Biology – Year 9 – Track 3 – 2019 Page 1 of 12

DEPARTMENT FOR CURRICULUM,

LIFELONG LEARNING AND EMPLOYABILITY

Directorate for Learning and Assessment Programmes

Educational Assessment Unit

Annual Examinations for Secondary Schools 2019

YEAR 9 BIOLOGY TIME: 2 hours

Name: _____________________________________ Class: _______________

85% Theory Paper 15% Practical 100% Final Score

Question

No.

Section A Section B

1

2

3

4

5

6 7

1

2

3

4

5

Max

mark

6 9 8 11 8 7 6 15 15 15 15 15

Actual

mark

TOTAL

MARK

Track 3

Page 2 of 12 Biology – Year 9 – Track 3 – 2019

Section A: This section carries 55 marks. Answer all questions in this section.

1. Figure 1 shows an animal cell and an enlarged diagram of one organelle labelled ‘organelle A’.

Figure 1

a. Identify ‘organelle A’.

___________________________________________________________

(1)

b. Describe the function of ‘organelle A’.

___________________________________________________________

(1)

c. Name one plant cell that would benefit from having a very large number of these organelles. Provide a reason for your answer.

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

(2)

d. Explain why observing this organelle with a light microscope is limited.

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

(2)

[Total: 6 marks]

organelle A

Biology – Year 9 – Track 3 – 2019 Page 3 of 12

2. While Buskett is known for its diversity of plants, various fungi such as different species of mushrooms also grow in this habitat.

a. An important biological difference between plants and fungi is in the cell wall. State the difference between the cell walls of fungi and plant cells.

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

(2)

b. Figure 2 includes five photos of different species of mushrooms that grow at Buskett. One of them, Suillus collinitus, is a mushroom that uses the

ground next to pine trees as its substrate and has a mutualistic relationship with this tree. It has a short, swollen stem. Its top part (fruiting body) is chunky and rather flat or slightly rounded as opposed to other mushrooms

that have a pointy (umbrella-like) fruiting body.

i. Using the information above, identify the photo that is showing the mushroom Suillus collinitus.

___________________________________________________________

(1)

A B C

D E Figure 2

ii. Define the term ‘mutualistic relationship’.

___________________________________________________________

(1)

Page 4 of 12 Biology – Year 9 – Track 3 – 2019

iii. Pine trees are gymnosperms. Describe their reproductive structures.

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

(2)

c. Oranges that fall from trees at Buskett are often attacked by moulds which

are filamentous forms of fungi. Describe the typical structure of a filamentous fungus and explain how it feeds.

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________

(3)

[Total: 9 marks]

3.

a.

b.

c.

d.

A newly discovered organism (Figure 3), found in a cave in China, has an elongated head with

no eyes. It has one pair of thin and very long antennae attached. Its thorax is also elongated

and has six long and slender legs.

Name the phylum and the class into which this organism should be classified.

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

Give one reason for your answer. _____________________________________

_____________________________________

This organism consists of three segments. Name

another segment of this organism apart from the head and the thorax.

_____________________________________

Provide a possible biological reason why this organism has evolved a head with no eyes.

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

(2)

(1)

(1)

(2)

e. This organism undergoes ‘complete metamorphosis’. Describe the life cycle

of an organism that undergoes complete metamorphosis.

___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________

(2)

[Total: 8 marks]

source:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc

/articles/PMC5769675/figure/F1/?report=ob

jectonly Figure 3

Biology – Year 9 – Track 3 – 2019 Page 5 of 12

4. a. Oily skin results when sebaceous glands produce an excess amount of sebum. This flows from inside the epidermis to the surface of the skin

through pores and hair follicles.

i. Figure 4 is a diagram showing the cross-section of the human skin. On

this diagram label the epidermis, the sebaceous gland and the hair follicle.

(3)

ii. Explain the function of sebum in human skin.

___________________________________________________________

(1)

b.

i.

ii.

Figure 5 is a skin care product that treats oily skin by

entering pores to remove extra sebum and dead skin cells.

Explain the importance of the skin having a first layer of

dead skin cells. ______________________________________________

______________________________________________

Being acidic, these products can cause a burning sensation. Name the skin structures that sense this

stimulus.

______________________________________________

(2)

(1)

c. The skin has a thermoregulatory function. Explain, giving full biological details, the role of the skin in maintaining a constant body temperature.

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

(4) [Total: 11 marks]

Figure 4

Figure 5

Page 6 of 12 Biology – Year 9 – Track 3 – 2019

5. Figure 6 shows a plant growing in a room with no other sources of light except for one window.

source: https://www.thoughtco.com

a. i. Describe the growth pattern shown by the plant.

___________________________________________________________

(1)

ii. Name the biological process that produces this growth pattern in the shoot.

___________________________________________________________

(1)

b. Explain how this biological process brings about the growth pattern

described.

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

(4)

c. Explain how this biological function is beneficial to plants.

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

(2) [Total: 8 marks]

window

Figure 6

Biology – Year 9 – Track 3 – 2019 Page 7 of 12

6. Euglena, which is a fresh water protist, and an adult frog are inhabiting the same pond.

a. Name the process by which the Euglena’s cell membrane and the frog’s skin exchange gases with the surrounding environment.

___________________________________________________________

(1)

b. Explain why the frog has lungs to assist with oxygen uptake whenever the skin cannot cope, while the Euglena can rely completely on its cell

membrane.

___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

(3)

c. i. Specialised cells in some frogs’ skin can release poisons that deter predators. Explain the term ‘specialised cells.’

___________________________________________________________

(1)

ii. Give one example of a specialised cell in animals.

___________________________________________________________

(1)

d. Being plant-like, Euglena can feed autotrophically. Name an organelle

which is only present when an organism feeds autotrophically.

___________________________________________________________

(1) [Total: 7 marks]

Page 8 of 12 Biology – Year 9 – Track 3 – 2019

7. Figure 7 shows two plants: a bryophyte and a pteridophyte.

a. i. Explain why the pteridophyte can afford to grow taller than the bryophyte.

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

(2)

ii. Give one advantage that the pteridophyte has over the bryophyte by growing taller.

___________________________________________________________

(1)

b. i. Pteridophytes can limit water loss, while bryophytes cannot. Mention one feature of pteridophytes that allows them to control water loss.

___________________________________________________________

(1)

ii. Give one advantage that pteridophytes have over bryophytes by being able to control water loss.

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

(2) [Total: 6 marks]

A bryophyte,

spreading horizontally

over the ground.

A pteridophyte,

growing vertically

from the ground.

Figure 7

source: https://www.coolgalapagos.com/biology/classification_plants.php

Biology – Year 9 – Track 3 – 2019 Page 9 of 12

Section B: This section carries 45 marks. Answer question 1 and any other two questions. Write your answers on the separate A4 sheet provided.

1. Plants Get Sick Too!

Poor plants! Just like us, plants can get sick too.

The sources of plant disease may be abiotic or biotic. Abiotic diseases do not spread from plant to plant. Examples of abiotic plant diseases include

damage caused by growth under less than ideal light, moisture or temperature conditions.

Biotic diseases are caused by pathogens and are often referred to as infectious diseases because they can move within and spread between

plants. Plant pathogens are very similar to those that cause disease in humans. They may infect all types of plant tissue in shoots and roots. Most

plants are resistant to most pathogens, however, they are all susceptible to attack by at least one pathogen.

Many pathogens that cause disease in plants are bacteria that can get carried from one plant to another in many ways, including by insects.

Millions of bacteria can be present inside a vector as they are microscopic, single-celled prokaryotic organisms and unfortunately they are also able to reproduce rapidly by binary fission. No matter how the bacterial pathogens

are disseminated, they require a wound or natural opening, such as pore, to get inside a plant host. In contrast to viruses, which are inside host cells,

bacteria grow in the spaces between cells and usually do not invade them.

An example of a pathogen carried by insects is the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa which is a serious potential threat to Maltese agriculture.

adapted from: https://www.sciencefocus.com/planet-earth/bacteria-controls-the-weather/

https://agriculture.gov.mt/en/phd/Documents/2017/xylellaFastidiosa/IPPC_factsheet_Xylella_final.pdf

a. i. Name one abiotic factor mentioned in the text and explain how its presence or absence can affect a plant negatively.

(2)

ii. Name two biotic factors mentioned in the text. (2)

b. Define the term ‘tissue’. (1)

c. i. Draw a labelled diagram of a typical bacterium. (3)

ii. Bacteria are described as prokaryotic. Explain. (2)

iii. Name one genus of the Kingdom Prokaryota mentioned in the text. (1)

d. Define the term ‘binary fission’. (2)

e. With the help of diagrams, explain briefly why viruses need to go into cells. (2)

[Total: 15 marks]

Page 10 of 12 Biology – Year 9 – Track 3 – 2019

2. Agave americana (Figure 8) is a plant found locally in areas such as ‘Baħar iċ-

Ċagħaq’ and ‘Dwejra’. Towards the end of its life it grows a tall, woody stalk full

of flowers which has six prominent stamens and a large ovary. The plant

dies after flowering and dispersing seeds. However, it also reproduces by vegetative reproduction that makes it

easier for the plant to colonise the area.

source: https://www.wallpaperup.com/354912/Agave_americana_plant_in_Dwejra_Gozo_Malta.html

a. Explain how vegetative reproduction enables the plant to colonise the area. (2)

b. Explain the benefit of flowering and dispersing seeds at least once at the end of its life.

(1)

c. Explain the advantage of supporting flowers on a tall and woody stem.

(2)

d. Describe the roles of the stamen and the ovary in the flower. (4)

e. This plant is monocotyledonous. Name and describe the kind of roots you

would expect this plant to have.

(2)

f. Growing in dry conditions, the roots of this plant often do not find enough water to supply the plant. For this reason, the plant developed succulent

leaves. Explain.

(2)

g. This plant is a non-native species. It competes with and replaces the

critically endangered national plant of Malta, the Maltese Rock-centaury (Cheirolophus crassifolius).

i. Name this type of competition. (1)

ii. List one factor that these two plant species can compete for. (1)

[Total: 15 marks]

Figure 8

Biology – Year 9 – Track 3 – 2019 Page 11 of 12

3. Beetroot is a vegetable that contains sucrose. Six discs of beetroot were cut to the same diameter size and thickness and their weights were

recorded. Each one was placed in 10 ml of a different sucrose solution concentration for 30 minutes. The weights were recorded again. Results

are summarised in the table below.

Test tube Sucrose solution mol/dm3 Percentage change in mass

A 0 +28.4%

B 0.2 +8.5%

C 0.4 -7.3%

D 0.6 -19.4%

E 0.8 -26.3%

F 1.0 -30.8%

a. During the experiment some of the red pigment found in the beetroot

leaked out of the beetroot discs into the test tube with the sucrose solution.

i. Name the test tube with the darkest red colouring at the end of the

experiment.

(1) ii. Give a reason for your answer. (2)

b. i. Name the test tube with the beetroot disc showing the largest increase in

mass. (1)

ii. Explain what happened to this beetroot disc for this to occur. (2)

c. A student concluded that the sucrose concentration inside the beetroot was around 0.7 mol/dm3.

i. State whether this was correct. (1)

ii. Explain your answer. (3)

d. i. Name the test tube with the beetroot disc having the largest number of

plasmolysed cells by the end of the experiment. Explain your answer.

(2)

ii. Explain why on observing a sample of beetroot cells from each test tube

with a microscope, no burst cells were observed.

(2)

e. Specify one precaution taken in this experiment to ensure that the test was fair.

(1)

[Total: 15 marks]

Page 12 of 12 Biology – Year 9 – Track 3 – 2019

4. Evolution and natural selection ensure that all living things are adapted to their environment.

a. Some fish have evolved a swim bladder (gas sac) that assists them in keeping their buoyancy.

i. Explain how fish are further adapted to an aquatic environment. (3)

ii. When the amount of gases required for buoyancy is high, active transport might have to be used. Define ‘active transport’.

(2)

iii. Give one other example of the use of active transport in animals or plants. (1)

b. Birds have evolved large chest muscles that enable them to fly and

behaviours that enable them to assist plants with germination.

i. Explain how birds are further adapted to flight. (2)

ii. State two conditions necessary for seeds to germinate. (2)

iii. If a seed falls on fertile ground and has all the necessary conditions, it will

germinate by epigeal or hypogeal germination. Distinguish between epigeal and hypogeal germination.

(2)

iv. Explain why a seed might not germinate successfully if it ends up buried too deep under the soil surface.

(3)

[Total: 15 marks]

5. Research has demonstrated that a great diversity of protists, including

different species of Amoeba, live in the soil.

a. Amoeba inhabit mostly the water film around organic and inorganic soil

particles.

i. Name one example of an organic and one example of an inorganic soil

particle.

(2) ii. Explain why, for plants growing in the soil, retaining a film of water around

soil particles is better than filling the gaps between particles with water. (2)

b. Some species of Amoeba group up to hunt nematodes while others are

parasites to other small animals.

i. Mention one characteristic of nematodes. (1)

ii. Define the term ‘parasite’. (1)

c. Soil Amoeba prey on bacteria. With the help of diagrams explain how an

amoeba would feed on a bacterium. (3)

d. Adding too much fertilisers in the soil can kill the Amoeba population.

Explain how this can take place.

(3)

e. Amoeba is a good source of nutrients for earthworms. Describe the benefits

of attracting earthworms to the soil.

(3) [Total: 15 marks]