DP Biology (first assessment 2025)

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Question 22M.2.SL.TZ1.c

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Date May 2022 Marks available [Maximum mark: 2] Reference code 22M.2.SL.TZ1.c
Level SL Paper 2 Time zone TZ1
Command term Explain Question number c Adapted from N/A
c.
[Maximum mark: 2]
22M.2.SL.TZ1.c

Explain the change in heart rate during the period of hibernation.

[2]

Markscheme
  1. decreased/slower heart rate because bears less active/use less energy;
  2. less (cell) respiration / lower (rate of) metabolism;
  3. less oxygen/glucose required / less CO2 produced/needing to be removed;
  4. less muscle contraction/muscles require less blood;
  5. conserves energy;
Examiners report

Many candidates mentioned lack of activity as a reason for lower heart rate and some went on to mention reduced respiration rates or other aspects of physiology. Other candidates failed to offer an explanation and instead just described the data. A few claimed wrongly that bone porosity was directly proportional to age, in which case all those of a certain age would have the same degree of osteoporosis, which is plainly not the case.

Syllabus sections