3 The diagram shows an elm tree. (a) Elm trees may be infected by a fungus that causes a disease. State two characteristics of a fungus. 1 … 2 … [2] (b) The fungus moves through an infected tree inside the xylem vessels. The tree responds to stop the movement of the fungus by producing substances that block the xylem vessels. This causes the leaves of the tree to wilt and to become yellow. Explain how the response of the tree to infection leads to these symptoms of disease. … … … … … … … … … … [5] (c) An insect called the elm bark beetle is the vector of this disease. Describe what is meant by the term vector. … … … … [2] (d) Elm trees can reproduce when the roots from one parent tree spread out near the surface of the soil. This is shown in the diagram below. roots of parent tree grow stems called suckers each sucker forms a new tree (i) Name the type of reproduction shown in the diagram. … [1] (ii) Suggest why this type of reproduction makes it difficult to control the spread of the disease caused by the fungus. … … … … … … [3] [Total: 13]

3(a) 1 hyphae / mycelium ; 2 saprotrophic / saprophytic / feeds on dead matter AW / decomposer ; 3 spores ; 4 cell wall + chitin ; 5 more than one nucleus / multinucleate ; 2 3(b) 1 less / no + water transported / water absorbed / transpiration ; 2 water loss greater than water uptake ; 3 less + water in cells ; 4 flaccid / loss of turgor / plasmolysed ; 5 magnesium / Mg ; 6 less / no + chlorophyll ; 5 3(c) 1 transfer / carries / spreads AW + pathogen / fungus / parasite ; 2 one organism AW to another ; 3 not itself + affected / infected ; 2 3(d)(i) asexual ; 1 3(d)(ii) 1 close together ; 2 connected AW ; 3 genetically identical / all genetically susceptible / clones ; 3

8 (a) Water enters living organisms and is transported to all their cells. Compare the transport of water in a human and a flowering plant. … … … … … … … … [6] (b) Water in humans and flowering plants contains dissolved mineral ions. Suggest reasons why the mineral ion requirements of humans and plants are different. … … … … … … [4] [Total: 10]

8(a) any six from: similarities both carried in tubes ; one way movement ; both travel between cells by osmosis ; differences plants human from soil / root ; by ingestion / alimentary canal part; in xylem ; in blood vessels ; detail of xylem vessel, e.g. no end-walls, lignin ; detail of blood vessel, e.g. muscular walls elastic walls of artery ; Transpiration ; heart pumps ; detail of mechanism, e.g. cohesion / adhesion / continuo us water column ; lost through evaporation ; detail of mechanism, e.g. heart muscles contract, elastic tissue allows pulsing of blood ; lost through sweating / urination AW ; 6 8(b) any four from: magnesium + for chlorophyll ; iron + haemoglobin / blood ; calcium + bones ; calcium + cell walls ; deficiency in plants, e.g. yellow leaves ; deficiency in animals, e.g. rickets, anaemia ; idea that have different cell types / structures / physiology in organism ; produce + different chemicals / chemicals in different proportions ; 4

9 (a) Outline the importance of a seed being provided with a good supply of oxygen. … … … … … … [3] (b) Outline the importance of a plant being provided with a good supply of water. … … … … … … … … … … … … … [7] [Total: 10]

8(a) externally administered / taken ; chemical / substance ; modifies / affects / alters AW + metabolism / chemical reactions in the body ; 3 8(b) named drug ; 1 any six from … reason for taking it ; tolerance / increased dosage for same effect ; dependence / addiction ; withdrawal ; crime / drink driving ; funding the habit / financial implications ; social effects, e.g. effect on family / social acceptability ; any two adverse effects on health of addict from drug / means of taking it ;; Max 6 6 9(a) aerobic + respiration ; energy released AW ; germination / radicle / plumule ; 3 9(b) water potential gradient AW ; intake + by osmosis / diffusion ; root hair ; turgor ; prevents wilting AW ; reactant / use in AW + photosynthesis ; transpiration ; cooling effect on plant ; solvent / dissolved ; sucrose / amino acids + in phloem ; mineral ions or named + in xylem ; 7

2 The photomicrograph shows the central part of a plant root as seen under a light microscope. magnification ×200 E G F (a) (i) The xylem and phloem are surrounded by a layer of tissue that is one cell thick. The cell labelled E is in this layer. Make a large drawing of cell E and the cells that touch it on the outside and inside of the layer. [4] (ii) Measure the diameter of the xylem vessel between F and G. … mm [1] (iii) Calculate the actual diameter of the xylem vessel. Space for working. diameter … mm [2] (b) Some of the outer cells in the photomicrograph contain small particles. Describe in detail how you would prepare a section of the root for observation under the microscope to see whether these cells contain starch. … … … … … … … … … … [5] [Total: 12]

2(a)(i) 5 cm minimum size ; outline of cell E drawn with sharp pencil + no shading anywhere; cell E with inner and lateral walls thick ; cell E + only two cells on inside and two cells on outside + both outside cells larger than inside cells ; 4 2(a)(ii) 17 ± 1 ; 1 2(a)(iii) measurement/200 ; 0.085 ; 2 2(b) cut thin slice of root ; place on (microscope) slide ; stain section with iodine ; add coverslip + prevent bubbles ; place slide on microscope + focus lens ; stains black if starch present ; 5

Cambridge O Level Biology · 5090

O-Level Biology (5090) Transport in flowering plants past paper questions

Revise O-Level Biology (5090) — Transport in flowering plants 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.

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

Transport in flowering plants in O-Level Biology 5090 exams, 2020–2025

Across 2020–2025, Transport in flowering plants accounted for 71 questions worth 330 marks in Cambridge O Level Biology (5090) papers.

By year
Year	Questions	Marks
2020	14	43
2021	12	67
2022	15	78
2023	11	63
2024	12	44
2025	7	35

Most-tested subtopics

7.2 Transpiration and translocation238 marks
7.1 Uptake and transport of water and ions129 marks

Appears in

Paper 1 · 48 qs
Paper 2 · 20 qs
Paper 3 · 2 qs
Paper 4 · 1 q

All most-tested Biology topics

2021 May/Jun · Paper 2 · Q3 · 13 marks
Marking scheme
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2021 Oct/Nov · Paper 2 · Q8 · 10 marks
Marking scheme
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2021 Oct/Nov · Paper 2 · Q9 · 10 marks
Marking scheme
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2021 Oct/Nov · Paper 3 · Q2 · 12 marks
Marking scheme
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2021 May/Jun · Paper 1 · Q11 · 1 mark
Marking scheme
Mark scheme — 2021 Paper 1 Q11
Answer: B
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