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1. 1991/I/5b
An experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of removing cotyledons on the growth of bean
seedlings. 500 bean seeds were soaked in water for 24 hours. They were then divided into 5 batches (A to E)
and allowed to germinate. 4 batches of these germinating seedlings had their cotyledons removed at
different stages of the germination. At the end of 8 weeks, all the plants were collected, dried in an oven and
weighed to obtain the dry weight. The results are shown in the table below :
Batch Treatment Average dry
weight (per plant)
after 8 weeks
A

B

C

D

E
Cotyledons not removed

Cotyledons removed on the 4
th
day of germination

Cotyledons removed on the 7
th
day of germination

Cotyledons removed on the 10
th
day of germination

Cotyledons removed on the 13
th
day of germination
4.3 g

0.7 g

1.8 g

4.0 g

4.3 g
(i) Give ONE reason why soaking the seeds in water is necessary for germination. (1 mark)
(ii) (1) What is meant by dry weight ? (1 mark)
(2) Why is dry weight preferred to fresh weight in the interpretation of the results of this
experiment ? (Note: Fresh weight refers to the weight of the plants freshly collected.)
(2 marks)
(iii) Why was a large sample size of seeds (100 per batch) used in this experiment ? (1 mark)
(iv) Describe the effect on the growth of bean seedlings of the removal of the cotyledons
(1) on the 4
th
day of germination.
(2) on the 13
th
day of germination. (2 marks)
(v) From your knowledge of the functions of cotyledons, explain the effect of each of the above cases
mentioned in (iv). (3 marks)

2. 1993/I/2c
In order to study the conditions necessary for seed germination, a student designed three experimental
set-ups (A, B and C). These set-ups were put under the sun as shown below :






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(i) What conclusion(s), if any, can be drawn by comparing the results in
(1) set-ups A and B only ?
(2) set-ups B and C only ?
Explain how you arrive at your answer. (5 marks)
(ii) Give two reasons why the condition studied in (i) (1) is important in seed germination. (4 marks)
(iii) After one week, there was a decrease in the dry mass of the seeds in set-up B. Explain why this
occurred. (2 marks)

3. 1995/I/2c
The diagrams below show the longitudinal section of a young root and two types of cells taken from it :

(i) Using letters in the diagram, state the region where the following can be found :
(1) cell type 1
(2) cell type 2 (2 marks)

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(ii) (1) Name the process occurring in cell type 1 as shown in the diagram. (1 mark)
(2) What is the significance of this process in the root ? (2 marks)
(iii) Explain how cell type 2 is structurally adapted to its function. (3 marks)

4. 1997/I/3b
The diagrams below show the different stages of development of a germinating mung bean seed :

(i) (1) With reference to stages 1 and 2, what tropic response is demonstrated by the radicle ?
(1 mark)
(2) What is the significance of this tropic response to the plant ? (2 marks)
(ii) With reference to the diagrams, deduce, with reasons, two functions of the cotyledons. (4 marks)
(iii) If an excessive amount of chemical fertilizer is added to the soil at stage 7, the seedling will wilt
after several hours. Explain this phenomenon. (4 marks)

5. 2004/I/1b
The diagram below shows a section of a seed :

(i) (1) Name structure A. (1 mark)
(2) What organs will A develop into during seed germination ? (2 marks)

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(ii) During germination, amylase activity is detected in region B. Explain the importance of amylase
activity to the growth of the seedling. (4 marks)
(iii) The dry mass of the seedling decreases in the initial stage of germination but starts to increase after
one week. Explain the increase in dry mass of the seedling in the later stage. (3 marks)


6. 2006/I/10a
In a study of the growth of mung bean seedlings, two samples of mung bean seeds were grown under the
same conditions except that one sample was kept in daylight while the other in darkness. The same number
of seedlings was collected from each group every 6 days. The average dry mass of the seedlings of each
group was determined and the results are shown below:
Average dry mass of seedlings (g) Time of growth (day)
In daylight In darkness
0 0.81 0.80
6 0.65 0.65
12 0.57 0.52
18 0.79 0.41
(i) Explain the change in the average dry mass of the seedlings in both daylight and dark conditions
from day 0 to day 12. (3 marks)
(ii) From day 12 to day 18, how do the seedlings grown in daylight differ from those grown in the dark
in terms of the change in the average dry mass? Account for this difference. (4 marks)
(iii) Suggest why the dry mass of seedlings was measured instead of the fresh mass in this study.
(1 mark)

HKCEE BIOLOGY | 7.4 Growth and development | P.4