HSC STYLE EXAM
NAME: .................................................
www.talent-100.com.au 1300 999 100
Preliminary Biology
Cells as the Basis of Life
General Instructions
 Reading time – 5 minutes
 Working time – 80 minutes
 Write using black or blue pen
 Draw diagrams in pencil
 Board-approved calculators may
be used
 All necessary working should be
shown in every question
SEMINAR DAY & TIME: ........................
Total marks – 50
Section I
15 Marks
 Attempt all questions
 Choose A or B or C or D
 Allow about 25 minutes for this part
Section II
35 Marks
 Attempt all questions
 Write on the lines provided
 Allow about 55 minutes
Preliminary Biology Cells as the Basis of Life Exam © TALENT 100

Section I
15 marks

Allow about 25 minutes for this part

1 Which of the following is not a membrane-bound organelle?

(A) Nuclei
(B) Mitochondria
(C) Vacuole
(D) Ribosome

2 The sweet taste of freshly picked corn is due to the high sugar content in the kernels.
Enzyme action converts about 50% of the sugar to starch within one day of picking. To
preserve its sweetness, the freshly picked corn is immersed in boiling water for a few
minutes, then cooled.

Which of the following explains why the boiled corn kernels remain sweet?

(A) Boiling destroys the sugar molecules so that they cannot be converted into starch.
(B) Boiling inactivates the enzyme responsible for converting sugar into starch.
(C) Boiling kills a fungus on the corn that is needed to convert sugar into starch.
(D) Boiling activates the enzyme that converts starch into sugar.

3 A cellular organelle is shown below. The function of this organelle is to:

(A) Control all metabolic activities within the cell

(B) Carry out photosynthesis
(C) Carry out respiration
(D) Store, package and dispatch molecules within the cell

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Preliminary Biology Cells as the Basis of Life Exam © TALENT 100

4 An experiment was planned to investigate the effect of the enzyme, amylase, on starch. The
following combination of test tube was considered.

Two drops of iodine will be added to each test tube.

Which combination of test tubes would ensure the experiment is valid?

(A) Experiment Y, Control W

(B) Experiment Y, Control Z
(C) Experiment X, Control W
(D) Experiment X, Control Z

5 The diagram shows a simplified model of a mammalian nephron and three processes
labelled 1, 2, 3.

Which response correctly identifies each of the processes?

(A) 1 Reabsorption, 2 Filtration, 3 Secretion

(B) 1 Filtration, 2 Reabsorption, 3 Secretion
(C) 1 Secretion, 2 Reabsorption, Filtration
(D) 1 Filtration, 2 Secretion, 3 Reabsorption

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Preliminary Biology Cells as the Basis of Life Exam © TALENT 100

6 The graph represents the relationship between substrate concentration and enzyme activity
for a metabolic reaction.

Which statement is an accurate interpretation of the graph?

(A) Point A is the maximum level of enzyme concentration.

(B) Increasing substrate concentration beyond Point A will not increase the rate of
reaction.
(C) Increasing substrate concentration beyond Point A will increase the rate of reaction.
(D) Increasing the enzyme activity beyond Point A will not increase the rate of reaction.

7 Which organelle does the first phase of photosynthesis occur in, and what does it require?

(A) Mitochondria, Oxygen

(B) Endoplasmic Reticulum, Oxygen
(C) Nucleus, Light
(D) Chloroplasts, Light

8 Which of the following describes a difference between light microscopes and electron
microscopes?

(A) Only the light microscope uses lenses

(B) The resolving power of the electron microscope is ten times larger than that of the light
microscope
(C) Electron microscopes must operate in a vacuum whereas light microscopes do not
(D) The light microscope can detect organelles such as Golgi bodies whereas the electron
microscope cannot

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Preliminary Biology Cells as the Basis of Life Exam © TALENT 100

9 A drawing taken from a plant cell electron micrograph is shown below.

D
A

The names of structures a, b, c and d respectively are:

(A) Chloroplast, ribosome, endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondrion

(B) Mitochondrion, vacuole, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi body
(C) Chloroplast, vacuole, Golgi body, endoplasmic reticulum
(D) Chloroplast, vacuole, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi body

10 What is the main role of photosynthesis in the ecosystem?

(A) Photosynthesis is the process that changes energy from the sun into a form that can
be used by other organisms
(B) Photosynthesis breaks down dead material and returns nutrients to the soil
(C) Photosynthesis is the process by which plants breathe in oxygen and breathe out
carbon dioxide
(D) Photosynthesis is responsible for changing nitrogen into a form that plants can use

11 Which of the following is true regarding photosynthetic cells?

(A) They are heterotrophic

(B) They are autotrophic
(C) They are only bacterial cells
(D) The photosynthetic organelle can only be seen under an electron microscope

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Preliminary Biology Cells as the Basis of Life Exam © TALENT 100

12 The following cell can be classified as:

(A) Prokaryotic and autotrophic

(B) Eukaryotic and autotrophic
(C) Eukaryotic and heterotrophic
(D) Prokaryotic and heterotrophic

13 The basic structure of a protein consists of:

I. Nitrogen
II. Carbon
III. Hydrogen
IV. Phosphate
V. Oxygen

(A) I, III, IV, V

(B) II, III, V
(C) I, II, III, V
(D) I, II, IV

14 Which of the following would be considered inorganic substances?

(A) Carbohydrates, water, minerals

(B) Proteins, Carbohydrates, Lipids
(C) DNA, oils, carbon
(D) Hydrogen, water, sodium chloride

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Preliminary Biology Cells as the Basis of Life Exam © TALENT 100

15 When can molecules of certain ions move across semi-permeable membranes?

(A) When the concentration of the ion is higher on the side it will move towards
(B) When the concentration of the ion is lower on the side it will move towards
(C) When the gradient of the ion is equal on both sides
(D) None of the above

End of Section I

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Preliminary Biology Cells as the Basis of Life Exam © TALENT 100

Section II
35 marks

Allow about 65 minutes for this part

16 Identify the organic compounds required by both heterotrophs and autotrophs for survival.
(1 mark)

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17 You have conducted a firsthand investigation on estimating the size of red blood cells and
white blood cells. Draw a labelled diagram of a red blood cell. (3 marks)

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Preliminary Biology Cells as the Basis of Life Exam © TALENT 100

18 Distinguish between passive transport and active transport and describe the circumstances
under which each of these processes would occur (4 marks)

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19 Distinguish between autotrophs and heterotrophs. (4 marks)

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Preliminary Biology Cells as the Basis of Life Exam © TALENT 100

20 To investigate the effect of surface area to volume ratio on the rate of reaction some
students performed an experiment with two soluble aspirin tablets. They weighed them
both at the beginning of the experiment and found the two tablets had similar weights. One
was ground to a powder using a mortar and pestle while the other was left as a whole
tablet. Both were added to 100ml water in 150ml beakers and the time for the whole tablet
and the ground aspirin to dissolve in the water was timed with a stopwatch.

(a) Explain why the tablets needed to be weighed at the beginning of the experiment.
(2 marks)

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(b) Predict the results for this experiment, giving reasons.
(2 marks)

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(c) Explain why smaller cells and organisms would be advantageous in terms of nutrient and
waste exchange. (2 marks)

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Preliminary Biology Cells as the Basis of Life Exam © TALENT 100

21 Models are often used to represent ideas and aid understanding of concepts that cannot be
visualised.

(a) Draw a diagram of one model used to explain the specificity of enzymes. (4 marks)

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(b) What is meant by the term “specificity” of enzymes? (1 mark)

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(c) Evaluate the above model in terms of its ability to demonstrate the nature of enzymes.
(5 marks)

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Preliminary Biology Cells as the Basis of Life Exam © TALENT 100

22 The data in the table shows the results from an investigation that measured growth in a
species of wheat.

(a) Use the data to draw an appropriate graph. (5 marks)

(b) From the graph, describe how the growth of wheat responds to temperature.
(2 marks)

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End of paper

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