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1 All living organisms show the same seven characteristics.

State four of the characteristics of living organisms.

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

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

3 ...............................................................................................................................................

4 ............................................................................................................................................... [4]

[Total: 4]

2 Reproduction is a characteristic of all living organisms.

State two other characteristics of all living organisms.

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

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

[Total: 2]

3 The kidney is one of the main excretory organs of the body.

Define the term excretion.

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

[Total: 3]

4 State three characteristics of living organisms other than excretion and growth.

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

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

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

[Total: 3]
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5 Excretion is a characteristic of living organisms.

Growth is another characteristic of living organisms.

Define the term growth.

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

[Total: 2]

6 Which process releases water and energy?

A aerobic respiration

B osmosis

C photosynthesis

D protein synthesis

[1]

[Total: 1]

7 The plant Mimosa pudica has leaves that fold in when touched.

This demonstrates movement and which other characteristic?

A excretion

B growth

C nutrition

D sensitivity

[1]

[Total: 1]
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8 The diagram shows the apparatus at the beginning of an investigation into temperature change
during the germination of seeds. The temperature at the start of the investigation was 25 °C in both
flasks.

After two days the temperature in flask 1 is 25 °C. The temperature in flask 2 is 28 °C.

vacuum
flask

dead and living seeds

disinfected
seeds

cotton wool

thermometer

flask 1 flask 2

Which characteristic of living organisms is shown in this experiment?

A excretion

B growth

C reproduction

D respiration

[1]

[Total: 1]
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9 During pregnancy the baby grows and develops.

Explain the difference between growth and development.

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.................................................................................................................................................. [4]

[Total: 4]
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10 The graph below shows the growth of different parts of the human body.

100
head
90

80

70

growth 60
whole body
/ percentage
of
50
maximum

40

30

20
reproductive tissues
10

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20

age / years

Use information from the graph to state the age at which the head reaches full size.

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

[Total: 1]
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11 The graph below shows the growth of different parts of the human body.

100
head
90

80

70

growth 60
whole body
/ percentage
of
50
maximum

40

30

20
reproductive tissues
10

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20

age / years

Use information from the graph to give two age ranges during which the growth rate of the whole
body is very rapid

from .............................. to ..............................

from .............................. to ..............................

[2]

[Total: 2]
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12 The diagram below shows a seed as it is starting to germinate and the same seed several days
later.

soil surface

seed starting seed several

to germinate days later

Explain how growth differs from development.

Use information from the diagram above to help with your explanation.

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.................................................................................................................................................. [4]

[Total: 4]
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13 Which components make up most of the dry mass of a balanced diet?

A calcium compounds, carbohydrates and fats

B carbohydrates, fats and proteins

C fats, proteins and vitamins

D proteins, vitamins and calcium compounds

[1]

[Total: 1]

14 Flowering plants can be divided into two groups: monocotyledons and eudicotyledons (dicotyledons).

Complete the table below to state the differences between these two types of flowering plants. An
example has been done for you.

eudicotyledons
difference monocotyledons
(dicotyledons)

number of cotyledons in the seed 1 2

pattern of leaf veins

number of petals present

[4]

[Total: 4]

15 One stage in the development of a flowering plant is the germination of seeds.

Define the term development.

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

[Total: 1]

16 The diagram below shows three vertebrates. Each is from a different class (group) of vertebrate.
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not drawn to scale

(a) State one characteristic of all vertebrates.

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

(b) (i) Name the two other classes of vertebrate not shown in the diagram above.

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

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

(ii) Name the feature which covers the surface of the bodies of animals in these two classes
but not the three animals shown in the diagram.

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

[Total: 4]

17 The lungs and the kidneys are excretory organs of the human body.

Define the term excretion.

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

[Total: 3]
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18 Define the term growth.

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

[Total: 2]

19 The diagram below shows seven plant species that are important crops.
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B
A

C D E

F
G

not drawn to scale

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(a) (i) Use the key to identify each species. Write the letter of each species (A to G) in the
correct box beside the key. One has been done for you.
1 (a) branched veins on leaves go to 2

(b) parallel veins (not branched) on leaves go to 3

leaves divided into leaflets (look like small individual

2 (a) go to 4
leaves)

(b) leaves not divided into leaflets go to 5

flowers grouped tightly together at the top of the

3 (a) Triticum aestivum
stalk

flowers grouped loosely together at the top of the

( b) go to 6
stalk

Solanum
4 (a) large flowers located at top of stem
tuberosum

(b) small flowers located along the stem Glycine max

5 (a) leaves have five lobes Manihot esculenta F

(b) leaves have three lobes Ipomoea batatas

6 (a) flowers above youngest leaf Zeamays

(b) flowers bend down below youngest leaf Oryza sativa

[3]

(ii) The pattern of the veins on the leaves was used in the key to separate the
monocotyledonous crop plants and eudicotyledonous (dicotyledonous) crop plants
shown in the diagram.

State one other feature that could be used to identify monocotyledonous plants from
eudicotyledonous plants.

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

[Total: 4]

20 What may be defined as an ‘increase in dry mass’?

A growth

B nutrition

C reproduction

D respiration

[1]
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[Total: 1]

21 The diagram below shows a snake.

A snake is a living organism and so shows the characteristics of life.

The snake feeds by catching small animals such as mice and rats.

Complete the table below showing some of the characteristics of life for the snake.

characteristic of life defintion

obtaining nutrients for energy, growth

nutrition
and repair

removal from an organism of toxic

materials, the waste products of
metabolism or substances in excess of
requirements

reproduction

a permanent increase in size and dry

mass by an increase in cell number or
cell size or both

[3]

[Total: 3]
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22 The bacterium, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, are added to milk to make yoghurt.

The graph below shows the changes in a population of L. bulgaricus during fermentation to make
yoghurt.

number of
living bacterial
cells

time

(a) (i) Name the stages shown on the graph above. Write your answers in the boxes on the
graph.
[4]

(ii) Explain why the population of L. bulgaricus does not continue to increase during the
fermentation to make yoghurt.

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

(b) The curve shown in the graph is a sigmoid population growth curve.

Define the term growth.

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........................................................................................................................................... [2]
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[Total: 8]

23 Define the term excretion.

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[Total: 3]