EXAM MARKING CRITERIA

Name: ______________________________

Class: ______________________________

Section A: Multiple choice (15 marks)

1 A
2 A
3 B
4 A
5 B
6 C
7 B
8 B
9 A
10 C
11 C
12 D
13 C
14 B
15 D

Section B: Short answer (50 marks)

Question 16
a Identify the organelle responsible for respiration
Criteria Marks
Mitochondria identified 1

b Identify the organelle responsible for photosynthesis.

Criteria Marks
Chloroplast identified 1

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c In the form of a table compare their structure.
Criteria Marks
Table drawn with a similarity and at least two differences of each organelle 4
Table drawn with similarity and at least one difference of each organelle 3
Table drawn with one similarity and one difference mentioned 2
Table drawn with one similarity or one difference mentioned 1
Sample answer

Mitochondrion Chloroplast

Similarity: both surrounded by a double membrane

Differences:

• Smaller in size (not visible with light
microscope)
• Contains no chlorophyll
• Inner membrane folded into cristae to
increase surface area for chemical
reactions
• Larger in size (visible with light
microscope)
• Contains chlorophyll
• Thylakoids are stacks of membrane
present in the stroma to increase
surface area for chemical reactions

Question 17
a Describe the process of phagocytosis using an example.
Criteria Marks
Detailed description of phagocytosis linked to an example 3
Limited description of phagocytosis linked to an example 2
Limited description of phagocytosis with no example 1
Sample answer
One example of phagocytosis occurs when a unicellular amoeba feeds on a smaller organism. The
amoeba changes shape by sending out membrane projections filled with cytoplasm that surround the
prey. When the cell membrane of the projections meet, membrane fusion occurs. This results in the
formation of a vesicle, which then stores or transports the material within the cytoplasm.

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b Compare phagocytosis and pinocytosis
Criteria Marks
A similarity and a difference between phagocytosis and pinocytosis explained 2
Only the difference or similarities mentioned 1
Sample answer
Phagocytosis and pinocytosis are similar as they both involve forming a membrane around a
substance and drawing that substance into the cell. Pinocytosis is the term used when this process
involves fluids.

Question 18
A biologist carries out an experiment to trace the path of carbon dioxide in plants. The leaves of a
growing pot plant are exposed to radioactively labelled carbon dioxide (labelled with C-14) and left in
the sunlight for a period of 24 hours. When the stem of the plant is cut longitudinally and placed
against a photographic plate, the sap in the phloem tissue is found to contain traces of radioactive
material.
a Identify an organic compound commonly present in the sap of phloem tissue.
Criteria Marks
Glucose identified 2
Sample answer: glucose

b Explain how exposing the leaves to radioactive carbon dioxide could lead to the presence of a
radioactive organic compound in the phloem tissue.
Criteria Marks
Identifies that radioactive carbon dioxide forms glucose during the process of 4
photosynthesis. Draws clear links to the transportation of glucose in phloem.
Sketches in general terms the process of photosynthesis and links this to the 3
transporation of glucose in plants.
Attempts to link photosynthesis to glucose production and comments on transporation 2
in plants
Identifies that glucose is produced using carbon dioxide and water during 1
photosynthesis.
Sample answer
Carbon dioxide combines with the hydrogen from water (which was split during the process of
photosynthesis) to form glucose. This glucose, which now contains the radioactive carbon from the
carbon dioxide, is transported in phloem up or down the stem, from where it was produced (the leaf)
to where it is needed.

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Question 19
European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) were introduced by settlers into Australia in 1859, when 24
rabbits were released near Geelong. Very quickly, the rabbit population grew enormously across the
continent. The rabbit’s rapid spread led to the destruction of large areas of vegetation and the
extinction of many plant species. Farmers attempted to control the rabbits by shooting, using poisons,
destroying warrens and eventually introducing the Myxomatosis virus (in 1950), as a form of
biological control. This virus, a natural parasite of the Brazilian forest rabbit, was lethal for European
rabbits. It quickly reduced Australia’s rabbits to a mere 5% of former numbers. However, this solution
was not long-lasting and rabbit numbers recovered.
a Name and describe a procedure for estimating rabbit numbers in a particular area.
Criteria Marks
Appropriate sampling method named (capture–mark–recapture) with a detailed 4
description of how rabbits were captured, marked, recaptured and counted
Appropriate sampling method named (capture–mark–recapture) with a good 3
description of the process involved.
Appropriate sampling method named (capture–mark–recapture) with a limited 2
description
Appropriate sampling method named (capture–mark–recapture) 1
Sample answer
Capture–mark–recapture method: answer should explain how rabbits were captured, how they were
marked, the recapture and count.

b Suggest why rabbit numbers increased rapidly in the first 70 years.

Criteria Marks
Appropriate suggestion made 1
Sample answer: No predator to control them OR plenty of food with no competitors

Question 20
a Describe two possible effects on an ecosystem when a plant species dies out.
Criteria Marks
Two appropriate effects described 2
One appropriate effect described 1
Sample answer
Extinction of a plant species could:
• increase soil erosion
• decrease the nutrients available to other species
• cause a decrease in consumer numbers
• increase the number of a competing plant species.

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b Suggest one advantage and one disadvantage of biological control as a means of controlling pest
populations.
Criteria Marks
An appropriate advantage and disadvantage of biological control suggested 2
An appropriate advantage or disadvantage of biological control suggested 1
Sample answer
An advantage of biological control is that no harmful chemicals are being used.
Disadvantages of biological control include:
• the introduced species may not be specific to the pest species
• an immunity can develop in the pest species.

c Assess how biodiversity has changed in Australia over the last 200 years.
Criteria Marks
Defines biodiversity. Makes a clear judgement about how biodiversity in Australia 4
has changed over the past 200 years. Gives specific examples of possible causes for
the change.
Defines biodiversity. Makes a judgement about how biodiversity in Australia has 3
changed over the past 200 years. Gives general examples of possible causes for the
change.
Makes a judgement about how biodiversity has changed in Australia over the past 2
200 years and names one cause for the change.
Sketches in general terms the change in biodiversity in Australia over the past 200 1
years without specific mention of a cause.
Sample answer
Biodiversity refers to the variety and number of different forms of living things (often in relation to a
specific area, e.g. Australia).
Biodiversity has decreased in Australia in terms of the number of indigenous organisms.
The change in climate is one cause – the increase in temperature and drying out of Australia as it
drifted northwards, as well as fires that resulted from lightning, were responsible for some reduction
in biodiversity as species which could not survive the harsh conditions died out (fossil evidence
remains).
Besides the reduction in biodiversity that results from extinctions, human activity has affected the
biodiversity in Australia:
• the arrival of humans and use of fire reduced the diversity by eliminating those plants and animals
that could not survive fires
• farming methods which clear the land of natural vegetation to introduce plant or animals to be
cultivated in large numbers (e.g. monoculture and selective breeding programs)
• general destruction of ecosystems.
Biodiversity is further depleted by genetic modification of organisms: cloning, creating transgenic
species which outcompete natural indigenous species, leading to extinction of the latter.
Biodiversity may be increased by the creation of transgenic species (new ‘combined’ species are
being created), but we do not fully understand the impacts of this on the environment.

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Question 21
Describe two of Darwin’s observations of Australian fauna and discuss how these observations may
have contributed to his theory of evolution.

Criteria Marks
Clearly describes two of Darwin’s observations of Australian fauna and clearly discusses 4
how each observation contributed to his theory of evolution.
Briefly mentions two of Darwin’s observations of Australian fauna and comment on how 3
these observations contributed to his theory of evolution.
Describes one of Darwin’s observations of Australian fauna and comments how this 2
observation contributed to his theory of evolution.
Comments on one of Darwin’s observations of Australian fauna. 1
Sample answer
Darwin noticed that similar environments in completely different parts of the world seemed to be
inhabited by animals having similar adaptations, but obviously belonging to different species. His
curiosity drove him to try to find an explanation for his observations.
Darwin observed ‘miniature kangaroos’ the size of a European rabbit, behaving somewhat like a
rabbit, darting about in the undergrowth. This led to the idea that the potoroo (rat kangaroo) is similar
to the rabbit in England.
Darwin’s observations of ant lions in Australia, which he noted seemed to belong to the same
genus but a different species to those in England, led him to question whether ‘two workmen’ could
have hit on the same ingenious and creative idea. This led to his suggestion that it was surely the work
of ‘one hand’.
Darwin began to think about possible reasons for the resemblance: the creationist theory led to the
question of why one creator would bother to make two types of animal that are so different in basic
design and in the way that they produce and raise their young, yet they live in such similar
environments but in different parts of the world. Observations such as those described above forced
him to discard the idea of fixed, unchanging species and so he came up with a mechanism to account
for this. His mechanism – evolution by natural selection – could be used to explain how species in
similar environments could evolve similar features. As a result of intrinsic random variations that
occur within a population, those variations that favoured the survival of some individuals over others
would be selected – similar variations in a similar environment, no matter how many miles apart. His
idea of evolution by natural selection arose – typified in what today we call ‘convergent evolution’,
species that are unrelated evolving to become similar, because they inhabit similar environments.

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Question 22
a Explain why scientists estimate populations rather than a full census of organisms.
Criteria Marks
Identifies the limitations of a full census and clearly links to the use a specific 3
population estimate method.
Sketches limitations of census in general terms with mention of the use of population 2
estimate methods.
Identifies the limitation of a full census with no link to population estimate methods 1
Sample answer
In areas that are too large to conduct a full census or if areas are too densely populated to count each
organism, sample counts must be taken and population size estimated from these, because counting
each individual may be impossible or too labour intensive. Highly mobile animals are also too
difficult to count directly and sampling methods used to estimate numbers overcome the possibility of
counting the same individual twice.

b Identify the factors that determine the abundance of predators and prey in an ecosystem.
Criteria Marks
Two factors identified with a clear link between predator–prey abundance 3
One factor identified with a clear link between predator–prey abundance 2
One factor sketched with weak link to predator–prey abundance 1
Sample answer
The size of the predator population will depend on the size of the prey population—more food (prey)
can support more feeders (predators). Similarly, the size of the prey population will be directly
affected by the number of predators—more hunters (predators) means more victims (prey population
will decrease as more are killed). The fluctuation of the predator population tends to follow that of the
prey population.
The predator population may also be affected by competition (the number of predators competing
for the same prey).
Prey population may also be affected by the availability of food.
Both populations are affected by birth rate, death rate, disease, availability of breeding territories,
availability of mates, immigration and emigration.

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c Define each of the following terms along with a named example: commensalism, mutualism and
parasitism.
Criteria
Three terms defined with examples
Two terms defined with examples
One term defined with an example
Sample answer
Relationship Definition
Commensalism A relationship between
two members of different
species where one
benefits and the other is
unaffected
Mutualism A relationship between
members of different
species where both
benefit
Parasitism A relationship between
two members of different
species whereby one (the
parasite) obtains nutrients
from the other (the host);
the parasite benefits and
the host is harmed.
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Marks
3
2
1
Example
Epiphytes: plants such as orchids that are
supported by trees so that they can gain better
access to light; the supporting tree is not harmed,
nor does it benefit.
(Other examples: ferns, moss on trees trunks;
barnacles on whales and turtles.)
Lichens: an alga and a fungus growing together as
a single organism. The alga provides food and
oxygen as a result of its ability to photosynthesise;
the fungus provides anchorage and increases
absorption of water through an extensive system of
hyphal threads.
(Other examples: sea anemone and clown fish,
coral and algae; ants and ant plants.)
Tapeworms are parasites that live in the intestines
of mammals. The tapeworm absorbs all of its
nutrients from the digested food in the host’s
intestine; the host is depleted of essential nutrients
and is harmed.
(Other examples of parasites: ticks, fleas and
disease-causing microbes.)
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Question 23
Describe at least two adaptations of a named plant or animal you have studied that help them survive
in your local environment. Name the type of adaption you have mentioned and explain how these
adaptations help the organism survive in its environment.

Criteria Marks
Adaptation is defined. Two adaptations of a named organism are identified. The types of 7–8
adaptation are named. The adaptations are linked to the environmental pressures the
animal faces.
Adaptation is defined. Two adaptations of a named organism are identified. At least one 4–6
adaptation is linked to the environment. At least one adaptation type is named
Adaptation is sketched in general terms. Two general adaptations for an environment are 3–4
identified. At least one adaptation type is named.
Adaptation is sketched in general terms. An attempt has been made to comment on an 1–2
adaptation of an organism
Sample answer
An adaptation is any characteristic that increases an organism’s likelihood of survival and
reproduction; that is, it is a feature that makes it suited to its environment.
The water-holding frog is an animal that lives in an extremely harsh, hot and dry environment.
This is unusual for frogs, because they usually rely on the presence of water for reproduction.
Structural adaptations – it has physical characteristics such as a bladder and pockets under the
skin which allow it to store water.
Behavioural adaptations – it spends the majority of its life underground and this reduces the
amount of water lost to the environment by evaporation.
Physiological adaptation – it sheds layers of skin, which, when combined with mud, form a
cocoon to surround it, further reducing the evaporation of water from its body surface. This also forms
an insulating layer that reduces temperature change. The frog can survive in this cocoon for up to two
years, during which time rains may return.

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