Cambridge A Level Biology 9700 — 2015 May/June Paper 3 · Variant 5

9700/35/M/J/15 · 40 marks · ≈45 min

The question paper and its mark scheme, free to read here and free to download. This is Cambridge’s own paper, exactly as it was sat.

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Question paper12 pages

Cambridge A Level Biology 9700 2015 May/June Paper 3 · Variant 5 question paper, page 1 of 12
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Mark scheme4 pages

Answers below. Sit the paper first if you are practising.

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Paper as text

Question paper, page 1

This document consists of 12 printed pages. DC (CW/SW) 87486/4 © UCLES 2015 [Turn over Cambridge International Examinations Cambridge International Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced Level * 2 8 2 7 7 9 6 1 1 5 * BIOLOGY 9700/35 Advanced Practical Skills 1 May/June 2015 2 hours Candidates answer on the Question Paper. Additional Materials: As listed in the Confidential Instructions. READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST Write your Centre number, candidate number and name on all the work you hand in. Write in dark blue or black pen. You may use an HB pencil for any diagrams or graphs. Do not use staples, paperclips, glue or correction fluid. DO NOT WRITE IN ANY BARCODES. Answer all questions. Electronic calculators may be used. You may lose marks if you do not show your working or if you do not use appropriate units. At the end of the examination, fasten all your work securely together. The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question. For Examiner’s Use 1 2 Total

Question paper, page 2

2 9700/35/M/J/15 © UCLES 2015 Before you proceed, read carefully through the whole of Question 1 and Question 2. Plan the use of the two hours to make sure that you finish all the work that you would like to do. If you have enough time, consider how you can improve the accuracy of your results, for example by obtaining and recording one or more additional measurements. You will gain marks for recording your results according to the instructions. 1 The enzyme E catalyses the reaction of urea with water to form ammonium carbonate and carbon dioxide. urea + water ammonium carbonate + carbon dioxide Aqueous ammonium carbonate produces ammonium ions. This forms an alkaline solution which causes red litmus paper to change to blue. This colour change will be used to indicate the end-point of the reaction. The end-point of the reaction is when all of the surface of the red litmus paper is blue. You are required to: • prepare different concentrations of the urea solution, U • investigate the effect of different concentrations of U (independent variable) on the reaction of U with water, W. You are provided with: labelled contents hazard volume / cm3 U 5% urea solution harmful irritant 50 W distilled water none 100 E enzyme solution harmful irritant 10 labelled contents hazard quantity R red litmus paper none 2 strips When carrying out a practical procedure, the hazards of the use of all the apparatus and all of the reagents need to be considered, then the level of risk needs to be assessed as low or medium or high. (a) State the hazard with the greatest level of risk when using the apparatus and reagents in step 1 on page 4. State the level of risk of the procedure: low or medium or high. hazard … level of risk … [1]

Question paper, page 3

3 9700/35/M/J/15 © UCLES 2015 [Turn over (b) (i) You are required to make a serial dilution of the 5% urea solution, U, which reduces the concentration of the urea solution by half between each successive dilution. You will need to prepare 40 cm3 of each concentration. You should use the beakers shown in Fig. 1.1 to show how you will prepare the serial dilutions. For each beaker, complete Fig. 1.1 to show how you will dilute the solution by: • stating, under the beaker, the concentration and volume of the urea solution available for use in the investigation • using one arrow, with a label above the beaker, to show the concentration and volume of urea solution added to prepare the concentration • using another arrow, with a label above the beaker, to show the volume of W added to prepare the concentration. … … 5% urea solution 20 cm3 to use 40 cm3 5% urea solution 0 cm3 W … … … … … … … … … … … … 20 cm3 5% urea solution Fig. 1.1 [3]

Question paper, page 4

4 9700/35/M/J/15 © UCLES 2015 Proceed as follows: 1. Prepare the concentrations of urea solution, as stated in (b)(i). 2. Cut the red litmus paper into lengths of approximately 0.5 cm. Put one piece of litmus paper into the bottom of each of the four test-tubes. 3. Put 0.5 cm3 of E into each test-tube. 4. Put 5 cm3 of the lowest concentration of urea solution into one of these test-tubes and mix well. Immediately start timing. 5. During the investigation, shake the test-tube occasionally to mix the contents. 6. Record in (b)(ii) the time taken for all of the surface of the red litmus paper to change to blue (the end-point). If the piece of litmus paper does not reach the end-point after 180 seconds (3 minutes), stop the experiment and record ‘more than 180’. 7. Repeat steps 4 to 6 with the next lowest concentration of urea solution. 8. Repeat step 7 with the other concentrations of urea solution. You are now required to replicate the investigation. 9. Repeat steps 2 to 8. (ii) Prepare the space below and record your results. [5]

Question paper, page 5

5 9700/35/M/J/15 © UCLES 2015 [Turn over (iii) Significant sources of error may cause some of the raw data to be inaccurate, producing anomalous results. • The end-point of this investigation was the change in colour of the red litmus paper. State how this might have caused the results to be inaccurate. … … • Identify one other significant source of error for this investigation. … … [2] (iv) Describe one improvement to this investigation which would increase confidence in your results. … …[1] (v) State one piece of apparatus used in this investigation that may have a systematic error. …[1] (vi) When a student carried out this investigation, the red litmus paper changed to blue in a very short time. This made measuring the time inaccurate. Describe how the student could change the procedure to increase the time taken to reach the end-point. … … … … …[2]

Question paper, page 6

6 9700/35/M/J/15 © UCLES 2015 (c) The ‘urea breath test’ is used to detect human stomach infections caused by bacteria. If the bacteria are present in the stomach, an enzyme produced by the bacteria breaks down the urea to carbon dioxide. This carbon dioxide is absorbed from the stomach into the blood and travels to the lungs where it is released in the breath. To test for the presence of the bacteria, the patient drinks a solution of urea containing 13C, which is an isotope of carbon. The breath of the patient is then sampled at intervals for 110 minutes and analysed for the presence of 13CO2 (carbon dioxide containing 13C). The results are shown in Table 1.1. Table 1.1 time of sampling / minutes 13CO2 in the breath / arbitrary units 30 21.8 40 19.0 60 14.5 75 12.5 110 10.7

Question paper, page 7

7 9700/35/M/J/15 © UCLES 2015 [Turn over You are required to use a sharp pencil for graphs. (i) Plot a graph of the data in Table 1.1. [4] (ii) Using your knowledge of enzymes, explain the trend shown in the data. … … … … …[2] [Total: 21]

Question paper, page 8

8 9700/35/M/J/15 © UCLES 2015 You are required to use a sharp pencil for drawings. 2 (a) K1 is a slide of a stained transverse section through a plant stem. This plant genus grows in Europe, Africa and Asia. You are not expected to be familiar with this specimen. (i) Draw a large plan diagram of the half of the stem, as shown in Fig. 2.1. draw this half Fig. 2.1 Use one ruled label line and label to identify the pith. [5]

Question paper, page 9

9 9700/35/M/J/15 © UCLES 2015 [Turn over (ii) Observe a corner or bulge of the stem. Select and make a large drawing of: • two whole, adjacent cells from the epidermis which touch each other • two whole, adjacent cells from the cortex (the layer of tissue under the epidermis) which touch each other. The drawings should show any difference in size (linear magnification) observed between each pair of cells. Use one ruled label line and label to identify one cell wall. cells from epidermis cells from cortex [5]

Question paper, page 10

10 9700/35/M/J/15 © UCLES 2015 (b) Fig. 2.2 is a stained transverse section through the stem of a different plant species. This plant species grows throughout the world. You are not expected to be familiar with this specimen. X Fig. 2.2 A student calibrated the eyepiece graticule in a light microscope using a stage micrometer scale so that the actual length of specimens could be found. The calibration was: one eyepiece graticule division equal to 0.028 mm. (i) The use of the unit mm is not the most appropriate unit for use with the light microscope. State which unit is the most appropriate for use with the light microscope and show how the value 0.028 mm is converted to this unit. You may lose marks if you do not show your working. unit …[2]

Question paper, page 11

11 9700/35/M/J/15 © UCLES 2015 [Turn over (ii) Fig. 2.2 shows a photomicrograph taken using the same microscope with the same lenses as the student. Use the calibration of the eyepiece graticule division from (b)(i) and line X in Fig. 2.2 to calculate the actual total width of the tissue as shown by line X. You may lose marks if you do not show all your working and do not use the appropriate units. actual width of the tissue shown by line X …[2] (iii) Suggest one observable feature of the stem in Fig. 2.2 which supports the conclusion that this is from a plant growing in a freshwater pond. Explain how this feature supports this conclusion. feature … explanation … …[1]

Question paper, page 12

12 9700/35/M/J/15 © UCLES 2015 (c) Prepare the space below so that it is suitable for you to record observable differences between the specimen on K1 and Fig. 2.2. Record your observations in the space you have prepared. [4] [Total: 19] Permission to reproduce items where third-party owned material protected by copyright is included has been sought and cleared where possible. Every reasonable effort has been made by the publisher (UCLES) to trace copyright holders, but if any items requiring clearance have unwittingly been included, the publisher will be pleased to make amends at the earliest possible opportunity. To avoid the issue of disclosure of answer-related information to candidates, all copyright acknowledgements are reproduced online in the Cambridge International Examinations Copyright Acknowledgements Booklet. This is produced for each series of examinations and is freely available to download at www.cie.org.uk after the live examination series. Cambridge International Examinations is part of the Cambridge Assessment Group. Cambridge Assessment is the brand name of University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), which is itself a department of the University of Cambridge.

Mark scheme, page 1

® IGCSE is the registered trademark of Cambridge International Examinations. CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL EXAMINATIONS Cambridge International Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced Level MARK SCHEME for the May/June 2015 series 9700 BIOLOGY 9700/35 Paper 3 (Advanced Practical Skills 1), maximum raw mark 40 This mark scheme is published as an aid to teachers and candidates, to indicate the requirements of the examination. It shows the basis on which Examiners were instructed to award marks. It does not indicate the details of the discussions that took place at an Examiners’ meeting before marking began, which would have considered the acceptability of alternative answers. Mark schemes should be read in conjunction with the question paper and the Principal Examiner Report for Teachers. Cambridge will not enter into discussions about these mark schemes. Cambridge is publishing the mark schemes for the May/June 2015 series for most Cambridge IGCSE®, Cambridge International A and AS Level components and some Cambridge O Level components.

Mark scheme, page 2

Page 2 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper Cambridge International AS/A Level – May/June 2015 9700 35 © Cambridge International Examinations 2015 Mark scheme abbreviations: ; separates marking points / alternative answers for the same point R reject A accept (for answers correctly cued by the question, or by extra guidance) AW alternative wording (where responses vary more than usual) underline actual word given must be used by candidate (grammatical variants accepted) max indicates the maximum number of marks that can be given ora or reverse argument mp marking point (with relevant number) ecf error carried forward I ignore

Mark scheme, page 3

Page 3 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper Cambridge International AS/A Level – May/June 2015 9700 35 © Cambridge International Examinations 2015 1 (a) (level of risk) medium or high ; [1] (b) (i) (labels under correct sequence of beakers) 2.5 + 1.25 + 0.625 + % ; shows transfer of 20 cm3 of solution from previous beaker to 2 beakers ; adds water / W + 20 cm3 to three beakers ; [3] (ii) 1 table with heading underlined (top or to left of data) + percentage concentration of urea / U ; 2 table with heading (any column / row headed) + time + seconds ; 3 records time for at least 4 concentrations + lowest concentration of U recorded first ; 4 records repeats ; 5 records time in whole seconds ; [5] (iii) difficult to judge end-point ; mixing of U and E not standardized or size of litmus not the same for each test-tube ; [2] (iv) use of mechanical stirrer or use of ruler to measure accurately the size of litmus paper ; [1] (v) syringe ; [1] (vi) decrease the temperature + use of thermostatically-controlled water-bath ; decrease concentration of E + dilution of E ; decrease volume of E + stated volume of E (less than 0.5 cm3) ; [max 2] (c) (i) orientation (x-axis) time of sampling (/) minutes + (y-axis) 13CO2 in the breath (/) arbitrary units ; scale (x-axis) 2 cm to 20 labelled each 2 cm + must have 30 at the origin + (y-axis) 2 cm to 2 labelled each 2 cm + must have 10 at the origin ; plotting correct plotting of 5 points as small cross / dot in circle ± half a square ; line 5 plots with ruled lines exactly point to point + quality smooth line less than 1 mm thick ; [4]

Mark scheme, page 4

Page 4 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper Cambridge International AS/A Level – May/June 2015 9700 35 © Cambridge International Examinations 2015 (ii) less urea / substrate + as urea is broken down ; fewer enzyme-substrate complexes + slower rate of reaction ; [2] [Total: 21] 2 (a) (i) 1 drawn at least 2 layers of tissue + size at least 100 mm + no shading ; 2 no cells + correct half drawn ; 3 epidermis of bulges drawn as two lines ; 4 draws angular inner region ; 5 correct label with label line ending in the pith ; [5] (ii) 1 thin and continuous lines + size at least 40 mm for at least one cell ; 2 draws only 4 cells + 2 cells from epidermis touching + 2 cells from cortex touching ; 3 4 cells with walls drawn as double lines ; 4 for at least 2 cells, walls drawn with middle lamella between the cells ; 5 correct label with label line ending at the cell wall ; [5] (b) (i) shows 0.028 multiplied by 1000 ; shows answer as 28 µm ; [2] (ii) shows length of line X as eyepiece graticule units within range ; shows length of X multiplied by 28 µm ; [2] (iii) air spaces + idea of buoyancy or relatively small amount of xylem as water diffusing through epidermis ; [1] (c) 1 organises table with 3 columns or rows + with appropriate headings + one column or row for features ; 2 observable difference between K1 and Fig. 2.2, e.g. position of vascular tissue ; 3 observable difference between K1 and Fig. 2.2, e.g. presence of air spaces ; 4 observable difference between K1 and Fig. 2.2, e.g. presence of pith ; [4] [Total: 19]

What you needed in this session

Cambridge’s own grade thresholds for 2015 May/June, Paper 3 · Variant 5. A higher threshold means an easier paper — the bar moves with how the cohort did.

A26/40
B24/40
C22/40
D20/40
E18/40