Edexcel IGCSE Biology A Food Production Questions

Practise explaining crop yield, pest control and yeast fermentation using glasshouse investigations, graphs, apparatus choices and food-production contexts.

Syllabus
First assessment 2019
Course
Biology 4BI1

Exam points

  • design glasshouse investigations with controls, repeats, means and a measured crop yield
  • interpret crop, pest or fermenter data to explain effects of CO2, fertiliser or control methods
  • explain yeast and fermenter conditions using temperature, respiration and microorganism growth

Question 1

[Maximum number: 6]

Farmers can increase their crop yield by growing crops in a temperature controlled glasshouse.

Question (a)

(a)

Explain how increasing the temperature can result in an increase in crop yield.

[ 2 ]

Question (b)

(b)

Farmers sometimes use a type of heater that burns gas or oil to raise the temperature of their glasshouse to improve crop yield.

Explain why they use this type of heater to improve crop yield.

[ 2 ]

Question (c)

(c)

Some farmers also add chemical fertilisers to their crops in a glasshouse.

[ 2 ]

Question (i)

(i)

Different minerals are added to chemical fertilisers.

Explain one mineral that should be added to these fertilisers.

[ 2 ]

Question 2

[Maximum number: 1]

Using the recommended amount of fertiliser on a crop increases crop yield. Some farmers think that adding extra fertiliser will give an even greater crop yield.

Give a reason why adding extra fertiliser does not result in an even greater crop yield.

Question 3

[Maximum number: 6]

Golden rice is an example of a genetically modified plant.

Golden rice has been given a gene to make a substance called carotene.
This gene was taken from daffodil plants.

Question (a)

(a)

Chemical pesticides can be used in rice fields to kill insect pests.

Scientists investigate the effect that spraying pesticides in a rice field has on three types of organism.

The three types of organism investigated are:
- insect pests
- carnivorous beetles (predators of insect pests)
- lizards (higher trophic level predators)

The scientists count the number of each type of organism in the rice field.
The scientists then spray the field with pesticide.
The number of each type of organism in the field are then counted every three months for a year.

The table shows the scientists' results.

These are the scientists' results.

Table for Question (a) — Edexcel IGCSE Biology
[ 6 ]

Question (i)

(i)

Comment on the effects on the numbers of different organisms of spraying pesticides in a rice field.

[ 4 ]

Question (ii)

(ii)

State two reasons why using biological control is better for the environment than using chemical pesticide.

1
2

[ 2 ]

Question 4

[Maximum number: 3]

Yeast is a fungus used in the production of bread.

Describe the role of yeast in the production of bread.

Question 5

[Maximum number: 4]

A student investigates the effect of temperature on gas production in yeast.

The student uses this apparatus to count the number of gas bubbles produced per minute at different temperatures.

Figure for Question 5 — Edexcel IGCSE Biology

Question (a)

(a)

Name the process in yeast that produces the gas bubbles.

[ 1 ]

Question (b)

(b)

What gas is produced by the yeast?

A

carbon dioxide

B

nitrogen

C

oxygen

D

water vapour

[ 1 ]

Question (c)

(c)

Describe how the student should modify the investigation to obtain a more accurate measure of the optimum temperature.

[ 2 ]

Question 6

[Maximum number: 5]

Yeast is a fungus used in the production of bread.

Question (a)

(a)

Yoghurt is another food that is produced using microorganisms.

[ 5 ]

Question (i)

(i)

Explain the importance of controlling the temperature in the different stages of yoghurt production.

[ 3 ]

Question (ii)

(ii)

Explain the importance of changes in pH during yoghurt production.

[ 2 ]

Question 7

[Maximum number: 7]

Yeast cells can be genetically modified to produce the proteins found on the outside of viruses.

Question (a)

(a)

The diagram shows an industrial fermenter that can be used to grow large quantities of genetically modified yeast.

Figure for Question (a) — Edexcel IGCSE Biology
[ 7 ]

Question (i)

(i)

Explain the function of the temperature monitor and cooling jacket.

[ 3 ]

Question (ii)

(ii)

Explain why air is needed in the fermenter.

[ 2 ]

Question (iii)

(iii)

Explain why the air is filtered before going into the fermenter.

[ 2 ]

Question 8

[Maximum number: 5]

Fish farming is often used to produce protein rich food.

Multi-trophic level aquaculture is a method of fish farming that has been developed to reduce environmental pollution and increase profits.

The diagram shows a multi-trophic level aquaculture system.

Figure for Question 8 — Edexcel IGCSE Biology

Explain how the multi-trophic level aquaculture system reduces environmental pollution, and increases the profits of fish farming.

Use information from the diagram and your own knowledge to support your answer.

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