CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL BIOLOGY: COURSEBOOK
Sample answers have been written by the authors.
Coursebook answers
Chapter 13
Self-assessment questions
1 The diagram should:
• be large – preferably significantly larger
than the micrograph
• be drawn with smooth, single lines
• show the envelope as two lines, close
together but not touching
• not have any shading
• show the starch grain
• show other small spots
• show the membranes inside the
chloroplast
• have label lines drawn with a ruler, with
the end touching the structure being
named
• include labels to envelope, lamellae,
thylakoid membranes, thylakoid spaces,
grana, stroma, ribosomes.
2 Both are surrounded by an envelope,
contain small circles of DNA, contain small
ribosomes, and have a system of membranes
that provide a large surface area.
The background material of a chloroplast
is called the stroma. It contains the enzymes
and other substances required for the light-
independent stages of photosynthesis. The
background material of a mitochondrion is
called the matrix. It contains the enzymes and
other substances required for the Krebs cycle.
The internal membranes of a chloroplast
form thylakoids, enclosing fluid-filled spaces.
Carriers are embedded in these membranes,
forming the electron transport chain. In a
mitochondrion, it is the inner membrane
1 Cambridge International AS & A Level Biology © Cambridge University Press 2020
of the envelope that contains the electron
transport chain, in the cristae.
The membranes inside a chloroplast contain
photosynthetic pigments, which are not
present in a mitochondrion.
3 Carotene is orange. It absorbs blue and green
light and reflects red and yellow light.
4 Xanthophyll is yellow, so it does not absorb
yellow light. Yellow light has wavelengths in
the range 580−600 nm.
5 The composite line would show a broader
peak for the action spectrum than in
Figure 13.7, with the high part of the line
extending further to the right. Similarities that
the learners may identify include the peaks
at the lower end of the spectrum (within the
wavelengths 425−475 nm and at the higher
end (within the wavelengths 625−675 nm).
Differences include the peak for carotenoids
just above 500 nm in the absorption spectrum,
which does not show as a high peak in the
action spectrum – this could be because
there is not as much carotenoid pigment
as chlorophyll in a plant, and so it has less
influence on the action spectrum.
6 In mitochondria, the energy for the
production of ATP comes from oxidation
reactions. In chloroplasts, the energy for the
production of ATP comes from light.
7 No, it is not correct. The carbon dioxide taken
in by plants is not broken down to produce
oxygen, but is incorporated into carbohydrates
within the plant. The oxygen that is released
comes from water, not carbon dioxide.
 CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL BIOLOGY: COURSEBOOK
8 There are no correct answers to this question.
Learners may suggest a variety of ways in
which individuals could represent different
compounds within the Calvin cycle and the
reactions between them.
9 TK
10 Once all the TP has been used up, RuBP
cannot be regenerated.
11 In the light, the Calvin cycle can proceed
normally, using reduced NADP and ATP
from the light-dependent stages. In the dark,
no more reduced NADP or ATP is supplied.
RuBP can still combine with carbon dioxide
and produce GP, but without reduced NADP
or ATP, this cannot be converted to TP. GP
therefore builds up, and TP levels fall, as
some of it is converted to other substances
(including RuBP). Both level off quickly,
as only a small amount of RuBP can be
regenerated, after which the whole cycle stops.
Once light is resupplied, the cycle can run
normally again.
12 a From A to B, the limiting factor is light;
you can tell this because increasing
the light intensity increases the rate of
photosynthesis.
b  rom B to C, temperature is the limiting
F
factor; you can tell it is not light because
increasing light intensity has no effect;
increasing temperature does increase
rate – see the line above.
c  rom A to D, the limiting factor is light;
F carbohydrates to ATP by respiration in all living
you can tell this because increasing
the light intensity increases the rate of
photosynthesis.
2 Cambridge International AS & A Level Biology © Cambridge University Press 2020
d  rom D to E, carbon dioxide
F
concentration is the limiting factor;
increasing carbon dioxide concentration
increases rate – see the top line on the
graph.
e From A to F, the limiting factor is light;
you can tell this because increasing
the light intensity increases the rate of
photosynthesis.
f From F to G, either temperature or
carbon dioxide concentration could be the
limiting factor.
13 a light-dependent stage – this is the stage
that requires light energy to drive the
reactions
b light-independent stage – this stage uses
the kinetic energy of molecules to drive
its reactions
c light-independent stage – this stage
requires carbon dioxide for the Calvin
cycle to run
Reflection
Learners are likely to identify the production
of ATP within both organelles and that ATP
is produced using the electron transport chain,
chemiosmosis and ATP synthase.
They may be able to state that energy is transferred
from sunlight to carbohydrates by photosynthesis
in cells that contain chlorophyll, and then from
cells; energy is then transferred from ATP to fuel
life processes in all organisms.