Skip to main content
A-LevelBiologyEnzymesMay/June 2014Paper 1 Q131 Mark

The drug ritonavir is sometimes used in the treatment of HIV/AIDS. Ritonavir consists of three amino acids and is a competitive inhibitor of HIV protease. HIV this protease to be made inside human cells. Ritonavir produces many side effects as it interferes with many metabolic processes in human cells. Which statements about ritonavir are correct? 1 Ritonavir has a shape complementary to the active site of HIV protease. 2 Ritonavir will enter human cells directly through the lipid bilayer and not require any transport proteins. 3 Ritonavir is likely to inhibit many of the enzymes of human cells. 4 Complete hydrolysis of ritonavir would require the addition of three water molecules.

A1, 2 and 3
B1 and 3 only
C2 and 4
D3 and 4

✓ Correct Answer

The correct answer is B. This question tests the candidate's understanding of enzymes 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) May/June 2014 examination, Paper 1 Variant 2. It tests the topic of Enzymes 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