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16.1 Reproduction in Plants & Humans

Question Paper

Course CIE IGCSE Biology

Section 16. Reproduction
Topic 16.1 Reproduction in Plants & Humans
Difficulty Hard

Time allowed: 40

Score: /29

Percentage: /100

Page 1 of 7

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Question 1a
Extended Only
Explain the difference between self-pollination and cross-pollination.
[2 marks]

Question 1b
Extended Only
Some plant species are self-pollinated.
Discuss the long-term effects of self-pollination on the evolution of these plant species.
[4 marks]

Page 2 of 7

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Question 2a
Some students investigated the conditions needed for the germination of maize seeds. They used maize seeds from a
packet of seeds they had purchased in a shop.
Three dishes were used, each containing cotton wool and the same number of maize seeds, as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 1
Table 1 shows the conditions provided for each dish.
Table 1
dish
conditions
A B C
treatment of cotton wool damp dry damp
temperature / °C 20 20 3
light or dark light light dark
The seeds were left for five days and then observed.
The results are shown in Table 2
Table 2
dish results
A all seeds germinated
B no seeds germinated
C no seeds germinated
(i)
Explain why the seeds in dishes B and C did not germinate.
[2]
(ii)
In a second investigation, maize seeds were placed in a dish containing damp cotton wool.
This dish was left in the dark for five days at 20°C.
Predict and explain the results.
[2]
[4 marks]

Page 3 of 7

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Question 2b
A student gathered 70 maize seeds from plants growing in a field. The seeds were placed in dishes containing damp cotton
wool.
After five days, only 64 seeds had germinated.
(i)
Calculate the percentage of seeds that germinated.
Show your working.
Give your answer to the nearest whole number.
[2]
(ii)
Suggest a reason why some of the seeds did not germinate.
[1]
[3 marks]

Page 4 of 7

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Question 3a
Extended only
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that commonly occurs in women of reproductive age. It is characterised by
hormonal imbalances that affect the menstrual cycle of women with this condition.
Fig. 1 compares the levels of FSH and LH in a normal menstrual cycle with the levels seen in the cycle of a woman with PCOS.

Fig. 1
Use the information in Fig. 1 to explain the effect that PCOS would have on the ovaries of a woman.
[4]
[4 marks]

Page 5 of 7

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Question 3b
Extended only
Women with PCOS will often struggle with infertility.
Suggest a possible reason for this.
[2 marks]

Question 3c
Extended only
Fig. 2 shows changes in the thickening of the uterus wall lining in two women X and Y.

Fig. 2
Suggest an explanation for the difference in the thickness of the uterus wall lining between woman X and Y in Fig. 2.
[4 marks]

Page 6 of 7

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Question 3d
Extended only
Outline how the levels of LH and progesterone will differ between woman X and Y during the next calendar month (assume a
normal menstrual cycle for woman Y).
[6 marks]

Page 7 of 7

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