O Level Biology 5090 · Topic 11

Transport in humans: past paper questions

172 real questionsasked in 10 of the last 10 exam series2019–2025usually: State, Explain, Describe, Name, Suggest

Real questions on transport in humans

The newest 20 of 89 written questions, plus 83 multiple-choice. Open one to see it on the real paper.

5090/21 · October/November 2025 · Q3a(ii)[1]
State the name of blood vessel C. (ii)
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5090/21 · October/November 2025 · Q5a(i)[1]
Give the name of the blood vessel represented by Z in Fig. 5.1.
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5090/21 · October/November 2025 · Q5a(ii)[2]
The system is described as a double circulatory system. Describe what is meant by a double circulation.
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5090/21 · October/November 2025 · Q5a(iii)[3]
Explain how the structure of the human heart is adapted to be the pump in a double circulatory system.
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5090/21 · October/November 2025 · Q5b[4]
Some people have a heart defect called a ‘hole in the heart’, as shown in Fig. 5.2. hole in heart Fig. 5.2 People with a hole in their heart may develop pain in their muscles and quickly become tired when they exercise. Explain why this happens.
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5090/22 · October/November 2025 · Q5a(ii)[2]
Suggest why red blood cells are more dense than white blood cells. (ii)
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5090/21 · May/June 2025 · Q7a(i)[1]
State the blood group of a person who has the genotype I A I O .
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5090/21 · May/June 2025 · Q7a(ii)[1]
State the genotype of a person who is blood group O.
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5090/21 · May/June 2025 · Q7b(i)[2]
The parents (5) and (6) in Fig. 7.1 are expecting another child. Complete this Punnett square to show the possible genotypes of the child. parent 6 parent 5 I A I O
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5090/21 · May/June 2025 · Q7b(ii)[1]
What is the probability that this child is male with blood group A? probability =
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5090/21 · May/June 2025 · Q7b(iii)[1]
How many people in the family tree in Fig. 7.1 are homozygous for the ABO blood group alleles?
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5090/22 · May/June 2025 · Q4b(ii)[1]
Describe one effect of nicotine on the circulatory system.
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5090/21 · October/November 2024 · Q6d[5]
Fig. 6.2 shows a diagram of the Nile perch gas exchange system and part of the circulatory system. key direction of blood flow heart gills Fig. 6.2 Describe the similarities and differences between the human and Nile perch circulatory and respiratory systems. similarities differences
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5090/22 · October/November 2024 · Q3b(i)[1]
Identify the type of blood cell shown in Fig. 3.1. (i)
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5090/22 · October/November 2024 · Q3b(ii)[5]
If the concentration of glucose in the blood increases above normal and is not controlled, this can result in changes to some cells of this type. They may: • • • lose their specialised shape become less flexible stick together with many other cells of the same type. Suggest and explain how these changes will affect the...
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5090/21 · May/June 2024 · Q3a(ii)[2]
W and X are both red blood cells. Explain why W and X appear different from each other in Fig. 3.1.
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5090/21 · May/June 2024 · Q3a(iii)[3]
Y and Z are both liquids. Name the liquids Y and Z and explain how liquid Z forms from liquid Y. Y Z explanation
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5090/21 · May/June 2024 · Q3b(i)[3]
Describe how malarial pathogens can be transmitted from this woman to another person.
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5090/21 · October/November 2023 · Q1a[3]
Human blood has many different components and functions. Match each component to its function by drawing a line between them. One has been done for you. component of blood function red blood cell engulfs pathogens platelet transports oxygen plasma makes antibodies phagocyte transports fibrinogen lymphocyte involved in...
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5090/21 · October/November 2023 · Q1b(i)[3]
Explain how a red blood cell is specialised for transporting oxygen.
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What examiners said

Most candidates scored all three marks but when errors were made, it was often concerning the functions of the types of white blood cells.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 5090/21 Q1(a) (Cambridge)

Candidates could often describe features of red blood cells but failed to give explanations of how they helped transport oxygen. Some candidates were awarded marks for mentioning the presence of haemoglobin to carry oxygen and the lack of a nucleus to fit in more haemoglobin. There were references to the large surface area but only the higher scoring candidates correctly linked this to increased e...
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 5090/21 Q1(b)(i) (Cambridge)

This was well answered by most candidates, with correct references to menstruation, pregnancy or lack of iron.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 5090/21 Q1(b)(ii) (Cambridge)

Practise this topic

Answer these questions online and get each one marked against the official mark scheme, with what you missed and how to fix it.

Practise transport in humans

In the syllabus

11.1 Circulatory system

Describe the circulatory system as a system of blood vessels with a pump and valves to ensure one- way flow of blood
Describe a double circulation as a system in which blood passes through the heart twice for each complete circuit
Understand that a double circulation provides a low pressure circulation to the lungs and a high pressure circulation to the body tissues

11.2 Heart

Identify the structures of the mammalian heart, limited to: the muscular wall, the septum, the left and right ventricles and atria, atrioventricular and semilunar valves and coronary arteries
Explain the relative thickness: (a) of the muscle walls of the left and right ventricles (b) of the muscle walls of the atria compared to those of the ventricles
Describe the functioning of the heart in terms of the contraction of muscles of the atria and ventricles and the action of the valves in a heartbeat
State that blood is pumped away from the heart in arteries and returns to the heart in veins
State that the activity of the heart may be monitored by electrocardiogram (ECG), pulse rate and listening to sounds of valves closing
Investigate and explain the effect of physical activity on heart rate
Describe coronary heart disease in terms of the blockage of coronary arteries and state the possible risk factors including diet, sedentary lifestyle, stress, smoking, genetic predisposition, age and gender
Discuss the role of diet and exercise in reducing the risk of coronary heart disease

11.3 Blood vessels

Name the main blood vessels that carry blood to and from the heart, lungs, liver and kidneys, limited to: aorta, vena cava, pulmonary artery, pulmonary vein, hepatic vein, hepatic artery, hepatic portal vein, renal artery and renal vein
Describe, and identify on diagrams and photomicrographs, the structure of arteries, veins and capillaries, limited to: (a) relative thickness of wall (b) composition of wall (muscle and elastic tissue) (c) diameter of lumen (d) presence of valves
Explain how the structure of arteries, veins and capillaries is related to the pressure of the blood that they transport

11.4 Blood

Identify red and white blood cells (lymphocytes and phagocytes) as seen under the light microscope on prepared slides, and in diagrams and photomicrographs
List the components of blood as red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma
State the functions of the components of blood: (a) red blood cells – oxygen transport (b) white blood cells – antibody production by lymphocytes and engulfing pathogens by phagocytes (c) platelets – clotting by converting soluble fibrinogen to insoluble fibrin to prevent blood loss and the entry of pathogens (d) plasma – transport, limited to: blood cells, ions, glucose, amino acids, hormones, carbon dioxide, urea, vitamins and plasma proteins
Describe the transfer of substances between blood in capillaries, tissue fluid and body cells

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