2 (a) Fig. 2.1 shows some of the processes involved in the water cycle. water droplets in the clouds water vapour in the air streams, lakes and the sea water in the ground plants and trees D A E B C Fig. 2.1 (i) Identify the processes labelled A to D in Fig. 2.1. A … B … C … D … [4] (ii) Describe the process that occurs at E in Fig. 2.1. … … … … … … … [3] (b) Some animals can only live in clean water that has a high concentration of dissolved oxygen. Some animals can live in polluted water. A student investigated which animal species lived in different locations in a river. Fig. 2.2 is a diagram of the river. The numbers are the locations of where the student counted how many of each animal species were present. 1 2 3 4 direction of water flow untreated sewage entered the river here 5 Fig. 2.2 The number of each animal species present is shown in Table 2.1. Table 2.1 animal species total number of each animal species found location 1 location 2 location 3 location 4 location 5 mayfly nymph 76 78 0 0 0 freshwater shrimp 70 73 9 17 35 bloodworm 2 1 65 45 16 sludge worm 0 0 111 77 34 (i) State which location has the most animals present. … [1] (ii) Using the information in Fig. 2.2 and Table 2.1, suggest which animal species is unable to survive in polluted water. Give reasons for your choice. species … reasons … … … … … … [3] (iii) Suggest which animal species in Table 2.1 indicates that the water is polluted when it is present. … [1] (iv) Calculate the percentage change in the freshwater shrimp numbers between location 2 and location 3. Give your answer to one decimal place. Space for working. … % [3] [Total: 15]

2(a)(i) A – transpiration ; B – condensation ; C – evaporation ; D – precipitation ; 4 2(a)(ii) any three from: water, absorbed / taken up ; by osmosis ; into root hair cells ; across the, cell membrane / partially permeable membrane ; 3 2(b)(i) (location) 3 ; 1 2(b)(ii) species: mayfly / nymph ; reasons – maximum of two from: there are no mayfly nymphs, after location 3 / in locations 3, 4 and 5 ; sewage / polluted water, enters the river, after location 2 / before location 3 ; sewage is a source of pollution ; 3 2(b)(iii) bloodworm / sludge worm ; 1 2(b)(iv) 87.7(%) ;;; 3 MP1 correct readings from table (73 & 9) MP2 correct calculation MP3 correct rounding to one decimal place ecf MP2 and MP3 from incorrect readings / calculation

3 Fig. 3.1 shows a food web. mountain lion coyote jack rabbit yucca plant rattlesnake chuckwalla cactus plant Fig. 3.1 (a) A scientist found that chuckwallas were also eaten by coyotes. Draw an arrow on Fig. 3.1 to show this information. [1] (b) Table 3.1 shows some of the terms used to describe the organisms in Fig. 3.1. Place tick(s) (✓) in all the boxes in Table 3.1 that correctly describe each organism. Table 3.1 producer consumer herbivore carnivore coyote jack rabbit rattlesnake yucca plant [4] (c) State the name of the organism in Fig. 3.1 that is both a secondary and a tertiary consumer. … [1] (d) A new organism that eats cactus plants was introduced to the food web in Fig. 3.1. Predict and explain the effect this would have on the chuckwalla population. … … … … … [2] (e) Chuckwallas are a type of lizard. They have adapted to be able to lose part of their tail if they are caught by predators. Fig. 3.2 is a photograph of a chuckwalla. Fig. 3.2 Complete the sentences using words from the list to describe how chuckwallas have evolved the ability to lose part of their tails by natural selection. Each word may be used once, more than once or not at all. all alleles behaviour none offspring parents predators some A mutation caused some of the population of chuckwallas to be able to lose part of their tail. Chuckwallas that could lose their tail were able to escape … . These chuckwallas survived long enough to breed and pass their … on to their … . Eventually … of the chuckwallas had the ability to lose their tails. [4] [Total: 12]

2(d) any three from: 1 ref. to toxicity ; 2 ref. to, combines / reacts, with haemoglobin ; 3 takes the place of oxygen in red blood cells ; 4 compound formed is very stable ; 5 cells do not get enough oxygen / reduces oxygen carrying capacity of the blood ; 6 cells cannot respire ; 7 increased rate of breathing ; 8 AVP ; 3 AW throughout

6 Carbon is a part of many biological molecules. (a) Fig. 6.1 is a diagram of part of the carbon cycle. carbon compounds in plants carbon compounds in decomposers carbon compounds in C CO2 in the atmosphere carbon compounds in D B A combustion decomposition feeding Fig. 6.1 (i) State the name of the process labelled A. … [1] (ii) State the name of the process labelled B. … [1] (iii) State the name of C. … [1] (iv) State the name of D. … [1] (b) Describe the undesirable effects of deforestation. … … … … … … … [3] (c) Methane is a gas that pollutes the atmosphere. (i) State one source of the methane that pollutes the atmosphere. … [1] (ii) State the effects of an increased concentration of methane in the atmosphere. … … … … … [2] [Total: 10]

6(a)(i) photosynthesis ; 1 6(a)(ii) respiration ; 1 6(a)(iii) animals ; 1 6(a)(iv) fossil fuels ; 1 6(b) any three from: 1 increase in carbon dioxide (concentration) ; 2 habitat destruction ; 3 loss of soil / soil erosion ; 4 idea of disruption of, food chains / food webs ; 5 lack of biodiversity / extinction of species ; 6 flooding ; 7 AVP ; e.g. reduction in rainfall 3 6(c)(i) decay / paddy fields / cattle / AVP ; 1 6(c)(ii) any two from: enhanced greenhouse effect ; climate change / global warming ; AVP ; 2 7(a) P controls movement of substances into and out of a cell ; Q site of, chemical / metabolic, reactions ; R controls cell activities ; 3

7 (a) Define the terms herbivore and carnivore. herbivore … … carnivore … … [2] (b) Fig. 7.1 shows some organisms collected from underneath a rotting log. not to scale Fig. 7.1 Fig. 7.2 can be used to identify these organisms. herbivores carnivores soil mite centipede ground beetle rove beetle not to scale potworm slug springtail millipede Fig. 7.2 Some students used Fig. 7.2 to identify and count the numbers of each soil organism. Some of their results are shown in Table 7.1. Table 7.1 herbivores carnivores names of organisms millipedes potworms slugs soil mites springtails centipedes ground beetles rove beetles number of organisms … 3 1 … 7 2 … … total number of organisms 21 7 (i) Complete Table 7.1 by identifying and counting the four remaining named organisms in Fig. 7.1. Write your answers in the four spaces in Table 7.1. [2] (ii) Use the information in Table 7.1 to draw a pyramid of numbers in Fig. 7.3. Write the names of the two types of organism in the spaces at the side. The row for the rotting log (the producer) has been done for you. pyramid of numbers type of organism producer … … Fig. 7.3 [3] [Total: 7]

7(a) (herbivore) an animal that gets its energy by eating plants ; (carnivore) an animal that gets its energy by eating other animals ; 2 7(b)(i) 3 millipedes and 7 soil mites ; 2 ground beetles and 3 rove beetles ; 2 7(b)(ii) 21 boxes outlined or shaded and 7 boxes outlines or shaded ; widest row in the middle of the pyramid ; widest row labelled, primary consumers / herbivores and the other drawn row labelled, secondary consumers / carnivores ; 3 To earn marks, you must define herbivore as an animal that eats plants and carnivore as an animal that eats other animals. For part (b)(i), you must correctly count and record the number of millipedes, soil mites, ground beetles, and rove beetles from the provided diagram into the table.

Cambridge IGCSE Biology · 0610

IGCSE Biology (0610) Organisms and their environment past paper questions

Questions on food chains and webs, energy flow, and the nutrient cycles.

226 free questions from 2017–2021, each with its marking scheme. Open the full topical bank to filter by subtopic, paper, and year.

Organisms and their environment in IGCSE Biology 0610 exams, 2020–2025

Across 2020–2025, Organisms and their environment accounted for 288 questions worth 996 marks in Cambridge IGCSE Biology (0610) papers.

By year
Year	Questions	Marks
2020	45	154
2021	43	150
2022	50	193
2023	47	153
2024	42	153
2025	61	193

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Paper 1 · 120 qs
Paper 2 · 105 qs
Paper 3 · 30 qs
Paper 4 · 32 qs
Paper 5 · 1 q

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2021 Oct/Nov · Paper 3 · Q2 · 15 marks
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2021 Feb/Mar · Paper 3 · Q3 · 12 marks
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2021 Oct/Nov · Paper 3 · Q6 · 10 marks
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2021 May/Jun · Paper 3 · Q7 · 7 marks
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2021 Feb/Mar · Paper 1 · Q35 · 1 mark
Marking scheme
Mark scheme — 2021 Paper 1 Q35
Answer: D
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