Data Interpretation Practice Questions

a) Identify which age group of female killer whales dive for longer periods of time. [1]

b) i) Compare the killer whale behaviour in young and old males. [2]
ii) Calculate the difference in speed between all the male and all the female killer
whales. [1]

c) If killer whales dive for a long period of time, lactate builds up in their muscles.
Explain why this occurs. [3]
d) Describe the relationships between the months of August and September as well as the time
of day in the behaviour of the female killer whales. [2]

e) Compare the effects of age in figure 1 for female killer whales with those in figure 2 for
Both dive time and swimming speed. [2]

f) Evaluate this data in terms of whales-watching ecotourism and its possible effects on
female killer whale behaviour. [3]

g) Suggest two other studies that could further assess the influence of ecotourism on killer
whale behaviour. [2]
2.

a) State the length of time that tufted duck was under the water. [1]

b) Outline the changes in the heart rate during the dive. [2]

c) Suggest, with a reason, the type of respiration used by the tufted duck during the dive. [1]
 d) Calculate the percentage increase in blood flow to the leg muscles when the tufted duck
Changes from swimming at normal speed to swimming at maximum speed. [1]

e) Compare the blood flow to the heart muscles with the blood flow to the flight muscles
When changing from swimming at normal speed to swimming at maximum speed. [2]

f) Explain the changes in blood flow that occur when swimming at maximum speed. [2]

g) Predict, with reference to both graphs, what would happen to the blood flow to the heart
muscles when the tufted duck is diving. [2]

h) State the hormone that affects the heart rate of humans. [1]
3.

a) State the largest number of dolphins counted in a single survey. [1]

b) Calculate the mean number of dolphins counted per survey for the winter season. [1]

c) Compare the data for the dolphin populations in winter and summer. [2]
d) i) Compare the distribution of dolphins in summer and winter. [2]

ii) Suggest one reason for the difference in distribution. [1]

e) Outline the relationship between body mass and LCTw for male dolphins. [2]

f) Suggest one reason for the high LCTw measured for the female dolphin. [1]

g) Evaluate the hypothesis that water temperature determines the range and
distribution of bottlenose dolphins in the wild. [2]

h) Explain how an increase in water temperature due to global warming could affect
The distribution of bottlenose dolphins along the eastern coast of the USA. [2]

i) Suggest how research into the range and distribution of bottlenose dolphins could
benefit from international cooperation. [2]
4.
a) Calculate the percentage difference in leaf area damaged by Sesamia calamistis between
the control and maize type H. Show your working. [2]

b) Discuss which species of stem borer was most successfully controlled by the genetic
Engineering of the maize plants. [3]

c) Calculate the change in mean mass of male and of female rats fed on Bt maize from
Day 14 to 42. [2]

d) Evaluate the use of Bt maize as a food source on the growth of the rats. [2]

e) Comment on the use of Bt maize as a food source compared to the other

diets tested. [1]
f) State one role of bacteria in a soil ecosystem. [1]

g) Compare the biomass of microbes in the soils surrounding the roots of Bt maize and
non -Bt maize. [2]

h) The researcher’s original hypothesis stated that microorganisms would be negatively affected
by the Bt protein released by the plant roots. Discuss whether the data supports the
hypothesis. [2]
i) i) State the type of structure shown in the region marked A on the diagram above. [1]

ii) Outline how this structure is held together. [2]

iii) Region A inserts into the membrane. Deduce, with a reason, the nature of the
Amino acids that would be expected to be found in this region. [2]
Answers:
2.
3.
4.