INTERACTIVE MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

Test 3

The answers are provided, but so also are explanations of why the alternatives are unsatisfactory

These multiple choice questions are similar to the ones set by the GCSE and IGCSE Examination Boards except that, in some cases, there may be more than one acceptable answer.

For this reason, even if you select a correct answer at your first attempt, it is worth looking at all the alternatives (a) to see if there is a better answer and (b) to see why some of the alternatives are unacceptable

Question 1

You are shipwrecked on a barren island but you have rescued three hens and a bag of wheat from the ship. Your best survival strategy is to …

Question 1

(a) feed the wheat to the hens, eat the eggs they lay and then kill and eat the hens

(b) share the wheat with the hens, eat the eggs and then eat the hens

(c) eat the hens and then eat the wheat

(d) eat all the wheat and then kill and eat the hens

Question 2

No

All the time the hens are alive they will be using their food to produce energy as well as eggs. This energy will not be available to you, so you are losing out on the potential value of the food available

All the time the hens are alive they will be using their food to produce energy as well as eggs. This energy will not be available to you, so you are losing out on the potential value of the food available

No

All the time the hens are alive they will be using their food to produce energy as well as eggs. This energy will not be available to you, so your best strategy will be to kill and eat the hens as soon as possible

Yes

All the time the hens are alive they will be using their food to produce energy as well as eggs. This energy will not be available to you, so you are losing out on the potential value of the food available

No

Humans in hot weather …

Question 2

(a) produce more urine at a greater concentration

(b) produce less urine at a weaker concentration

(c) produce less urine at a stronger concentration

(d) Urine production is not affected by hot weather

Question 3

No

In hot weather, more water is lost by evaporation (e.g. sweating) and so a smaller volume of urine is produced

In hot weather, more water is lost by evaporation (e.g. sweating) and so a smaller volume of urine is produced but it will be of a higher concentration

No

In hot weather, more water is lost by evaporation (e.g. sweating) and so a smaller volume of urine is produced. It will also have a higher concentration

Yes

No

In hot weather there is a reduced volume of urine and at a higher concentration because water is lost by evaporation, leaving less to be excreted by the kidneys

This animal is classified as …

Question 3

(a) a nematode

(b) an annelid

(c) a millipede

(d) a mollusc

Question 4

No

Nematode worms are not segmented

Yes

The drawing is of a segmented worm called Nereis (ragworm)

No

The drawing bears a superficial resemblance to a millipede but there are no jointed legs

No

Molluscs are not segmented

Compared with the air breathed in, the air leaving the lungs will have …

Question 4

(a) less oxygen, more carbon dioxide and more water vapour

(b) less carbon dioxide, more oxygen and more water vapour

(c) less oxygen, more carbon dioxide and less water vapour

(d) more carbon dioxide, less oxygen and more nitrogen

Question 5

Yes

Gaseous exchange in the alveoli results in oxygen being absorbed and carbon dioxide being given out. Also, evaporation from the lining of the alveoli results in an increase in the water vapour breathed out.

Gaseous exchange in the alveoli results in oxygen being absorbed and carbon dioxide being given out.

No

It is correct that gaseous exchange in the alveoli results in oxygen being absorbed and carbon dioxide being given out. However, evaporation from the lining of the alveoli results in an increase in the water vapour breathed out.

No

No

Although air contains 79% nitrogen, it is an inert gas and does not play a part in respiration, so the nitrogen content of the air breathed in and out does not change

The biceps muscle is …

(a) a flexor muscle

(b) an extensor muscle

(c) a voluntary muscle

(d) antagonistic to the triceps muscle

Question 5

Question 6

Yes

When the biceps muscle contracts, it flexes the arm at the elbow

No

The extensor muscle is the triceps. It extends (straightens) the arm at the elbow

Yes

The biceps is a voluntary muscle which responds to nervous impulses from the brain.

Yes

The action of the muscles have opposite effects. The biceps flexes the arm at the elbow and the triceps extends the arm

Question 6

(d) CH3OH (methanol)

(c) 6CO2 (carbon dioxide)

(b) C3H6O3 (lactic acid

(a) C2H5OH (alcohol)

Question 7

What is missing from this equation which represents one form of respiration ?

C6H12O6 + 6O2 ………… + 6H2O

No

C2H5OH (alcohol) is a product of anaerobic respiration (fermentation). The presence of 6O2 in the equation shows that this is aerobic respiration

C3H6O3 (lactic acid) is a product of anaerobic respiration in muscle. The presence of 6O2 in the equation shows that this is aerobic respiration

No

Yes

The presence of 6O2 in the equation shows that this is aerobic respiration and the glucose (C6H12O6) will be completely oxidised to carbon dioxide (6CO2) and water (6H2O)

No

CH3OH (methanol) plays no part in respiration

Question 7

When the eye accommodates to focus on a distant object …

(a) the ciliary muscle contracts

(b) the ciliary muscle relaxes

(c) the lens becomes thicker at the middle

(d) the lens becomes thinner at the middle

Question 8

No

When the ciliary muscle contracts it reduces the tension in the suspensory ligament and allows the lens to become thicker in the middle. This is accommodation for close objects

ciliary muscle

light from nearby object

Yes

When the ciliary muscle relaxes it allow the fluid pressure in the eye to pull the lens to a thinner shape. This is accommodation to focus distant objects

light from distant object

ciliary muscle

light from distant object

No

A lens which is thick in the middle has a shorter focal length and will focus close objects (see answer (a))

Yes

A thinner lens has a longer focal length and will focus distant objects (see answer (b))

Question 8

Which of the following would make the best contribution to a balanced diet?

(a) Fish and chips

(b) Pizza and salad

(c) Sausage and mash with runner beans

(d) A cheese sandwich

Question 9

Not the best

The fish provides protein and the chips provide carbohydrate. The cooking oil supplies fats. But there is very little content of vitamins or dietary fibre

Not the best

The green salad will provide some vitamins and dietary fibre but the pizza is largely carbohydrate, though the topping may contain a small amount of protein

This is the best

The sausage will provide protein and fats; the mashed potatoes will be largely carbohydrate and the runner beans will contain dietary fibre and vitamins A and C

Not the best

The cheese will contain protein, fat and vitamin A. The bread will be largely carbohydrate. Unless the bread is wholemeal there will be little dietary fibre. The vitamins found in green vegetables, particularly vitamins A and C will not be present in sufficient amounts

Question 9

In order to make chlorophyll a green plant specifically needs a supply of …

(a) calcium ions

(b) phosphate ions

(c) potassium ions

(d) magnesium ions

Question 10

No

Plants do need calcium ions for building cell walls, for example. But they do not need them specifically for making chlorophyll

No

Plants need phosphate ions for making DNA, for example, and for many chemical processes. But they do not need phosphates specifically for making chlorophyll

No

Plants need potassium for root development and flower formation but not specifically for producing chlorophyll

Magnesium is an essential part of the chlorophyll molecule

Yes

Question 10

Which of the following can be described as either a source or a sink?

(a) Sieve tubes in the phloem

(b) Leaves

(c) Potato tubers

(d) Xylem vessels

Question 11

No

Sieve tubes in the phloem carry food from one part of the plant to another (from sources to sinks) but they themselves are not sources or sinks

Yes

Leaves produce food by photosynthesis which is then transported in the sieve tubes to other parts of the plant. The leaves, therefore, are SOURCES

Yes

The sugar made in the leaves is transported in the phloem and stored as starch in the potato tubers. The tubers, therefore, are SINKS.

No

The xylem vessels transport water and mineral ions from the roots to all parts of the plant but they are not sources or sinks.

Question 11

Once the atria have filled with blood, which of the following is the correct sequence for a heart beat ?

(d) Atria contract – ventricles contract – bicuspid and tricuspid valves close – semi-lunar valves open

(c) Atria contract – ventricles contract – bicuspid and tricuspid valves open – semi-lunar valves open

(b) Atria contract - bicuspid and tricuspid valves close - ventricles contract - semi-lunar valves open

(a) Semi-lunar valves close – atria contract – ventricles contract – bicuspid and tricuspid valves close

Question 12

No

The semi-lunar valves are already closed at this stage

No

The bicuspid and tricuspid valves do not close until the ventricles contract

Contraction of the ventricles causes the bicuspid and tricuspid valves to close

No

Yes

This is the correct sequence

Question 12

In which of the following ways do plant cells differ from animal cells?

(a) They have a nucleus

(b) They have a cell wall

(c) They have a central vacuole

(d) They contain cytoplasm

Question 13

No

Typically, animal cells and plant cells both contain a nucleus

Yes

Plant cells have a cellulose cell wall which is not present in animal cells

Yes

Mature plant cells have a large, central, fluid-filled vacuole. Animal cells may have small vacuoles distributed throughout their cytoplasm

No

All living plant and animal cells contain cytoplasm though its distribution in the cell is different

Question 13

fruit

style

This fruit is adapted for dispersal by…

(c) explosive method

(b) water

(a) animals

Question 14

(d) wind

1cm fruit

style

No

You would expect a fruit adapted to dispersal by animals (mammals) to have tiny hooks to catch in the animal’s fur.

No

The fruit may be occasionally dispersed by water but it does not show any adaptation to this method

No

It is usually seeds, not fruits, which are dispersed by an explosive method and they are usually small and smooth, thus offering little air resistance

Yes

The fine hairs on the style increase air resistance and the fruit is likely to be carried away by the wind. The fruit is that of wild clematis often seen growing in hedgerows and called ‘old man’s beard’ because of the appearance of these fruits in dense clusters

Single clematis flower after fertilisation

Question 14

Which of the following formulae could represent a carbohydrate?

(d) C2H5OH

(c) C12H22O11

(b) CH2.NH2.COOH

(a) C6H12O6

Question 15

Yes

This compound contains only carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, with the hydrogen and oxygen in the ratio of 2:1. It could be glucose or fructose, for example.

No

Although the compound contains carbon, hydrogen and oxygen it also contains nitrogen. It is an amino acid, glycine. The –NH2 is the amino group and the -COOH is the acid group.

Yes

This compound contains only carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, with the hydrogen and oxygen in the ratio of 2:1. It could be sucrose or maltose, for example.

No

Although the compound contains carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, the hydrogen and oxygen are not in the ratio 2:1. This compound is ethanol.

Question 15

Antibodies are made by…

(a) the liver

(b) lymphocytes

(c) lymph nodes

(d) the red bone marrow

Question 16

No

The liver makes proteins (globulins) which play an important part in the immune reaction but they are not antibodies.

Yes

Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell. They produce antibodies against bacteria and other harmful bodies which get into the blood stream

Yes and No

Lymphocytes are stored in the lymph nodes and produce and release antibodies, but the lymph node itself does not produce antibodies

No

The red bone marrow produces the blood cells, including lymphocytes, but it doe not make antibodies

Question 16

Before mitosis occurs …

(a) the chromosomes split

(b) the spindle appears

(c) the chromosomes replicate

(d) the chromosomes pair up

Question 17

No

The chromosomes do not split but each chromosome makes a copy of itself. The original chromosome and its copy are called chromatids.

No

The spindle does not appear until mitosis has started.

Yes

Each chromosome makes a copy (a replica) of itself , i.e. it replicates. The original chromosome and its copy are called chromatids

No

In mitosis, the chromosomes do not pair up. It is in the early stages of meiosis that the chromosomes form pairs

Question 17

The effect of insulin is to …

(a) increase the release of glucose from the liver

(c) increase the amount of glucose taken up by the tissues

(b) increase the amount of glucose stored in the liver

(d) reduce the amount of glucose stored in the tissues

Question 18

No

It is the hormone glucagon which causes the liver to convert stored glycogen into glucose and release it into the blood stream

Yes

Insulin causes the liver to take up glucose from the blood and convert it to glycogen which is stored

Yes

Insulin causes the tissues to take up glucose from the blood stream

No

Insulin has the reverse effect

Question 18

In a flowering plant, fertilisation takes place when …

(a) a bee visits a flower

(d) pollen is deposited on the stigma

(c) the pollen tube grows down to the ovary

(b) the pollen nucleus fuses with the egg nucleus

Question 19

No

The bee’s visit to the flower may bring pollen into contact with the stigma but this is not fertilisation

Yes

The fusion of male (pollen) and female (egg) nuclei is the defining moment of fertilisation

No

The growth of the pollen tube is necessary to bring the pollen nucleus into the egg cell but it does not constitute fertilisation. It is, however, an essential stage in the process which results in fertilisation

No

The deposition of pollen on the stigma is pollination. It is an essential step in the sequence of events leading to fertilisation but it does not constitute fertilisation.

Question 19

Bacteria reproduce asexually by cell division. In favourable conditions, what is the maximum rate of cell division in some bacteria?

(c) Every 2 hours

(a) Every 2 minutes

(b) Every 20 minutes

(d) Every 24 hours

Question 20

No

Yes

This is the maximum frequency of bacterial cell division most often quoted

No

No

Question 20

The organic bases present in DNA are …

(d) adenine, guanine, cytosine and thymine

(c) cytosine, glycine, adenine and thymine

(b) alanine, guanine, thymine and cytosine

(a) adenine, guanine, cytosine and valine

No

Valine is an amino acid

No

Alanine is an amino acid

No

Glycine is an amino acid

Yes

End of questions

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