CSEC January 2015 Examinations

Human and Social Biology

2. (c) Your friend, Denise, accidently cuts her finger which starts to bleed. After a while, the blood
clots and the cut stops bleeding.

Explain how platelets, fibrinogen, calcium ions and thrombin function to clot the blood. (4 marks)

ANSWER: the platelets gather at the wound and attempt to block the blood flow. The
mineral calcium, vitamin K, and a protein called fibrinogen help the platelets form a
clot. Blood-clotting proteins generate thrombin, an enzyme that converts fibrinogen
to fibrin, and a reaction that leads to the formation of a fibrin clot.

(iii) After the cut stops bleeding, Denise realized that the area around the cut is swollen because of
an accumulation of tissue fluid. Explain the difference between tissue fluid and plasma. (2 marks)

ANSWER: Blood plasma is also an extra cellular fluid similar to tissue fluid, but
present in the blood vessel

(d) The lymphatic system plays an important part role in removing excess fluid and foreign material from
tissues.

(i) Suggest TWO OTHER roles of the lymphatic system. (2 marks)

ANSWER: 1. returns plasma proteins to the bloodstream

2. it transports large molecular compounds (such as enzymes and hormones)

from their manufactured sites to the bloodstream.
(ii) What makes it possible for lymph fluid to pass in ONLY one direction? (1 mark)

ANSWER: lymph can flow only in one direction because of valves in the vessels

3. (a) Both excretion and egestion are processes that remove waste from the human body. Explain
the difference between these two processes. (2 marks)

ANSWER: Excretion is the removal of waste products from the body. It is different from egestion -
which is the removal of undigested semi-solid waste (faeces) from your anus.

Source: cxcpaper.blogspot.com
(b) Table 1 is an incomplete table showing some organs and the products that they excrete. Complete
Table 1 by writing the correct answers in the spaces labelled (i), (ii) and (iii).

TABLE 1: ORGANS AND THEIR EXCRETORY PRODUCTS

Organ Excretory Product

Lungs (i) ANSWER: Carbon Dioxide
(ii) ANSWER: Sweat glands Sweat
Kidneys (iii) ANSWER: Urine

3. (d) (i) The results of Uncle Rajiv’s urine test show a high level of glucose in the urine. Name the
disease that this most likely indicates. (1 mark)

ANSWER: Diabetes Mellitus

(ii) Suggest THREE constituents that would be found in Uncle Rajiv’s urine if he is not suffering from any
diseases. (3 marks)

ANSWER: 1. Water 2. Potassium 3. Sodium

4. (a) (i) Define the term ‘sewage’. (2 marks)

ANSWER: Liquid and solid waste carried off in sewers or drains

(ii) State TWO effects of the improper disposal of sewage, OTHER than causing diseases. (2 marks)

ANSWER: 1. Environmental Pollution

2. Death of wildlife

( iii) State TWO challenges that the Caribbean is now experiencing in disposing of sewage. (2 marks)

ANSWER:

(b) Suzie’s family wants to build a pit latrine. Explain ONE guideline that her family should consider in
determining the site of the pit latrine. (2 marks)

Source: cxcpaper.blogspot.com
ANSWER: One guideline that Suzie’s family should consider when deciding on a
location to construct the pit latrine is if there are sources water nearby that could
potentially become contaminated.

(ii) Why should Suzie’s family NOT use disinfectants in the pit latrine? Explain your answer. (2 marks)

ANSWER: Suzie’s family should not use disinfectants in the pit latrine because it can
have a negative effect on biodegradation of the excreta.

Source: cxcpaper.blogspot.com