plumiSclerenchyma, xylem and phloem: Edexcel International A Level Biology questions
Edexcel International A Level Biology past-paper questions on 4.2.1 Sclerenchyma, xylem and phloem, 2019–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.
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Q4(a)(i)
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All 52 questions on Sclerenchyma, xylem and phloem, as a list
- June 2025, AS Unit 2, Q4(a)(i) (1 mark): Calculate the ratio of cellulose to lignin for a one-year-old bamboo plant. (1) : 1
- June 2025, AS Unit 2, Q4(a)(ii) (1 mark): Give one conclusion that can be made about the effect of age on the mean percentage of both cellulose and lignin content of bamboo plants. (1)
- June 2025, AS Unit 2, Q4(c)(i) (1 mark): Which of the following are functions of xylem vessels? 1. give support to the plant 2. translocation of organic solutes to the leaves 3. transport of inorganic
- June 2025, AS Unit 2, Q4(c)(ii) (1 mark): Give one difference between the distribution of phloem and xylem in the leaf compared with their distribution in a transverse section of a stem. (1)
- January 2025, AS Unit 2, Q6(a)(i) (1 mark): Which of the labelled structures is a xylem vessel? (1) A W B X C Y D Z
- January 2025, AS Unit 2, Q6(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which of the labelled structures contains sieve plates? (1) A V B W C X D Y
- January 2025, AS Unit 2, Q6(a)(iii) (3 marks): Explain the advantages for this millipede of being able to make holes in xylem and phloem. (3)
- January 2025, AS Unit 3, Q1(a) (2 marks): Name two types of fibre cells found in a plant. (2) 1 2
- October 2024, AS Unit 2, Q5(b)(ii) (1 mark): Water is also important to plants. Which of the following would transport water down the stem of a plant? (1) A phloem B sclerenchyma C vacuole D xylem
- October 2024, Unit 6, Q2(d) (2 marks): Sclerenchyma fibres strengthen plant stems. Describe the structure of a sclerenchyma fibre. (2)
- January 2024, AS Unit 2, Q1(a) (1 mark): Estimate the height of the sunflower, using the information in the diagram. Give your answer with appropriate units. (1) Answer
- January 2024, AS Unit 2, Q1(b)(i) (1 mark): Name the tissue that would contain structure X. (1)
- January 2024, AS Unit 2, Q1(b)(ii) (2 marks): Describe how two structures in this tissue enable it to carry out its function. (2) Structure 1 Structure 2
- January 2024, AS Unit 2, Q1(c)(i) (1 mark): Which of the following tissues contain lignin? 1. phloem 2. sclerenchyma 3. xylem (1) A 1 only B 1 and 3 only C 2 and 3 only D 3 only
- January 2024, AS Unit 2, Q1(c)(ii) (2 marks): The diagram shows a climbing plant that is growing up a bamboo pole. Suggest two reasons why a climbing plant may have a lower lignin content than a sunflower p
- October 2023, AS Unit 2, Q3(a) (3 marks): Some plant cell walls develop secondary thickening. Diagram 1 shows a cell without secondary thickening. Diagram 2 shows part of the cell walls of two adjacent
- October 2023, AS Unit 2, Q3(b)(ii) (2 marks): Secondary thickening occurs in sclerenchyma fibres. Explain how secondary thickening contributes to the physical properties of sclerenchyma fibres. (2)
- October 2023, AS Unit 2, Q3(c) (2 marks): Some cells in xylem vessels have secondary thickening. The photograph shows pits in the wall of part of a xylem vessel, as seen using an electron microscope. ce
- October 2023, AS Unit 2, Q5(a)(i) (1 mark): Which tissue is involved in the transport of magnesium ions in a plant? (1) A amyloplast B plasmodesmata C sclerenchyma D xylem
- October 2023, AS Unit 3, Q1(b)(i) (2 marks): Identify the cell types labelled X, Y and Z. (2) X . Y Z
- October 2023, AS Unit 3, Q1(b)(ii) (1 mark): The photograph shows a longitudinal section of where two plant cells meet. (Source: DR KEITH WHEELER / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY) State which of the cells labelled
- June 2023, AS Unit 2, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): Which of the following would be a different colour due to the presence of the stain? (1) A W B X C Y D Z
- June 2023, AS Unit 2, Q1(a)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why, after one hour, this part of the stem would be a different colour. (2)
- June 2023, AS Unit 2, Q7(b)(ii) (3 marks): Suggest how the corpse lily plant obtains organic solutes, such as sucrose, from one of the tissues in the vine plant. (3)
- June 2023, AS Unit 3, Q1(a)(i) (2 marks): Name two types of cell found in plant fibres. (2) 1 2
- January 2023, AS Unit 2, Q1(a)(i) (3 marks): Label the photograph to show the position of the phloem, sclerenchyma fibres and xylem vessels. (3)
- January 2023, AS Unit 2, Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): How many of the following statements about phloem are correct? • connected to other cells by plasmodesmata • transports water and organic solutes • translocatio
- January 2023, AS Unit 3, Q1(a)(i) (2 marks): Describe how you would use the information in the photograph to identify structures A and C. (2)
- January 2023, AS Unit 3, Q1(a)(ii) (3 marks): A longitudinal section was taken through one of the labelled tissues A, B or C. The photograph shows a view of some of the cells in this tissue, as seen using a
- January 2023, AS Unit 3, Q1(a)(v) (3 marks): In another part of the investigation, a plan of the tissues in the stem was drawn. Describe how a thin section of a stem could be prepared and viewed using a li
- October 2022, AS Unit 2, Q2(b) (1 mark): The photograph shows a cross-section of the stem of a water lily. X (Source: © Scenics & Science/Alamy Stock Photo) The structure labelled X contains xylem vess
- June 2022, AS Unit 2, Q3(b)(i) (1 mark): How many of the following statements about sclerenchyma fibres are correct? • they provide support to the plant • they are used to translocate organic solutes •
- June 2022, AS Unit 2, Q3(b)(ii) (4 marks): Compare and contrast the structures of phloem sieve tubes and xylem vessels. (4)
- January 2022, AS Unit 3, Q2(a)(ii) (2 marks): Name the two types of tissue found in fibres from plant stems. (2) 1 2
- October 2021, AS Unit 2, Q5(b)(i) (3 marks): Calculate the width of the phloem vessel along the line XY in micrometres. Give your answer in standard form. (3) Answer µm
- October 2021, AS Unit 2, Q5(b)(ii) (2 marks): Describe the role of phloem. (2)
- October 2021, AS Unit 2, Q5(b)(iii) (1 mark): How many of the following statements about mature sclerenchyma fibres are correct? • they contain cellulose microfibrils • they contain pits • they contain cyto
- October 2021, AS Unit 2, Q5(c) (3 marks): The roots of plants contain phloem and xylem vessels, as shown in the diagram. epidermis xylem phloem Give three differences between the distribution of phloem
- June 2021, AS Unit 2, Q1(b)(i) (1 mark): Name one tissue that gives the plant support and is also involved in the transport of water through the plant. (1)
- June 2021, AS Unit 2, Q1(b)(ii) (1 mark): Name one fibre that gives the plant support but is not involved in the transport of water through the plant. (1)
- January 2021, AS Unit 2, Q5(a)(i) (1 mark): Which of the labelled structures is sclerenchyma? (1) A W B X C Y D Z
- January 2021, AS Unit 2, Q5(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which of the labelled structures is involved in transporting substances both up and down the plant stem? (1) A W B X C Y D Z
- January 2021, AS Unit 2, Q5(a)(iii) (1 mark): Which of the labelled structures is involved in transporting calcium ions from the stem to the leaves? (1) A V B W C X D Y
- January 2021, AS Unit 2, Q5(a)(iv) (1 mark): Which of the following may have secondary thickening in the cell walls? (1) A phloem sieve tubes only B phloem sieve tubes and sclerenchyma fibres C xylem vesse
- October 2020, AS Unit 2, Q1(a)(iii) (1 mark): How many of the following contain cellulose? 1. phloem 2. sclerenchyma 3. vacuole 4. xylem (1) A one B two C three D four
- January 2020, AS Unit 2, Q6(a)(i) (1 mark): The diagram shows a transverse section through the stem of a plant. Label the diagram to show the position of the xylem and the phloem. (1)
- January 2020, AS Unit 2, Q6(a)(ii) (1 mark): Below are some statements about xylem and phloem. • both tissues have a transport function • xylem vessels contain sieve plates • phloem transports polysacchari
- January 2020, AS Unit 2, Q6(b)(i) (3 marks): Calculate the percentage decrease in the mean diameter of the fibres from plants in row 2 compared with those from plants in row 1. (3) Answer %
- January 2020, AS Unit 2, Q6(b)(ii) (4 marks): Comment on the results of this investigation. Use the information in the table to support your answer. (4)
- January 2020, AS Unit 2, Q6(d) (4 marks): Explain how xylem vessels are adapted for support and transport. (4) Support Transport
- June 2019, AS Unit 2, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): Which letter identifies a xylem vessel? (1) A W B X C Y D Z
- June 2019, AS Unit 2, Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which letter identifies a sclerenchyma fibre? (1) A U B V C W D Z
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