Suggested answers to Exercise

Ch 15 Detecting the environment

Exercise
Multiple-choice questions (p. 15-38)
1 D 2 A 3 C
4 B 5 C 6 A
7 A 8 C 9 D

Short questions (p. 15-40)

10 a
Pupil: the central shaded circle
Iris: the unshaded circle around the pupil (1) b i Shading
to show constricted pupil (1) ii Constricted pupil allows less light
entering the eye, (1) therefore prevents the retina from
damaging by bright light. (1)

11 a No rod cells at blind spot (1)

Greater distribution of rod cells at the edge (1)
b More rod cells and no / fewer cone cells present on the retina. (1)
Their rod cells are not mainly at periphery. (1)
Their rods cells have high sensitivity. (1)

12 a Red (1)
because only red cone cells are stimulated by the light of 650 nm. (1)
b This is because both the red cone cells and green cone cells are
stimulated by the light of 550 nm. (1)

13 a Towards light (1) b No growth (1) c Towards light (1) d Towards

light (1) e Grows straight (1) 14 a When the lift travels upward to 60th floor,
the air pressure decreases. The pressure inside the middle ear is now greater
than that of the outside. (1)
The ear drum bulges outward. (1)
 The ear drum cannot vibrate freely in response to sound waves, so the person cannot
hear clearly. (1) b The middle ear is connected to the pharynx by the Eustachian tube. (1)
Bacteria in the throat can easily go to the middle ear and cause infection. (1)

Structured questions (p. 15-41)

15 HKCEE Human Biology 2003 I Q3a

16 HKCEE Biology 2007 I Q7a

7. A. (1) (a) *ciliary muscles (1)
(b) when the man is looking at a near object the weakened ciliary muscle contract
with less force (1)
and the tension of the suspensory ligament remains high (1)
Hence, the lens is not thick enough (1)
and fails to converge light to form a clear image on the retina (1)
Effective Communication (C) (1)
 (2) The lens becomes less elastic /cloudy (1)
(3) Layer B contains light sensitive cells (1) cannot
obtain nutrients / oxygen from layer C (1) + As a
result, light sensitive (retinal) cells die (1)
Light falling on layer B cannot be detected /no nerve impulse can be produced (1)
Therefore the vision is impaired.
Total: 10+1 marks

17 HKCEE Biology 1998 I Q4a

4. (a) (i)

(1)
(ii) Light-sensitive cells on the retina were stimulated (1)
Nerve impulses were set up / generated (1) and
transmitted along the optic nerve (1)
to the cerebral cortex for interpretation into vision (1)
Effective Communication (C) (1)
(iii) Ciliary muscles would contract (1)
Suspensory ligaments would slacken (1)
Lens would become more convex (1)
(iv) Convex lens ) Lens of the eye )
Nearby object (diverging rays) )
Converging rays ) any 6 (½) x3
Arrow sign )
Image on retina )
Title )

Path of light rays from a nearby object after correction

Total : 11 + 1 marks

18 HKCEE Biology 1999 I Q3b

(b) (i) 12 (1)
(ii) (1) 10-5 ppm, 10-4 ppm, 10-3 ppm (1)
(2) 10-2 ppm, 10-1 ppm (1)
Deduct 1 mark once if no unit is given
(iii) (1) Because cells in region A are capable of rapid growth while cells in region B
are not (1)
(2) Mark the whole length of the root with lines at regular intervals (1)
After a few days, compare the distance between the markings (1)
 The markings on region A would be further apart (1)
OR
Repeat the experiment (1)
using sections from region B (1)
These sections would show little elongation (1)
any one set – 3 marks
(iv) The root would bend towards the side with auxins (1)
This is because the auxin concentration on this side is about 10-2 ppm whereas on
the other side is about 0 ppm (1)
Thus the growth of root on this side is inhibited while the other side is not (1)
Effective communication (C) (1)
Total: 10 + 1 marks

19 HKCEE Biology 2002 I Q4a

4.
(a)
(i) The loudness of the sound heard would be smaller 1 + because A is used for
collecting sound waves into the external ear canal / less sound waves are collected
1
(ii) C, E and F (3 answers correct, 2 marks; 2 answers correct, 1 mark) 2
(iii)
(1) * cochlea 1
(2) They serve as receptors to detect sound vibrations / They are stimulated by
sound vibrations. 1
and they produce nerve impulses upon receiving the vibrations. 1
(iv) Due to the frequent loud noises, the sensory hair cells are over-stimulated 1
so they are damaged / become fewer in number 1
(v) Hearing will be lost 1 because D, being damaged, cannot transmit nerve
impulses to the cerebrum 1 where the nerve impulses are interpreted into
hearing 1
Effective communication (C) 1
Total: 12 + 1 marks
Essay (p. 15-43)
20 Humans: Any three from: 1m x 3
Light is detected by photoreceptors on the retina.
Cone cells are responsible for colour vision and rod cells are responsible for black and
white vision.
Once they are stimulated by light, they send nerve impulses along the optic nerve
to the visual centre at the cerebral cortex of the brain for interpretation.
Plants: Any three from: 1m x 3
Plants respond to light by means of plant hormone, auxin, produced at the tips of shoots
and roots.
 Unilateral light makes auxin diffuse from the illuminated side to the shaded side. Auxin
promotes shoot growth, the shoot bends towards the illuminated side, i.e. positively
phototropic.
Auxin inhibits root growth, the root bends towards the shaded side, i.e. negatively
phototropic.
Significance: Any two from 1m x 2
Humans are able to see under light condition and dark condition
which enables them to escape from danger.
Plant shoots grow towards the light can obtain maximum amount of light for
photosynthesis.
Plant roots grow away from the light into the soil can increase the chance to obtain good
supply of water and minerals and to have better anchorage.
Communication 3m

Reading to learn (p. 15-44)

1 Rod cells and cone cells are differentiated cells 1m that cannot undergo mitotic cell
division. 1m

2 Electrodes in the implanted chip 1m because they generate electrical impulses upon
stimulation. 1m

3 More electrodes can generate more electrical impulses 1m to carry more information of
the image to the brain for interpretation. 1m

4 Any one from: 1m

It can only restore vision partially.
It requires surgical operation which may not suitable for all patients especially the elderly.
It may not be functional for the whole life of the patient.
(or other correct answer)