GCSE Combined Science Homeostasis & response questions by topic

This question is about automatic control in the body.

1. (a)Define homeostasis.[2]
2. (b)Name the three stages of an automatic control system, in order.[2]

A fly lands on your arm and you flick it away without thinking.

1. (a)List the structures the impulse passes through, in order.[3]
2. (b)Name the chemicals that cross the gaps between neurones.[1]

This question is about blood glucose.

1. (a)Name the organ that monitors blood glucose and the two hormones it releases.[3]
2. (b)State what the liver stores glucose as.[1]

This question maps the four reproductive hormones to their sources.

1. (a)Name the gland that releases FSH and LH.[1]
2. (b)Name the two hormones released by the ovaries.[2]
3. (c)State which hormone triggers ovulation.[1]

A class tests whether caffeine affects reaction time with the ruler-drop method.

1. (a)Explain why the students repeated each measurement three times.[1]
2. (b)Describe what the data suggest about caffeine and reaction time.[2]
3. (c)State one variable the students should control.[1]

A patient has a mass of 84 kg and a height of 1.75 m.

1. (a)Calculate the patient’s BMI.[2]
2. (b)Classify the result on the standard scale (25–29.9 = overweight).[1]
3. (c)Explain why this classification matters for Type 2 diabetes risk.[1]

Blood glucose concentration is controlled by negative feedback.

1. (a)Explain what happens when blood glucose falls below the set point.[3]
2. (b)Explain why this is called negative feedback.[2]

Compare the hormonal contraceptive pill with barrier methods such as condoms.

1. (a)Explain how the pill prevents pregnancy.[2]
2. (b)Give one advantage and one disadvantage of barrier methods compared with the pill.[2]

A couple with difficulty conceiving are considering IVF.

1. (a)Describe the main steps of an IVF cycle.[3]
2. (b)Give two drawbacks of IVF.[2]
3. (c)State one reason the couple might still choose it.[1]

Explain how FSH, oestrogen, LH and progesterone interact across the menstrual cycle.

1. (a)Describe what FSH does and how oestrogen responds to it.[2]
2. (b)Explain how ovulation is triggered.[2]
3. (c)State what progesterone does after ovulation.[1]

A student wants to know whether reaction time improves with practice.

1. (a)State the independent and dependent variables.[2]
2. (b)Describe how the student would collect valid data with the ruler-drop method.[2]
3. (c)Explain one way the design could be improved.[2]

Explain why Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes need different first-line treatments.

1. (a)Explain the cause of each type.[2]
2. (b)State the usual first treatment for each and link it to the cause.[2]