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Code: 24/3/2008

Saint Ignatius College

Maria Regina Girls’ Junior Lyceum

Blata l-Bajda

HALF YEARLY EXAMINATIONS 2008

Subject: Biology Form: 3 Time: 1.5 hrs

Name & Surname: ________________________________ Class: ________

Section A Section B Question

No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5

Max

Mark 10 11 11 8 8 7 15 15 15 15 15

Actual

mark

TOTAL

MARK

85% Theory Paper 15% Practical 100% Final Score

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Section A:

Answer all questions in the spaces provided. This section carries 55

marks.

1. Fill in the blanks:

• Living things are made up of ____________________.

Groups of similar cells are called

____________________.

• All living things carry out the seven vital functions.

They ____________________, ____________________,

____________________, ____________________,

____________________, ____________________ and

____________________.

• Plants build up their food during the process of

____________________.

(10 marks)

2. a. Draw a well labeled diagram of a typical plant cell.

(4 marks)

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b. A student was studying cells under the light

microscope. She could observe glycogen granules in the

cells. Do you think she was observing plant or animal

cells? Give a reason for your answer.

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

(1 mark)

c. Give the name of three structures that are found in

both plant and animal cells. Write the function of each

structure.

Structure Function

•

•

•

(6 marks)

3. a. Label the following diagram of a light microscope. (8 marks)

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

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b. What magnification is obtained by using an eyepiece

lens of x5 magnification and an objective lens of x10

magnification? ____________________

(1 mark)

c. A human egg cell was magnified under the

microscope. It was observed to be of the size as shown

in the diagram below. If the actual size of the egg cell is

0.1mm, by how many times was it magnified?

Magnification = x _____

(2 marks)

4. Consider the following 2 cubes: Cube A and Cube B.

a. Work out the surface area to volume ratio of cube A.

Surface area : Volume ratio = _____

(2 marks)

A

B

1cm

1cm

1cm 2cm

2cm 2cm

0.1mm

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b. Work out the surface area to volume ratio of cube B.

Surface area : Volume ratio = _____

(2 marks)

c. Which cube has the larger surface area to volume

ratio? __________

(1 mark)

d. Keeping in mind the answers to the above questions,

which organism has the larger surface area: a mouse or

an elephant? _______________

(1 mark)

e. On a cold day, which organism would become

colder first: a mouse or an elephant? Why?

_______________ because ______________________________

_______________________________________________________

(2 marks)

5. This question is about plant classification.

a. Complete the table by writing the correct name of the

plant phylum next to its description.

Phylum Main characteristics

• ____________

Large plants with seed-bearing

cones. Usually have needle shaped

leaves.

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(A) (B)

• ____________

Have proper root and stems.

Reproductive spores are formed on

the under side of fronds.

• ____________

Simple plants which do not have

roots, stems or leaves. Live mainly in

water.

• ____________

Have simple leaves called a thallus.

Form reproductive spores in a

capsule.

• ____________

Produce seed-bearing flowers for

reproduction. Seeds are protected

inside fruits.

(5 marks)

b. Look at these two types of root systems.

(i) Which one belongs to a dicotyledonous plant: (A) or

(B)? ______

(1 mark)

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(ii) Give two other differences between dicotyledonous

and monocotyledonous plants.

1st difference: ________________________________________

______________________________________________________

2nd difference: _______________________________________

______________________________________________________

(2 marks)

6. Use the following key to identify the insects shown in the

diagram:

1. Wings visible

Wings not visible

Go to 3

Go to 2

2. Three-forked tail

Pincers at end of tail

Bristle tail

Earwig

3. Two pairs of wings

One pair of wings

Go to 4

Go to 5

4. Wings fringed with hairs

Wings not fringed with hairs

Thrip

Go to 6

5. Legs longer than body

Legs not longer than body

Cranefly

Housefly

6. Wings larger than body

Wings not larger than body

Butterfly

Wasp

A = _____________________ B = _____________________

C = _____________________ D = _____________________

E = _____________________ F = _____________________

G = _____________________

(7 marks)

(A)

(B)

(C)

(D)

(E) (F) (G)

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Section B:

Answer question 1 and choose 2 other questions. Use a separate

foolscap to answer the questions. This section carries 45 marks.

1. Read the following passage and then answer the

questions that follow.

Euglena viridis, shown in the diagram above is a

unicellular organism. It swims by means of its long

whip-like flagellum. It is able to feed both by

photosynthesis as well as by taking in organic

substances present in water. It uses its contractile

vacuole to discharge unwanted water to the outside of

the cell. Its eye spot and photoreceptor are used to

guide it towards the light.

a. Give the meaning of the term ‘unicellular’.

(1 mark)

b. What is the genus name of Euglena viridis?

(1 mark)

c. What is the species name of Euglena viridis?

(1 mark)

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d. To which kingdom does Euglena belong to?

(1 mark)

e. Mention one other organism that belongs to the

same kingdom.

(1 mark)

f. Is Euglena a prokaryotic or a eukaryotic cell? Why?

( 1 mark)

g. Identify one structural feature possessed by Euglena

that is found in plant cells, but never in animal cells.

(1 mark)

h. What structural feature, typical of all plant cells is

absent in Euglena?

(1 mark)

(i) Why is it essential for Euglena to swim towards the

light?

(1 mark)

(j) Do you think Euglena would be able to survive in a

habitat where there is complete darkness? Give a

reason for your answer.

(2 marks)

(k) What would happen to Euglena if it did not have a

contractile vacuole? Why?

(2 marks)

(l) Other species of Euglena living in sea water do not

have a contractile vacuole. Why?

(2 marks)

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(A) (B) (C)

(D) (E)

(F)

2. a. Study the invertebrates shown in the diagram below.

To which phylum does each organism belong? Write

your answers on the foolscap by completing a similar

table to the one shown on the next page:

Organism Phylum

A

B

C

D

E

F

(6 marks)

b. There is one other phylum of invertebrates which is

not represented by any of the organisms shown above.

What is the name of this phylum?

(1 mark)

c. Organism D belongs to a phylum which is divided

into four other classes. For each class, write:

(i)its name,

(ii)the main characteristics,

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(iii) and give an example of an organism that belongs

to that class.

Write your answers on the foolscap by completing a

similar table:

Class Characteristic Example

(8 marks)

3. a. During the winter months many people suffer from

common colds, flu and influenza. Which type of

organism causes these infections?

(1 mark)

b. Draw a well labeled diagram of a typical organism,

mentioned in part (a) of the question.

(4 marks)

c. How does such an organism reproduce once it

enters the human body?

(4 marks)

d. Give 2 ways how these organisms are different from

all other organisms.

(2 marks)

e. Why is it difficult to study such organisms?

(1 mark)

f. A biology student suggested that antibiotics could be

used to treat the infections mentioned above. Do you

think that the student is right? Why?

(2 marks)

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g. From which other organisms are antibiotics

produced?

(1 mark)

4. Two strips of uncooked potato were prepared and

labeled A and B. One strip was placed in a strong sugar

solution. The other strip was placed in distilled water.

After 30 minutes, strip A had grown longer, while strip B

had shrunk.

a. Which strip was placed in the sugar solution, strip A or

strip B? Explain what happened in the potato cells.

(2 marks)

b. Which strip was placed in distilled water, strip A or

strip B? Explain what happened in the potato cells.

(2 marks)

c. If red blood cells were placed in the same conditions

as strip A, the consequences would have been totally

different. What would have happened to them?

(1 mark)

d. Give a reason for your answer in part c.

(2 marks)

e. The experiment was repeated using strips that were

covered with plastic cling film. The strips did not change in

length. Suggest a reason why this might have happened.

(1 mark)

Potato strip

Liquid (water or strong

sugar solution)

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f. In a separate experiment, a student placed a spot of

dye (colour) at one end of a potato strip. After 1 hour

the student observed that the dye had moved from its

original position. By which process did the dye move?

(1 mark)

g. Mention one substance that enters the cell by this

process.

(1 mark)

h. Mention one factor which the student could have

changed to increase the rate of movement of the dye.

(1 mark)

i. Explain what happens when a plant cell is

plasmolysed.

(2 marks)

j. Sometimes roots take up mineral salts from the soil

when the outside concentration of the salts is lower

than the salt concentration inside the roots. By which

process does this occur?

(1mark)

k. Give one important difference between this process

and the process described in part (f).

(1 mark)

5. A student observed some pin mould growing on a

piece of bread.

a. To which kingdom does the mould belong to?

(1 mark)

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b. When the student touched the pin mould, a fine

powder could be felt. What is this ‘powder’ made up

of? What is its function?

(2 marks)

c. The student decided to keep bread in a dark place

so that no mould would grow on it. Will the dark stop

mould from growing?

(1 mark)

d. Give a reason for your answer to part (c).

(1 mark)

Then the student observed some bacteria under the

light microscope.

e. Draw a clearly labeled diagram of what the student

could see.

(4 marks)

f. By which process do bacteria reproduce?

(1 mark)

g. Give 2 conditions that help bacteria to reproduce

more rapidly.

(2 marks)

h. Mention 2 examples of how bacteria can be useful.

(2 marks)

i. Mention 1 disease which is caused by bacteria.

(1 mark)

THE END

(Go back and check your work)