Level IGCSE

Subject Biology
Exam Board CIE

Topic Biological Molecules & Enzymes

Paper Type Theory Paper
Booklet Question Paper

Name:____________ Subject:________

Date:_________ Day:_________

Percentage: /100 Marks:

Grade:
 Question#1: Fig. 6.1 shows the changes in glucose concentration of the blood. (5)

high blood B
glucose
concentration A

set level time

low blood C
glucose
concentration

Fig. 6.1
A. Name the process that maintains blood glucose concentration within set limits.
B. Name the hormone that would be secreted in response to the increasing blood glucose
concentration at A in Fig. 6.1.
C. Name an organ that is responsible for the decrease in blood glucose concentrationafter B in Fig. 6.1.
D. Name the compound that is converted to glucose at C in Fig. 6.1.
E. Describe the symptoms and treatment of Type 1 diabetes

Question#2:
1. Fig. 2.1 shows part of the nitrogen cycle. (4)

nitrogen in
the air

herbivore

dead organic bean plant

matter (legume) with
root nodules

B
ammonium ions nitrate ions
 (a) Name the processes A and B shown in Fig. 2.1.

(b) Fig. 2.1 shows that legumes have root nodules. Explain why these root nodules are important
in the nitrogen cycle.

(c) Proteins and DNA are important nitrogen-containing compounds in cells. Describe the roles of
proteins and DNA in cells.

(d) Many inorganic fertilisers contain compounds of nitrogen. If crop plants do not absorb
the fertilisers they can be lost from the soil and pollute freshwater ecosystems, such as
lakes and rivers. Describe how fertilisers may affect freshwater ecosystems.

2. Proteins in the blood are involved in protection of the body. (3)

Three proteins found in the blood are

• antibodies
• thrombin
• fibrinogen

A. Name the type of white blood cell that produces antibodies.

B. Outline how antibodies protect the body.
C. Thrombin is an enzyme that catalyses the reaction:
fibrinogen
I. State when this reaction occurs.

II. Explain how

fibrin protects
the body

3. An investigation was
carried out to determine
the effect of different
temperatures on theactivity
of thrombin. The results are
shown in Fig. 4.1. (3)

A. Explain why thrombin

functions slowly at 5
°C and does not
function at all at 70
°C.5 °C

B. Suggest how the

activity of thrombin was determined.
C. State two conditions that would have been kept constant during the investigation.
Question#3: This question is about transport in plants.
1. Two pea plants, D and E, were supplied with substances containing the radioactive isotopes,
carbon-14 ( C) or phosphorus-32 (32P), as shown in Fig. 4.1. A leaf of plant D was exposed to
14

radioactive carbon dioxide. Plant E was placed into a solution containing radioactive phosphate
ions. (4)
After several hours the plants were analysed for the presence of the radioactive isotopes.
Sucrose containing 14C was found throughout plant D. Compounds containing

32P were found throughout plant E.Complete Table 4.1 to show:

• the tissue in which each substance is transported;

• one possible sink for each substance.
pea plant D E
substance
sucrose phosphate ions
transported
transport
tissue
sink
(a) State one substance, other than sucrose, that is produced in leaves and
translocated to other parts of the plant.
(b) Outline how sucrose is produced from carbon dioxide in pea plants.
(c) State two uses of sucrose within a pea plant.
(d) Explain how ions, such as phosphate ions, are absorbed by plant roots.

2. Fig. 1.1 is a diagram of the human digestive system. (2)

Use the letters from Fig. 1.1 to complete Table 1.1 to give the part of the human digestivesystem
that is identified by each function. Write one letter only in each box. You may use the same letter more
than once. There are some letters that you will not use. The first one has been done for you.

function

peristalsis B

protein digestion

insulin production

deamination

partially digested food is mixed with bile

most water is reabsorbed

3. The human diet provides nutrients for the synthesis of

biological molecules that make upcells, cell products
and tissues. Complete Table 1.2 to show the nutrients
that are absorbed from food tosynthesise the large molecules listed. (2)
large molecules nutrients absorbed

protein

glycogen

fat
Mineral ions are required in the human diet in small quantities. State the mineral ion required for each
process:
making bone making haemoglobin.
4.
I. Fig. 1 shows the components of fats and oils as shapes.
Using these shapes, sketch the appearance of a triglyceride
molecule that would be found in fats and oils.
II. Describe the test that would be used to show a positive result for the presence of protein in
a sample of food.

III. Table 1 shows four samples of food that were tested for glucose (reducing sugar) using the
Benedict's test. Table1

test number contents

1 Water
2 Potato juice
3 Dilute orange juice
4 Glucose sports drink e.g. Lucozade™
 Explain the purpose of the test tube containing just water in the experiment shown in
Table. 1.

IV. Explain why the test for lipids is known as an emulsion test
V. Predict the colour changes (if any) of the iodine test on the food samples shown in Table 2.

food sample iodine test result

Bagel
Eggs
Fish
Rice
Grapefruit

VI. DNA controls cell function by controlling the production of proteins. These proteins determine
the phenotype of an organism, including blood group in humans. Describe the structure of a
DNA molecule. (6)
Question#4: (4)

A. Match up the key terms to their definition.

Groove in enzyme where the

Enzyme
reaction take place

Substrate Molecules that bind to an enzyme

Catalyst One enzyme for one substrate

Any molecule that speeds up
Specificity
reactions

Active site A protein that speeds up reactions

B. Define what is meant by the term enzyme-substrate complex.

C. Fig. 1 shows a model of how an enzyme works. Label the enzyme molecule
on Fig. 1.

Fig. 1

D. Enzymes are biological catalyst.

1. Explain what is meant by the term catalyst.
2. State why enzymes are important in organisms.
 3. Sketch in the appearance of an enzyme-substrate complex on the
diagram in Fig. 2.
The diagram is
provided again
here for you

4. Describe the action of enzymes. Use the following words as part of

your answer:
collide complementary randomly recycled
5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

Question#5: (6)
1. A student investigated the effect of enzyme concentration on the mass of product formed
in one hour. Fig. 2 shows the results of this investigation.

concentration of enzyme
mass of product formed /
/ arbitrary units
grams
5 15
10 22
15 25
20 32
25 38
30 40
35 40
40 40

Complete the graph by plotting the points and drawing a line to show the trend in the data. The
first three points have been plotted for you.
Using the data from part (c) describe the effect that enzyme concentration has on the mass of
product formed.

2. Enzymes are involved in controlling cell division. Fig. 1 shows how cell division can be
accelerated by two enzymes, enzymes X and Y, in cancerous liver cells. Most cancer cells
produce both enzymes X and Y. Cancer cells are likely to develop into cancerous tumours
inside the liver by uncontrolled cell division.

A. Some people carry a genetic mutation that inhibits enzyme X. A drug

company has produced a medicine that inhibits enzyme Y. This
medicine has been trialled in people who have the mutation and liver
cancer. The medicine has been found to be successful at treating liver
cancer. Explain why.
B. Explain why the medicine could not be used to treat liver cancer in a patient
that does not have the genetic mutation
C. Glutaminase is another enzyme that has shown success in treating cancer.
It is within a group of enzymes called amino acid deprivation enzymes
which act on and destroy specific amino acids in cancerous cells. Explain
the action of the glutaminase on amino acids in cancer cells.