Cambridge IGCSE Science - Combined 0653 — 2025 May/June Paper 2 · Variant 2

Question 1

1 Movement is a characteristic of all living organisms. Which two other characteristics of living organisms provide the energy for movement? A excretion and nutrition B growth and sensitivity C nutrition and respiration D respiration and growth

Accepted Answer

C

Question 2

2 Which plant cell structure matches its function? structure function A cell membrane provides strength and support B chloroplast absorbs light energy C ribosome provides protection D vacuole site of chemical reactions

Accepted Answer

B

Question 3

3 Which row describes osmosis? osmosis is the net movement of water molecules through a partially permeable membrane from to A a dilute solution with a concentrated solution with a higher water potential a lower water potential B a concentrated solution with a dilute solution with a higher water potential a lower water potential C a dilute solution with a concentrated solution with a lower water potential a higher water potential D a concentrated solution with a dilute solution with a lower water potential a higher water potential

Accepted Answer

A

Question 4

4 The table shows the results of tests carried out on different food samples.

food ethanol . Benedict’s
emulsion biuret test ;
sample test solution test
| x Jv x
2 Jv x x
3 x Jv WA
4 Jv x WA

Which food samples contain reducing sugar?

A i1iand2

B 1and3

key
¥ = positive result

X = negative result

C 2and4 D 3and4

Accepted Answer

D

Question 5

5 Which statement describes enzyme action in humans? A Enzymes become denatured at 0 °C. B The activity of enzymes always increases with an increasing temperature. C The enzyme active site and its substrate are the same shape. D There are more-frequent effective collisions when the temperature increases from 20 °C to 30 °C.

Accepted Answer

D

Question 6

6 Four tubes that contain red hydrogencarbonate indicator are set up as shown. After five hours, the colour of the hydrogencarbonate indicator is recorded. aquatic plant hydrogencarbonate indicator in light in light in dark in dark 1 2 3 4 Which row shows the colour of the hydrogencarbonate indicator in each tube after five hours? 1 2 3 4 A purple red red red B purple red yellow red C red yellow red purple D yellow red purple red

Accepted Answer

B

Question 7

7 A diet provides the correct energy requirements for a person but is not balanced. What are possible effects of this diet? 1 constipation 2 obesity 3 scurvy A 1, 2 and 3 B 1 and 2 only C 1 and 3 only D 2 and 3 only

Accepted Answer

C

Question 8

8 What is a function of hydrochloric acid in the stomach? A to help absorption of all food in the stomach B to kill microorganisms in the ingested food C to prevent chemical digestion D to prevent the stomach contents being too acidic

Accepted Answer

B

Question 9

9 Which statement explains why root hair cells have a long, thin shape? A They are squeezed into this shape as they grow between soil particles. B It is the most efficient shape for taking up food such as glucose. C It provides a large surface area for diffusion of water. D The narrow diameter allows them to gain carbon dioxide from between soil particles.

Accepted Answer

C

Question 10

10 Which row describes viruses?

are have a
pathogens protein coat

contain
genetic material

v

v
x
x

v

x
v
x

Qe Ow® OS

Accepted Answer

A

Question 11

11 The graphs show how the rate and depth of breathing varies when a student does four different activities. Which graph shows when the student is most active? A B volume of volume of air in lungs air in lungs 0 0 0 10 20 0 10 20 time / s time / s C D volume of volume of air in lungs air in lungs 0 0 0 10 20 0 10 20 time / s time / s

Accepted Answer

D

Question 12

12 Which statement about the use of antibiotics is correct? A Overuse of antibiotics causes the development of bacteria such as MRSA. B Antibiotics are prescribed for infections caused by viruses and bacteria. C Antibiotics increase reproduction of non-resistant bacteria. D Antibiotics only kill resistant bacteria.

Accepted Answer

A

Question 13

13 The diagram shows a food web. eagle fox small bird goat ant caterpillar locust beetle grass wildflower tree Which row states the number of species of each category in this food web? number of primary number of secondary number of tertiary consumer species consumer species consumer species A 6 1 1 B 5 2 1 C 5 2 2 D 3 4 3

Accepted Answer

B

Question 14

14 The table describes three changes of state, W, X and Y. change particle particle arrangement energy of state motion W further apart and random faster increases X closer together and random slower decreases Y closer together and regular vibration decreases Which statement about the changes of state is correct? A W is melting and Y is condensing. B X is evaporating and W is condensing. C Y is freezing and W is evaporating. D W is melting and X is freezing.

Accepted Answer

C

Question 15

15 Which statement describes a substance that contains covalent bonds? A It is a coloured compound that contains a transition element. B It is a good conductor of electricity when molten. C It is a compound formed from two non-metallic elements. D It can be broken down by the passage of an electric current.

Accepted Answer

C

Question 16

16 Which dot-and-cross diagram represents the arrangement of outer-shell electrons in a molecule of nitrogen? A B N N N N C D N N N N

Accepted Answer

A

Question 17

17 Which statement explains why a reaction is exothermic? A More thermal energy is absorbed by breaking bonds than is released by making bonds. B More thermal energy is absorbed by making bonds than is released by breaking bonds. C More thermal energy is released by breaking bonds than is absorbed by making bonds. D More thermal energy is released by making bonds than is absorbed by breaking bonds.

Accepted Answer

D

Question 18

18 Which statement explains why the rate of a reaction is greater at a higher temperature? A The activation energy is higher. B More colliding particles have the minimum energy to react. C The frequency of collisions between reacting particles decreases. D There are more reacting particles per unit volume.

Accepted Answer

B

Question 19

19 Which word equation represents the reaction of an acid with a carbonate? A acid + carbonate  salt + carbon dioxide B acid + carbonate  salt + carbon dioxide + water C acid + carbonate  salt + hydrogen + water D acid + carbonate  salt + water

Accepted Answer

B

Question 20

20 Which row describes the physical state of the Group VII elements at room temperature? chlorine bromine iodine A gas gas liquid B gas liquid solid C liquid liquid gas D liquid solid solid

Accepted Answer

B

Question 21

21 Which statement explains why all Group VIII elements are unreactive? A They all have a complete outer shell of electrons. B They all have only two electrons in their outer shell. C They all have eight electrons in their outer shell. D They all have no electrons in their outer shell.

Accepted Answer

A

Question 22

22 Which element does not produce a gas when added to dilute hydrochloric acid? A copper B iron C magnesium D zinc

Accepted Answer

A

Question 23

23 Which row describes the extraction of iron from its ore? name of ore method of extraction A bauxite electrolysis B bauxite reduction in a blast furnace C hematite electrolysis D hematite reduction in a blast furnace

Accepted Answer

D

Question 24

24 Which process is a physical change? A combustion of solid carbon B cracking of an alkane to give an alkene C fractional distillation of petroleum D rusting of iron

Accepted Answer

C

Question 25

25 The chromatogram of four different substances is shown. Which substance has an Rf value of 0.6? solvent front cm 20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 baseline 2 0 A B C D

Accepted Answer

D

Question 26

26 Potassium iodide reacts with lead(II) nitrate to produce yellow lead(II) iodide and potassium nitrate. 2KI(aq)  +  Pb(NO3)2(aq)    PbI2(s)  +  2KNO3(aq) Which row describes this reaction and how to separate lead(II) iodide from the reaction mixture? reaction separation A neutralisation chromatography B neutralisation filtration C precipitation chromatography D precipitation filtration

Accepted Answer

D

Question 27

27 Which row shows an electrolyte and the products of electrolysis for this electrolyte? electrolyte products A concentrated aqueous sodium chloride sodium and chlorine B molten potassium bromide hydrogen and bromine C molten sodium chloride sodium and chlorine D dilute sulfuric acid hydrogen and sulfur dioxide

Accepted Answer

C

Question 28

28 The diagram shows the horizontal forces acting on a car of mass 1200 kg. 600 N 900 N What is the acceleration of the car? A 0.25 m / s2 B 0.75 m / s2 C 1.3 m / s2 D 4.0 m / s2

Accepted Answer

A

Question 29

29 A brick of mass 2.0 kg rests on a platform at a height of 15 m above the ground. The brick falls to the ground. The gravitational field strength g is 9.8 N / kg. What is the speed of the brick as it hits the ground? A 12 m / s B 17 m / s C 150 m / s D 290 m / s

Accepted Answer

B

Question 30

30 Which process is the source of the energy released from the Sun? A chemical reactions B geothermal heating C nuclear fission D nuclear fusion

Accepted Answer

D

Question 31

31 What is a property of both solids and liquids? A They always fill a container. B They can flow. C They have a fixed shape. D They have a fixed volume.

Accepted Answer

D

Question 32

32 Which material is a good thermal conductor? A copper B glass C plastic D wood

Accepted Answer

A

Question 33

33 A room contains cold air. An electric heater is used to warm the air. Which statement explains why the warm air rises? A Air contracts as it is warmed. B Particles in warm air have less energy than particles in cold air. C The mass of the air particles decreases as the air is warmed. D Warm air is less dense than cold air.

Accepted Answer

D

Question 34

34 A student vibrates the end of a horizontal rope and sends a wave along the rope. The wave is shown in the diagram. wave direction 5.0 cm 40 cm Which row shows the amplitude of the wave and the wavelength of the wave? amplitude / cm wavelength / cm A 5.0 10 B 5.0 20 C 10 10 D 10 20

Accepted Answer

B

Question 35

35 Which description of the image of an object in a plane mirror is correct? A real and smaller than the object B real and the same size as the object C virtual and smaller than the object D virtual and the same size as the object

Accepted Answer

D

Question 36

36 What is the speed of infrared waves in a vacuum? A 3.0 m / s B 330 m / s C 3.0  108 m / s D 330  108 m / s

Accepted Answer

C

Question 37

37 Two charged rods, X and Y, are brought, one at a time, close to positively charged rod Z. Rod Z is repelled by rod X. Rod Z is attracted by rod Y. Which row shows the charges on rods X and Y? charge on rod X charge on rod Y A negative negative B negative positive C positive negative D positive positive

Accepted Answer

C

Question 38

38 There is a current of 2.0 A in a resistor of resistance 2.0 . How much charge flows through the resistor in 4.0 s? A 0.50 C B 2.0 C C 8.0 C D 16 C

Accepted Answer

C

Question 39

39 A 400  resistor and a 100  resistor are connected in parallel. 400 Ω 100 Ω What is the combined resistance of the two resistors? A 40  B 80  C 250  D 500 

Accepted Answer

B

Question 40

40 An object orbits a planet. The period of the orbit is 8.0 hours. The speed of the object is 2.0 km / s. What is the radius of the orbit? A 1.5  105 m B 9.2  106 m C 2.9  107 m D 3.6  108 m

Accepted Answer

B

Question paper16 pages

Mark scheme3 pages

Questions as text

Q1 · Movement is a characteristic of all living organisms

Q2 · Which plant cell structure matches its function?

Q3 · Which row describes osmosis?

Q4 · The table shows the results of tests carried out on different food samples

Q5 · Which statement describes enzyme action in humans?

Q6 · Four tubes that contain red hydrogencarbonate indicator are set up as shown

Q7 · A diet provides the correct energy requirements for a person but is not balanced

Q8 · What is a function of hydrochloric acid in the stomach?

Q9 · Which statement explains why root hair cells have a long, thin shape?

Q10 · Which row describes viruses?

Q11 · The graphs show how the rate and depth of breathing varies when a student does four…

Q12 · Which statement about the use of antibiotics is correct?

Q13 · The diagram shows a food web

Q14 · The table describes three changes of state, W, X and Y

Q15 · Which statement describes a substance that contains covalent bonds?

Q16 · Which dot-and-cross diagram represents the arrangement of outer-shell electrons in a…

Q17 · Which statement explains why a reaction is exothermic?

Q18 · Which statement explains why the rate of a reaction is greater at a higher temperature?

Q19 · Which word equation represents the reaction of an acid with a carbonate?

Q20 · Which row describes the physical state of the Group VII elements at room temperature?

Q21 · Which statement explains why all Group VIII elements are unreactive?

Q22 · Which element does not produce a gas when added to dilute hydrochloric acid?

Q23 · Which row describes the extraction of iron from its ore?

Q24 · Which process is a physical change?

Q25 · The chromatogram of four different substances is shown

Q26 · Potassium iodide reacts with lead(II) nitrate to produce yellow lead(II) iodide and…

Q27 · Which row shows an electrolyte and the products of electrolysis for this electrolyte?

Q28 · The diagram shows the horizontal forces acting on a car of mass 1200 kg

Q29 · A brick of mass 2.0 kg rests on a platform at a height of 15 m above the ground

Q30 · Which process is the source of the energy released from the Sun?

Q31 · What is a property of both solids and liquids?

Q32 · Which material is a good thermal conductor?

Q33 · A room contains cold air

Q34 · A student vibrates the end of a horizontal rope and sends a wave along the rope

Q35 · Which description of the image of an object in a plane mirror is correct?

Q36 · What is the speed of infrared waves in a vacuum?

Q37 · Two charged rods, X and Y, are brought, one at a time, close to positively charged rod Z

Q38 · There is a current of 2.0 A in a resistor of resistance 2.0 

Q39 · A 400  resistor and a 100  resistor are connected in parallel

Q40 · An object orbits a planet

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