OCR Gateway GCSE Biology

Topic Questions

GCSEBiologyOCR GatewayTopic Questions6. Global Challenges6.1 Monitoring & Maintaining the Environment

6.1 Monitoring & Maintaining the Environment

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1
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Which statement (A - D) best summarises the distinction between conservation and preservation?

  • Conservation allows humans to utilise natural resources to a limited extent, whereas preservation requires zero human impact on a habitat/ecosystem. 

  • Conservation keeps all organisms in exactly the ideal balance, whereas preservation looks after one particular, iconic species eg. a polar bear or leopard.

  • Conservation applies only to plant species such as those that make up forests and desert oases, whereas preservation applies to plants, animals and microorganisms. 

  • Conservation is aimed at maintaining biodiversity, whereas preservation aims to increase it.

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2
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The map below shows a square area of land being sampled for a quadrat-based study into the distribution of plants in a mixed habitat that includes part of a wildflower meadow and a piece of grassland. 

q2_1_1

Which map (A - D) shows the best sites for sampling this piece of land using 4 quadrats?

  • q2_ansa

  • q2_ansb

  • q2_ansc

  • q2_ansd

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3
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The winter moth (Operophtera brumata) is found in the UK and its caterpillars hang from trees, feeding on a wide variety of fruit and tree buds. The caterpillars grow to approximately 25mm in length and tend to stay in the same place on a tree until they mature into moths. 

Which method of obtaining a sample of caterpillars (A - D) would be most suitable for a study to estimate the population of winter moths in an orchard?

  • Pooters

  • Quadrats

  • Capture - recapture

  • Sweep nets

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4
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Which of the following best defines the term 'intensive agriculture'?

  • Growing crops and rearing livestock in a sustainable manner

  • Growing crops and rearing livestock to maximise yields

  • Growing crops and rearing livestock to utilise non-ideal land eg. in mountainous areas more effectively

  • Growing crops and rearing livestock in order to promote biodiversity

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5
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The image below shows a banded snail (Cepaea nemoralis)

MpNZ2SwE_banded-snail

In a capture-recapture study to estimate the population of banded snails in a piece of woodland, 70 snails were collected in a 20-minute period by a group of students on a field trip. All the snails were given a mark of semi-permanent ink on their shells and then were released back into the same piece of woodland.

The following day, the exercise was repeated and 45 snails were captured in the same time period. Of these 45, 25 carried the marking made the previous day.

Which of A-D is the best estimate of the population size (to the nearest 10) of banded snails in the woodland?

  • 70

  • 80

  • 130

  • 200

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6
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Research suggests that atmospheric CO2 levels are due to continue to rise until at least the year 2100. Plants may benefit from elevated CO2 levels because of the increased rate of photosynthesis that this would allow. However, a possible drawback is that elevated CO2 levels do not increase the availability of soil nutrients such as nitrogen.

Which of the following is the most likely negative consequence to agriculture of elevated CO2 levels in the atmosphere?

  • Plants grow uncontrollably, making agriculture more difficult

  • More colonisation of non-arable land by weed plants, where they are not wanted

  • Plants grown as crops may be nutritionally inferior to today's crops

  • Lower water content of plant tissues

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7
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A group of students collected some measurements from a field.
They plotted the measurements on this graph.

q2-paper2h-nov2020-ocrgcsebio

Which technique have the students used to collect the data?

  • Capture-recapture

  • Random quadrats

  • Scaling up

  • Transect line with quadrats

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8
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A scientist was studying a population of snails.

He caught 60 snails in the first sample. He marked them and released them.

He caught 50 snails in the second sample. 20 of the snails were marked.

Use this equation: estimated population =

 fraction numerator number space caught space in space first space sample space cross times space number space caught space in space second space sample over denominator number space in space second space sample space that space are space marked end fraction

What is the estimated population?

  • 150

  • 2400

  • 3000

  • 60000

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9
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Which of these is an example of ecotourism?

  • Setting up monkey parks in the UK.

  • Allowing people to sponsor endangered animals.

  • Encouraging people to view animals in their natural environment.

  • Educating children about the benefits of conservation.

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10
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Which statement is an example of sustainability?

  • Harvesting selected trees from a forest and replanting.

  • Replacing forests with food crops.

  • Taking fish from the sea faster than they can reproduce.

  • Using crude oil to make plastics.

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11
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Many habitats are being destroyed.

It is important to stop habitat destruction to maintain:

  • Active transport

  • Biodiversity

  • Differentiation

  • Homeostasis

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12
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The table shows changes in the forest cover in some continents of the world.

Continent Total forest cover
(millions of hectares)
1990 2000 2005
Africa 699 656 635
Asia 574 567 572
Europe 989 998  1001
South America 891 853 832


What is the approximate percentage decrease in the area of South America covered by forest between 1990 and 2005?

  • 0.9%

  • 1.1%

  • 6.6%

  • 7.1%

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13
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A student estimates the number of snails in a pond.

Part of his method involves collecting snails and marking them.

What is the name of the method that he is using?

  • Aseptic technique

  • Capture-recapture

  • Percentage increase

  • Scaling-up

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14
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Eva investigates the number of daisy plants growing on the school playing field.

She uses a quadrat to count the number of daisy plants growing in different areas of the field.

The table shows her results.

quadrat number of
daisy plants
1 8
2 2
3 7
4 5


Each quadrat has an area of 0.25m2

The school playing field has an area of 15000m2

Estimate the population of daisy plants growing on the school field.

  • 682

  • 82500

  • 330000

  • 1320000

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15
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Palm oil is used in the manufacture of biscuits, crisps, cereals and many other processed foods.

Palm oil production has a negative effect on the environment.

Which statement identifies a negative effect of palm oil production?

  • Palm oil plantations are found in countries with tropical rainforest.

  • Palm oil production has increased due to the demand for more processed food.

  • Palm oil plantations support a low biodiversity.

  • Palm oil production provides jobs for the local community.

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