AQA GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy Biology Paper 2 (Foundation), 2020: Question 4

8 marks · Standard Demand difficulty · Short Answer

Identify processes regulated by homeostasis, name the pituitary gland, calculate blood glucose increase, identify diabetes, explain insulin deficiency, and suggest lifestyle changes to manage blood glucose.

Practise this question

Question

A multi-part biology exam question about homeostasis. It includes a diagram of the human endocrine system with gland A labeled in the brain, followed by multiple-choice and short-answer questions regarding blood glucose regulation and lifestyle factors.
Question text

04 Homeostasis regulates the internal conditions of the human body.

04.1 Which two processes are regulated by homeostasis?

[2 marks]

Tick ( ) two boxes.

Controlling water output in urine

Defending the body against pathogens

How quickly you walk

Keeping cool on a hot day

Waking up in the morning 13

Hormones are produced by glands in the endocrine system.

Each hormone has an effect on a target organ.

Figure 6 shows glands of the endocrine system.

Figure 6

04.2 What is the name of gland A?

[1 mark]

Tick ( ) one box.

Pancreas

Pituitary

Thyroid 14

Before eating a sugar-coated cereal a person had a blood glucose concentration

of 5.2 mmol/dm3

Soon after eating the cereal the person had a blood glucose concentration

of 8.4 mmol/dm3

04.3 Calculate the increase in the blood glucose concentration.

[1 mark]

*13* Increase = mmol/dm3

04.4 The person needed medication to decrease their blood glucose concentration.

Suggest what disorder the person has.

[1 mark]

04.5 There is a problem with the hormone control of the person.

What is the problem?

[1 mark]

Tick ( ) one box.

The blood is not taking hormones to target organs.

The pancreas is not releasing insulin.

The pituitary gland is not being stimulated15.

04.6 The person:

• works in an office

• drives to work

• is overweight

• watches the television and reads every night

• drinks a hot chocolate every night.

Suggest two lifestyle changes the person could make to help treat their disorder.

*14* [2 marks]

Mark scheme

Show the mark scheme A table showing the mark scheme for questions 04.1 to 04.6, listing the correct answers, extra information for marking, and the total marks for each sub-question.

AO /

Question Answers Extra information Mark

Spec. Ref.

04.1 controlling water output in urine 1 AO2

4.5.1

keeping cool on a hot day 1

04.2 pituitary 1 AO1

4.5.3.1

04.3 (8.4 – 5.2 =) 3.2 (mmol/dm3) 1 AO2

4.5.3.2

04.4 diabetes ignore type of diabetes 1 AO3

4.5.3.2

04.5 the pancreas is not releasing 1 AO3

insulin 4.5.3.2

04.6 change diet allow description of suitable diet 1 AO3

change e.g. use sweetener in 4.5.3.2

hot chocolate, eat less sugary /

starchy food or stop eating

sugar-coated cereal

take more exercise allow description e.g. go to gym 1

instead of reading and TV, walk

/ cycle to work

allow change to an active job

if no other marks awarded allow

1 mark for lose weight.

Total 8

How to answer it

Homeostasis and Blood Glucose Control

What this question tests: This question assesses your understanding of homeostasis (maintaining internal conditions), the location of major endocrine glands, the interpretation of blood glucose data, and the lifestyle factors associated with Type 2 diabetes.

Part (a) - Homeostasis Processes

Correct Answers:
  • Controlling water output in urine
  • Keeping cool on a hot day
💡 Key Knowledge: Homeostasis is the maintenance of a constant internal environment. This includes water balance (osmoregulation) and temperature control (thermoregulation).

Part (b) - Identifying Gland A

Correct Answer: Pituitary gland.
🧠 Exam Technique: When identifying organs on a diagram, look for the position relative to other structures. The pituitary gland is located at the base of the brain, often referred to as the "master gland."

Part (c) - Blood Glucose Calculation

📐 Calculation:
  1. Identify the final value: 8.4 mmol/dm³
  2. Identify the initial value: 5.2 mmol/dm³
  3. Subtract: 8.4 - 5.2 = 3.2
Result: 3.2 mmol/dm³

Part (d) & (e) - Diabetes and Insulin

Correct Answers:
  • Disorder: Diabetes
  • Problem: The pancreas is not releasing insulin.
❌ Common Errors: Students often confuse the *symptom* (high blood glucose) with the *cause* (lack of insulin or insulin resistance). Ensure you link the hormone (insulin) to the organ (pancreas).

Part (f) - Lifestyle Changes

Correct Answers (Any two):
  • Change diet (e.g., eat less sugar/starch, use sweeteners).
  • Take more exercise (e.g., walk to work, go to the gym).
  • Lose weight.
🧠 Exam Technique: When a question provides a list of habits (like the one in the prompt), your suggested changes must directly address those specific habits. If the person drinks hot chocolate, suggest a lower-sugar alternative!

Topics

Biology · B5: Homeostasis and Response

Question and mark scheme from the AQA GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy examination, Biology Paper 2 (Foundation), 2020. QuestionVault is an independent revision resource; questions remain the copyright of the awarding body.