IB Biology HL Theme B: Form and function questions

Exam-style multiple choice and written questions with full markschemes. Check multiple choice answers straight away, or type, photograph or draw a written answer and get it marked.

Type
Multiple choiceWritten
Difficulty
EasyMediumHard

Question 1

Paper 2Easy6 marks

In a mammal, glucose is transported in the blood and stored in liver cells as glycogen. Figure 1 shows two monosaccharides in ring form and a fragment of glycogen.

(a)XOOHOHOHOHCH2OH(b)Glycogen fragmentYOOHOHOHCH2OHα-glucoseα-glucoseα-glucoseα-glucoseα-glucoseα-glucoseα-glucoseα-glucoseα-glucose
(a)

State which of X and Y is a pentose and which is a hexose.

[2]
(b)

State one feature visible in Figure 1(b) that contributes to the compact nature of glycogen.

[1]
(c)

Outline how the solubility and chemical stability of glucose relate to its transport in the blood, and state the benefit of glucose oxidation in cells.

[3]

Question 2

Paper 2Easy2 marks

A researcher compares two proteins that contain the same types of amino acids but in a different order.

(a)

Explain why the proteins may have different three-dimensional conformations.

[1]
(b)

State the role of hydrogen bonds in stabilizing alpha helices and beta-pleated sheets.

[1]

Question 3

Paper 2Easy5 marks

Figure 1 shows a schematic mitochondrion and the fusion of a lysosome with a phagocytic vacuole.

AXmatrixYBlysosomephagocytic vacuolefusiondigestive enzymesengulfed material
(a)

Identify the mitochondrial adaptations indicated by X and Y.

[2]
(b)

In which mitochondrial compartment are enzymes and substrates of the Krebs cycle concentrated?

[1]
(c)

Explain one advantage of the compartmentalization shown in panel B for the cell.

[2]

Question 4

Paper 2Easy5 marks

Cubes of different side lengths are used as simplified models of cells. Figure 1 shows the surface-area-to-volume ratio of the cubes.

012345600.511.522.533.544.555.566.5Side length of cube / cmSurface-area-to-volume ratio / cm⁻¹
(a)

Read the surface-area-to-volume ratio for a cube with a side length of 2 cm. Give the unit.

[1]
(b)

Determine the side length of a cube with a surface-area-to-volume ratio of 1.5 cm⁻¹. Give the unit.

[1]
(c)

Explain how the pattern in Figure 1 suggests a constraint on the size of a cell.

[3]

Question 5

Paper 2Easy6 marks

A student prepares a transverse section of a dicotyledonous leaf to examine the arrangement of tissues involved in gas exchange.

(a)

Draw a plan diagram of the section. Label the waxy cuticle, upper and lower epidermis, palisade mesophyll, spongy mesophyll, air spaces and a vein. Do not draw individual cells.

[4]
(b)

State one role in gas exchange of the air spaces and one role of the guard cells of a stoma.

[2]

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