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1.1 Characteristics, Classification & Features of
Organisms
Question Paper
Course
CIE IGCSE Biology
Section
1. Characteristics & Classification of Living Organisms
Topic
1.1 Characteristics, Classification & Features of Organisms
Difficulty
Medium
Time allowed:
70
Score:
/57
Percentage:
/100
Page 1 of 16
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Question 1a
(a)
Table 1 shows the names of three groups of arthropods and some of their characteristics.
Place ticks (✓) in the boxes to show the characteristics present in each group.
Table 1
characteristic
four pairs of legs
one pair of antennae
body divided into two main parts
arachnids
arthropod group
crustaceans
myriapods
[3]
[3 marks]
Question 1b
(b)
All living organisms show the same seven characteristics.
State four of the characteristics of living organisms.
[4]
[4 marks]
Page 2 of 16
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Page 3 of 16
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Question 1c
(c)
Fig. 1 shows the apparatus used by some students during an investigation.
The apparatus is drawn as seen from above.
Fig. 1
Some arthropods were placed in the container.
A drop of red dye was inserted into the capillary tube.
The drop of red dye in the capillary tube gradually moved towards the arthropods.
(i)
Explain why the drop of red dye moved towards the arthropods.
[3]
The investigation shown in Fig. 1 was repeated at different temperatures.
Fig. 2 shows the results.
Page 4 of 16
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Fig. 2
(ii)
State the trend shown in Fig. 2.
[1]
(iii)
Calculate the percentage increase in the rate of dye movement between 10°C and 20°C.
Show your working.
[2]
[6 marks]
Page 5 of 16
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Question 1d
(d)
.
(i)
State the group of arthropods the student used in Fig. 1.
[1]
(ii)
Describe the features visible in Fig. 1 that identify this group.
[3]
[4 marks]
Page 6 of 16
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Question 2a
(a)
The animal in Fig. 1 is a chimpanzee.
Fig. 1
(i)
The chimpanzee is a vertebrate.
State the main group of vertebrates to which the chimpanzee belongs.
[1]
(ii)
State two features, visible in Fig. 1, which suggest that it belongs to this group of vertebrates.
[2]
[3 marks]
Page 7 of 16
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Question 2b
(b)
The chimpanzee lives in forests in central and western Africa. The chimpanzee is classified as an endangered species
because its population has decreased greatly.
(i)
Suggest why the chimpanzee population has decreased.
[2]
(ii)
Describe how a captive breeding programme can help to conserve chimpanzees in the wild.
[2]
(iii)
State two methods, other than captive breeding, of conserving endangered species.
[2]
[6 marks]
Question 2c
(c)
The binomial system of naming species gives chimpanzees the name Pan troglodytes.
Describe what is meant by the binomial system of naming species.
[2]
Page 8 of 16
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[2 marks]
Question 2d
(d)
Chimpanzees are classified taxonomically as a single species, Pan troglodytes.
Define what is meant by the term species.
[1]
[1 mark]
Question 3a
(a)
A scientist discovered a new organism and observed some cells from the organism. Table 1 below shows some of the
features observed during examination.
Table 1
feature
cell type
cell wall
food source
nucleus
other organelles
observations
multicellular
chitin
saprophytic or parasitic
present
mitochondria, ribosomes
Suggest which Kingdom the organism belongs to using the observations recorded by the scientist.
[1]
[1 mark]
Question 3b
Extended only
(b)
The scientist used DNA sequencing to further study the cells.
Explain why the scientist used DNA sequencing.
[2]
Page 9 of 16
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[2 marks]
Question 3c
Extended only
(c)
Table 2 shows the DNA base sequence of four species of cat.
Table 2
African leopard
A-T-T-C-C-G-G-G-A-T-C-G-G-T-T-A-T-C-A
African lion
A-G-T-G-T-A-G-A-A-A-C-T-T-T-A-C-T-A-C
Cheetah
A-T-T-A-C-G-G-G-A-G-C-C-G-T-T-A-T-G-A
African wildcat
G-T-A-C-G-A-T-G-T-A-G-C-A-T-A-G-T-G-G
Explain which two species are most closely related.
[2]
[2 marks]
Question 3d
Extended
(d)
Cats are animals that share some similarities and differences with prokaryotes.
Compare the main features of animals and prokaryotes.
[4]
[4 marks]
Page 10 of 16
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Question 4a
Extended only
(a)
Flowering plants can be divided into two groups.
(i)
State the two groups of flowering plants.
[1]
(ii)
Explain how to distinguish between the two groups.
[3]
[4 marks]
Page 11 of 16
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Question 4b
Extended only
(b)
A student found the plant shown in Fig. 1 growing in the school grounds.
Fig. 1
Explain what type of plant this would be classified as.
[2]
[2 marks]
Page 12 of 16
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Question 4c
Extended only
(c)
The student investigated how the number of leaves on the plant varied. The student visited three different sites within the
school grounds and counted the leaves found on one plant within each site.
Table 1 shows the results of his experiment.
Table 1
school site
A
B
C
number of leaves
54
23
47
Use the grid below to draw a graph of these results.
[4]
[4 marks]
Page 13 of 16
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Question 4d
Extended only
(d)
Determine how the student could improve the reliability of their data.
[1]
[1 mark]
Page 14 of 16
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Question 5a
(a)
The organisms shown in Fig. 1 are a group of invertebrates called arachnids.
Fig. 1
Describe the common features of arachnids visible in Fig. 1.
[1]
[1 mark]
Question 5b
(b)
Use the key shown below to identify the arachnids shown in Fig. 1.
1
2
3
4
a
b
a
b
a
b
a
b
Has a tail structure
Does not have a tail structure
Has large pair of front pincers
Does not have large front pincers
Legs are at least three times as long as body
Legs are similar or smaller length than body
Legs have visible spines/hairs
Legs do not have visible spines/hair
Scorpiones
go to 2
Pseudoscorpiones
go to 3
Pholcidae
go to 4
Lycosidae
Ixodida
[5]
[5 marks]
Page 15 of 16
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Question 5c
Extended only
(c)
Dichotomous keys can be used to help classify organisms.
Explain the purpose of classification systems.
[2]
[2 marks]
Page 16 of 16
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