1.

What is the source of the oxygen released into the air as a product of photosynthesis?
A.

Chlorophyll

B.

Carbon dioxide only

C.

Water only

D.

Both water and carbon dioxide

(Total 1 mark)

2.

Which type of light is least useful for photosynthesis in terrestrial plants?

A.

Blue

B.

Green

C.

White

D.

Red
(Total 1 mark)

3.

Which variable has the least effect on enzyme activity?

A.

Temperature

B.

Light intensity

C.

pH

D.

Substrate concentration
(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Biology

4.

A plant is exposed to increasing light intensity from very dim to bright light, while the carbon
dioxide concentration and temperature are kept at an optimum level. What will happen to the
rate of oxygen production?
A.

It will increase exponentially.

B.

It will remain constant.

C.

It will decrease to a minimum level.

D.

It will increase to a maximum level.

(Total 1 mark)

5.

How can the rate of photosynthesis of a plant be directly measured?

A.

By measuring the rate of oxygen produced

B.

By measuring the rate of carbon dioxide produced

C.

By measuring the rate of plant growth

D.

By measuring the rate of light absorbed

(Total 1 mark)

6.

What is light energy used for during photosynthesis?

A.

To produce carbon dioxide

B.

To produce water molecules

C.

To produce ATP

D.

To break down sugar molecules

(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Biology

7.

Which of the following colours of light is absorbed the most by chlorophyll?

A.

Blue

B.

Green

C.

Yellow

D.

Orange
(Total 1 mark)

8.

Oxygen is produced during photosynthesis. What is the source of this oxygen inside the plant?
A.

Air spaces in the leaf

B.

Carbon dioxide

C.

Glucose

D.

Water
(Total 1 mark)

9.

Which two colours of light does chlorophyll absorb most?

A.

Red and yellow

B.

Green and blue

C.

Red and green

D.

Red and blue

(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Biology

10.

Where is chlorophyll found in a plant cell?

A.

Thylakoid membranes

B.

Stroma

C.

Matrix

D.

Cristae
(Total 1 mark)

11.

What is produced by the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis and used in the Calvin
cycle?
A.

Hydrogen and oxygen

B.

ATP and NADPH

C.

NADPH and oxygen

D.

ATP and CO2

(Total 1 mark)

12.

The photosynthetic activity of desert plants is often reduced in the middle of the day. What is
the most reasonable explanation for this fact?
A.

Enzymes are denatured by the high temperatures.

B.

There is not sufficient water for photosystem I.

C.

Most of the light is reflected by the thick cuticle.

D.

The stomata close to preserve water and gas exchange decreases.

(Total 1 mark)

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13.

Where are the light-dependent and light-independent reactions taking place in the diagram
below?

Light-dependent

Light-independent

A.

IV

B.

II

III

C.

III

II

D.

IV

I
(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Biology

14.

The diagram below shows the structure of a chloroplast.

What is the structure labelled X?

A.

Ribosome

B.

Stroma

C.

Inner membrane

D.

Thylakoid
(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Biology

15.

Which graph best represents the effect of temperature on the rate of photosynthesis of a plant?

(Total 1 mark)

16.

What happens in the light-independent reactions of photosynthesis?

A.

Splitting of water molecules

B.

ATP synthesis

C.

Reduction of NADP

D.

Reduction of CO2
(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Biology

17.

Which two tissues of a leaf are photosynthetic?

A.

Upper epidermis and palisade mesophyll

B.

Palisade mesophyll and spongy mesophyll

C.

Spongy mesophyll and xylem

D.

Upper epidermis and xylem

(Total 1 mark)

18.

Where are complex carbohydrates made in the chloroplast?

A.

In the intermembrane space

B.

In the stroma

C.

On the inner membrane

D.

In the thylakoid space

(Total 1 mark)

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19.

Which of the following graphs represents the effect of changing light intensity on the rate of
oxygen production by a green plant?

(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Biology

20.

What conclusion can be drawn from examining the action spectrum for a green plant shown
below?

A.

Yellow light is the most effective at promoting photosynthesis.

B.

Every colour of light is equally effective at promoting photosynthesis.

C.

Light of wavelength 550 nm is least effective at promoting photosynthesis.

D.

Light in the green range is the most effective at promoting photosynthesis.

(Total 1 mark)

21.

Where in the cell does the Calvin cycle take place?

A.

Stroma of chloroplast

B.

Mitochondrial matrix

C.

Cytoplasm

D.

Inside thylakoid
(Total 1 mark)

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10

22.

What reaction, involving glycerate 3-phosphate, is part of the light-independent reactions of

photosynthesis?
A.

Glycerate 3-phosphate is carboxylated using carbon dioxide.

B.

Two glycerate 3-phosphates are linked together to form one hexose phosphate.

C.

Glycerate 3-phosphate is reduced to triose phosphate.

D.

Five glycerate 3-phosphates are converted to three ribulose 5-phosphates.

(Total 1 mark)

23.

What is the advantage of having a small volume inside the thylakoids of the chloroplast?
A.

High proton concentrations are rapidly developed.

B.

High electron concentrations are rapidly developed.

C.

Photosynthetic pigments are highly concentrated.

D.

Enzymes of the Calvin cycle are highly concentrated.

(Total 1 mark)

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11

24.

The diagram below summarizes the light-dependent reactions in photosynthesis. What is

occurring at X?

E le c tr o n s
X
E le c tro n s
L ig h t
P h o to s y s te m I
L ig h t
P h o to s y s te m II

A.

ADP + phosphate ATP

B.

NADP NADPH + H

C.

H 2O O

D.

NADPH + H NADP

+ 2H

(Total 1 mark)

25. What is the first identifiable product of carbon dioxide fixation in

photosynthesis?
A.

Ribulose bisphosphate (RuBP)

B.

Glycerate3-phosphate (GP)

C.

Triose phosphate (TP)

D.

Acetyl CoA
(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Biology

12