Exam Practice 2A (Page 98 – 99)

1. Substances are moved in and out of cells by diffusion, facilitated diffusion, active transport,
exocytosis and endocytosis.
a) Which method(s) of transport require energy from cell metabolism?
 B) Active transport, exocytosis and endocytosis

b) Which statement best describes diffusion?

 C) Movement of particles down a concentration gradient

c) The graph below shows the changes in concentration of substance A on the inside and
outside of a partially permeable membrane, during a 50-minute period.

(i) ‘Substance A crosses from one side of this membrane to the other by diffusion’. Justify
this conclusion about the data provided in the graph.
 High concentrations substance move to the lower concentrations substance by diffusion
through the permeable membrane, so the outer concentration ultimately corresponds to
the inner concentration.

(ii) Suggest how the changes in concentration of substance A would be different if

substance A was being transferred across the membrane using active transport.
 If substance A is transported by using active transport, the outside concentration will
increase and the inside concentration will decrease.

2. The diagram below shows a section through an alveolus and the surrounding tissue.
(a) What are the correct names for structures A and B?
 D) A is a red blood cell and B is a nucleus

(b) Describe and explain how alveoli are adapted for the function of gas exchange.
 Alveoli are covered by a rich blood supply of capillaries. These where the lungs and the
blood exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide during the process of breathing in and breathing
out. Alveoli provides a diffusion gradient that allows oxygen to enter the blood and carbon
dioxide run through the lungs. The alveoli are also strongly folded. This means that there is a
large surface area with a volume ratio for gas exchange. After all, the alveolar wall is only
one cell thick, so gas can easily diffuse.

(c) Describe the changes that take place in the lungs and breathing system to cause
inhalation.
 The process of inhalation occurs due to an increase in the lung volume that caused by
diaphragm contraction and chest wall expansion. The intercostal muscles contract and move
the ribs upwards and outwards. This caused an increasing on size of the chest and decreases
the air pressure inside it which sucks air into the lungs in comparison to the atmosphere.
Thus air is rushed in the air way.

(d) The pulmonary ventilation rate is found by multiplying the tidal volume by the number of
breaths taken per minute. Calculate the pulmonary ventilation rate for a person breathing
a tidal volume of 0.45 dm3, 18 times per minute.
  0.45 × 18 = 8.1 dm3/minute

3. (a) What is the correct description of the structure of a phospholipid molecule?

 D) One glycerol attached to two fatty acids and a phosphate group by ester bonds

(b) The presence of a phosphate makes part of the phospholipid molecule hydrophilic. Explain
what is meant by the term hydrophilic.

 Hydrophilic is a substance with a strong affinity for water that will readily dissolve in or mix
with water.

(c) Describe the role of phospholipids in the cell surface membrane.

 Phospholipids provide barriers in cellular membranes to protect the cell, and they make
barriers for the organelles within those cells. Phospholipids work to provide pathways for
various substances across membranes.

(d) Draw a diagram representing the fluid mosaic model of cell membrane structure.

4. The diagram below represents the structure of the cell surface membrane.

(a) Explain why the phospholipid molecules form a bilayer.

 A monolayer developed at a surface between air and water, but this doesn’t happen often in
living cells where there are water-based solutions on either side of membranes. With water
of each side the phospholipid molecules form a bilayer.