Edexcel IGCSE Biology

Topic Questions

IGCSEBiologyEdexcelTopic Questions2. Structure & Function in Living OrganismsGas Exchange

Gas Exchange

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1a
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The diagram below shows an alveolus (plural alveoli).

structure-of-an-alveolus

Explain one feature seen in the alveolus in the diagram which allows efficient gas exchange.

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1b
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Using an 'X' on the diagram in part (a), indicate where the oxygen content of the blood is the highest.

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1c
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The estimated surface area of the lung system of a new-born baby is 4.2 m2; this is around one twentieth of the overall surface area of a typical adult's lungs.

Calculate the overall surface area of a typical adult's lungs.

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1d
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The following list contains structures found within the breathing system.

structure order
 bronchus  
nasal cavity  
 alveolus 1
 trachea  
 bronchioles  

Complete the table by numbering the structures to show the sequence in which air passes through them during an exhalation. The first structure has been numbered for you.

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1e
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Describe the actions of the intercostal muscle and diaphragm during inhalation.

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2a
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Separate: Biology Only

The image shows the cross section of a leaf.

plant-tissue

(i)

Identify the cells labelled X and Y.

(2)

(ii)

Describe how the arrangement of cells such as Y help to maximise gas exchange in the leaf.

(2)

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2b
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Complete the table by adding an X to correctly identify the processes involved in controlling the opening and closing of the stomata.

  Water moves in to guard cells Water moves out of guard cells Cells become flaccid Cells become turgid
Stomata open        
Stomata close        

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2c
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Explain why plants only absorb carbon dioxide during the day.

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2d
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Separate: Biology Only

Some students set up an investigation into the effect of light on gas exchange in plants.They set up four boiling tubes as follows:

  • Tube A contained no leaf
  • Tube B contained a leaf and was placed in sunlight
  • Tube C contained a leaf but sunlight was blocked out using tin foil
  • Tube D contained a leaf but sunlight was partially blocked out using gauze

The students used hydrogen carbonate indicator to show the changes in carbon dioxide level for the four tubes over 30 minutes. Hydrogen carbonate indicator is an orange solution that turns yellow when carbon dioxide levels are high, and purple when carbon dioxide levels are low.


saCZX1r3_the-effect-of-light-on-gas-exchange-sq

Explain the outcome that will be observed for the following:

(i)

Tube B.

(2)

(ii)

Tube C.

(2)

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3a1 mark

The diagram below shows some of the structures in the human body involved with the ventilation process.

2_1

Identify Organ 1 in the diagram above.

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3b
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Describe how the contraction of Organ 1 in part (a) aids the inhalation process.

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3c1 mark

Other than Organ 1, identify one set of muscles involved with ventilation.

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3d
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The graph below shows the effect of exercise on heart rate and breathing, or ventilation, rate. Exercise started at 0 minutes during the investigation.

breathing-heart-rate-and-exercise-1

(i)

Calculate the change in breathing rate between 0 and 4 minutes.

(2)

(ii)

Explain the change in breathing rate that occurs during exercise.

(2)

(iii)

The individual in the investigation stopped exercising after 6 minutes.

Predict how this would affect the breathing rate line shown on the graph.

(2)

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1a
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The data in the table were collected in Japan during a seven-year study.

Scientists collected data on the age of mothers and whether they smoked during pregnancy.

They also recorded the percentage of the babies that had a low birth mass.

Age of mother in years Data for mothers who did not smoke during pregnancy Data for mothers who did smoke during pregnancy
Number of mothers Percentage of babies with low birth mass Number of mothers Percentage of babies with low birth mass
19 and under 1331 11.5 356 16.0
20-24 11243 9.8 1677 13.2
25-29 24099 9.0 2211 13.3
30-34 28695 9.2 1847 14.5
35-39 16537 10.5 934 21.1
40 and over 3242 12.3 181 22.1

(i)

Calculate the percentage of mothers aged 19 years and under who smoked during pregnancy.

(2)

(ii)

Determine the ratio of non-smokers to smokers used in the study.

Give the ratio as the nearest whole number (n) in the form n:1

(2)

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1b
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A student examines this data and concludes that smoking is the main factor that causes low birth mass.

Use the data and your own biological knowledge to comment on this conclusion.

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2a
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An electronic cigarette (e‐cigarette) has been invented.

E‐cigarettes are held in the hand like normal cigarettes. Instead of burning tobacco, e‐cigarettes heat a liquid that contains nicotine and flavourings to produce a vapour that is inhaled.

Scientists carried out an investigation to see how the smoking habits of students changed between 2011 and 2016.

Each year they determined the percentage of students who used e‐cigarettes and the percentage of students who smoked normal cigarettes during the year.

The results are shown in the table.

Year Percentage of students
Using e-cigarettes Smoking normal cigarettes
2011 1.5 15.8
2012 2.8 14.0
2013 4.5 12.7
2014 13.4 9.5
2015 16.0 9.3
2016 11.3 8.0

Plot a line graph to show how the percentage of students who used e‐cigarettes and the percentage of students who smoked normal cigarettes changed between 2011 and 2016.

Join the points with straight lines.

4bi1br-nov-2020-q8a-graph-paper---sq

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2b
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Describe the changes in the percentages of students smoking cigarettes and using e‐cigarettes between 2011 and 2016.

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2c
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The scientists interviewed 60 000 students each year during the period of the investigation.

Calculate the change in the number of students who were smoking normal cigarettes from 2011 to 2016.

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2d
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Some people are promoting e‐cigarettes as a healthier alternative to smoking normal cigarettes.

(i)

Suggest why using e‐cigarettes may be thought to be less harmful than smoking normal cigarettes.

(4)

(ii)

Suggest why many doctors are concerned about promoting the use of e‐cigarettes to young people.

(2)

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3a
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The scientist Richard Doll collected data about deaths from cancer in the 1950s.

The table shows data for four groups.

Cause of death Number of deaths
non-smokers light smokers medium smokers heavy smokers total
 lung cancer 0 12 11 13 36
 other cancers 15 35 24 18 92
 all deaths 82 345 206 157 790

(i)

Plot a bar chart to show the number of deaths from lung cancer and from other cancers for each of the four groups.

(5)

6mJEBkx4_graph-q9a

(ii)

Calculate the difference in the percentage of all deaths caused by lung cancer in heavy smokers compared to the percentage of all deaths caused by lung cancer in light smokers.

(3)

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3b
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This table gives no information about the age of the people who died.

Suggest why age may affect the likelihood of dying from lung cancer.

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3c
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Explain one effect, other than lung cancer, that smoking has on health.

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1a
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The diagram shows the human thorax.

screenshot-2022-11-01-09-16-16

(i)

Which of these are structures Q and R?

(1)

      Q R
  ☐ A bronchiole trachea
  ☐ B bronchus trachea
  ☐ C trachea bronchiole
  ☐ D trachea bronchus

(ii)

Explain how structure S helps a person to exhale.

(3)

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1b
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The graph shows how the volume of air exhaled varies with time during one breath.

This is shown for a person with lung disease and a person with healthy lungs.

edexcel-igcse-jan-22-1br-q10b-lung-disease-graph

Explain why a person with lung disease is often breathless and unable to exercise.

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2a
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The diagram shows apparatus a student uses to compare inhaled and exhaled air.

jan-22-1b-q1a-exhale-experiment

The student breathes into and out of the mouthpiece for one minute.

(i)

Explain which flask exhaled air passes through.

(2)

(ii)

Explain the changes that will happen in the limewater in flask A and in flask B.

(2)

(iii)

The student uses limewater to compare the composition of exhaled and inhaled air. 

Suggest an alternative substance that they could use.

(1)

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2b
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Describe the role of the diaphragm and the intercostal muscles in inhalation.

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3a
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The diagram shows the location of the lungs in a horse.

4bi1br-nov-2020-q3a-horse---sq

(i)

The part labelled X is the:

(1)

  ☐ A bronchiole
  ☐ B bronchus
  ☐ C oesophagus
  ☐ D trachea

(ii)

Which blood vessel transports blood to the horse’s lungs?

(1)

  ☐ A aorta
  ☐ B pulmonary artery
  ☐ C pulmonary vein
  ☐ D vena cava

(iii)

Which row of the table describes what happens when the horse breathes in?

(1)

    Diaphragm External intercostal muscles
☐ A contracts contract
☐ B contracts relax
☐ C relaxes contract
☐ D relaxes relax

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3b
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The table shows the percentage of total blood flow in different body parts of a horse at rest and when running.

Body part Percentage of total blood flow (%)
At rest When running
leg muscle 15 82
intestine 30 3

Comment on the changes in the percentage of total blood flow in these body parts.

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3c
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The horse breathes faster and deeper when running.

Explain why the horse continues to breathe faster and deeper for a period of time after it has stopped running.

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