Cambridge IGCSE™

BIOLOGY 0610/12
Paper 1 Multiple Choice (Core) October/November 2023
45 minutes

You must answer on the multiple choice answer sheet.

*0510785060*

You will need: Multiple choice answer sheet

Soft clean eraser
Soft pencil (type B or HB is recommended)

INSTRUCTIONS
 There are forty questions on this paper. Answer all questions.
 For each question there are four possible answers A, B, C and D. Choose the one you consider correct
and record your choice in soft pencil on the multiple choice answer sheet.
 Follow the instructions on the multiple choice answer sheet.
 Write in soft pencil.
 Write your name, centre number and candidate number on the multiple choice answer sheet in the
spaces provided unless this has been done for you.
 Do not use correction fluid.
 Do not write on any bar codes.
 You may use a calculator.

INFORMATION
 The total mark for this paper is 40.
 Each correct answer will score one mark.
 Any rough working should be done on this question paper.

This document has 16 pages.

IB23 11_0610_12/5RP
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1 Which processes are characteristics of all living organisms?

1 digestion
2 respiration
3 excretion

A 1, 2 and 3 B 1 only C 2 and 3 only D 2 only

2 Using the binomial system, the Arctic fox is called Vulpes lagopus.

Which row is correct?

Vulpes lagopus

A genus kingdom
B genus species
C species genus
D species kingdom

3 The diagrams show four different types of arthropod.

Which organism is labelled with its correct arthropod group?

A B C D

crustacean insect myriapod arachnid

4 Which features are possessed by all plant cells?

a cell wall chloroplasts

A   key
B    = yes
C    = no
D  

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5 The diameter of an egg is 6.5 cm. A student draws the egg. The diameter of the egg in the
drawing is 19.5 cm.

What is the magnification of the drawing?

A 0.3 B 3.0 C 6.5 D 300

6 The diagram shows an experiment to investigate osmosis in living cells.

water
potato

glass dish

concentrated
sugar solution

What happens to the volumes of water and sugar solution after 12 hours?

volume of
volume of water
sugar solution

A decreases increases
B increases increases
C increases remains the same
D remains the same decreases

7 Which process causes oxygen to pass from an alveolus in the lung into a blood capillary?

A assimilation
B diffusion
C excretion
D osmosis

8 Which row identifies the chemical elements in proteins?

carbon hydrogen oxygen nitrogen

A     key
B      = present
C      = absent
D    

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9 The table shows some large biological molecules and some small biological molecules.

large biological small biological

molecules molecules

1 cellulose glucose
2 oil amino acids
3 glycogen glucose
4 protein ethanol

Which rows correctly pair large molecules with the smaller molecules used to make them?

A 1 and 2 B 1 and 3 C 2 and 3 D 3 and 4

10 Which changes could cause an enzyme to denature?

1 change in pH
2 change in temperature
3 change in substrate concentration

A 1, 2 and 3 B 1 and 2 only C 1 and 3 only D 2 and 3 only

11 Which features of a leaf allow more diffusion of carbon dioxide into the palisade cells for
photosynthesis?

number of thickness
stomata of the leaf

A few thick
B few thin
C many thick
D many thin

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12 The diagram shows a cell with groups of bacteria around its edge.

cell cytoplasm

spiral-shaped
chloroplast

bacteria

The bacteria have moved to areas of high oxygen concentration.

Which process in the cell causes the bacteria to form these groups?

A digestion
B photosynthesis
C reproduction
D respiration

13 The diagram shows the teeth in the lower jaw of a human.

Which tooth is a premolar?

B
C
A

14 Some medicines are made into tablets which are coated in a starch-like substance.

The coating protects the medicine from the effects of gastric juice.

Which enzyme digests the coating and what is produced by this action?

enzyme products

A amylase fatty acids and glycerol

B amylase simple reducing sugars
C lipase fatty acids and glycerol
D lipase simple reducing sugars

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15 In which part of the alimentary canal are most nutrients absorbed into the blood?

A colon
B oesophagus
C small intestine
D stomach

16 From which part of a leaf does most water evaporate during transpiration?

A the cuticle
B the guard cells
C the spongy mesophyll cells
D the xylem vessels

17 The photograph shows a cross-section through a sunflower stem.

What is the name and function of the tissue labelled Z?

name of tissue function of tissue

A phloem transport of mineral ions

B phloem transport of sucrose
C xylem transport of mineral ions
D xylem transport of sucrose

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18 What ensures the one-way flow of blood in the human circulatory system?

A capillaries
B muscles
C valves
D ventricles

19 In which row is the component of blood correctly linked to its function?

blood component function

A plasma transport of carbon dioxide

B platelets phagocytosis
C red blood cells antibody production
D white blood cells blood clotting

20 Which statement describes a transmissible disease?

A a disease caused when a pathogen passes from one host to another

B a disease caused when a pathogen passes through a host’s body
C a disease caused when a pathogen passes to the host’s body only by direct contact
D a disease caused when a pathogen passes to the host’s body only by indirect contact

21 What is the composition of expired air compared with inspired air?

carbon dioxide oxygen water vapour

A decreased increased increased

B decreased decreased increased
C increased decreased decreased
D increased decreased increased

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22 The diagram shows the human breathing system.

What are the labelled structures?

1 2 3

A bronchus bronchiole trachea

B bronchiole bronchus trachea
C trachea bronchus bronchiole
D trachea diaphragm bronchus

23 Yeast cells can convert glucose into alcohol and carbon dioxide.

Which statement about this process is correct?

A The alcohol produced can be used to make bread rise.

B The carbon dioxide produced can be burnt as a biofuel.
C The yeast cells are using oxygen for this process.
D The yeast cells are carrying out anaerobic respiration.

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24 In an experiment to investigate anaerobic respiration, two bottles are set up in a warm room, as
shown.

balloon balloon

sugar, yeast yeast

and water and water

P Q

What would happen to each balloon after one day?

A B

P Q P Q

C D

P Q P Q

25 Which row shows an organ and the substance it excretes?

substance
organ
excreted

A bladder water
B kidney ions
C lung oxygen
D urethra urea

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26 The diagram shows a reflex arc in a human nervous system. The person’s finger has just made
contact with a sharp object.

Which part is the motor neurone?

27 Which lines on the graphs show the effects of adrenaline on pupil diameter and heart rate?

W Y

pupil heart
diameter rate

X Z

time time
adrenaline is released adrenaline is released

A W and Y B W and Z C X and Y D X and Z

28 Which statements about tropisms in plants are correct?

1 Shoots grow towards light and away from gravity.

2 Shoots grow away from light and towards gravity.
3 Roots grow towards light and away from gravity.
4 Roots grow away from light and towards gravity.

A 1 and 3 B 1 and 4 C 2 and 3 D 2 and 4

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29 What is defined as a substance that is taken into the body and modifies or affects chemical
reactions in the body?

A antibody
B drug
C hormone
D pathogen

30 Which row is correct for asexual reproduction?

offspring compared
number of parents
with parent or parents

A one genetically different

B one genetically identical
C two genetically different
D two genetically identical

31 The diagram shows some stages in reproduction.

female structure M egg

which releases eggs cell
process cell Q
P
male structure N sperm
which releases sperm cell

Which letter correctly identifies the structure or process?

A M is the oviduct.
B N is the sperm duct.
C P is fertilisation.
D Q is the gamete.

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32 The diagram shows half a flower.

Which structure produces pollen?

33 Two parents have the genotypes Bb and bb for a particular feature.

What is the probability of these parents having offspring that are homozygous recessive for this
feature?

A 100% B 75% C 50% D 25%

34 A genetic cross between two organisms may be shown as Tt  Tt.

What does T represent?

A a dominant allele
B a dominant chromosome
C a recessive allele
D a recessive chromosome

35 Some phenotypes are listed.

1 blood group
2 body mass
3 height
4 seed colour in peas

Which phenotypes are examples of continuous variation?

A 1, 2 and 3 B 2 and 3 only C 2 and 4 D 3 and 4

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36 A food chain is shown.

lettuce plant  slug  hedgehog

By which process is energy transferred from the lettuce plant to the slug?

A egestion
B excretion
C ingestion
D respiration

37 A single bush is food for a large population of greenfly. Several ladybirds eat the greenfly. The
ladybirds are eaten by a bird.

Which diagram shows the pyramid of numbers for this food chain?

A B

C D

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38 Scientists studied the uptake of potassium ions from chemical fertilisers by wheat plants.

The results are shown.

350

300

250

200
potassium
uptake / kg
per hectare
150

100

50

0
0 60 120 180 240 300 360 420

days after planting

What is the difference in the uptake of potassium ions at 360 days after planting compared to
30 days after planting?

A 295 kg per hectare

B 290 kg per hectare
C 285 kg per hectare
D 280 kg per hectare

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39 A student investigated gas exchange using the apparatus shown.

mouthpiece

limewater

tube X tube Y

What would be the appearance of the limewater in tube X and tube Y after breathing in and out of
the mouthpiece for one minute?

tube X tube Y

A clear clear
B clear cloudy
C cloudy clear
D cloudy cloudy

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40 The diagram shows the flow of energy in an ecosystem.

respiration

Sun producer 1 2

death

Which row correctly completes boxes 1, 2 and 3?

1 2 3

A herbivore carnivore decomposer

B carnivore herbivore decomposer
C decomposer carnivore herbivore
D carnivore decomposer herbivore

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Assessment International Education Copyright Acknowledgements Booklet. This is produced for each series of examinations and is freely available to download
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Cambridge Assessment International Education is part of Cambridge Assessment. Cambridge Assessment is the brand name of the University of Cambridge
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