Cambridge IGCSE™
BIOLOGY 0610/12
Paper 1 Multiple Choice (Core) May/June 2021
45 minutes
You must answer on the multiple choice answer sheet.
*9776932843*
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.
IB21 06_0610_12/3RP
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1 What is a characteristic of all living organisms?
A breathing
B circulation
C egestion
D sensitivity
2 Which term is used to describe a group of living things that can reproduce to produce fertile
offspring?
A binomial
B genus
C organism
D species
3 Scientists discover a new species of animal.
It has a segmented body with two pairs of legs on each segment.
To which group of animals does this new species belong?
A arachnids
B crustaceans
C insects
D myriapods
4 Which part of a cell makes glucose?
A cell membrane
B chloroplast
C nucleus
D vacuole
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5 The diagram shows some of the blood vessels and other structures in the human body.
The blood vessels shown are all parts of the same
A cell.
B organ.
C organ system.
D tissue.
6 A photograph shows a plant cell nucleus measuring 2 mm across.
If the magnification of the cell is 500, what is the actual size of the nucleus?
A 0.00002 mm B 0.004 mm C 0.04 mm D 250 mm
7 By which process do oxygen and carbon dioxide move between cells and capillaries?
A breathing
B diffusion
C excretion
D respiration
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8 A cylinder of potato tissue was placed in a concentrated salt solution. After soaking for one hour
the potato tissue was observed.
How will the potato tissue have changed after soaking for one hour?
A longer and firmer
B no change
C shorter and softer
D shorter and firmer
9 Which element is found in proteins but not carbohydrates?
A carbon
B hydrogen
C nitrogen
D oxygen
10 Starch is digested by amylase in the mouth, but it is not digested in the stomach.
What is the reason for this?
A All starch digestion is completed in the mouth.
B The pH in the stomach is not suitable for the amylase to work.
C The starch does not stay in the stomach long enough to be digested.
D The temperature in the stomach is not suitable for the amylase to work.
11 Which statement about an enzyme-controlled reaction is correct?
A During the reaction, the substrate changes into products.
B The enzyme is gradually used up during the reaction.
C The enzyme is slowly broken down during the reaction.
D The higher the temperature, the slower the reaction.
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12 A plant with striped leaves was kept in bright light for six hours.
white stripe
green stripe
A leaf was taken from the plant and the chlorophyll was removed. The leaf was then tested for
starch using iodine solution.
Which diagram shows the result of the test?
A B C D
yellow-brown white blue-black yellow-brown
blue-black blue-black green green
13 The diagram shows a cross-section of a leaf.
What is the name of cell X?
A epidermal
B guard
C palisade mesophyll
D spongy mesophyll
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14 In humans, where does most of the absorption of digested food take place?
A colon
B kidney
C liver
D small intestine
15 The diagram shows part of the human body.
Which statement about organs X and Y is correct?
A X absorbs more water from food than Y.
B X does not absorb water from food.
C Y absorbs more water from food than X.
D Y does not absorb water from food.
16 What are the functions of human incisors and molars?
incisors molars
A cutting cutting
B cutting grinding
C grinding cutting
D grinding grinding
17 Which sequence describes the pathway taken by water as it moves through a plant?
A root hair cell xylem root cortex cell mesophyll
B mesophyll xylem root cortex cell root hair cell
C root cortex cell root hair cell xylem mesophyll
D root hair cell root cortex cell xylem mesophyll
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18 A plant shoot is placed in a solution of dye.
The dye moves up the stem.
Under which conditions will the dye move most slowly?
temperature humidity
A high high
B high low
C low high
D low low
19 How does blood enter the heart?
A through arteries into the atria
B through arteries into the ventricles
C through veins into the atria
D through veins into the ventricles
20 The diagram shows a cross-section through a human blood vessel.
elastic and fibrous
connective tissue
muscle layer
Which type of blood vessel does the diagram show?
A an artery
B a capillary
C a vein
D a ventricle
21 What is a function of some white blood cells?
A to carry glucose
B to carry oxygen
C to produce antibiotics
D to produce antibodies
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22 The diagrams show the depth and rate of breathing in a person at 12:00 and 13:00.
12:00 13:00
0.5 dm3
volume
volume
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
time / seconds time / seconds
What happens to the person’s breathing between 12:00 and 13:00?
depth rate
of breathing of breathing
A decreases decreases
B decreases increases
C increases decreases
D increases increases
23 What is the link between muscle contraction, protein synthesis and the maintenance of a constant
body temperature?
A They are controlled by hormones.
B They are examples of homeostasis.
C They require energy.
D They require carbon dioxide.
24 What are the products of anaerobic respiration in yeast?
lactic acid alcohol carbon dioxide
A key
B = yes
C = no
D
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25 The diagram shows some of the organs in the human body.
Which row matches the function to the correct organ?
excretes carbon
excretes urea produces urea
dioxide
A 1 2 3
B 1 3 2
C 2 3 1
D 2 1 3
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26 The diagram shows a reflex arc.
Which labelled part is the effector?
B
A
27 A person’s iris is damaged.
What is the effect of this?
A Nerve impulses from the eye cannot reach the brain.
B The person cannot control how much light enters the eye.
C The person cannot focus light onto the retina.
D Receptors do not produce nerve impulses in response to light.
28 Which hormone is secreted by the pancreas?
A adrenaline
B insulin
C oestrogen
D testosterone
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29 The graph shows how smoking different numbers of cigarettes for different lengths of time affects
the risk of lung cancer.
45 key
40
smoking less than 20 cigarettes per day
35
smoking more than 20 cigarettes per day
30
risk of lung cancer 25
/ arbitrary units 20
15
10
5
0
< 20 20–29 30–39 40–49 > 50
number of years smoking
Which conclusions are supported by the data in the graph?
1 Smoking more than 20 cigarettes per day always increases the risk of lung cancer
more than smoking less than 20 cigarettes per day.
2 Smoking cigarettes for more years increases the risk of lung cancer.
3 Smoking more than 20 cigarettes per day for more than 50 years has the highest
risk of lung cancer.
A 1, 2 and 3 B 1 and 2 only C 1 and 3 only D 2 and 3 only
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30 The diagram shows the male human reproductive system.
What is X?
A bladder
B prostate gland
C sperm duct
D urethra
31 The diagram shows changes in the ovary.
4
1
3
2
Which point represents the thickness of the uterus lining when the ovary is at stage 4?
D
thickness of A
the uterus
lining
B
C
days of the menstrual cycle
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32 How can HIV be transmitted?
A contact with saliva
B drinking water containing untreated sewage
C recessive alleles
D unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected person
33 The diagram shows a specialised cell.
What is the function of this specialised cell?
A asexual reproduction
B conduction of impulses
C movement of mucus in the trachea
D sexual reproduction
34 Both parents in a family have a characteristic caused by the dominant allele of a gene. They have
two children.
The pedigree diagram of the family is shown.
key
affected male
unaffected male
affected female
unaffected female
Which row describes the genotypes of the parents in relation to this gene?
female parent male parent
A heterozygous heterozygous
B heterozygous homozygous
C homozygous heterozygous
D homozygous homozygous
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35 The diagram shows some of the stages involved in natural selection in wild rabbits.
variation within the reproduction by
Z
rabbit population better adapted rabbits
Which statement is missing from box Z?
A competition between rabbits for limited resources
B passing on of alleles to the next generation of young rabbits
C production of limited numbers of young rabbits
D selection by humans of rabbits with desirable characteristics
36 The diagram shows a food web.
Atlantic cod
kelp green sea urchin
crab
What is the principal source of energy input into this food web?
A green sea urchins
B kelp
C the sea
D the Sun
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37 The diagram shows a food web.
seeds mice
and foxes
leaves caterpillars
eagles
hummingbirds small
nectar in birds
flowers ants
Which statement is correct?
A Eagles obtain all their energy by eating foxes.
B If the hummingbirds all die the caterpillars will have more food.
C The food chain nectar in flowers ants small birds foxes is part of this food web.
D The mice and caterpillars are the only examples of herbivores in this food web.
38 Which process in the water cycle only involves living organisms?
A condensation
B evaporation
C precipitation
D transpiration
39 Bacteria are useful in ……X…… because of their rapid ……Y…… rate and their ability to make
complex ……Z…… .
Which row completes the sentence?
X Y Z
A bread making competition chemicals
B biotechnology reproduction molecules
C ethanol production competition enzymes
D genetic engineering production pectinase
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40 An area of forest was destroyed by a forest fire. Eventually the forest regrew.
What is likely to happen to the amount of soil erosion and flooding when the forest has regrown?
A Soil erosion increases and flooding increases.
B Soil erosion decreases and flooding decreases.
C Soil erosion increases and flooding decreases.
D Soil erosion decreases and flooding increases.
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