Edexcel AS Biology

Year 1
Topic 1

Lifestyle, health and risk

Exam questions

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1. Explain, using the term surface area to volume ratio, why large, active organisms need a
specialised surface for gaseous exchange.

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A B C

scale:

0.075 mm

surface area /
2 0.28 3.1 23
mm

3
0.02 0.59 11.3
volume / mm

surface area to 5:1

14:1 2:1
volume ratio

2. None of the organisms A, B or C has a transport system.

Explain why organisms larger than organism C need to have transport systems.

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3. The diagram below shows a mammal and a unicellular organism. The transport system in mammals is
a double circulatory system driven by a pump (the heart), whilst unicellular organ-isms have no need
for special transport systems.

(i) Explain what is meant by a double circulatory system.

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(ii) Explain two reasons why mammals need a circulatory system whilst unicellular organ-isms,
such as that shown in the diagram, do not.

first reason ......................................................................................................

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second reason................................................................................................

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[4]
[Total 6 marks]

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4. The table below shows features of arteries, veins and capillaries.

If the statement is correct, place a tick (Ö) in the appropriate box and if the statement is incor-rect
place a cross (X) in the appropriate box.

Feature Arteries Veins Capillaries

Walls permeable

Collagen fibres present in

walls

Endothelium present

Series of valves present

(Total 4 marks)

5.The diagram below shows a section of a human heart at a specific stage in the cardiac cycle.

(a) Name the stage of the cardiac cycle shown in the diagram and give two reasons for your
choice.

Stage
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Reason 1......................................................................................................................................

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Reason 2......................................................................................................................................

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(b) Give one function of each of the parts A and B.

(2)
(Total 5 marks)

6. (a)Cardiac muscle contracts myogenically. Explain what is meant by the term myogenic.

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(2)

7. Explain what is meant by each of the following terms.

(a) The cardiac cycle

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(b) Coronary circulation

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(Total 6 marks)

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(ii) Suggest how the enzyme in the snake venom could be involved in the blood clotting process.
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(2)

9. Data on the cholesterol levels and blood pressure for different adult populations in America were collected.

The mean cholesterol level and the percentage of each population with high blood pressure were
calculated. The results are shown in the table below.

Adult population Mean cholesterol level Percentage of

–3
(ethnic groups) / mg dm population with high
blood pressure (%)

Black and African American 204 40

White American 206 27

Mexican American 205 29

American Indian and

Alaskan Statistically unreliable data Statistically unreliable data
Native

(a) There could be a causal link or correlation between high blood pressure and the other variables shown
in the table. Distinguish between the terms causation and correlation.

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(2)

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(b)(i) Using the information in the table above, describe the relationship between ethnic group, cholesterol
levels and the percentage of the population with high blood pressure.

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(2)

(ii) Suggest one reason why the data on the American Indian and Alaskan Native population are described
as statistically unreliable.

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(1)

(c) A student concluded from the results for gender, shown in the table below, that higher
cholesterol levels cause lower blood pressure.

Adult population Mean cholesterol level Percentage of

(gender) / mg dm–3 population with high
blood pressure (%)

Female 207 26

Male 204 30

Using the information in both tables, explain why this is not a valid conclusion.

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(3)
(Total 8 marks)

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10. Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a major cause of death in developed countries, and accounts for over
160 000 deaths each year in the United Kingdom. One of the main causes of CHD is atherosclerosis, a
condition in which lipids and connective tissue build up on the inside wall of blood vessels.

(a) State two consequences of atherosclerosis which may lead to the development of CHD in an
individual.

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

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2 .................................................................................................................................

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(b) The table shows deaths from coronary heart disease as a percentage of all deaths in the United
Kingdom in 1983.

Percentage of all deaths

Age / years Males Females

0– 14 4 3

15– 24 7 10

25– 34 15 14

35– 44 37 18

45– 54 53 26

55– 64 53 37

65– 74 53 50

75 and over 51 56

(i) Which two risk factors associated with the development of CHD are indicated in the table?

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(ii) With reference to the data in the table, compare the percentage of deaths from CHD in males and
females.
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(Total 6 marks)

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