Exam-style questions

Question 1

Medium ground finches have a range if beak sizes.
Suggest an explanation for the variation in beak sizes in medium ground finches

Answer 1

• genetic variation
• random mutations

Question 2

There are estimated to be only 500 Ethiopian wolves left in the <wild, living in six separate populations. There are high levels of genetic diversity between these six populations.
The separate populations are geographically isolated. This prevents interbreeding between populations.
Suggest how this may affect the genetic diversity of each individual population.

Answer 2

• there’s a smaller gene pool in each population, so there’s less genetic diversity
• there’s a higher risk of closely related wolves mating

Question 3

Some scientists have suggested that moving male wolves from one population to another may help the species survive.
Suggest how this strategy of transferring individuals from one population to another could help the species survive

Answer 3

• it increase the gene pool of the populations, increasing the genetic variation
• it increases the potential for species to adapt

Question 4

suggest why the bacteria which digest cellulose in plant materials, need to have special adaptations to live in the stomach of a cow

Answer 4

• the stomach has a low pH, which is used to kill bacteria
• there’s is no oxygen in the stomach, so the bacteria needs to be able to perform anaerobic respiration

Question 5

British scientists have discovered that addition of chopped hay and straw in the diet of a cow reduces the amount of methane and carbon dioxide produced.
Suggest why the new diet may be supported by organisations that are concerned about global warming

Answer 5

• carbon dioxide and methane are both greenhouse gases, so contribute to global warming, which causes e.g. ice caps to melt. Greenhouse gases also trap heat inside the Earth’s atmosphere.
• the use of of the new diet, means less carbon dioxide and methane produced, which reduces the greenhouse effect, so the temperature is less likely to rise

Question 6

State whether the adaptation is physiological or anatomical:
Hearing becoming temporarily less sensitive after listening to loud music for a few hours

Answer 6

physiological adaptation

Question 7

State whether the adaptation is physiological or anatomical:
Heart beats faster when the hormone adrenaline is released

Answer 7

physiological adaptation

Question 8

State whether the adaptation is physiological or anatomical:
People living in cold climates have a shorter neck than people living in hot, dry climates

Answer 8

anatomical adaptation

Question 9

State whether the adaptation is physiological, anatomical or behavioural:
Some metabolic reactions become less efficient in cold weather so the organism generates more heat to keep warm

Answer 9

physiological adaptation

Question 10

State whether the adaptation is physiological, anatomical or behavioural:
sheep learn to ignore sounds that have no importance to them

Answer 10

behavioural adaptation

Question 11

State whether the adaptation is physiological, anatomical or behavioural:
the ears of African elephants are larger than those of Asian elephants, due to differences in the environment

Answer 11

anatomical adaptation

Question 12

State whether the adaptation is physiological, anatomical or behavioural:
formation of a sun tans when human skin is exposed to sunshine

Answer 12

physiological adaptation