AQA
A-Level
BIOLOGY
3.2a Cells
2.5-2.7 | The Cell Cycle including Mitosis
Time allowed
38 minutes
QUESTION PAPER
Score Percentage
/32 %
4.1 | CELL BIOLOGY | QUESTION PAPER 1 1
, .In many parts of the world, crops have to be watered to grow enough food but fresh water is
often in short supply.
Barley is a plant that grows a leafy shoot and then produces seed that is harvested for
food.
Scientists investigated whether barley could be grown successfully using fresh water
mixed with seawater. This would reduce the use of fresh water. However, seawater
contains dissolved sodium chloride (salt).
The scientists grew barley in plots of equal size in the same large field. Each plot received
one of four treatments.
A No watering.
B Watering with fresh water during growth and seed production.
C Watering with a 1:1 mix of fresh water and seawater during growth and
seed production.
D Watering with fresh water during growth and with a 1:1 mix of fresh water and
seawater during seed production.
At the end of the investigation, the scientists measured the concentration of salt in the soil
in each plot and the yield of barley seed harvested from each plot.
The scientists’ results are shown in the table below.
Mean concentration of salt in
Watering treatment Mean yield of barley seed / g
soil / arbitrary units
A 10.1 346
A-Level
BIOLOGY
3.2a Cells
2.5-2.7 | The Cell Cycle including Mitosis
Time allowed
38 minutes
QUESTION PAPER
Score Percentage
/32 %
4.1 | CELL BIOLOGY | QUESTION PAPER 1 1
, .In many parts of the world, crops have to be watered to grow enough food but fresh water is
often in short supply.
Barley is a plant that grows a leafy shoot and then produces seed that is harvested for
food.
Scientists investigated whether barley could be grown successfully using fresh water
mixed with seawater. This would reduce the use of fresh water. However, seawater
contains dissolved sodium chloride (salt).
The scientists grew barley in plots of equal size in the same large field. Each plot received
one of four treatments.
A No watering.
B Watering with fresh water during growth and seed production.
C Watering with a 1:1 mix of fresh water and seawater during growth and
seed production.
D Watering with fresh water during growth and with a 1:1 mix of fresh water and
seawater during seed production.
At the end of the investigation, the scientists measured the concentration of salt in the soil
in each plot and the yield of barley seed harvested from each plot.
The scientists’ results are shown in the table below.
Mean concentration of salt in
Watering treatment Mean yield of barley seed / g
soil / arbitrary units
A 10.1 346
