YEAR 9 TERM 3 BIOLOGY WORK BOOK - 2017-2018

NAME………………………………………………………CLASS…………

TOPIC OUTLINE
WEEK TOPIC Tick when
done
1 Carbon cycle

2 Nitrogen cycle

3 Water cycle

4 Global warming and acid rain formation and effects

5 Pollution by plastics and nuclear fall out

6 Pollution – by extraction of natural resources, rubbish and

contraceptive hormones

7 Food crop production – farming methods

8 Food crop production – increasing crop yields

9 Population growth and factors affecting population growth

10 Human population growth and effects

11 Conservation

12 Consolidation and assessment

1
This booklet contains a mixture of questions from the topics listed on the front page
ECOLOGICAL CYCLES AND POLUTION
1) Figure below shows a diagram of the carbon cycle.

a) Copy and complete the cycle by filling in boxes A and B.

[2 marks]
b) On your diagram, label with the letter indicated an arrow that represents the process of:
i) Combustion – C
[1 mark]
ii) Decomposition – D
[1 mark]
iii) Photosynthesis – P
[1 mark]
iv) Respiration – R
[1 mark]

2
2) The figure below shows the nitrogen cycle.

i) Name the main nitrogen-containing compound found both in plants and in animals.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

[1 mark]

ii) Name one nitrogen-containing compound that is present in urine.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

[1 mark]

iii) Name the type of organism that causes the changes at A.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

[1 mark]

iv) What atmospheric conditions bring about the change at B?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………[1 mark]

3
2) Using the figure, explain why it is an advantage to have good drainage in most agricultural
land.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
(4 marks)
3) The diagram shows the carbon cycle. The letters A to F represent different processes in the
carbon cycle.

(a) Complete the table by naming the process represented by each letter. The first one has
been done for you. (5)

4
(b) (i) Some of the carbon in plants is found in the form of carbohydrates. Name two
carbohydrates found in plants. (2)

1........................................................................................................................................................
2........................................................................................................................................................
(ii) The molecule that genes are made from contains carbon. Name this molecule. (1)
..........................................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................... (c) Describe how
increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the air may cause global warming and explain the possible
consequences of global warming. (5)
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
4) Nitrogen is an essential element for plant growth. Most plants can only use nitrogen in the
form of nitrate ions. Only legumes that have bacteria living in their root nodules can use
nitrogen from the air.

(a) (i) Explain how nitrate ions help plants to grow.

(1)
..........................................................................................................................................................

5
..........................................................................................................................................................
(ii) Name the type of bacteria that live in the root nodules of legumes.

(1)

..........................................................................................................................................................

(b) Many animals excrete urine that contains urea. Some soil microorganisms use the enzyme
urease to change urea to ammonium ions and carbon dioxide.

Describe how ammonium ions can be converted to nitrate ions in the soil.

(2)

..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................

(c) The graph shows the effect of different temperatures on the rate of urease activity.

6
(i) Explain the change in rate of urease activity from 10°C to 36°C.
(2)
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
(ii) Explain the change in rate of urease activity from 36°C to 50°C.
(3)
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
(Total for Question 1 = 9 marks)
5) (a) Describe how the process of nitrification affects the availability of nitrates to plants.
(2)
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................

7
(b) Some farmers grow legume plants such as clover in their fields. They then plough them into
the soil before growing their cereal crops.
Suggest why they do this.
(4)
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
(c) Explain why only about 10% of the energy in the cereal crop is transferred to organisms that
eat the crop.
(2)
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
(Total for Question 2 = 8 marks)

8
7) Deforestation has an effect on the environment.
(a) (i) What is meant by the term deforestation?
(1)
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
(ii) Explain the effects that deforestation has on the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in
the atmosphere.
(3)
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
(b) The release of pollutant gases into the atmosphere also has effects on the environment.
Complete the table by giving the names of the missing gases, and the effects of the gases on
the environment.
(5)

9
8) The passage describes water pollution caused by untreated human sewage and by fertilizer.
Complete the passage by writing a suitable word or words in each of the spaces.
(7)
If sewage gets into fresh water it will increase the number of pathogenic

............................................................................ in the water. The sewage contains waste

organic material in the form of ............................................................................ from humans.
Microorganisms break down this material using a process called
aerobic............................................................................. This process reduces the level of

............................................................................ in the water making it less likely for larger

organisms to survive. Fertilizers can get into water by a process
called............................................................................. The minerals present in the fertilizer such
as ............................................................................ cause the rapid growth of

............................................................................ in the water.

(Total for Question 1 = 7 marks)

9) When organic material in sewage, manure, silage effluents and waste milk enters a lake or
river it causes pollution.
The organic material is broken down by microorganisms. This process removes oxygen from the
water.
The amount of oxygen removed from the water is called the Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD).
The table shows data for different pollutants.

10
(a) Explain which pollutant is likely to have the most severe effect on the organisms in a river.

(2)

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

(b) A quany of pollutant is released into a river. The effect on the organisms will depend on the
BOD value and other factors.

Suggest one of these other factors.

(1)

..........................................................................................................................................................

(c) Waste milk is one of the pollutants.

Name one of the biological molecules found in milk that the microorganisms could feed on.

(1)

.........................................................................................................................................................

(d) Suggest a reason for the difference between the BOD of raw domestic sewage and the BOD
of treated domestic sewage.

(2)

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

(Total for Question 2 = 6 marks)

11
10) (a) The table describes stages in the water cycle.

Complete the table by naming or describing each stage.

The first one has been done for you.

(b) Describe the biological consequences of pollution of water by sewage.

(4)
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
(Total for Question 3 = 7 marks)

12
 11) Loggers often cut down the tall trees in a forest.
Describe the effects on the forest ecosystem of cutting down trees.
........................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................... …………………….
[4]

FOOD CROP PRODUCTION

1. State 6 ways by which food crop production can be improved

1 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
.2.......................................................................................................................................................
3.....................................................................................................................................................
4.....................................................................................................................................................
5........................................................................................................................................................
6........................................................................................................................................................

Negative impacts of some methods of farming

1. Describe and explain the negative effects of the following farming methods

(i) Irrigation( relate to the nitrogen cycle)

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

13
 (ii) Monoculture( complete the passage below)

Monoculture is when a crop of a ………………………………………… species is grown on

the ……………………………………………land, year after …………………………………….

In a monoculture, every attempt is made to destroy organisms that

……………………….. on, compete with or infect the crop plant.

Monoculture ……………………………….the variety of living organisms in an area.So,

the balanced life of a natural plant and animal community is displaced from
farmland and left to survive only in small areas of woodland, health or hedgerow.

Thinking task

What is a hedgerow?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

(iii) State three effects of intensive livestock production

1……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

3……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

14
 THE PROBLEMS OF WORLD FOOD SUPPLIES:

1. Suggest two consequences of shortage of food in a country like Kenya

1……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2. Suggest one reason why a poor country might want to sell its food crops inspite of
the fact that there is lack of food in that country.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
3. Suggest the likely consequences to a poor country allowing cheap food to be
imported into that country
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
4. Suggest 6 reasons which can contribute to famine. Hint: refer to Wikipedia for
famine meaning

1……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

3……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

4……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

5……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

6……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

15
5. Describe four negative effects of intensive agriculture. Use the hints in the box to
give the points. You can give additional points as well

Monoculture humanpopulation growth waste disposal

Natural habitats

1……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
3……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

4………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

HUMAN POPULATION GROWTH

1. State 4 implications of a rapid population growth to a country

1……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
3……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
4…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

16
 Study the populations of India, Kenya and Italy below and answer the questions
that follow

QUESTIONS

(I) Describe the population of Kenya(3)

........................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................

17
(II) Compare the population of India and Kenya(3)
..............................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................

(III) Describe the differences between the population of Italy and that of Kenya(3)

........................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................
(iv) Suggest the likely challenges each country will have in future will have in the future.

Kenya................................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................

Italy...................................................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................................................

India……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

.……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

18
 POLLUTION
Marine pollution:

1. State 5 ways in which marine habitats can be polluted

1….....................................................................................................................................................
…..................................................................................................................................................
2…...................................................................................................................................................
….....................................................................................................................................................
3….....................................................................................................................................................

2. Read the passage below about marine pollution and answer the questions

Marine habitats around the world are becoming contaminated with human
debris.This includes untreated sewage, agricultural fertilisers and pesticides.Oil
spills still cause problems but is gradually reducing. Plastics are a huge problem:
many are non-biodegradable so they persist in the environment.Others form
micro-particles as they break down and these are mistaken by marine organisms
for food and are indigestible. They stay in the stomach, causing sickness, or
prevent the gills from working efficiently. Where fertilisers and sewage enter the
marine environment, ‘dead zones’ develop where there is insufficient oxygen to
sustain life. Any form of habitat destruction by humans, even where a single
species is wiped out, can have an impact on food chains and food webs because
other organisms will use that species as a food source, or their numbers will be
controlled through its predation.

(a) State the meaning of the term non – biodegradable

................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
(b) What is a pesticide?
........................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................

19
 (c) Suggest why fertilizers are added to farmers’ farms
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................

Extraction of natural resources questions( refer to notes on portal or internet)

1. Suggest two consequences of the following

(i) Mining fossil fuels
1………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

(ii) Mining of raw materials such as gold or silicon

1………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

(iii) Deforestation
1………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
(iv) Using insecticides

1………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

(v) Using herbicides

1………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

20
(vi) Nuclear fall out
1………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Read the passage below about sources of pollution of water

Many industrial processes produce poisonous waste products.

Electroplating produces waste containing copper and cyanide. If these chemicals

are released into rivers they poison the animals and plants and could poison humans
who drink the water.Any factory getting rid of its effluent into water systems risks
damaging the environment. Some detergents contain a lot of phosphate. This is not
removed by sewage treatment and is discharged into rivers. The large amount of
phosphate encourages growth of microscopic plants (algae)

The domestic waste from a town of several thousand people can cause disease and
pollution in the absence of effective means of disposal. Much ends up in landfill sites,
taking up valuable space, polluting the ground and attracting vermin and insects,
which can spread disease. Air pollution can be caused by burning waste. Plastics
that are non-biodegradable are not broken down by decomposers when dumped in
landfill sites or left as litter.This means that they remain in the environment, taking
up valuable space or causing visual pollution.

Discarded plastic bottles can trap small animals; nylon fishing lines and nets can trap
birds and mammals such as seals and dolphins. As the plastic in water gradually
deteriorate, they fragment into tiny pieces, which are eaten by fish and birds, making
them ill. When plastic is burned, it can release toxic gases.

When women use the contraceptive pill, the hormones in it (oestrogen or

progesterone) are excreted in urine and become present in sewage. The process of
sewage treatment does not extract the hormones, so they end up in water systems
such as rivers, lakes and the sea.Their presence in this water affects aquatic
organisms as they enter food chain. Male frogs and fish can become ‘feminised’.This
causes an imbalance between numbers of male and female animals. Drinking water,
extracted from rivers where water from treated sewage has been recycled, can also

21
 contain the hormones. This has been shown to reduce the sperm count in men,
causing a reduction in fertility.

1. State 4 sources of pollution of water mentioned in the passage.

1………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
3………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
4………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2. Explain how low sperm count can reduce fertility( refer to meaning of fertility on
Wikipedia) – paragraph 4
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
3. Suggest how you can tell that a fish or frog has been feminized- paragraph 4
.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

4. State the names of 2 hormones mentioned in this passage

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................
5. State two dangers of the following in the environment
(i) a lot of plastics in the environment

1.................................................................................................................................

2...................................................................................................................................

22
(ii) Domestic waste
1.................................................................................................................................

2...................................................................................................................................

CONSERVATION
Describe why it is important for humans to conserve species and their habitats.

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

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

9 (a) (i) Define the term population.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

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

(ii) State three factors that can affect the size of a population.

1 ........................................................................................................................................

2 ........................................................................................................................................

3 ........................................................................................................................................

[3]

23
 (b) Fig. 9.1 shows the growth curve of a colony of bacteria living in an environment with
limited

(i) Name the parts of the graph on Fig. 9.1 that are labelled Q and R.

Q .......................................................................................................................................

R ........................................................................................................................................

[2]

(ii) Describe and explain what is happening in the section of the graph labelled S on Fig. 9.1.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

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

24
 Fig. 9.2 shows the world population for humans.

(iii) State three ways in which this graph is different to the graph of the bacterial population in Fig.9.1.

1 ........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

2 ........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

3 ........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................
[3]
[Total: 13]

25
7 Fig. 7.1 shows part of a food web in a lake.

(a) (i) Name one organism in this food web which can trap light energy to produce sugars.
.......................................................................................................................................[1]
(ii) Complete this food chain from this food web. Write the name of one organism in each
box.

(b) There are farmers’ fields around the lake.

Some of the farmers use insecticides on their crops.
Suggest why the farmers use insecticides.

...................................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................[1]

26
(c) Some of the insecticide washed into the lake.
(i) Trout were caught and when analysed, were shown to contain insecticides.
Use Fig. 7.1 to explain why insecticide was found in the trout.
..........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................

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

(ii) A high level of insecticide in birds has been linked to them laying eggs with very thin
shells, which break easily.
The population of kingfishers in the food web decreased. When analysed, the kingfishers
were shown to contain very high levels of insecticide.
Use Fig. 7.1 to explain the effect of high levels of insecticide in kingfishers on the population of
trout.
...........................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................[1]

(d) Fertilisers were also washed into the lake.

A few weeks later large numbers of dead fish were found floating in the lake.
Explain how this addition of fertilisers caused the fish in the lake to die.
...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................[4]
[Total: 11]

27
Sulfur dioxide dissolves in rain water to form acid rain.
Describe two measures that can be taken to reduce the effects of acid rain.

1 ................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

2 ................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................
[2]
Carp are a type of fish. Researchers in Brazil measured the body lengths of a population of carp
in a river in 1998 and again in 2008.
Histograms of their results are shown in Fig. 2.1.

28
 (b ) The total population of carp in 1998 was 43 000 fish.
(i) Calculate the total population of carp in 2008.
Show your working.

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

(ii) The decrease in the carp population by 2008 was caused by overfishing.
Explain how fish stocks can be sustained.

......................................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................[4]

29
10. Describe how the following can be conserved
(a) Endangered animal species e,g. the giant panda
......................................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................[4]

(b) Rare species of trees

......................................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................[4]

30