Biology: Chapter 2 Molecules of life

Combined Science: Chapter 2 Molecules of life Short questions

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Short questions

Biology: Chapter 2 Molecules of life

Combined Chapter 2 Molecules of life
Science:

|!|ESA010202001O|!|
The descriptions in the table below refer to three kinds of carbohydrates. Put a ‘✓’ in the box to indicate the
description is correct and a ‘’ to indicate the description is incorrect for each carbohydrate. (6 marks)

Descriptions Glycogen Maltose Cellulose

Glucose as monomer
Reducing sugar
Unbranched chain only
Energy store in animal cells
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Descriptions Glycogen Maltose Cellulose
Glucose as monomer ✓ ✓ ✓
Reducing sugar  ✓ 
Unbranched chain only  ✓ ✓
Energy store in animal cells ✓  
(1/2 mark each)
_________
(6 marks)##

|!|ESB010202002O|!|
* State reasons to explain why the following properties of water are important to organisms. (3 marks)

Properties Importance to organisms

Good solvent

High specific heat capacity

Highest density at 4ºC

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Properties Importance to organisms
Good solvent Chemical reactions can take place in solution. / It can transport substances.
High specific heat capacity Organisms with high water content can maintain a stable body temperature.
Highest density at 4ºC Ice is less dense than water. Floating ice insulates the water below, thus
________________________________________________________________________________________
HKDSE Biology – a modern approach
© 2009 Aristo Educational Press Ltd.
 Biology: Chapter 2 Molecules of life
Combined Science: Chapter 2 Molecules of life Short questions
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allows the survival of organisms beneath.
(1 mark each)
_________
(3 marks)##

|!|ESA010202003O|!|
Fill in the blanks to complete the following paragraph. (7 marks)

Carbohydrates are organic compounds composed of carbon, hydrogen and (a)__________________ atoms.

They have the general chemical formula of (b)___________________. They can be classified into

monosaccharides, disaccharides and (c)___________________. Monosaccharides are all reducing sugars. They

show positive result in (d)___________________test. Disaccharides are reducing sugars except

(e)___________________. The building block of cellulose is (f)___________________. Cellulose is the

structural component of plant (g)___________________. It is insoluble in water.

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(a) oxygen (1 mark)
(b) (CH2O)n (1 mark)
(c) polysaccharides (1 mark)
(d) Benedict's (1 mark)
(e) sucrose (1 mark)
(f) glucose (1 mark)
(g) cell wall (1 mark)
_________
(7 marks)##

|!|ESB010202004O|!|
* Fill in the blanks to complete the following paragraph. (6 marks)

The basic units of proteins are (a)________________. Each of them has a central carbon atom, a(n)

(b)__________________, a carboxyl group and a specific side chain. Two of them are joined together to form

a dipeptide through (c)__________________.

(d)________________ is a protein responsible for carrying oxygen. It has (e)________________

polypeptide chains linked together. In this protein, we can find the mineral, (f)________________, which is

required in the synthesis of this protein.

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(a) amino acids (1 mark)

________________________________________________________________________________________
HKDSE Biology – a modern approach
© 2009 Aristo Educational Press Ltd.
Biology: Chapter 2 Molecules of life
Combined Science: Chapter 2 Molecules of life Short questions
________________________________________________________________________________________
(b) amino group (1 mark)
(c) condensation (1 mark)
(d) Haemoglobin (1 mark)
(e) four (1 mark)
(f) iron (1 mark)
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(6 marks)##

|!|ESA010202005O|!|
The food label of a cartoned drink shows that it contains lactose and protein.
Describe how you can find out if the above food substances are present in the drink. (5 marks)

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We can use Benedict’s test to test for lactose – a reducing sugar. (1 mark)
Add Benedict’s solution into the sample and heat it in a water bath. (1 mark)
If it contains lactose, it will turn blue Benedict’s solution to brown/orange/brick red; if it does not contain
lactose, it will remain blue. (1 mark)
We can use Albustix paper to test for protein. (1 mark)
If it contains protein, the test end of the Albustix paper will change from yellow to green, otherwise, it will
remain yellow. (1 mark)
_________
(5 marks)##

|!|ESA010202006O|!|
Complete the following paragraph with suitable words selected from the list below. (3 marks)

changed solution stable solvent specific heat capacity

density buoyancy cooling agent dispersal agent reactant
product respiration gametes

________________________________________________________________________________________
HKDSE Biology – a modern approach
© 2009 Aristo Educational Press Ltd.
Biology: Chapter 2 Molecules of life
Combined Science: Chapter 2 Molecules of life Short questions
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Water plays an important role in life. As it is a good (a)_________________, it helps in carrying substances

to different parts of the body. Water absorbs a lot of heat with only a slight change in temperature. We say that

water has a high (b) _______________________________. Because of this property, oceans are relatively (c)

_________________ in temperature and provide a suitable habitat for aquatic organisms. Water also provides

(d) _________________ for aquatic organisms to support their body. As water takes away heat when it

evaporates, it acts as a (e) _________________ to decrease the body temperature. In photosynthesis, water is a

(f) _________________ for synthesising carbohydrates.

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(a) solvent (1/2 mark)
(b) specific heat capacity (1/2 mark)
(c) stable (1/2 mark)
(d) buoyancy (1/2 mark)
(e) cooling agent (1/2 mark)
(f) reactant (1/2 mark)
_________
(3 marks)##

|!|ESA010202007O|!|
The photograph below shows some green young seedlings.

With reference to the above photograph, explain the importance of water to the green young seedlings as
(a) a reactant. (1 mark)

(b) a supporting agent. (1 mark)

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(a) Water acts as a reactant in photosynthesis for the production of carbohydrates in green plants.
________________________________________________________________________________________
HKDSE Biology – a modern approach
© 2009 Aristo Educational Press Ltd.
Biology: Chapter 2 Molecules of life
Combined Science: Chapter 2 Molecules of life Short questions
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(1 mark)
(b) Water provides a means of support in young seedlings by contributing to turgidity of the cells.
(1 mark)
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(2 marks)##

|!|ESA010202008O|!|
The diagram below shows a horizontal section through the human eye.

State the role of water in the eye. (2 marks)

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Water gives the shape to the eyeball (as a supporting agent). (1 mark)
Water acts as a medium of transport of nutrients for various structures of the eye. (1 mark)
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(2 marks)##

|!|ESA010202009O|!|
Carbohydrates are the main components in our diet. However, the proportion of carbohydrates in the human
body is far smaller than that of lipids and proteins. Why? (5 marks)

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________________________________________________________________________________________
HKDSE Biology – a modern approach
© 2009 Aristo Educational Press Ltd.
 Biology: Chapter 2 Molecules of life
Combined Science: Chapter 2 Molecules of life Short questions
________________________________________________________________________________________
Carbohydrates are mainly used to release energy for daily needs in humans, (1 mark)
hence only a small amount of carbohydrates is stored in the body. (1 mark)
Lipids are stored in the body as energy reserve (1 mark)
and proteins are used for body building. (1 mark)
Thus, large amounts of lipids and proteins are found in the body. (1 mark)
_________
(5 marks)##
|!|ESA010202010O|!|
State the roles of water in sweat, blood plasma and urine respectively. (3 marks)

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Sweat: water carries away heat when it evaporates. (1 marks)
Blood plasma: water acts as a medium to carry many dissolved nutrients and wastes around the body.
(1 mark)
Urine: water acts as a solvent to carry wastes out of the body. (1 mark)
_________
(3 marks)##

|!|ESB010202011O|!|
* Water serves many important functions in plants. Suggest the roles water plays in the plants shown below to
help them survive in such a habitat. (4 marks)

________________________________________________________________________________________
HKDSE Biology – a modern approach
© 2009 Aristo Educational Press Ltd.
 Biology: Chapter 2 Molecules of life
Combined Science: Chapter 2 Molecules of life Short questions
________________________________________________________________________________________

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Any four of the following: (1 mark each)
- Water is a good solvent that allows many inorganic substances to dissolve in it.
- Carbon dioxide and oxygen must first dissolve in the water film on the mesophyll layer before being
absorbed into the plants.
- Water can be used to transport the sugars produced and the mineral salts absorbed in the vascular bundles
to other parts of the plants.
- Under sunlight, water acts as a raw material for photosynthesis.
- Water evaporates from the plant surface by transpiration. During the process, water carries heat away and
helps to cool down the plants to prevent overheating.
- The pond of water provides buoyancy to the floating plants, increasing the amount of sunlight that the
plants can receive for photosynthesis.
- Any other reasonable answers
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(4 marks)##

|!|ESB010202012O|!|
* Classify the following items into two major categories (organic or inorganic). State one function for each
substance in the human body. Present the answers in table form. (7 marks)

iron, fats, glycogen, nucleic acids

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________________________________________________________________________________________
HKDSE Biology – a modern approach
© 2009 Aristo Educational Press Ltd.
Biology: Chapter 2 Molecules of life
Combined Science: Chapter 2 Molecules of life Short questions
________________________________________________________________________________________
Category Substance(s) Function(s) in human body
(½ mark each) (½ mark each) (1 mark each)
(1 mark) (2 marks) (4 marks)
Fats Prevent heat loss / act as energy reserve
Organic Glycogen Acts as energy reserve in humans
Nucleic acids Carry genetic information / to form DNA
Inorganic Iron Forms part of the haemoglobin
_________
(7 marks)##

|!|ESB010202013O|!|
The photograph below shows a human tooth.

(a) State the major minerals that can be found in the outer white layer of the tooth. (1 marks)

(b) Where else can we find the same minerals in the human body? (1 mark)

(c) How can we obtain enough minerals to maintain good health?

Suggest one food that is rich in the minerals mentioned in (a). (2 marks)

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(a) calcium phosphate (1 mark)
(b) bones (1 mark)
(c) Animals can obtain enough minerals from their diet. (1 mark)
Any one of the following: (1 mark)
milk / cheese / fish / other reasonable answers
_________
(4 marks)##

________________________________________________________________________________________
HKDSE Biology – a modern approach
© 2009 Aristo Educational Press Ltd.