Cambridge IGCSE™

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BIOLOGY 0610/33
Paper 3 Theory (Core) October/November 2021

1 hour 15 minutes

You must answer on the question paper.

No additional materials are needed.

INSTRUCTIONS
● Answer all questions.
● Use a black or dark blue pen. You may use an HB pencil for any diagrams or graphs.
● Write your name, centre number and candidate number in the boxes at the top of the page.
● Write your answer to each question in the space provided.
● Do not use an erasable pen or correction fluid.
● Do not write on any bar codes.
● You may use a calculator.
● You should show all your working and use appropriate units.

INFORMATION
● The total mark for this paper is 80.
● The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ].

This document has 20 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.

DC (LK/CT) 210909/3
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1 Respiration is a process that occurs in all living organisms.

(a) (i) Complete the definition of aerobic respiration.

The ............................................... reactions in cells that use ...............................................

to break down ............................................... molecules to release energy.

[3]

(ii) State two uses of the energy released by respiration in the human body.

1 ........................................................................................................................................

2 ........................................................................................................................................
[2]

(iii) Carbon dioxide is one chemical product of aerobic respiration.

State the name of the other chemical product of aerobic respiration.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) A student investigated respiration at two different temperatures in germinating pea seeds.

The apparatus is shown in Fig. 1.1.

Soda lime is a chemical that absorbs carbon dioxide.

oil drop

germinating pea

soda lime

Fig. 1.1

The results of the investigation are shown in Table 1.1.

Table 1.1

temperature / °C distance moved by the oil drop / cm

5 2.3
25 5.0
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(i) Calculate the percentage increase in the distance the oil drop moved, when the
temperature changed from 5 °C to 25 °C.

Give your answer to one decimal place.

Space for working.

............................................................ %
[3]

(ii) State two environmental conditions that the pea seeds shown in Fig. 1.1 would need for
germination.

1 ........................................................................................................................................

2 ........................................................................................................................................
[2]

[Total: 11]

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2 Transmissible diseases are caused by pathogens.

(a) Cholera is a transmissible disease that causes diarrhoea.

State the type of organism that causes cholera.

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(b) One method of controlling the spread of disease is to treat raw sewage to make it safe.

(i) Describe how raw sewage is treated to make the water safe to drink and safe to release
into the sea.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [3]

(ii) State one other method of controlling the spread of disease.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(c) The body has defences against diseases.

(i) The body has barriers that prevent pathogens from entering the body.

State the name of one mechanical barrier and one chemical barrier.

mechanical ........................................................................................................................

chemical ............................................................................................................................
[2]

(ii) State one product of white blood cells that defends the body from pathogens.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

[Total: 8]

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3 (a) Fig. 3.1 shows a diagram of a cross‑section through a leaf.

D
F

Fig. 3.1

(i) State the name of the tissues labelled D and E.

D ........................................................................................................................................

E ........................................................................................................................................
[2]

(ii) State the name of the cell structure labelled F.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) Plant cells photosynthesise.

State the word equation for photosynthesis.

............................................................................................................................................. [2]

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(c) A student investigated the effect of light on the rate of photosynthesis.

Fig. 3.2 shows the apparatus used.

lamp
gas bubble

ruler to water
measure the distance
of the light source
from the plant
aquatic plant

Fig. 3.2

A lamp was used as the only source of light. The lamp was placed 10 cm from the aquatic
plant. The number of bubbles the aquatic plant produced in three minutes was counted and
the rate of photosynthesis was calculated. This method was repeated at 10 cm intervals.

The results are shown in Table 3.1.

Table 3.1

distance of the lamp from number of bubbles rate of photosynthesis

the aquatic plant / cm counted in three minutes / bubbles per minute
10 87 29
20 87 29
30 75
40 48 16
50 24 8

(i) Use the information in Table 3.1 to calculate the rate of photosynthesis when the lamp
was 30 cm from the aquatic plant.

.......................... bubbles per minute [1]

(ii) State the two distances between which the rate of photosynthesis halved.

............................ cm and ............................ cm [1]

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(iii) State two distances which have the same rate of photosynthesis.

............................ cm and ............................ cm [1]

(iv) Predict what would happen to the rate of photosynthesis if the lamp was switched off.

Give a reason for your answer.

prediction ...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

reason ...............................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................
[2]

[Total: 10]

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4 (a) Fig. 4.1 is a diagram of the female reproductive system.

Fig. 4.1

Table 4.1 shows some of the names and functions of the structures labelled with letters
J to M in Fig. 4.1.

Complete Table 4.1.

Table 4.1

letter in
name of the structure function of the structure
Fig. 4.1

J transfers egg cells to the uterus

K production of eggs

L cervix

M uterus wall

[4]

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(b) There are a range of birth control options available to humans. Table 4.2 shows some
information about types of birth control.

Complete Table 4.2.

Table 4.2

type of birth control example of birth control

barrier

contraceptive implant

natural

[3]

[Total: 7]

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5 (a) A class of students measured their wrist circumference, as shown in Fig. 5.1.

Wrist circumference is an example of a characteristic that shows continuous variation in

humans.

Fig. 5.1

Fig. 5.2 shows the results of the investigation.

number of 4
students
3

0
12.0 – 13.0 – 14.0 – 15.0 – 16.0 – 17.0 – 18.0 – 19.0 –
12.9 13.9 14.9 15.9 16.9 17.9 18.9 19.9
wrist circumference / cm

Fig. 5.2

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(i) Calculate the total number of students in this investigation.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) State the most frequent wrist circumference range.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(iii) Explain how these data show that wrist circumference is an example of continuous
variation.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) State one example of discontinuous variation.

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(c) Variation can be caused by mutation.

Complete the sentences about mutation.

A mutation is a ............................................... change.

Mutation is the way new ............................................... are formed which are versions of a
gene.

Mutation can be caused by ............................................... radiation and some chemicals.

[3]

[Total: 7]

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6 Carbon is a part of many biological molecules.

(a) Fig. 6.1 is a diagram of part of the carbon cycle.

CO2 in the
atmosphere

combustion A

carbon feeding carbon

compounds compounds in
in C plants

decomposition
carbon carbon
compounds compounds
in D in
decomposers

Fig. 6.1

(i) State the name of the process labelled A.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) State the name of the process labelled B.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(iii) State the name of C.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(iv) State the name of D.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

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(b) Describe the undesirable effects of deforestation.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [3]

(c) Methane is a gas that pollutes the atmosphere.

(i) State one source of the methane that pollutes the atmosphere.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) State the effects of an increased concentration of methane in the atmosphere.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

[Total: 10]

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7 (a) Fig. 7.1 is a diagram of an animal cell.

Fig. 7.1

Complete Table 7.1 by stating the functions of the structures labelled in Fig. 7.1.

Table 7.1

structure label function of the structure

[3]

(b) Cell structure can be specialised to perform a specific function. A range of animal cell types
are shown in Fig. 7.2.

The boxes on the left contain the names of four specialised cells.

The boxes in the middle contain diagrams of different specialised cells.

The boxes on the right contain descriptions of functions.

Draw one line from each name of a specialised cell to the diagram of that cell.

Draw one line from each diagram of a specialised cell to its function.

Two lines have been drawn for you. Draw six more lines.

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specialised cell names specialised cell diagrams functions

absorption of
mineral ions

ciliated cell

conduction
of impulses

nerve cell
movement of
mucus in
the trachea

red blood cell

sexual
reproduction

sperm cell

transport
of oxygen

Fig. 7.2
[6]

[Total: 9]

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8 (a) (i) State the type of pathogen that can be treated with antibiotics.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) State the name of the pathogen that can lead to AIDS.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) Many pathogens have developed resistance to some antibiotics. A study took samples of
pathogens and tested them for resistance to various types of antibiotics. Fig. 8.1 shows the
percentage of pathogens sampled that were resistant to various antibiotics. The samples
were taken between 2000 and 2013.

Key:
antibiotic A
antibiotic B
antibiotic C

30

20
percentage of
pathogens sampled
that show resistance
10

0
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
year

Fig. 8.1

(i) State the meaning of antibiotic resistance.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) Describe the pattern of resistance for the three antibiotics shown in Fig. 8.1.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [3]
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(c) Some medicinal drugs, such as human insulin, can be made using biotechnology and genetic
engineering.

(i) State where insulin is produced in humans.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) State the function of insulin in humans.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(d) (i) State why bacteria are useful in biotechnology.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

(ii) Describe the role of yeast in biotechnology.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [3]

[Total: 13]

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9 (a) Define inheritance.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [2]

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(b) Some of the characteristics of pea plants are controlled by genes. An example of a
characteristic of pea seeds is shown in Fig. 9.1. The allele for a smooth seed coat is dominant
and is represented by the letter R. The allele for a wrinkled seed coat is recessive and is
represented by the letter r.

wrinkled seed coat smooth seed coat

Fig. 9.1

The boxes on the left contain descriptions of genotypes.

The boxes on the right contain examples of the possible genotypes of the pea seeds shown
in Fig. 9.1.

Draw a line to link each description to the correct genotype.

Draw two lines.

description of a genotype genotype

r

heterozygous genotype rr

homozygous recessive genotype Rr

RR
[2]

(c) Complete the sentence.

A gene is a length of DNA that codes for a ............................................... . [1]

[Total: 5]

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