waecE-LEARNING
Biology Paper 2,Nov/Dec 2012  
Questions:   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8   Main
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Question 1

  1. (i)   What is respiration?                                                                          [3 marks]                                                     (ii)   Explain three ways in which the respiratory surfaces in mammals are 

        adapted to their functions                                                               [6 marks ]

  1.  Outline how gases are exchanged in the leaves  of flowering plants    [7 marks ]
  2.  In a tabular form, state four differences between aerobic and             [4 marks ]

  anaerobic respiration.                                                                                            

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OBSERVATION

 This was the most popular question, though it was not generally well treated by most candidates.  Many candidates could define respiration but could not associate structural features with their functions and describe the process of gaseous exchange in plants.  In place of ‘stomata’ some candidates wrote ‘lenticel’

 Many candidates confused biochemical processes taking place in cells to produce energy  with inhalation and exhalation.  Candidates could not also give corresponding answers in  the differences   between the aerobic and anaerobic respiration.

           Expected answers are:
                                                                                       
     1(a) (ii)   Adaptation of respiratory surfaces in mammals

  • thin walled/permeable; for easy diffusion of gases;
  • large surface area; to enhance/allow maximum diffusion of gases;
  • moist surface area; for gases to dissolve;
  • well supplied with blood vessels/highly vascularised; for easy transport/circulation of gases .
  • well ventilated surfaces; for easy access to gases.

 
                                                                                                 
   (b)   Gaseous exchange in the leaves of flowering plants

  •  during darkness, oxygen from the atmosphere;
  • diffuses through the stomata into the air spaces;
  • of the mesophyII layer of the leaf;
  • it dissolves in the moist surfaces of the cells;
  • and then diffuses into the mesophyII cells;
  • the carbon dioxide produced from these cells diffuses out;   
  • through the stomata;
  • during the day, oxygen diffuses out of the mesophyII of the  leaf;
  • to the atmosphere;
  • carbon dioxide from the atmosphere;
  • diffuses into the mesophyII of the cells.

 

(c)    Differences between aerobic and anaerobic respiration

Aerobic

Anaerobic

-   oxygen is needed/required
-   water is produced as by                
     product
-   a lot of energy is produced/38
    ATPs produced
-   ethanol/lactic acid not formed
     as by-product
-    occurs in the mitochondrion
     and cytoplasm
-    sugar is completely oxidised
-    occurs mostly in plant and
     animal cells

   oxygen is not used/required/needed;
   water is not produced as by
    product;
    small amount of energy is
    produced/ 2ATPs produced
    ethanol/lactic acid formed as
    by product;
    occurs in the cytoplasm only;
    sugar is not completely oxidised;
    occurs in some bacteria/fungi ;
    and muscle cells of animals.

        
                No table  minus   1                                                  
                 Points must correspond to score.
                  

 

 

                                                                                                  

 

Growth Curve of an insect                                             Growth curve of an annual herbaceous plant

 

 

 

 

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