Free Reproduction in plants questions for IGCSE Biology (0610), part of Reproduction. Each question has the answer and the marking points an examiner would look for.
Generate a full Reproduction in Plants worksheet →All Reproduction questionsWhich row describes a wind-pollinated flower?
| petals | pollen | stigma | |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | large and brightly coloured | light and smooth, large amounts | feathery, outside the flower |
| B | small and green | sticky and spiky, small amounts | feathery, outside the flower |
| C | small and green | light and smooth, large amounts | sticky, inside the flower |
| D | small and green | light and smooth, large amounts | feathery, outside the flower |
Answer: D
Insect-pollinated and wind-pollinated flowers have different features.
Describe two features of a wind-pollinated flower.
Define pollination.
Describe what happens after a pollen grain lands on the stigma.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | small, dull, no nectar; feathery stigmas; large anthers outside; light pollen Any 2 of: small, dull petals; anthers hanging outside; feathery stigmas; large amounts of light pollen B2 | 2 |
| (b) | transfer of pollen from anther to stigma the transfer of pollen grains from the anther B1 to the stigma B1 | 2 |
| (c) | pollen tube grows, nucleus fuses with ovule a pollen tube grows down the style B1 into the ovule B1 the male nucleus fuses with the female nucleus (fertilisation) B1 | 3 |
This question is about reproduction in flowering plants.
Define pollination.
Describe two differences between insect-pollinated and wind-pollinated flowers.
Describe what happens after a pollen grain lands on the stigma, leading to fertilisation.
Distinguish between self-pollination and cross-pollination.
Explain why cross-pollination is an advantage to a species if the environment changes.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | transfer of pollen from anther to stigma the transfer of pollen grains from an anther to a stigma B1 | 1 |
| (b) | insect: large coloured petals, nectar; wind: small dull, feathery stigma outside, anthers hang out Any 2 of: insect-pollinated have large coloured / scented petals and nectaries, wind-pollinated have small dull petals; wind-pollinated have feathery stigmas / anthers hanging outside the flower; wind-pollinated produce large amounts of light pollen B2 | 2 |
| (c) | pollen tube grows down the style; to the ovule through micropyle; male nucleus fuses with female nucleus a pollen tube grows from the pollen grain down through the style B1 it enters the ovule (through the micropyle) B1 the male nucleus fuses with the female nucleus (fertilisation) B1 | 3 |
| (d) | self: same flower/plant; cross: different plant of same species self-pollination: pollen from the same flower or plant B1 cross-pollination: pollen from a different plant of the same species B1 | 2 |
| (e) | more genetic variation; some offspring may have advantageous features; species more likely to survive cross-pollination produces more genetic variation B1 some offspring are more likely to have features suited to the new conditions B1 so the species is more likely to survive (adapt) B1 | 3 |
Seeds need certain conditions to germinate.
State three conditions needed for germination.
Explain why oxygen is needed.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | water, oxygen, warmth water B1 oxygen B1 suitable temperature B1 | 3 |
| (b) | aerobic respiration for energy for aerobic respiration to release energy for growth B1 | 1 |
An insect-pollinated flower has large, brightly coloured petals.
Explain how the petals help pollination.
Distinguish between self-pollination and cross-pollination.
Give one disadvantage of self-pollination.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | attract insects bright colours/scent attract insects B1 which carry pollen to other flowers B1 | 2 |
| (b) | same plant vs different plant self: pollen transferred to stigma of same flower/plant B1 cross: to a flower on a different plant of the same species B1 | 2 |
| (c) | less variation less genetic variation B1 | 1 |
A student investigates the conditions needed for germination. Each dish has 20 cress seeds. The number of seeds that germinate after 5 days is recorded in Table 6.1.
| dish | repeat 1 | repeat 2 | repeat 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| A: water, 20 °C, air | 18 | 17 | 18 |
| B: water, 20 °C, no oxygen | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| C: water, 5 °C, air | 12 | 13 | 9 |
Calculate the mean number of seeds that germinated in dish C.
Calculate the percentage of seeds that germinated in dish A.
Explain the results for dish B.
Explain why fewer seeds germinated in dish C than in dish A.
Identify the dish that acts as a control and explain why it is needed.
Suggest why the student used 20 seeds in each dish and repeated each dish three times.
Explain why water was added to every dish.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | 11.3 (12 + 13 + 9) ÷ 3 = 11.3 B1 | 1 |
| (b) | 88.3 % mean = 17.7 C1 17.7 ÷ 20 × 100 = 88.3 % A1 | 2 |
| (c) | no oxygen; no aerobic respiration; no energy for growth without oxygen the seeds cannot respire aerobically B1 so there is not enough energy for cell division / growth (allow: a few germinated because some oxygen remained / anaerobic respiration releases a little energy) B1 | 2 |
| (d) | low temperature; enzymes slow; less respiration at 5 °C enzymes (e.g. amylase breaking down starch stores) work slowly B1 so less glucose and less respiration / energy for growth B1 | 2 |
| (e) | A; shows germination when all conditions present dish A B1 it shows that seeds germinate when all conditions are present, so the effect of removing one condition can be compared B1 | 2 |
| (f) | reliability, seeds vary individual seeds vary (some are not viable), so many seeds and repeats give a more reliable result B1 | 1 |
| (g) | water needed for germination Any 1 of: water is needed to activate enzymes / for the seed to swell / to transport dissolved food; allow: so that water is not a limiting factor / only oxygen or temperature differs (control variable) B1 | 1 |
Riyaz Shaikh has mentored IGCSE, IB and A Level students for 15+ years, one-on-one, online and in Mumbai. The hardest questions on this site are the ones he uses to find a student's weak points.
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