PENANG CHINESE GIRLS’ PRIVATE HIGH SCHOOL

First Term Examination

Biology
Senior Level 3
Section A: Multiple Choice Questions
1. C 6. C 11. C 16. C 21. A 26. C
2. B 7. B 12. D 17. C 22. D 27. B
3. D 8. D 13. B 18. C 23. B 28. B
4. A 9. C 14. A 19. D 24. B 29. B
5. C 10. A 15. C 20. D 25. C 30. D

Section B Compulsory questions.

1.
(a) The uneven charge distribution within the molecule [1] causes water molecule to become
bipolar. Electrons are drawn towards the oxygen atom, causing it to have a partial
negative charge [0.5] while the hydrogen atoms have partial positive charges [0.5].
(b) Hydrogen bond
(c) Formation of bond Q between water molecules causes water to have high specific heat of
capacity [1]. Large amount of heat is required to break bond Q [1] that restrict the movement of
water molecules. As a result, water temperature does not increase as fast as other substances
and enables water temperature in cells to remain relatively constant [1].
(d) Protein / Cellulose / Glycogen / Starch / nucleic acids
(Any ONE of the answers, other answers will be considered)
(e) Serve as medium of transport for substances such as minerals salts and nutrients. // Serve as one of the
ingredients needed for photosynthesis. // Serve as medium of biochemical reactions in plant cells.
(Any TWO of the answers. Other answers will be considered)

2.
(a) Tertiary structure
(b) Temperature [1]. The rate of enzyme reaction is the highest at its optimum temperature [1/2]. Beyond
the optimum temperature, enzyme become denature due to the breakdown of bonds [1/2] such as
hydrogen bonds, ionic bonds, disulphide bridges that help to maintain its tertiary structure [1].
(c) The primary structure of enzyme A is maintained by peptide bonds that are formed between amino acids
that are unaffected by temperature.
(d) When enzymes are denatured, the bonds that help to maintain their tertiary structures are broken down
[1], as a result, the conformation of enzymes’ active sites are altered, substrates no longer bind to the
active sites [1]. Thus, affecting the specificity of the enzymes.
(e) Haemoglobin, binds oxygen.//Enzymes, acts as biocatalysts that speeds up the rate of biochemical
reactions in cells. // Insulin, regulates blood glucose level. // Keratin, made up hairs and nails.//
(Any ONE of the answers, other answers will be considered.)

3.
(a) R:ADP S: ATP X: CO2 Y: Glucose
(b) Stroma of chloroplast
(c) C5: ribulose bisphosphate C3: phosphoglycerate
(d) Plant cells carry out photorespiration instead of photosynthesis when the concentration of oxygen is high.
[1] Carbon dioxide fixation in cycle Z is replaced by oxygen fixation [1], therefore no sugar is produced
and photosynthetic rate is reduced.[1]
(e) C3 plant, the first product that is produced in cycle Z is a 3-carbon molecule.//Carbon dioxide fixation
only occurs once. [1]

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4.
(a) W: ATP X: NAD+ Y: NADH Z: lactic acid / lactate
(b)
Adenosine Phosphate group

A-P~P~P

High energy phosphate bond

(c) Glucose need to undergo a series of biochemical reaction through glycolysis, Krebs cycle and electron
transport system to release the chemical energy that is stored inside glucose molecule [1]. These
processes will need a much longer time to generate the energy required for the life activities in the cell.
When the chemical energy from glucose is stored in ATP, its is stored in the high energy phosphate
bonds that are readily broken down [1] to provide energy immediately to the cells to carry out life
activities.
(d) Oxygen serves as the final electron acceptor in the electron transport system. Without oxygen, electrons
that are passed along the ETC would be stuck in the electron carriers. This blocks the passage of
electrons and stops ATP production.
(e) 2 ATPs

5.
(a) A: Spikes B: Capsid C: RNA D: Envelope
(b) Protects the RNA/genetic material. Allows virus to bind to cell surface.
(c) Viruses do not have complete enzyme system, enzymes and materials required for replication such as
ATP, nucleotides, tRNA etc. are obtained from the host cell. Therefore, replication does not occur
outside their host cells.
(d) Successful infection is determined by the availability of complementary receptors on the surfaces of
host cells and host enzymes that are required for viral replication. Not all cell types have the
complementary receptors that are required for successful attachment of the virus or the enzymes
required for viral replication.

6.
(a) Individuals that are morphologically similar and able to mate to produce fertile offsprings.
(b) No fertile hybrids are found in the overlapping regions.
Eventhough mating occur, no fertile offsprings are produced.
They do not share the same gene pool.
(c) Geographical isolation prevents individuals from different populations from mating [1], therefore
blocking gene flow between these populations [1]. Overtime, these individuals of these population
become adapted to different environment and develop their own gene pools [1]. As a result, genetic
isolation occur. At this point, fertile offsprings cannot be produced even though mating occur [1].

Section C: Inquiry question.

1.
(a) The lower the endosperm dry weight, the higher the mass of the soluble carbohydrate.
(b) During seed germination, starch that is stored in the endosperm is hydrolysed into soluble carbohydrates
that can be used in cellular respiration to provide energy.
(c) Starch
(d) Not soluble in water, therefore does not affect the osmotic pressure of the cells.
Can be quickly hydrolysed into simple sugar when needed.
Compact molecules that can be easily stored in large amount in the cells.
(e) Maltose
(f) Water is involved in the hydrolysis of starch [1] into simple and soluble glucose that can be used in
cellular respiration [1] to provide energy for cell division during seed germination. Water is also
required to soften and break the testa. [1]
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(g) Oxygen is needed for the cells to carry out cellular respiration [1] to generate energy for cell division [1]
during seed germination.

Section D: Social issue.

1. (a) A, C, D, B, E
(b) No [0.5], both DNA and protein contain nitrogen element [0.5], if radioisotope 15N is used, both phage
DNA and capsid will be radiolabelled and could not be distinguished [1].
(a) Bacteriophage only infects bacteria, they lyse bacteria to release new phages [1], thus killing the
bacteria without harming host cells. [1]
(b) Their number may increase in the body as long as the bacterial host is present, in comparison to the
declining concentration of antibiotics overtime.
Resistance towards phages is also lower in comparison to antibiotics.
Phages eliminates bacteria without harming human cells, unlike antibiotics which may be toxic to host
cells as well.
(c) Bacteriophage exhibits host specificity in which they only infect certain bacteria [1], requiring the
complementary receptors that are only found on the cell walls of certain bacteria but absent on the
surfaces of human cells.[1]
(d) As vectors in gene recombination technique // Used to produce vaccines, such as mRNA vaccines //
Biological control on agricultural pests //