ANALYSIS OF MAY/JUNE 2012 BIOLOGY PAPER 2

This is a short (hopefully! :)) analysis of this year's paper, and by this we can SORT OF predict what may come out in Nov 2012. Please DO NOT assume that the topics tested in May/June will not come out again, because they probably will in some form or other. All we can do is eliminate the topic and type of question asked.

QUESTION 1
TOPIC: THE EYE
a) i) 2 parts to be labelled: pupil and cornea
ii) Effect of light decreasing on pupil- explain
iii) reflex action question- related to action of circular and radial muscles in iris
b) effect of retina detaching- not in syllabus, but using knowledge of function of retina to explain what could happen if retina is damaged.
c) Effect of cataracts- again, not in syllabus, but using knowledge of function of lens to explain what could happen if the lens becomes cloudy.

QUESTION 2
TOPIC: FOOD/NUTRITION
ai) calculation of GDA (guideline daily amount) based on information (2 pictures of cereal packet) given (very easy!!)
ii ) Hard-working farmer- how does his daily energy requirement differ from GDA given? (average adult= 8400kJ of energy)
b) Why is cereal D better for constipation than cereal C.... look at fibre values :)
ci) Describe symptoms of rickets
ii) which cereal should be eaten to prevent rickets in children and explain.....

QUESTION 3
TOPIC: CELLS
ai) draw cell wall
ii) draw nucleus
iii) draw vacuole

b) how do young cells become xylem.... not really taught, but it is based on your knowledge of xylem vessels
-xylem is dead, hollow, deposited with lignin... SOOOOOO ANSWER IS: the young cells need to DIE, all the cell contents DRY UP.... and LIGNIN needs to be DEPOSITED inside them....
c) Suggest why stem remains firm but leaves become limp, when branch is cut
Clue: stem have xylem.... leaves don't.... and where is water most lost from the plant??

QUESTION 4
TOPIC: REP. IN PLANTS- SEED DISPERSAL + GENETICS
a) how seeds of tomato disperse- explain
b) i) disadvantage of extra chromosomes
ii) triploid condition in plants but not in animals?
ANSWER: plants can reproduce asexually, animals do not
c) Explain how two normal parents can produce a Down's Syndrome child

QUESTION 5
TOPIC: ENZYMES
ai) optimum temp for enzymes...
ii) suggest enzyme, where it is found, function (any enzyme will do!)

b) how would enzyme function beyond optimum temperature




So, that's SECTION A. Looking at it, it is actually a very easy paper! Well, at least now we know what kind of structured questions WON'T come up for Nov :) However, they can come out for essays so be prepared! :) I'll do SECTION B analysis in the next post.

Email me if you want further clarification of the answers- loreneanne@gmail.com

Please note school doesn't provide this paper so if you want this paper, I can photocopy it for you, 13 pages x $0.03= $0.39, let me know!