GCSE Biology for You, Fifth Edition

Answers to end-of-chapter questions

Plants as organisms
Chapter
   12 Feeding in plants
It is very important that you are able to answer the questions on your own, using your own knowledge
of Biology. Have a go at the questions first, and then check your answers using this page. If you get a
question wrong, try to work out where you have made an error.
1 Photosynthesis, chlorophyll, energy, dioxide, water, starch, oxygen.
2 a) Light intensity and temperature
b) By adding sodium hydrogencarbonate to the water.
c) Because carbon dioxide was limiting the rate of photosynthesis.
d) Because the pond weed has sufficient carbon dioxide and some other factor must be limiting the rate of
photosynthesis, e.g. light intensity or temperature.
3 a) To de-starch them
b) To absorb any carbon dioxide in the air
c) To prevent any light getting to the geranium plant
d) A leaf from bell-jar A would go light brown with iodine. The plant was deprived of carbon dioxide and
could not photosynthesise and make starch. So a negative test for starch was obtained. A leaf from
bell-jar B would go blue-black with iodine. The plant was able to photosynthesise and make starch. So a
positive test for starch was obtained. A leaf from bell-jar C would go light brown with iodine. The plant
was deprived of light and could not photosynthesise and make starch. So a negative test for starch was
obtained.
4 a) Allows light in and increases the temperature.
b) Water evaporating from the lettuces and the soil will condense on the polythene and keep the plants
watered.
c) Increase in carbon dioxide results in an increased rate of photosynthesis and so larger lettuces.
5 a) Oxygen will relight a glowing splint.
b) There will be some carbon dioxide present as a result of respiration.
c) The more carbon dioxide present the faster the rate of photosynthesis.
d) Distance from lamp (cm) on the x-axis, number of bubbles per minute on the y-axis, five correctly
plotted points, joined up by a smooth curve.
e) As the lamp was moved nearer to the water plant, the rate of photosynthesis increased so the number
of bubbles increased. The number of bubbles reached a maximum when light intensity was no longer
limiting. Some other factor was now limiting the rate of photosynthesis.
f) The piece of thick glass would prevent heat from the lamp raising the temperature in the water.
6 Stage in test Reason
dip the leaf in boiling water to soften it
boil the leaf in ethanol to extract the chlorophyll
wash the leaf in cold water to remove the ethanol
cover the leaf with iodine to test for starch

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7 a) A = upper epidermis, B = cuticle, C = palisade cell, D = xylem vessel, E = stoma/pore,
F = air spaces, G = palisade layer.
b) i)   Carries water and mineral salts to the leaf – D/xylem vessel
ii)   Prevents too much water loss from the upper surface – B/cuticle
iii) Opens to allow gases to pass into and out of the leaf – E/stoma
iv) Most photosynthesis takes place here – G/palisade layer
v)   Gases from here pass into the spongy cells – F/air spaces
vi) Light is able to pass straight through this layer – A/upper epidermis
vii) These cells contain most chloroplasts – C/palisade cells.
8 a) Midday
b) Midnight
c) Midday

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