IGCSE Biology Transport in animals topical questions

Name the blood vessel described by each statement.

1. (a)Carries oxygenated blood from the heart to the whole body.[1]
2. (b)Carries deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs.[1]
3. (c)Carries deoxygenated blood from the body to the right atrium.[1]
4. (d)Carries oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium.[1]

Match each blood component to its function.

1. (a)Name the component that transports oxygen using haemoglobin.[1]
2. (b)Name the component involved in clotting.[1]
3. (c)Name the liquid that transports urea and hormones.[1]
4. (d)Name the components that defend the body against pathogens.[1]

A student counts her pulse for one minute before and after running for two minutes.

1. (a)State the pulse rate she is monitoring.[1]
2. (b)State and explain the expected change in pulse rate after running.[2]
3. (c)Name one other way of monitoring the activity of the heart.[1]

Name the blood vessel described, then answer the questions.

1. (a)Carries oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart.[1]
2. (b)Carries oxygenated blood from the heart to the whole body.[1]
3. (c)Carries deoxygenated blood from the body back to the heart.[1]
4. (d)The pulmonary artery carries deoxygenated blood, although it is an artery. Explain why.[2]

Complete the table comparing arteries and veins.

1. (a)Complete all four rows.[4]
2. (b)Explain why the wall thickness of an artery suits its function.[2]

A red blood cell starts in the vena cava. List, in order, the structures it passes through until it reaches the aorta.

1. (a)Name the heart chambers and vessels in order.[4]
2. (b)State what happens to the red blood cell as it passes through the lungs.[1]

Discuss how diet and exercise reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.

1. (a)Explain one dietary change and how it reduces the risk.[2]
2. (b)Explain one exercise habit and how it reduces the risk.[2]
3. (c)State one other risk factor a person can control.[1]

An athlete’s stroke volume (blood pumped per beat) and heart rate were measured at rest and during exercise.

1. (a)Calculate the volume of blood pumped per minute at rest.[2]
2. (b)Calculate the volume pumped per minute during exercise.[2]
3. (c)How many times greater is the exercise value than the rest value? Give your answer to two significant figures.[1]
4. (d)Explain why both values increase during exercise.[1]

A student’s pulse rate was recorded at intervals after two minutes of hard exercise.

1. (a)Calculate the percentage decrease in pulse rate from 0 to 6 minutes. Show your working.[2]
2. (b)Describe the trend shown by the data.[1]
3. (c)Explain why the pulse rate is high immediately after exercise stops.[2]
4. (d)A trained athlete’s pulse would return to resting level faster. Suggest why.[1]

A photomicrograph of a blood smear shows four cell types. Cell P is a biconcave disc with no nucleus; cell Q is much larger with a lobed nucleus and granular cytoplasm; cell R has a large round nucleus and clear cytoplasm; cell S is a small cell fragment.

1. (a)Identify cells P, Q, R and S.[4]
2. (b)Name the pigment inside cell P and state its role.[1]
3. (c)Name the component of plasma that helps cell S do its job.[1]

Explain how the structure of capillaries is related to their functions. (Supplement)

1. (a)State the function of capillaries.[1]
2. (b)Describe three structural features of capillaries and link each to exchange.[3]
3. (c)Name the vessel that brings nutrient-rich blood to the liver from the gut.[1]

A cut on a finger bleeds, then a dark scab forms. (Supplement)

1. (a)Describe how a scab forms, using the terms platelets, fibrinogen and fibrin.[3]
2. (b)State two reasons clotting is important.[2]
3. (c)Name the white blood cell type that attacks bacteria that enter the wound by producing antibodies, and one that engulfs them.[2]

Mammals have a double circulation; fish have a single circulation. (Supplement)

1. (a)Describe what happens in a mammal’s double circulation.[2]
2. (b)Explain one advantage of double circulation over single circulation.[2]
3. (c)Name the organs where blood loses pressure in a fish’s single circuit.[1]
4. (d)State how many times blood passes through the heart in one complete circuit of a fish.[1]

A study compared the percentage of men aged 50 with coronary heart disease across lifestyle groups.

1. (a)Identify the single factor in the table linked to the highest percentage of disease.[1]
2. (b)Calculate how many times greater the risk is for smokers than for non-smokers.[1]
3. (c)Explain how smoking increases the risk of coronary heart disease.[2]
4. (d)State two changes of lifestyle that would lower a person’s risk.[1]
5. (e)The data show a correlation. Explain why this alone does not prove that saturated fat causes the disease.[2]