AQA
A-Level
BIOLOGY
3.1 | Biological Molecules
1.2 | Carbohydrates
Time allowed
50 minutes
QUESTION PAPER
Score Percentage
/42 %
4.1 | CELL BIOLOGY | QUESTION PAPER 1 1
,Many sports drinks contain water, sodium chloride and carbohydrates. The manufacturers of the
sports drinks claim that carbohydrates provide an energy boost. The sodium chloride
is used to increase absorption of glucose in the small intestine.
Scientists investigated the effect of a sports drink on the performance of runners in 5 km
races.
They recruited 100 runners who had previously run a 5 km race in similar times. During
this race, Race 1, they had water they could drink.
The scientists divided the runners into two equal groups, P and Q. Both groups ran a
second 5 km race, Race 2. During this race:
• group P had water available
• group Q had the sports drink available.
The scientists recorded the mean time for each group to complete this race.
, Figure 1 shows their results.
Figure 1
The glycaemic index (GI) is a measure of the increase in blood glucose concentration
after eating a given mass of a food compared with eating the same mass of pure glucose.
The GI of pure glucose has a value of 100.
The GI of a food depends on several factors such as how much starch and sugars it
contains. High GI foods include those containing lots of simple sugars or white flour. The
carbohydrates in these foods are rapidly digested and absorbed. Low GI foods include
wholegrain bread and breakfast cereals that contain a lot of fibre. The carbohydrates in
these foods are digested and absorbed more slowly.
Figure 2 shows changes in blood glucose concentration after eating meals of high GI food
and meals of low GI food.
Figure 2
A-Level
BIOLOGY
3.1 | Biological Molecules
1.2 | Carbohydrates
Time allowed
50 minutes
QUESTION PAPER
Score Percentage
/42 %
4.1 | CELL BIOLOGY | QUESTION PAPER 1 1
,Many sports drinks contain water, sodium chloride and carbohydrates. The manufacturers of the
sports drinks claim that carbohydrates provide an energy boost. The sodium chloride
is used to increase absorption of glucose in the small intestine.
Scientists investigated the effect of a sports drink on the performance of runners in 5 km
races.
They recruited 100 runners who had previously run a 5 km race in similar times. During
this race, Race 1, they had water they could drink.
The scientists divided the runners into two equal groups, P and Q. Both groups ran a
second 5 km race, Race 2. During this race:
• group P had water available
• group Q had the sports drink available.
The scientists recorded the mean time for each group to complete this race.
, Figure 1 shows their results.
Figure 1
The glycaemic index (GI) is a measure of the increase in blood glucose concentration
after eating a given mass of a food compared with eating the same mass of pure glucose.
The GI of pure glucose has a value of 100.
The GI of a food depends on several factors such as how much starch and sugars it
contains. High GI foods include those containing lots of simple sugars or white flour. The
carbohydrates in these foods are rapidly digested and absorbed. Low GI foods include
wholegrain bread and breakfast cereals that contain a lot of fibre. The carbohydrates in
these foods are digested and absorbed more slowly.
Figure 2 shows changes in blood glucose concentration after eating meals of high GI food
and meals of low GI food.
Figure 2
