O-LevelBiologyGenetics & Variation5090/21 · Oct/Nov 2018 · Q110 Marks

The diagram shows the parts of a plant growing above ground. plantlets brightly coloured flower fruit

(a)(i)State the type of reproduction that takes place using the flower shown in the diagram.[1]
(a)(ii)Describe the events that must take place for the flower to develop into a fruit.[5]
(b)The plant may also reproduce without using a flower, to produce new plants from plantlets. State the type of reproduction that produces the plantlets.[1]
(c)Suggest the advantages to the plant of reproducing by each of the following methods: using flowers, using plantlets.[3]

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 2018). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

[1] sexual;
[5] pollen + stigma; pollen tube; style; ovary / ovule; female gamete / ovum ; fertilisation or described ; growth of pericarp / ovary wall ; petals fall off/ stamens or stigma or style withers AW ;
[1] asexual/vegetative;
[3] (using flowers) maximum 2 marks from variation AW; population more likely to survive environmental change / disease; more widely dispersed ; reduction of competition; (using plantlets) maximum 2 marks from quick/only one plant needed / no other organism needed ; supply of water / nutrition from parent plant; higher survival rate; new plants in environment to which plant is well suited AW ;

On Oracle Prep you can write or photograph your own answer and have it marked by AI against this mark scheme, with feedback on what you missed.