Free Homeostasis questions for IGCSE Biology (0610), part of Coordination & response. Each question has the answer and the marking points an examiner would look for.
Generate a full Homeostasis worksheet →All Coordination & response questionsA person exercises on a hot day and the body temperature starts to rise.
1 Shivering increases.
2 Sweat evaporates, transferring heat from the skin.
3 Arterioles supplying skin capillaries dilate.
Which statements are correct?
Answer: B
Which term is described by this statement?
“The maintenance of a constant internal environment.”
Answer: B
Blood glucose concentration is controlled by negative feedback.
Describe what happens when blood glucose falls below normal.
State the normal body temperature.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | pancreas secretes glucagon; liver converts glycogen to glucose the pancreas secretes glucagon B1 glucagon causes the liver to convert glycogen into glucose B1 glucose is released into the blood B1 | 3 |
| (b) | 37 °C about 37 °C B1 | 1 |
When a person is cold, they shiver.
Explain how shivering raises body temperature.
Explain how vasoconstriction reduces heat loss.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | muscle contraction releases heat from respiration rapid muscle contraction increases respiration B1 releasing heat B1 | 2 |
| (b) | less blood near skin surface arterioles near the skin surface constrict B1 less blood flows near the surface, so less heat is lost B1 | 2 |
This question is about homeostasis.
Define homeostasis.
After a meal, a person’s blood glucose concentration rises from 5.0 to 8.5 mmol/dm³. Explain how the concentration is returned to normal.
Explain how negative feedback is involved in the control of blood glucose.
Explain why a person with type 1 diabetes must inject insulin and monitor their blood glucose.
Describe how the body responds when its core temperature rises above normal.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | maintenance of a constant internal environment the maintenance of a constant internal environment B1 within set limits B1 | 2 |
| (b) | pancreas detects rise; secretes insulin; liver converts glucose to glycogen; cells take up more glucose the pancreas detects the rise B1 secretes insulin into the blood B1 insulin causes the liver (and muscles) to convert glucose into glycogen B1 and increases uptake of glucose by cells B1 | 4 |
| (c) | a change triggers a response that reverses it; returns to set point a change from the normal level is detected B1 the response opposes / reverses the change, returning it to the set point B1 | 2 |
| (d) | pancreas makes no insulin; glucose would rise too high the pancreas cannot produce insulin B1 so blood glucose could rise to dangerous levels B1 | 2 |
| (e) | sweating, evaporation cools; vasodilation; more blood near skin surface, more heat lost sweat is produced and its evaporation removes heat B1 arterioles to the skin dilate (vasodilation) B1 more blood flows near the skin surface so more heat is lost by radiation B1 | 3 |
The body maintains a constant internal temperature.
Define homeostasis.
Describe how the body responds when it is too hot.
Explain what is meant by negative feedback.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | maintenance of constant internal environment the maintenance of a constant internal environment B1 within set limits B1 | 2 |
| (b) | sweating; vasodilation; hairs flat sweating, which cools by evaporation B1 vasodilation of arterioles near the skin, so more heat lost by radiation B1 hairs lie flat B1 | 3 |
| (c) | change triggers response that reverses it a change from the set point is detected B1 a response is produced that reverses the change, returning conditions to the set point B1 | 2 |
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Meet Riyaz →Original Cambridge-style practice questions written for mentorriyaz.in. These are not Cambridge past paper questions, and this site is not affiliated with or endorsed by Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Updated 2026-11-04. Paper generator · mentorriyaz.in