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Final Examination 2017-2018

Form Three Biology
Time: 8:25 – 9:55 am
Date: 12th June, 2018
Total marks: 90

Name: _____________________________________ ( ) F.3 _____

General Instructions
1. There are TWO sections in this paper. Section A carries 30 marks and Section B carries 60.

2. Section A consists of multiple-choice questions. Answer the questions in the multiple choice
answer sheets provided.

3. Section B contains structured questions printed separately in a Question-Answer Book. Put

all your answers onto the Question-Answer book.

4. Section A, Multiple Choice answer sheet and Section B, the Question-Answer booklet must be
handed in separately at the end of the examination.

5. The diagrams in this paper are not necessarily drawn to scale.

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Section A: Multiple Choice

1. Which of the following combinations about the properties of water and its corresponding function
in organisms is/are correct?
Property of water Function of water
(1) Small molecular size Acts as a medium for chemical reactions to take place
(2) High density Provides buoyance for aquatic plants and animals
(3) High specific heat capacity Acts as a temperature buffer to allow organisms to
maintain fairly stable body temperature

A. (3) only B. (1) and (2) only

C. (2) and (3) only D. (1), (2) and (3)

2. Which of the following is the function of magnesium in organisms?

A. for forming chlorophyll
B. for muscle contraction
C. for forming haemoglobin
D. for blood clotting

3. Benedict’s test can be used to distinguish

(1) sucrose and starch
(2) sucrose and fructose
(3) glucose and fructose
(4) glucose and starch

A. (1) and (2) only

B. (1) and (3) only
C. (2) and (4) only
D. (1), (3) and (4) only

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4. The following table shows the results obtained by four tests carried out on a food sample.
Test Result
Benedict’s test Brick red precipitates
Iodine solution test Blue black coloration
Grease spot test No translucent spot
Protein test strip No colour change of the strip

From the results, we can deduce that the food sample contains
A. starch and glucose
B. starch and reducing sugars
C. glucose, lipids and proteins
D. starch, glucose and proteins

5. The figure below shows some chemical molecules found in the human body and how they join to
form larger molecules.

L
M

Identify molecules K, L and M.

K L M
A. glucose glycerol triglyceride
B. amino acid fatty acid glycerol
C. glucose fatty acid glycerol
D. amino acid glycerol triglyceride

6. Which of the following is/are the function(s) of lipids in organisms?

(1) as a shock absorber

(2) as energy reserves in organisms
(3) as an insulator layer to reduce heat loss

A. (3) only B. (1) and (2) only

C. (2) and (3) only D. (1), (2) and (3)

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7. Which of the following elements must be present in proteins?

(1) nitrogen (2) carbon (3) phosphorus
A. (2) only
B. (1) and (2) only
C. (2) and (3) only
D. (1), (2) and (3) only

8. Which of the following statements describing proteins is correct?

A. Proteins do not have energy value.
B. Only small amounts of proteins are needed for healthy growth.
C. The ratio of hydrogen atoms to oxygen atoms in a polypeptide chain is always 2:1.
D. In a polypeptide chain, the amino group of one amino acid is joined together with the carboxyl
group of another amino acid by condensation.

9. The following diagram shows part of a DNA molecule.

Which of the following shows the basic unit of DNA?

A. B.

C. D.

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10. In a certain DNA molecule, 40% of the nitrogenous bases are adenine (A). What is the percentage
of cytosine (C) in this molecule?
A. 10%
B. 20%
C. 40%
D. 60%

11. The two strands of polynucleotide chains in a DNA molecule are held together by
A. peptide bonds.
B. hydrogen bonds.
C. condensation.
D. hydrolysis.

12. A F.3 student observes the transverse section of a plant stem under a light microscope and he can
view the following image:

Part X

In order to view part X in greater details with a higher magnification, he carries out the
following steps:
(1) Move the specimen so that part X is at the (I) of the field of view.
(2) Change the (II) to a higher magnification.
(3) Adjust the (III) to brighten the field of view.
(4) Turn the (IV) to adjust the focus.

Which of the following is the correct combination of the blanks shown above?
I II III IV
A. right side fine adjustment knob objective condenser
B. right side coarse adjustment knob objective condenser
C. centre objective fine adjustment knob diaphragm
D. centre objective diaphragm fine adjustment
knob

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13. When viewing a temporary mount of a specimen under the microscope, it is advisable to put a
cover slip on the specimen. The least important reason for this is to
A. hold the specimen still.
B. keep the specimen flat.
C. prevent the objective lens from getting wet.
D. prevent the specimen from drying up.

Directions: Questions 14 and 15 refer to the organelle shown in the following electron micrograph.

14. The organelle shown in the electron micrograph is

A. endoplastic recticulum
B. endoplastic reticulum
C. endoplasmic recticulum
D. endoplasmic reticulum

15. Which of the following about the organelle is correct?

(1) It helps in the synthesis and transport of proteins.
(2) It can be found in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
(3) It is surrounded by a double membrane.

A. (1) only
B. (1) and (3) only
C. (2) and (3) only
D. (1), (2) and (3)

16. Which of the following comparisons between a bacterium and an onion epidermal cell is incorrect?
Bacterium Onion epidermal cell
A. No nuclear membrane Has nuclear membrane
B. Coiled loop of DNA Linear DNA attached to proteins
C. No ribosome Ribosomes present in cytoplasm
D. No membrane-bound organelles With membrane-bound organelles

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17. The following diagram shows the electron micrograph of an organelle X.

Which of the following is/are correct for organelle X?

(1) It is surrounded by a double membrane.
(2) It is more abundant in metabolically active cells.
(3) It is the site of ATP production during respiration.

A. (3) only
B. (1) and (2) only
C. (2) and (3) only
D. (1), (2) and (3)

18. Which of the following is/are correct description(s) for a root cell?
(1) The cytoplasm protects the nucleus.
(2) The cell wall is fully permeable to minerals.
(3) The vacuole protects, supports and gives shape to the root cell.

A. (2) only
B. (1) and (2) only
C. (2) and (3) only
D. (1), (2) and (3)

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19. Which of the following shows the correct match of the level of organization in organism?
Level of organization
A. Tissue

banana leaf

B. Organ

strawberry

C. System

heart
D. Organism

sperm

20. Which of the following processes enable movement of substances both in and out of a cell?
(1) active transport
(2) diffusion
(3) osmosis
(4) phagocytosis

A. (2) and (3) only

B. (1), (2) and (3) only
C. (2), (3) and (4) only
D. (1), (2), (3) and (4)

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Directions: Questions 21 and 22 refer to the diagram below which shows an experimental set-up for
studying osmosis:

21. After three hours, the liquid level has risen. What can be deduced from this result?
(1) Solution S diffuses into the dialysis tubing.
(2) Value of x is larger than that of y.
(3) Solute of solution S cannot pass through the dialysis tubing.

A. (1) and (2) only

B. (1) and (3) only
C. (2) and (3) only
D. (1), (2) and (3)

22. Which of the following modifications will result in a faster rise in the liquid level?

(1) use a smaller volume of x % solution S

(2) use a larger volume of y % solution S
(3) use a narrower capillary tube
(4) use a longer piece of dialysis tubing

A. (2) and (3) only

B. (3) and (4) only
C. (1), (2) and (3) only
D. (2), (3) and (4) only

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23. Which of the following applies the principle of osmosis?

A. Soaking fresh green grapes in water for 30 min before eating to remove the residual pesticide on
the green grape skin.
B. Test for the presence of glucose in urine with a glucose test strip.
C. Removal of food stains on clothes using biological washing powders.
D. Food preservation by soaking food in high concentration sugar solution.

24. An experiment was designed to find the effect of concentration of salt solution on the length of
potato cylinder. Potato cylinders of the same length were immersed in salt solutions of different
concentrations. The final lengths were measured after 30 min. The result is shown in the following
graph.

Initial length
Final length

Which of the following concentrations of salt solution has the same water potential as the cell
content of the potato cells before the immersion?

A. 0.6%
B. 1.6%
C. 8%
D. 25%

25. “Lock and Key” is a scientific model which is a selective representation used to explain that
enzymes
A. are biological catalysts.
B. are specific in action.
C. are protein in nature.
D. are required in small amounts.

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Directions: Read the article below and answer questions 26 and 27.

The discovery of enzymes

In the 19th century, scientists found that yeasts, a kind of micro-organisms, could convert sugar
into alcohol to make wine. They thought that living yeast cells were needed in this reaction.
A German scientist called Eduard Buchner was interested in the medical use of yeasts. One day
in 1897, he broke down some yeast cells to extract substances for the treatment of certain diseases. He
put the extract in sugar solution in order to keep it longer. The next morning, he found that the extract
had changed the sugar into alcohol.

26. Which of the following was Buchner’s observation?

A. Living yeast cells changed sugar into alcohol.
B. Yeast extract could be used in the treatment of certain diseases.
C. Yeast extract in sugar solution could be kept for a longer time.
D. Yeast extract changed sugar into alcohol.

27. Which of the following is the hypothesis to explain Buchner’s observation?

A. Sugar can be changed to alcohol.
B. Alcohol can be used in the treatment of certain diseases.
C. Living yeast cells were needed to change sugar to alcohol.
D. The yeast extract contained some substances which can work outside yeast cells.

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Directions: Questions 28 to 29 refer to the following investigation.

In a supermarket, Mark found three brands (A, B and C) of bioactive washing powder claimed to be
effective in removing protein-based stains. To compare their effectiveness, he made four wells on a
milk-agar plate. Then he added the washing powder solutions of different brands as well as distilled
water (W) into the respective wells. The plate was incubated at 37°C for one day. The results are
shown below:

Clear zone

28. What is the independent variable in Mark’s investigation?

A. Brand of washing powder.
B. Diameter of the clear zone.
C. Time taken for the formation of clear zone.
D. Volume of washing powder solution added into each well.

29. Which of the following is/are the conclusion(s) for Mark’s investigation?
(1) Brand B washing powder is the most effective in removing protein-based stains.
(2) The enzymes in the bioactive washing powder work best at 37°C.
(3) Proteases present in Brands B and C washing powder break down proteins
in the milk agar, leading to the formation of clear zone.

A. (1) only
B. (1) and (3) only
C. (2) and (3) only
D. (1), (2) and (3)

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30. A student used the following set-up to investigate the activity of an enzyme which catalyzes the
breakdown of starch to maltose. He wanted to find out the time required for the completion of the
enzymatic reaction.

Which of the following combinations correctly states the test and the observation when the
enzymatic reaction has completed?

Test Observation when the enzymatic reaction has

completed
A. Benedict’s test Brick red precipitate started to appear
B. Benedict’s test Benedict’s solution remained blue
C. Iodine test Iodine solution started to turn blue black
D. Iodine test Iodine solution remained brown

END OF SECTION A

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Final Examination 2017 - 2018

Form Three Biology
Time: 8:25 – 9:55 am
Date: 12th June, 2018
Total marks: 90
Name:_____________________________________ ( ) F.3 _____
Section B. Question-Answer Booklet. Answer ALL questions in the space provided.
Supplementary sheets will be available upon request.
1. Allen is studying the cells of a pondweed. He first mounts a small piece of leaf in water, then
replaces the water with solution X. Fig. 1.1 and Fig. 1.2 show the cells observed under 400 X with a
microscope.

(a)
In

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order to prevent formation of air bubbles in the mount, what precaution should Allen take when
covering the leaf with a cover slip? (1 mark)

Lower the cover slip slowly

(a) P is chloroplast. Explain why it is important for the survival of the pond weed. (2 marks)

P contains the pigment chlorophyll (1) which absorb light for photosynthesis (food making) of
the pond weed. (1)

(b) Make a fully labelled high power drawing to show two neighboring cells in Fig.1.2.
(5 marks)

Title: Pond weed leaf cells soaked in solution X after 5 minutes / Plasmolysed leaf cells of pond
weed/ pond weed leaf cells in hypertonic solution (400X) (1)
Drawing (2) cell wall not shown by double lines (-1), draw I cell (-1), space between
neighbouring cell wall (-1), no chloroplast or draw nucleus (-1), anything ridiculous occur (-1),
minor poor drawing skill (-1/2)
Label: cell wall (1) cell membrane (1), chloroplast, cytoplasm

(c) Explain the appearance of the cells in Fig. 1.2. (4 marks)

Water potential of solution X is lower than that of the cells (1)

Net water movement out of the cells by osmosis (1)
Cytoplasm / vacuole shrinks (1) and
membrane is pulled away from cell wall /The cells are in a state of plasmolysis (1)

(d) Calculate the length RS. Show your calculation. (2 marks)

4 cm /400 = 0.01 cm / 0.1 mm /100 µm  to be measured

(e) Bobby stated that space Y is filled with water. Explain why Bobby is wrong. (2 marks)
Space Y should be filled with solution X (1)
Cell wall is fully permeable so solute in solution X can pass through it and goes into space Y
with water molecules.

Total: 16 marks

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2. Through analyzing the chemical composition of cell membrane, scientists discovered that cell
membrane is made up largely of phospholipids and a small amount of proteins. Later, with the
invention of electron microscope, scientists saw that the cell membrane looked like a sandwich as
shown in Fig. 2.1. Therefore, scientists proposed a “sandwich model” to show the structure of the
cell membrane. The model is shown in Fig. 2.2.

(a) What are molecules X and Y suggested in the “sandwich model”? (2 marks)

X- protein (1), Y phospholipid (1)

(b) This “sandwich model” is abandoned now because it was unable to fully explain the function of
cell membrane.
(i) What is the general function of the cell membrane? (1 mark)

Control movement of substances into or out of cells

(ii) Explain why polar molecules cannot pass through the cell membrane represented by the
“sandwich model”. (2 marks)

A large central part composed of hydrophobic tail of phospholipid molecule (1)

Polar molecules are hydrophilic /and cannot dissolve (1) and pass through this layer.

(c) Nowadays, scientists generally accept “fluid mosaic” model as the correct representation of the
structure of cell membrane.
(i) Draw a labelled 2-dimensional diagram to show how the phospholipids and protein
molecules arranged in this model. Show three different types of protein molecules in the
model. (4 marks)
Phospholipid bilayer (1)
Hydrophilic head and hydrophobic tail (show correct orientation)
Any 3:
Transmembrane protein as ion channel (1)
Transmembrane protein as pump/carrier proteins (1)

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Peripheral proteins (1)

Integral (monotopic/ not span to other side) proteins (1)

(ii) Describe two ways by which polar molecules pass through the membrane based on the
“fluid mosaic” model. (3 marks)
Through ion channel (1)
Carried by carrier protein (1) making use of energy from cell/respiration (1)

Total: 12 marks
3. A student used the following set-up to demonstrate the activity of catalase in liver tissues. He made
two set-ups according to the table below, then measured the volume of gas released in 10 minutes at
25oC.

measuring
cylinder

water

hydrogen peroxide + tissue

Volume of gas released in 10 minutes

Set-up Content in test tube
(cm3)

A 1g raw pig liver + 2cm3 hydrogen peroxide 10

B 1g boiled pig liver + 2cm3 hydrogen peroxide 0

a) What is the purpose of set-up B? (1 mark)

To show that the release of the gas is due to the action of enzymes/catalase in liver (1)

b) “Gas will be released after cooling down the boiled liver to 25oC.” Explain why this statement
is incorrect. (2 marks)

At 100oC, the enzymes were denatured/shape of active site was changed (1)
Which is a permanent/irreversible change (1)

c) (i) Name the gas released in set-up A. (1 mark)

Oxygen (1)

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(ii) How can you test for the gas you stated in part (i)? (1 mark)
It will relight a glowing splint (1)

d) In set-up A, why would no more gas be released after 1 hour? (1 mark)

All the hydrogen peroxide has been broken down/used up.

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The student decided to investigate the effect of temperature on catalase activity. He placed set-up A in
different temperatures and measured the time needed for 10 cm3 of gas to be released. The results are
presented in the table below.
Temperature (oC) Time needed for 10 cm3 of gas to be released (min) Catalase activity (min-1)
10 20 0.05
25 10 0.1
40 4 0.25
70 30 0.0333
90 ∞ 0
∞ = no gas was released
e) Complete the table above. (2 marks)

f) Present the data graphically with the graph paper below. (5 marks)

A graph showing the effect of temperature on catalse Title (1)

activity X-axis label, units (0.5, 0.5)
0.3
Y-axis label, units (0.5, 0.5)
Correct choice of axes (1)
0.25
Data points and line (1)
Catalase activity (min-1)

0.2
Wrong data point (-0.5)
Missing axes arrows (-
0.15
0.5)

0.1

0.05

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Temperature (oC)

g) Describe and explain the effect of temperature on the activity of catalase with reference to the
above results. (5 marks)

Catalase activity increases as the temperature increases from 10°C to 40°C. (1)
More kinetic energy possessed by the substrate and enzyme molecules (1)
Increase the chance of successful collision to form enzyme-substrate complex (1)
Catalase activity decreases as the temperature further increases from 40°C to 90°C. (1)
Above 40°C, more and more enzyme molecules are denatured by strong heat as the temperature
further increases (1)

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h) Suggest one way to increase the accuracy of the experiment. (1 mark)

Narrow the temperature intervals (1)

Total: 19 marks

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4. An estimated 5.2 million plastic bottles are thrown away every day in Hong Kong, causing serious
plastic pollution. Plastics, such as PET, typically take hundreds of years to be broken down. In 2016,
Japanese scientists discovered an enzyme, PETase, which can potentially alleviate this issue.

The discovery of this enzyme involved the following set-up, where a sheet of PET was placed in
PETase solution at pH 7.0 and 30oC (Fig. 4.1). The sheet was weighed every few days over 40 days.
The decrease in the weight of the PET sheet is presented in the graph below (Fig. 4.2).
70

60

50
pH 7.0 and 30oC
Weight loss (mg)

40

30

20

10

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
Time (day)

Fig. 4.1 Fig. 4.2

i) Is this a catabolic or anabolic reaction? Explain your answer using evidence from the figures
above. (2 marks)
Catabolic (1)
The weight of the PET sheet decreased over time (1)

ii) Why is it important to blot the PET sheet dry before each measurement? (2 marks)
Remove the excess solution on the surface of the PET sheet (1)
Avoid overestimating the weight of the PET/avoid underestimating the weight loss (1)

iii) “Fresh PETase solution has to be added every few days to ensure the reaction continues for
60 days”. Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not? (2 marks)
Disagree (1)
Enzymes remain unchanged at the end of reactions/are reusable/are not used up (1)
iv) How would you modify the above experiment to find the optimum pH of PETase?
(2 marks)
Repeat the experiment at a range of pH/add buffer solutions of different pH (1)
The optimum pH is where the rate of weight loss is the highest (1)

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v) In April 2018, a group of American scientists wanted to study the structure of PETase.
Instead, they accidentally modified the structure of PETase such that the enzymatic rate of
PETase was increased.
(i) What part of PETase was most likely modified? (1 mark)
Active site (1)
(ii) Match the aspects of the nature of science revealed in the discovery of PETase. Write only
one correct alphabet in each box. (2 marks)

Evidence Nature of science

While trying to determine the structure of PETase, American B
scientists accidentally modified the enzyme such that its enzymatic
rate was increased.
The discovery of PETase and attempts to use it to alleviate plastic E
pollution involved both Japanese and American scientists over the
past few years.

Options for choice

A. Scientific knowledge is tentative. It changes when similar data are viewed in a
different way than before.
B. Luck often plays a significant role in fundamental scientific research.
C. Creativity and imagination are involved in data analysis.
D. Scientists asking the same question and follow similar procedures to collect data may
come to different conclusions. The personal subjectivity of scientists may influence
how they interpret their observations.
E. Science is an ongoing process that some scientists build on the work of other
scientists.
F. Science is socially and culturally embedded.

vi) Besides plastic bottles, glass bottles also cause a lot of pollution. Explain why PETase
cannot be used to reduce glass pollution. (2 marks)

Enzymes are specific/active sites of enzymes have specific shapes (1)

Glass cannot fit into the active site of PETase (1)/Enzyme-substrate complex cannot be
formed (1)

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Total: 13 marks

END OF PAPER

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