plumiAdaptations for nutrition: Eduqas A‑Level Biology questions
Every Eduqas A-Level Biology exam question on 3.3 Adaptations for nutrition, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
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Q4(a)
The whole paper ↗![June 2025 Component 3, question 4(a): Taenia is an endoparasite and Pediculus is an ectoparasite. Define each of these terms. [1]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/a400u30-jun25-04-a-qp.webp)
Q4(b)
The whole paper ↗![June 2025 Component 3, question 4(b): Explain why Taenia does not have a digestive system but Pediculus does have a digestive system. [4]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/a400u30-jun25-04-b-qp.webp)
Q4(c)(i)
The whole paper ↗![June 2025 Component 3, question 4(c)(i): Describe the evidence in Graph 4.2 that suggests that trypsin is released into the duodenum. [1]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/a400u30-jun25-04-ci-qp.webp)
Q4(c)(ii)
The whole paper ↗![June 2025 Component 3, question 4(c)(ii): Trypsin is released in an inactive form called trypsinogen. Name the molecule that activates trypsinogen. [1] Image 4.3 shows a polypeptide containing three ami](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/a400u30-jun25-04-cii-qp.webp)
Q2(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗![June 2024 Component 1, question 2(a)(i): State the types of nutrition used by the following to obtain energy: [1] producers consumers](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/a400u10-jun24-02-ai-qp.webp)
Q3(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗![June 2024 Component 1, question 3(a)(i): Explain what is meant by the term saprotrophically. [1]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/a400u10-jun24-03-ai-qp.webp)
Q2(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗![June 2024 Component 3, question 2(a)(i): I. Use Image 2.1 to complete Table 2.2. [3] Table 2.2 Label Enzyme name Product A B C II. Name the bond hydrolysed by enzyme D. [1]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/a400u30-jun24-02-ai-qp.webp)
Q2(a)(ii)
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Q2(c)(i)
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Q2(c)(ii)
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Q2(c)(iii)
The whole paper ↗![June 2024 Component 3, question 2(c)(iii): Explain the advantage of ‘chewing the cud’ in ruminants such as cows. [1]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/a400u30-jun24-02-ciii-qp.webp)
Q2(c)(iv)
The whole paper ↗![June 2024 Component 3, question 2(c)(iv): Horse manure is a better source of plant nutrients than cow manure. With reference to Image 2.3, suggest why. [2]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/a400u30-jun24-02-civ-qp.webp)
Q2(a)
The whole paper ↗![June 2024 AS Component 2, question 2(a): Identify two features, visible in Image 2.1, that show adaptations to the polar bear’s carnivorous diet. Explain how each is an adaptation for such a diet. [2]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/b400u20-jun24-02-a-qp.webp)
Q2(b)(i)
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Q2(b)(ii)
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Q2(b)(iii)
The whole paper ↗![June 2024 AS Component 2, question 2(b)(iii): Using Image 2.3 and your answer to (b)(ii), suggest how the cow obtains sufficient amino acids to produce its own proteins. [2] The rumen contains single-celled](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/b400u20-jun24-02-biii-qp.webp)
Q2(c)(i)
The whole paper ↗![June 2024 AS Component 2, question 2(c)(i): Suggest one advantage of using membrane-bound enzymes at this stage of digestion. [1]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/b400u20-jun24-02-ci-qp.webp)
Q2(c)(ii)
The whole paper ↗![June 2024 AS Component 2, question 2(c)(ii): Describe and explain how one structural feature of the small intestine increases the efficiency of protein digestion. [2]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/b400u20-jun24-02-cii-qp.webp)
All 75 questions on Adaptations for nutrition, as a list
- June 2025, Component 3, Q4(a) (1 mark): Taenia is an endoparasite and Pediculus is an ectoparasite. Define each of these terms. [1]
- June 2025, Component 3, Q4(b) (4 marks): Explain why Taenia does not have a digestive system but Pediculus does have a digestive system. [4]
- June 2025, Component 3, Q4(c)(i) (1 mark): Describe the evidence in Graph 4.2 that suggests that trypsin is released into the duodenum. [1]
- June 2025, Component 3, Q4(c)(ii) (1 mark): Trypsin is released in an inactive form called trypsinogen. Name the molecule that activates trypsinogen. [1] Image 4.3 shows a polypeptide containing three ami
- June 2025, AS Component 2, Q6 (9 marks): All plants and some prokaryotes are autotrophs. All animals are heterotrophs and may exhibit holozoic or parasitic nutrition. Fungi are also heterotrophs but ha
- June 2024, Component 1, Q2(a)(i) (1 mark): State the types of nutrition used by the following to obtain energy: [1] producers consumers
- June 2024, Component 1, Q3(a)(i) (1 mark): Explain what is meant by the term saprotrophically. [1]
- June 2024, Component 3, Q2(a)(i) (4 marks): I. Use Image 2.1 to complete Table 2.2. [3] Table 2.2 Label Enzyme name Product A B C II. Name the bond hydrolysed by enzyme D. [1]
- June 2024, Component 3, Q2(a)(ii) (2 marks): Many digestive enzymes are secreted into the lumen of the gut. Describe the exact position of enzymes C and D in Image 2.1 and suggest the advantage of the posi
- June 2024, Component 3, Q2(c)(i) (4 marks): Use Table 2.4 to give two differences in the relative volume of the structures in the gut of a cow and the gut of a dog and conclude how these differences refle
- June 2024, Component 3, Q2(c)(ii) (2 marks): Cows are classified as mammals and so their young feed on milk. With reference to their diet, explain why the abomasum of a newborn calf is proportionally large
- June 2024, Component 3, Q2(c)(iii) (1 mark): Explain the advantage of ‘chewing the cud’ in ruminants such as cows. [1]
- June 2024, Component 3, Q2(c)(iv) (2 marks): Horse manure is a better source of plant nutrients than cow manure. With reference to Image 2.3, suggest why. [2]
- June 2024, AS Component 2, Q2(a) (2 marks): Identify two features, visible in Image 2.1, that show adaptations to the polar bear’s carnivorous diet. Explain how each is an adaptation for such a diet. [2]
- June 2024, AS Component 2, Q2(b)(i) (2 marks): The contents of the abomasum have a pH of 2 due to the secretion of hydrochloric acid. The abomasum has the same function as the stomach of polar bears (carnivo
- June 2024, AS Component 2, Q2(b)(ii) (3 marks): The rumen contains many types of micro-organism. An adult cow had a rumen capacity of 1.6 × 104 cm3 of fluid. In a sample of the rumen fluid, micro-organisms ma
- June 2024, AS Component 2, Q2(b)(iii) (2 marks): Using Image 2.3 and your answer to (b)(ii), suggest how the cow obtains sufficient amino acids to produce its own proteins. [2] The rumen contains single-celled
- June 2024, AS Component 2, Q2(c)(i) (1 mark): Suggest one advantage of using membrane-bound enzymes at this stage of digestion. [1]
- June 2024, AS Component 2, Q2(c)(ii) (2 marks): Describe and explain how one structural feature of the small intestine increases the efficiency of protein digestion. [2]
- June 2023, Component 3, Q6 (9 marks): Amoeba is a unicellular organism, whilst Hydra is an example of a multicellular organism that shows an increased level of adaptation for the digestion and absor
- June 2023, AS Component 2, Q4(a)(i) (2 marks): Most products of digestion are absorbed in the ileum which is the longest section of the small intestine. With reference to its diet, explain why a fox has a pr
- June 2023, AS Component 2, Q4(a)(ii) (1 mark): The caecum and large intestine are proportionally larger in a rabbit than in a fox and contain micro-organisms similar to those found in the rumen of cattle. St
- June 2023, AS Component 2, Q6 (9 marks): Image 6 is a photograph of an adult endoparasitic worm, Hirudinella ventricosa, attached to the folds inside the stomach of its primary host, which is a large f
- June 2022, Component 3, Q3(a)(i) (1 mark): Define the term holozoic. [1]
- June 2022, Component 3, Q3(a)(ii) (2 marks): Pepsinogen is released into the stomach and converted to the active endopeptidase pepsin. Explain why pepsinogen rather than pepsin is released by some of the c
- June 2022, Component 3, Q3(b)(i) (4 marks): Use your knowledge of digestion to suggest an explanation for the differences in the GE for the sugar-rich drink and the portion of solid protein as shown in Im
- June 2022, Component 3, Q3(b)(ii) (2 marks): Many indigestion remedies neutralise the acid in the stomach. Describe and explain how these remedies will affect the rate of protein digestion in the stomach.
- June 2022, Component 3, Q3(c)(i) (3 marks): Explain the results shown in Table 3.2. [3] The scientists then poured water into the column which contained immobilised endopeptidase and exopeptidase and coll
- June 2022, AS Component 2, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): 1. (a) All organisms need to obtain nutrients from their environment to survive. Define the following terms: [3] (i) Holozoic;
- June 2022, AS Component 2, Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): (ii) Saprotrophic;
- June 2022, AS Component 2, Q1(a)(iii) (1 mark): (iii) Photoautotrophic.
- June 2022, AS Component 2, Q1(b) (2 marks): Image 1.1 shows the human digestive system. Image 1.1 salivary glands mouth oesophagus liver stomach gall bladder pancreas colon ileum appendix rectum anus Usin
- June 2022, AS Component 2, Q1(c)(iii) (1 mark): State the function of the villi and how villi are adapted for their function. [1]
- June 2022, AS Component 2, Q1(c)(v) (2 marks): Image 1.3 shows that the muscle layer of the wall of the oesophagus is thicker than that of the duodenum. Suggest an explanation for this. [2]
- Autumn 2021, Component 1, Q4(c) (3 marks): Nitrifying bacteria are chemoautotrophs. From your knowledge of the light independent reactions of photosynthesis (Calvin cycle), suggest how the bacteria use t
- Autumn 2021, Component 3, Q1(a) (2 marks): Name the enzyme that digests starch and identify the structure(s) that produce this enzyme using letter(s) from image 1.1. [2]
- Autumn 2021, Component 3, Q5(a) (1 mark): Use the scale bar to estimate the length (cm) of the tapeworm shown in the photograph. Give your answer in cm. [1] Length = cm
- Autumn 2021, Component 3, Q5(b)(i) (2 marks): The adult tapeworm does not secrete digestive enzymes. Explain why and suggest one advantage of this to the tapeworm. [2]
- Autumn 2021, Component 3, Q5(b)(ii) (3 marks): Tapeworms have been found to secrete hydrogen ions (H+) into their surroundings which reduces the pH. Suggest why this may decrease the rate of uptake of digest
- Autumn 2021, AS Component 2, Q4(c) (2 marks): For a goose to fly, it requires a lot of energy some of which is gained from the digestion of lipids. The digestive system of a goose is similar to that of a hu
- Autumn 2020, Component 2, Q6(a)(iii) (1 mark): Identify the type of nutrition found in ferns. [1] Classification of ferns was originally based on morphological features, but cross-fertilisation between unrel
- Autumn 2020, Component 3, Q3(c)(ii) (3 marks): Describe how the shape of the curve on the graph would be different if the scientist had added bile salts to the milk before the start of the experiment. Explai
- Autumn 2020, Component 3, Q3(c)(iii) (1 mark): Suggest why carnivores such as lions and tigers have gall bladders, whereas many herbivores such as deer do not have a gall bladder. [1]
- Autumn 2020, AS Component 1, Q2(b)(i) (1 mark): Name the mode of nutrition seen in yeast. [1]
- Autumn 2020, AS Component 2, Q4(a) (2 marks): Define the following terms: [2] holozoic; heterotrophic.
- Autumn 2020, AS Component 2, Q4(b)(ii) (3 marks): Image 4.2 shows the skull of a giant panda. Image 4.2 Using image 4.2 and your own knowledge of dentition, state the evidence which supports the classification
- Autumn 2020, AS Component 2, Q4(b)(iii) (4 marks): Describe how and explain why the gut of the panda differs from the gut of a cow. [4]
- Autumn 2020, AS Component 2, Q4(c) (3 marks): Cellulase producing bacteria have been found in the faeces of some giant pandas. Using your knowledge of digestion, suggest where in the gut the bacteria would
- June 2019, Component 1, Q3(c) (4 marks): Complete the table to state four differences between chemosynthesis and photosynthesis. [4] Chemosynthesis Photosynthesis
- June 2019, Component 3, Q7 (9 marks): All living organisms need to obtain energy and raw materials for growth and survival but do this in different ways. The images below show four organisms that ha
- June 2019, AS Component 2, Q2(a) (2 marks): Fungi are classed as saprotrophs. Define the term saprotroph. [2]
- June 2019, AS Component 2, Q2(c) (2 marks): Explain the position and distribution of the algae within the lichen thallus. [2]
- June 2019, AS Component 2, Q2(d) (2 marks): Evidence shows that the fungus is able to absorb and transport inorganic ions dissolved in rainwater which the algae then use for growth. With reference to the
- June 2018, Component 3, Q4(a)(i) (2 marks): The width of the villus shown by X-X in the Group 1 snake was 140 µm and the width of the villus in the Group 2 snake at Y-Y was 96 µm. Calculate the percentage
- June 2018, Component 3, Q4(a)(ii) (1 mark): Structure A absorbs glucose and structure B absorbs lipids following digestion. Name these structures. [1] A B
- June 2018, Component 3, Q4(a)(iii) (2 marks): After four weeks, the following observations were made: • structure B was not present in the villi of the snakes from Group 2 • structure A was always present i
- June 2018, Component 3, Q4(b) (3 marks): The electron photomicrographs below show high magnification images of the surface of the epithelial cells covering the villi of a snake from each of Groups 1 an
- June 2018, Component 3, Q4(c) (2 marks): Electron microscopy also showed that the epithelial cells from the snakes in Group 1 had the following differences compared to those from Group 2. Group 1 Group
- June 2018, Component 3, Q4(d) (2 marks): Not feeding animals might be considered unethical and cruel. Explain why not feeding these snakes for four weeks would not be considered an ethical issue, but t
- June 2018, AS Component 2, Q1(a) (1 mark): Define the term saprotrophic. [1]
- June 2018, AS Component 2, Q1(b)(i) (1 mark): Describe how the tapeworm is adapted to resist peristalsis in the human intestine. [1]
- June 2018, AS Component 2, Q1(b)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why the tapeworm does not need a mouth or alimentary canal. [2]
- June 2018, AS Component 2, Q1(b)(iii) (1 mark): Suggest why the tapeworm relies on anaerobic respiration for its metabolism. [1]
- June 2018, AS Component 2, Q1(c)(i) (4 marks): Describe and explain how the adaptations visible in the diagram enable the tapeworm to survive in the environment within the host. [4]
- June 2018, AS Component 2, Q1(c)(ii) (2 marks): Body wall cells of T. solium have been observed to contain transmembrane proteins involved in active transport mechanisms. Suggest how these mechanisms aid the
- June 2018, AS Component 2, Q6 (9 marks): Domestic dogs evolved from wolves between 10 000 and 30 000 years ago. Both are adapted to feed mainly on a carnivore diet. Recent studies into dogs and wolves
- June 2017, Component 3, Q5(a) (3 marks): Chymosin is secreted as a precursor molecule by cells in gastric glands found in the abomasum (true stomach). Pepsinogen and hydrochloric acid are also secreted
- June 2017, Component 3, Q5(b) (5 marks): With reference to their diets, explain the changes in the proportions of the rumen and abomasum as a calf grows older and its diet changes from milk to grass. [
- June 2017, AS Component 1, Q2(a)(iii) (3 marks): I. Explain why the process shown in the electron micrograph is an example of holozoic nutrition. [1] II. Describe the digestion of the yeast cell, including the
- June 2017, AS Component 2, Q3(b)(i) (4 marks): Use clear label lines and the letters A-D to identify the following structures on the low power plan above. [4] A Serosa B Mucosa C Circular muscle D Longitudin
- June 2017, AS Component 2, Q3(c)(i) (1 mark): Explain why the enzyme is secreted in an inactive form. [1]
- June 2017, AS Component 2, Q3(c)(ii) (3 marks): The optimum pH of trypsin is in the range 7.8 – 8.7. Explain how this pH is maintained in the duodenum. [3]
- June 2016, AS Component 2, Q6(a)(ii) (1 mark): Explain how rabbits are able to digest cellulose without their cells being able to produce the necessary enzyme. [1] Coprophagy is the term applied to the pract
- June 2016, AS Component 2, Q6(b)(iii) (1 mark): Explain how rabbits would be able to detect this nutritional difference between the types of faeces. [1]
- June 2016, AS Component 2, Q6(c) (4 marks): With reference to the relative positions of the main organs of the digestive system, shown on the diagram on page 18 and using all the information given then on
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