Lily bought some fresh apples and lemons and placed them in a bowl

near the kitchen window. [3] A few days later, Lily’s apples had
turned brown and were smaller and shrivelled. The lemons had
green mould growing on them.
(a) Explain why the apples had become smaller and shrivelled. [1m]
(b) The mould grew from spores on the skin of the lemons. Suggest
where these spores came from and how they got onto the lemon.
[1m]
(c) The apples and lemons in Lily’s fridge still looked fresh even
though they were bought at the same time. Suggest two reasons
why. [1m]
Explanation:
(a) The apples became smaller and shrivelled due to a process called
dehydration. When fruits are exposed to air, especially near a
kitchen window where there might be warmth and air circulation,
moisture evaporates from their surface. This loss of moisture causes
the cells in the fruit to shrink, resulting in the fruit becoming smaller
and shrivelled.
(b) The spores that grew into mould on the lemons likely came from
the environment. Mold spores are ubiquitous in the air and can
settle on the surface of fruits, including lemons, under suitable
conditions. Factors such as moisture and warmth facilitate the
germination of these spores, leading to the growth of mould.
(c) The apples and lemons in Lily's fridge stayed fresh because
refrigeration slows down the processes of ripening and decay. The
lower temperature in the fridge inhibits the activity of enzymes
responsible for ripening and slows down microbial growth, including
the growth of mould. Additionally, the controlled humidity in the
fridge helps to maintain the fruits' moisture content, preventing
them from dehydrating quickly.