GCSE Biology Brain, eye & heat questions by topic

Match each brain region to its function.

1. (a)Muscle coordination and balance.[1]
2. (b)Breathing and heart rate.[1]
3. (c)Memory and language.[1]
4. (d)Name the bony structure protecting the brain.[1]

Name the eye structure described in each case.

1. (a)The transparent window that refracts light as it enters.[1]
2. (b)The structure whose muscles control the pupil size.[1]
3. (c)The light-sensitive layer of receptors.[1]
4. (d)The nerve carrying impulses to the brain.[1]

A person steps from a warm room into freezing wind.

1. (a)Name the brain centre that responds.[1]
2. (b)State what happens to skin blood vessels.[1]
3. (c)State what happens to sweating.[1]
4. (d)Explain why shivering helps.[1]

A patient’s skin temperature rises from 32 °C to 35 °C on a hot afternoon while core temperature stays at 37 °C.

1. (a)Calculate the percentage rise in skin temperature, to 1 decimal place.[2]
2. (b)Suggest why core temperature stayed constant.[1]

The human brain has several specialised regions.

1. (a)Name the brain region that coordinates balance.[1]
2. (b)Name the brain region that controls breathing rate.[1]
3. (c)Name two structures that protect the brain.[2]

Name the eye structure best matched to each job.

1. (a)Refracts (bends) light most as it enters the eye.[1]
2. (b)Changes thickness to fine-focus the light.[1]
3. (c)Contains the light receptors.[1]
4. (d)Carries impulses to the brain.[1]

Describe how the eye focuses light from a distant object.

1. (a)Describe the pathway of the light into the eye.[3]
2. (b)Describe the changes that focus it on the retina.[3]

Explain why investigating the brain is difficult.

1. (a)Give three reasons.[3]
2. (b)Describe two methods used to study the brain and a limitation of one.[3]

A driver cannot read the number plate of a car 20 m away, but reads her book fine.

1. (a)Name the defect.[1]
2. (b)Explain where the image forms and why.[2]
3. (c)Name the correcting lens and how it works.[2]

Explain how the body loses heat when it is too hot.

1. (a)Describe three responses.[6]

A walker steps from a warm café into freezing wind. Her skin temperature falls from 32 °C to 30 °C, while her core temperature stays at 37 °C.

1. (a)Calculate the percentage fall in her skin temperature.[2]
2. (b)Name two responses that reduce her heat loss.[2]
3. (c)Explain why her core temperature is more important than her skin temperature.[1]

A teenager with myopia (short sight) cannot see the whiteboard clearly from the back row.

1. (a)Describe what happens to light from the whiteboard in a myopic eye.[2]
2. (b)Explain how a concave lens corrects the defect.[2]
3. (c)Explain how laser surgery offers a different correction.[2]

Compare how the eye responds to bright and dim light.

1. (a)Describe the pupil changes and their purpose.[4]
2. (b)Name the muscles responsible.[1]

Evaluate laser eye surgery versus wearing glasses for correcting myopia.

1. (a)Present benefits, risks and a reasoned judgement.[6]

Explain how the body maintains a constant core temperature during a marathon run in summer.

1. (a)Write a full explanation covering detection, responses and feedback.[6]

A builder works outdoors in freezing rain all day. By evening he is shivering, pale, and his fingers look white.

1. (a)Explain each observation using thermoregulation.[3]
2. (b)Explain why prolonged vasoconstriction can be harmful.[2]

A new drug claims to improve memory. Explain the challenges of testing it safely on the human brain.

1. (a)Write a full answer covering access, monitoring and risk.[6]

An optician measures a patient’s pupil diameter in bright light and in near-darkness.

1. (a)Calculate the percentage increase in pupil diameter from bright light to near-darkness.[2]
2. (b)Explain how the change happens and why it is described as a reflex.[2]
3. (c)Explain why protecting the retina from bright light matters.[2]