1 The diagram shows the teeth in the lower jaw of a human. X (a) Name the type of tooth labelled X and describe one function of this type of tooth. type of tooth … function … … [2] (b) Food can be sweetened using honey or sugar. The graph shows how the pH of saliva in the mouth changes with time after eating food sweetened with honey or sugar. 3.0 4.0 5.0 H of aliva 6.0 7.0 0 5 10 15 20 time after eating / minutes 25 30 35 40 honey key sugar (i) State the lowest pH of saliva in the mouth after eating food sweetened with honey. … [1] (ii) It takes more time for saliva to return to pH 7.0 after eating food sweetened with sugar than after eating food sweetened with honey. State how much more time it takes for the pH to return to 7.0. … [2] (c) Dental decay is likely to occur when the pH of saliva falls below 5.5. (i) Use information from the graph to explain whether sweetening food with honey or with sugar is more likely to lead to dental decay. … … … … … … [2] (ii) State two ways to prevent dental decay. 1 … 2 … [2] (iii) A person with dental decay may also have gums that bleed. This makes it more likely that bacteria found in the mouth will enter the circulatory system. Bacteria in the circulatory system can cause the blood to clot. Small blood clots may move through the circulatory system to the coronary arteries. Suggest and explain possible health problems that this may cause. … … … … … … … … [4] [Total: 13]

1(a)(i) (type of tooth) (function) 1 canine ; 2 tearing / ripping / piercing ; 2 Ig chewing 1(b)(i) 4.75 ; 1 1(b)(ii) 1 15 ; 2 minutes / min ; 2 1(c)(i) 1 lower pH / more acidic / any pH between 3.5 and 4.74 ; 2 longer time / any time between 25 and 35 minutes ; 2 1(c)(ii) 1 brushing / cleaning / toothpaste ; 2 flossing / mouthwash ; 3 fluoride ; 4 avoid sugar AW / use artificial sweetener ; 5 use honey rather than sugar ; 2 Ig dental check-ups 1(c)(iii) 1 heart attack / angina AW / breathlessness ; 2 less ability AW of heart to + contract / pump ; 3 less blood to + body / tissues / organs or any named ; 4 less oxygen / less glucose to + body / tissues / organs or any named ; 5 anaerobic respiration / less aerobic respiration ; 6 lactic acid ; 7 less ability AW to carry out / fatigue + physical activity ; 4

3 The table shows the mass of each component in 250 cm3 of cow’s milk. component mass / g carbohydrate 11 fat 8 protein 8 (a) (i) A 250 cm3 drink of cow’s milk provides 14% of the total mass of protein required each day in the diet of an average adult human. Calculate the total mass of protein required in the diet of an average adult human each day. You must state your answer to one decimal place and include correct units. … [3] (ii) State two important uses of protein in the diet. 1 … 2 … [2] (b) The table below lists four components of a balanced diet for an average adult human. For each component listed, the percentage of the daily requirement provided by 250 cm3 of milk is shown. component percentage of daily requirement provided by 250 cm3 of milk vitamin C 0 vitamin D 30 calcium 30 iron 0 Discuss how a 250 cm3 drink of cow’s milk contributes to the health of an adult human for each of the components listed in the table. … … … … … … … … [4] [Total: 9]

3(a)(i) 57 ; (57).1 ; g ; 3 3(a)(ii) growth / new cells / protoplasm ; repair ; muscle ; hair / nails / skin / keratin ; hormones / named hormone ; enzymes / named enzyme ; antibodies ; haemoglobin / collagen ; membrane component ; 2 3(b) no/lacks vitamin C + gums / scurvy / immunity AW / wound healing ; vitamin D + prevents rickets / bones / teeth / absorb calcium ; calcium + prevents rickets / bones / teeth / blood clotting ; no/lacks iron + haemoglobin / red blood cells / anaemia / lack of energy ; 4

4 The diagram shows part of the human alimentary canal and its associated organs. H F … … … (a) Complete the three labels on the diagram by naming the structures. [3] (b) Describe the functions of the structure labelled F. … … … … [3] (c) Name structure H and describe its role in homeostasis. name … role … … … [2] [Total: 8]

4(a) clockwise from top: oesophagus / gullet ; duodenum / small intestine ; gall bladder ; 3 R ileum 4(b) any three from: digestion / break down food or protein / protein to polypeptides / protein to amino acids ; (mechanical) muscle / contractions / movement + make food particles smaller / chyme ; (chemical) enzymes / proteases / pepsin + proteins ; hydrochloric acid + optimum pH AW ; hydrochloric acid + destroy microbes / defence against microbes ; mucus + protects lining / lubrication ; 3 4(c) pancreas ; control of blood glucose concentration / level or produces / releases + insulin / glucagon ; 2

5 The diagram shows villi in the small intestine. Outline the processes by which named molecules are absorbed from the contents of the small intestine into the blood. … … … … … … … … … … … … [6]

5 1 water + osmosis / diffusion ; 2 glucose / amino acids / fatty acids / glycerol + diffusion ; 3 glucose + active transport ; 4 correct ref. to a concentration gradient ; 5 correct ref. to energy requirement ; 6 through + membrane / epithelium ; 7 tissue fluid / capillaries / plasma ; 6 To outline the absorption processes, you need to name specific molecules (water, glucose, amino acids, fatty acids, glycerol) and state their absorption mechanisms (osmosis, diffusion, active transport), mentioning the role of concentration gradients, energy, passage through membranes, and entry into capillaries/tissue fluid.

Cambridge O Level Biology · 5090

O-Level Biology (5090) Human nutrition past paper questions

Revise O-Level Biology (5090) — Human nutrition with real Cambridge past-paper questions grouped by topic, each shown with its marking scheme. Working one topic at a time targets exactly the skill each question tests.

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

Human nutrition in O-Level Biology 5090 exams, 2020–2025

Across 2020–2025, Human nutrition accounted for 88 questions worth 362 marks in Cambridge O Level Biology (5090) papers.

By year
Year	Questions	Marks
2020	17	53
2021	19	86
2022	15	61
2023	14	43
2024	12	65
2025	11	54

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Paper 1 · 58 qs
Paper 2 · 28 qs
Paper 3 · 1 q
Paper 4 · 1 q

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2021 May/Jun · Paper 2 · Q1 · 13 marks
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2021 Oct/Nov · Paper 2 · Q3 · 9 marks
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2021 May/Jun · Paper 2 · Q4 · 8 marks
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2021 May/Jun · Paper 2 · Q5 · 6 marks
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2021 May/Jun · Paper 1 · Q8 · 1 mark
Marking scheme
Mark scheme — 2021 Paper 1 Q8
Answer: A
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