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Features of organisms: exam questions

7 questions, 17 marks. Write your answers on paper, then open each mark scheme.

Question 1

Which pair of features is found in plant cells but not in animal cells?

  1. Nucleus and cytoplasm
  2. Cell wall of cellulose and chloroplasts
  3. Cell membrane and mitochondria
  4. Glycogen store and cell wall
[1 mark]
Show mark scheme for question 1

Answer: B (1)

Question 2

The table describes four vertebrates. Name the vertebrate group of each animal.

Features of four vertebrates
AnimalFeatures
PFeathers, two wings and a beak; lays hard-shelled eggs
QMoist, smooth skin; lays jelly-covered eggs in water
RBody covered with fur; young fed on milk from mammary glands
SWet scales, fins and gills; lays soft eggs in water
[4 marks]
Show mark scheme for question 2
  • P bird (1)
  • Q amphibian (1)
  • R mammal (1)
  • S fish (1)

Question 3

The table describes three arthropods. Name the arthropod group of each animal.

Features of three arthropods
AnimalFeatures
XThree body parts; three pairs of legs; one pair of antennae; two pairs of wings
YTwo body parts; four pairs of legs; no antennae
ZLong body of many similar segments, each with one pair of legs
[3 marks]
Show mark scheme for question 3
  • X insect (1)
  • Y arachnid (1)
  • Z myriapod (1) reject centipede / millipede (an example, not the group)

Question 4

State two features that all arthropods share.

[2 marks]
Show mark scheme for question 4
  • hard exoskeleton / outer skeleton (1)
  • jointed legs (1)
  • segmented body (1)
  • Max 2

Question 5

Supplement (what this means)Supplement: only for the Extended papers (2 and 4). Core students can skip it. What the labels mean

Describe three features of organisms in the fungus kingdom.

[3 marks]
Show mark scheme for question 5
  • cell walls made of chitin (1)
  • no chloroplasts / cannot photosynthesise (1)
  • body made of threads / hyphae (1)
  • feed by absorbing nutrients from other organisms (1)
  • reproduce using spores (1)
  • store carbohydrate as glycogen (1)
  • Max 3

Question 6

Supplement (what this means)Supplement: only for the Extended papers (2 and 4). Core students can skip it. What the labels mean

Which pair of features is found in a monocotyledon?

  1. One cotyledon and parallel leaf veins
  2. Two cotyledons and parallel leaf veins
  3. One cotyledon and a network of leaf veins
  4. Two cotyledons and a network of leaf veins
[1 mark]
Show mark scheme for question 6

Answer: A (1)

Question 7

Supplement (what this means)Supplement: only for the Extended papers (2 and 4). Core students can skip it. What the labels mean

(a) State the two parts that make up a virus. [2] (b) A single-celled organism has a cell wall but no nucleus. State the kingdom in which it is placed. [1]

[3 marks]
Show mark scheme for question 7
  • (a) protein coat (1)
  • genetic material (1)
  • (b) prokaryote (1) allow bacteria