Cambridge

Cambridge International Examinations

Cambridge Ordinary Level

O Level
CANDIDATE
NAME
CENTER
NUMBER

CANDIDATE
NUMBER

BIOLOGY

5090/22

Paper 2 Theory

May/June 2015
1 hour 45 minute

Candidates answer on the Question Paper.

No Additional Materials are required.
READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST
Write your Centre number, candidate number and name on all the work you hand in.
Write in dark blue or black pen.
You may use an HB pencil for any diagrams or graphs.
Do not use staples, paper clips, glue or correction fluid.
DO NOT WRITE IN ANY BARCODES.
Section A
Answer all questions.
Write your answers in the spaces provided on the Question Paper.
Section B
Answer all questions.
Write your answers in the spaces provided on the Question Paper.
Section C
Answer either question 8 or question 9.
Write your answers in the spaces provided on the Question Paper.
You are advised to spend no longer than one hour on Section A.
Electronic calculators may be used.
You may lose marks if you do not show your working or if you do not use appropriate units.
At the end of the examination, fasten all your work securely together. The number of marks is given
in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.

This document consists of 12 printed pages

UCLES 2015

[Turn over

Hirosh Mendis 0777876981

Section A
Answer all the questions in this section.
Write your answers in the spaces provided.

1
(a) Table 1.1 lists the daily requirements for some of the components in the diet of a young
child.

State two components, other than those in Table 1.1, that are required in a balanced diet.
1. ........................................................................................................................................................
2. .................................................................................................................................................. [2]

(b) Malnutrition is common in countries where there is famine. List two problems that may
contribute to famine.
1. .................................................................................................................................................
2. ............................................................................................................................................ [2]

UCLES 2015

5090/22/M/J/15

Hirosh Mendis 0777876981

(c) Fig. 1.1 shows the label from the packet of a type of food sometimes fed to young children
suffering from severe malnutrition.

(i)

State three effects of malnutrition which may occur in young children.

1. ....................................................................................................................................
2. ....................................................................................................................................
3. ............................................................................................................................... [3]

(ii)

Explain how this emergency famine food helps to overcome the effects of
malnutrition.
........................................................................................................................................
..... ..................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................
..... ..................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................
..... ..................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................
..... ..............................................................................................................................[4]
[Total: 11]

UCLES 2014

5090/22/M/J/15

[Turn over

Hirosh Mendis 0777876981

2
(a) The graphs in Fig. 2.1 show the effect of changing pH on the rate of reactions controlled by
two different enzymes found in the alimentary canal of a mammal.

(i)

Explain what is meant by the term pH.

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

(ii)

Using the information in Fig. 2.1, state the rate of reactions controlled by Enzyme 2
at pH 7.
................................................................................................................................... [1]

(iii)

Suggest in which part of the alimentary canal Enzyme 1 is likely be active.

................................................................................................................................... [1]
Give reasons for your suggestion.
........................................................................................................................................
..... ............................................................................................................................. [2]

(iv)

Enzymes in the alimentary canal are involved in reactions that break down large
molecules into small molecules, for example, starch into maltose.
Give an example in another, named part of the body, where small molecules are
built up into larger ones.
named part of the body..
small molecules
larger molecules .......................................................................................... [3]
[Total: 9]

UCLES 2015

5090/22/M/J/15

Hirosh Mendis 0777876981

3
(a) Fig. 3.1 shows how pollination takes place in two different species of plant, species P and
species Q

(i)

Using the information in Fig. 3.1, suggest and explain how each of these species of
plant is pollinated.
species P
........................................................................................................................................
..... ..................................................................................................................................
species Q
........................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................. [4]

(ii)

Suggest two ways in which a flower from a plant of species Q in Fig. 3.1 may be
adapted to increase the likelihood of pollination taking place.
1. ...................................................................................................................................
2. ............................................................................................................................... [2]

(b) State why species Q shows more variation in its phenotype than species P.
.....................................................................................................................................................
............ ....................................................................................................................................[1]

UCLES 2014

5090/22/M/J/15

[Turn over

Hirosh Mendis 0777876981

(c) Describe the events that take place in a flower after pollination until fertilisation has taken
place.
.....................................................................................................................................................
........... .........................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................
... .............................................................................................................................................[3]
[Total: 10]

UCLES 2015

5090/22/M/J/15

7
4

Hirosh Mendis 0777876981

Atmospheric air contains oxygen and carbon dioxide

(a) Complete table 3.1 to show the percentage of oxygen and carbon dioxide in inhaled and
exhaled air.

(b)
(i)

Explain how oxygen is used by a muscle cell.

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

(ii)

Explain what happens in a muscle cell when oxygen is in short supply.

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

(c) At high altitudes, oxygen is less available than it is at low altitudes. Suggest modifications of
the circulatory and respiratory systems that might help people that live for many years at
high altitude.
.....................................................................................................................................................
.......... ..........................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................
.......... ..........................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................
.......... ..................................................................................................................................... [3]
[Total: 10]

UCLES 2014

5090/22/M/J/15

[Turn over

8
5

Hirosh Mendis 0777876981

Fig. 4.1 shows a horizontal section of the human eye and the pathway taken by light rays as they
leave an object.
(a) Complete the diagram by continuing the lines from the object to show how the light rays
produce a focussed image on the retina.

(b)
(i)

State how the appearance of the pupil in the eye will change when a person moves
from dim light into an area of bright light.
................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii)

Explain how this change is brought about by structures in the eye.

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

(c) The change in appearance of the pupil when entering an area of bright light is a reflex
action.
(i)
Define the term reflex action.
........................................................................................................................................
..... ............................................................................................................................. [2]
(ii)

Suggest why drugs that prevent this reflex action from occurring should be avoided.
........................................................................................................................................
..... ..................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................... [2]
[Total: 10]

UCLES 2015

5090/22/M/J/15

Hirosh Mendis 0777876981

Section B
Answer both questions in this section.
Write your answers in the spaces provided.
6
(a) Define the term homeostasis.
.....................................................................................................................................................
. ...................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................[2]
(b) Use the concept of control by negative feedback to explain what would happen in each of
the following situations.
(i)
A person goes outside wearing only short trousers and a short-sleeved shirt on a day
when the air temperature is below 10 C.
........................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................[4]
(ii)

A person drinks an excessive volume of water.

........................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................[4]
[Total: 10]

UCLES 2014

5090/22/M/J/15

[Turn over

10

Hirosh Mendis 0777876981

7
(a)
(i)

State one similarity and one difference in the functions of the urethra in a male and
in a female adult person.
similarity ........................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................
difference ......................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................... [2]

(ii)

State the differences between male and female human gametes in terms of size,
numbers and mobility.
........................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................
.... .............................................................................................................................. [3]

(b) Describe the advantages and disadvantages of surgical methods of birth control.
advantages ..................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................
.......... ..........................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................
.. ..................................................................................................................................................
disadvantages .............................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................
. ...................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................ [5]
[Total: 10]

UCLES 2015

5090/22/M/J/15

11

Hirosh Mendis 0777876981

Section C
Answer either question 8 or question 9.
Write your answers in the spaces provided.
8
(a) Explain how humans are dependent upon the process of photosynthesis.
.....................................................................................................................................................
. ...................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................
. ...................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................[6]
(b) State and explain the appearance of a plant that lacks each of the following ions. magnesium
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
nitrate
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................ [4]
[Total: 10]

UCLES 2014

5090/22/M/J/15

[Turn over

12

Hirosh Mendis 0777876981

9
(a) Malaria is a disease caused by a parasite called Plasmodium. The mosquito is the vector of
this parasite. Define the terms parasite and vector.
parasite .......................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................
. ...................................................................................................................................................
vector ..........................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................ [4]
(b) Explain how the spread of malaria may be controlled. Refer to both Plasmodium and the
mosquito in your answer.
.....................................................................................................................................................
.......... ..........................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................
.......... ..........................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................
.......... ..........................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................
.......... ..........................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................
.......... ......................................................................................................................................[6]
[Total: 10]

The Open University of Sri Lanka

UCLES 2015

5090/22/M/J/15