Year 11 Biology Practice Questions for Yearly Exam (Free Biology Paper Download)

Year 11 Biology Practice Paper for Yearly Exam

The Matrix Year 11 Biology Yearly Exam Paper contains questions based on the new Year 11 Biology syllabus. This practice paper covers the four modules of the Year 11 Biology course:

• Module 1: Cells as the Basis of Life
• Module 2: Organisation of Living Things
• Module 3: Biological Diversity
• Module 4: Ecosystem Dynamics

We have listed below some of the most popular exam questions for your quick reference. You can download the free Matrix Year 11 Biology Practice Paper:

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Module 1: Cells as the Basis of Life

Commonly asked exam questions on Module 1 Cells as the Basis of Life are:

• • Identifying the structure and function of cell organelles
  • Explaining the function of enzymes under different environmental conditions
  • Explaining the movement of substances across cell membranes

Question 1  (1 mark)

Which of the following organelles in a eukaryote cell are correctly matched with their function?

Question 2  (1 mark)

Refer to the following diagram.

What does the diagram depict?

Question 3  (5 mark)

Liver contains an enzyme called catalase. This enzyme acts on the substrate hydrogen peroxide to produce water and oxygen gas.

Given the information above, design a first-hand investigation to determine the effect of temperature on enzyme activity.

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Module 2: Organisation of Living Things

Commonly asked exam questions on Module 1 Organisation of Living Things are:

• • Identifying the functional reasons for differences in digestive systems of animals
  • Differentiating between different gas exchange mechanisms in animals
  • Describing how materials are transported in plants and animals

Question 4 (1 mark)

A veterinarian was presented with a badly damaged roadkill and asked to identify whether it was a carnivorous tiger quoll or an herbivorous ringtail possum.

How might the vet identify the animal through dissection?

(A)  A ringtail possum will have a short simple digestive system compared to the quoll.

(B)  A ringtail possum will have a stomach, but a tiger quoll will not.

(C)  A ringtail possum will have a caecum, but a tiger quoll will not.

(D) A ringtail possum will have an appendix, but a tiger quoll will not. 

Question 5   (1 marks)

Identify the correct summary of gas exchange in these four animals: 

Question 6   (2 marks)

Outline the current theory for the movement of materials in xylem tissue.

Module 3: Biological Diversity

Commonly asked exam questions on Module 3 Biological Diversity are:

• Differentiate between structural, physiological and behavioural adaptations
• Explain modern day examples of evolution by natural selection
• Differentiate between divergent and convergent evolution

Question 7  (1 mark)

Koalas have a low metabolic rate that allows them to digest food for long enough to extract energy from their high fibre diet. As a result, koalas may sleep for more than 20 hours per day.

How should this ability be described?

(A) A structural adaptation

(B) A physiological adaptation

(C) A behavioural adaptation

(D) Convergent evolution

Question 8  (2 marks)

New Zealand does not have any native mammals. However, a small flightless ratite bird, the Kiwi, has a similar appearance and habitat to small insectivorous mammals. It has plain brown feathers, lives in a burrow and has long thin feathers near its beak which act like whiskers.

Explain how a bird and a mammal could end up with similar characteristics.

Question 9  (5 marks)

The rate of infections by antibiotic-resistant bacteria has been increasing since antibiotics were first introduced.

(A)  Identify TWO ways that an individual bacterium can obtain resistance to antibiotics.   (2 marks)

(B)  Explain how natural selection can produce a population of bacteria that is resistant to antibiotics.   (3 marks)

Module 4: Ecosystem Dynamics

Commonly asked exam questions on Module 4 Ecosystem Dynamics are:

• Describing how Australia’s plant and animal communities have changed over time
• Outlining physical evidence for Australia’s changing climate
• Identifying human impacts and their role in extinction

Question 10  (1 mark)

The Tasmanian tiger or thylacine represents an example of an extinction of an Australian mammal species.

What is the most likely cause of the extinction of the thylacine?

(A)  The activity of early Australians in managing areas of land with fire.

(B)  Hunting since European settlement.

(C) The natural decline in global biodiversity.

(D)  The change from cool and wet conditions to hot and arid on mainland Australia.

Question 11  (1 mark)

Native palm trees and other rainforest type plants are found around a number of waterholes in the dry centre of Australia.

Which one of the following explanation for this would best fit our knowledge of Australia’s ecosystems?

(a) The plants must have been transported unwittingly by animals travelling from waterhole to waterhole, probably by seeds in their dung.

(b) They evolved from local desert plants.

(c) They are remnants of a more widespread rainforest vegetation which once covered the whole area.

(d) They are early evidence of climate change – global warming is increasing rainfall in the centre of Australia.

Question 12  (1 mark)

The following diagram illustrates the relative positions of Australia and Antarctica during the Cretaceous period.

Which of the following statements about Australia’s past is correct?

(A) As Australia drifted north, glaciers began to form in Australia’s interior.

(B) As Australia drifted north, its overall climate became hotter and more arid.

(C) As Australia drifted north, individuals began to adapt to the change in climate.

(D) All of the above