Maris Stella High School             Name: ___________________ 

GCE O Level Science Biology            Class (Index No.): Sec 3___ (       ) 
TYS Answer Scheme             Date: ________________ 

Unit 1: Cells

Unit 1: Paper 4 Section A

Structured Questions

1a) A: Cell Wall B: Cell Surface/ Plasma Membrane C: Cytoplasm D: Vacuole

b) The plant cell has a cell wall that is absent in an animal cell.
The plant cell has a large central vacuole compared to the numerous small temporary
vacuoles found in an animal cell.
ci) F: Xylem vessel G: White Blood Cell (Phagocyte)
ii) F
Function 1- To conduct water and dissolved mineral salts from the roots to the rest of the
plant. Adaptations: Long, narrow, hollow with a continuous lumen due to the absence of
cross walls, to prevent obstruction of the passage of water and dissolved mineral salts.
or Function 2: To provide mechanical strength to the vessel. Adaptation: Thick Lignified
cell walls to prevent collapse of the vessel.
We have yet to cover G in the syllabus.

2a) 1. Cell wall 2. Chloroplast

b) i) Chloroplast ii) Nucleus iii) Cell wall
c) i) The root hair cell has an elongated tubular outgrowth.
ii) A xylem cell does not have protoplasm (cytoplasm or organelles) in it. It only has a
cell wall.

3a)
Part of cell In plant cells In animal and
only plant cells
cell membrane √
cell wall √
chloroplast √
cytoplasm √
nucleus √
Sap vacuole √

b) i) To transport oxygen around the body.

ii) The red blood cell’s cytoplasm has the red pigment haemoglobin that binds reversibly
to oxygen. There is an absence of nucleus in the cell so that more haemoglobin can be
packed into it to increase its oxygen carrying capacity. The cell is flattened and biconcave
in shape to increase the surface area to volume ratio to increase diffusion rate of oxygen
in and out of the cell.

4a)
Part of cell letter
cell membrane C
cell wall B
cytoplasm A
chloroplast E
nucleus F
vacuole D

b) 1. Presence of cell wall 2. Presence of chloroplast / large central vacuole

5a) 1. Presence of a mouth for feeding

2. Presence of a flagellum for movement
3. Presence of a sense receptor, the eye-spot
b) Presence of chloroplast
c) The cellulose cell wall.

6ai) cytoplasm, cell surface/plasma membrane

ii) Absence of a large central vacuole and cellulose cell wall and the irregular shape of
the cell indicates that it is not a plant cell.

bi) Absence of nucleus in the red blood cell.

ii) 1. The red blood cell’s cytoplasm has the red pigment haemoglobin that binds
reversibly to oxygen.
2. There is an absence of nucleus in the cell so that more haemoglobin can be packed into
it to increase its oxygen carrying capacity.
3. The flattened biconcave shape increases the surface area to volume ratio and allows the
central region to be thin to increase diffusion rate of oxygen in and out of the cell.