LEAVING CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION

BIOLOGY - ORDINARY LEVEL SAMPLE PAPER

MARKING SCHEME

This marking scheme is the work of practicing teachers – and is a suggested solution to the paper.

1. 4(5)
(a) Ear
(b) Liver
(c) Stoma (Stomata)
(d) Ligaments
(e) Omnivore

2. 5(4)
Rods (Bacillus) Spheres (Cocci)
Binary fission
Spores (Endospores)
Disease causing

3. 5(4)
Cell membrane Lipid
Vacuole Sap
Mutation Variation
Organ Liver
Gamete Haploid

4.

13 3
April / May / June 3(3)
There is plenty of food/ it is warmer 3
Lack of food / predation / temperature / decrease
3+2
Any two
5.
(a) Vitamin: A or D or K 3
Source: liver/ milk/ green vegetables 3
Disease: Night blindness or rickets (osteomalacia) or reduced
4
clotting of blood
(b) Minerals: Calcium and Iron 2(3)
Calcium – for strong bones and teeth or blood clotting
OR
4
Any one
Iron – for red blood cells or to make haemoglobin

6. 5(4)
Six
Two
Three
1. Reproduction
2. Growth / Repair

7. (a) (i) A biological/ organic/ protein catalyst 3

(ii) Substrate 3

(b) Catalase or amylase (must match substrate) 3

Hydrogen peroxide or starch (must match enzyme used) 3
Diagram of set up 6,3,0
Labels: water bath(s)/ test tubes/ solutions/ 3(1)
Water baths/ at different temperatures/ thermostat 3
Volumes of foam/ per minute/ disappearance of blue colour/ per
3
minute
8. (a) (i) Named ecosystem 3
(ii) Matching three plants 3(1)

(b) % frequency or % cover. Named plant 3

Position quadrat / at random / number of times / count plants / estimate
cover / result / number per area / % frequency / % cover Any four 4(3)
Results presented in words or a diagram or a graph or a table
Source of error: Lack of randomness/ insufficient quadrats/ species
identification/ carelessness/ human error/ unsuitable equipment.

9. (a) The growth of a seed/ sprouting/ re growth of the embryo plant 3

Moisture (water) / warmth ( correct temperature) / oxygen 3(1)

(b) Seed type: mustard/ cress/ radish/ peas 3

Diagram: 4 dishes/ tubes. A- minus water/ B minus oxygen/ C with every 6,3,0
thing/ D – minus correct temperature.
Labels to match diagrams. ( title may be considered a label) 3
Set up apparatus as in sketch / placed A, B and C in incubator at 20 °C /
3(3)
place D in fridge / for 2-3 days
A, B, D – no germination 3
C – germination 3
10. (a) (i) 72 beats per minute ( allow 5 either side) 3
(ii) Decrease: sleep / rest / cold / drugs
Any one 3
Increase: exercise / excitement / drugs 3
Any one

(b) (i) A- ventricle, B- bicuspid valve, C- atrium, D – aorta, E- pulmonary artery,

6(3)
F – vena cava
(ii) The lungs 3
(iii) To prevent backflow (of blood)/ from ventricle to atrium 3
(iv) Coronary ( cardiac) 3

(c) (i) Plasma 3

(ii) Glucose / amino acids / vitamins / urea / hormones Any two 2(3)
(iii) To transport substances / act as a medium Any one 3
(iv) RBC- transport oxygen Any one 3
WBC- defence against disease / produce antibodies / engulf bacteria
Any one 3
(v) ABO and Rhesus systems 2(3)

11. (a) (i) Examining DNA / for a pattern or band / to compare 3

(ii) Forensic / paternity case s/ medical or examples 2(3)

(b)
Gametes X Y
X XX XY
X XX XY

Gametes: X and X or Y 3(4)

Genotypes: XX and XY ( 50% chance of either) 2(6)

(c) (i) Change / producing new organisms / example 6+3

(ii) organisms have variations / that are inherited / beneficial / will reproduce
/ struggle for existence / pass on these variation s/ ‘survival / of fittest’ /
origin of species Any four 4(3)
(iii) Fossils / comparative anatomy / embryos / DNA changes / horse / bones
2(3)
Any two
12. (a) (i) A group of similar cells 3
(ii) Xylem and Phloem 2(3)

(b) (i) A, B and C correctly marked on the diagram 3(3)

(ii) Absorption of water (and minerals) / anchorage / food storage / asexual
3(3)
reproduction
(iii) Radicle 3
(iv) At the tip 3

(c) (i) A seed leaf / embryonic leaf 3

(ii) Daffodil / onion / any correct 3
(iii) Daisy / dandelion / buttercup / any correct 3
(iv)
Monocotyledon Dicotyledon
Distribution of veins
parallel Netted / reticulate
in leaf
Leaf shape Strap broad
6(3)
Distribution of
vascular bundles in No definite pattern Definite pattern
stem
13. (a) (i) 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy 2(3)
(ii) Mitochondria 3

(b) (i) To show that it is the mouse that releases the carbon dioxide 3
(ii) Lime water in 2 proves that any carbon dioxide in the incoming air
has been removed. 3
Lime water in 3 proves that it is the mouse that releases the CO2 3
(iii) To act as a comparison/ a standard against which to compare. 6
The same set up but with no mouse ( organism) 3
(iv) No. 3
Photosynthesis by the plant would use up the CO2 that the plant
produces in respiration 3

(c) (i) To remove the oxygen 6

(ii) To keep the system anaerobic/ to stop oxygen getting in 6
(iii) No. 3
The control would be the set up without the yeast. It is the yeast that
is respiring. 6
(iv) Baking / brewing 2(3)
14. Any two of (a), (b), (c) (30, 30)

14. (a) (i) Nitrogen Cycle 6

(ii) Any named herbivore and carnivore related to an Irish ecosystem 2(3)
(iii) Proteins / nucleic acids / enzymes 6
(iv) Denitrification / death and decay / decomposition 3
(v) Nitrogen fixation 3
(vi) Bacteria / Rhizobia 3
(vii) To prevent washing excess nitrates into rivers and streams /causing
3
pollution

14. (b) (i) The sun 3

(ii) Photosynthesis 3
(iii) Chlorophyll 3
(iv) Name of ecosystem 3
A – ( plant), B ( herbivore), C ( carnivore) 3(3)
(v) B.
3
Because the energy decreases / is lost as you move up through a
3
food chain
(vi) Food web (must include A, B, C above) 3

14. (c) (i) Addition of harmful substance to the environment/ undesirable

6
change
(ii) Any Example: release of toxic gases from manufacturing. 3
One Control: legislation / filters 3
(iii) 1. Bad odours / disease / unsightly / production of toxic chemicals /
run off 3
2. Waste management: safe disposal of waste / reduce / reuse /
recycle / example of waste / how managed / role of micro-organisms 3
(iv) Protection / preservation / wise management of the environment 6
(v) Conservation practice: net mesh size in fishing industry to allow
6
young fish escape to breed
15. Any two of (a), (b), (c) (30, 30)

15. (a) (i) A – cortex, B- medulla ( pyramid), C – pelvis, D – ureter 4(3)

(ii) Bladder 3
(iii) In the cortex. ( A)/ nephron/ glomerulus/ Bowman’s capsule 3
(iv) Glucose/ amino acids/ vitamins/ red blood cells/ white blood cells
2(3)
Any two
(v) Put on a dialysis ( kidney) machine 3
(vi) Lungs / skin / liver
3
Any one

15. (b) (i) Fungi 3

(ii) A- hypha ( stolon), B – rhizoid, C – sporangium 3(3)
(iii) Anchorage / absorption
3
Any one
(iv) Asexual reproduction / production of spores / storage of spores
3
Any one
(v) Name: Mushrooms/ Truffles-
3
Benefit: for food/ fungi of decay – to decompose and recycle
3
nutrients
(vi) Name: Destroying Angel/ Death Cap – 3
Harm: Is a poisonous fungus 3

15. (c) (i) A – petal,

B – anther,
4(3)
C – sepal,
D – carpel
(ii) C – protection / photosynthesis Any one 3
(iii) The anther / stamen 3
(iv) The carpel / ovary / ovule 3
(v) The ovary / ovary wall 3
(vi) By insects / animals. 3
The nectar is a ‘reward’ for the insect visiting the flower and at the
same time transfers pollen 3