Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) topic quiz

Exchange surfaces
Instructions and answers for teachers
These instructions cover the learner activity section which can be found on page 9.

This Lesson Element supports OCR AS and A Level Biology A (H020, H420) and Biology B
(Advancing Biology) (H022, H422).

When distributing the activity section to the learners either as a printed copy or as a
Word file you will need to remove the teacher instructions section.

The Activity
This Lesson Element is a teaching and learning resource containing 20 multiple choice
questions (MCQs) on the theme of exchange surfaces. Some questions might require
synoptic thinking, using knowledge and ideas from various topics across the full A Level
content.

This resource can be used to test and consolidate understanding at the end of a topic or to
revisit and refresh knowledge at a later point in the course.

Introduction
Multiple choice questions allow rapid coverage of a wide range of sub-topics.

Contrary to a widespread belief among students, multiple choice questions are not
necessarily easy – they can be easy, moderate or difficult.

The questions are written so that the incorrect answers are plausible distractors based on
common errors or misconceptions.

The questions in this quiz cover topics mainly from specification section:

Biology A
3.1.1 Exchange surfaces

Biology B (Advancing Biology)

2.2.3 Gas exchange in mammals and plants.

Version 1 1 © OCR 2017

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) topic quiz - answers
1 Which one of the following is not a feature of most efficient gas exchange surfaces?

A large surface area

B thin epithelium

C microvilli

D maintained concentration gradient

Your answer C

2 Streptococcus pneumoniae is a spherical-shaped bacterial pathogen that is best

known for causing the respiratory illness pneumonia in humans.
If an individual Streptococcus pneumoniae has a diameter of 1 µm, what is its
surface area to volume ratio?

A 3:1

B 4:1

C 5:1

D 6:1
D
Your answer

3 What is the term used to describe the volume of gas breathed out in one normal
breath?

A dead space

B residual volume

C tidal volume

D vital capacity
Your answer C

Version 1 2 © OCR 2017

4 What is the term used to describe the largest volume of air that can be exchanged in
one breath?

dead space

residual volume

tidal volume

vital capacity
Your answer D

5 During inspiration (inhalation), which of the following is correct?

Diaphragm Internal intercostal External intercostal

muscles muscles

A contracted contracted relaxed

B contracted relaxed contracted

C relaxed contracted relaxed

D relaxed relaxed contracted

Your answer B

6 During expiration (exhalation), which of the following is true about the thorax?

A The pressure decreases causing the volume to increase.

B The pressure decreases causing the volume to decrease.

C The pressure increases causing the volume to increase.

D The pressure increases causing the volume to decrease.

Your answer D

Version 1 3 © OCR 2017

7 A spirometer can be used to help diagnose a lung condition, such as asthma.
Traditionally soda lime was used in a spirometer. What is the purpose of the soda
lime?
A to absorb oxygen

B to absorb water vapour

C to absorb carbon dioxide

D to absorb nitrogen

Your answer C

8 Which one of the following cannot be measured by a spirometer?

A vital capacity

B breathing rate

C residual volume

D tidal volume
Your answer C

9 The air in the trachea, bronchi and bronchioles is termed the ‘dead space’. The
volume of dead space in an individual can be estimated using the formula:

dead space (cm3) = mass of subject (kg) / 0.45

If 1 stone (st) is equal to 6.350 kg, calculate (to two significant figures) the dead
space for a woman of 8.0 st.
A 50 cm3

B 14 cm3

C 110 cm3

D 1.8 cm3
Your answer C

Version 1 4 © OCR 2017

10 Which one of the following is not found in the wall of a bronchus?

A cartilage

B smooth muscle

C cilia

D microvilli
Your answer D

11 Which one of the following has the highest concentration of oxygen?

A atmospheric air

B alveolar air

C air in the dead space

D exhaled air
Your answer A

12 When oxygen diffuses from the alveolus into the plasma, how many cell layers does
it cross?

A 1

B 2

C 3

D 4
Your answer B

13 Which one of the following is not true of the trachea?

A it has goblet cells

B it has a ciliated epithelium

C it has smooth muscle

D it has rings of bone

Your answer D

Version 1 5 © OCR 2017

14 When air is breathed in by mammals, what is the correct order of structures it passes
through?

A larynx → pharynx → trachea → bronchus

B larynx → pharynx → bronchus → trachea

C pharynx → larynx → trachea → bronchus

D pharynx → larynx → bronchus → trachea

Your answer C

15 Which one of the following does not contain cartilage?

A alveolus

B bronchiole

C bronchus

D trachea
Your answer A

16 How does surfactant prevent the alveoli from collapsing?

A humidifying the air

B warming the air

C reducing surface tension

D preventing dehydration
Your answer C

17 Which polysaccharide is found in the exoskeleton and tracheae walls of most

insects?

A cellulose

B chitin

C glycogen

D starch
Your answer B

18 The common green grasshopper (Omocestus viridulus) is an insect found across the
UK.

Version 1 6 © OCR 2017

 Which of the statements describing the gaseous exchange system of the common
green grasshopper is/are correct?
1 The hard exoskeleton does not allow gaseous exchange to take place.
2 Water loss can be controlled by the opening and closing of spiracles.
3 Tracheoles have a large surface area for efficient gaseous exchange.

A 1, 2 and 3

B Only 1 and 2

C Only 2 and 3

D Only 1
Your answer A

19 In bony fish, what is the operculum?

A the main site of gaseous exchange in fish

B a supporting structure for the gills

C a bony flap covering the gills

D a collection of blood vessels found in the gills

Your answer C

Version 1 7 © OCR 2017

 20 Trout are a large bony fish found in the UK and are an important indicator species for
the health of our rivers, lakes and estuaries.
They need 5-6 mg dm-3 dissolved oxygen for normal activity. If the oxygen
concentration is lower than this trout numbers decline.
Which of the statements would account for the high concentration of oxygen
required?
1 Trout are very active and their cells have a high oxygen demand.
2 Diffusion of oxygen in water is slower than in air.
3 Blood and water flow in opposite directions across the gills ensuring
optimum levels of gaseous exchange.

A 1, 2 and 3

B Only 1 and 2

C Only 2 and 3

D Only 1
Your answer B

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Version 1 8 © OCR 2017

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) topic quiz

Exchange surfaces
Learner Activity

1 Which one of the following is not a feature of most efficient gas exchange surfaces?

A large surface area

B thin epithelium

C microvilli

D maintained concentration gradient

Your answer

2 Streptococcus pneumoniae is a spherical-shaped bacterial pathogen that is best

known for causing the respiratory illness pneumonia in humans.
If an individual Streptococcus pneumoniae has a diameter of 1 µm, what is its
surface area to volume ratio?

A 3:1

B 4:1

C 5:1

D 6:1
Your answer

3 What is the term used to describe the volume of gas breathed out in one normal
breath?

A dead space

B residual volume

C tidal volume

D vital capacity
Your answer

Version 1 9 © OCR 2017

4 What is the term used to describe the largest volume of air that can be exchanged in
one breath?

dead space

residual volume

tidal volume

vital capacity
Your answer

5 During inspiration (inhalation), which of the following is correct?

Diaphragm Internal intercostal External intercostal

muscles muscles

A contracted contracted relaxed

B contracted relaxed contracted

C relaxed contracted relaxed

D relaxed relaxed contracted

Your answer

6 During expiration (exhalation), which of the following is true about the thorax?

A The pressure decreases causing the volume to increase.

B The pressure decreases causing the volume to decrease.

C The pressure increases causing the volume to increase.

D The pressure increases causing the volume to decrease.

Your answer

Version 1 10 © OCR 2017

7 A spirometer can be used to help diagnose a lung condition, such as asthma.
Traditionally soda lime was used in a spirometer. What is the purpose of the soda
lime?
A to absorb oxygen

B to absorb water vapour

C to absorb carbon dioxide

D to absorb nitrogen

Your answer
8 Which one of the following cannot be measured by a spirometer?

A vital capacity

B breathing rate

C residual volume

D tidal volume
Your answer

9 The air in the trachea, bronchi and bronchioles is termed the ‘dead space’. The
volume of dead space in an individual can be estimated using the formula:

dead space (cm3) = mass of subject (kg) / 0.45

If 1 stone (st) is equal to 6.350 kg, calculate (to two significant figures) the dead
space for a woman of 8.0 st.
A 50 cm3

B 14 cm3

C 110 cm3

D 1.8 cm3
Your answer

Version 1 11 © OCR 2017

10 Which one of the following is not found in the wall of a bronchus?

A cartilage

B smooth muscle

C cilia

D microvilli
Your answer

11 Which one of the following has the highest concentration of oxygen?

A atmospheric air

B alveolar air

C air in the dead space

D exhaled air
Your answer

12 When oxygen diffuses from the alveolus into the plasma, how many cell layers does
it cross?

A 1

B 2

C 3

D 4
Your answer

13 Which one of the following is not true of the trachea?

A it has goblet cells

B it has a ciliated epithelium

C it has smooth muscle

D it has rings of bone

Your answer

Version 1 12 © OCR 2017

14 When air is breathed in by mammals, what is the correct order of structures it passes
through?

A larynx → pharynx → trachea → bronchus

B larynx → pharynx → bronchus → trachea

C pharynx → larynx → trachea → bronchus

D pharynx → larynx → bronchus → trachea

Your answer

15 Which one of the following does not contain cartilage?

A alveolus

B bronchiole

C bronchus

D trachea
Your answer

16 How does surfactant prevent the alveoli from collapsing?

A humidifying the air

B warming the air

C reducing surface tension

D preventing dehydration
Your answer

17 Which polysaccharide is found in the exoskeleton and tracheae walls of most

insects?

A cellulose

B chitin

C glycogen

D starch
Your answer

18 The common green grasshopper (Omocestus viridulus) is an insect found across the
UK.

Version 1 13 © OCR 2017

 Which of the statements describing the gaseous exchange system of the common
green grasshopper is/are correct?
1 The hard exoskeleton does not allow gaseous exchange to take place.
2 Water loss can be controlled by the opening and closing of spiracles.
3 Tracheoles have a large surface area for efficient gaseous exchange.

A 1, 2 and 3

B Only 1 and 2

C Only 2 and 3

D Only 1
Your answer

19 In bony fish, what is the operculum?

A the main site of gaseous exchange in fish

B a supporting structure for the gills

C a bony flap covering the gills

D a collection of blood vessels found in the gills

Your answer

Version 1 14 © OCR 2017

20 Trout are a large bony fish found in the UK and are an important indicator species for
the health of our rivers, lakes and estuaries.
They need 5-6 mg dm-3 dissolved oxygen for normal activity. If the oxygen
concentration is lower than this trout numbers decline.
Which of the statements would account for the high concentration of oxygen
required?
1 Trout are very active and their cells have a high oxygen demand.
2 Diffusion of oxygen in water is slower than in air.
3 Blood and water flow in opposite directions across the gills ensuring
optimum levels of gaseous exchange.

A 1, 2 and 3

B Only 1 and 2

C Only 2 and 3

D Only 1
Your answer

Version 1 15 © OCR 2017