OSHWAL ACADEMY NAIROBI SENIOR HIGH

HOLIDAY ASSIGNMENT: JULY 2025

ADVANCED LEVEL BIOLOGY UNIT 4

PAPER REFERENCE YBI14/01

SURNAME
RAW MARK
OTHER NAMES

SIGNATURE
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GROUP
TEACHER GRADE

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1. Green plants contain chlorophyll that trap light energy which is then incorporated into
biological molecules through the process of photosynthesis.
a) The chloroplast is and organelle that provides a site for photosynthesis.
i. Which of the following controls which molecule can enter or leave the
chloroplast? (1)
A) Outer membrane B) Inner membrane
C) Stroma D) Thylakoids

ii. Thylakoid membranes in chloroplasts are phospholipid bilayers with proteins and
chlorophyll molecules embedded in them. Explain why the phospholipids are
arranged as bilayer. (3)
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iii. Name three proteins found in chloroplast membranes that are involved in the
process of photosynthesis. Use specific terms and NOT general terms like channel
and carrier proteins. (3)
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iv. Which of these are a collection of sacks containing chlorophyll? (1)

A) Outer membrane B) Inner membrane
C) Stroma D) Thylakoid

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 b) The process of photosynthesis can be summarised by the word equation and the formula
equation

i. In the light-dependent reactions, water is split into hydrogen ions, electrons and an
oxygen atom. Name this process by which these water molecules are split. (1)
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ii. Choose the correct answer that identifies the source of oxygen for the synthesis of
glucose in photosynthesis. (1)
A) ATP B) Carbon dioxide only
C) Carbon dioxide and water D) Water only
c) The table below shows some stages involved in photosynthesis.

i. Complete the table below by naming the part of the chloroplast where each of the
reactions, R, S and T, takes place. (3)
R = …………………………………………………………………….
S = ……………………………………………………………………
T = ………………………………………………………..………….
ii. Name of reaction R. (1)
A) Carbon fixation B) Hydrolysis
C) Phosphorylation D) Photolysis
iii. Place a cross in the box next to the name of the enzyme involved in reaction S.
(1)
A) Endonuclease B) Phosphorylase
C) RUBISCO D) Transcriptase
Total Marks for question 1 = 15

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2. The percentage of light absorbed by an aquatic plant was measured when it was exposed
to different wavelengths. The rate of photosynthesis was also measured at each
wavelength of light. The results are shown in the graph.

a) Describe and explain the relationship between light absorption and the rate of
photosynthesis for the wavelengths of light between 410 nm and 500 nm. (2)
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b) Give one dependent variable you could measure in order to determine the rate of
photosynthesis in an aquatic plant. (2)
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c) Use the graph to identify the range of wavelengths of light that would be green in colour.
Give a reason for your answer.
Wavelengths ....................................... to ..................................... nm (2)

Reason . (1)
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Total Marks for question 2 = 7

3. The diagram shows the light dependent reactions of photosynthesis.

a) In which part of a chloroplast do the light dependent reactions occur? (1)

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b) Name the substances in A, B and C. (4)

A ……………………………………………………………………………………
B ………………………….….…..… + …………………………………………….
C …………………………………………………………………………………….

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 c) Use information in the diagram to explain;
i. The role of chlorophyll in photolysis; (2)
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ii. How the energy of light is converted into chemical energy in the light dependent
reactions. (3)
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Total Marks for question 3 = 10

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 4. The Sylt-Romo Wadden Sea, shown in the diagram below, has a high gross primary
productivity (GPP) which is monitored constantly. The Sylt-Romo Wadden Sea is
protected from the North Sea by an island. There are no large rivers flowing into the
Sylt-Romo Wadden Sea.

a) Seagrass, microphytobenthos and phytoplankton are the producers found in the Sylt-Romo
Wadden Sea. The chart below shows the distribution of GPP between these producers.

i. Using the chart, describe the distribution of GPP in this sea. (3)
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ii. The total GPP for this sea is 840 × 106 kJ m–2 year–1.
Explain how GPP for the phytoplankton could be calculated. (2)
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iii. Suggest why GPP for this sea is very high. (2)
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b) Explain why net primary productivity (NPP) is lower than gross primary productivity
(GPP) (2)
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c) Farmers find it helpful to know the productivity of their land.

The diagram below shows the relationship between GPP (gross primary productivity), NPP
(net primary productivity) and R (plant respiration) for an area of grassland. (2)
GPP
11 500 kJ m–2 year–1

R......................... kJ m–2 year–1

NPP.................... kJ m–2 year–1

The efficiency of the transfer of energy from GPP to NPP for this grassland is 45%.
Calculate the values for NPP and R. Write your answers in the diagram above. (2)

Total Marks for question 4 = 13

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5. Photosynthesis involves light dependent reactions and light independent reactions.
a) The diagram below shows part of the light independent reaction of photosynthesis.

i) Identify compounds A, B and C.

A: ……………….......................................................................................................... (1)
B: ………………........................................................................................................... (1)
C: ……………….......................................................................................................... (1)

ii) Apart from being converted to glucose, give one other use of GP (1)
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b) Photosynthetic pigments play a major role in light dependent reactions. A student used paper
chromatography to separate the pigments from a sample of leaves. The table shows the
distance moved by the solvent and pigments.

i) Define the term Rf value. (1)

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ii) Calculate the Rf values for pigment B. Show your working. (1)

c) Genetically modified (GM) crop plants have been produced that have stomata with a wider
aperture than non-modified crop plants.

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 The photographs show the appearance of each type of stoma in daylight

An investigation was carried out to compare the effect of light intensity on the rate of
photosynthesis in GM plants with the effect in non-modified plants. The graph shows the results
of this investigation.

i) The rate of photosynthesis is expressed as mol m-2 s-1.

Describe what was measured to find the rate of photosynthesis. (3)
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ii) Explain the results of this investigation. (3)

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iii) Explain why the wider stomata in GM crop plants could increase their yield. (3)
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Total for questions 5 = 15 Marks

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