AS Level Biology A Mock Exam: Unit 2 Foundations in Biology (2.1 – 2.6)
Time allowed: 1 hour 30 minutes
Total marks: 100
Section A
Answer all questions. Write your answer for each question in the box provided.
1. Which of the following organelles is responsible for the synthesis of ribosomes?
A. Golgi apparatus
B. Lysosome
C. Nucleolus
D. Rough endoplasmic reticulum
2. Which statement correctly describes the property of water that allows it to act as a
temperature buffer for aquatic organisms?
A. High latent heat of vaporisation
B. High specific heat capacity
C. Low density when solid
D. Strong cohesive forces between molecules
3. A triglyceride molecule is formed from one glycerol and three fatty acids. Which
type of bond is formed during this condensation reaction?
A. Ester
B. Glycosidic
C. Peptide
D. Phosphodiester
4. During which stage of the cell cycle are the chromosomes checked for damage
before DNA replication proceeds?
A. G1 checkpoint
B. G2 checkpoint
C. Metaphase checkpoint
D. S phase checkpoint
,5. Which of the following describes the nature of the genetic code?
A. Overlapping, degenerate, and universal
B. Overlapping, non-degenerate, and specific
C. Non-overlapping, degenerate, and universal
D. Non-overlapping, non-degenerate, and specific
6. A student is using a transmission electron microscope (TEM) to observe a
specimen. What is the maximum resolution typically achievable with a TEM?
A. 2.0 nm
B. 0.2 nm
C. 200 nm
D. 0.02 nm
7. Which type of bond connects consecutive β-glucose molecules in a cellulose
chain?
A. α−1,4-glycosidic
B. β−1,4-glycosidic
C. α−1,6-glycosidic
D. β−1,6-glycosidic
8. Which of the following is a component of an ATP molecule?
A. Deoxyribose sugar
B. Three phosphate groups
C. Thymine base
D. Two ester bonds
, 9. Identify the inorganic ion that acts as a prosthetic group for the enzyme carbonic
anhydrase.
A. Cl −
B. Fe 2+
C. Zn 2+
D. Mg 2+
10. What is the immediate effect of an increase in temperature on the lipids within a
cell surface membrane?
A. They become more fluid.
B. They pack more tightly together.
C. They form a monolayer.
D. They begin to actively transport ions.
11. Which term describes the process of the cytoplasm dividing to create two
daughter cells?
A. Binary fission
B. Cytokinesis
C. Mitosis
D. Telophase
12. Which organelle is responsible for the modification and packaging of proteins into
vesicles?
A. Golgi apparatus
B. Nucleolus
C. Rough endoplasmic reticulum
D. Smooth endoplasmic reticulum
Time allowed: 1 hour 30 minutes
Total marks: 100
Section A
Answer all questions. Write your answer for each question in the box provided.
1. Which of the following organelles is responsible for the synthesis of ribosomes?
A. Golgi apparatus
B. Lysosome
C. Nucleolus
D. Rough endoplasmic reticulum
2. Which statement correctly describes the property of water that allows it to act as a
temperature buffer for aquatic organisms?
A. High latent heat of vaporisation
B. High specific heat capacity
C. Low density when solid
D. Strong cohesive forces between molecules
3. A triglyceride molecule is formed from one glycerol and three fatty acids. Which
type of bond is formed during this condensation reaction?
A. Ester
B. Glycosidic
C. Peptide
D. Phosphodiester
4. During which stage of the cell cycle are the chromosomes checked for damage
before DNA replication proceeds?
A. G1 checkpoint
B. G2 checkpoint
C. Metaphase checkpoint
D. S phase checkpoint
,5. Which of the following describes the nature of the genetic code?
A. Overlapping, degenerate, and universal
B. Overlapping, non-degenerate, and specific
C. Non-overlapping, degenerate, and universal
D. Non-overlapping, non-degenerate, and specific
6. A student is using a transmission electron microscope (TEM) to observe a
specimen. What is the maximum resolution typically achievable with a TEM?
A. 2.0 nm
B. 0.2 nm
C. 200 nm
D. 0.02 nm
7. Which type of bond connects consecutive β-glucose molecules in a cellulose
chain?
A. α−1,4-glycosidic
B. β−1,4-glycosidic
C. α−1,6-glycosidic
D. β−1,6-glycosidic
8. Which of the following is a component of an ATP molecule?
A. Deoxyribose sugar
B. Three phosphate groups
C. Thymine base
D. Two ester bonds
, 9. Identify the inorganic ion that acts as a prosthetic group for the enzyme carbonic
anhydrase.
A. Cl −
B. Fe 2+
C. Zn 2+
D. Mg 2+
10. What is the immediate effect of an increase in temperature on the lipids within a
cell surface membrane?
A. They become more fluid.
B. They pack more tightly together.
C. They form a monolayer.
D. They begin to actively transport ions.
11. Which term describes the process of the cytoplasm dividing to create two
daughter cells?
A. Binary fission
B. Cytokinesis
C. Mitosis
D. Telophase
12. Which organelle is responsible for the modification and packaging of proteins into
vesicles?
A. Golgi apparatus
B. Nucleolus
C. Rough endoplasmic reticulum
D. Smooth endoplasmic reticulum
