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The eye: exam questions

5 questions, 12 marks. Write your answers on paper, then open each mark scheme.

Spec 2.15B–2.17B
Triple only (what this means)Triple only: only in Triple Biology. Combined Science students can skip it. What the labels mean
Questions and mark scheme (PDF)3 pages

Question 1

Triple only (what this means)Triple only: only in Triple Biology. Combined Science students can skip it. What the labels mean

Which cells in the retina detect colour?

  1. Rod cells
  2. Cone cells
  3. Iris cells
  4. Lens cells
[1 mark]
Show mark scheme for question 1

Answer: B (1)

Question 2

Triple only (what this means)Triple only: only in Triple Biology. Combined Science students can skip it. What the labels mean

Describe the function of the cornea, the lens and the iris.

[3 marks]
Show mark scheme for question 2
  • cornea: refracts / bends light entering the eye (1)
  • lens: refracts light to focus it on the retina (1)
  • iris: controls how much light enters the eye (1)

Question 3

Triple only (what this means)Triple only: only in Triple Biology. Combined Science students can skip it. What the labels mean

A short-sighted person cannot see distant objects clearly. Explain why this happens and how it can be corrected.

[4 marks]
Show mark scheme for question 3
  • light from distant objects is focused in front of the retina (1)
  • because the eyeball is too long / the lens refracts the light too much (1)
  • corrected with a concave lens (in glasses or contact lenses) (1) allow laser surgery to change the shape of the cornea
  • which spreads the light out so that it focuses on the retina (1)

Question 4

Triple only (what this means)Triple only: only in Triple Biology. Combined Science students can skip it. What the labels mean

Describe what a cataract is and how it can be treated.

[2 marks]
Show mark scheme for question 4
  • the lens becomes cloudy, so less light reaches the retina (1)
  • the lens is replaced with an artificial lens by surgery (1)

Question 5

Triple only (what this means)Triple only: only in Triple Biology. Combined Science students can skip it. What the labels mean

Explain what causes colour blindness.

[2 marks]
Show mark scheme for question 5
  • one or more types of cone cell are missing / not working properly (1)
  • so the person has difficulty telling some colours apart, such as red and green (1)