1.

(a) (i) Some candidates simply stated that protease in the washing powder can digest the egg
stain but did not mention that the egg stain contains protein. Most candidates failed to point
out that the proteins are broken down into small, soluble molecules which can then be
removed by water.
(iii) To shorten the soaking time, many candidates suggested using water at 37°C as this is the
optimum temperature for enzyme action. This is wrong because for most enzymes,
including many human enzymes, the optimum temperature lies between 45-50°C. Only a
small proportion of candidates gave the correct reason to explain why soaking the clothes in
warm water can shorten the soaking time: that enzyme action is faster at a higher
temperature.
(iv) To explain why it is not advisable to use the washing power with water at temperatures
above 60°C, many candidates stated wrongly that 'enzymes are killed or destroyed by
heating'. Enzymes are simply protein molecules; they are not living organisms. It is
therefore wrong to say that they are killed by heating Enzyme function is dependent on the
specific configuration of the enzyme molecule which is largely maintained by relatively weak
bondings such as electrovalent bonds and hydrogen bonds. Heating the molecule above the
optimum temperature will disrupt these weak bondings, leading to a loss of the natural
configuration of the molecule. If the molecule is not subjected to too high a temperature, this
process is reversible. As only the weak bondings but not the covalent bonds are broken, the
molecule will resume its normal shape when it is returned to a lower temperature. In this
process, the molecule has not been destroyed, but is denatured, which simply means that
the molecule has lost its natural shape. It is essential that students should not simply
memorize the term 'denaturation' by rote, as an understanding of the meaning of this term
will help them to gain a deeper understanding of the characteristics of enzyme action.
1. (b) (i) By asking the students to explain their conclusion without using genetic diagrams, this
question is set in such a way as to probe students' understanding of genetics. While most
candidates stated correctly that blood group A is the dominant character, many failed to
present a logical explanation, showing that they had not yet mastered the deductive
reasoning needed for interpreting crossing results. First of all, they had to look for the
crossing that gave a clue to the nature of the two blood groups in relation to dominance or
recessiveness. Some candidates wrongly explained that blood group A is dominant because
it is the blood group of a majority of individuals in the family. Many candidates pointed out
correctly that the cross results between individuals 3 and 4 could indicate which blood group
is dominant, but their explanation was far from complete and logical. The following illustrates
how to arrive at a logical conclusion from the result of the cross :
1. Both individuals 3 and 4 are of blood group A, so each of them must possess at least
one allele for blood group A.
2. One of their children (individual 12) is of blood group O. This means that at least one
of the parents must also possess one allele for blood group O.
3. Therefore at least one of the parents is heterozygous.
4. In a heterozygous condition, only the dominant allele will be expressed while the effect
of the recessive allele will be masked. Since both individuals 3 and 4 are of blood
group A, blood group A should be the dominant character.
(ii) The performance of candidates in this question shows that many of them were not familiar
with the basic rules of defining allele symbols used in genetic crossings. A common error
was to use ‘A for the dominant character or gamete’, showing that these students had a
poor concept of alleles. Another mistake was using A for the dominant allele and O for the
recessive allele.
(iii) Some candidates wrongly stated that individuals 3 to 13 were all children of individuals 1 and
2.
1. (c) (i) (1) The performance on this question was good, although some candidates did not show
their calculation.
(2) A considerable number of candidates wrongly wrote that cell A is large so as to provide
a large area for meeting cell B. Some candidates did not seem to understand the word
‘account’ and attempted to calculate the size of cell A.
(ii) Some candidates did not read the question carefully. They gave the names of the cells
instead of the organs that produce them.
(iv) A number of candidates misinterpreted the question. They elaborated on how semen is
produced and failed to describe the process of semen transfer.
2. (a) (ii) Many candidates only stated that the increase in ventilation rate during exercise is to supply
more oxygen to body cells, without specifically mentioning the muscle cells which are more
active and so need more energy during exercise.
(iii) A considerable number of candidates stated wrongly that hairs are found in the nasal cavity
and that dust particles are trapped by the cilia.
2. (b) (i) Many candidates did not explain why James caught cowpox. Some stated wrongly that
cowpox was caused by an antigen rather than a pathogen, showing that they did not have a
clear concept of immunity and infection.
(ii) To explain why James was immune to smallpox, many candidates just stated that it was
because smallpox was similar to cowpox. They should point out more specifically that it was
due to the similarity of the antigens of smallpox and cowpox. Some also failed to state that
the immunity against smallpox is due to the fast and large production of antibodies.
(iii) A considerable number of candidates answered ‘yes’ which was wrong, but gave an
explanation that was correct. The likely reason for this contradiction is that they did not
understand the meaning of ‘immune to other infectious diseases’.
2. (c) (i) Many candidates wrongly stated that cell type 1 is found in region B, which is the zone of
maturation of the root.
(ii) (2) Most candidates stated correctly that mitosis is for growth or repair of the root, but
failed to point out that this role resulted from an increase in the number of cells in the
root.
(iii) Some candidates stated wrongly that the root hair is used for anchorage or for penetrating
the soil.
3. (a) (i) This part was well attempted, but some candidates answered very imprecisely by saying
that 'the bacteria react with the food to form acid'; some even stated that bacteria secrete
acid or that saliva is acidic.
(ii) Many candidates just stated that tooth decay is caused by the action of acid on teeth,
without specifically pointing out that the hard material of teeth (enamel or dentine) is being
attacked.
(iii) Some candidates gave answers that were not based on the information provided, e.g.
seeing the dentist and drinking water with fluoride.
(iv) The standard of drawing was poor and very few candidates drew a clear and accurate
diagram. Most candidates did not give a title to their drawings. Some wrongly labelled the
blood capillaries in the pulp cavity as “blood vessels” and the nerve endings as ‘nerves’.
 There were many spelling mistakes, such as 'plup' for pulp, 'enamal' for enamel and 'dentin'
for dentine.
3. (b) (i) (2) This part was poorly answered. Many candidates simply did not understand that
voluntary action can be initiated by the cerebrum without involving stimulation of
receptors in the fingers. A wrong answer given by many candidates was as follows :
532124
(ii) Some candidates still had the misconception that reflex actions do not involve the brain. In
fact, reflex actions do not involve only the cerebrum. Many candidates stated that reflex
actions are faster than voluntary actions. Although this answer was accepted, it should be
pointed out that such a statement is an over-generalization and may not be correct in some
situations. Voluntary actions can sometimes be very fast.
(iii) This part was answered poorly. Most candidates only regurgitated statements about the
general roles of the cerebrum, cerebellum and medulla without relating them to the situation
when a man is riding a bicycle.
3. (c) (i) Although many candidates correctly stated that the water potential of the sea water is lower
than that of the root cells and that the plant would become dehydrated, very few mentioned
that water is lost from the root cells by osmosis.
(ii) Many candidates failed to give a good and comprehensive explanation for the statement
given in this question. Some did not even mention that fertilizers contain minerals for plant
growth
(iii) Most candidates mentioned the importance of tropical rain forests in maintaining the
balance of atmospheric carbon dioxide and oxygen, but they failed to state other important
roles such as maintaining a diversity of species, conservation of natural habitats and
prevention of soil erosion.
4. (a) (ii) (1) Most candidates simply mentioned that water moves from cell G to cell B by osmosis,
without pointing out that water is transported across a number of adjoining cells before
reaching cell B.
(2) A common mistake was saying that carbon dioxide passes through cell E, which is the
guard cell, instead of through the stomatal pore.
4. (b) (i) Structure A shows blood capillaries but some candidates named it inaccurately as blood
vessels. When explaining the function of structure A, many incorrectly stated that it
undergoes vasodilation when the body temperature rises. Actually, vasodilation takes place
in the arterioles located in the deeper part of the dermis. As a result of the vasodilation of
these arterioles, more blood flows into structure A which presents a large area close to the
skin surface for rapid heat loss by radiation and convection.
Many candidates did not realize that sweat is produced by structure B most of the time, and
when the body temperature rises, more sweat is produced. A considerable number of
candidates also failed to point out that sweating is effective in promoting heat loss from the
body only when the sweat evaporates.
(ii) Only a small number of candidates were able to point out that with a large area of C being
damaged, excessive water would be lost through the skin, and that this might endanger the
person‘s life.
4. (c) The performance in this question is satisfactory in general. For part (ii), however, many
candidates did not relate the decrease in ammonia concentration to the conversion of ammonia to
nitrate, which is an important process in the nitrogen cycle. Some even said that ammonia is used
up by the bacteria.