Biology Test: Plant Nutrition and Transport

1.This diagram on the left shows a plant, and the one on the right shows a section through the stem.

(a)For each of the four parts A-D, give its name and one function. / (8)

8 marks

3.In an experiment to investigate the requirements for photosynthesis, a well-watered plant with variegated leaves (i.e. parts of the leaves lack chlorophyll) was kept in darkness for 48 hours. It was then set up as shown in the diagram on the left and left in light for 24 hours. At the end of this time the leaves were removed from the plant, boiled in ethanol and stained with a solution to test for the presence of starch. The diagram on the right shows six possible results of the starch test on the four leaves.

(a)What is the solution that tests for starch? / (1)
(b)Why was the plant initially kept in darkness for 48 hours? / (1)
(c)The plant was still alive after 48 hours in the dark. What process did it use to obtain energy while it was in the dark? / (1)
(d)For each of the four leaves A-D, state which of the 6 possible results is the correct one. Each possible result may be used once, more than once or not at all. / (4)
(e)From these results only, what three things are needed for photosynthesis? / (3)
(f)Apart from starch, name three other substances that plants make from glucose. / (3)

13 marks

4.This diagram shows a root hair cell from a plant root. Several substances enter the plant from the soil, including water, minerals and oxygen.

(a)Name the parts labelled A-D. / (4)
(b)(i)For what process does the plant need water? / (1)
(ii)By what process does water enter the root hair cell? / (1)
(c)(i)For what process does the root hair cell need oxygen? / (1)

7 marks

5.The diagram on the left shows an experiment to investigate the effect of light intensity on the rate of photosynthesis. The number of bubbles given off in one minute was counted, and the experiment was repeated several times with the lamp at different distances from the boiling tube in order to change the light intensity. The results are plotted on the graph on the right.

(a)What is the gas in the bubbles? / (1)
(b)Why is hydrogen carbonate added to the water in the boiling tube? / (1)
(c)(i)What other factor (apart from light intensity) may change as the lamp is moved closer to the boiling tube? / (1)
(ii)How could you stop this other factor affecting the results? / (1)
(d)At which point on the graph (X, Y or Z) is light a limiting factor? / (1)
(e)At which point on the graph (X, Y or Z) is light not a limiting factor? / (1)
(f)At which point on the graph (X, Y or Z) is no photosynthesis taking place? / (1)

7 marks

7.The diagram shows a vertical section through part of a leaf.

(a)State one function of the cuticle. / (1)
(b)State one function of the spongy layer. / (1)
(c)Give one way in which the palisade cells are adapted for photosynthesis. / (1)
(d)Structure X allows materials to pass in and out of the leaf. What is the name of X? / (1)
(e)Name three things that pass through X during the day, and in each case say whether they enter or leave the leaf during the day. / (6)

10 marks

8.The diagram shows four plants growing in water culture. Plant A was grown in a complete culture solution, with all the minerals required for healthy growth. The other three plants were grown in culture solutions that lacked either nitrate, phosphate or potassium.

(a)What is nitrate used for in plants? / (1)
(e)Which plant from B-D, was missing nitrate. / (1)

2 marks

KS4 Biology Test 6: Plant Nutrition and Transport

Mark Scheme

1. / (a)A-flower, for reproductionB-stem, for support or transport
C-leaf, for photosynthesisD-root, for water uptake or anchorage / 8
(b)E- Xylem, water, upwardsF- Phloem, sugars, downwards (4 marks if E/F wrong) / 6
14 marks
2. / (a)It took up water / 1
(b)decrease; because it looses water / 2
(c)turgid / 1
(d)beaker 1 / 1
(e)water leaves cell; cytoplasm shrinks; rigid cell wall keeps shape; so membrane pulls away. / 3
8 marks
3. / (a)iodine / 1
(b)to destarch / 1
(c)respiration / 1
(d)A - 6B - 5C - 3D - 6 / 4
(e)light; carbon dioxide; chlorophyll / 3
(f)cellulose; proteins; fats/oils; carbon dioxide / 3
13 marks
4. / (a)A- nucleusB- cytoplasmC- cell membraneD- cell wall / 4
(b)(i) photosynthesis(ii) osmosis / 2
(c)(i) respiration(ii) diffusion / 2
(d)(i) growth/proteins/reactions(ii) active uptake / 2
(e)it requires energy/ATP / 1
11 marks
5. / (a)oxygen / 1
(b)to increase carbon dioxide / 1
(c)(i) heat(ii) heat filter/ water bath/ etc / 2
(d)Y / 1
(e)Z / 1
(f)X / 1
7 marks
6. / (a)transpiration / water loss / 1
(b)larger surface area / thinner waxy coating / 1
(c)more mass lost; because more transpiration / 2
(d)advantage: conserves waterdisadvantage: less photosynthesis / 2
6 marks
7. / (a)reduces water loss, protection from infection / 1
(b)gas exchange / 1
(c)many chloroplasts; near top of leaf; tall and thin; packed close together / 2
(d)stoma / stomata / 1
(e)oxygen - outward; carbon dioxide - inward; water vapour - outward / 6
11 marks
8. / (a)for proteins / 1
(b)D - nitrate / 1
2 marks
Total / 79 marks