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Girraween High School

2012
HIGHER SCHOOL CERTIFICATE
HALF-YEARLY EXAMINATION

BIOLOGY

General Instructions

Total marks - 75

Reading time 5 minutes


Working time 2 hours
Write using black or blue pen
Draw diagrams using pencil
Board-approved calculators may be
used
Write your name at the top of the Part A
Answer Sheet and the Part B Written
Response Answer Sheet

This exam has two parts, Part A and Part B


Part A 15 marks
Attempt Questions 1- 15
Allow about 20 minutes for this part
Part B 60 marks
Attempt Questions 16 - 32
Allow about 1 hour and 40 minutes for this part

Girraween High School HSC Biology 2012 Half-yearly exam

Part A 15 marks
Attempt Questions 1 15
Allow about 20 minutes for this part
Use the multiple choice answer sheet.
Select the alternative A, B, C or D that best answers the question. Fill in the response circle
completely.
Sample

2+4=

(A) 2

(B) 6

(C) 8

(D) 9

If you think you have made a mistake, put a cross through the incorrect answer and fill in the new
answer.
A

If you change your mind and have crossed out what you consider to be the correct answer, then
indicate this by writing the word correct and drawing an arrow as follows:
correct
A

Girraween High School HSC Biology 2012 Half-yearly exam

Questions 1 and 2 refer to the diagram below which represents a model of a negative feedback
system in humans.

1.

2.

What structures in humans represent the afferent and efferent pathways?


afferent pathway

efferent pathway

(A)

hormones

motor nerves

(B)

motor nerves

sensory nerves

(C)

sensory nerves

motor nerves

(D)

sensory nerves

sensory nerves

What process would involve the use of such a feedback system?


(A) digestion
(B)

enantiostasis

(C)

homeostasis

(D) respiration
3.

Which of the following is one form of transport for the digested products of lipids in humans?
(A) bound to haemoglobin
(B)

dissolved in plasma

(C)

dissolved in plasma as urea

(D) in the form of chylomicrons in blood

Girraween High School HSC Biology 2012 Half-yearly exam

4.

5.

Which adaptations are suitable for the survival of fish in freshwater environments?
function of special gland cells
ingestion of water
in gills

urine composition

(A)

excrete salt

ingests (swallows)

concentrated

(B)

salt-absorbing

does not ingest

dilute

(C)

excrete salt

does not ingest

concentrated

(D)

salt-absorbing

ingests (swallows)

dilute

The diagram shows three types of blood vessels found in the legs of mammals.

What is the function of vessel Z?


(A) Transportation of oxygenated blood
(B)

Diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide

(C)

Transportation of deoxygenated blood

(D) Transportation of urine


6.

Coat colours of the Shorthorn breed of cattle are an example of a trait determined by
codominant alleles. Red, roan (a mixture of red and white) and white are the three phenotypes
in Shorthorn cattle. When roan Shorthorns are crossed amongst themselves, what percentage
of the F1 will be white?
(A) 0%
(B)

25%

(C)

50%

(D) 75%

Girraween High School HSC Biology 2012 Half-yearly exam

7.

The diagram represents a model of DNA replication but the four steps are NOT in the correct
order.

1
Two
identical
DNA strands
are formed

2
DNA

3
New nucleotides
move in to copy
the DNA strand

4
DNA unzips

Which of the following sequences is the correct order for DNA replication?
(A) 1, 2, 3, 4
(B)

2, 3, 4, 1

(C)

2, 4, 3, 1

(D) 4, 3, 2, 1

8.

The variability of offspring produced in sexual reproduction occurs in part as a result of which
process or proceses?
(A) Crossing over during gamete formation
(B)

Random combining of unique gametes during fertilisation

(C)

Both A and B

(D) Neither A nor B

Girraween High School HSC Biology 2012 Half-yearly exam

9.

The picture below shows both the marsupial mole from Australia and the placental mole from
Europe and Asia.
Placental mole

Marsupial

Although they are not closely related they show a remarkable similarity of features. What is
this an example of?
(A) convergent evolution
(B)

punctuated equilibrium

(C)

divergent evolution

(D) homologous structures


10.

An experiment was conducted to examine the effect of ultraviolet radiation on the


development of antibiotic resistance in a species of bacteria. The table summarises the
outcomes of this experiment.

Antibiotic P
No exposure to UV
Radiation
Exposure to UV
Radiation

Antibiotic Resistance
Antibiotic Q Antibiotic R Antibiotic S

Antibiotic T

Note: = anti-biotic resistance; = no resistance.


Which of the following statements best summarises the stages in the development of the new
strain of bacteria that was resistant to antibiotic S?
(A) Hybridisation Mutation Natural Selection
(B)

Replication Mutation Natural Selection

(C)

Mutation Natural Selection Replication

(D) Mutation Hybridisation Natural Selection

Girraween High School HSC Biology 2012 Half-yearly exam

11.

The fossil record is an incomplete record of life in the past. In what way is Archaeopteryx
an important transition fossil in the understanding of evolutionary change?
(A) It provides evidence for the ancestry of amphibians from fish.
(B) It provides evidence for the evolution of reptiles from birds.
(C) It provides evidence for the common ancestry of birds and reptiles.
(D) It provides evidence for the ancestry of the pentadactyl limb.

12.

Which of the following techniques would be appropriate to measure the extent of the
evolutionary relationship between two different organisms?
(A) Identifying fossils that are transitional between the two organisms.
(B) Sampling DNA and identifying similarities between the animals listed.
(C) Comparing the anatomical features of each animal.
(D) Comparing the embryos of each animal.

13.

An adaptation of the Eucalyptus tree for surviving the Australian climate is having a thick
waxy coating over the leaves. What is the main purpose of this adaptation?
(A) Temperature regulation
(B)

Salt regulation

(C)

Water regulation

(D) Acidity regulation


14.

In which part of the nephron does filtration occur?


(A) Proximal tubule
(B)

Distal tubule

(C)

Bowmans capsule

(D) Loop of Henle

Girraween High School HSC Biology 2012 Half-yearly exam

Y
15.

The diagram depicts a DNA molecule.

What components of DNA are represented by the symbols X and Y?

(A)

nitrogenous base

phosphate

(B)

phosphate

guanine

(C)

sugar

nitrogenous base

(D)

cytosine

sugar

Girraween High School HSC Biology 2012 Half-yearly exam

Student Name
Class
Mark /
Write your name at the top of this Part A Answer Sheet.
Select the alternative A, B, C or D that best answers the question and fill in the response circle
completely. Use ink for your answers.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

Girraween High School HSC Biology 2012 Half-yearly exam

Student Name
Class
Mark /
Write your name at the top of this Part B Written Response Answer Sheet.
Part B 60 marks
Attempt Questions 16 - 32
Allow about 1 hour and 40 minutes for this part
Answer the questions in the spaces provided

Question 16 (3 marks)
Explain why it is advantageous to have haemoglobin as the transport protein of oxygen.
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Question 17 (2 marks)
(a)

Identify a device that is currently used to measure the oxygen saturation of human blood
non-invasively. (1 mark)

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(b)

Outline a reason for having a device that can measure the oxygen saturation of human blood.
(1 mark)

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Question 18 (2 marks)
(a)

Identify one substance extracted from donated blood. (1 mark)

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(b)

Describe one use for the substance you gave in (a). (1 mark)

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Question 19 (4 marks)
Many organisms have adaptations and responses to changes in the temperature of the environment.
(a)

Describe the responses of a named Australian ectotherm to extreme heat and extreme cold.
(2 marks)

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(b)

Identify one adaptation for an identified Australian endotherm that enables it to survive
extreme heat. Explain how this adaptation assists the organism to survive heat. (2 marks)

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Question 20 (5 marks)
(a)

Describe an investigation that you have carried out to investigate the effect of dissolved
carbon dioxide on the pH of water. (3 marks)

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(b)

Explain why the removal of carbon dioxide from living cells is important. (2 marks)

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Question 21 (4 marks)
Describe a current theory that accounts for the movement of materials in the phloem tissue of
plants.
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Question 22 (5 marks)
The curly wolf (Lupus spirale) is famous for its long spiral tail. However, straight tailed wolves are
occasionally born.
The animal breeder at the Twirly Hill Zoo needs to know if a particular spiral tailed wolf, Fluffy, is
carrying the allele for a straight tail.
In the space below, identify and outline, using diagrams, the phenotype and genotype of the wolf
that the zoo would need to organise to mate with Fluffy to determine the genotype of Fluffy.

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Question 23 (5 marks)
Part of the gene for the formation of normal haemoglobin is:
ACT CCT GAG GAC ... (read left to right)
However, when there is a change in one base to this sequence a blood condition called Sickle Cell
Anaemia is formed. Part of the gene for the formation of haemoglobin in this case is:
ACT CCT GTG GAC (read left to right)
(a)

Using the Genetic Code below, determine the amino acid sequence for the different forms of
the gene section for haemoglobin. (1 mark)

The Genetic Code

Normal haemoglobin: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sickle Cell Anaemia haemoglobin: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(b)

In the space below, construct a flowchart to model the process through which the DNA of
cells control the manufacturer of cellular proteins and how changes in the DNA sequence
influence these proteins. (4 marks)

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Question 24 (2 marks)
Using examples distinguish between the terms allele and gene.
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Question 25 (4 marks)
Red-green colour blindness is a recessive sex-linked condition. A girl who has the condition
surveys her parents and grandparents. Only one of these six people is colour blind. Use a pedigree
diagram, showing the girl, her parents and grandparents, to help you explain how she inherited the
condition. Make sure you identify the relative who is colour blind and any carriers of the condition.

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Question 26 (5 marks)
Describe the aspects of the experimental techniques used by Mendel that made his findings
scientifically valid and reliable.
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Question 27 (3 marks)
The diagram below shows four homologous structures of the pentadactyl limb in four different
mammals from four different environments.

Assess the way these homologous structures support Darwins and Wallaces theory of evolution.
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Question 28 (4 marks)
(a)

Outline the historical development of theories of evolution. (2 marks)

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(b)

Assess the extent of the social and political influences on the development of theories of
evolution. (2 marks)

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Question 29 (4 marks)
The table below shows the relative concentrations of a number of substances in normal blood, blood
plasma from someone suffering renal failure and in dialysing fluid used in a kidney dialysis
machine.

Substance

(a)

Relative concentration in
normal blood
blood plasma in
plasma
renal failure

dialysing
fluid

glucose

100

100

125

urea

26

200

sodium ions

142

142

133

chloride ions

107

107

105

plasma proteins

80

80

Which of the substances will be able to diffuse through the dialysis membrane? (1 mark)

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(b)

In which direction will each of these substances diffuse? (1 mark)

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(c)

Explain why the dialysing fluid has no urea. (2 marks)

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Question 30 (5 marks)
Mammalian kidneys are very efficient at producing urine of varying concentrations depending
on requirements. The table below gives the relative lengths of nephron tubules and maximum
urine concentrations in the kidneys of a number of different mammals.

(a)

Mammal

Relative tubule length

Maximum urine concentration


(arbitrary units)

Rat

5.2

300

Pig

1.3

110

Human

2.6

140

Kangaroo rat

7.8

550

Animal X

9.8

940

Explain the relationship between urine concentration and the relative length of the nephron
tubule. (2 marks)

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(b)

Propose the natural habitat of Animal X. Give a reason for your choice. (1 mark)

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(c)

Outline the role of aldosterone in the kidneys. (2 marks)

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Question 31 (3 marks)
Black cockatoos from Western Australia show marked differences in their beak structure and food
preference to birds found in the eastern regions.
(a)

Name the theory that could account for these differences in the two populations. (1 mark)

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(b)

Outline the mechanism involved in this theory. (2 marks)

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Question 32 (3 marks)
A student performs a first-hand investigation of the structure of a mammalian kidney by dissecting
a sheeps kidney in the laboratory.
(a)

Identify a potential hazard in this first-hand investigation. (1 mark)

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(b)

Identify a method of minimising this hazard. (1 mark)

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(c)

Briefly explain why this method minimises the hazard. (1 mark)

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End of paper

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Answers and Marking Guidelines

Student Name
Class
Mark /
Write your name at the top of this Part A Answer Sheet.
Select the alternative A, B, C or D that best answers the question and fill in the response circle
completely. Use ink for your answers.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

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