Chapter test 3 Movement of substances across cell membrane

Movement of substances across

3 cell membrane
Note:
1 Answer ALL questions. Time and marks
2 Write your answers to Section A in the boxes next to Sections A & B: 35 mins / 30 marks
the questions, and your answers to Sections B and C in Sections A to C: 40 mins / 35 marks
the spaces provided below the questions.

Multiple-choice questions
A
(10 marks, 1 mark each)
1 The diagram below shows two types of biomolecules.
molecule X

glycerol fatty acids

phosphate
group
molecule Y
Which of the following statements about molecules X and Y is correct?
A Both molecules X and Y can be found in the cell membrane.
B Both molecules X and Y are soluble in water.
C The fatty acids in the molecules must be of the same kind.
D The phosphate group in molecule Y makes part of molecule Y soluble in water.

2 Which of the following statements correctly explain the nature of the cell membrane?
(1) The cell membrane is fluid because the phospholipid molecules in the phospholipid
bilayer can move laterally.
(2) The cell membrane is mosaic because carbohydrates are scattered over it.
(3) The cell membrane is differentially permeable because the core of the phospholipid
bilayer is hydrophobic.
A (1) and (2) only B (1) and (3) only
C (2) and (3) only D (1), (2) and (3)


New Senior Secondary Mastering Biology  Oxford University Press 2020

(Third Edition) -1-
Chapter test 3 Movement of substances across cell membrane

Directions: Questions 3 and 4 refer to the diagram below, which shows different types of
proteins (I to IV) on the cell membrane. Molecules W, X, Y and Z move across the
cell membrane through specific types of proteins, or interact with the proteins.
W X Y Z

protein I protein II protein III protein IV

3 Which of the following correctly identify the type of the protein molecules?
Protein I Protein II Protein III Protein IV
A Receptor Carrier protein Receptor Enzyme
B Receptor Channel protein Enzyme Antigen
C Carrier protein Antigen Enzyme Receptor
D Carrier protein Channel protein Antigen Receptor

4 Which of the following is a possible match about molecules W, X, Y and Z?
W X Y Z
A water oxygen amino acid insulin
B sodium ion starch carbohydrates amino acid
C oxygen glucose amino acid lipid
D glucose sodium ion carbohydrates insulin

5 The phospholipid bilayer of the cell membrane is fully permeable to which of the following
substances?
(1) carbon dioxide
(2) vitamin D
(3) chloride ions
A (1) and (2) only B (1) and (3) only
C (2) and (3) only D (1), (2) and (3)

Directions: Questions 6 and 7 refer to the photomicrograph below which shows some cells.

New Senior Secondary Mastering Biology  Oxford University Press 2020

(Third Edition) -2-
Chapter test 3 Movement of substances across cell membrane

cell X

coloured
part

(x200)

6 Which of the following combinations correctly describes the state of cell X and the solution
surrounding it?
State of cell X Surrounding solution
A turgid hypotonic
B turgid hypertonic
C flaccid hypotonic
D flaccid hypertonic

7 The size of the coloured part in the cells differs among the cells in the photomicrograph.
Which of the following is/are likely to be the explanation?
(1) The cells have different water potentials.
(2) The cell membranes of the cells are of different thickness.
(3) The cell walls of the cells are of different permeability.
A (1) only
B (2) only
C (3) only
D (1) and (2) only


New Senior Secondary Mastering Biology  Oxford University Press 2020

(Third Edition) -3-
Chapter test 3 Movement of substances across cell membrane

Directions: Questions 8 to 9 refer to the graph below, which shows the change in length of four
potato strips in sucrose solutions of different concentrations (W, X, Y and Z). The
potato strips were cut from the same potato and were of the same length and
diameter at start.

W
potato strip
length of

X
(cm)

time (min) T

8 Which of the following correctly arranges the sucrose solutions in ascending order of water
potential?
A W, X, Y, Z
B Z, Y, X, W
C Y, X, Z, W
D Y, Z, X, W

9 Fig (1), (2) and (3) below show the cells taken from three of the potato strips at time T.

(1) (2) (3)

Which of the following correctly matches the cells and the solutions in which they are
immersed?
(1) (2) (3)
A W Y Z
B W Z Y
C Y Z W
D Y W Z

10 The diagram below shows the changes in the cell membrane in a biological process.

New Senior Secondary Mastering Biology  Oxford University Press 2020

(Third Edition) -4-
Chapter test 3 Movement of substances across cell membrane

The process may be

(1) plasmolysis.
(2) phagocytosis.
(3) cell division.
A (1) and (2) only
B (1) and (3) only
C (2) and (3) only
D (1), (2) and (3)


Conventional questions
B
(20 marks)
1 The table below shows the requirements for transport of substances across cell membrane.
Complete the table with the names of the mechanisms. (4 marks)

Requirement
Mechanism Energy Concentration Carrier proteins /
input gradient channel proteins
a
Yes No No

b
Yes No Yes

c
No Yes No

d
No Yes Yes

2 A student would like to study the relationship between the surface area of cells and the rate
of diffusion. He cut a beetroot into cubes of different sizes as shown below.

2 cm
2 cm 1 cm
1 cm
Case I Case II

a What is the surface area to volume ratio in each case? (2 marks)

New Senior Secondary Mastering Biology  Oxford University Press 2020

(Third Edition) -5-
Chapter test 3 Movement of substances across cell membrane

b The student put beetroot cubes of different sizes into tubes containing distilled water.
He incubated the tubes at 30 C or 60 C for 10 minutes. The colour of the solutions in
the tubes were then observed.

30 C 60 C 30 C 60 C

A B C D

beetroot cubes of case I beetroot cubes of case II

i The distilled water in all the tubes turned red after 10 minutes. Why? (2 marks)

ii Compare the results of tubes A and B. Explain the difference. (2 marks)

iii Compare the results of tubes A and C. Explain the difference. (2 marks)

3 The diagram below shows an experiment using a peeled potato that was cut into a cup
shape. The potato was put in a beaker of distilled water. Sucrose solution was added into the
cavity of the potato cup. The initial liquid level in the cavity was marked with a pin.

New Senior Secondary Mastering Biology  Oxford University Press 2020

(Third Edition) -6-
Chapter test 3 Movement of substances across cell membrane

20% distilled
sucrose water
solution

pin

potato cup
(skin removed)

a Predict the liquid level in the cavity after four hours. Explain your answer in terms of
water potential. (3 marks)

New Senior Secondary Mastering Biology  Oxford University Press 2020

(Third Edition) -7-
Chapter test 3 Movement of substances across cell membrane

b Predict and explain what may happen to the liquid level in the cavity if
i the potato cup is not peeled. (3 marks)

ii the sucrose solution in the cavity is replaced with distilled water. (2 marks)

Higher order thinking question

C
(5 marks)
4 An experiment was carried out to determine the water potential of carrot cells. A large carrot
was cut into five discs of similar size. The initial mass of each piece of carrot was measured
and recorded. Then each piece of carrot was immersed in a salt solution of different
concentrations for one hour. The mass of each carrot disc was measured again. The ratio of
final mass to initial mass was then calculated. The results are shown in the table below.

Concentration of Initial mass Final mass

Ratio
salt solution (%) (g) (g)
5 5.4 6.5 1.2
10 5.2 5.9 1.13
15 5.1 5.3 1.04
20 5.2 4.7 0.9
25 5.0 4.0 0.8
30 5.1 3.8 0.75

a Suggest one precaution for the experiment. (1 mark)

New Senior Secondary Mastering Biology  Oxford University Press 2020

(Third Edition) -8-
Chapter test 3 Movement of substances across cell membrane

b Suggest a possible range of salt solution concentrations that is nearly isotonic to the
carrot cells. (1 mark)

c Describe the status of the carrot cells in 30% salt solution (2 marks)

d Why is the ratio of final mass to initial mass calculated instead of determining the
change in mass of each carrot disc? (1 mark)

- End -

New Senior Secondary Mastering Biology  Oxford University Press 2020

(Third Edition) -9-
Chapter test Answers

Answers
A Multiple-choice questions
1 D 2 B 3 D 4 D 5 A
6 D 7 A 8 B 9 C 10 C

B Conventional questions
1 a Phagocytosis 1
b Active transport 1
c Diffusion 1
d Osmosis 1
2 a Case I = 2 × 2 × 6 : 2 × 2 × 2 = 3 : 1 1
Case II = 1 × 1 × 6 : 1 × 1 × 1 = 6 : 1 1
b i The high temperature increases the permeability / causes damage of the cell
membrane of the beetroot cells. 1
The red pigment in the cell leaks from the cells into the distilled water. 1
ii The solution in tube B is darker in colour. 1
This is because the membrane becomes more permeable at a higher the
temperature. 1
iii The solution in tube C is darker in colour. 1
This is because the beetroot cubes in tube C have a higher surface area to volume
ratio. The rate of diffusion is higher. 1
3 a The liquid level will rise. 1
Because the water potential of 20% sucrose solution is lower than that of the distilled
water. 1
There is a net movement of water from the distilled water through the potato cells into
the cavity by osmosis. 1
b i The liquid level will rise less. 1
Potato skin is impermeable. Water molecules cannot move from the distilled water
through the potato into the cavity. 1
But water is still drawn from the potato cells by osmosis. 1
ii The liquid level will remain unchanged 1
because the water potential of the liquid in the cavity and the liquid surrounding
the potato is the same. 1

C Higher order thinking question

4 a The carrot discs have to be blotted dry before measuring their mass. 1
b 15–20% 1

New Senior Secondary Mastering Biology  Oxford University Press 2020

(Third Edition) - 10 -
Chapter test Answers

c The carrot cells are flaccid. 1

The cell membrane is pulled away from the cell wall and the cells are plasmolysed.
1
d Because the initial masses of the carrot discs are different. 1

New Senior Secondary Mastering Biology  Oxford University Press 2020

(Third Edition) - 11 -