2009

Year 11 Yearly Examination

Preliminary Course

Biology
General Instructions
Reading time 5 minutes
Working time 1.5 hours
Write using blue or black pen
Draw diagrams using pencil
Approved calculators may be used
Write your name on each answer sheet

TIC: Mr Spies

Total marks
Section A

50
10 MC questions worth 1 mark each

Section B

Short answer questions worth 40 marks

Section A answer using answer sheet on back of paper

You may remove the answer sheet from the back
1.

There is evidence that the chemicals needed to start and sustain life on this planet came from
space. A major part of this evidence has come from:
(A) Analysis of Martian soil
(B) The examination of meteorites and comets
(C) The discovery of free moving bacterial spores drifting through space
(D) Evidence from Gondwana

2.

Darwin proposed his theory of natural selection to account for the evolution of species on Earth.
Which of the following statements does not represent a key point in this theory?
(A) There is variation within every species.
(B) Organisms in a population that have favourable characteristics have a greater chance of
survival and reproduction compared to those individuals without those characteristics.
(C) Individuals that develop favourable variations of a particular characteristic are more likely
to survive and reproduce compared to other individuals.
(D) Favourable characteristics gradually become more common in a population.

3.

The correct order for the major stages in the development of cells is:
(A) cells --- jellyfish --- worms --- fish --- mammals
(B) organic molecules --- membranes --- multicellular organisms --- colonial organisms
(C) procaryotic cells --- eucaryotic cells --- colonial organisms --- colonial organisms
(D) Haldane --- Oparin --- Urey --- Miller --- molecules --- life

4.

Which of the following roles is NOT played by decomposers in an ecosystem?

(A) Matter recycling.
(B) Energy recycling.
(C) Nitrogen fixing.
(D) Decomposition.

5.

During the process of osmosis in cells:

(A) Energy is expended
(B) Substances such as salts move from an area of high concentration to an area of low
concentration
(C) Water moves across the selectively permeable membrane from the more dilute solution to
the more concentrated one
(D) Carrier proteins are involved in the transport of substances across the cell membrane

6. The map shows the distribution of the Honey possum.

From this distribution map, you could conclude that (A) The Honey possum is very abundant in the southwest of Western Australia.
(B) The Honey possum is evenly distributed throughout its range.
(C) Changes in vegetation patterns have isolated the Honey possum population.
(D) There is insufficient information to make any of the conclusions A, B or C.

7.

Closed circulatory systems

(A) are found in large, active animals such as mammals and birds
(B) allow blood to leave the blood vessels and bathe the body cells directly
(C) transport digested nutrients and waste materials, but not respiratory gases
(D) All of the above are correct

8.

Why is external fertilisation a disadvantage for terrestrial organisms?

(A) Ova cannot swim to sperm
(B) Desiccation of gametes
(C) Fewer eggs can be released
(D) Pheromones are ineffective in air

9.

Which of the following represent evidence that Australia was once part of the supercontinent of
Gondwana?
(A) geological evidence of more frequent volcanic activity in Australia in the past
(B) similarities between present-day plants and animals on continents currently isolated
from one another by the oceans
(C) fossilised evidence of extinct Australian megafauna
(D) Changes in the Australian climate from colder to more temperate over the last 65 million
years.

10.

How many chromosomes will the body cells of an animal producing gametes with 16
chromosomes usually contain?
(A) 8 chromosomes
(B) 16 chromosomes
(C) 32 chromosomes
(D) 64 chromosomes

PART B -Answer the questions in the spaces provided

Question 11.
For TWO of the following Allelopathy; Parasitism; Mutualism; Commensalism-,
define the relationship and describe one example.

(4 marks)

Relationship: ....................................................................
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Relationship: ....................................................................
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Question 12.
Read through the description of feeding relationships in an Antarctic ecosystem.
During the Antarctic summer, microscopic photosynthetic phytoplankton which includes
algae, diatoms and dinoflagellates thrive in the Antarctic ocean.
Krill, a shrimp like organism, feast on the phytoplankton.
The krill are food for many - Adelie penguins fill their stomachs so that they regain weight
after the long winter and to feed their young at the penguin colony; Crab-eater seals sieve
krill from the water through their specialized teeth; Humpback whales circle and
concentrate the krill and then rise vertically from the deep with mouths wide open; both
squid and fish feed on the krill.
The fish are eaten by Ross and Weddell seals, Emperor penguins and the large bird the
Albatross.
The squid sustain a healthy Fur seal population and they are the main food for Sperm
whales.
The little Adelie penguins approach the shoreline with caution as Leopard seals wait to
snatch them. The leopard seals will also feed on Emperor penguins, Weddell, Ross and
Crab-eater seals.
Pods of
Killer whales cruise the feeding grounds and will catch prey as varied as Adelie penguins,
Crab-eater seals, Weddell seals and Ross seals and Leopard seals.
In the space provided, construct a food web to represent this Antarctic ecosystem.

(5 marks)

Question 13
Cyanobacteria form the living fabric of Stromatolites. The discovery of ancient fossil Stromatolites was
important in the understanding of the evolution of life on Earth.
Explain the importance of Stromatolites in terms of the change in the composition of the atmosphere
that accompanied the evolution of life.
(3 marks)
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Question 14.
Both animals and plants possess adaptations or characteristics that help the organism survive as it is
well suited to its environment.
Adaptations are either structural, physiological or behavioural.
For one named Australian plant or animal, describe two of its adaptations and for each explain how it
assists the species.
(4 marks)
Animal or plant name: ....................................................................................
One: ............................................................................................................................................................
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Two: ............................................................................................................................................................
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Question 15
The rate of photosynthesis in a particular plant species was measured by the uptake of carbon dioxide
at different temperatures. The following results were obtained:

Temperature (Degree Celsius)

15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55

Relative rate of Carbon dioxide uptake

15
20
25
30
35
35
25
10
0

(a) On the graph paper provided, plot the relationship between carbon dioxide uptake and temperature
( 3 marks)

(b)

Within what range of temperature was carbon dioxide uptake greatest in this experiment?
(1 mark)

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Question 16
Examine the diagrams of the organisms depicted below.

In the space below, draw a branching dichotomous key to separate these organisms into the four broad
groups to which they belong. Ensure that your key would be capable of placing an unknown dead
specimen into the correct group.
(6 marks)

Question 17.
Life may have evolved on Earth in different environments, such as a shallow pond, on clay minerals, or
around deep sea thermal vents. Choose what you believe to be the most likely environment and justify
your choice.
(3 marks)
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Question 18.
Australias native flora has developed many seed dispersal mechanisms. Describe two of these
mechanisms naming the plant and the agents used, if any,
(2 marks)

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a)

Distinguish between sexual and asexual reproduction. Include the differences between process
and outcome.
(3 marks)

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b)

Describe two kinds of asexual reproduction, providing at least one example in each case.
(3 marks)

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3)
The fossil evidence about changes in distribution and abundance of Australias species shows us that
there are two main factors that contribute to the changes.
a) What are these factors. (2 marks)
b) Describe the impact of one factor. (2marks)

Multiple choice
11.

The Endosymbiotic theory states that:

(A) Prokaryotic cells have mitochondria and chloroplasts and eucaryotic cells dont
(B) Eucaryotic cells dont have membrane bound organelles
(C) Procaryotic cells developed by cells engulfing other cells which then became organelles
(D) Eucaryotic cells developed by cells engulfing other cells which then became organelles

7 How many chromosomes will the body cells of an animal producing gametes with 16 chromosomes
usually contain?
a) 8 chromosomes
b) 16 chromosomes
c) 32 chromosomes
d) 64 chromosomes.