O-LevelBiologyEcology & Environment5090/21 · Oct/Nov 2017 · Q313 Marks

Fig. 3.1 shows the flow of energy within a biological system. [Figure 3.1]

(a)(i)Name the type of chart shown in Fig. 3.1.[1]
(a)(ii)Name one example, shown in Fig. 3.1, of each of the following types of organism. producer carnivore[2]
(b)(i)Suggest why only 5% of the energy from the Sun passes to the tree.[2]
(b)(ii)Describe how energy is lost between the songbird and the hawk.[3]
(c)Fig. 3.2 shows two possible uses of the same area of land to produce food. [Figure 3.2] Use the information in Fig. 3.1 and Fig. 3.2, and your own knowledge, to explain why it is possible to feed a greater number of people if the area of land is used to farm crops rather than to farm animals.[5]

This question uses a diagram from the original paper, which isn't shown here. Open the full paper from the past papers archive to see it.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2017). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

[1] (a)(i) food chain;
[2] (a)(ii) tree; songbird / hawk ;
[2] (b)(i) doesn't hit leaves / tree OR intercepted by other objects; reflected (off leaves); not used in photosynthesis ;
[3] (b)(ii) movement/ flight; excretion; egestion / faeces; sound / singing; heat/maintaining body temp / warm blooded ; respiration; hawk doesn't eat / digest all of songbird(s) OR songbird(s) decay(s);
[5] (c) more food produced ; comparative data manipulation ; fewer levels in food chain AW ; correct reference to herbivore / carnivore + human ; correct reference to primary / secondary + consumer ; less energy lost / more efficient ; example of energy not lost (e.g. through movement) ORA ;

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