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F
GCSE
BIOLOGY
Foundation Tier Paper 2F

Time allowed: 1 hour 45 minutes

Materials
For Examiner’s Use
For this paper you must have:
• a ruler Question Mark
• a scientific calculator.
1

Instructions 2
• Use black ink or black ball-point pen. 3
• Pencil should only be used for drawing. 4
• Fill in the boxes at the top of this page.
5
• Answer all questions in the spaces provided.
• If you need extra space for your answer(s), use the lined pages at the end of 6
this book. Write the question number against your answer(s). 7
• Do all rough work in this book. Cross through any work you do not want
8
to be marked.
• In all calculations, show clearly how you work out your answer. 9
10
Information 11
• The maximum mark for this paper is 100.
• The marks for questions are shown in brackets. TOTAL
• You are expected to use a calculator where appropriate.
• You are reminded of the need for good English and clear presentation
in your answers.

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Answer all questions in the spaces provided. box

0 1 The theory of evolution states that organisms alive today evolved by natural selection
from other species that are now extinct.

0 1 . 1 Which two scientists proposed the theory of evolution by natural selection?

[2 marks]
Tick () two boxes.

Alexander Fleming

Alfred Russel Wallace

Carl Linnaeus

Carl Woese

Charles Darwin

Fossils provide evidence for evolution.

Figure 1 shows a fossil footprint of a dinosaur.

Figure 1

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0 1 . 2 What is a fossil? box

[2 marks]

0 1 . 3 How was the fossil in Figure 1 formed?

[1 mark]
Tick () one box.

Body parts were replaced by minerals.

The animal walked on mud.

The animal was frozen in ice.

0 1 . 4 Dinosaurs are extinct.

Give two causes of extinction.

[2 marks]

Question 1 continues on the next page

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0 1 . 5 Which two of the following provide evidence for evolution? box

[2 marks]
Tick () two boxes.

Bacteria can become resistant to an antibiotic.

Early forms of life lived in the ocean.

Older fossils are simpler than more recent ones.

Older layers of rock are closer to the surface.

9

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0 2 Many internal processes of the human body are controlled by hormones. box

Hormones are produced by glands.

Figure 2 shows glands in a woman’s body.

Figure 2

0 2 . 1 Which gland is the pituitary gland?

[1 mark]
Tick () one box.

A B C D

0 2 . 2 Which gland is the pancreas?

[1 mark]
Tick () one box.

A B C D

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The hormone insulin helps to decrease the blood glucose concentration. box

Insulin causes its target organs to take in glucose from the blood.

0 2 . 3 Which of the following is a target organ for insulin?

[1 mark]
Tick () one box.

Bladder

Heart

Liver

0 2 . 4 The glucose is stored as an insoluble substance.

What is the insoluble storage substance that is formed from glucose?

[1 mark]
Tick () one box.

Glycogen

Protein

Urea

Question 2 continues on the next page

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Scientists investigated the effect of a glucose drink on the concentration of glucose in box

a person’s blood.

This is the method used.

1. Take a small sample of blood from the person.

2. Measure the concentration of glucose in the person’s blood.

3. Give the person a drink containing 50 grams of glucose.

4. Measure the concentration of glucose in the person’s blood at intervals.

5. Calculate the change in blood glucose concentration from the starting value.

Figure 3 shows the results.

Figure 3

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Figure 3 shows the change in blood glucose concentration. box

0 2 . 5 At the start of the investigation, the blood glucose concentration was 5 mmol/dm3.

Calculate the highest blood glucose concentration during the investigation.

Use information from Figure 3 in your answer.

[2 marks]

Highest blood glucose concentration = mmol/dm3

0 2 . 6 What is the time taken for the blood glucose concentration to decrease from its
highest value back to the starting value?

Use data from Figure 3 in your answer.

[1 mark]

Time taken = minutes

0 2 . 7 Why can you not be certain that your answer to Question 02.6 is accurate?
[1 mark]

0 2 . 8 Figure 3 shows the results for a person who does not have Type 2 diabetes.

Sketch a line on Figure 3 to show the results you would expect for a person who has
Type 2 diabetes.
[2 marks] 10

Turn over for the next question

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0 3 People eat fish caught in the North Sea. box

Figure 4 shows a food chain.

Figure 4

0 3 . 1 The algae make glucose by photosynthesis.

Which two substances do the algae need for photosynthesis?

[2 marks]
Tick () two boxes.

Carbon dioxide

Nitrogen

Oxygen

Starch

Water

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0 3 . 2 What is the source of energy for photosynthesis? box

[1 mark]
Tick () one box.

Light

Mineral ions

Protein

Water

0 3 . 3 Which pyramid of biomass is correct for the food chain shown in Figure 4?
[1 mark]
Tick () one box.

Question 3 continues on the next page

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Figure 5 shows the biomass of adult herring in the North Sea between box

1950 and 1990.

Figure 5

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0 3 . 4 Too many herring were caught in the 1960s. box

Calculate the percentage decrease in the biomass of adult herring between

1960 and 1970.

Use the equation:

(biomass in 1960 – biomass in 1970)

percentage decrease = × 100
biomass in 1960

Give your answer to the nearest whole number.

[4 marks]

Percentage decrease = %

From 1977, laws were introduced to help conserve herring.

0 3 . 5 Describe the change in biomass of adult herring from 1977 to 1990.

Use data from Figure 5 in your answer.

[2 marks]

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0 3 . 6 One of the laws was to control mesh size of fishing nets. box

Figure 6 shows a fishing net with a legal mesh size.

Figure 6

Herring can live for up to 12 years.

Herring start to reproduce when they are 3 to 4 years old.

Explain how the control of mesh size of fishing nets has helped to conserve stocks
of herring.
[2 marks]

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0 4 The human eye can form images of objects that are at different distances away from box

the eye.

Figure 7 is a diagram of the eye.

Figure 7

0 4 . 1 Label structures A, B and C on Figure 7.

[3 marks]
Choose answers from the box.

cornea eyelid iris lens optic nerve

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The eye in Figure 7 is focused on a distant object. box

If the eye then focuses on the words in a book, changes would occur in the eye.

The light rays would be refracted more by the lens.

0 4 . 2 How does the lens refract the light more?

[1 mark]
Tick () one box.

By becoming longer

By becoming thicker

By becoming transparent

0 4 . 3 Which two structures control the shape of the lens?

[2 marks]
Tick () two boxes.

Ciliary muscles

Cornea

Iris

Sclera

Suspensory ligaments

0 4 . 4 To form a clear image, the light rays entering the eye must focus on one structure in
the eye.

Name the structure.

[1 mark]

Question 4 continues on the next page

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0 4 . 5 An insect flies near a person’s eye. The person blinks. outside the
box
This is a reflex action.

Figure 8 shows the coordination system for this reflex action.

Figure 8

Complete Figure 8.
[2 marks]
Choose answers from the box below.
Write one word in each of boxes 2, 3 and 4 of Figure 8.

brain cornea iris muscles retina 9

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0 5 Potato blight is a disease of potato plants. box

Potato blight is caused by the fungus Phytophthora infestans.

0 5 . 1 What is the genus of the fungus that causes potato blight?

[1 mark]
Tick () one box.

infestans

Phytophthora

Phytophthora infestans

0 5 . 2 The fungus grows near the surface of the potato.

How does growing near the surface help the fungus to respire?
[1 mark]
Tick () one box.

The fungus can get nitrogen from the soil.

The fungus can get oxygen from the air.

The fungus can get water from the potato.

Question 5 continues on the next page

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A farmer sprays his potato plants with a pesticide. box

The pesticide kills the fungus that causes potato blight.

Spraying the crop with a pesticide could decrease biodiversity in a river flowing
through his farm.

0 5 . 3 What does ‘biodiversity in a river’ mean?

[1 mark]
Tick () one box.

The variety of species of animals in the river.

The variety of species of organisms in the river.

The variety of species of plants in the river.

0 5 . 4 The farmer sprayed pesticide on his potato plants. The next day it rained heavily.

Explain why the biodiversity in the river decreased.

[2 marks]

Another method of preventing potato blight is to breed potatoes that are resistant
to blight.

Resistance to potato blight is controlled by two alleles:

R = a dominant allele for having resistance to blight.
r = a recessive allele for not having resistance to blight.

A scientist crosses two potato plants. Each plant has the genotype Rr.

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0 5 . 5 Complete Figure 9 to show the possible genotypes of the offspring produced. box

[2 marks]

Figure 9

0 5 . 6 Draw a ring around one of the homozygous genotypes in Figure 9.

[1 mark]

0 5 . 7 What percentage of the offspring in Figure 9 will be resistant to potato blight?

[1 mark]
Tick () one box.

25% 50% 75% 100%

0 5 . 8 Potatoes can also reproduce asexually.

Potatoes from one plant can be planted in the ground to produce new potato plants.

All the new plants from a parent plant that is resistant to blight will also be resistant
to blight.

Explain why.
[2 marks]

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0 6 A student estimated the percentage cover of buttercup plants in a field. box

The student used a quadrat.

The quadrat was divided into 25 equal squares.

Figure 10 shows the quadrat.

Figure 10

This is the method used.

1. Place the quadrat on the ground.

2. Record how many squares in the quadrat contain buttercup plants.

3. Place the quadrat in a new position in the field.

4. Record how many squares in the quadrat contain buttercup plants.

5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 another three times.

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0 6 . 1 What method should the student have used for placing the quadrat? box

[1 mark]
Tick () one box.

Place the quadrat where there are many buttercup plants.

Place the quadrat only where there are no trees.

Place the quadrat using random coordinates.

Use the same person to place all the quadrats.

The student calculated the percentage cover of buttercup plants for each quadrat.

Table 1 shows the student’s results.

Table 1

Quadrat Number of squares Percentage cover of

number containing buttercup plants buttercup plants
1 10 40

2 13 52

3 22 88

4 20 80

5 10 40

Mean X

0 6 . 2 Calculate mean value X in Table 1.

[2 marks]

X= %

Question 6 continues on the next page

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Table 1 shows that quadrat 1 and quadrat 5 each had 40% cover of buttercup plants. box

Figure 11 shows the results for quadrat 1 and quadrat 5.

Figure 11

0 6 . 3 The student’s method of estimating the percentage cover of buttercup plants

is not accurate.

How does Figure 11 show this?

[1 mark]
Tick () one box.

Quadrat 1 has more groups of buttercup plants.

The area of buttercup plants in quadrat 5 is much larger.

The buttercup plants are in ten squares in both quadrats.

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0 6 . 4 The student wanted to get a more valid estimate of the percentage cover of buttercup box

plants in the field.

Suggest two improvements to the method to make the results more valid.
[2 marks]

0 6 . 5 Give three environmental factors that would affect the growth of buttercup plants
in a field.
[3 marks]

3 9

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0 7 Scientists are very concerned about the changes in concentration of carbon dioxide in box

the Earth’s atmosphere.

Figure 12 shows the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere between

1988 and 2014.

Figure 12

0 7 . 1 Describe two patterns shown in Figure 12.

Use data from Figure 12 in your answer.

[4 marks]

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0 7 . 2 Give two human activities that affect the concentration of carbon dioxide in box

the atmosphere.
[2 marks]

0 7 . 3 The trend shown in Figure 12 may continue for many years.

Explain what effect the changing concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
could have on living organisms.
[4 marks]

10

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0 8 The nucleus of a cell contains DNA. box

0 8 . 1 Name the structures inside the cell nucleus that contain DNA.
[1 mark]

Figure 13 shows part of a DNA molecule.

Figure 13

0 8 . 2 Name the part of the DNA molecule labelled X.

[1 mark]

0 8 . 3 What type of substances are labelled A, C, G and T in Figure 13?

[1 mark]

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Figure 14 shows another section of a DNA molecule. box

Figure 14

0 8 . 4 Four of the substances you named in Question 08.3 are not labelled in part Y
of Figure 14.

Label each of these substances with the correct letter, A, C, G or T.

Use information from other parts of Figure 14 to help you.

[1 mark]

0 8 . 5 What is happening to the DNA in part Z of Figure 14?

[1 mark]
Tick () one box.

Differentiation

Evolution

Fertilisation

Replication

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0 8 . 6 A gene is a length of DNA. box

What type of substance does a gene code for?

[1 mark]

0 8 . 7 Most human body cells contain 6 × 10–12 grams of DNA.

What mass of DNA will a human sperm cell contain?

[1 mark]
Tick () one box.

6 × 10–6 grams

6 × 10–12 grams

3 × 10–6 grams

3 × 10–12 grams

0 8 . 8 What is the name of the type of cell division that produces sperm cells?
[1 mark]
Tick () one box.

Binary fission

Differentiation

Meiosis

Mitosis
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0 9 A student investigated the effect of temperature on the decay of milk. box

Figure 15 shows the apparatus the student used.

Figure 15

This is the method used.

1. Set up the apparatus as shown in Figure 15 with the milk at 20 °C.

2. Record the pH over 5 days using the computer.

3. Repeat with another batch of fresh milk at 25 °C.

0 9 . 1 How could the student keep the milk at a constant temperature for 5 days?
[1 mark]

0 9 . 2 Give one variable the student should keep constant.

Do not refer to temperature in your answer.

[1 mark]

Question 9 continues on the next page

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Table 2 shows the student’s results for the milk at 20 °C. box

Table 2

Time in days 0 1 2 3 4 5

pH 6.7 6.7 6.3 5.3 4.6 4.4

0 9 . 3 Complete Figure 16.

[4 marks]
You should:
• label the x-axis
• use a suitable scale for the x-axis
• plot the data from Table 2
• draw a line of best fit.

Figure 16

0 9 . 4 The data you plotted in Question 09.3 were obtained at 20 °C.

Sketch a line on Figure 16 to show the results you would expect at 25 °C.

Label this line ‘25 °C’.

[2 marks] 8

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1 0 Human body temperature is controlled within very narrow limits. box

Scientists investigated the effect of drinking ice-cold water on:

• internal body temperature
• the rate of sweating.

This is the method used.

1. Sit a person inside a room kept at a constant temperature of 25 °C.

2. Measure the person’s internal body temperature near the brain.

3. Measure the person’s rate of sweating.

4. After 20 minutes, give the person 500 cm3 of ice-cold water to drink.

5. Continue to measure the person’s internal body temperature and sweating rate for
a further 50 minutes.

1 0 . 1 Give the reason why the person should not move during the investigation.
[1 mark]

Question 10 continues on the next page

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Figure 17 and Figure 18 show the scientists’ results. box

Figure 17

Figure 18

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1 0 . 2 What is this person’s normal internal body temperature? box

[1 mark]
Tick () one box.

36.8 °C 37.0 °C 37.4 °C

The results show that when the ice-cold water was drunk, the temperature near the
brain decreased.

1 0 . 3 Explain why the temperature near the brain decreased.

[2 marks]

1 0 . 4 The thermoregulatory centre in the brain responds to the decrease in temperature.

How does the thermoregulatory centre send information to sweat glands in the skin?
[1 mark]

1 0 . 5 The rate of sweating changes between 24 minutes and 36 minutes.

Explain how this change helps to maintain the person’s normal body temperature.
[2 marks]

Question 10 continues on the next page

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1 0 . 6 During exercise, the skin appears red. box

What causes the skin to appear red?

[1 mark]
Tick () one box.

Blood vessels moving closer to the skin surface

Constriction of blood vessels in the skin

Decrease in heart rate

Dilation of blood vessels in the skin

8

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1 1 Decay occurs in a compost heap. box

Figure 19 shows a compost heap.

Figure 19

Describe:
• how microorganisms in the layers of soil help to recycle chemicals in the
dead plants
• how the chemicals are used again by living plants.
[6 marks]

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Question Additional page, if required.
number Write the question numbers in the left-hand margin.

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Question Additional page, if required.
number Write the question numbers in the left-hand margin.

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Question Additional page, if required.
number Write the question numbers in the left-hand margin.

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