9700 Biology November 2025 Question Paper 34

1 (a) A plant produces sugars in its leaves. The sugars produced are needed by other parts of the plant and are transported through the phloem as sucrose.

Sucrose is transported to the roots where it is stored as starch. Some of the sucrose is transported to the fruit of the plant where it is stored as fructose and glucose. Sucrose is also transported to the seeds of the plant.

Water and mineral ions are taken up through the roots where they are transported through the xylem to the rest of the plant.

Solutions were made to represent extracts of different tissues and fluids found in a plant: • fluid in the phloem • root tissue • seed tissue • fruit tissue • fluid in the xylem

You are provided with 4 solutions, S1, S2, S3 and S4.

You will: • identify the biological molecules present in each of the 4 solutions • suggest which solution, S1, S2, S3 or S4, could represent each of the plant extracts.

You are provided with the materials shown in Table 1.1. Table 1.1 labelled contents hazard volume / cm3 A dilute hydrochloric acid irritant 20 H sodium hydrogencarbonate powder low ‑ Benedict’s Benedict’s solution harmful irritant 40 Iodine iodine solution irritant 20 S1 solution 1 low 60 S2 solution 2 low 60 S3 solution 3 low 60 S4 solution 4 low 60

If any solution comes into contact with your skin, wash off immediately with cold water.

It is recommended that you wear suitable eye protection. , ,

You will need to: • carry out the test for reducing sugars • carry out the test for non‑reducing sugars • carry out the test for starch • identify the biological molecules in S1, S2, S3 and S4.

(i) State the reagent or reagents that are used to test for reducing sugars and the colour or colours produced if reducing sugars are present. reagent or reagents colour or colours Describe how you will carry out the test for reducing sugars [1]

step 1 Label 4 test‑tubes S1, S2, S3 and S4.

step 2 Put 1 cm3 of each solution into the appropriately labelled test‑tube.

step 3 Carry out the test for reducing sugars on S1, S2, S3 and S4 described in (a)(i).

step 4 Record the colours observed in (a)(iii).

(ii) State the reagent or reagents that are used to test for non‑reducing sugars and the colour or colours produced if non‑reducing sugars are present. reagent or reagents colour or colours Describe how you will carry out the test for non‑reducing sugars [2] , ,

step 5 Label 4 clean test‑tubes S1, S2, S3 and S4.

step 6 Put 1 cm3 of each solution into the appropriately labelled test‑tube.

step 7 Carry out the test for non‑reducing sugars on S1, S2, S3 and S4 described in (a)(ii).

step 8 Record the colours observed in (a)(iii).

step 9 Label 4 clean test‑tubes S1, S2, S3 and S4.

step 10 Put 1 cm3 of each solution into the appropriately labelled test‑tube.

step 11 Carry out the test for starch on S1, S2, S3 and S4.

step 12 Record the colours observed in (a)(iii).

(iii) Record your results in an appropriate table.

[5] , ,

(iv) Complete Table 1.2 to suggest which solution (S1, S2, S3 or S4) could represent each of the plant extracts.

Use your results in (a)(iii) and the information on plant transport given in (a).

A solution could represent more than one plant extract. Table 1.2 plant extract solution fluid in the phloem S... root tissue S... seed tissue S... fruit tissue S... fluid in the xylem S...

[2]

(v) Protein could be present in some of the solutions.

Describe how you would identify which solutions contain protein [2] , ,

(b) A scientist investigated the effect of light on the concentration of sugars in a plant for 24 hours. The plant was kept in the dark for the first 8 hours and then exposed to light for the remaining 16 hours.

Samples were taken from the leaves and from the phloem sieve tubes. The concentration of sugars in each sample was measured.

The results are shown in Table 1.3. Table 1.3 time / hours concentration of sugars / µmol leaves phloem sieve tubes 0 0.38 0.22 5 0.21 0.17 8 0.13 0.11 15 0.24 0.16 24 0.39 0.22

(i) Plot a line graph of the data in Table 1.3 on the grid in Fig. 1.1.

Use a sharp pencil. Fig. 1.1

[4] , ,

(ii) Describe the trend for the concentration of sugars in the leaves and phloem sieve tubes shown in Fig. 1.1 [1]

(iii) Suggest an explanation for the trend in the data when the plant was in the dark and when the plant was in the light. plant in the dark plant in the light [2]

(iv) Calculate the percentage increase in the concentration of sugars in the leaves between 15 and 20 hours.

Show your working.

percentage increase % [2]

[Total: 21] , ,

2 L1 is a slide of a stained transverse section through a plant organ.

(a) (i) Draw a large plan diagram of the region on L1 indicated by the shaded area in Fig. 2.1. Use a sharp pencil.

Use one ruled label line and label to identify one vascular bundle. draw this region Fig. 2.1 [5] , ,

(ii) Observe the xylem vessel elements in the organ on L1.

Select a line of four adjacent xylem vessel elements.

Each xylem vessel element must touch at least one other xylem vessel element. • Make a large drawing of this line of four xylem vessel elements. • Use one ruled label line and label to identify the wall of one xylem vessel element.

[5]

(iii) Identify the plant organ on L1 and give a reason for your answer [1] , ,

(b) Fig. 2.2 is a photomicrograph of a stained transverse section of the same organ from a different plant to L1. Fig. 2.2

Identify two observable differences, other than colour, between the section on L1 and the section in Fig. 2.2.

Record these two observable differences in Table 2.1. Table 2.1 feature L1 Fig. 2.2 1 2 [3] , ,

(c) Fig. 2.3 shows a photomicrograph of a stage micrometer scale that is being used to calibrate an eyepiece graticule.

One division, on either the stage micrometer scale or the eyepiece graticule, is the distance between two adjacent lines.

The length of one division on the stage micrometer in Fig. 2.3 is 1.0 mm. stage micrometer eyepiece graticule 50 60 70 80 90 10 20 30 40 100 0 Fig. 2.3

(i) Calculate the actual length of one eyepiece graticule unit shown in Fig. 2.3.

Give your answer in micrometres (µm).

Show your working.

actual length = µm [2] , ,

Fig. 2.4 is the same photomicrograph as that shown in Fig. 2.2. This was taken with the same microscope and the same lenses used to take the photomicrograph in Fig. 2.3. The eyepiece graticule has been placed across the width of the tissue. 50 60 70 80 90 0 10 20 30 40 100 Fig. 2.4

(ii) Use your calibration of one eyepiece graticule unit from (c)(i) to calculate the actual width of the tissue between the arrows on Fig. 2.4.

Show your working and use appropriate units.

actual width of the tissue between the arrows [2] , ,

(iii) The width of the tissue in Fig. 2.4 varies. Suggest how you could more accurately calculate the width of the tissue [1]

[Total: 19] , ,