Mock exam 1

PAPER 2
SECTION A Human Physiology: Regulation and Control
Answer ALL parts of the question.
1(a) Infertility in women may be overcome by in vitro fertilization (IVF). The main steps
involved are outlined below:

(i) Suggest one possible cause of infertility in women that may be overcome by the above
procedure. (1 mark)
(ii) Suggest what hormone X can be and explain the purpose of injecting this hormone in Step 1.
(2 marks)
(iii) Explain why the Petri dish is examined in Step 3. (2 marks)
(iv) The woman who has had embryos transferred into her uterus may be given hormone
supplements. Suggest two hormones that may be present in these supplements and explain
the use of the hormone supplements. (4 marks)
(v) Suggest one ethical implication of the use of IVF. (1 mark)

1(b) The table below shows the rate of water loss in different ways from the human body at rest
and during heavy exercise:
Rate of water loss (mL h-1)
Sweat Urine Exhaled air
At rest 4 58 15
During heavy exercise 1 200 10 100
(i) The rate of sweat production increases during heavy exercise. What is the significance of this?
(3 marks)
(ii) With reference to the action of antidiuretic hormone (ADH), account for the decrease in water
loss from urine during heavy exercise. (5 marks)
(iii) Explain why there is an increase in water loss from exhalation during heavy exercise.
(2 marks)
SECTION B Applied Ecology
Answer ALL parts of the question.
2(a) Since the 31' December 2012, a ban on trawling has been implemented in Hong Kong waters
to protect the marine ecosystem. Some of the affected fishermen have then switched to other
fisheries operations such as aquaculture.
(i) Explain the potential benefits of the trawling ban to the marine ecosystem. (2 marks)
(ii) Aquaculture involves raising fish in fish farms. The fish are kept in cages in the water and fed
with pellets made from small fish. Suggest why farmed fish are able to grow faster than wild
fish of the same species. (3 marks)
(iii) Aquaculture can also harm the surrounding environment. Discuss the harmful effects of each
of the following on the surrounding environment and its organisms.
(1) release of organic wastes from the fish farm (4 marks)
(2) escape of the farmed fish (1 mark)

2(b) Many scientists are concerned about the environmental impact of burning fossil fuels and the
depletion of fossil fuels in the future. It is suggested that biofuels such as ethanol produced
from crops can be used as an alternative to fossil fuels.
(i) Give two advantages of burning ethanol over the burning of fossil fuels. Explain your answer.
(4 marks)
(ii) Forests are being cut down to grow crops for producing ethanol. The table below compares
the yield of maize and sugar cane, and the yield of ethanol produced from them:
Crop plant Mass of crop produced Volume of ethanol Volume of ethanol
in tonnes per hectare produced in litres per produced in litres per
of land tonne of crop hectare of land
Maize 9.4 399.0 3 750.6
Sugar cane 73.5 74.5 X
(1) Calculate the value of X. Show your working. (2 marks)
(2) Based on the information provided and your calculation, suggest which crop plant, maize or
sugar cane, is a better crop for producing ethanol. (2 marks)
(iii) Farmers often employ monoculture practice in growing the crops for ethanol production.
Give two environmental problems associated with monoculture. (2 marks)

SECTION C Microorganisms and Humans

Answer ALL parts of the question.
3(a) Household sewage is usually treated in a sewage treatment works to remove pollutants
before being discharged into the sea.
(i) State two pollutants that are commonly present in household sewage. (2 marks)
(ii) The diagram below shows the main parts of a sewage treatment works:
(1) Explain why air is continuously bubbled into the aeration tank but not into the sludge
digester. (4 marks)
(2) What kind of microorganisms can be found in the sludge digester? (1 mark)
(3) The temperature in the sludge digester is usually maintained at 35 °C by a
temperature-regulating system. If the temperature-regulating system is not working, the
temperature in the sludge digester can rise to 80 °C. How would you explain this?
(1 mark)
(4) Name gas X and suggest one use of it. (2 marks)

3(b) The photograph below shows the instructions printed on a packet of pasteurized milk:

(i) What are the advantages of sterilized milk over unsterilized milk? List two. (2 marks)
(ii) In pasteurization, the milk is heated at 72 °C for a short period of time and then cooled
quickly to 10 °C. Explain the biological principle behind this method. (2 marks)
(iii) Why the milk is not heated to 100 °C in pasteurization. (1 mark)
(iv) Carol bought a packet of pasteurized milk from the supermarket but forgot to refrigerate it as
recommended. After three days, she opened the packet and found the milk had become sour
and curdled. Explain how this happened. (3 marks)
(v) Irradiation is another method for sterilizing and preserving food.
(1) Briefly describe the principle of irradiation on food preservation. (1 mark)
(2) Some people are concerned about the adverse effects of irradiating food. Suggest one ofsuch
concerns. (1 mark)
SECTION D Biotechnology
Answer ALL parts of the question.
4(a) Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.

Gene Therapy Breakthrough Offers Hope to Cystic Fibrosis Patients

Cystic fibrosis (CF), an autosomal recessive genetic disease, is caused by mutations in the CFTR
gene. People with cystic fibrosis produce sticky mucus which affects the lungs in particular. The
disease affects 10 000 people in the United Kingdom. Patients have to receive treatments to clear
their lungs every day. In some cases, a lung transplant is needed if the lungs become extensively
damaged. There is currently no cure for cystic fibrosis and many patients will not survive beyond
the age of 40.
Scientists have been working for two decades to develop a gene therapy for the disease. Previous
attempts using viruses to deliver the normal CFTR gene to the patients' lungs were proved
unsuccessful, as the viruses were destroyed by the immune system of the patients.
A new trial involving 136 patients was conducted in the UK in 2012. Scientists wrapped the
normal CFTR gene in liposome, a tiny sphere made of phospholipid bilayer, which was then
delivered to the lungs via inhalation. The treatments were given once a month for a year and most
of the patients showed improved lung function. The team said more research is needed before the
therapy will be suitable for clinical use.

(i) Explain why people with cystic fibrosis are likely to have frequent lung infections. (2 marks)
(ii) Suggest two ways how the viral vector may be destroyed by the immune system.(2 marks)
(iii) With reference to the trial on liposome-based gene therapy, explain the following:
(1) Watery mucus is produced in the lungs after the treatment. (3 marks)
(2) The patients need to receive the treatment once a month. (1 mark)
(iv) Suggest two potential benefits of using gene therapy to treat cystic fibrosis. (2 marks)

4(b) Gene cloning can be done in vivo by introducing the target gene into host cells such as
bacteria. The main steps are outlined below:

Step 1: Recombinant DNA molecules with the target gene inserted are introduced into bacterial
cells.
Step 2: Bacteria are screened for antibiotic resistance to identify those with the recombinant
DNA.
Step 3: The selected bacteria are grown, and clones of the target gene are extracted and purified.

(i) Describe how the recombinant DNA used in Step 1 is produced. (2 marks)
(ii) Scientists have isolated a gene from the jellyfish which codes for the green fluorescent protein
(GFP). The protein can emit bright green fluorescence under blue and ultraviolet light. The
GFP gene can be expressed in bacterial cells and used as a selective marker to identify
transformed bacteria.
Give two advantages of using the GFP gene as a selective marker over genes that confer
antibiotic resistance in Step 2. (2 marks)
(iii) A gene can also be cloned in vitro by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Each cycle of PCR
consists of a sequence of three steps, which are performed at 95 °C, 55 °C and 72 °C
respectively.
(1) Describe the event that takes place at each of the three steps in a PCR cycle. (3 marks)
(2) How many copies of a target gene can be made after 5 cycles of PCR? (1 mark)
(iv) Give one advantage of using PCR over bacteria in gene cloning. Explain your answer.
(2 marks)
END OF PAPER

Paper 2 Section A
* 1. (a)
(i) Blocked oviduct / no or few ovulation / unsuccessful implantation (1)
(ii) FSH / follicle-stimulating hormone (1)
To stimulate more follicles to complete their development at the same time (1)
(iii) To check if fertilization has taken place (1)
To check if the embryo cells are dividing normally (1)
(iv) Oestrogen (1), progesterone (1)
To help maintain the thickness of the uterine lining / stimulate vascularization / increase
blood supply (1)
so that the embryo can implant/attach to it more securely. (1)
(v) Any one of the following:
• It involves destruction of excess embryos which are potential life to some people. (1)
• It violates laws of nature because it involves the creation of life in the laboratory. (1)
• It may lead to the trading of embryos and commercialization of pregnancy. (1)
• Genetic screening may be misused / it may promote eugenics and designer babies. (1)

Do not accept 'abnormality of the uterus'.

Do not confuse 'uterine lining' with 'uterine wall'.

** 1. (b) (i) A large amount of heat is generated by the respiration of muscle cells during heavy
exercise. (1)
Increased sweat production promotes heat loss from the body by evaporation of sweat (1)
to prevent the body from overheating / heatstroke. (1)
(ii) A large amount of water is lost from the body in the form of sweat during heavy exercise.
(1)
The hypothalamus detects a decrease in water potential of the blood. (1)
The pituitary gland releases more ADH into the blood circulation. (1)
As a result, the wall of the collecting ducts of the kidney tubules become more permeable to
water. (1)
Thus, a greater proportion of water is reabsorbed and a' smaller volume of urine is produced.
(1)
(iii) During heavy exercise, the rate and depth of breathing increase. (1)
A larger volume of air was exhaled from the lungs per unit time (1)
and hence, water loss in the form of water vapour increases.

Do not write 'a greater amount of water is reabsorbed'.

Paper 2 Section B
Marks
* 2. (a) (i) Any one set of the following:
• The trawling ban helps depleted fish stocks to recover (1) by allowing fish to grow and
reproduce / reducing the disturbance to marine ecosystems. (1)
• A ban on bottom trawling allows restoration of corals, (1) provide shelter / breeding grounds
for many marine species. (1)
(ii) The pellets provide a constant food supply / more proteins for the growth of the farmed fish.
(1)
On the other hand, the farmed fish have less energy expenditure because their movement is
limited by the cages. (1)
Therefore, more energy in excess can be converted to biomass. (1)
(iii) (1) Decomposition of organic matter by bacteria uses up oxygen in the water, causing
aquatic organisms to die of suffocation. (1)
Decomposition of organic matter results in an increase in inorganic nutrients / eutrophication,
which causes algal bloom. (1)
Any two of the following:
• Organic matter increases the turbidity / the algae block the sunlight, so submerged plants
cannot obtain enough sunlight for photosynthesis and die. (4) (1)
• The algae use up oxygen in the water for respiration at causing aquatic organisms to die of
suffocation. (1)
When the algae die, they are decomposed by bacteria which further consume oxygen in the water.
(1)
Some algae produce toxins which may cause harm to aquatic organisms. (1)
(2) Any one of the following:
The farmed fish escaped may compete with the wild species for food / breed with the wide
species / disturb marine food chains. (1)
The farmed fish may spread diseases / parasites to the wide species. (1)
(2)
(3)
(1)
MS9
I ;(*-1 .16 I iW110:
Candidates should mention that the energy expenditure of farmed fish is lower in order to score
full marks in this part. They should recognize that the net gain in biomass is determined not
only by food supply or energy gain, but also by energy expenditure.
© Aristo Educational Press Ltd.
Aristo Exam Success Series: HKDSE BIOLOGY Mock Exam Papers
Marks
Any two sets of the following:
It does not release nitrogen dioxide / sulphur dioxide, (1) which can cause acid rain. (1)
It helps reduce carbon dioxide emission (1)
because the carbon dioxide released by burning ethanol is cancelled out by the uptake of carbon
dioxide by the crops as they carry out photosynthesis. (1)
It is a renewable energy source, (1) as the crops can be re-planted. (1)
(ii) (1) X
= 73.5 x 74.5 (1) = 5 475.75 (1)
(2) Sugar cane (1)
It has a higher ethanol yield per unit area of land. / It requires less amount of land to produce the
same ethanol yield. (1)
(iii) Any two of the following:
• Increase in pest population (1)
• The soil becomes infertile due to the depletion of certain minerals (1)
• Increased use of chemical fertilizers causes soil erosion / chemical pollution (1)
• Decrease in biodiversity (1)
** 2. (b) (i)
Burning ethanol mainly produces carbon dioxide and water.
(4)
(2)
(2)
Each type of crop
has specific nutrient
(2) requirements. If the same crop is grown in a field for years, certain minerals in the soil will
become exhausted.
Paper 2 Section C
Marks
* 3. (a) (i) Any two of the following:
• Urine / faeces (1)
• Food debris (1)
• Detergent (1)
(ii) (1) Fresh air is bubbled into the aeration tank to provide more oxygen (1)
so that the microorganisms can carry out aerobic respiration at a higher rate to release more
energy for growth / metabolic activities. (1)
This leads to faster decomposition of the organic matter in the sewage. (1)
Since the sediment in the sludge digester is too thick / viscous for air to pass into it (1),
bubbling air cannot significantly increase the oxygen content in it.
(2) Anaerobic microorganisms / anaerobic bacteria / methanogen
(3) Microorganisms carry out anaerobic respiration and release a lot of heat. (1)
(4) Biogas / methane (1) It can be used as fuel. (1)
(2)
(4)

MS 10 © Aristo Educational Press Ltd.

Marking Schemes
* 3. (b) (i) Most pathogens in sterilized milk are killed, thus the risk of food-borne infections
caused by drinking sterilised milk is lower. (1)
The shelf life of sterilized milk is longer than that of unsterilized milk, (1)
(ii) Heating the milk to 72 °C can kill most of the microorganisms present in the milk. (1)
Cooling the milk to 10 °C quickly can inactivate any remaining microorganisms. (1)
(iii) To prevent denaturation of milk proteins / prevent changing_ of flavour. (1)
(iv) During the three days, the remaining bacteria in the milk had multiplied to a significant
number. (1)
The bacteria fermented the lactose / sugar in the milk and produced lactic acid which turned the
milk sour. (1)
The acid denatures the soluble milk proteins, which formed insoluble curds. (1)
(v) (1) High-energy radiations (e.g. ultraviolet light, X-ray or gamma ray) can kill
microorganisms in food by damaging the nucleic acids and proteins of the microorganisms.
(1)
(2) Some people fear that irradiation would make the food radioactive. (1)
OR Some people worry that irradiated foods are chemically altered and that their nutritional
value is reduced / they become harmful to health. (1)

Paper 2 Section D
** 4.
(a) (i) The thick, sticky mucus impairs the beating action of the cilia on the epithelium of the
airway / is not easily cleared from the lungs. (1)
It traps pathogens and allows them to multiply in the airway. (1)
(ii) Antibodies produced by plasma cells bind to the virus to facilitate phagocytosis. (1)
Killer T cells kill the virus-infected cells. (1)
(iii) (1) The phospholipid bilayer of liposome can fuse with the cell membrane of the cells in
the lungs, (1)
releasing the normal CFTR gene into the cells. (1)
The normal CFTR gene expresses inside the cells / directs the production of a functioning
protein, (1) compensating for the function of the defective gene.
(2) The target cells are short-lived / are specialized cells that will not divide to produce new cells
with the functioning gene. (1)
(iv) Any two of the following:
 It may extend the life expectancy of patients. (1)
 It can ease the symptoms, e.g. lung infections / coughing. (1)
 It reduces the need for frequent medications / treatments. (1)

* 4. (b) (i) Use the same restriction enzyme to cut plasmids and the DNA fragments containing
the target gene at specific sites. (1)
Join the DNA fragments containing the target gene and the open plasmids using DNA ligase.
(1)
(ii) Antibiotic resistance gene is not used; it will not be transferred to pathogenic bacteria. (1)
It is easier / quicker to identify the transformed bacteria. (1)
(iii) (1) At 95 °C, the DNA molecule denatures / double helix of the DNA separates into two
single DNA strands. (1)
At 55 °C, primers anneal / bind to the single-stranded DNA templates by complementary
base pairing. (1)
At 72 °C, free nucleotides bind to the DNA templates to synthesize new DNA strands with
the help of DNA polymerase. (1)
(2) 32 copies (1) -
(iv) Any one set of the following:
PCR is a quicker method (1)
since it does not involve the culturing of bacteria / screening. (1)
PCR is less labour-intensive. (1)
Once set, the thermal cycler can complete all the procedures automatically. (1)

The number of DNA copies doubles in each PCR cycle. The number of DNA molecules obtained
after n cycle(s) is 2n.