Question 1

CALCULATOR

The diagram below shows an experiment investigating the effect of temperature on the rate of photosynthesis. Which of the
following is not a method of keeping a controlled variable at a constant value throughout this particular experiment?

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● A. Placing the tube containing Elodea in a water bath.

● B. Using the same volume of sodium hydrogen carbonate solution for each trial.

● C. Placing the Elodea at a constant distance from the same light source for each trial.

● D. Using the same concentration of sodium hydrogen carbonate solution for each trial.

Difficulty: EASY
A

Explanation‾Explanation:
Since the experiment is about testing the temperature; the temperature would be the independent variable, not the controlled
variable. A water bath would be used in this experiment to set up different increments of the independent variable.

When investigating the effect of temperature on photosynthesis, the other limiting factors (concentration of carbon dioxide and light
intensity) must be controlled. The light intensity can be controlled by placing the test tube containing the Elodea at a constant
distance from the same light source for each trial (Choice C) to make sure that the light intensity is the same for all trials.

Using the same volume and concentration of sodium hydrogen carbonate solution (Choice B and Choice D)ensures that the
source of carbon dioxide is controlled, and it is not a limiting factor.

Question 2
CALCULATOR

What does X represent?

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● A. The ratio of the distance moved by the pigment and solvent

● B. The distance moved by the solvent

● C. The distance moved by the pigment

● D. The baseline

Difficulty: EASY
B

Explanation‾Explanation:
Thin-layer chromatography is a method that can be used to separate pigments extracted from a leaf. Paper chromatography uses
paper with a line drawn approximately 1 cm from one end, which is called the baseline (Choice D). This is where a drop of leaf
extract is placed. Then the paper is immersed in a solvent with the level of solvent being right below the baseline. This solvent will
then move up the paper to separate the pigments found in the leaf extract.

The coloured spots show the distance moved by each pigment (Choice C). The solvent will then move further up and will eventually
stop moving. The mark where the solvent stops is known as the solvent front and shows the distance moved by the solvent (Choice
B).

In order to find the Rf value for a given pigment, the distance moved by the pigment is divided by the distance moved by the solvent
(Choice A).

Question 3
CALCULATOR

This graph shows the rate of photosynthesis at different temperatures.

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What conclusion can be made?

● A. There is more carbon dioxide produced at x than w.

● B. The rate of photosynthesis increases with temperature.

● C. The maximum amount of oxygen is produced at x.

● D. The concentration of carbon dioxide is a limiting factor at y.

Difficulty: EASY
C

Explanation‾Explanation:
Photosynthesis is a process where organic compounds are produced in cells using light energy, carbon dioxide and water. A
product of photosynthesis is oxygen gas. Hence, the rate of photosynthesis can be measured by the rate of carbon dioxide gas
uptake or by the rate of oxygen gas production (Choice A).

At x, this is known as the optimum temperature. The rate of photosynthesis is the highest here. In other words, x is the temperature
where the maximum rate of carbon dioxide absorption and oxygen production occurs.

At y, light intensity and carbon dioxide concentration are not the limiting factors because, beyond the optimum temperature, the
graph does not plateau but instead, it slopes downwards (Choice D). At y, the rate of photosynthesis decreases because the
temperature is affecting the enzymes involved in photosynthesis (Choice B). Hence, the rate of photosynthesis does not just
increase with temperature, it also decreases above the optimum temperature.

Question 4
CALCULATOR

Carbon dioxide enrichment experiments are used to predict future rates of photosynthesis and plant growth. Which of the following
is an advantage of enclosed greenhouse experiments over free-air carbon dioxide experiments (FACE) experiments, when
conducting carbon dioxide enrichment experiments?

● A. The wavelength of light can be controlled

 ● B. It mimics a natural ecosystem

● C. Large trees can be studied

● D. It is difficult to control rainfall

Difficulty: EASY
A

Explanation‾Explanation:
Enclosed greenhouse experiments allow for wavelengths of light to be controlled by exposing the plants to different colours of light.
By adjusting the spectrum of light, researchers can investigate the isolated effects of distinct wavelengths on plant responses to
elevated carbon dioxide levels. Such control is typically unattainable in open-air experiments like the free-air carbon dioxide
enrichment (FACE) system, where natural light conditions predominate. Choice A is correct.

Choice B is incorrect as an enclosed greenhouse space does not mimic a natural ecosystem as it is a man-made enclosed
structure. Choice C is incorrect, as large trees cannot fit or grow freely in a greenhouse. Choice D is incorrect as in an enclosed
greenhouse, water can be controlled, mimicking rainfall.

Question 5
CALCULATOR

The graph shows the results from an enclosed greenhouse experiment studying the effect of increasing carbon dioxide
concentration on the rate of photosynthesis. What conclusion can be drawn from the graph?

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● A. As carbon dioxide concentration increases, the rate of photosynthesis increases.

● B. Light intensity is a limiting factor.

● C. As carbon dioxide concentration increases, the concentration of oxygen decreases.

● D. When the rate of photosynthesis plateaus, carbon dioxide is no longer a limiting factor.

Difficulty: EASY
D

Explanation‾Explanation:
Above a certain carbon dioxide concentration, the graph plateaus. This indicates that carbon dioxide is no longer a limiting factor,
and another factor, such as temperature or light intensity, has become a limiting factor. Choice D is correct.

At the beginning of the graph, as the concentration of carbon dioxide increases, the rate of photosynthesis increases, however, this
is not the case for the whole graph; Choice A is incorrect. When the graph plateaus this indicates that carbon dioxide is no longer a
limiting factor, another factor is limiting photosynthesis, however, light intensity might not be that factor; Choice B is incorrect.
Oxygen is a waste product from photosynthesis, so as the rate of photosynthesis increases, oxygen concentration should also
increase. However, the graph does not refer to oxygen concentration, so we do not know what is happening to this in the
experiment; Choice C is incorrect.

Question 6
CALCULATOR

The graph shows the effect of light intensity on the rate of photosynthesis.

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What can be concluded from the results presented in this graph?

● A. Light intensity is a limiting factor if all other conditions are kept the same.

● B. The maximum rate of photosynthesis is reached at 40% light intensity if all other conditions are kept the same.

● C. Rubisco enzymes are saturated with the substrate at 40% light intensity.

● D. Enzymes are denatured at 65% light intensity.

Difficulty: EASY
B

Explanation‾Explanation:
Light is needed by plants to perform photosynthesis. This can be seen in the graph where the light intensity increases and the rate
of photosynthesis also increases. At around 40% is the light intensity where the rate of photosynthesis reaches a maximum. From
40% onwards, the rate of photosynthesis plateaus to show that increasing the light intensity any further will not have an effect on
the rate. Hence, light intensity is not a limiting factor here (Choice A). Instead, the concentration of carbon dioxide or temperature
could be the limiting factors.

In a carbon dioxide concentration graph, when the rate of photosynthesis plateaus, it means that the rubisco enzyme is saturated
with the carbon dioxide substrate. Hence, carbon fixation has reached the maximum level. Therefore, Choice C is only applicable
for a graph that shows the effect of carbon dioxide concentration on the rate of photosynthesis.
In a temperature graph, the rate of photosynthesis does not plateau but instead decreases beyond the optimum temperature. This
means that the enzymes are denatured due to high temperatures. Therefore, Choice D is applicable for a graph that shows the
effect of temperature on the rate of photosynthesis.

Question 7
CALCULATOR

Which of the following correctly describes photosynthesis or respiration?

Reaction Products Anabolic or Catabolic Endothermic or Exothermic

A. Photosynthesis Carbon dioxide, water Catabolic Exothermic

B. Respiration Oxygen, glucose Catabolic Exothermic

C. Photosynthesis Oxygen, glucose Anabolic Endothermic

D. Respiration Carbon dioxide, water Anabolic Endothermic

Difficulty: EASY
C

Explanation‾Explanation:
Photosynthesis is the production of carbon compounds such as glucose using light energy. Oxygen is produced as a waste product
which then diffuses out of the cell. Plants use smaller molecules such as carbon dioxide and water to build larger molecules like
glucose. Hence, photosynthesis is an anabolic reaction. An anabolic reaction requires energy to build larger molecules.
Photosynthesis takes in energy so is known as an endothermic reaction.

Cell respiration (Choices B and D) is the production of ATP, carbon dioxide and water using glucose and oxygen. Glucose is
broken down to form smaller molecules so it is categorized as a catabolic reaction. A catabolic reaction releases energy when
larger molecules are broken down to form smaller molecules. Reactions that release energy are known as exothermic reactions.

Question 8
CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 8]

Coleus blumei is an attractive houseplant with red leaves.

[Source: Juni (2004, October 13). Coleus blumei. [Image]. Flickr. Retrieved April 11, 2022, from
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File: Coleus_blumei.jpg. Copyright under CC BY]

1. Determine with a reason whether or not this plant is still able to conduct photosynthesis with red leaves. [1]
 2. Red leaves absorb and reflect different coloured light than green leaves. Distinguish between red light and green light in
the visible spectrum. [1]

3. Outline how limiting factors affect the rate of photosynthesis. [3]

4. Explain how oxygen produced during photosynthesis can be used during respiration. [3]

Difficulty: EASY
Question 9
CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 10]

The diagram shows the separation of photosynthetic pigments using the thin-layer chromatography (TLC) technique in the solvent
propanone.

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1. Identify a pigment that is present in cabbage but not in spinach. [1]

2. Outline the method used to extract the pigments from the plant leaves. [2]
 1. Outline what information the Rf value provides in this experiment. [1]

2. Calculate the Rf value of Xanthophyll, showing your working. [2]

3. Spinach also contains Lycopene, an orange/red pigment. Suggest why it is absent from the chromatogram. [1]

4. Deduce, with a reason, what pigment X is. [1]

5. Explain why the origin must be above the solvent at the start of the experiment. [1]

6. Explain why it is important that the TLC plate is held by its edges when setting up this experiment. [1]

Difficulty: MEDIUM
Question 10
CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 10]

In an investigation into the impacts of climate change on the rate of photosynthesis, pondweed was placed in a number of sealed
conical flasks, each containing a solution of water and carbonic acid.
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Each conical flask was placed in a water bath maintained at a constant temperature. At regular time intervals, samples of the
solution were taken from each conical flask and measured using a pH probe.

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The results are shown in the table.

 1. Identify the dependent and independent variables in this investigation. [2]

2. State one variable that must be kept constant in this investigation to ensure the results are valid. [1]

2. Describe the relationship between the temperature, time and pH of the solution. [2]

3. Predict the pH of the dilute carbonic acid solution at 40

o
C after 60 minutes. [1]

1. Calculate the rate of change in pH between 30 - 40 minutes and 40 - 50 minutes for the trial kept at 40
o
C. [2]

2. Suggest a reason for the difference in the rate of change you calculated in (i). [1]

4. Suggest one improvement to the design of this experiment and state whether it would increase the accuracy or reliability
of the results. [1]

Difficulty: MEDIUM
Question 11
CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 16]

Photosynthesis is a process where carbon compounds are produced in the presence of light.

1. Draw and label an action spectrum for photosynthesis in plants. [3]

2. Outline how energy is used to produce glucose from carbon dioxide. [5]

3. Describe an experiment investigating the effect of carbon dioxide concentration on the rate of photosynthesis. [7]

Difficulty: MEDIUM
Question 12
CALCULATOR

Thin-layer chromatography can be used to separate photosynthetic pigments. Below is a diagram showing the separation of
pigments in this way. Rf values are used to work out what pigments are present in the leaf extracts.

Which of the following are the measurements that need to be taken to calculate the Rf values?
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● A. From the pencil line to the solvent front and from the pencil line to the centre of each pigment spot

● B. From the centre of the pigment spot to the solvent front and from the base of the chromatography plate to the centre of
the pigment spot

● C. From the top of the pigment spot to the solvent front and from the bottom of the pigment spot to the pencil line

● D. From the bottom of the chromatography plate to the centre of the pigment spot and from the bottom of the
chromatography plate to the solvent front

Difficulty: MEDIUM
A

Explanation‾Explanation:
For thin-layer chromatography, the Rf value of a substance is the ratio of the distance the substance travels to the distance the
solvent travels on the TLC plate. Therefore you need to measure the distance between the pencil line and the solvent front and the
distance between the pencil line and the centre of each pigment spot. By taking these measurements, you can calculate the Rf
value for each pigment spot. Therefore Choice A is correct.

Choices B, C and D are not the correct measurements for calculating Rf values.

Question 13
CALCULATOR

Which visible spectrum represents the correct range of wavelengths of light that are absorbed and reflected by chlorophyll for
photosynthesis?
[Source: Adapted from Beckett, M (2014). Colours of the visible light spectrum [Diagram] Wikimedia Commons. Retrieved April 9,
2022, from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File: Colours_of_the_visible_light_spectrum.png. Copyright-free]

Difficulty: MEDIUM
C

Explanation‾Explanation:
The wavelength of the visible spectrum falls between 400 and 700 nanometres (nm), with 400 being the shortest and 700 being the
longest. Chlorophyll is a green pigment that is used in photosynthesis. Chlorophyll is what makes the leaf of a plant appear green
because chlorophyll reflects green light. It absorbs red and blue light for photosynthesis. The wavelength of red light falls between
600 and 700 nm, green light falls between 500 and 600 nm, and blue light falls between 400 and 500 nm.

Choice A is incorrect because it includes blue and green light in the “absorbed” category. Choice B is incorrect because it includes
only red light in the “absorbed” category. Choice D is incorrect because it includes green light in the “absorbed” category. Only
Choice C is correct because it includes red and blue light in the “absorbed” category.

Question 14
CALCULATOR

The graph shows the action spectrum for photosynthesis.

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What can be directly inferred from the graph?

● A. The highest rate of photosynthesis is in the presence of red light.

● B. The highest rate of photosynthesis is in the presence of blue light.

● C. The peaks mean that there are two types of chlorophyll pigments.

● D. Different amounts of light are absorbed by chlorophyll at different wavelengths.

Difficulty: MEDIUM
B
Explanation‾Explanation:
An action spectrum graph presented in the question shows the rate of photosynthesis at different wavelengths. An absorption
spectrum shows the amount of light that different pigment molecules absorb at different wavelengths (Choice D).

In this action spectrum graph, the highest rates of photosynthesis are when blue light at 430nm and red light at 660nm is present.
However, the highest between both lights is the blue light and not the red light (Choice A). Even though there are indeed two
chlorophyll pigments, chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b, the peaks in this graph do not represent the number of pigments (Choice C).

The low rates of photosynthesis between blue and red light represent other pigments that also absorb light.

Question 15
CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 16]

Organisms have adapted over time to derive nutrients from their environments and protect themselves from being preyed upon.

1. Compare and contrast between chemosynthesis and photosynthesis. [4]

2. Outline how differences in dentition and jaw structure between chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and gorillas (Gorilla gorilla)
are directly related to their respective diets. [3]

3. The ‘evolutionary arms race’ between predators and prey is an ongoing process of adaptation and counter-adaptation.
Explain how named predators and named prey have adapted physical traits that prevent or aid predation. [8]

Difficulty: HARD