Pakistan International School, English Section

Subject: Biology Chapter 13: Coordination and response

Grade: 9 Practice Worksheet 1 – neurones and reflex arc
Name: ______________________________ Section: ______

Q1) Fig. 1.1 shows a reflex arc involving a finger and a muscle in the arm.

Fig. 1.1
a) State two stimuli that can be detected by receptors in the finger.
1. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
2. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………... [2]
b) Using labels from Fig. 1.1, state the site of the cell body of
1. a sensory neurone, …………………………………………………………………………………….
2. a relay neurone. ……………………………………………………………………………… [2]
c) i) In what form are impulses transmitted in the nervous system?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. [1]
ii) State the structure, present in many mammalian neurones, which reduces leakage of the
impulse.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. [1]
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iii) The impulse takes 0.02 seconds to pass from the finger to the spinal cord, a distance of 1.5
metres. Calculate the speed of the impulse. Show your working.

Speed ……………………………………………………… [2]

iv) Although the total distance the impulse travels in the reflex arc is less than 3 metres, the time
taken is more than 0.04 seconds. Suggest why the time taken is more than expected.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. [1]
d) i) Describe what would happen to the muscle and the arm when muscle Vreceives the nerve
impulse.
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............................................................................................................................................................................. [2]
ii) Explain how muscle V would return to its original position.
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............................................................................................................................................................................. [2]
[Total: 13]
Q2) a) Fig. 2.1 shows the structures involved in a reflex arc.

Fig. 2.1
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i) On Fig. 2.1 label structures A, B, C and D. Write your answers on Fig. 2.1. [4]
ii) Name the two types of tissue in the body that can act as effectors.
1. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
2. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. [2]
b) i) Describe the characteristics of a reflex action resulting from the activity of structures A,
B, C and D.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… [2]
ii) State one example of a reflex action.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… [1]
[Total: 9]
Q3) a) Define the term sensitivity.
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………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… [2]
Fig. 3.1 shows the reflex arc involved in a simple reflex action.

Fig. 3.1
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b) On Fig. 3.1 use label lines and the following letters to show
F a receptor in the skin
G the neurone that transmits impulses to the spinal cord
H the effector in this reflex arc. [3]
c) A reflex is an involuntary action. Explain what is meant by the term involuntary action.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… [2]
d) Suggest the advantages of having reflexes. You may refer to an example to illustrate your
answer.
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………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… [3]
e) In dangerous situations there is an increase in the secretion of adrenaline from the adrenal
glands. Describe three ways in which this increase in adrenaline prepares the body for action.
1 …………………………………………………………………………………………………....
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
2 …………………………………………………………………………………………………....
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
3 …………………………………………………………………………………………………....
………………………………………………………………………………………………………. [3]
[Total: 13]
Q4) a) Movement is a characteristic of living organisms. Define the term movement.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. [1]
When the hand is stimulated by a hot object a reflex action occurs in which the fore-arm is
raised. Fig. 4.1 shows the muscles and the neurones involved in the reflex action. The arrows
show where there are nerve impulses during the reflex action.

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 Fig. 4.1
b) i) State the name for the action of two opposing muscles, such as the biceps and the triceps.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..... [1]
ii) Explain how two opposing muscles bring about movement at the elbow joint.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
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………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… [3]
c) i) Describe the function of neurone J.
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…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… [2]

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ii) Explain why there are impulses in motor neurone G, but not in motor neurone H.
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………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… [2]
d) The action shown in Fig. 4.1 is an involuntary reflex action. The muscles can also be used for
voluntary actions. Explain how muscles are controlled during voluntary actions.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
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………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… [2]
[Total: 11]
Q5) Two students carried out an investigation into reaction times. Student 1 dropped a metre rule.
Student 2 tried to catch the metre rule as soon as possible after it had been dropped.
Fig. 5.1 shows a metre rule about to be dropped by Student 1, whilst Student 2 is ready to
catch the rule.
Fig. 5.2 shows the metre rule after it has been caught.

Fig. 5.1 Fig. 5.2

Once the ruler has been caught, the distance from their thumb to the bottom of the ruler was
measured in centimetres. Three results for each hand were taken and recorded in Table 5.1. The
last result for the right hand is shown in Fig. 5.2.

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a) i) Read the distance on the ruler and record this value in Table 5.1. [1]
Table 5.1

ii) Complete Table 5.1 by calculating the mean distance for the right hand. [1]
b) i) Suggest what this experiment was designed to investigate.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… [1]
ii) State three variables that should be kept the same throughout this investigation.
1 …………………………………………………………………………………………………….
2 …………………………………………………………………………………………………….
3 …………………………………………………………………………………………........... [3]
c) Approximate reaction times can be calculated from the distance the ruler has dropped.
Table 5.2 shows these approximate reaction times.
Table 5.2

i) Estimate the reaction times for the left hand and right hand using the mean distances in Table
5.1.
left hand ………………………………………………………………………..

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right hand ……………………………………………………………………….. [2]
ii) Explain what conclusion you can make about the reaction time of this student.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
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………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… [2]
d) Some drugs act as stimulants on the body and others act as depressants. Suggest how this
experiment could be adapted to investigate the effect of a stimulant on reaction times.
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[Total: 13]
Q6) a) i) Fig. 6.1 shows a simple reflex arc.

Fig. 6.1
Name the cells labelled A and B as shown on Fig. 6.1.
A …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
B ………………………………………………………………………………………………………... [2]
ii) State two features of a reflex action.
1 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
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2 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… [2]
b) State what is meant by an effector.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… [1]
c) Fig. 7.2 shows the muscles and bones around the elbow joint.

Fig. 6.2
i) Name the structures labelled C and Das shown on Fig. 6.2.
C ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
D ………………………………………………………………………………………………………... [2]
ii) A nerve impulse stimulates muscle D to contract. Describe what will happen to the muscles and
bones of the arm.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… [2]
[Total: 9]
Q7) a) Complete Table 7.1 by naming three sense organs and the stimulus which each detects.

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 Table 7.1
stimulus
Sense organ

[3]
b) Reflexes are involuntary actions coordinated by reflex arcs like the one shown in Fig. 7.1.

Fig. 7.1
i) Explain what is meant by the term involuntary action.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...

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……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… [2]
ii) The arm shown in Fig. 7.1 moves in response to the detection of heat. Explain how the parts of
the reflex arc shown in Fig. 7.1 bring about this response.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
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………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… [5]
iii) Describe the advantages of simple reflexes, such as the one shown in Fig. 7.1.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
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………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… [2]
c) The organs of the human body are coordinated by the nervous system. Outline one other way in
which these organs are coordinated.
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………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… [2]
[Total: 14]

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S 2014 – 22

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S 2014 – 33

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W 2014 – 21

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S 2016 – 32

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S 2016 – 33

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W 2016 – 33

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