Training Week HL

Training week HL [65 marks]
1. [Maximum mark: 1] SPM.1A.HL.TZ0.1

What allows the movement of water under tension in the xylem?
A. Adhesion of water molecules to dissolved mineral salts
B. Cohesion of water molecules due to hydrogen bonding
C. Adhesion between water molecules due to uneven sharing of

charges
D. Cohesion between water molecules and other polar substances [1]

The diagram shows the elements present in two organic molecules, W
and X.
Which molecules could W and X be?
[1]
Which property of DNA explains how genetic information can be
replicated accurately?
A. Complementary base pairing
B. The double helical shape
C. 5’ – 3’ bonding in the sugar-phosphate backbone
D. The ability of DNA to bind to histones [1]

Which molecules are produced during the hydrolysis of a triglyceride
molecule?
A. Water and glycerol
B. Fatty acids and glycerol
C. Water and fatty acids
D. Water and lipids [1]

The structure of monomers affects the structure and function of the
polymers they form. Which row
describes the structural features of polysaccharides made from alpha-
glucose and beta-glucose?
[1]
The table shows the mRNA codons for three amino acids.
Valine Threonine Proline

GUU ACU CCU
GCC ACC CCC
GCA ACA CGA
GCG ACG CCG
Which substitution mutation of a base triplet on a DNA strand will lead
to the same polypeptide being formed at translation?
A. TGA to TCA
B. CGT to CTA
C. CAA to CGA
D. GCT to GGA [1]

Which is a feature of phloem sieve tube cells?
A. Numerous chloroplasts
B. No nucleus
C. Lignified walls
D. No cytoplasm [1]
How does the Miller-Urey experiment contribute to an explanation of
the origin of life?
A. It shows how phospholipids form protocells in specific laboratory

conditions.
B. It explains how organic molecules arise from inorganic ones under

certain environmental conditions.
C. It explains the synthesis of RNA, recreating deep sea vent conditions

in the laboratory.
D. It shows how the last universal common ancestor (LUCA) evolved

from vesicles. [1]
The image shows a group of enveloped viral particles.
[Source: Murphy, F. and Whitfield, S., n.d. Herpes virus image under the microscope. [image online]
Available at: https://www.bbvaopenmind.com/en/science/research/virus-inspired-science/
[Accessed 3 July 2020].]
What is the most likely composition of the structure labelled X?
A. Membrane derived from the host cell
B. Viral DNA
C. Viral cell walls
D. Viral enzymes [1]

Which cell is a component of the innate immune system?
A. T lymphocyte
B. Phagocyte
C. B lymphocyte
D. B memory cell [1]

How would the body respond to a rise above normal body
temperature?
[1]
Female grasshoppers have XX sex chromosomes and males have XO,
signifying a single X chromosome. An X chromosome will be present in
only half of the male gametes. A recessive mutation is induced by
radiation in the X chromosome of a male. In which generation will the
effect of this radiation appear?
A. F1 females
B. F1 males
C. F2 females
D. F2 males [1]
13. [Maximum mark: 5] SPM.2.HL.TZ0.7
Two alleles of a gene influence body colour in Drosophila. The dominant allele B
results in a brown body colour while the recessive allele b codes for black body.
In addition, two alleles of another gene determine wing shape; normal wings (V)
are dominant over vestigial wings (v).
In a dihybrid cross between a double heterozygote for body colour and wing
shape (BbVv) and a homozygous recessive for both traits (bbvv), the following
offspring were obtained:
brown body, normal wings: 29

brown body, vestigial wings: 8
black body, normal wings: 10
black body, vestigial wings: 33
(a) Identify the recombinant phenotypes amongst the offspring. [1]
(b) Explain whether these results fit the predicted Mendelian ratios
for this cross. [2]
(c) Outline the statistical test that could be used to provide more
evidence of the type of inheritance. [2]
14. [Maximum mark: 15] SPM.2.HL.TZ0.10
Changes in the form of biological molecules lead to changes in their function.
(a) Outline the role of UV radiation as a mutagen. [4]
(b) Explain how the function of DNA is linked to its molecular

structure. [7]
(c) Describe the use of gene knockout technology in research. [4]
15. [Maximum mark: 1] EXEX.1A.HL.TZ0.2
What allows to conclude that viruses might have evolved from cells?
I. Some viruses and eukaryotic cells have enzymes to synthesize DNA

from RNA.
II. Some viruses have an envelop made of phospholipids, same as cell

membranes.
III. Some viruses have similar genetic material to parasitic bacteria.
A. I and II only
B. I and III only
C. II and III only
D. I, II and III [1]

16. [Maximum mark: 1] 23N.1A.HL.TZ1.1
Stargardt’s is an inherited disease caused by the mutation of a gene
associated with vitamin A processing in the eye. It results in
degeneration of receptor cells and loss of vision. For what reason are
stem cells suitable to treat this disease?
A. They can be taken from the eye of an embryo and transplanted into
a patient.
B. They can produce vitamin A in newborn babies.
C. They can develop into receptor cells and prevent blindness.
D. They can be removed from an embryo to detect early onset of the

disease. [1]
In an experiment, a student placed five fresh potato cylinders of equal
size in solutions of varying sucrose concentrations.
On completion of the experiment, the student concluded that the

concentration of sucrose isotonic with the potato was 0.30 M. In how
many of the solutions did the potato cylinders lose mass?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4 [1]
What is the function of the primers in the polymerase chain reaction
(PCR)?
A. To separate the two strands of DNA
B. To bind to the complementary strands of DNA
C. To determine the region of DNA that will be copied
D. To activate the Taq DNA polymerase
[1]

How does the study of rock deposition provide evidence of when
organisms first started to photosynthesise?
A. Fossils of leaves were found from the first plants to photosynthesise.
B. Analysis of the rocks for magnesium indicate when chlorophyll

could be synthesised.
C. The carbon content of rock indicates the amount of carbon dioxide

in the atmosphere.
D. Rocks of a different colour were deposited when oxygen was

released by photosynthesis. [1]
The diagram shows the DNA profile of two couples and two children.
[Source: Barral, M, 2020. The Birth of Genetic Fingerprinting, an Invaluable Tool for CSI. [online] Available at:
https://www.bbvaopenmind.com/en/science/scientific-insights/the-birth-of-genetic-
fingerprinting-an-invaluable-tool-for-csi/ [Accessed 1 September 2022]. Source adapted.]
What is the most probable relationship between them?
A. Couple X are the parents of child 1 and couple Y are the parents of
child 2.
B. Couple X are the parents of child 2 and couple Y are the parents of
child 1.
C. Couple X are the parents of both children.
D. Couple Y are the parents of both children. [1]

How does overuse of antibiotics make them less effective?
A. It makes patients develop antibiotic resistance.
B. It can cause a mutation in bacteria.
C. It causes antibiotics to change due to natural selection.
D. It increases the number of bacteria better adapted for survival. [1]

What enzyme removes the RNA primers and replaces them with DNA
during DNA replication?
A. DNA polymerase I
B. DNA polymerase III
C. DNA gyrase
D. DNA primase [1]

What happens to mRNA after transcription in eukaryotic cells?
A. Binding to the large subunit of the ribosome
B. Removal of introns
C. Addition of exons
D. Attachment of an amino acid [1]

Mendel crossed pea plants with round yellow seeds with pea plants
with wrinkled green seeds and found that all the pea plants in the F1
generation had round yellow seeds. In the F2 generation, 556 pea
plants were produced. Assuming independent assortment, what is the
most probable number of round green seeds produced?
A. 0
B. 32
C. 101
D. 556 [1]
Blood groups depend on the presence and absence of antigens on the
surface of red blood cells.
Antibodies in blood plasma react against foreign antigens, causing
agglutination. The table shows the antigens and antibodies present in
each blood group.
What deductions can be made?
A. A person of blood group O can receive blood of any blood type.
B. A person of blood group B can receive O blood.
C. A child whose parents are blood groups AB and O will have two
types of antibodies.
D. A child whose parents are both blood group A can only produce
anti-B antibodies. [1]

What stage of spermatogenesis produces haploid cells from diploid
cells?
A. Spermatogonia to primary spermatocytes
B. Primary spermatocytes to secondary spermatocytes
C. Secondary spermatocytes to spermatids
D. Spermatids to sperm cells [1]

The diagram shows the location of the zona pellucida, a layer of
glycoproteins on the human ovum.
[Source: Vandyke Carter, H and Gray, H, 1918. Human ovum. [online] Available at:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egg_cell [Accessed 12 September 2022]. Source adapted.]
What is the main function of the zona pellucida?
A. To prevent polyspermy
B. To form polar bodies
C. To provide amino acids
D. To release FSH [1]

Some vaccinations, such as the smallpox vaccine, provide lifelong
immunity against the disease. For others, such as tetanus, this
immunity lasts for a shorter period of time. Why is a tetanus booster
vaccination recommended every 10 years?
A. Antibodies that formed after the first vaccination persist in the

blood for up to 10 years.
B. Memory cells are not produced after the first vaccination.
C. Only non-specific immunity is stimulated after the first vaccination.
D. Memory cells gradually decline over 10 years. [1]

Melatonin controls circadian rhythms and is involved in the sleep-
wake cycle. The pineal gland, which secretes melatonin, is inhibited by
light. The graph shows a normal cycle where bedtime is around 10pm.
Using data from the graph, what might be the effect(s) of screen light
from a laptop, tablet or phone at bedtime?
I. Delay in melatonin production
II. Lower peak concentration of melatonin
III. Peak of melatonin earlier in the evening
A. I only
B. III only
C. II and III only
D. I, II and III [1]

The diagram illustrates some of the processes involved in DNA
replication.
[Source: Rohrmann, G., 2019. AcMNPV DNA replication. [diagram online]

Available at:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK543453/figure/ch05.F1/
[Accessed 26 October 2021].]
What is shown in the diagram?
A. DNA polymerase bonding nucleotides in a 3’ to 5’ direction
B. Single-stranded DNA-binding proteins on the old strands
C. Gyrase reforming the double helix
D. DNA ligase joining Okazaki fragments in the leading strand [1]

The diagram shows a ribosome and associated mRNA
Which of these events occurs first in translation?
A. Small ribosomal subunit binds to mRNA.
B. Large ribosomal subunit binds to mRNA.
C. Initiator tRNA enters E site.
D. Initiator tRNA enters A site. [1]

An electron micrograph of a mitochondrion is shown.
The distance between the inner and outer membranes, which are
shown by the box, is always very small. What is the advantage of this
small distance?
A. Enables a high concentration of electrons to build up quickly
B. Enables a high concentration of protons to build up quickly
C. Allows fast diffusion of glucose into the mitochondrion
D. Allows fast diffusion of reduced NAD out of the mitochondrion [1]

33. [Maximum mark: 7] 22N.2.HL.TZ0.5
The diagram shows a nephron from a mammal.
[Source: Brody, T., 1999. The nephron. [diagram online] Available at:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-
sciences/nephron [Accessed 29 October 2021].]
(a.i) Identify structure X. [1]
(a.ii) Identify structure Y. [1]

(b) State the region of the kidney in which the loop of Henle is
situated. [1]
(c) Explain the role of the hormone ADH in osmoregulation. [2]
(d) Outline two adaptations for water conservation in leaves of

desert plants. [2]
34. [Maximum mark: 8] 22N.2.SL.TZ0.4
The diagram shows a nucleosome from the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell.
[Source: Weissman Lab at UCSF. UCSF Team Views Genome as it Turns On and Off Inside Cells.
[diagram online]
Available at https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2011/01/98118/ucsf-team-views-
genome-it-turns-and-inside-cells
[Accessed 1 December 2022].]
The image shows the regulation of the gene responsible for producing lactase.
[Source: Lac Operon, n.d. [diagram online] T A RAJU. Available at:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lac_Operon.svg [Accessed 29 October
2021].]
(a) Identify the protein labelled in the diagram. [1]

(b) Outline how nucleosomes affect the transcription of DNA. [1]
(c.i) Identify X, the enzyme which copies a DNA sequence. [1]
(c.ii) Identify Y, non-coding DNA at the start of a gene. [1]
(d) Explain the role of lactose in the expression of the gene for
lactase production. [3]
(e) State one reason that identical twins may show different
methylation patterns as they grow older. [1]
© International Baccalaureate Organization, 2024

Training Week HL

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Training week HL [65 marks]

1. [Maximum mark: 1] SPM.1A.HL.TZ0.1

A. Adhesion of water molecules to dissolved mineral salts

B. Cohesion of water molecules due to hydrogen bonding

C. Adhesion between water molecules due to uneven sharing of

D. Cohesion between water molecules and other polar substances [1]

A. Complementary base pairing

B. The double helical shape

C. 5’ – 3’ bonding in the sugar-phosphate backbone

D. The ability of DNA to bind to histones [1]

4. [Maximum mark: 1] SPM.1A.HL.TZ0.4

A. Water and glycerol

B. Fatty acids and glycerol

C. Water and fatty acids

D. Water and lipids [1]

Valine Threonine Proline

D. GCT to GGA [1]

A. It shows how phospholipids form protocells in specific laboratory

B. It explains how organic molecules arise from inorganic ones under

C. It explains the synthesis of RNA, recreating deep sea vent conditions

D. It shows how the last universal common ancestor (LUCA) evolved

What is the most likely composition of the structure labelled X?

A. Membrane derived from the host cell

C. Viral cell walls

D. Viral enzymes [1]

D. B memory cell [1]

11. [Maximum mark: 1] SPM.1A.HL.TZ0.30

brown body, normal wings: 29

(a) Identify the recombinant phenotypes amongst the offspring. [1]

(a) Outline the role of UV radiation as a mutagen. [4]

(b) Explain how the function of DNA is linked to its molecular

I. Some viruses and eukaryotic cells have enzymes to synthesize DNA

II. Some viruses have an envelop made of phospholipids, same as cell

III. Some viruses have similar genetic material to parasitic bacteria.

B. I and III only

C. II and III only

D. I, II and III [1]

B. They can produce vitamin A in newborn babies.

C. They can develop into receptor cells and prevent blindness.

D. They can be removed from an embryo to detect early onset of the

On completion of the experiment, the student concluded that the

A. To separate the two strands of DNA

B. To bind to the complementary strands of DNA

C. To determine the region of DNA that will be copied

D. To activate the Taq DNA polymerase

19. [Maximum mark: 1] 23N.1A.HL.TZ1.7

A. Fossils of leaves were found from the first plants to photosynthesise.

B. Analysis of the rocks for magnesium indicate when chlorophyll

C. The carbon content of rock indicates the amount of carbon dioxide

D. Rocks of a different colour were deposited when oxygen was

What is the most probable relationship between them?

C. Couple X are the parents of both children.

D. Couple Y are the parents of both children. [1]

21. [Maximum mark: 1] 23N.1A.HL.TZ1.15

A. It makes patients develop antibiotic resistance.

B. It can cause a mutation in bacteria.

C. It causes antibiotics to change due to natural selection.

D. It increases the number of bacteria better adapted for survival. [1]

22. [Maximum mark: 1] 23N.1A.HL.TZ1.21

B. DNA polymerase III

D. DNA primase [1]

A. Binding to the large subunit of the ribosome

D. Attachment of an amino acid [1]