(a) Contrast the processes of facilitated diffusion and active transport.
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Page 1 of 17
Students investigated the uptake of chloride ions in barley plants. They divided the plants
into two groups and placed their roots in solutions containing radioactive chloride ions.
Group A plants had a substance that inhibited respiration added to the solution.
Group B plants did not have the substance added to the solution.
The students calculated the total amount of chloride ions absorbed by the plants every 15
minutes. Their results are shown in the figure below.
Time / minutes
(b) Calculate the ratio of the mean rate of uptake of chloride ions in the first hour to the rate of
uptake of chloride ions in the second hour for group B plants.
Ratio = ................................... :1
(2)
Page 2 of 17
(c) Explain the results shown in the figure above.
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(4)
(Total 9 marks)
Page 3 of 17
The diagram shows a carrot.
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A group of students investigated the effect of sucrose concentration on the length of cylinders cut
from a carrot.
(a) The students used a cork borer to cut cylinders from the carrot. Describe how the students
should cut these cylinders to make sure that this was a fair test and would produce reliable
results.
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(2)
(b) They measured the initial length of each cylinder then placed the cylinders into test tubes
containing different concentrations of sucrose solution. Bungs were placed in the tubes and
the tubes were left overnight. Explain why the bungs were placed in the tubes.
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(2)
Page 4 of 17
(c) The students then measured the final lengths of the carrot cylinders. Their results are
shown in the table.
Concentration of sucrose / mol dm3
0.0 1.4
0.2 1.4
0.4 1.2
0.6 1.1
0.8 0.9
(i) The students used these results to find the concentration of sucrose that has the
same water potential as the carrot cylinders. Describe how they could have done this.
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(2)
(ii) Was it important in this investigation that the carrot cylinders had the same initial
length? Explain your answer.
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(1)
(Total 7 marks)
(a) Describe how phospholipids are arranged in a plasma membrane.
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(2)
Page 5 of 17
(b) Cells that secrete enzymes contain a lot of rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) and a large
Golgi apparatus.
(i) Describe how the RER is involved in the production of enzymes.
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(2)
(ii) Describe how the Golgi apparatus is involved in the secretion of enzymes.
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(1)
(Total 5 marks)
Some substances can cross the cell-surface membrane of a cell by simple diffusion through the
4 phospholipid bilayer. Describe other ways by which substances cross this membrane.
(Total 5 marks)
Page 6 of 17
A scientist investigated the effect of cyanide on the uptake of sodium ions by animal tissue.
5 He set up two beakers, J and K.
He put equal volumes of a solution containing sodium ions and equal masses of an animal tissue
in each beaker.
He added cyanide to beaker J.
He did not add cyanide to beaker K.
He measured the concentration of sodium ions remaining in the solution in each beaker, for 80
minutes. The graph shows his results.
(a) Calculate the rate of uptake of sodium ions by the tissue in beaker K for the first 30
minutes. Show your working.
Answer ........................... arbitrary units per minute
(2)
(b) Adding cyanide affects the uptake of sodium ions by the tissue. Use the graph to describe
how.
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(2)
Page 7 of 17
(c) Cyanide is a substance which affects respiration.
Use information in the question to explain the effect of cyanide on the uptake of sodium
ions by the tissue.
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(3)
(Total 7 marks)
(a) Give two ways in which active transport is different from facilitated diffusion.
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(2)
Page 8 of 17
Scientists investigated the effect of a drug called a proton pump inhibitor. The drug is given as a
tablet to people who produce too much acid in their stomach. It binds to a carrier protein in the
surface membrane of cells lining the stomach. This carrier protein usually moves hydrogen ions
into the stomach by active transport.
The scientists used two groups of people in their investigation. All the people produced too much
acid in their stomach. People in group P were given the drug. Group Q was the control group.
The graph shows the results.
(b) (i) The scientists used a control group in this trial. Explain why.
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(1)
(ii) Suggest how the control group would have been treated.
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Page 9 of 17
(c) Describe the effect of taking the drug on acid secretion.
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(1)
(Total 6 marks)
Page 10 of 17
Mark schemes
(a) 1. Facilitated diffusion involves channel or carrier proteins whereas active transport only
1 involves carrier proteins;
2. Facilitated diffusion does not use ATP / is passive whereas active transport
uses ATP;
3. Facilitated diffusion takes place down a concentration gradient whereas active
transport can occur against a concentration gradient.
Since contrast, both sides of the differences needed
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(b) 3.3:1.
Correct answer = 2 marks
If incorrect, allow 1 mark for 470360 / 60 for rate in second hour
2
(c) 1. Group A initial uptake slower because by diffusion (only);
2. Group A levels off because same concentrations inside cells and outside cells
/ reached equilibrium;
3. Group B uptake faster because by diffusion plus active transport;
4. Group B fails to level off because uptake against gradient / no equilibrium to be
reached;
5. Group B rate slows because few / fewer chloride ions in external solution /
respiratory substrate used up.
4 max
[9]
(a) Lengthways / down the root;
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Through one tissue only / through same part / same proportion of tissues;
2
(b) To prevent the water from evaporating / prevent evaporation;
Changing the concentrations / water potential (of solution);
2
(c) (i) Plot data on a graph;
Find (sucrose concentration) from the graph where the ratio is 1;
2
(ii) No, because the results are given as a ratio / as a proportion of initial length;
1
[7]
Page 11 of 17
(a) 1. Bilayer;
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Accept double layer
Accept drawing which shows bilayer
2. Hydrophobic / fatty acid / lipid (tails) to inside;
3. Polar / phosphate group / hydrophilic (head) to outside;
2. & 3. need labels
2. & 3. accept water loving or hating
2 max
(b) (i) 1. (Rough endoplasmic reticulum has) ribosomes;
accept contains / stores
2. To make protein (which an enzyme is);
Accept amino acids joined together / (poly)peptide
Reject makes amino acids
Ignore glycoprotein
2
(ii) (Golgi apparatus) modifies (protein)
OR
packages / put into (Golgi) vesicles
OR
transport to cell surface / vacuole;
Accept protein has sugar added
Reject protein synthesis
Accept lysosome formation
1
[5]
Page 12 of 17
By osmosis (no mark)
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No mark awarded for naming terms e.g. osmosis, facilitated
diffusion, active transport, co-transport etc.
1. From a high water potential to a low water potential / down a water potential gradient;
2. Through aquaporins / water channels;
QWC ignore large / small WP
By facilitated diffusion (no mark)
QWC ignore reference to high / low concentrations of water or high
/ low concentration of solution
3. Channel / carrier protein;
4. Down concentration gradient;
By active transport (no mark)
QWC ignore along concentration gradients
5. Carrier protein / protein pumps;
6. Against concentration gradient;
7. Using ATP / energy (from respiration);
Co-transport subsumed into mark scheme for active transport and
facilitated diffusion
By phagocytosis / endocytosis (no mark)
Can award MP2, 3, 5 for 3 marks with no context given
8. Engulfing by cell surface membrane to form vesicle / vacuole;
Ignore lipid diffusion as in stem of question
By exocytosis / role of Golgi vesicles (no mark)
9. Fusion of vesicle with cell surface membrane;
5 max
[5]
(a) 2 marks for correct answer 0.2
5
Accept concentration time
1 mark for 6 / 30;
2
(b) 1. (Uptake) decreases / slower, then no further uptake / uptake stops;
2. (Decreases) to 20 - 22 / no uptake after 20 / 22 minutes;
Accept: (only) 1.6 (arbitrary units) absorbed / (only) drops to 8.4
Is for correct use of data from graph
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Page 13 of 17
(c) 1. Stops / reduces / inhibits respiration;
Accept: inhibits respiratory enzymes
2. No / less energy released / ATP produced;
Ignore: less energy produced / made
3. (ATP / energy needed) for active transport;
Accept ref to Na+ pump / description of active transport
Ignore consequences of less Na+ in cell
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[7]
(a) 1. Uses energy / ATP;
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2. Against concentration gradient / low to high concentration;
3. Does not use channel proteins / only uses carrier proteins;
Assume it refers to active transport.
1. Facilitated diffusion is passive - neutral
2. Along / across concentration gradient - neutral
Accept up / down concentration gradient
Accept AT does not need concentration gradient.
2 max
(b) (i) To see the effect of the drug / effect not due to anything else in the tablet;
Neutral to compare results
1
(ii) Placebo / dummy drug / tablet without drug;
(Otherwise) treated the same;
No drug - neutral
Accept: Example e.g. tablet given at same time
2
(c) Decrease for 3 hours;
Accept decreases from 1 - 4 hours
1
[6]
Page 14 of 17
Examiner reports
This unit requires practical work to be undertaken that includes the effect of solute concentration
2 of water uptake by plant tissue. In this question, therefore, candidates were required to
demonstrate their understanding of such prescribed practical techniques. It was evident from the
responses to this question that although many candidates had some experience of related
practical investigations, they had little understanding of the procedures involved. Many otherwise
sound candidates gained very little credit on this question.
(a) The diagram clearly showed two different tissues, but only the best candidates based their
answers on this information and described cutting the cylinders in such a way as to ensure
that they consisted of the same tissue. Many of the answers did little more than reiterate
what have become standard responses in past practical assessments without attempting to
apply general principles to a novel situation. In this particular case, references to the same
cork borer or the same length were irrelevant. There were also a number of vague
references to ensuring that this would be a fair test. Candidates would be well advised not
to use this term without appropriate amplification.
(b) It was immediately apparent from marking this question that many of the less able
candidates had undertaken practical investigations without any understanding of what they
were trying to do. Thus there were numerous responses that indicated confusion with
investigations of enzyme activity or respiration. Where candidates did appreciate that the
essential purpose of the bungs was to minimise evaporation, it was uncommon for them to
refer to the evaporation of water evaporating resulting in a change in the concentration of
the sucrose solution.
(c) Candidates who read this question with sufficient care should have noted that it referred to
the results provided in the table. Accounts, therefore based on repeating the investigation
with other sucrose solutions were inappropriate and did not gain credit. The investigations
carried out for assessment of practical skills at AS all require candidates to plot their data
as appropriate graphs, and it was hoped that candidates would have applied a similar
approach here. Relatively few did, and of these, even fewer appreciated that they should
identify the concentration of sucrose in which the ratio of final length to initial length was 1.
Few candidates displayed an understanding of the concept of a ratio in part (ii).
Page 15 of 17
This question was intended to provide an accessible start to the paper. In practice, it
3 discriminated quite highly, with students who scored highly on the paper as a whole tending to
get the highest marks.
(a) About two thirds obtained both marks. Quite a few students used the terms hydrophilic and
hydrophobic the wrong way round. Others appeared confused about the position of the
heads and tails of phospholipids. Some had them the wrong way round in the membrane
and others had heads facing out of the cell and tails facing into the cell.
(b) (i) There were many good answers and just over 60% obtained both marks. Some
students confused the roles of the rough endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi
apparatus.
(ii) A range of related functions was allowed in part (ii) and just over 70% obtained this
mark.
In this question there was some confusion between channel and carrier proteins and their roles
4 in facilitated diffusion and active transport. Quite a large number attempted to write about
co-transport and obtained credit via the mark points for facilitated diffusion and active transport.
Some who took this approach got themselves rather confused about what moved where, and
how. About a third of students scored five marks.
(a) The majority of the students were able to read the correct figures from the graph and divide
5 concentration by time to gain both marks. Those who made errors in reading from the
graph often gained one mark for the correct method. As in previous years, there was a
significant number of students who did not attempt a calculation.
(b) This was answered less well, with many students not describing how cyanide affects the
uptake of ions. Instead they described changes in the shape of the graph or wrote about
the concentration of ions in the solution. Data to support the answer were often incorrect,
resulting from inaccurate reading of the y axis. The better students had read the question
carefully and therefore answered in terms of changes to the rate of uptake of sodium ions
and supported their answer with correct data from the graph.
(c) Students were told that cyanide affects respiration and then asked to explain why cyanide
reduced the uptake of sodium ions. Many students simply repeated that respiration would
be affected without stating that respiration would be inhibited or slowed down. An
encouraging number of students were able to make the link between a shortage of ATP
from respiration and therefore a shortage of ATP for active uptake of sodium ions. Some
students attempted to write about there being no co-transport of sodium and glucose and
therefore no glucose for respiration. These students had clearly ignored the information
given in the question stem and often failed to score.
(a) Most candidates were well prepared for this question and were able to differentiate
6 between active transport and facilitated diffusion with many gaining both marks. Some
candidates were unclear when referring to concentration gradient. Phrases such as along
the gradient or across the gradient were not accepted. The specification terms carrier
protein and channel protein were often not used.
Page 16 of 17
(b) (i) The question asked why a control group was used in this trial. Candidates needed
to apply their knowledge to an unfamiliar context and were required to do more than
simply define the term. It was, therefore, not enough to say to allow comparison .
(ii) This question was well answered with many candidates gaining both marks. A large
number referred to a placebo tablet being used, although this term was not required.
Some candidates failed to gain the first marking point as they stated that no drug
would be given without appreciating that a tablet would still need to be administered.
Most explained that both groups should be treated in the same way.
(c) This question required the candidates to look carefully at the graph and describe it. Many
incorrectly stated or implied that the volume of acid secreted per hour would decrease for 4
hours, failing to notice that the treatment started 1 hour after volumes were recorded. More
able candidates realised that the acid secretion would decrease for 3 hours, or from 1 4
hours.
Page 17 of 17
