CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL EXAMINATIONS
GCE Ordinary Level
MARK SCHEME for the October/November 2013 series
5090 BIOLOGY
5090/21 Paper 2 (Theory), maximum raw mark 80
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 October/November 2013 series for most IGCSE,
GCE Advanced Level and Advanced Subsidiary Level components and some Ordinary Level
components.
Page 2 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
GCE O LEVEL – October/November 2013 5090 21
Mark schemes will use these abbreviations:
; separates marking points
/ alternatives
() contents of brackets are not required but should be implied
R reject
A accept (for answers correctly cued by the question, or guidance for examiners)
AW alternative wording (where responses vary more than usual)
AVP alternative valid point (where a greater than usual variety of responses is expected)
ORA or reverse argument
underline actual word underlined must be used by candidate (grammatical variants excepted)
max indicates the maximum number of marks that can be given
+ statements on both sides of the + are needed for that mark
© Cambridge International Examinations 2013
Page 3 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
GCE O LEVEL – October/November 2013 5090 21
Question Mark Scheme Mark Clarification
1 (a) (i) label line must touch the sweat gland; A label on gland or duct
[1] A (i) = gland
(ii) label line must touch some part of receptor under (ii) = temp receptor
Malpighian layer; [1]
(b) (i) (temperature / it) increases / rises; [1] R cooler / decreases OWTTE
(ii) In either order: R veins
sweat;
wider blood vessels / capillaries / more blood;
[2]
(c) (i) arteriole; A Artery
the upper horizontal blood vessel labelled; [2] (the word – ignore what is labelled)
(ignore name given to it)
(ii) less blood (flows);
to capillaries ( R capillaries constrict)
to sweat glands;
blood carries heat / less heat carried
less heat lost by skin / radiation ; A less heat lost by blood
less sweat produced;
ref to latent heat of vaporisation;
[max 4]
[Total 11]
© Cambridge International Examinations 2013
Page 4 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
GCE O LEVEL – October/November 2013 5090 21
2 (a) (i) antagonistic; [1]
(ii) one muscle contracts; A for max 1 muscles can contract
while the other relaxes; + relax
muscles can only contract / only pull / never push;
one muscle causes a change, the other restores the A oppose one another
position AW; e.g. so the action can be reversed. [max 3]
(iii) ciliary muscle / sphincter muscle or any named / heart /
diaphragm; [1]
(b) In either order : A any correct, the two listed are
hinge + elbow / position described; on the syllabus
ball and socket + shoulder / position described; [2]
(c) ball + on scapula / shoulder blade;
socket + on humerus
normally the other way round / the reverse of normal; [3]
[Total 10]
© Cambridge International Examinations 2013
Page 5 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
GCE O LEVEL – October/November 2013 5090 21
3 (a) water + any part of the alimentary canal after the
oesophagus;
ions / minerals / named + ileum; A small intestine for ileum
vitamins / named + ileum / colon [max 2]
glucose + ileum
(b) fibre / roughage / cellulose / fruits / seeds / tomato skins A any suitable named plant part
/ maize pericarps; [1]
(c) products drawn in correct absorptive vessel – I any diagrams in the intestine
All correct = 2 marks 2 correct = 1 mark ;; R any products drawn in both
capillaries and lacteals
all molecules totally digested ;
2 products correctly named ; All bonds must be broken – a
[max 4] minimum of 3 products of each
type required.
(d) (i) amino acids;
glucose/ other named monosaccharide;
vitamins / named;
ions / salts / minerals / named;
water;
[max 3]
(ii) in solution;
in blood / plasma;
by (hepatic) portal vein;
[max 2]
[Total 12]
© Cambridge International Examinations 2013
Page 6 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
GCE O LEVEL – October/November 2013 5090 21
4 (a) Carbon dioxide / CO2;
carbon monoxide / CO;
soot / particulates / carbon;
[max 2]
(b) water present in soil; A ground, ref to water table
absorbed by root;
ref xylem;
lost to atmosphere + from leaves / aerial parts
or ref to evaporation / transpiration / diffusion ;
released / produced from respiration (or described); A forms clouds AW + water vapour
released
[max 3]
(c) (the cow) A other named nitrogen excretory
excretion; products. I urine
urea;
ref to faeces ;
decomposition
ref to nitrification;
(max.3)
A forms ammonia , nitrite, nitrate
(the factory) I names of bacteria
oxides of nitrogen or named; R refs to denitrification and
dissolved (in rainwater) / ref to acid rain ; nitrogen fixation
[max 4]
[Total 9]
© Cambridge International Examinations 2013
Page 7 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
GCE O LEVEL – October/November 2013 5090 21
5 (a) (i) light / chlorophyll / water; [1]
(ii) any temperature with units between 15oC and 29oC; [1]
any 2 from:
ref. to enzymes;
work slower at lower temps / below optimum
ref to less kinetic energy / collisions AW; A reduces the rate
plant has slower (metabolic) rate AW;
[max 2] A slower rate of photosynthesis
(b) light intensity AW;
stomata open / allow CO2 to enter;
supplies light energy for photosynthesis;
plants do not photosynthesise in the dark;
increase in light increases photosynthesis (rate);
[4]
[Total 8]
© Cambridge International Examinations 2013
Page 8 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
GCE O LEVEL – October/November 2013 5090 21
6 (a) support / rigidity;
lignin;
conduct/transport of water;
ions / minerals / salts;
ref to narrow/hollow/continuous / lumen; R transport of amino acids /
from roots(hair) + ref to any aerial part of plant; sugars
[max 3]
(b) ref enzyme / named enzyme;
action of enzyme ;
named product of enzyme action;
ref to solubility of product A amino acids / glucose / sugar
diffusion(from storage cells to phloem or vice –versa);
to phloem;
sucrose/amino acids (moved up phloem) ;
ref translocation/transport up stem;
no photosynthesis at night ;
(energy) released during respiration;
sugar provides energy for growth;
amino acids make proteins;
to make new cytoplasm / cells;
[max 7] R produced
[Total 10]
© Cambridge International Examinations 2013
Page 9 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
GCE O LEVEL – October/November 2013 5090 21
7 (a) *ref. to against concentration gradient; A a description *credit once only, under plants or
humans,
(plants) any 2 from:
minerals / ions / salts;
from soil;
via root hairs;
(humans) any 2 from:
glucose;
from gut;
via villi ; [max 4]
(b) (i) movement of molecules / particles / ions;
high concentration to low; [2]
(ii) ref. crossing a membrane ; A ref to entering named plant or
thin; animal cell
oxygen in (to cell) ;
glucose in (to cell) ; Allow 1 mark for O2 in + Co2 out -
carbon dioxide out (of cell) ; if only refer to gases in the lungs.
[max 4]
[Total 10]
© Cambridge International Examinations 2013
Page 10 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
GCE O LEVEL – October/November 2013 5090 21
8 (a) cell division;
ref. to chromosomes;
diploid to haploid; A halving of chromosome
gamete formation/ named gametes; number
all gametes genetically different;
fertilisation restores chromosome number / AW;
leads to variation in population; [max 4]
(b) name of fruit / seed (not linked to following marks);
Accept * points for descriptions
structural feature of fruit/seed that is a wind-dispersal of pollen for max 3
adaptation;
ref. large surface area / buoyancy;
*wind removes fruit / seed from parent plant;
*seed relatively light in mass; [max 6]
*to delay descent of seed AW; e.g. floats for long time /
increases air resistance
spread over large area / prevent overcrowding /
competition ;
[Total 10]
© Cambridge International Examinations 2013
Page 11 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
GCE O LEVEL – October/November 2013 5090 21
9 (a) ref. to an ecosystem / food chain / web; A on a diagram with all trophic
levels credibly named.
total number v. total mass of organisms (at each trophic
level);
biomass pyramids usually pyramid-shaped; A clear diagrams with correct
[max 3] shape
numbers pyramids variable in shape
A clear diagrams with non-
pyramid of numbers takes no account of size/mass of pyramidal shape
organism) AW;
(b) (energy gained)
by photosynthesis in plants / producers;
from (sun)light;
correct ref. light energy + chemical energy;
eaten by animals;
named food molecule consumed AW;
(energy lost)
as heat;
electrical / nerve impulses;
growth / reproduction;
movement / muscle contraction;
excretion; [max 7]
[Total 10]
© Cambridge International Examinations 2013
