IGCSE BIOLOGY - PAPER 2 MULTIPLE CHOICE (2016-2021)
CHAPTER 1 - CLASSIFICATION
1 Some yeast, sugar and water are mixed in a test-tube. The diagrams show the test-tube at the
start and after one hour.
bubbles
of gas
yeast, sugar
and water
at start after one hour
Which process causes this change?
A growth
B reproduction
C respiration
D sensitivity
2 Which name is given to a group of individuals that can reproduce to produce fertile offspring?
A a genus
B a kingdom
C a species
D an organ system
3 Use the key to identify the animal shown in the diagram.
has jointed legs
three pairs more than three
of legs pairs of legs
has tail no tail four pairs more than four
of legs pairs of legs
A B C D
Hexagenia Dytiscus Argyroneta Asellus
4 Which diagram shows a flower from a monocotyledon?
A B C D
5 In which part of the cell is oxygen used to release energy from nutrient molecules?
A mitochondrion
B ribosome
C rough endoplasmic reticulum
D vesicle
6 The actual thickness of the leaf shown in the diagram is 2000 μm, but its thickness in the diagram
is 50 mm.
What is the magnification of the diagram?
A ×0.025 B ×25 C ×100 D ×100 000
7 During the process of nutrition, all organisms need to absorb mineral ions and water from their
environment.
Which other substances do plants and animals need to absorb during this process?
plants animals
A carbon dioxide inorganic compounds
B carbon dioxide organic compounds
C oxygen inorganic compounds
D oxygen organic compounds
8 What is a correct way of naming an organism using the binomial system?
A Common buttercup
B ranunculus acris
C Ranunculus acris
D Ranunculus sp.
9 The diagram shows a leaf.
Use the key to identify the plant to which the leaf belongs.
leaves
leaf in leaf in more than
one piece one piece
leaf edge leaf edge leaf edge leaf edge
smooth jagged smooth jagged
Fagus Ulmus Fraxinus Sorbus
sylvatica minor americana aucuparia
A B C D
10 The diagram shows a plant that has been placed near a sunlit window for a few weeks.
Which two characteristics of living organisms have affected the shape of the plant?
A excretion and sensitivity C reproduction and excretion
B growth and reproduction D sensitivity and growth
11 What is a characteristic of amphibians but not of reptiles?
A four limbs
B laying eggs in water
C scaly skin
D using lungs for breathing
12 The diagram shows an insect.
Use the key to identify the insect.
1 wings present ........................................... go to 2
wings absent ............................................ A
2 two pairs of wings ..................................... go to 3
one pair of wings ...................................... B
3 wings with circular markings ..................... C
wings without circular markings ................ D
13 Which characteristic of living organisms is responsible for the production of oxygen in the leaf of a
plant exposed to sunlight?
A excretion C nutrition
B movement D respiration
14 The scientific name for humans is Homo sapiens.
What does Homo refer to?
A arthropod C kingdom
B genus D species
15 Which characteristic do all living organisms show?
A breathing
B excretion
C photosynthesis
D tropism
16 Breathing out combines which two characteristics of living organisms?
A excretion and movement C movement and sensitivity
B excretion and respiration D sensitivity and respiration
17 Scientists discover a new species of animal.
It has a segmented body with two pairs of legs on each segment.
To which group of animals does this new species belong?
A arachnids C insects
B crustaceans D myriapods
18 The drawing shows a ground squirrel.
Which feature identifies this animal as a mammal?
A eye B four limbs C fur D tail
19 The diagram shows how a seed changes after it is planted in soil and watered.
Which characteristics of living things are demonstrated by this sequence?
A excretion and growth C nutrition and reproduction
B growth and sensitivity D nutrition and sensitivity
20 The diagram shows part of the classification of the animal kingdom with an example of each
group.
animals
without backbones with backbones
(invertebrates) (vertebrates)
arthropods fish amphibians reptiles birds mammals
carp frog lizard parrot rat
crustaceans myriapods insects arachnids
crab centipede flea spider
Which pair of animals have the most recent common ancestor as suggested by the classification?
A centipede and carp
B flea and frog
C lizard and parrot
D spider and rat
21 Which process in plant cells uses chlorophyll?
A growth
B nutrition
C movement
D respiration
22 The table shows the scientific names of four members of the cat family.
common name scientific name
leopard Panthera pardus
lion Panthera leo
ocelot Leopardus pardalis
tiger Panthera tigris
Which statement is correct?
A All four cats are members of the same species.
B The leopard and the ocelot are members of the same genus.
C The leopard, lion and tiger are members of the same genus.
D The leopard, lion and tiger are members of the same species.
23 The diagram shows a type of tooth.
crown
root
Use the key to identify the tooth.
1 the root is divided into two parts ............................................................... go to 2
the root is not divided into two parts ......................................................... go to 3
2 the height of the crown is greater than the length of the root ................... A
the height of the crown is less than the length of the root ........................ B
3 flattened crown ......................................................................................... C
ridged crown ............................................................................................. D
24 Which term is defined as all the chemical reactions that occur in cells?
A photosynthesis
B protein synthesis
C respiration
D metabolism
25 The diagram shows a section of DNA from a chimpanzee.
A G C T A C A G A G
Which diagram shows a section of DNA from the organism that is most closely related to the
chimpanzee?
A A G C T A C A G A T
B A G C T A C A G T T
C A T C A A C A G T T
D A T C T A C A G T T
26 To which group do both the organisms shown in the diagram belong?
leaf-like fronds which have
structures containing spores
on their lower surface
A dicotyledons C fungi
B ferns D monocotyledons
27 The plant Mimosa pudica has leaves that fold in when touched.
This demonstrates movement and which other characteristic?
A excretion C nutrition
B growth D sensitivity
28 Which organisms carry out respiration, growth, movement and excretion?
A all animals and all plants C arthropods and flowering plants only
B animals only D plants only
29 The diagram shows an animal whose scientific name is Falco peregrinus.
To which species does it belong?
A bird C Falco
B F. peregrinus D vertebrate
30 What kind of skin do amphibians have?
A dry without scales C moist without scales
B dry with scales D moist with scales
31 The diagram shows a flowering plant.
Use the key to identify the plant.
plant
flower has four petals flower has five petals
leaves with leaves with leaves with leaves with
smooth edges jagged edges smooth edges jagged edges
A B C D
32 Biology is the study of living things.
Which characteristic applies to all forms of life?
A able to move from place to place
B able to reproduce
C carry out photosynthesis
D possess a nervous system
33 Two animals have an identical sequence of amino acids in one of the proteins found in their cells.
What does this indicate about these animals?
A They have been eating the same types of food.
B They have not been exposed to substances that cause mutation.
C They must be members of the same genus.
D They share a recent ancestor.
34 The diagram shows part of a flowering plant.
Using the key, identify this plant.
1 three petals ................................................. go to 2
more than three petals ............................... go to 3
2 leaves longer than they are wide ................ A
leaves wider than they are long .................. B
3 leaves parallel-veined ................................. C
leaves not parallel-veined ........................... D
35 The sundew is a carnivorous plant that can trap small insects with sticky hairs and then digest
them. When an insect gets stuck, other nearby sticky hairs bend over to trap the insect.
Which characteristics of living organisms are demonstrated when the sundew traps insects?
A growth and excretion C movement and excretion
B growth and sensitivity D movement and sensitivity
36 Systems of classification show which organisms share more recent ancestors.
What is the most accurate system of classification?
A using anatomy C using morphology
B using DNA base sequences D using a pedigree diagram
37 A person drinks a glass of iced water and the volume of sweat they secrete decreases.
This is an example of which characteristic of living organisms?
A growth
B movement
C respiration
D sensitivity
38 Lichens are formed from two different organisms living together.
The table shows some of the characteristics of two organisms, X and Y, found in most lichens.
X Y
made of strands called hyphae single celled
hyphae have cell walls cell contains a nucleus
and many nuclei and chloroplasts
Which kingdoms are represented by X and Y?
X Y
A Fungus Plant
B Fungus Protoctist
C Protoctist Fungus
D Protoctist Plant
39 The Venus flytrap is a plant that feeds on insects. When a fly lands on the leaf, the leaf folds very
quickly and traps the fly. The leaves produce enzymes which digest the fly.
Which characteristics of living organisms are involved?
A excretion, growth, nutrition C movement, sensitivity, growth
B movement, excretion, nutrition D movement, sensitivity, nutrition
40 The diagrams show four organisms not drawn to the same scale.
Which organism is a prokaryote?
A B
not to
scale
C D
41 The diagram shows a leaf on a plant.
Sun
simple sugars
made in the leaf
water from carbon dioxide
the soil from the air
Which characteristic of life is represented by this diagram?
A excretion C respiration
B nutrition D sensitivity
42 The diagram shows how Homo sapiens (modern people) could have evolved from earlier
ancestors.
Homo sapiens (modern people)
Homo heidelbergensis
Homo erectus
Homo habilis
Which statement about modern people and their ancestors is correct?
A They are in the same species and the same genus.
B They are in the same species but not the same genus.
C They are in the same genus but not the same species.
D They are neither the same species nor the same genus.
43 Carbon dioxide diffuses into a leaf.
Which characteristic of living things requires this?
A excretion
B movement
C nutrition
D respiration
44 Students find a small organism in a pond. They catch it and put it into a large jar of water. They
see that the organism swims away from light. It lays some eggs before they put it back into the
pond.
Which characteristics of living things did the students see in this organism?
A excretion, growth and respiration C movement, reproduction and sensitivity
B growth, nutrition and sensitivity D movement, reproduction and respiration
45 A living organism, X, can make its own food, get rid of toxic materials and detect and respond to
stimuli.
What other four processes must organism X carry out to stay alive?
A excretion, growth, movement, sensitivity
B excretion, growth, nutrition, respiration
C growth, movement, reproduction, respiration
D movement, reproduction, respiration, sensitivity
46 What is a correct way of naming a species using the binomial system?
A Homo sapiens C human being
B Homo Sapiens D sapiens
47 The diagram shows a plant.
light
Which characteristic of living organisms is shown by the plant in the diagram?
A excretion C respiration
B reproduction D sensitivity
48 Using the binomial system of naming organisms, the name of the lion is Panthera leo.
Which statement is correct?
A The lion belongs to the kingdom Panthera.
B The lion belongs to the genus Panthera.
C The lion belongs to the species Panthera.
D The lion belongs to the genus leo.
49 The table shows the number of animals collected in a sample from a woodland and the groups to
which they belong.
animal group number in sample
arachnids 10
crustaceans 8
insects 80
myriapods 7
How many arthropods in total, in this sample, have six or eight legs?
A 15 B 88 C 90 D 98
50 The diagram shows an animal.
Use the key to identify the animal.
1 wings present ........................................ go to 2
wings absent ......................................... go to 3
2 one pair of wings visible ........................ A
two pairs of wings visible ....................... B
3 three pairs of legs .................................. C
four pairs of legs .................................... D
51 Which shows an organism that has been named using the binomial system?
A Brown seaweed C Red fox
B Polar bear D Vulpes vulpes
52 Which feature is characteristic only of birds?
A hair and wings
B hard-shelled eggs and feathers
C scales and soft-shelled eggs
D wings and soft-shelled eggs
53 The diagrams show a test-tube containing pond water. The green colour is caused by
microorganisms that have chloroplasts.
oxygen bubble
pale green dark green
pond water area
light off light on
Which characteristics of living organisms are shown?
A excretion, growth and movement C nutrition, reproduction and respiration
B movement, nutrition and sensitivity D reproduction, sensitivity and growth
54 The diagram shows an arthropod.
pedipalp
legs
To which group does it belong?
A arachnids B crustaceans C insects D myriapods
55 Donkeys and zebras are different species. They can breed to produce an animal called a zedonk.
Zedonks are not fertile.
Which statement is correct?
A Zedonks and donkeys are the same species. C Zedonks are a species.
B Zedonks and zebras are the same species. D Zedonks are not a species.
56 The diagram shows two guard cells.
Which label shows the cell wall?
A
C
D
57 The diagrams show a plant at the start of an experiment, and the same plant two weeks later.
light from
one side
start of experiment after two weeks
Which characteristics of living organisms are demonstrated by this experiment?
A excretion, growth, movement C growth, movement, sensitivity
B excretion, movement, reproduction D sensitivity, growth, respiration
58 The diagram shows what happened in an experiment with plant seedlings.
start next day
light light
Which characteristic of living things made the seedlings grow towards the light?
A excretion C respiration
B nutrition D sensitivity
59 A rat has the scientific name Rattus rattus.
What do the two parts of this name refer to?
A genus and species C kingdom and species
B kingdom and genus D variety and genus
60 Which characteristic do all living organisms show?
A breathing
B excretion
C photosynthesis
D tropism
61 Using the binomial naming system, the Arctic fox is called Vulpes lagopus.
Which row is correct?
Vulpes lagopus
A genus kingdom
B genus species
C species genus
D species kingdom
62 What is a characteristic of both insects and arachnids?
A eight legs C three pairs of legs
B exoskeleton D wings
63 Hedgehogs are mammals. Touching a hedgehog causes it to roll into a ball to protect itself.
Which characteristics is it displaying?
A excretion and movement
B growth and sensitivity
C movement and growth
D movement and sensitivity
64 What are features of the leaves of a plant that is a dicotyledon?
broad leaves parallel veins
A key
B = yes
C = no
D
65 Which process is carried out by all organisms?
A growth C sexual reproduction
B photosynthesis D transpiration
66 What is a characteristic of all living organisms?
A breathing C egestion
B circulation D sensitivity
67 The diagram shows some of the processes carried out by living organisms.
carbon dioxide
in the atmosphere
X
Y
light energy
green
chicken
plant X
Y Y
waste waste
products products
Which two characteristics of living organisms are represented by arrows X and Y?
A excretion and sensitivity C respiration and growth
B nutrition and excretion D sensitivity and reproduction
68 The scientific names of some animals are listed.
1 Camelus dromedarius
2 Camelus ferus
3 Equus ferus
4 Struthio camelus
Which animals are in the same genus?
A 1, 2 and 3 B 1, 2 and 4 C 1 and 2 only D 2 and 3 only
69 Scientists discover a new species of animal.
It has a segmented body with two pairs of legs on each segment.
To which group of animals does this new species belong?
A arachnids C insects
B crustaceans D myriapods
70 The table shows a section of DNA taken from four different organisms.
organism base sequence
W C A C A A T C G A A
X G T C A A T G G T G
Y C T C A A T C G T A
Z C T C A T T C G T A
Which two organisms are the most distantly related to each other?
A W and X B W and Z C X and Y D X and Z
71 The bonobo and the chimpanzee are two closely related species.
What is the most accurate method of deciding how closely related species are?
A compare evolutionary relationships of other species
B compare the base sequences of their DNA
C compare their anatomy
D compare their morphology
72 What is the most accurate method of classifying animals?
A comparing bones
B comparing the morphology of organisms
C identifying similarities in anatomy
D identifying similarities in DNA base sequences
73 Woodlice are small organisms that live in damp places.
In an experiment, three live woodlice are put into a glass container. The diagram shows what
happens after 30 minutes.
woodlice placed
in hole here
damp dry
gauze
water chemical to
absorb water
Which characteristic of living organisms is shown by this experiment?
A growth
B nutrition
C respiration
D sensitivity
74 Which species can breed with Prunella vulgaris to produce fertile offspring?
Prunella modularis Vespula vulgaris
A key
B = yes
C = no
D
75 What is the correct order of arthropod groups, from those with the most legs to those with the
fewest legs?
A arachnids crustaceans insects myriapods
B arachnids insects myriapods crustaceans
C myriapods crustaceans arachnids insects
D myriapods insects arachnids crustaceans
76 Which characteristics of all living organisms are needed to release energy for growth?
A breathing and respiration C excretion and respiration
B excretion and nutrition D nutrition and respiration
77 Two animals have an identical sequence of amino acids in one of the proteins found in their cells.
What does this indicate about these animals?
A They have been eating the same types of food.
B They have not been exposed to substances that cause mutation.
C They must be members of the same genus.
D They share an ancestor.
78 All living things can remove toxic materials and other substances that are in excess of
requirements.
What is this process called?
A egestion B excretion C nutrition D respiration
79 An Amoeba is a single-celled organism.
The diagram shows an Amoeba engulfing a food particle.
Amoeba
food particle
Which characteristics of living organisms are shown?
A excretion, movement and nutrition
B excretion, nutrition and sensitivity
C movement, nutrition and sensitivity
D movement, reproduction and sensitivity