Explanation:
Choice C is correct because antigens are chemicals that stimulate the production of antibodies. Choice A is incorrect because B lymphocytes produce antibodies, not antigens. Choice B is a description of antibodies, which binds to antigens so is incorrect. Choice D is incorrect because hybridoma cells produce antibodies, not antigens.

Explanation:
A respirometer is a device that is used to measure the rate of respiration. A basic feature of a respirometer is a sealed container containing the living organism and an alkaline substance such as soda-lime (Choice A) or potassium hydroxide to absorb the carbon dioxide gas, which is the product of respiration.

The rate of respiration is measured by a reduction in the volume of oxygen due to the oxygen consumed by the living organism. The reduction in the volume of oxygen inside the sealed container causes a reduction in pressure inside the container. This causes the syringe to move which is how oxygen consumption is measured (Choice B). The rate of respiration can then be calculated based on the amount of oxygen consumed over a period of time.

An oxygen gas sensor (Choice C) can also be used to measure the reduction in the amount of oxygen. However, the experimental setup for this question does not include a sealed bio chamber bottle that is designed to fit the gas sensor probe. Since this experimental setup used a bung to seal the container, removing it to place an oxygen gas sensor probe inside the flask will not provide an accurate measurement of the amount of oxygen consumed.

When using a respirometer, the temperature is a controlled variable and should be kept constant (Choice D) to avoid changes to the volume of oxygen gas. Temperature also affects the rate of respiration. There should not be more than one independent variable being tested in an experimental setup.

Explanation:
When organisms respire, they lose energy in the form of heat. This form of energy cannot be recovered and is finally lost from the system.

Initially, during photosynthesis, energy is captured from light (Choice A). Carbon dioxide is not a form of energy (Choice C), and chemical energy (Choice D) is held in the bonds of organic molecules made during photosynthesis.

Explanation:
Heat and pressure from the Earth’s crust decompose the remains of dead plants and animals over millions of years to form oil, natural gas or coal (fossil fuels).

Respiration (Choice B) takes place in a relatively short time as does photosynthesis which requires light to synthesize organic compounds (Choice C). Forest fires (Choice D) often occur naturally and release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Global warming has increased the number of wildfires.

Explanation:
Choice A – Catabolic reactions involve the breakdown of large molecules into smaller molecules.

Choice B – Fermentation refers to anaerobic respiration which occurs in the cytoplasm.

Choice C - Anabolic reactions build complex compounds from simpler molecules. In the case of photosynthesis, the reactants carbon dioxide and water are turned into glucose and oxygen gas.

Choice D – Hydrolysis is an example of a catabolic reaction which involves the splitting of water.

Explanation:
A community is a group of populations living and interacting in a shared habitat (biotic factors). The abiotic factors for this community have not been described but could be the depth of the water, light intensity and the nutrients available for phytoplankton.

A population (Choice A) is a group of organisms of the same species living in the same area at the same time which can interbreed. A habitat (Choice C) refers to the environment in which a species normally lives. An ecosystem (Choice D) is a group of populations living and interacting in a common habitat and includes both biotic and abiotic factors.

Explanation:
Calories (Choice A) and Kilocalories (Choice B) are measures for energy but do not include area and time which is how productivity is measured in an ecosystem. kJm−2−2 (Choice C) does include the area but not time. To see energy values over a specified time, usually a year, the units kJm−2−2y−1−1 are used.

Explanation:
Choice A is correct because zoonotic diseases are diseases that can be transmitted from one species to another, such as from chickens to humans. Choice B is incorrect because zoonotic diseases do not only affect domesticated animals. Choice C is incorrect because zoonotic diseases are not only caused by viruses. Choice D is incorrect because zoonotic diseases do not only affect humans.

Explanation:
The data collected for recording the presence and absence of two plants can be used in a chi-squared test to determine if the two plants are associated. This is a relevant statistical method.

The biodiversity found in an area (Choice A) is usually determined by using Simpson’s Diversity Index or other similar calculations. The chi-squared test cannot be used to find the range (Choice B) for heights of trees or predict the probability of finding certain plants (Choice C) in an area.

Explanation:
Since the experiment is about testing the temperature; the temperature would be the independent variable, not the controlled variable. A water bath would be used in this experiment to set up different increments of the independent variable.

When investigating the effect of temperature on photosynthesis, the other limiting factors (concentration of carbon dioxide and light intensity) must be controlled. The light intensity can be controlled by placing the test tube containing the Elodea at a constant distance from the same light source for each trial (Choice C) to make sure that the light intensity is the same for all trials.

Using the same volume and concentration of sodium hydrogen carbonate solution (Choice B and Choice D)ensures that the source of carbon dioxide is controlled, and it is not a limiting factor.

Explanation:
Cells are the basic structural and functional units of life. They are the fundamental building blocks of all living organisms. Tissues are groups of specialised cells that work together to perform a specific function. Different types of tissues combine to form organs. Organs are composed of multiple tissues that work together to carry out complex functions. Organs have specific roles within the body. Organ systems are groups of organs that collaborate to perform broader functions necessary for the survival of the organism. Organism refers to the complete living individual made up of various organ systems working together. Therefore Choice B is correct.

Choices A, C and D are all in the incorrect order.

Explanation:
Reaction X represents the synthesis of a more complex compound from simpler molecules and therefore is a depiction of an anabolic reaction.

Reaction X cannot be catabolic (Choice A) since a more complex molecule is produced. Catabolism results in simpler products compared to the reactants. Reaction X cannot represent all metabolic reactions (Choice C) since metabolic reactions include both anabolic and catabolic reactions while reaction X represents only anabolic reactions. Reaction Y represents a catabolic reaction and not an anabolic reaction (Choice D).

Explanation:
Cell respiration is the controlled release of energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) from organic compounds. Cell respiration occurs either in the presence of oxygen or in the absence of oxygen. In the presence of oxygen, the process is known as aerobic cell respiration. In the absence of oxygen, the process is known as anaerobic cell respiration (Choice A).

Anaerobic cell respiration produces a smaller yield of ATP from glucose which is 2 ATP molecules, compared to aerobic cell respiration’s larger yield of ATP, which is approximately 38 ATP molecules.

This is because aerobic cell respiration undergoes the complete metabolic pathway of cellular respiration which involves the reaction of organic compounds such as glucose, lipids or proteins (Choice C) in the presence of oxygen to produce carbon dioxide, water and a large yield of ATP.

On the other hand, anaerobic cell respiration only undergoes glycolysis, the first stage of the metabolic pathway of cell respiration. This involves the incomplete breakdown of glucose in the absence of oxygen to produce lactate, which is also known as lactic acid (Choice D).

Explanation:
Depolarisation of the presynaptic membrane (Statement II) and the resulting influx of calcium ions into the presynaptic neuron (Statement III) cause the exocytosis (release) of neurotransmitters at the presynaptic membrane.

Statement I is false, as the postsynaptic membrane receives neurotransmitters that are released from the presynaptic membrane. Choices A, C and D are incorrect.

Explanation:
Almost all enzymes are globular proteins and differ from fibrous proteins in that they are sensitive to pH and temperature and are mostly water soluble.

Fibrous proteins (Choice A), unlike globular proteins, are long and narrow, less sensitive to changes in pH and temperature and are generally insoluble in water. Enzymes are not lipids (Choices B, D). Enzymes tend to be hydrophilic, not hydrophobic since they are mostly soluble in water.

Explanation:
The active site of an enzyme is specific to a particular substrate. All other statements are true (Choices A, C and D).

Explanation:
Diversity indices are used to measure the diversity of organisms in an area (Choice A). A t-test (Choice B) is used to see if there is a significant difference between the means of two groups. Chi-square analysis (Choice C) can be used to check for the association of two species after collecting data on the presence or absence of either or both in defined areas. More generally, Chi-square analysis is used to determine if there is a significant difference between observed and expected. Frequency found in quadrats (Choice D) records how frequently one or more species are found in quadrats and is not a statistical test.

Explanation:
The length of food chains tends to be shorter than 6 organisms, even including parasites and detritivores. When energy is passed from one organism to the next, most of the energy is generally lost as heat which means that less and less energy is available to higher trophic levels.

All other statements are true.

Explanation:
An ecosystem refers to an area where organisms interact with each other and with the physical environment.

A habitat (Choice A) refers to the environment in which a species normally lives. A population (Choice C) is a group of organisms of the same species living in the same area at the same time which can interbreed. A community (Choice D) is a group of populations living and interacting with each other in the same habitat.

Explanation:
The endocrine system (Statement II) is involved in the fight or flight response through the release of hormones from endocrine glands, such as adrenaline (epinephrine), from the adrenal glands. Adrenaline (epinephrine) is released into the bloodstream and travels throughout the body to target organs and tissues, preparing the body for immediate action. When adrenaline (epinephrine) reaches its target tissues it binds to specific transmembrane receptors on the surface of cells (Statement I). This binding triggers a cascade of intracellular events that ultimately lead to physiological changes associated with the fight or flight response, such as increased heart rate and dilated airways. The autonomic nervous system (Statement III) plays a central role in the fight or flight response. In a frightening situation, the nervous system is activated, leading to the release of adrenaline (epinephrine), increased heart rate, increased blood flow to muscles, and other physiological changes that prepare the body for a rapid response. Choice D is therefore correct.

Choices A, B and C are all incorrect as they do not include all three statements.

Explanation:
Cell respiration is the process where energy is released from organic compounds to form adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP consists of the nitrogenous base adenine, a ribose sugar and three phosphate groups. These three components contain the elements oxygen, hydrogen, phosphorus, carbon and nitrogen (Choice D). Even though ATP is made up of these five elements, they are not products of hydrolysis.

ATP is the immediately available source of energy in cells and fuels cell processes. This takes place when ATP undergoes hydrolysis and the energy which is stored in the phosphate bond of ATP is released. The phosphate bonds that are broken lead to the formation of adenosine diphosphate (ADP), inorganic phosphate and a release of energy.

Hydrolysis is a catabolic reaction of breaking down large molecules into small molecules. Water is required to split apart ATP, hence both water and ATP are the reactants in a hydrolysis reaction and not products (Choice C).

The main stages of cellular respiration are glycolysis, the Krebs cycle and the electron transport chain. In glycolysis, glucose is broken down to pyruvate (Choice A) which then moves on to the Krebs cycle and electron transport chain before generating a high yield of 38 ATP.

Explanation:
Invasive species are introduced deliberately or accidentally to new areas outside of their native range, and so have no natural predators. An example would be the zebra mussel which originates from the lakes of Russia and Ukraine. It was accidentally introduced to the Great Lakes of the US through the discharge of a contaminated cargo ship's ballast water. Invasive species have been recognised as a major threat to biodiversity and ecosystems worldwide. They can disrupt native ecosystems, outcompete native species for resources, and lead to declines in native populations. Therefore Choice C is correct. While it is true that some invasive species have evolved and adapted to specific conditions (Choice A) in their native range, this characteristic is also true of native species. Invasive species often have a native region (Choice B), as do native species. Also, some invasive species have a broad native distribution, and when they are introduced to new areas, they can spread widely. Invasive species can be influenced by environmental changes (Choice D), but native species can also be affected by environmental changes, and vulnerability to these changes can vary widely among both invasive and native species.

Explanation:
Autotrophs are producers and form the base of food chains. They carry out photosynthesis and get their energy from the Sun.

The most abundant organisms (Choice A) are usually the producers but there are exceptions. Energy always enters the food chain via the autotrophs, not consumers (Choice C).

The flow of energy (Choice D) is from producers to primary to secondary to tertiary consumers.

Explanation:
As energy moves from producers to consumers, only about 10% is transferred to the next trophic level. So only about 0.1 % of the energy produced by the producers reaches the tertiary consumers. All other choices (Choice A, B, C) are not correct. Looking at the values in the diagram, producers start with 20 000 units of energy and tertiary consumers receive only 25 units. 25 divided by 20 000 is approximately 0.1%.

Explanation:
Choice A is incorrect as it describes how neurotransmitters are released from the presynaptic cleft. Choice C is incorrect as neurotransmitters do not require energy to move across the synaptic cleft. Choice D is incorrect as channels are not present in the synaptic cleft. They are only present in the membranes of neurons.