CE BIO 1991

1.

(a)

Alex Lam
(i)

Cell A

Cell C

round shape

angular shape

no cell wall

has cell wall

nucleus : large /

nucleus : small /

irregular-shaped /

round / peripherally

) any TWO pairs -------------------- 1,1

lobed / centrally

placed nucleus

placed nucleus
no vacuole

)
vacuole

(N.B. No comparison, no mark)

(ii)

(1)

The cell is a bi-concave disc -------------------------------------------------------------------------1

The central part contains less cytoplasm ---------------------------------------------------------1

(2)

this provides a large surface area to volume ratio / shorter diffusion path ----------------1
to facilitate diffusion of gases ------------------------------------------------------------------------1

(iii)

to kill / engulf germs -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

(iv)

The cell will shrink / become crenated --------------------------------------------------------------------1

because water tends to move out by osmosis ----------------------------------------------------------1

(v)

drawing
showing the plasmolysed condition --------------------------------------------------------------------- 1+
quality of drawing e.g. resemblance to the cell shown,
double-lined cell wall ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1 or 0
labels :

* cell wall

* cell membrane

* cytoplasm

) any TWO labels ---------------------------------------------

* nucleus

* vacuole

Total : 12 marks
1.

(a)

(i)

(ii)

(iv)

(v)

Some candidates produced an answer without referring to the photomicrograph supplied.

For example they described the shape of the white blood cell as irregular or amoeboid.
This was a clear reflection of mere rote-memory that the white blood cells must be
amoeboid. However, in the photomicrograph, the white blood cell could only be described as
round or circular. Other candidates thought that all plant cells must have chloroplasts which
led them to describe the presence of chloroplasts in the onion epidermal cells. In the
photomicrograph, however, the chloroplasts are obviously absent.
(1) Many candidates could not satisfactorily explain the lighter colour at the central part of
the red blood cells. They failed to note that there was less cytoplasm and less
haemoglobin there.
(2) Very few candidates could precisely point out the importance of a large surface area to
volume ratio in facilitating gaseous exchange.
Many candidates wrongly explained that the red blood cells
after
immersion
in
a
concentrated sugar solution would undergo plasmolysis. They failed to note that
plasmolysis and flaccid are terms commonly used to describe the condition of a plant cell
when they loose excessive water resulting in the cell membrane being detached from the
cell wall. In the case of crenation in animal cells, the cells simply shrink but do not
plasmolyse.
Most candidates could produce a drawing of a plant cell showing plasmolysis. Many
candidates, however, could not produce an accurate drawing of the onion epidermal cell

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Alex Lam
with the general shape as shown in the photomicrograph. Others used a single line to
denote the plant cell wall.

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1.

(b)

Alex Lam
(i)

(1)

iron ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

(2)

symptoms associated with anaemia ---------------------------------------------------------------1

3

(ii)

1700 cm (N.B. no unit, no mark) ------------------------------------------------------------------------1

(iii)

in human milk,
- more vitamins

(iv)

good for general health / prevents deficiency diseases ---------- 1+1

in cows milk
- more protein

for the production of protoplasm / body growth --------------------- 1+1

- more calcium and / or phosphorus

for the growth of bones and teeth ---------------- 1+1

Total : 9 marks

1.

(b)

(ii)

It is encouraging to see that most candidates could correctly extract numerical data from the
question and could readily perform simple calculations to obtain the right answer.

(iii)

Many candidates did not refer to the table given and so gave the presence of antibodies as
an advantage of cows milk over breast feeding.

(iv)

This was the most well answered part of the whole question paper showing students
increased awareness of the daily applications of human nutrition.

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1.

(c)

Alex Lam
(i)

Albino -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
- This character is shown in individual 10 but not in

their parents (individuals 3 and 4)

- Individual 10 must have received

one albino allele from either parent

) any THREE ----1,1,1

- who must be heterozygous

- In heterozygous condition, only the

dominant allele is expressed OR the recessive allele is masked )

(ii)

(1)
(individual 6)

(individual 10)

Dd

dd

Parent

Gamete

--------------------------- 1

d
--------------------------- 1

Offspring

Dd

dd

(normal)

(albino)

Therefore, normal : albino = 1 : 1 ---------------------------------------------------------------------1

(2)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
Total : 9 marks

1.

(c)

(i)

Many candidates could succeed in concluding that albino is the recessive character, but not
many of them could explain their deduction in sentences.

(ii)

(1)

Candidates showed a marked improvement in their ability to draw a genetic diagram.

However, some did not use the given symbols.

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2.

(a)

Alex Lam
(i)

Starch is still present in these spots as no digestion occurs -----------------------------------------1

enzyme in spot A cannot work in an acidic medium ---------------------------------------------------1
and enzyme in spot B has been denatured by heat ---------------------------------------------------1

(ii)

The reddish brown colour indicates starch is absent / digested ------------------------------------1

due to enzymes secreted by bread mould ---------------------------------------------------------------1

(iii)

It is a temperature suitable for the enzyme activity in the saliva -----------------------------------1

It is also a temperature suitable for enzyme activity / growth of the bread mould --------------1

(iv)

drawing showing reproductive structures ----------------------------------------------------------------1

labels : * sporangium

(v)

* spores

* sporangiophore

) any FOUR labels -------------------------------------

* hyphae / * stolons

* rhizoids

* zygospores

To avoid transmission of diseases such as hepatitis --------------------------------------------------1

Total : 11 marks

2.

(a)

(i)

Some candidates incorrectly explained the lack of digestive activities in saliva after boiling
as due to the enzymes being killed by heating.

(iii)

Many candidates answers were too brief and vague, e.g. saying that saliva (rather than the
enzymes within it) than the enzymes within couid break down starch.

(iv)

The term "sporangiophore" was often misspell as "sporangiospore" or "sporangiopore".

Drawings made by candidates of the bread mould were generally of poor quality and the
labels were far from complete.

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2.

(b)

Alex Lam
(i)

correct choice of axes -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

correct labeling of axes with units --------------------------------------------------------------------------1
correct plotting of all points ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
The changes in blood urea concentration with time

Blood urea concentration (mg/100cm )

7.0

6.0

5.0

4.0

3.0

2.0

1.0

0
07:00

08:00

09:00

10:00

11:00

12:00

13:00

14:00

15:00

16:00

17:00

18:00

19:00

20:00

Time (hours)
(ii)

At 0:800 hours, the liver was removed -------------------------------------------------------------------1

no deamination to produce urea ---------------------------------------------------------------------------1
but the kidneys continued to excrete urea in the urine -----------------------------------------------1
Therefore the blood urea concentration decreased

(iii)

increase in blood urea ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

as there is no kidney to excrete the urea -----------------------------------------------------------------1
which is continuously formed by the liver ----------------------------------------------------------------1

(iv)

storage of blood / vitamin / iron / glycogen /

formation of bile / regulation of blood sugar level, etc. -------------------------------------------------1
Total : 10 marks

2.

(b)

(i)

The graph was well plotted by most candidates although a few still plotted the curve without
using graph paper :

(iii)

Some candidates mixed up the deaminating function of the liver with the excretory function
of the kidneys.

(iv)

Quite a number of candidates wrongly gave the production of insulin as a function of the
liver

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2.

(c)

Alex Lam
(i)

(1)

green plant and / or decomposers produce carbon dioxide during respiration ----------1
green plants produce oxygen during photosynthesis ------------------------------------------1

(2)

water is lost through the plant surface via transpiration ---------------------------------------1

water vapour eventually condenses and returns to the soil ----------------------------------1

(3)

the older parts of the plant die or fall off and -----------------------------------------------------1
broken down by decomposers to release the nutrients
back to the soil -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

(ii)

animals / consumers ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

(iii)

provides an initial supply of nutrients / decomposers -------------------------------------------------1

since recycling of nutrients takes time --------------------------------------------------------------------1
Total : 9 marks

2.

(c)

(i)

(1)

Some

candidates

obviously

overlooked

the

phrase

these

supplies

are

maintained in the question and wrongly stated that to maintain a supply of respiratory
gases in the enclosed system, carbon dioxide was absorbed by green plants for
photosynthesis and oxygen was absorbed for respiration.

(2)

Many candidates neglected the fact that, within the enclosed system, the major source
of water vapour came from the transpiration of the green plants rather than from the
moist soil.

(3)

Very few candidates correctly mentioned that the dead bodies of plants would undergo
decay to give inorganic nutrients.

(iii)

Despite comments in previous examiners* reports, many candidates

still

held

the

misconception that humus is a direct source of inorganic fertilizer rather than dead decaying
organic matter.

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CE BIO 1991
3.

(a)

Alex Lam
(i)

(1) to prevent oxygen in air dissolving into the solution -----------------------------------------------1

(2)

to provide sufficient carbon dioxide in the tube --------------------------------------------------1

(3)

the relative light intensity is inversely proportional

to the (square of) distance of the lamp away from
the test-tube ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

(4)

1
= 0.05 min1 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
T
1
T =
min
0.05
T = 20 min (no unit, no mark) ----------------------------------------------------------------------1

(5)

the rate of photosynthesis increases with

increasing light intensity up to a certain point, ---------------------------------------------------1
beyond which the rate levels off ---------------------------------------------------------------------1

(ii)

Points to note for in the diagram :

soda lime / conc. KOH / conc. NaOH solution in
an enclosed container to absorb CO2- --------------------------------------------------------------------1
lime water / hydrogen carbonate indicator in an
enclosed container to check the absence of CO2 ------------------------------------------------------1
correctly linked glass tubings and rubber tubings ------------------------------------------------------1
dye solution in container with an air outlet ---------------------------------------------------------------1
(N.B. No mark is to be awarded if the set-up is not workable.)
soda lime
air in
OR
air out

conc. KOH /
NaOH solution

dye solution

lime water /
hydrogen carbonate indicator

Total : 11 marks
3.

(a)

(ii)

This part of the question was set to test candidates ability to design an experimental set-up
for hypothesis testing. Many candidates failed to draw a workable set-up either because
they wrongly positioned the relevant reagents or they blocked the delivery tube at the outlet.

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3.

(b)

Alex Lam
(i)

X - * pseudopodium -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
Y - * contractile vacuole --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

(ii)

the pseudopodia extend to engulf / surround food particles -----------------------------------------1

and form a food vacuole in the cytoplasm ---------------------------------------------------------------1

(iii)

(1)

Rate of discharge = 6 [60/10s](discharges per minute) -------------------------------------1

(2)

Water potential of the medium around

A is higher than that around B

OR

) any ONE ------------------------------------1

Water potential of A is lower than that of B

Therefore, water enters into cytoplasm of A more quickly ------------------------------------1

and contractile vacuole (Y) discharge more frequently ----------------------------------------1
Total : 8 marks
3.

(b)

(i)

"Contractile" was often misspell as "contratile" or "contracile". "Vacuole" was often misspell
as "vacule". Some candidates in the Chinese version mistook structure Y as a food vacuole.

(iii)

(2)

Candidates explanations involving water potential to explain the different rates of

discharge of contractile vacuoles under different external media revealed their good
grasp of the concept.

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3.

(c)

Alex Lam
(i)

* cartilage ring --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

to prevent collapse of the trachea / to allow free passage of air -----------------------------------1

(ii)

(1)

* pleural membrane / * pleura ------------------------------------------------------------------------1

(2)

because air leaks in / increases pressure between pleura -----------------------------------1

the lung recoils / collapse due to its own elasticity ----------------------------------------------1

(iii)

muscle C relaxes -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

(iv)

(1)

to provide a short distance for diffusion -----------------------------------------------------------1

(2)

to provide a large surface area for diffusion ------------------------------------------------------1

(3)

to dissolve the respiratory gases for diffusion to occur ----------------------------------------1

(v)

dust particles cannot be removed from the respiratory

tract / more dust particles enter the lungs ----------------------------------------------------------------1
thereby reducing the surface area for gaseous exchange -------------------------------------------1
Total : 11 marks

3.

(c)

(i)

"Cartilage" was sometimes wrongly spelt as "cartinage".

(ii)

(1)

"Pleural" was often misspell as "pleual" or "pleral". "Membrane" was often misspell as
"membrance". Many candidates were unsure about the function of the pleural cavity.

(2)

Most candidates could correctly explain the collapse of the lungs when punctured by
pointing out the difference in pressure on both sides of the pleura. Some merely
explained this in terms of the leaking out of pleural fluid or simply the leakage of air.
Most candidates failed to note that during expiration, the lungs will recoil or collapse
due to their own elasticity.

(iv)

(1)

Few candidates could relate the one-cell thick feature to the short distance needed for
diffusion of respiratory gases.

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4.

(a)

Alex Lam
(i)

(1)

It would be easier to observe any changes in the water level in the glass tubing -------1

(2)

to suck up the water column through the rubber tubing ---------------------------------------1

and then close the rubber tubing with the screw clip -------------------------------------------1

(ii)

germinating sees used up oxygen in the glass container for respiration -------------------------1
and released carbon dioxide --------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
which was absorbed by conc. KOH -----------------------------------------------------------------------1
As the gas in the glass container became less the gas pressure reduced, ----------------------1
the higher atmospheric pressure would force the water level up to position A ------------------1

(iii)

the volume of oxygen used up in respiration was equal

to the volume of carbon dioxide released ----------------------------------------------------------------1
Total : 9 marks

4.

(a)

(i)

(1)

Many candidates suggested that setting the initial water level near the middle of the
glass tubing could make it easier to observe the results, without stating what the
results were i.e. they did not mention any changes in the water level within the tubing.

(2)

Rather than saying 'to suck up' a column of water, many candidates tended to say 'to
pump up'. Still far too many candidates omitted the very important step of closing the
screw clip after sucking the water column up.

(ii)

This part of the question was well answered showing candidates' improvement in explaining
the phenomenon of gaseous exchange during seed germination. Many candidates, however,
could not clearly point out that the rise in water level inside the glass tubing was due to the
greater atmospheric pressure on the outside.

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CE BIO 1991
4.

(b)

Alex Lam
(i)

60
2 = 75 (beats per minute) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------1
16
.

(ii)

(1)

X ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

(2)

X can produce greater pressure / force to proper

blood to all parts of the body -------------------------------------------------------------------------1

(iii)

(1)

to prevent the backflow of blood into the auricles / atria ---- )

when the ventricle are contracting -------------------------------- )
OR

any ONE set ---------- 1+1

to prevent the blackflow of blood into the ventricles ---------- )

when the ventricles are relaxing ----------------------------------- )
(2)

(I)

closed ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

(II)

At time A, the ventricular pressure is increasing -----------------------------------------1

thus forcing the valves to close --------------------------------------------------------------1

(iv)

From left ventricle : * aorta -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

From right ventricle : * pulmonary artery -----------------------------------------------------------------1
blood in aorta contains more oxygen than that
in the pulmonary artery ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
Total : 11 marks

4.

(b)

(iv)

"Aorta" was often wrongly spelt as "arota". "Pulmonary" was often wrongly spelt as
"pulmonry".

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4.

(c)

Alex Lam
(i)

(1)

* testis -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

(ii)

(1)

* meiosis --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

(2)

the chromosomes number of the egg is half of that of the parent cell ---------------------1
so that the normal chromosome number is restored after fertilization / in the zygote --1

(iii)

oviduct / fallopian tube ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

(iv)

* mitosis ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

(v)

(1)

* umbilical cord ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

(2)

carries oxygen / nutrients to the foetus ------------------------------------------------------------1

(1)

any discontinuous variation of man e.g. tongue

(vi)

rolling ability, eye colour, blood group, etc. ---------------------------------------------------1

(2)

any continuous variation of man e.g. height, weight etc. --------------------------------------1

Total : 10 marks

4.

(c)

(ii)

(2)

Many candidates could not fully explain the significance of meiosis in terms of
maintaining constant chromosome numbers over successive generations. Many
candidates wrongly claimed that meiosis gives rise to haploid offspring rather than
haploid gametes. Others wrongly stated that meiosis could reduce the chromosome
numbers of the offspring by half.

(v)

(2)

Many candidates described the embryo or foetus as the baby.

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CE BIO 1991
5.

(a)

Alex Lam
(i)

(1) it contracts ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

(2)

(I) * elbow joint / * hinge joint -------------------------------------------------------------------------1

(II) it allows movement in one plane / 180 only -------------------------------------------------1

(ii)

Man X :
the motor / relay neurone / assoication neurone / intermediate nueorne was damaged -------------1
so that no impulses could be transmitted to the
effector muscle arm to produce the response ----------------------------------------------------------1
Man Y :
the sensory neurone / receptor was damage -----------------------------------------------------------1
so that no impulses from the receptor could be
transmitted to the brain for producing the painful feeling ---------------------------------------------1
since Y could move his hand voluntarily therefore the
motor neurone was still functioning ------------------------------------------------------------------------1
Man Z :
the relay neurone / assoication neurone / intermediate nueorne to the brain the spinal cord above the
arm level was damage ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
no impulses could be carried to the brain ----------------------------------------------------------------1
since Z can withdraw his hand therefore the reflex arc
was not damage ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
Total : 11 marks

5.

The highly disappointing results in this question demonstrated that candidates are still weak in applying
their knowledge in the nervous system to explain neural responses.
(a)

(ii)

Most candidates were weak in understanding the location and functions of the different
types of neurones (sensory, relay and motor) in the nervous system. Many candidates
mixed up the motor or sensory areas of the brain with the sensory or motor neurones in the
neural pathway and failed to distinguish nerve fibres from nerves. Others were confused
about the meanings of reflex actions and voluntary actions. Many did not realise that a
nerve impulse would be sent to the brain from the reflex arc involved in the withdrawal
action.

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5.

(b)

Alex Lam
(i)

to activate the enzymes in seeds / to help rupturing the

seed coat / to soften the seed coat / other suitable answer -----------------------------------------1

(ii)

(1)

weight with all water removed -----------------------------------------------------------------------1

(2)

dry weight gives a more accurate measurement

of the amount of organic matter present /
measurement on fresh weight shows greater variation -----------------------------------1
water content is affected by different environmental conditions -------------------------1

(iii)

to minimize error due to individual variation / death / unsuccessful germination ---------------1

(iv)

(1)

retarding / slowing growth -----------------------------------------------------------------------------1

(2)

no effect on growth -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

(1)

cotyledons provide food reserve for germination ------------------------------------------------1

(v)

therefore early removal of cotyledons resulted in less growth

(2)

food reserve in cotyledons would have been used up -----------------------------------------1

seedlings would have developed leaves for photosynthesis ---------------------------------1
therefore removal of cotyledons had no effect on growth
Total : 10 marks

5.

(b)

(ii)

(1)

Some candidates could not relate growth to an increase in dry mass.

(iii)

Many candidates could not realise the importance of using large samples, particularly of
biological specimens, to arrive at more reliable results. They only stated that a large sample
size could give more accurate results' but could not explain why.

(iv)

(1)

The functions of cotyledons during the initial stage of germination was not clear to
many candidates. They did not realise that removal of cotyledons on the 4th day of
germination could lead to "retarded growth" but not "zero growth".

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5.

(c)

Alex Lam
(i)

2.8 10 kg (no unit, no mark) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------1

(ii)

particles ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

(iii)

to reduce the number of motor vehicles, -----------------------------------------------------------------1

10

because they produce the greatest total amount

pollutants / carbon monoxide / hydrocarbons per year -----------------------------------------------1
or other suitable answers
(iv)

particles - irritation of the respiratory tract / reduce the efficiency of gaseous exchange -----1
carbon monoxide - decreases oxygen carrying capacity of blood ---------------------------------1

(v)

it dissolves in raindrops / water -----------------------------------------------------------------------------1

increases the acidity of water and affects lives there -------------------------------------------------1

(vi) hot water / radioactive wastes / carbon dioxide / other suitable answer ----------------------------1
Total : 9 marks
5.

(c)

(iii)

Many candidates did not refer to the bar chart given in the question and simply regurgitated
what they had learnt from textbooks.

(iv)

Many candidates could grasp the idea of blockage of respiratory surfaces by particles while
a few could point out the "irritating" function of particles to the respiratory system.

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