Skip to main content
A-LevelBiologyCell membranes and transportFeb/Mar 2017Paper 1 Q171 Mark

The cells in the roots of beetroot plants contain a red pigment. When pieces of root tissue are soaked in cold water, some of the red pigment leaks out of the cells into the water. An experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of temperature on the loss of red pigment from the root cells. It was found that the higher the temperature of the water, the higher the rate of loss of red pigment from the root cells. Which of these statements could explain this trend? 1 Enzymes in the cells denature as the temperature increases, so the pigment can no longer be used for reactions inside the cells and diffuses out. 2 As the temperature increases, the tertiary structure of protein molecules in the cell surface membrane changes, increasing the permeability of the membrane. 3 Phospholipid molecules gain kinetic energy as temperature rises, increasing the fluidity of the phospholipid bilayer and allowing pigment molecules to diffuse out more easily.

A1 and 2
B2 and 3
C2 only
D3 only

✓ Correct Answer

The correct answer is B. This question tests the candidate's understanding of cell membranes and transport within the Biologysyllabus. The examiner's mark scheme requires...

📋 Examiner Report & Trap Analysis

Common mistake: 62% of candidates selected the distractor because they confused... The examiner specifically designed this question to test whether students can differentiate between... To secure full marks, candidates must demonstrate...

🔒

Unlock the Examiner's Answer

Sign up for free to reveal the correct answer, the official mark scheme breakdown, and the examiner trap analysis for this question.

Sign Up Free to Unlock →

Join thousands of Cambridge students already using Oracle Prep

About This A-Level Biology Question

This multiple-choice question appeared in the Cambridge A-Level Biology (9700) Feb/Mar 2017 examination, Paper 1 Variant 2. It tests the topic of Cell membranes and transport and is worth 1 mark.

Oracle Prep provides AI-powered practice for all Cambridge O-Level and A-Level subjects. Our platform includes topic predictions with 87.7% accuracy, AI essay grading, and a comprehensive question bank spanning 25 years of past papers.

© 2026 Oracle Prep — The AI-Powered Cambridge Exam Engine