HKDSE BIOLOGY: Connecting Concepts Book 1A

Answers to Exam practice

Answers to Exam practice

Chapter 3 Cellular organization

Multiple-choice questions (p.3-36)

1. C

2. A
The nucleus is the most distinct part of the cell that can be observed with a light microscope.
Endoplasmic reticulum, ribosomes and mitochondria cannot be observed with a light
microscope at ×400 magnification.

3. A

4. D

5. B
Among the four options, chloroplasts are the bigger organelles. They contain the green
pigment chlorophyll which makes them easily observed.

6. C
In humans, red blood cells do not have a nucleus.

7. B

8. D
Muscle cells have a high density of mitochondria to fulfil their energy demand.

9. B
Insulin is protein in nature. Cells that secrete proteins have a high density of rough
endoplasmic reticulum.

10. A
Red blood cells are specialized for oxygen transport. They lack many organelles such as the
nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria.

11. B

12. A
Similar cells group together to form a tissue. They work together to perform one or more
particular functions.

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HKDSE BIOLOGY: Connecting Concepts Book 1A
Answers to Exam practice

Short questions (p.3-38)

13. (a) Adjust the slide until cell X is at the centre of the field of view. (1)

(b) Adjust the condenser, iris diaphragm and mirror to increase the illumination of the
slide. (1)
Slowly turn the fine adjustment knob until the image becomes sharp. (1)

14. HKALE Biology 2011 Paper 1 Q3(a)–(b)

15. (a) (i) Cell B has a cell wall / a large vacuole. (1)

(ii) Cell C does not have a true nucleus. / Its DNA lies free in the cytoplasm. (1)

(b) 0.034 ÷ (2 × 10-6) (1)

= 17000X (1)

16. (a) A: cytoplasm (1)

B: cell membrane (1)

(b) (i)
Part of algal cell Function
nucleus controls activities of the cell /
contains genetic materials (or DNA or nucleic acids)
chloroplast photosynthesis
cell wall gives shape to plant cells /
prevents plant cells from bursting when water enters the cells
(1 mark for each correct blank, 3)

(ii) I: chloroplast / cell wall (1)

II: nucleus / chloroplast (1)

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HKDSE BIOLOGY: Connecting Concepts Book 1A
Answers to Exam practice

17.
Feature Plant cells Animal cells Bacterial cells
Nuclear membrane ✓ ✓ 
Ribosomes ✓ ✓ ✓
Mitochondria ✓ ✓ 
Chloroplasts ✓  
Cellulose cell wall ✓  
(1 mark for each correct row, 5)

Structured questions (p.3-41)

18. (a) (i) It can be rotated to bring the suitable objective into position. (1)

(ii) It regulates the amount of light passing through the condenser. (1)

(iii) It reflects light to the slide from a light source. (1)

(b)
Eyepiece lens magnification Objective lens magnification Total magnification
5X 10X 50X
5X 40X 200X
10X 40X 400X
(1 mark for each correct blank, 3)

(c) Specimens observed with an electron microscope must be completely dehydrated and
chemically treated. (1)
This would kill the Paramecium. (1)

(d) To make the surface flat. / To prevent the specimen from drying up. / To prevent the
objective lens from touching the specimen. (1)

19. (a) (i) A: nucleus (1)

It contains the genetic material DNA which controls all activities of the cell. (1)
B: cytoplasm (1)
It holds all the organelles in a cell / provides a site for chemical reactions to take
place. (1)

(ii) Clear labelling lines pointing to cell membranes (1)

The cell membrane controls the movement of substances into and out of the cell. (1)

(b) Cell X is surrounded by a cell wall while cell Y is not. (1)

Cell X contains chloroplasts while cell Y does not. (1)

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HKDSE BIOLOGY: Connecting Concepts Book 1A
Answers to Exam practice

20. (a) (i) A contains genetic material (or DNA or nucleic acids). (1)
B produces ribosomes. (1)

(ii) C: nuclear pore (1)

D: nuclear membrane (1)
E: ribosomes (1)

(b) (i) mitochondria (1)

They are the sites of aerobic respiration / ATP synthesis. (1)

(ii) One is a longitudinal section and the other is a transverse (cross) section. (1)

(c) Length of scale bar = 49/50 mm (1)

= 49 000/50 000 μm (1)
49 000/50 000 ÷ 8 = 6125/6250 (1)

21. (a) (i) A: mitochondrion (1)

B: ribosomes (1)
C: nucleus / nuclear membrane (1)
D: smooth endoplasmic reticulum (1)

(ii) B (1)

(iii) rough endoplasmic reticulum (1)

It is responsible for the synthesis and transport of proteins. (1)

(b) The mitochondria, ribosomes and nuclear envelope are visible in the diagram. These
structures are too small to be observed with a light microscope. (1)

22. (a) Length of the cell = 66 mm = 66000 μm (1)

66000 ÷ 3.5 = 18857 (1)

(b) (i) B (1)

(ii) C (1)

(iii) F (1)

(iv) D (1)

(c) nucleus / endoplasmic reticulum / mitochondrion (Any two, 2)

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HKDSE BIOLOGY: Connecting Concepts Book 1A
Answers to Exam practice

23. (a) Drawing showing that the nuclear membrane is a double-membrane. (1)
The mitochondrion has a smooth outer membrane and a highly folded inner
membrane. (1)
Correct labels (1)

(b) (i) The cell wall supports and gives shape to the plant cell. (1)

(ii) The palisade mesophyll is less active in metabolism / requires less energy than the
epithelial cell of the thyroid gland. (1)

(c) (i) An organ consists of various tissues / types of cells while a tissue consists of one
type of cells only. (1)

(ii) Both tissues and organs are made up of cells. (1)

Essays (p.3-44)
24. • Light microscopes and electron microscopes with increased magnification and resolution
have been developed. (2)
Microscopes enable us to gain understanding of:
• cellular structures (1)
• tissue structure, e.g. histology of digestive system related to function, muscle structure,
kidney tubules, leaf structure (1)
• life processes, e.g. cell division, fertilization, capillary circulation (1)
• organisms as a whole and their classification, e.g. bacteria and viruses, taxonomic
differences in small organisms (1)
• other uses, e.g. understanding effects of disease / cancer, opportunities to improve or alter
organisms (1)
Communication (3)

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HKDSE BIOLOGY: Connecting Concepts Book 1A
Answers to Exam practice

25. Similarities: (Max. 4)

• both possess a cell membrane / cytoplasm (1)
• their cell membranes are composed of phospholipids and proteins (fluid mosaic structure)
(1)
• both possess ribosomes (1)
• both possess DNA (1)
• both may contain glycogen (1)
Differences: (Max. 4)
• bacterial cells are much smaller (up to 10 μm) than animal cells (up to 100 μm) (1)
• a cell wall surrounds a bacterial cell, but not an animal cell (1)
• bacterial cells may have a capsule, while animal cells do not (1)
• the cell membrane of an animal cell contains cholesterol (absent in bacterial cell
membrane) (1)
• ribosomes in a bacterial cell are smaller than those in an animal cell (1)
• DNA linear in an animal cell while bacterial DNA is circular (1)
• DNA molecules are associated with proteins in animal chromosomes while bacterial DNA
lacks protein (is naked) (1)
• bacterial cells may contain plasmids, while animal cells do not (1)
• genetic material is enclosed in a nuclear membrane in animal cells, while genetic material
lies free in the cytoplasm of bacterial cells (1)
• bacterial cells contain no membrane-bound organelles, while animal cells do (e.g.
mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, lysosomes) (1)

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