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'NSW INDEPENDENT TRIAL EXAMS - 2012
BIOLOGYYr 11 PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION
MARKING GUIDELINES
CANS:J&ZS)
Section IT
Question 21(a)
Criteria
Marks
3
Outlines some of the paleontological and geological evidence to give an estimate of
when life first appeared on Earth
Suggested answer: Around 3.5 billion years ago - any THREE pieces of evidence, e.g. fossilised
stromatolites, microfossils in chert deposits in South Africa, etc
•
Question 21(b)
Criteria
Marks
2
• Discusses how the discovery of this scientific evidence may cause conflict with ideas
about the origin of life accepted by different cultures
Suggested answer: Give example of alternative views from a named culture (1 mark) and how that view
contradicts the accepted scientific view (1 mark)
Question 22(a)
Criteria
Marks
2
Identifies the relationship between variation within the Tasmanian devil species and
the chances of its survival from this disease
..
Suggested answer: The low level of genetic diversity has weakened the species' ability to fight infection to
survive to reproduce.
•
Question 22(b)
,.
Marks
Criteria
2
• Outlines a strategy that could be used to increase the numbers of remaining healthy
devils
Suggested answer: A captive breeding programme of healthy individuals; then release of healthy
individuals/fertile offspring back into a quarantined region separate to diseased animals.
Question 22( c)
Marks
Criteria
3
Describes
a
method
that
could
be
used
to
estimate
the
population
of
devils
remaining
•
on the island
Suggested answer: Capture-recapture method (1 mark). A sample of animals are caught and tagged, their
number noted, and then released back into their habitat. Later, another sample is captured and the proportion
of tagged animals in this sample should be representative of the proportion of tagged animals in the whole
population, and then the total population size can be estimated using (2 marks for explanation):
Total = original number tagged x total recaptured +- number tagged on recapture
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Question 23(a)
Criteria
• Identifies the general word equation for photosynthesis
Suggested answer: carbon dioxide + water + light (chlorophyll) ~ oxygen
Marks
2
+ glucose
uestion 23 b)
Criteria
Marks
• FOUR correct labels on the transverse section of the leaf
4
e.g. cuticle, upper epidermis, palisade cells, spongy mesophyll cells, vascular bundle, stoma, air space,
lower epidermis
NSW Independent
Trial Exams 2012 - Biology Yr 11 Preliminary Examination: Marking Criteria - Page 1
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Question 23(c)
Criteria
Marks
6
• Constructs a table to explain the relationship between the distribution oftissues in the
leaf and their role
Suggested answer: Correctly drawn table:
• Columns and rows - 1 mark
• Correct headings at top of columns - 1 mark -".
• Correctly inserted data linking tissue to its role, e.g., palisade layer with chloroplasts in upper surface of
leaf to maximise exposure to light for photosynthesis - 4 marks
• Waxy cuticle to reduce water loss, stoma and air space to allow gas exchange.
Question 24(a
Criteria
Marks
• Names a group of organisms either archaea or bacteria
1
Suggested answer: Methanogens, cyanobacteria, Haloarchea, eubacteria, sulphur-fixing bacteria, nitrogenfixing bacteria, etc
Question 24(b)
Criteria
• Describes TWO main features of the organism's environment
Answers will vary. e.g. methanogens live without oxygen /produce methane gas
Marks
1
Question 24( c)
Criteria
Marks
• Outlines the organism's role in that environment
2
Answers will vary. e.g. methanogens in mammal gut- anaerobic breakdown of wastes, cause flatulence etc.
Question 25
Marks
Criteria
3
• Explains how Darwin's observations of Australian fauna and flora reinforced his
theory of evolution
Suggested answer.
• Darwin noted that although many species of animal and plant were new to science, some outwardly
resembled species from the northern hemisphere, e.g., potoroo very similar to European rabbit (J mark
for example); platypus- unique monotreme- took specimen back to England.
• This reinforced his argument that it was the environment that was selecting for favourable
characteristics and that similar selection pressures result in outwardly similar characteristics (2 marks).
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Question 26(a)
Marks
Criteria
4
Names
TWO
abiotic
variables
from
the
ecosystem
and
describes
how
each
ofthem
•
were measured
..
Answers will vary. e.g. marme rock platform- temperature /thermometer, salinity/salt mass upon dehydration
of a volume of seawater.
.
Question 26(b)
Criteria
• Chooses ONE of the abiotic variables mentioned in part (a) and explains its influence
on the distribution of an organism from the ecosystem
Answers will vary. e.g. high tide mark too saline for life because of water evaporation
Question 26(c)
Criteria
• Identifies any risks encountered and how they minimised those risks
Answers will vary. e.g. wave action-need human observer per group
NSW Independent
Marks
2
Marks
2
Trial Exams 2012 - Biology Yr 11Preliminary Examination: Marking Criteria - Page 2
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Question 26(d)
;
Criteria
Marks
• Explains how you any waste materials produced during the study were disposed of
2
Answers will vary: For example, chemicals used in testing were collected in a container and taken back to
school to be disposed of in chemical waste container.
Question 26(e)
Marks
Criteria
3
Constructs a food chain to illustrate the relationship between named organisms from
the chosen ecosystem
Suggested answer: Correct food chain (with appropnate organisms) for ecosystem studied - 2 marks;
arrows going in correct direction - 1 mark e.g. algae ~ mollusc ~ crab (minimum 3 organisms, 2
'arrows')
•
Question 27(a)
Criteria
• Completes the equipment list by including an important piece of safety equipment that
has been omitted
Suggested answer: For example, safety glasses, lab coat, fresh water access re aCId use, etc
Marks
1
Gu,vcs
Question 27(b)
Criteria
• Completes Table 1 by including the correct units for surface area
Answer: mm
Marks
1
Question 27(c)
I Criteria
Marks
I
Identifies the dependent and indepe~dent variables
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2
I
Suggested answer: Independent variable SAIV, dependent variable rate of diffusion o~ime 0 decolorise (1
mark each)
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Question 27(d)
Criteria
• States ONE conclusion from the table of results
Suggested answer: As the SAIV decreases, the rate of diffusion decreases or vice versa.
Marks
1
Question 27(e)
Criteria
Marks
• Describes TWO ways that the student could improve the reliability of this investigation
2
Suggested answer: By controlling all variables, e.g., all of the agar used should be taken from the same
block to ensure that all the blocks are made up of the same materials and same cone. of dye; same
stopwatch used; same person recording time; keep temp constant; etc
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