Cambridge IGCSE Science - Combined 0653 — 2019 May/June Paper 2 · Variant 1
0653/21/M/J/19 · 40 questions · 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.
Question paper20 pages
Mark scheme3 pages
Answers below. Sit the paper first if you are practising.
Questions as text
Q1 · A student is reading a text book
1 A student is reading a text book. He finds the following definition about how substances move in and out of cells. The net movement of water molecules from a region of higher water potential to a region of lower water potential through a partially permeable membrane is called The corner of the page has been torn. What is the missing word at the end of the sentence? A diffusion B dissolving C evaporation D osmosis
Mark scheme: D
Q2 · The graph shows how the activity of an enzyme varies
2 The graph shows how the activity of an enzyme varies. enzyme activity 0 0 Which label for the x-axis of this graph is correct? A enzyme activity B pH C temperature D time
Mark scheme: B
Q3 · What is defined as the breakdown of food into smaller pieces, without chemically changing…
3 What is defined as the breakdown of food into smaller pieces, without chemically changing the molecules? A absorption B chemical digestion C egestion D mechanical digestion
Mark scheme: D
Q4 · The diagram shows an experiment at the start and one hour later
4 The diagram shows an experiment at the start and one hour later. beaker water water and partially permeable simple sugars membrane starch solution plus Q start of experiment one hour later What is Q? A amylase B lipase C protease D water
Mark scheme: A
Q5 · The rate of water absorption into a plant is increased by the large surface area of which…
5 The rate of water absorption into a plant is increased by the large surface area of which type of cell? A mesophyll B root cortex C root hair D xylem
Mark scheme: C
Q6 · The graphs P, Q and R show the changes in the volume of air in the lungs of the same…
6 The graphs P, Q and R show the changes in the volume of air in the lungs of the same person, measured after different levels of activities. P Q 2 2 volume volume of air in 1 of air in 1 lungs / dm3 lungs / dm3 0 0 0 10 20 0 10 20 time / s time / s R 2 volume of air in 1 lungs / dm3 0 0 10 20 time / s Which row shows the correct graph for each level of activity? immediately immediately at rest after 10 minutes after 10 minutes of running of walking A P Q R B P R Q C R Q P D R P Q
Mark scheme: B
Q7 · Which word equation represents aerobic respiration?
7 Which word equation represents aerobic respiration? A carbon dioxide + glucose → oxygen + water B glucose + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water C oxygen + water → carbon dioxide + glucose D water + carbon dioxide → glucose + oxygen
Mark scheme: B
Q8 · How does adrenaline affect blood glucose concentration and pulse rate?
8 How does adrenaline affect blood glucose concentration and pulse rate? blood glucose pulse rate concentration A decreases decreases B decreases increases C increases decreases D increases increases
Mark scheme: D
Q9 · A germinating bean seed placed horizontally
9 Diagram 1 shows a germinating bean seed placed horizontally. pin diagram 1 Diagram 2 shows the same seed after three days. The shoot has grown upwards because of the action of an auxin. Where is the auxin produced? D C A B pin diagram 2
Mark scheme: D
Q10 · What are the features of sexual reproduction?
10 What are the features of sexual reproduction? fusion nature of offspring of nuclei A no genetically dissimilar B yes genetically identical C no genetically identical D yes genetically dissimilar
Mark scheme: D
Q11 · The diagram shows a section through an insect-pollinated flower
11 The diagram shows a section through an insect-pollinated flower. 1 2 3 4 Which labels are correct? anther petal sepal stigma A 1 3 4 2 B 1 4 3 2 C 2 3 4 1 D 2 4 3 1
Mark scheme: A
Q12 · The diagram shows a food web from the African grasslands
12 The diagram shows a food web from the African grasslands. hawk leopard baboon snake tick bird scorpion tick impala locust seed-eating bird grass Which row correctly identifies the positions of the organisms in the food web? primary secondary tertiary consumer consumer consumer A grass seed-eating bird locust B impala tick leopard C locust scorpion tick bird D seed-eating bird tick bird baboon
Mark scheme: C
Q13 · Which changes to the composition of the atmosphere are caused by cutting down forests?
13 Which changes to the composition of the atmosphere are caused by cutting down forests? carbon dioxide gas oxygen gas A decreases decreases B decreases increases C increases decreases D increases increases
Mark scheme: C
Q14 · The diagram shows apparatus used for filtration
14 The diagram shows apparatus used for filtration. Why can sugar and salt not be separated by using this apparatus? A They are both compounds. B They are both white. C They both dissolve in water. D They both have the same size particles.
Mark scheme: C
Q15 · Copper sulfate crystals dissolve in water
15 Copper sulfate crystals dissolve in water. Which word describes the role of the water? A filtrate B solute C solution D solvent
Mark scheme: D
Q16 · Magnesium chloride is an ionic compound
16 Magnesium chloride is an ionic compound. Which row describes the formation of magnesium chloride and the strength of the attraction between its ions? strength of the formation of magnesium chloride attraction between ions A electrons are shared between magnesium and chlorine strong B electrons are shared between magnesium and chlorine weak C electrons are transferred from magnesium to chlorine strong D electrons are transferred from magnesium to chlorine weak
Mark scheme: C
Q17 · Which process occurs at the anode during the electrolysis of concentrated aqueous sodium…
17 Which process occurs at the anode during the electrolysis of concentrated aqueous sodium chloride? A Chloride ions lose electrons to form chlorine. B Hydrogen ions gain electrons to form hydrogen. C Oxide ions lose electrons to form oxygen. D Sodium ions gain electrons to form sodium.
Mark scheme: A
Q18 · When an excess of zinc is added to dilute hydrochloric acid, a gas is released
18 When an excess of zinc is added to dilute hydrochloric acid, a gas is released. Which pieces of apparatus are needed to investigate the rate of this reaction? 1 balance 2 gas syringe 3 stop watch 4 thermometer A 1 and 2 B 1 and 4 C 2 and 3 D 3 and 4
Mark scheme: C
Q19 · Calcium chloride is a soluble salt
19 Calcium chloride is a soluble salt. It is made by adding calcium carbonate to substance X. Solid calcium chloride is obtained from the reaction mixture by process Y. What are substance X and process Y? substance X process Y A hydrochloric acid crystallisation B hydrochloric acid filtration C sodium chloride crystallisation D sodium chloride filtration
Mark scheme: A
Q20 · Which aqueous ion gives a white precipitate with aqueous sodium hydroxide and with…
20 Which aqueous ion gives a white precipitate with aqueous sodium hydroxide and with aqueous ammonia? A Cu2+ B Fe2+ C Fe3+ D Zn2+
Mark scheme: D
Q21 · Which pair of substances react together?
21 Which pair of substances react together? A bromine and potassium chloride B bromine and potassium iodide C iodine and potassium bromide D iodine and potassium chloride
Mark scheme: B
Q22 · Iron obtained from the blast furnace contains small amounts of carbon and silicon
22 Iron obtained from the blast furnace contains small amounts of carbon and silicon. Which statement describes this iron? A It is a covalent compound. B It is an alloy. C It is an ionic compound. D It is slag.
Mark scheme: B
Q23 · P, Q, R and S are four metallic elements
23 P, Q, R and S are four metallic elements. An atom of S forms an ion by losing only one electron. When Q is added to a solution of R2+ ions, metal R is produced. P reacts with cold water to form hydrogen. What are P, Q, R and S? P Q R S A calcium magnesium copper sodium B copper magnesium iron potassium C potassium copper zinc sodium D sodium zinc iron magnesium
Mark scheme: A
Q24 · Which statement about water is not correct?
24 Which statement about water is not correct? A A water molecule consists of three atoms covalently bonded together. B The water supply is treated with chlorine to kill the bacteria in it. C Water changes the colour of cobalt chloride paper from blue to pink. D Water has a low melting point because covalent bonds are weak.
Mark scheme: D
Q25 · Which statement shows that petroleum is a mixture?
25 Which statement shows that petroleum is a mixture? A Petroleum can be burned as a fuel. B Petroleum can be separated into fractions by distillation. C Petroleum is a fossil fuel formed over millions of years. D Petroleum is a thick, black liquid.
Mark scheme: B
Q26 · Which statement about alkanes is not correct?
26 Which statement about alkanes is not correct? A Alkanes are unsaturated hydrocarbons. B Alkanes burn to release heat energy. C Alkanes form carbon dioxide and water when they burn. D Alkane molecules contain only single bonds.
Mark scheme: A
Q27 · Which reaction equation represents cracking?
27 Which reaction equation represents cracking? A CH4 + 2O2 → CO2 + 2H2O B C2H4 + Br2 → C2H4Br2 C nC2H4 → ( C2H2 ) n D C2H6 → C2H4 + H2
Mark scheme: D
Q28 · Which labelled part of the electromagnetic spectrum is often involved in thermal energy…
28 Which labelled part of the electromagnetic spectrum is often involved in thermal energy transfer by radiation? radio gamma A B C D waves rays visible light
Mark scheme: B
Q29 · The diagrams show two speed–time graphs and two distance–time graphs
29 The diagrams show two speed–time graphs and two distance–time graphs. Which graph represents the motion of a train with a positive acceleration that is not constant? A B speed speed 0 0 0 time 0 time C D distance distance 0 0 0 time 0 time
Mark scheme: A
Q30 · The diagram shows an extension-load graph for a spring
30 The diagram shows an extension-load graph for a spring. 12 11 extension / cm 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 load / N The unstretched length of the spring is 10.0 cm. What is the length of the spring when a load of 8.0 N is suspended from it? A 4.0 cm B 14.0 cm C 16.0 cm D 26.0 cm
Mark scheme: B
Q31 · Which statement describes the process of convection in a liquid?
31 Which statement describes the process of convection in a liquid? A Heated liquid becomes less dense and falls. B Heated liquid becomes less dense and rises. C Heated liquid becomes more dense and falls. D Heated liquid becomes more dense and rises.
Mark scheme: B
Q32 · A balloon contains helium
32 A balloon contains helium. The balloon is released and rises through the atmosphere. Its volume increases and the temperature of the helium inside it decreases. What happens to the average distance between the helium molecules and what happens to their average speed? average distance average speed between molecules of molecules A decreases decreases B decreases increases C increases decreases D increases increases
Mark scheme: C
Q33 · The diagram shows a vacuum flask containing a hot liquid in a cold room
33 The diagram shows a vacuum flask containing a hot liquid in a cold room. X and Y are points on the inside surfaces of the walls of the flask. cold room X Y hot liquid vacuum How is thermal energy transferred through the vacuum between X and Y? A by conduction and convection B by conduction only C by radiation and convection D by radiation only
Mark scheme: D
Q34 · The diagram represents a wave at one moment
34 The diagram represents a wave at one moment. Q R S P Which labelled arrows represent the amplitude and the wavelength of the wave? amplitude wavelength A P R B P S C Q R D Q S
Mark scheme: D
Q35 · Which row describes what happens to sound waves as they travel from air into water, and…
35 Which row describes what happens to sound waves as they travel from air into water, and from water into rock? sound travelling from sound travelling from air into water water into rock A slows down slows down B slows down speeds up C speeds up slows down D speeds up speeds up
Mark scheme: D
Q36 · The amplitude of a sound wave decreases and its frequency increases
36 The amplitude of a sound wave decreases and its frequency increases. What happens to the sound heard? A It becomes louder and its pitch becomes higher. B It becomes louder and its pitch becomes lower. C It becomes quieter and its pitch becomes higher. D It becomes quieter and its pitch becomes lower.
Mark scheme: C
Q37 · What is the unit of electric charge?
37 What is the unit of electric charge? A ampere B coulomb C volt D watt
Mark scheme: B
Q38 · There is a current of 2.0 A in a resistor
38 There is a current of 2.0 A in a resistor. The power produced in the resistor is 8.0 W. What is the potential difference across the resistor? A 0.25 V B 4.0 V C 10 V D 16 V
Mark scheme: B
Q39 · Three resistors, one of resistance 4.0 Ω and two of resistance 2.0 Ω, are connected in…
39 Three resistors, one of resistance 4.0 Ω and two of resistance 2.0 Ω, are connected in different arrangements. Which arrangement has a total resistance of 5.0 Ω? A B 2.0 Ω 2.0 Ω 4.0 Ω 2.0 Ω 2.0 Ω 4.0 Ω C D 2.0 Ω 2.0 Ω 2.0 Ω 2.0 Ω 4.0 Ω 4.0 Ω
Mark scheme: A
Q40 · A mains circuit can safely supply a current of up to 40 A
40 A mains circuit can safely supply a current of up to 40 A. The current in a hairdryer is 2 A when it is operating normally. The hairdryer is connected to the mains by a lead which can safely carry up to 5 A. What is the correct fuse to protect the hairdryer? A 1 A fuse B 3 A fuse C 10 A fuse D 50 A fuse
Mark scheme: B
What was in this paper
The subtopics covered by these 40 questions, and how many questions each got. Open one in a new tab to see every Cambridge question on it.
2Enzymes2Separation and purification2Sexual reproduction in plants2Sound2Transfer of thermal energy2Alkanes1Alkenes1Alloys and their properties1Digestion1Drugs1Electrical circuits1Electrical safety1Electrolysis1Electromagnetic spectrum1Food chains and food webs1Forces1Gas exchange in humans1General properties of waves1Group VII properties1Habitat destruction1Identification of ions and gases1Ions and ionic bonds1Kinetic particle model of matter1Motion1Osmosis1Preparation of salts1Rate of reaction1Reactivity series1Respiration1Sexual reproduction in humans1Simple molecules and covalent bonds1Water1Water uptake1What you needed in this session
Cambridge’s own grade thresholds for 2019 May/June, Paper 2 · Variant 1. A higher threshold means an easier paper — the bar moves with how the cohort did.