________________________________________________
(2)
(d) The students concluded that the tip of the shoot is needed for the plant to respond
to light.
Give evidence for this conclusion from Figure 2.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
(2)
(e) A hormone stimulates growth in shoots.
Which distribution of the hormone would cause the results seen in shoot D?
Tick one box.
(1)
(Total 8 marks)
Page 4 of 32
