Grade 9 Biology
Baseline Test
AY 2022-2023
__/50
Student Name
Raw Score
Class
Cambridge
Grade
Teacher
MOET Score
Grade 9 Biology
Structured Answer Questions
Time 40 minutes
READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST
Write your name, class, and teacher’s name in the spaces provided at the top of this page.
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Answer all questions.
Use a black or dark blue pen. You may use an HB pencil for any diagrams or graphs.
Write your answer to each question in the space provided.
Any rough work should be done on this question paper.
Do not use an erasable pen or correction fluid.
You may use a calculator.
You may detach the periodic table of elements on the last page.
The total number of marks for this paper is 35.
This paper consists of 8 printed pages.
Good luck!
Baseline Test Grade 9 – Biology
Page 1 of 8
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1. Which characteristic do all living organisms show?
A breathing
B excretion
C photosynthesis
D tropism
2. The diagram shows some animal cells, as seen under the microscope.
What will be present at X?
A one cell membrane
B one cell wall
C two cell membranes
D two cell walls
3. The diagram shows an animal.
What is the animal?
1
animal with a vertebral column ....................................... vertebrate
animal with an exoskeleton ............................................ go to 2
2
no distinct head, thorax and abdomen ........................... A
distinct head, thorax and abdomen ................................ go to 3
3
eye occupies less than one third of the head ................. B
eye occupies more than one third of the head ................ go to 4
4
wings are wider than they are long ................................. C
wings are longer than they are wide ............................... D
4. Which characteristics are correct for both osmosis and diffusion?
Baseline Test Grade 9 – Biology
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5. The diagram shows a cross-section through a leaf.
Which tissue is the cell labelled X part of?
A epidermis
B palisade mesophyll
C phloem
D spongy mesophyll
6. A typical menstrual cycle consists of 28 days, with day 1 being the start of menstruation.
On which day is the lining of the uterus thickest?
A 1
B 4
C 9
D 21
7. The diagram shows a food chain in a rock pool.
seaweed → whelks → crabs → seagulls
What will happen if the number of secondary consumers increases?
There will be
A fewer crabs.
B fewer seagulls.
C fewer whelks.
D less seaweed.
Baseline Test Grade 9 – Biology
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8. Which organisms carry out respiration, growth, movement, and excretion?
A all animals and all plants
B animals only
C arthropods and flowering plants only
D plants only
9. What kind of skin do amphibians have?
A dry without scales
B dry with scales
C moist without scales
D moist with scales
10. The diagram shows a plant cell.
In which labeled part of the cell is sugar made?
11. Why do some root cells have root hairs?
A for the maintenance of the temperature of the cell sap
B to increase the surface area of the cells
C to increase the volume of the cell sap
D to provide a place for cell nuclei
12. Which words correctly complete the paragraph?
Diffusion may be defined as the net movement of particles from a region of their …1…
concentration, to a region of their …2… concentration, where movement is …3… a
concentration gradient.
Baseline Test Grade 9 – Biology
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13. Which part of a plant root hair is partially permeable?
A the cell sap
B the cell surface membrane
C the cell vacuole
D the cell wall
14. The equation for photosynthesis is shown.
......1...... + ......2...... → glucose + ......3......
Which words correctly complete gaps 1, 2 and 3?
15. What is the best source of vitamin C in a balanced diet?
A fish
B fruit
C meat
D rice
16. Which name is given to a group of individuals that can reproduce to produce fertile offspring?
A a genus
B a kingdom
C a species
D an organ system
17. Which type of food is not digested before being absorbed by the body?
A carbohydrate
Baseline Test Grade 9 – Biology
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B fat
C protein
D water
18. Which substance, needed for protein synthesis, is carried into a leaf from the stem?
A carbon dioxide
B nitrate
C oxygen
D starch
19. Which dietary component is unlikely to be deficient in a meat-free diet?
A fat
B fiber
C protein
D vitamin D
20. The diagram shows a simple food chain.
green plant → herbivore → carnivore
If a disease causes the number of herbivores to decrease, what will be the effect on the numbers
of green plants and carnivores?
[20]
21. (a) Copy and complete the table below:
Nutrient
Examples of foods that
Contain a lot of this nutrient
Protein
Carbohydrate
Fat
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[5]
Why the body needs this nutrient
[5]
(b) Complete the sentences about seeds.
Use words from the list.
Each word may be used once, more than once, or not at all.
asexual
carbon dioxide
gravity
hormones
light
mineral ions
oxygen
sexual
vitamins
water
Plants produce seeds as a result of .............................................. reproduction. Seeds
germinate if they have the correct conditions. These conditions include a suitable temperature
and also .............................................. and .............................................. .
The germinating seed produces a young root which grows downwards in response to
...............................................
The young root absorbs .............................................. and .............................................. from
the soil as well as keeping the young plant in a stable position.
[6]
(c) All living organisms show the same seven characteristics.
State four of the characteristics of living organisms.
1 ................................................................................................................................................
2 ................................................................................................................................................
3 ................................................................................................................................................
4 ................................................................................................................................................
[4]
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Baseline Test Grade 9 – Biology
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