AQA GCSE Biology Biology Paper 2 (Foundation), June 2022: Question 6
10 marks · Low Demand difficulty · Short Answer
Analyze echidna body temperature during hibernation and calculate energy requirements for human temperature regulation through sweating.
Practise this questionQuestion
Question text
06 The echidna is a mammal that lives in Australia.
Figure 8 shows an echidna.
Figure 8
Figure 9 shows how the body temperature of the echidna varies during the cold
winter months.
Figure 9
06.1 Give the lowest and highest body temperatures for the echidna shown in Figure 9.
[1 mark]
*20* Lowest temperature = °C
Highest temperature = °C
In the cold winter months, the echidna hibernates.
Figure 9 shows that the echidna woke up from hibernation several times.
The echidna’s body temperature increased to over 30 °C each time the echidna
woke up.
06.2 How many times did the echidna wake up?
Use information from Figure 9.
[1 mark]
06.3 Each time the echidna wakes up, it hunts for food.
Suggest why the echidna needs to eat food several times during hibernation.
[1 mark]
06.4 During hibernation:
• the echidna sleeps
• the echidna’s body temperature decreases to below 5 °C
• the echidna uses food stored in its body cells to provide energy.
What process releases energy from stored food?
[1 mark]
Tick ( ) one box.
Diffusion
*21* Excretion
Respiration
06.5 Most mammals use a lot of energy to evaporate sweat.
The echidna does not sweat.
Suggest one use of energy in the echidna’s body.
[1 mark]
The control of body temperature is important in the human body.
An athlete trained in a hot climate.
06.6 On one day, the athlete lost 3 200 cm3 of water in sweat.
Evaporation of 1 cm3 of sweat requires 2.5 kJ of energy.
Calculate the energy the athlete used for evaporation of sweat.
[2 marks]
Energy = kJ
06.7 On a different day the athlete used 6 000 kJ of energy to evaporate sweat.
The athlete’s energy intake was 24 000 kJ.
Calculate the percentage of the athlete’s energy intake used for evaporation of sweat.
[2 marks]
Percentage = %
06.8 Some days the athlete did not do any training and rested at home.
What effect would resting have on the volume of sweat produced each day?
[1 mark]
Mark scheme
Show the mark scheme
Question 6
AO /
Question Answers Extra information Mark
Spec. Ref.
both correct for 1 mark
06.1 (lowest) 1 (ºC) allow a tolerance of ± 0.2 (ºC) 1 AO2
4.5.2.4
(highest) 34 (ºC) allow a tolerance of ± 0.2 (ºC)
AO /
Spec. Ref.
06.2 5 / five 1 AO2
4.5.2.4
AO /
Spec. Ref.
06.3 so stored food or glycogen does allow so stored fat does not run 1 AO2
not run out out
4.5.2.4
or to replace stored fat
or or because stored food or
glycogen / fat has run out
to replace stored food or
glycogen
ignore to provide energy
AO /
Spec. Ref.
06.4 respiration 1 AO1
4.5.2.4
4.4.1.3
4.4.2.1
AO /
Spec. Ref.
06.5 any one from: 1 AO1
• movement allow functioning of internal 4.5.2.4
organs – eg heartbeat 4.1.3.3
• muscle contraction 4.4.2.1
• keeping warm 4.4.2.2
• growth / repair allow synthesis / described
• active transport
AO /
Spec. Ref.
06.6 3200 × 2.5 1 AO2
4.5.2.4
8000 (kJ) 1
AO /
Spec. Ref.
06.7 6000 1 AO2
× 100
24 000 4.5.2.4
25 (%)
if no other mark awarded allow
for 1 mark 0.25
AO /
Spec. Ref.
06.8 reduced do not accept no sweating 1 AO2
4.5.2.4
Total Question 6 10
How to answer it
Thermoregulation, Respiration & Energy in Hibernation
This question assesses core concepts across Homeostasis & Response (B5) and Bioenergetics (B4):
- Interpreting complex physiological line graphs (temperature vs. time).
- Understanding hibernation, energy stores, and respiration.
- Recall of cellular processes that require energy released by respiration.
- Carrying out simple two-step mathematical operations: multiplication with units and percentage calculations.
- Applying knowledge of body temperature regulation to sweating and cooling mechanisms.
Reading Maximum and Minimum Values from a Graph
Data interpretation • 1 Mark
✅ Correct Answer
Lowest temperature: 1 °C (tolerance: 0.8 °C to 1.2 °C)
Highest temperature: 34 °C (tolerance: 33.8 °C to 34.2 °C)
🧠 Exam Technique: Reading Grid Scales
Check the y-axis divisions carefully:
- Major grid line interval = 10 °C across 10 small squares.
- 1 small square = 1 °C.
- Trace the absolute lowest dip: near week 7, the curve hits 1 small square above 0 = 1 °C.
- Trace the highest peak: at week 9, the top reaches 4 small squares above 30 = 34 °C.
Identifying Waking Cycles from Body Temperature Peaks
Data interpretation • 1 Mark
✅ Correct Answer
5 (or five)
💡 How to Spot It
The question states: "The echidna's body temperature increased to over 30 °C each time the echidna woke up."
Count the distinct spikes reaching above 30 °C on the graph:
- Peak 1: ~0.5 weeks
- Peak 2: ~2.5 weeks
- Peak 3: ~5.5 weeks
- Peak 4: ~7.5 weeks
- Peak 5: ~9.0 weeks
Why Food is Needed During Hibernation
Biological reasoning & energy storage • 1 Mark
✅ Correct Answers (any one)
- So stored food / fat / glycogen does not run out
- To replace / replenish stored food, fat, or glycogen
- Because stored food / fat / glycogen has run out / been used up
❌ Common Errors & Examiner Trap
Do NOT just write: "to provide energy".
The question states the echidna eats several times during hibernation. The key biological idea is that stored reserves are limited and must be replenished / replaced, or they will be depleted entirely.
Process Releasing Energy from Stored Food
Recall • 1 Mark
✅ Correct Answer
Tick: Respiration ☑
💡 Cellular Energetics
- Respiration: Chemical reaction occurring in cells to transfer energy from glucose/lipids for metabolic work.
- Diffusion: Passive movement of particles from high to low concentration.
- Excretion: Removal of metabolic waste products from the body.
Uses of Energy in Animals (Non-Sweating)
Recall: Cellular Uses of Energy • 1 Mark
✅ Correct Answers (any one)
- Movement / locomotion
- Muscle contraction (including heartbeat or breathing)
- Keeping warm / maintaining body temperature
- Growth and repair (or protein/chemical synthesis)
- Active transport (e.g. in kidney tubules or gut)
🧠 Exam Technique
Always learn the core uses of energy released in respiration required by AQA:
- Chemical reactions to build larger molecules from smaller ones (synthesis).
- Movement / muscle contraction.
- Keeping warm (in mammals and birds).
Calculating Energy Required to Evaporate Sweat
Quantitative calculations • 2 Marks
📐 Step-by-Step Calculation
- Identify the quantities given:
Volume of sweat lost = 3 200 cm³
Energy required per 1 cm³ = 2.5 kJ - Set up the multiplication:
Total energy = 3 200 × 2.5 [1 mark] - Calculate final answer:
Total energy = 8 000 kJ [1 mark]
Calculating Percentage of Energy Intake
Percentage calculation • 2 Marks
📐 Step-by-Step Calculation
- State the values:
Energy used for evaporation = 6 000 kJ
Total energy intake = 24 000 kJ - Apply percentage formula:
(6 000 ÷ 24 000) × 100 [1 mark] - Simplify & solve:
6 000 / 24 000 = 0.25
0.25 × 100 = 25% [1 mark]
❌ Common Errors
- Leaving the answer as a decimal fraction ( 0.25 ) instead of multiplying by 100. If you write 0.25, you only get 1 mark.
- Dividing upside-down: 24 000 ÷ 6 000 = 4 (gives 400%, which is impossible as sweat cannot exceed total intake).
Effect of Resting on Sweat Production
Thermoregulation application • 1 Mark
✅ Correct Answer
Reduced / decreases / lower / less sweat
❌ Common Misconception
Do NOT accept: "no sweating" or "stops sweating".
Why? The athlete is in a hot climate! Even when resting, baseline sweating still occurs to maintain normal body temperature (37 °C) and prevent overheating, though the rate is significantly reduced compared to exercising.
Topics
Biology · B4: Bioenergetics · B5: Homeostasis and Response
Question and mark scheme from the AQA GCSE Biology examination, Biology Paper 2 (Foundation), June 2022. QuestionVault is an independent revision resource; questions remain the copyright of the awarding body.