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CAIE A Level Biology 9700

Energy and respiration questions

Exam-style questions on Energy and respiration, ordered from foundation to challenge. Pick one, write your answer the way you would in the exam, and it comes back marked against the mark scheme, point by point.

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Written by Markquill to follow the Cambridge International syllabus. Markquill is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Cambridge International.

  1. Describe4 marksStandardAerobic respiration involves four main stages. Describe each stage of aerobic respiration, stating where in the cell it takes place.
  2. Outline4 marksStandardA student uses a simple respirometer to measure the oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide production of germinating wheat seeds over 24 hours. The results show that the volume of CO₂ produced is 2.8 cm³ and the volume of O₂…
  3. Explain5 marksStandardA study compared the energy released from the complete oxidation of 1 g of glucose (a carbohydrate) and 1 g of triacylglycerol (a lipid). The lipid released more than twice the energy per gram compared to glucose. With…
  4. Describe5 marksStandardDescribe the process of lactate fermentation in mammalian muscle cells during vigorous exercise. Also, explain why the yield of ATP per molecule of glucose is much lower in lactate fermentation compared to aerobic…
  5. Outline4 marksStandardSprint athletes rely heavily on anaerobic respiration (lactate fermentation) during a 100 m race, while distance runners use aerobic respiration. Outline why aerobic respiration yields much more ATP per molecule of…
  6. Outline4 marksStandardA student investigates the respiratory quotient (RQ) of germinating pea seeds using a simple respirometer. The respirometer consists of a sealed glass tube containing the seeds, with a capillary tube attached…
  7. Outline5 marksStandardA student used a simple respirometer to measure the respiratory quotient (RQ) of germinating seeds from three plant species, A, B and C. The RQ values obtained are shown in the table. Species RQ A 0.7 B 1.0 C 0.9 It is…
  8. Explain4 marksStandardRice plants (Oryza sativa) are commonly cultivated in flooded paddy fields. The roots of rice are often submerged in waterlogged soil, where oxygen is scarce. Rice roots have two key adaptations that enable them to…
  9. Explain4 marksStandardDuring aerobic respiration, the movement of protons across the inner mitochondrial membrane is essential for ATP production. Explain how the proton gradient across the inner mitochondrial membrane is established and…
  10. Outline5 marksStandardOutline the four stages of aerobic respiration. For each stage, state its location within the cell and describe the main events that occur, including the roles of reduced NAD, reduced FAD, and oxygen.
  11. Describe4 marksStandardA student investigated the effect of temperature on the rate of respiration in yeast using the redox indicator DCPIP. Yeast suspensions were mixed with DCPIP and incubated at different temperatures. The time taken for…
  12. Explain5 marksStandardA researcher adds a small amount of glucose radioactively labelled with carbon-14 at the first carbon (C1) to a suspension of isolated mitochondria and cytosolic extract (containing all enzymes of glycolysis) from rat…
  13. Outline4 marksStandardA glucose molecule contains six carbon atoms. Outline the stages of glycolysis that process this glucose molecule into two pyruvate molecules, stating the number of carbon atoms in the key intermediates at each stage.
  14. Describe4 marksStandardA student investigated the respiratory quotient (RQ) of germinating mung beans using a simple respirometer. The following results were obtained over a 2-hour period: Time (min) O2 absorbed (cm³) CO2 released (cm³) 0 0…
  15. Explain5 marksStandardThe table shows the four stages of aerobic respiration and where each takes place within a cell. Stage Location Glycolysis Cytoplasm Link reaction Mitochondrial matrix Krebs cycle Mitochondrial matrix Oxidative…
  16. Outline4 marksStandardA student sets up a simple respirometer to determine the respiratory quotient (RQ) of germinating mung bean seeds. The apparatus consists of a sealed boiling tube containing the seeds, connected by a capillary tube to…
  17. Explain5 marksStandardA student uses a calorimeter to measure the energy released from the complete oxidation of 1 g of glucose (a carbohydrate) and 1 g of a typical lipid (triglyceride). The lipid releases about 39 kJ, while glucose…
  18. Outline5 marksStandardA student is summarising aerobic respiration in a eukaryotic cell. She draws the following table showing the names of the stages and where each occurs. Stage Location Glycolysis Cytoplasm Link reaction Mitochondrial…
  19. Explain4 marksStandardA muscle cell carries out active transport of calcium ions into the sarcoplasmic reticulum and also uses ATP for muscle contraction. Explain why ATP is described as the universal energy currency for such processes.
  20. Explain4 marksStandardA muscle cell actively transports sodium and potassium ions across its plasma membrane using the Na+/K+ pump. This process requires energy in the form of ATP. Explain why ATP is described as the universal energy…
  21. Outline5 marksStandardDuring aerobic respiration, the inner mitochondrial membrane plays a crucial role in ATP synthesis. Outline the process of oxidative phosphorylation, with particular reference to the movement of protons across the…
  22. Describe5 marksStandardDescribe how you would use a simple respirometer to determine the respiratory quotient (RQ) of germinating sunflower seeds, which respire primarily by oxidising stored lipids. Include in your answer the balanced…
  23. Describe5 marksStandardA student investigated the effect of temperature on the rate of aerobic respiration in yeast using DCPIP as a redox indicator. Yeast suspensions were mixed with DCPIP at different temperatures and the time taken for…
  24. Outline4 marksStandardOutline the four stages of aerobic respiration that occur in a eukaryotic cell, stating where each stage takes place.
  25. Explain4 marksStandardA muscle cell is actively transporting sodium ions out of the cell against their concentration gradient using a sodium-potassium pump. Explain why ATP is described as the universal energy currency, and describe how ATP…
  26. Outline5 marksStandardThe table below shows the respiratory quotients (RQ) of three different respiratory substrates. Substrate RQ Carbohydrate 1.00 Lipid (fat) 0.70 Protein 0.85 A student uses a simple respirometer to investigate the…
  27. Explain5 marksStandardA student investigated the effect of temperature on the rate of aerobic respiration in yeast using the redox indicator DCPIP. Yeast suspensions were mixed with glucose solution and DCPIP, then incubated at different…
  28. Describe3 marksStandardA student places germinating barley seeds in a simple respirometer and measures the gas volumes over a 12-hour period. The results are shown in the table. Gas Volume (cm³) Oxygen consumed 10.0 Carbon dioxide produced…
  29. Describe4 marksStandardThe balanced equation for the complete aerobic respiration of the fatty acid palmitic acid is: mathrmC16H32O2 + 23\,O2 → 16\,CO2 + 16\,H2O Describe how this equation can be used to determine the respiratory quotient…
  30. Outline4 marksStandardOutline how a simple respirometer, consisting of a sealed tube containing germinating seeds, soda lime, and a manometer with a coloured liquid marker, can be used to determine the respiratory quotient (RQ) of the seeds.
  31. Describe5 marksStandardRice plants often grow in flooded paddy fields where the roots are submerged in water. Describe how rice plants are adapted to survive these waterlogged conditions, including the roles of aerenchyma and ethanol…
  32. Describe5 marksStandardA student uses a simple respirometer to investigate the respiration of germinating mung bean seeds. The seeds are respiring a fatty acid as their main respiratory substrate. Describe how the student could use the…
  33. Outline7 marksChallengeMitochondria are the site of aerobic respiration. A student supplies isolated mitochondria with pyruvate and observes oxygen consumption. Outline the link reaction and oxidative phosphorylation, stating where each…
  34. Explain6 marksChallengeA researcher cultures two samples of the same type of human muscle cells. Both samples are provided with the same amount of glucose and kept at 37°C. Culture A is maintained in an oxygen-rich environment, while Culture…
  35. Explain6 marksChallengeGerminating sunflower seeds store primarily lipids, while germinating wheat seeds store primarily starch. A student uses a simple respirometer to measure the respiratory quotient (RQ) of each type of seed during the…
  36. Describe5 marksChallengeA student investigated the effect of temperature on the rate of respiration in yeast using the redox indicator DCPIP (2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol). DCPIP is blue when oxidised and becomes colourless when reduced. A…
  37. Explain6 marksChallengeA biologist compares the energy released from the complete oxidation of equal masses (1 g each) of a typical carbohydrate (starch) and a typical lipid (triacylglycerol). Explain why the lipid releases more energy per…
  38. Explain6 marksChallengeA diagram of a mitochondrion shows the following labelled structures: outer membrane, inner membrane (folded into cristae), intermembrane space, and matrix. Explain how the structure of the mitochondrion is adapted for…
  39. Outline7 marksChallengeA student investigated the effect of temperature on the rate of aerobic respiration in yeast using the redox indicator DCPIP. Yeast suspensions were mixed with glucose and DCPIP and incubated at the temperatures shown…
  40. Describe4 marksChallengeA student uses a simple respirometer to investigate the respiratory quotient (RQ) of germinating sunflower seeds, which have a high lipid content. Over one hour, the student records that 2.5 cm³ of oxygen were consumed…
  41. Outline7 marksChallengeDuring intense exercise, muscle cells may respire anaerobically. Outline the process of anaerobic respiration in mammalian muscle cells and compare its ATP yield per molecule of glucose with that of aerobic…
  42. Describe5 marksChallengeA student investigates aerobic respiration in yeast using a respirometer. At 35°C, the oxygen uptake is highest. The student also examines electron micrographs of mitochondria and observes extensive folding of the…
  43. Describe4 marksChallengeA student used a simple respirometer to measure the gas exchange of germinating mung bean seeds over a 24-hour period at 25°C. The results are shown in the table. Gas Volume change / cm³ Oxygen consumed 12.0 Carbon…
  44. Explain6 marksChallengeA skeletal muscle cell is actively transporting calcium ions into the sarcoplasmic reticulum, a process that requires a substantial input of energy. Explain why ATP is described as the universal energy currency for…
  45. Outline7 marksChallengeA simple respirometer consists of a sealed flask containing germinating seeds, a tube leading to a capillary tube with a coloured liquid marker, and a container of soda lime to absorb carbon dioxide. The apparatus is…
  46. Explain6 marksChallengeA student produces a table summarising the locations of the four stages of aerobic respiration in a eukaryotic cell: Stage Location Glycolysis Cytoplasm Link reaction Mitochondrial matrix Krebs cycle Mitochondrial…
  47. Explain6 marksChallengeA researcher supplies a culture of yeast cells with glucose labelled with carbon-14 on carbon atom 1. After a short time, the cells are lysed and radioactive pyruvate is detected. Explain how the carbon atoms from the…
  48. Explain6 marksChallengeA muscle cell requires energy to contract and to actively transport sodium and potassium ions across its cell surface membrane. Explain why adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is described as the universal energy currency for…
  49. Describe4 marksChallengeA student investigates the respiration of germinating seeds using a simple respirometer. They also study the balanced chemical equation for the complete aerobic respiration of a fatty acid, palmitic acid (C₁₆H₃₂O₂)…
  50. Explain6 marksChallengeExplain why lipids provide more energy per gram than carbohydrates when used as respiratory substrates. In your answer, refer to the role of ATP as a universal energy currency and the need for energy in living organisms.
  51. Describe4 marksChallengeA student used a simple respirometer to investigate the respiratory quotient (RQ) of germinating mung bean seeds. The respirometer consisted of a sealed tube containing the seeds, with a capillary tube attached to…
  52. Describe5 marksChallengeA researcher incubates a cell-free extract of rat muscle with glucose labelled with [14C] at all six carbon positions. After a short time, the researcher analyses the products and detects [14C] only in pyruvate and not…
  53. Describe5 marksChallengeRice plants are often grown in flooded paddy fields where the roots are submerged in waterlogged soil. Describe how the structure of rice roots and the type of respiration they perform enable them to survive in these…
  54. Describe5 marksChallengeMitochondria isolated from rat liver cells are incubated in a buffer solution containing pyruvate, ADP, and inorganic phosphate. Oxygen is supplied, and the mitochondria are actively respiring. Describe the process by…
  55. Outline7 marksChallengeRice (Oryza sativa) is often grown in flooded paddy fields where the roots are submerged. Despite the low oxygen availability in waterlogged soil, rice roots are able to produce ATP to sustain growth. Outline how the…
  56. Outline7 marksChallengeA student set up a simple respirometer to investigate the respiration of germinating maize seeds. The apparatus consisted of a sealed tube containing the seeds, soda lime to absorb carbon dioxide, and a manometer with…
  57. Outline6 marksChallengeA student investigates respiration in germinating seeds using a simple respirometer. The student measures the volume of oxygen consumed and carbon dioxide produced over a period of 30 minutes for three different types…
  58. Describe4 marksChallengeA student used a simple respirometer to investigate the respiration of germinating mung bean seeds at 25°C. Over a 40-minute period, the total volumes were: oxygen absorbed = 5.4 cm³, carbon dioxide released = 4.6 cm³…
  59. Outline7 marksChallengeA student uses a simple respirometer to determine the respiratory quotient (RQ) of germinating mung bean seeds at 25 °C. The student first measures oxygen consumption using soda lime to absorb carbon dioxide, and then…