Pre-Diploma

Year 10

BIOLOGY
Diagnostic evaluation
September 2014
John Osborne

Pre-Diploma Biology2014/2015/2016 Diagnostic Evaluations

WHAT IS THIS DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION?

The DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION at the start of the Pre-Diploma biology course is designed to
assess the potential of the new Pre-Diploma students, assess particular targets, interests or aptitudes
and to find out how each individual in the group can be sufficiently challenged. This is achieved by
setting assignments in each of the learning/assessment objectives, A, B, C, D and E. The diagnostic
evaluation also will show how well you are able to handle enquiry based learning.
Another most important factor of this diagnostic evaluation concerns your cooperation, management of
available time and the way in which you direct yourself to the tasks and meeting the deadlines. The
rubric copied here will be used to assess your personal commitment to this diagnostic evaluation.

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Obj. A (Knowledge and Understanding)

SOME FAMOUS DIABETICS. WHO WERE/ARE THEY?

Write your answers here:

1

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Obj. B (Application of Knowledge and Problem Solving)

DIABETES.

results when the body

cannot control the level
of sugar (glucose) in the
blood. This control comes
from a complex
interaction between two
hormones, insulin and
glucagon.

THESE TWO
DIAGRAMS SHOW THE
INTERACTION
BETWEEN INSULIN
AND GLUCAGON TO
CONTROL BLOOD
GLUCOSE LEVEL

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Now, a little test. here is a drawing showing the interaction between glucagon and insulin,
controlling blood sugar level. The labelling is another language, which proabaly you do not
know. Which language?
Draw the diagram again on the following blank page and change the labelling into English.

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Obj. C (Research and Communication)

ECUADOR - A BIOLOGICAL ISSUE
In general terms, the critical environmental issues in Ecuador are rooted in the side effects of industrial
and agricultural production processes, as well as the misuse of resources. These issues include the highest
rate of deforestation amongst Amazonian countries; severe pollution due to oil production waste; conflicts
about the use of land think Yasuni and Galpagos; and soil, water and lake contamination. Ecuador is
unique because of the diverse ecological zones condensed within its small geographical space, but the
biodiversity of these regions is at risk. http://rainforests.mongabay.com/20ecuador.htm

Ecuador, including the Galpagos Islands, is having to confront many issues and dilemmas which have a
biological basis. Some of these include:
Deforestation - mostly in the jungle (for logging and oil exploration, and their knock-on effects)
and the North-west of Ecuador (logging). Ecuador has the highest rate of deforestation of any
country in South America.
Land use conflicts, such as the recently highlighted Yasuni crisis
Over-exploitation of natural resources such as fish
Disease mortality and epidemiology, eg. Dengue fever
Invasive species, most prominently in Galpagos
Global warming - human caused climate changes, which include alterations in the frequency of
abnormal Pacific currents
Extinctions and loss of biodiversity - 52% of Ecuador's mammal species, including endemics, are
listed by IUCN as endangered, some virtually now extinct.
Water pollution - mostly from the poor use of agro-chemicals and waste from the oil industry
Land/soil erosion, much of it in the Sierra due to deforestation and poor farming practices, and
in the coastal lowlands. More than 50% of Ecuador's land is now considered to be arid and in
need of reforestation programmes.
Destruction of mangrove forests
The use of pesticides in agricultural production, which can leave residues in water, land and food.
Garbage management - maybe 40% of urban garbage in Ecuador is not routinely collected
Many of these are environmental issues, but by no means all.
The assignment for Objective C is to research into one biologically-based issue, or specific example of an
issue, in Ecuador, and make a presentation in whatever form you think best. The presentation needs to
address at least some of the following:
The issue a description; the facts; the origins; data
Causes
Impact or results of what is going on
Control and management
Any special considerations or discussion or debate
Your work must utilise a minimum of THREE different resources, which of course, must be properly
credited ie a bibliography.
The assessment will be according to the rubric on the next page.

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Objective D (Data Analysis and Making Conclusions)

HUMMING BIRDS
Hummingbirds have long narrow beaks that adapt them to collecting nectar from flowers. Nectar
provides energy in the form of sugar, but has very low concentrations of amino acids and protein.
Therefore, hummingbirds have to supplement their diet by catching flying insects. They do this by
flying with their beaks wide open towards insects. Scientists have used high-speed video to study
the success rate for catching insects. The pie charts below show the results, according to which part
of the beak the insect touches first.
Key:
17%
35%

44%
65%

Base of beak

56%

83%

Middle of beak

Insect successfully
caught and swallowed
Insect lost

Tip of beak

[Source: Reprinted with permission from Macmillan Publishers Ltd: Gregor M. Yanega and Margaret A. Rubega, Feedingmechanisms:
Hummingbird jaw bends to aid insect capture, Nature (2004), vol. 428, p. 615, 2004]

(a)

(i)

State the relationship between the part of the beak that insects first touch and the
success rate.
.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
(1)

(ii)

Suggest a reason for the relationship in (a) (i).

.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
(1)

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Birds that feed only on flying insects have a different shape of beak from hummingbirds.
(b)

Predict, with a reason, the shape of beak in a species of bird that feeds only on flying insects.
...................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
(2)

Very rapid wing beats keep a hummingbirds body steady near a flower while it collects nectar.
This unusual type of flight behaviour is called hovering. Measurements were taken to investigate
hovering in four hummingbird species. The body mass and maximum frequency of wing beats
were measured. The velocity of the wing tips was measured when the wings were beating at their
maximum frequency. The mean results are shown in the table below.
Hummingbird species
Blue-throated
(Lampornis
clemenciae)

Magnificent
(Eugenes
fulgens)

Black-chinned
(Archilochus
alexandri)

Rufous
(Selasphorus
rufus)

Body mass / g

8.40

7.40

3.00

3.30

Maximum frequency of wing

beats per second

30.70

31.90

59.70

62.20

Velocity of wing tips / m s1

16.80

16.50

15.80

16.90

Variable

[Source: Chai, 1997, Journal of Experimental Biology, 200, pages 27572763]

(c)

State the relationship between body mass and maximum frequency of wing beats.
...................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
(1)

The data in the table indicates that there is a similar maximum velocity for wing tip movement
whatever the overall size of the bird.
(d)

Suggest one problem that would be caused by a velocity of wing tip movement greater than
this.
...................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
(1)

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Hummingbirds are the smallest birds in the world, with adult masses ranging from approximately 2
g to 20 g.
(e)

Using the data in the table, suggest a reason why hummingbirds with a mass larger than 20 g
have not evolved.
...................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
(1)

Hummingbirds maintain constant internal body temperature despite variation in external

temperature. The effect of external temperature on Annas hummingbird (Calypte anna) was
studied in a series of experiments. At 40C the hummingbirds were observed to rest after short
flights and ventilate their lungs rapidly to cool their bodies by evaporation of water (panting).
The hummingbirds were placed in different external temperatures and a dilute solution of sucrose
was given to them. Between 20C and 40C the volume of sucrose solution taken in per hour did
not vary significantly and was 0.70.8 cm3. At 10C the volume was significantly higher at 1.2 cm3
per hour.
(f)

Explain why the volume taken in per hour was higher at 10C than at the higher
temperatures.
...................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
(2)

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Urine was collected from the hummingbirds at the three different external temperatures and was
analysed to find the concentrations of nitrogenous waste products. The results are shown in the bar
chart below.
9

Key:

ammonia
urea
uric acid

7
6
Concentration /
mol dm 3

5
4
3
2
1
0
10

20

40

Temperature / C

(g)

Suggest one reason for the higher overall concentration of nitrogenous waste products in
urine at 40C.
...................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
(1)

The ratio between the concentration of ammonia and the concentration of uric acid in the urine of
hummingbirds changes as the temperature rises. The ratio at 10C is 4.4 :1.
(h)

(i)

Calculate the ratio between the concentration of ammonia and the concentration of
uric acid at 40C.
.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
(1)

(ii)

Explain the difference in the relative amounts of ammonia and uric acid at 10C and at
40C.
.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
(2)

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Hummingbirds use energy at a faster rate than any other bird or mammal.
(i)

Explain two reasons for the high rate of energy use in hummingbirds.
1.

.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................

2.

.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 15 marks)

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Objective D (Experimental Investigation)

ALTERNATIVE TO PRACTICAL
IGCSE Biology includes an examination paper designed for schools which have no laboratories
or for whom it is impossible to conduct experimental investigations. The exam paper usually
carries three questions which together make up about 30% of the overall examination grade. The
students complete this paper instead of the usual practical exam paper.
Here is one of the questions for you to try. It is from the 2008 IGCSE examination session.

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