AQA GCSE Combined Science: Synergy — Paper 1 (Life and Environmental Sciences, Foundation Tier)

Total marks: 100 · Duration: 105 minutes · Tier: Foundation

Instructions to candidates

Answer all questions in the spaces provided.
You are expected to use a calculator where appropriate.
This paper assesses Life and Environmental Sciences: cell biology, transport in cells, and communicable disease and the body's defences.
The maximum mark for this paper is 100. The marks for each question are shown in brackets.

Paper

Section A — Multiple Choice (10 marks)

For each question, choose the one correct answer.

1. Which part of an animal cell controls its activities? (1 mark) A) Cell membrane B) Nucleus C) Cytoplasm D) Mitochondria

2. Which structure does a bacterial cell not have? (1 mark) A) Cell wall B) Cytoplasm C) Nucleus D) Cell membrane

3. Movement of water across a membrane is called… (1 mark) A) diffusion B) osmosis C) active transport D) filtration

4. Which is a job of red blood cells? (1 mark) A) Fight disease B) Carry oxygen C) Clot blood D) Make antibodies

5. Malaria is caused by a… (1 mark) A) bacterium B) virus C) protist D) fungus

6. Antibodies are produced by… (1 mark) A) red blood cells B) white blood cells C) platelets D) plasma

7. Which is a healthy way to reduce the risk of heart disease? (1 mark) A) Smoking B) Exercise C) High-fat diet D) Stress

8. The order of organisation is cell → tissue → … → organ system. (1 mark) A) organism B) organ C) molecule D) cell

9. Which process needs energy to move substances against a gradient? (1 mark) A) Diffusion B) Osmosis C) Active transport D) Evaporation

10. A vaccine contains a… (1 mark) A) live, harmful pathogen B) dead or weakened pathogen C) antibiotic D) painkiller

Section B — Structured Questions (90 marks)

11. Cells are the building blocks of organisms. (14 marks) (a) Name two structures found in a plant cell but not an animal cell. (2 marks) (b) State the function of the mitochondria and the ribosomes. (2 marks) (c) A cell measures 0.04 mm. Convert this to micrometres. (1 mark) (d) The image is 50 mm and the real size is 0.04 mm. Calculate the magnification. (2 marks) (e) Describe how a sperm cell and a root hair cell are each adapted to their function. (4 marks) (f) Name the type of cell division that produces two identical body cells. (1 mark) (g) State two uses of stem cells. (2 marks)

12. Substances move into and out of cells. (13 marks) (a) Define diffusion. (2 marks) (b) Give two examples of substances that move by diffusion in the body. (2 marks) (c) Explain why potato cylinders lose mass in concentrated sugar solution. (3 marks) (d) Give three features of an efficient exchange surface. (3 marks) (e) Explain why large multicellular organisms need specialised exchange surfaces. (3 marks)

13. The circulatory system transports substances. (14 marks) (a) Name the three types of blood vessel. (3 marks) (b) Explain why arteries have thick, elastic walls. (2 marks) (c) Describe how the structure of a capillary suits its function. (2 marks) (d) Name the liquid part of the blood and two things it transports. (3 marks) (e) Explain why the human circulatory system is described as double. (2 marks) (f) State one lifestyle factor that increases the risk of coronary heart disease. (2 marks)

14. Pathogens cause communicable diseases. (14 marks) (a) Define pathogen. (1 mark) (b) Match each disease to its pathogen: measles, salmonella, athlete's foot, malaria. (4 marks) (c) Describe two ways the body stops pathogens entering. (2 marks) (d) Describe three ways white blood cells defend the body. (3 marks) (e) Explain how vaccination protects against disease. (4 marks)

15. Disease can be treated and prevented. (12 marks) (a) Explain the difference between an antibiotic and a painkiller. (2 marks) (b) Explain why antibiotics should not be used to treat a cold. (2 marks) (c) Describe how a new drug is tested before being used (give two stages). (4 marks) (d) Explain why the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is a concern. (4 marks)

16. Extended response. (9 marks) (a) Describe how the small intestine is adapted to absorb digested food efficiently. (3 marks) (b) A student investigated the effect of exercise on heart rate. Describe the changes to heart rate and breathing during exercise and explain why they happen. (6 marks)

17. This question is about cells, transport and disease. (14 marks) (a) Define diffusion. (2 marks) (b) Use magnification = image size ÷ real size to find the magnification when the image is 30 mm and the real size is 0.06 mm. (2 marks) (c) Name the type of cell division that produces gametes. (1 mark) (d) Describe two ways white blood cells defend the body against pathogens. (2 marks) (e) Explain how vaccination makes a person immune to a disease. (3 marks) (f) Name a disease caused by a virus and give the example. (1 mark) (g) Give two healthy lifestyle factors that reduce the risk of non-communicable disease. (2 marks) (h) State the function of plasma in the blood. (1 mark)

Mark Scheme

1. B 2. C 3. B 4. B 5. C 6. B 7. B 8. B 9. C 10. B [10]

11. (a) cell wall, chloroplast, permanent vacuole — any 2 B1 B1 (b) mitochondria: (aerobic) respiration (1); ribosomes: protein synthesis (1) B1 B1 (c) 40 µm B1 (d) 50 ÷ 0.04 = ×1250 M1 A1 (e) sperm: tail/mitochondria to swim to the egg (2); root hair: large surface area/thin wall for absorbing water and ions (2) B1×4 (f) mitosis B1 (g) any two: treat disease/diabetes, replace damaged cells, research, grow new tissue B1 B1 [14]

12. (a) net movement of particles from high to low concentration (1) down a gradient (1) B1 B1 (b) any two: oxygen, CO₂, glucose, urea B1 B1 (c) water leaves the cells by osmosis (1) to the more concentrated solution (1) so they lose mass (1) B1 B1 B1 (d) large surface area; thin; good blood/air supply (steep gradient) B1 B1 B1 (e) small surface-area-to-volume ratio (1); diffusion alone too slow (1); so need exchange surfaces/transport systems (1) B1 B1 B1 [13]

13. (a) arteries, veins, capillaries B1 B1 B1 (b) carry blood at high pressure (1); walls withstand/maintain pressure (1) B1 B1 (c) one-cell-thick wall (1); short diffusion distance for exchange (1) B1 B1 (d) plasma (1); any two: CO₂, urea, glucose, hormones, heat B1 B1 B1 (e) blood passes through the heart twice per circuit (1); lungs loop + body loop (1) B1 B1 (f) any one: smoking, poor diet, lack of exercise B1 B1 [14]

14. (a) a microorganism that causes disease B1 (b) measles–virus; salmonella–bacterium; athlete's foot–fungus; malaria–protist B1×4 (c) any two: skin barrier, mucus/cilia, stomach acid B1 B1 (d) phagocytosis; antibodies; antitoxins B1 B1 B1 (e) weakened/dead pathogen injected (1); white blood cells make antibodies (1); memory cells stay (1); faster response next time (1) B1×4 [14]

15. (a) antibiotic kills bacteria (1); painkiller only relieves symptoms (1) B1 B1 (b) colds are caused by viruses (1); antibiotics do not kill viruses (1) B1 B1 (c) tested on cells/tissues then animals (1); then clinical trials on healthy volunteers (1); then patients (1); checking safety/dose/effectiveness (1) — any 4 B1×4 (d) resistant bacteria survive antibiotics (1); spread (1); infections become hard to treat (1); fewer effective drugs (1) B1×4 [12]

16. (a) villi/large surface area; thin wall; good blood supply — any 3 B1 B1 B1 (b) levels, 6: heart rate and breathing rate/depth increase to supply more O₂/glucose and remove CO₂; muscles respire more. L3 (5–6) explained; L2 (3–4); L1 (1–2). [9]

17. (a) net movement of particles from high to low concentration (1) down a gradient (1) B1 B1 (b) 30 ÷ 0.06 = ×500 M1 A1 (c) meiosis B1 (d) any two: engulf pathogens (phagocytosis), produce antibodies, produce antitoxins B1 B1 (e) a dead/weakened pathogen is introduced (1); white blood cells make antibodies and memory cells (1); a faster, larger response occurs on reinfection (1) B1 B1 B1 (f) e.g. measles (virus) B1 (g) any two: regular exercise, balanced diet, not smoking, limiting alcohol B1 B1 (h) transports dissolved substances (e.g. CO₂, glucose, urea, hormones) B1 [14]

AQA GCSE Combined Science (Synergy) — Paper 1 (Life and Environmental Sciences, Foundation Tier)