1.
The diagram below shows a simplified food web.
What is the role of the snake in this food web?
A.
Primary consumer
B.
Secondary consumer
C.
Tertiary consumer
D.
Producer
(Total 1 mark)
2.
Which of the following is the best definition of a population?
A.
A group of individuals that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring
B.
The number of individuals of the same species in a given area
C.
A group of species living and interacting with each other in a given area
D.
The total number of individuals in a given area
(Total 1 mark)
IB Questionbank Biology
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3.
The graph below represents a sigmoid (S-shaped) population growth curve. Three sections of the
curve are indicated (1, 2 and 3).
In which of the sections is natality plus immigration greater than mortality plus emigration?
A.
1 only
B.
2 only
C.
1 and 2 only
D.
3 only
(Total 1 mark)
4.
Two different trees have been classified as Pinus pinea and Pinus nigra. Which of the following
statements is correct?
A.
Both trees belong to the same class but a different genus.
B.
Both trees belong to the same family and same genus.
C.
The species name of both trees is Pinus.
D.
The family names are pinea and nigra.
(Total 1 mark)
IB Questionbank Biology
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5.
A collection of four animal specimens is observed and a dichotomous key is applied. Which
specimen is an arthropod?
1.
Non-segmented body ......................................... go to 2
Segmented body ................................................. go to 3
2.
Body is not symmetrical ..................................... specimen A
Body is symmetrical ........................................... specimen B
3.
Jointed appendages present ................................ specimen C
Jointed appendages absent ................................. specimen D
A.
Specimen A
B.
Specimen B
C.
Specimen C
D.
Specimen D
(Total 1 mark)
6.
Which of the following ecological units includes abiotic factors?
A.
A community
B.
An ecosystem
C.
A population
D.
A trophic level
(Total 1 mark)
IB Questionbank Biology
3
7.
If humans become infected with the Ebola virus it can have devastating effects. Strong, but not
certain, evidence suggests that trading in animal products is the main reason for the spread of the
Ebola virus to humans. Which statement about the precautionary principle is correct?
A.
In the absence of certainty about cause and effect, people should not be asked to stop
trading in animal products.
B.
The burden of proof regarding a cause and effect relationship lies with scientists.
C.
Because it is a probable cause, trading in animal products should be banned because of the
potentially devastating consequences.
D.
The precautionary principle is not relevant in this case.
(Total 1 mark)
8.
What is a community?
A.
A group of organisms living and interacting in the same trophic level
B.
A group of populations living and interacting in a food chain
C.
A group of organisms of the same species living and interacting in an ecosystem
D.
A group of populations living and interacting in an area
(Total 1 mark)
9.
What are the units of a pyramid of energy?
A.
kJ m–2 yr–1
B.
kJ m–1 yr–1
C.
J m–3 s–1
D.
J m2 s–1
(Total 1 mark)
IB Questionbank Biology
4
10.
What can limit increases in population size?
I.
Decrease in prey
II.
Decrease in parasites
III.
Increase in predators
A.
I and II only
B.
I and III only
C.
II and III only
D.
I, II and III
(Total 1 mark)
11.
Which gas will enhance the greenhouse effect if released into the atmosphere?
A.
Hydrogen
B.
Oxide of nitrogen
C.
Oxygen
D.
Nitrogen
(Total 1 mark)
IB Questionbank Biology
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12.
Which phylum does the plant below belong to?
A.
Angiospermophyta
B.
Bryophyta
C.
Coniferophyta
D.
Filicinophyta
(Total 1 mark)
IB Questionbank Biology
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13.
The following diagram shows part of a food web from Yellowstone Park.
What would be the short-term effects on the populations of the other species if the gray wolf were
exterminated?
Beaver
Moose
Elk
Aspen
A.
Increase
Decrease
Increase
Increase
B.
Decrease
Decrease
Decrease
Decrease
C.
Increase
Increase
Decrease
Increase
D.
Decrease
Increase
Increase
Decrease
(Total 1 mark)
14.
Slime moulds (Acrasiomycota) are protoctists. They feed on decaying organic matter, bacteria
and protozoa.
Which of the terms describes their nutrition?
I.
Detritivore
II.
Autotroph
III.
Heterotroph
A.
I only
B.
I and II only
C.
I and III only
D.
I, II and III
(Total 1 mark)
IB Questionbank Biology
7
15.
To which group do sponges belong?
A.
Cnidaria
B.
Filicinophyta
C.
Porifera
D.
Mollusca
(Total 1 mark)
16.
The graph below shows variation in the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere as measured at
Mauna Loa in Hawai’i. The small inset graph shows the variations in CO2 during a one year
period.
[Source: adapted from Dr P Tans, NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory]
Why does the amount of CO2 fall between April and August?
A.
Seasonal increase in the rate of photosynthesis in the northern hemisphere forests
B.
Seasonal decrease in the rate of photosynthesis in the northern hemisphere forests
C.
Seasonal decrease in the rate of fossil fuel consumption
D.
Seasonal increase in the amount of CO2 dissolved in the oceans
(Total 1 mark)
17.
The diagram below shows some of the links in the carbon cycle.
IB Questionbank Biology
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What processes are taking place at I, II and III?
I
II
III
A.
photosynthesis
fossilization
combustion
B.
cell respiration
fossilization
greenhouse effect
C.
photosynthesis
decomposition
combustion
D.
cell respiration
decomposition
greenhouse effect
(Total 1 mark)
18.
Which of the following represent homologous features?
A.
Wings in birds and insects
B.
The appendix in humans and horses
C.
Fins in fish and wings in birds
D.
The striped coat of the zebra and the tiger
(Total 1 mark)
IB Questionbank Biology
9
19.
What is a potential consequence of the rise in global temperatures on the Arctic ecosystem?
A.
Increased exposure to UV light
B.
Increased rate of decomposition of detritus
C.
Decreased success of pest species
D.
Increase in the ice habitat available to polar bears
(Total 1 mark)
20.
Which of the following are used as evidence for evolution?
I.
Homologous structures
II.
Selective breeding of domesticated animals
III.
Overproduction of offspring
A.
I and II only
B.
I and III only
C.
II and III only
D.
I, II and III
(Total 1 mark)
IB Questionbank Biology
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21.
(a)
Define the terms species, population and community.
Species:
............................................................................................................
............................................................................................................
............................................................................................................
............................................................................................................
Population:
............................................................................................................
............................................................................................................
............................................................................................................
............................................................................................................
Community:
............................................................................................................
............................................................................................................
............................................................................................................
............................................................................................................
(3)
(b)
Explain the shape of the pyramids of energy that are constructed by ecologists to represent
energy flow in an ecosystem.
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
(3)
(Total 6 marks)
IB Questionbank Biology
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22.
Limpets are small animals that feed on the green algae which grow on rocks on seashores.
Oystercatchers (Haematopus bachmani) are birds that feed on limpets.
In a study on the north-west coast of the USA, where three limpet species are common (Lottia
digitalis, Lottia pelta and Lottia strigatella), the limpets were protected from the oystercatchers
by large wire cages. After two years the number of limpets in this area was compared with the
number of limpets in an area without cages, where oystercatchers were present.
[Source: Wooton, J T. 1992. “Indirect effects, prey susceptibility, and habitat selection: impacts of birds on limpets and
algae”. Ecology. Vol 73. Pp 981–991. Copyright by the Ecological Society of America.]
(a)
State the effect that the exclusion of the oystercatchers had on the total number of limpets
per m2.
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
(1)
IB Questionbank Biology
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(b)
Construct a food web to show the feeding relationship between the three species of limpets,
the oystercatchers and the green algae.
(2)
(c)
Suggest reasons for the difference in numbers of L. strigatella between the areas where
oystercatchers were present and where oystercatchers were excluded.
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
(3)
IB Questionbank Biology
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There is evidence to show that both air and water temperatures have increased over a period of
time. An investigation was undertaken to determine the effect this change in climate had on the
populations of another species of limpet, Patella depressa, around south-west England.
The population of the limpet was recorded in many locations and around 30 years later, this study
was repeated. The chart below compares the population in each of the locations.
[Source: Burrows, M T et al. 2009. “Predicting the effects of marine climate change on the invertebrate prey of the birds
of rocky shores: Predicting effects of climate change on invertebrates”. IBIS (Special Edition). Vol 145. Pp 40–47.]
(d)
On the map above label one location,
(i)
with the letter X, where the limpet population was abundant in the 1950s and
occasional in the 1980s (1980–1984).
(1)
(ii)
with the letter Y, where the limpet population was abundant in both the 1950s and in
the 1980s (1980–1984).
(1)
(e)
Outline, using the data, the overall trend in the limpet population from the 1950s to the
1980s (1980–1984).
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
(2)
IB Questionbank Biology
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(f)
Suggest two reasons for the change in limpet population between the 1950s and the 1980s
(1980–1984).
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 12 marks)
23.
Up to two additional marks are available for the construction of your answers.
(2)
(a)
Describe what is meant by a food chain using an example with four named organisms.
(4)
(b)
Outline how global warming may affect arctic ecosystems.
(5)
(c)
Explain how natural selection can lead to evolution using antibiotic resistance in bacteria as
an example.
(9)
(Total 20 marks)
IB Questionbank Biology
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