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European Baccalaureate Biology study materials
European Baccalaureate Biology study resources

European Baccalaureate Biology practice questions

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Question 1Language 1 (L1) - compulsory written examination

In the compulsory L1 written examination, a candidate is asked to analyse how a scientific author uses the phrase "the data suggest" rather than "the data proves". Which description best captures the rhetorical function of this choice within the passage?

  1. It signals an epistemic caution that keeps the claim proportionate to the evidence presented. Correct answer.
  2. It marks a shift from scientific register to informal conversational style.
  3. It shows the author is uncertain about the meaning of the word "data".
  4. It indicates that the author regards the data as unreliable and therefore worthless.

Explanation

Hedging verbs such as "suggest" calibrate the strength of a claim to the strength of the evidence, which is a core convention of scientific argumentation. The choice does not deny the value of the data but frames the conclusion as provisional and open to further testing. Recognising this function is part of analysing an author's stance in an L1 argumentative text.

Question 2Language 1 (L1) - compulsory written examination

A student writing an L1 commentary on a scientific article states: "The author's use of the passive voice in the methods section serves to foreground the procedure rather than the researcher." Which term best names the linguistic feature the student is describing?

  1. Code-switching
  2. Foregrounding through agent deletion Correct answer.
  3. Lexical cohesion
  4. Nominalisation

Explanation

Deleting or demoting the agent in passive constructions shifts attention onto the process being described, which is exactly the effect the student identifies. This is a recognised stylistic device in scientific writing, where procedures matter more than individual experimenters. Naming the feature precisely strengthens the commentary.

Question 3Language 1 (L1) - compulsory written examination

In an L1 examination, candidates must summarise a 600-word article on antibiotic resistance in no more than 120 words. Which strategy is most appropriate for producing an accurate summary?

  1. Retain the author's illustrative examples and anecdotal details to preserve flavour.
  2. Copy the topic sentence of each paragraph verbatim to guarantee fidelity.
  3. Identify the central claim and the main supporting evidence, then compress them in the candidate's own words. Correct answer.
  4. Add personal opinions about antibiotic policy to show independent thought.

Explanation

A summary must convey the source's central claim and principal support while omitting illustrative detail, and it should be expressed in the candidate's own wording. Verbatim copying of topic sentences does not demonstrate comprehension and often breaches the word limit. Personal evaluation belongs to a different task, not to summary.

Question 4Language 1 (L1) - compulsory written examination

A candidate is asked to identify the register of the following extract from a scientific report: "Subjects were randomly assigned to treatment conditions, and outcomes were recorded at 24-hour intervals." Which description of the register is most accurate?

  1. Poetic and figurative, relying on metaphor and imagery.
  2. Formal, impersonal and technical, suited to a research report. Correct answer.
  3. Colloquial and emotive, suited to a popular newspaper column.
  4. Persuasive and polemical, aiming to change the reader's beliefs.

Explanation

The extract uses passive constructions, precise temporal specification and neutral technical vocabulary, all hallmarks of formal scientific register. There is no figurative language, emotional colouring or direct persuasion. Register analysis of this kind is a standard L1 examination task.

Question 5Language 1 (L1) - compulsory written examination

In an L1 written examination, a candidate must write an argumentative essay on whether gene editing of human embryos should be permitted. Which opening most effectively establishes a clear thesis for an argumentative essay?

  1. Since the discovery of CRISPR, many things have changed in biology.
  2. This essay will look at some of the arguments for and against gene editing.
  3. Gene editing has been discussed by many scientists and governments in recent years.
  4. Germline gene editing should be permitted only under strict regulatory oversight, because the potential to eliminate inherited disease outweighs the risks when safeguards are enforceable. Correct answer.

Explanation

An effective thesis states a definite position and previews the reasoning that will support it, giving the essay a clear argumentative direction. Vague announcements about what the essay will discuss or broad historical remarks postpone the argument and weaken the introduction. The chosen option commits to a qualified position and signals its justification.

Question 6Language 1 (L1) - compulsory written examination

A candidate reads the sentence: "Although the trial was small, the results were statistically significant." Which relationship between the two clauses does the conjunction establish?

  1. Addition
  2. Concession Correct answer.
  3. Cause and effect
  4. Condition

Explanation

"Although" introduces a clause that concedes a limiting factor while the main clause asserts something that might seem to conflict with it. This concessive relationship is distinct from causal, conditional or additive links. Identifying it correctly is essential for accurate comprehension in the L1 paper.

Question 7Language 1 (L1) - compulsory written examination

In the L1 examination, candidates may be asked to explain the meaning of an unfamiliar word from its context. In the sentence "The researchers' conclusions were tentative, pending replication by independent laboratories," what does "tentative" most nearly mean?

  1. Provisional and subject to confirmation Correct answer.
  2. Definitive and final
  3. Highly technical
  4. Deliberately deceptive

Explanation

The phrase "pending replication" signals that the conclusions await confirmation, so "tentative" means provisional rather than final. Contextual clues of this kind allow candidates to infer meaning without a dictionary. Recognising the contrast with "definitive" sharpens the inference.

Question 8Language 1 (L1) - compulsory written examination

A candidate is proofreading an L1 essay and finds the sentence: "The experiment was repeated three times, the results were consistent." Which revision most effectively corrects the sentence structure?

  1. The experiment was repeated three times, and the results were consistent, and.
  2. The experiment was repeated three times; the results were consistent. Correct answer.
  3. The experiment was repeated three times, the results, were consistent.
  4. The experiment was repeated three times the results were consistent.

Explanation

The original joins two independent clauses with only a comma, producing a comma splice. A semicolon correctly separates the two independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction. Alternatively, a comma plus "and" would also work, but only the semicolon option is offered in correct form.

Question 9Language 1 (L1) - compulsory written examination

A candidate must write a formal letter to a research institute requesting access to a published dataset. Which closing is most appropriate for this formal register?

  1. Anyway, let me know whenever.
  2. Hope you can sort this out soon.
  3. I would be grateful for any guidance you can offer, and I thank you in advance for your consideration. Correct answer.
  4. Cheers, and thanks a lot for any help!

Explanation

Formal correspondence uses polite, complete formulae that acknowledge the recipient's time and maintain professional distance. The chosen option employs the conventional "I would be grateful" construction and a courteous closing. Informal expressions and imperatives are unsuitable in this register.

Question 10Language 1 (L1) - compulsory written examination

Read the sentence from an L1 source text: "Far from resolving the debate, the new study has reopened questions that many researchers believed were settled." Which inference about the study's effect is best supported?

  1. It addressed a topic unrelated to the earlier debate.
  2. It confirmed the consensus position and ended the controversy.
  3. It has revived uncertainty about issues previously thought resolved. Correct answer.
  4. It was methodologically flawed and therefore ignored.

Explanation

The construction "far from resolving...has reopened" explicitly contrasts an expected outcome with the actual one, indicating renewed uncertainty. The clause about questions "believed settled" confirms that previously closed issues are now open again. The sentence makes no claim about methodological quality.

Question 11Language 1 (L1) - compulsory written examination

An L1 examination passage contains the sentence: "The decline in pollinator populations, which has been documented across several continents, threatens both wild flora and agricultural yields." Which grammatical function does the relative clause "which has been documented across several continents" perform?

  1. It introduces a condition on which the threat depends.
  2. It restricts the noun to a particular subset of pollinator declines.
  3. It adds non-essential descriptive information about the decline. Correct answer.
  4. It states the main argument of the sentence.

Explanation

The clause is set off by commas, marking it as non-defining: it supplies additional information rather than identifying which decline is meant. Removing it leaves the main proposition intact. Distinguishing defining from non-defining relative clauses is a frequent focus of L1 grammar analysis.

Question 12Language 1 (L1) - compulsory written examination

In an L1 commentary, a candidate writes: "The author's repeated use of the first-person plural, 'we', throughout the article creates a sense of shared responsibility among readers." Which analytical concept is the candidate applying?

  1. Phonological patterning
  2. Syntactic complexity
  3. Inclusive pronoun reference and reader positioning Correct answer.
  4. Textual cohesion through synonymy

Explanation

First-person plural pronouns can include the reader in the author's community, positioning the audience as participants rather than observers. This is a recognised device for building alignment and shared responsibility. The candidate's observation is therefore an analysis of pronoun reference and reader positioning.

Question 13Language 1 (L1) - compulsory written examination

A candidate is asked to evaluate the strength of an argument in an L1 passage. The passage claims: "Because two independent laboratories obtained the same result, the finding is reliable." Which assessment of the reasoning is most accurate?

  1. The reasoning is fallacious because laboratories are always biased.
  2. The reasoning is invalid because independent replication is irrelevant to reliability.
  3. The reasoning is circular because it assumes what it sets out to prove.
  4. The reasoning is sound because independent replication provides strong support for reliability. Correct answer.

Explanation

Independent replication is a recognised strength of evidence: agreement across separate laboratories reduces the likelihood that a single error or bias produced the result. The argument therefore offers relevant and adequate support for its conclusion. It does not presuppose the conclusion, so it is not circular.

Question 14Language 1 (L1) - compulsory written examination

In an L1 examination, a candidate must transform the informal sentence "The scientists found out that the drug didn't work very well" into formal academic register. Which version best achieves this?

  1. The scientists got that the drug didn't work well.
  2. The scientists discovered that the drug was relatively ineffective. Correct answer.
  3. The scientists figured the drug wasn't much good.
  4. The scientists found out the drug was not very good.

Explanation

Formal academic register replaces phrasal verbs such as "find out" with single Latinate verbs like "discover", and avoids contractions and vague intensifiers. "Relatively ineffective" provides a precise, measured evaluation. The other options retain informal vocabulary or grammatical shortcuts.

Question 15Language 1 (L1) - compulsory written examination

An L1 passage argues: "We should invest in renewable energy because fossil fuels are finite and their combustion damages the climate." Which element of the argument is the conclusion?

  1. Fossil fuels are finite.
  2. Combustion of fossil fuels damages the climate.
  3. We should invest in renewable energy. Correct answer.
  4. Finite resources eventually run out.

Explanation

The conclusion is the claim the argument seeks to establish, signalled here by "we should" and supported by the "because" clause. The finitude of fossil fuels and climate damage are premises offered as reasons. Identifying the conclusion correctly is fundamental to argument analysis in the L1 paper.

Question 16Language 1 (L1) - compulsory written examination

A candidate encounters the term "statistically significant" in an L1 passage and must explain it in a commentary. Which explanation is most accurate?

  1. The result has been replicated by at least three independent teams.
  2. The result is large enough to be practically important in every context.
  3. The experiment was conducted without any errors.
  4. The observed result is unlikely to have arisen by chance alone under the stated statistical assumptions. Correct answer.

Explanation

Statistical significance concerns the probability of obtaining the observed result if the null hypothesis were true; a significant result is one unlikely to be due to chance under the model. It does not by itself establish practical importance or replication. Confusing significance with effect size is a common comprehension error.

Question 17Language 1 (L1) - compulsory written examination

In an L1 examination, candidates analyse cohesion in a passage. The passage uses "this finding", "such results" and "the aforementioned trend" to link sentences. Which type of cohesion do these expressions primarily create?

  1. Grammatical cohesion through substitution and reference Correct answer.
  2. Phonological cohesion through rhyme
  3. Cohesion through paragraph indentation
  4. Cohesion through direct quotation

Explanation

Expressions such as "this finding" and "such results" substitute for or refer back to earlier content, creating grammatical cohesion. They allow the writer to avoid repetition while making logical links explicit. This is a standard category in cohesion analysis for the L1 paper.

Question 18Language 1 (L1) - compulsory written examination

A candidate must write a short evaluative paragraph on a scientific article for the L1 examination. Which sentence best exemplifies an evaluative rather than a descriptive statement?

  1. The article reports data from three field sites over two years.
  2. The article was published in a peer-reviewed journal.
  3. The article contains four sections and eleven references.
  4. The article's conclusion is weakened by its failure to control for seasonal variation. Correct answer.

Explanation

An evaluative statement makes a judgement about quality or validity and must be supported by reasoning, as in identifying an uncontrolled variable. Descriptive statements merely report observable features of the text. The L1 paper rewards candidates who can distinguish and produce both.

Question 19Language 1 (L1) - compulsory written examination

Read the two sentences: "The vaccine reduced hospitalisations by 80 per cent. However, the trial excluded immunocompromised participants." What is the function of the second sentence in relation to the first?

  1. It provides a causal explanation for the 80 per cent figure.
  2. It restates the first sentence in different words.
  3. It qualifies the first sentence by identifying a limitation on its generalisability. Correct answer.
  4. It contradicts the first sentence outright.

Explanation

The second sentence introduces a restriction on the population studied, which limits how far the first sentence's result can be generalised. "However" signals this qualifying move. It neither restates nor directly contradicts the first claim.

Question 20Language 1 (L1) - compulsory written examination

A candidate's L1 essay contains the sentence: "Not only did the researchers replicate the experiment, but they also extended it to a new population." Which effect does the inverted "not only...but also" construction achieve?

  1. It presents the two achievements as mutually exclusive alternatives.
  2. It signals that the sentence is a direct quotation.
  3. It expresses doubt about the researchers' competence.
  4. It emphasises the second achievement while acknowledging the first as a baseline. Correct answer.

Explanation

The correlative construction "not only...but also" treats the first item as an acknowledged starting point and places emphatic focus on the second, greater achievement. The inversion after "not only" is a formal stylistic device. It does not imply doubt, exclusivity or quotation.

Question 21Language 1 (L1) - compulsory written examination

In an L1 passage, the author writes: "Critics who dismiss the model as 'merely theoretical' overlook the fact that all models are abstractions." Which rhetorical move does the author make?

  1. Quoting the critics in order to agree with them.
  2. Conceding the critics' point and abandoning the model.
  3. Reframing the critics' objection as a misunderstanding of what models are. Correct answer.
  4. Shifting the topic to an unrelated field of study.

Explanation

The author takes the critics' phrase and reinterprets it, arguing that abstraction is a normal feature of all models rather than a defect of this one. This is a reframing or rebuttal move common in scientific argument. The quotation marks signal that the phrase is the critics', not the author's own view.

Question 22Language 1 (L1) - compulsory written examination

A candidate is asked to assess whether an L1 passage's evidence supports its conclusion. The passage concludes that a policy "has transformed public health" and supports this with a single before-and-after comparison from one region, with no control group. Which evaluation is most defensible?

  1. The evidence is weak for the causal claim because confounding factors and regional specificity are not addressed. Correct answer.
  2. The evidence is strong because it comes from a real region rather than a laboratory.
  3. The evidence is sufficient because before-and-after data always demonstrate causation.
  4. The evidence is irrelevant because public health cannot be measured.

Explanation

A single uncontrolled before-and-after comparison cannot isolate the policy's effect from concurrent changes, and one region limits generalisation. The sweeping causal conclusion therefore outruns the evidence. This is a classic confound and external-validity problem in argument evaluation.

Question 23Language 1 (L1) - compulsory written examination

An L1 passage uses the sentence: "The claim that the species is 'functionally extinct' rests on a definition that few ecologists would accept." Which two features combine to weaken the original claim?

  1. A rhetorical question and a statistical citation.
  2. A false dichotomy and a hasty generalisation.
  3. An emotional appeal and a personal anecdote.
  4. Scare quotes around the term and an appeal to expert consensus on the definition. Correct answer.

Explanation

The quotation marks distance the author from the term and signal that its usage is contested, while the reference to what ecologists would accept invokes disciplinary authority. Together these undermine the claim by challenging its definitional basis. Recognising both moves is required for a full analysis.

Question 24Language 1 (L1) - compulsory written examination

A candidate must choose the most appropriate connective to complete this L1 passage sentence: "The sample size was small; ______, the authors caution against generalising the findings." Which connective best fits the logical relation?

  1. therefore Correct answer.
  2. nevertheless
  3. for instance
  4. similarly

Explanation

The small sample provides the reason for the authors' caution, so a consequential connective is required. "Therefore" marks that the caution follows logically from the limitation. The other connectives signal contrast, similarity or exemplification, none of which matches the relation.

Question 25Language 1 (L1) - compulsory written examination

In an L1 examination, a candidate argues that an author's use of the phrase "sound science" is persuasive rather than neutral. Which justification best supports this analysis?

  1. The phrase appears only once in the passage and is therefore unimportant.
  2. The phrase is a technical term with a single agreed definition in all disciplines.
  3. The phrase functions as a label that lends authority while leaving the criteria for soundness unspecified. Correct answer.
  4. The phrase is grammatically incorrect and therefore distracting.

Explanation

Terms like "sound science" carry positive connotations and can be used to legitimise a position without stating what standards are being applied. That vagueness is precisely what makes the phrase rhetorically effective. A strong analysis identifies the persuasive work the label performs.

Question 26Language 1 (L1) - compulsory written examination

In an L1 examination, candidates must summarise an L1 scientific article in their own words. Which sentence is the most appropriate opening for a formal summary of the article's findings?

  1. Honestly, who would have guessed that drought hurts soil carbon?
  2. So basically the soil carbon thing got way worse after a few dry years.
  3. The study reports that soil carbon losses accelerated after the third season of drought. Correct answer.
  4. Soil carbon, drought, three seasons - that's the whole story.

Explanation

A formal summary in the L1 examination requires a neutral, third-person reporting verb and precise terminology, so 'The study reports that…' is the appropriate register. The other options introduce colloquialisms, rhetorical questions or note-form fragments, none of which suit a formal academic summary.

Question 27Language 1 (L1) - compulsory written examination

An L1 candidate must define the term 'peer review' in a glossary for a school science magazine. Which definition is the most accurate and appropriately worded?

  1. A process in which friends of the author read the manuscript and suggest improvements.
  2. The final editorial correction of spelling and grammar before an article is printed.
  3. Assessment of a research manuscript by independent experts in the same field before publication. Correct answer.
  4. A vote by the general public on whether a scientific paper should be published.

Explanation

Peer review is the evaluation of a manuscript by independent specialists in the same discipline before it appears in a journal. The definition must capture both independence and expertise, since these are what distinguish it from ordinary editing or public opinion.

Question 28Language 1 (L1) - compulsory written examination

An L1 passage contains the sentence: 'The researchers concede that their sampling method may have favoured larger specimens.' Which paraphrase preserves the author's stance most faithfully?

  1. The researchers claim that larger specimens are more important.
  2. The researchers prove that their sampling method was unbiased.
  3. The researchers acknowledge a possible bias in how specimens were collected. Correct answer.
  4. The researchers deny that specimen size affected their sampling.

Explanation

The verb 'concede' signals that the researchers admit a limitation, and 'may have favoured' expresses possibility rather than certainty. A faithful paraphrase must keep both the admission and the hedging, which 'acknowledge a possible bias' does.

Question 29Language 1 (L1) - compulsory written examination

A candidate is writing an L1 commentary on a graph showing a steady rise in urban air-pollutant concentrations between 2000 and 2020. Which sentence reports the trend most precisely and in appropriate academic register?

  1. Concentrations obviously exploded because nobody cares about the environment.
  2. The pollutant went up a lot, which is really bad.
  3. Concentrations of the pollutant rose steadily over the two decades shown. Correct answer.
  4. The graph shows a trend that speaks for itself.

Explanation

A commentary should state the trend factually, identify the variable and the time span, and avoid evaluation unless it is argued. 'Rose steadily over the two decades shown' does exactly this in neutral academic language.

Question 30Language 1 (L1) - compulsory written examination

In an L1 passage, the writer states: 'The ban reduced plastic waste by 30 per cent in its first year; nevertheless, imports of packaged goods rose over the same period.' Which function does 'nevertheless' perform in this sentence?

  1. It signals that the second clause is an example of the first.
  2. It signals that the second clause qualifies the apparent success reported in the first. Correct answer.
  3. It signals that the second clause is a consequence of the first.
  4. It signals that the second clause restates the first in different words.

Explanation

'Nevertheless' is a concessive contrastive connective: it introduces a point that limits or qualifies what precedes it. Here the rise in imports of packaged goods tempers the apparent success of the waste reduction.

Question 31Language 1 (L1) - compulsory written examination

An L1 candidate is editing a draft and finds: 'Having analysed the samples, the conclusion was drawn by the team.' Which revision removes the dangling participle while keeping the meaning?

  1. The conclusion, having analysed the samples, was drawn by the team.
  2. Having analysed the samples, the team drew its conclusion. Correct answer.
  3. Having analysed the samples, the conclusion drew the team.
  4. Having analysed the samples, conclusions were drawn.

Explanation

A participial phrase must share its subject with the main clause. Since 'the team' performs the analysis, it must also be the subject of the main clause, giving 'the team drew its conclusion'.

Question 32Language 1 (L1) - compulsory written examination

An L1 passage argues: 'Organic farming avoids synthetic pesticides; therefore, food grown organically is always safer to eat.' Which criticism most directly identifies the flaw in this argument?

  1. The premise is irrelevant because pesticides are never discussed in food-safety research.
  2. The conclusion depends on an unstated assumption that avoiding synthetic pesticides guarantees safety. Correct answer.
  3. The argument uses too many technical terms for a general audience.
  4. The conclusion is stated too cautiously to be evaluated.

Explanation

The argument moves from the absence of synthetic pesticides to guaranteed safety, which requires the unstated premise that such absence is sufficient for safety. Identifying this suppressed assumption is the most direct criticism of the reasoning.

Question 33Language 1 (L1) - compulsory written examination

In an L1 passage, a writer refers to a proposal as 'a modest adjustment'. A candidate must comment on how this phrase functions rhetorically. Which interpretation is best supported?

  1. The adjective provides statistical evidence for the size of the change.
  2. The adjective minimises the scale of the change so that readers are more likely to accept it. Correct answer.
  3. The adjective is a technical term with a fixed meaning in policy documents.
  4. The adjective signals that the writer opposes the proposal.

Explanation

Evaluative adjectives such as 'modest' frame a proposal as small and reasonable, which is a persuasive strategy to reduce resistance. The phrase expresses the writer's stance rather than supplying evidence or technical precision.

Question 34Language 1 (L1) - compulsory written examination

A candidate must combine these two L1 sentences into one formal sentence: 'The trial was halted early. The interim analysis showed an unexpected benefit.' Which version is grammatically correct and appropriate in register?

  1. The trial was halted early, the interim analysis showed an unexpected benefit.
  2. The trial halted early because of the interim analysis showed an unexpected benefit.
  3. The trial was halted early; the interim analysis showing an unexpected benefit.
  4. The trial was halted early because the interim analysis showed an unexpected benefit. Correct answer.

Explanation

A subordinating conjunction such as 'because' links the two clauses correctly and makes the causal relation explicit in formal register. The remaining versions either join clauses without adequate punctuation or produce a fragment or malformed verb phrase.

Question 35Language 1 (L1) - compulsory written examination

An L1 candidate must choose a reporting verb to introduce a claim that the source presents as contested rather than established. Which verb best conveys this stance?

  1. The authors demonstrate that the pathway regulates cell growth.
  2. The authors contend that the pathway regulates cell growth. Correct answer.
  3. The authors confirm that the pathway regulates cell growth.
  4. The authors prove that the pathway regulates cell growth.

Explanation

Reporting verbs carry an epistemic stance: 'contend' presents the claim as argued and open to dispute, whereas 'demonstrate', 'prove' and 'confirm' present it as settled. A candidate reporting a contested claim should therefore choose the weaker, argumentative verb.

Question 36Language 1 (L1) - compulsory written examination

An L1 candidate is asked to identify the tone of this passage sentence: 'It is remarkable that, after three decades of warnings, the report still treats habitat loss as a footnote.' Which description of the tone is best supported?

  1. Playfully humorous and light-hearted
  2. Ironically critical of the report's treatment of habitat loss Correct answer.
  3. Enthusiastically approving of the report
  4. Neutral and strictly descriptive

Explanation

'It is remarkable that' combined with 'still treats… as a footnote' conveys criticism through understatement and irony. The writer is not neutral, approving, or merely amusing; the sentence judges the report's priorities.

Question 37Language 1 (L1) - compulsory written examination

An L1 passage states: 'Vaccination programmes have reduced measles mortality dramatically wherever coverage has been sustained above 95 per cent.' Which inference is logically supported by this statement alone?

  1. Vaccination programmes are the only factor affecting measles mortality.
  2. Measles mortality would fall even if coverage dropped below 95 per cent.
  3. Coverage above 95 per cent has been achieved in every country.
  4. Sustained high coverage is associated with large reductions in measles mortality. Correct answer.

Explanation

The statement links sustained coverage above the stated threshold with dramatic reductions, which supports only that association. It does not license claims about lower coverage, exclusive causation, or universal achievement.

Question 38Language 1 (L1) - compulsory written examination

An L1 candidate must write a concluding sentence for a paragraph arguing that urban tree planting should be funded. Which sentence provides the strongest, best-integrated conclusion?

  1. Some people disagree, but they are simply wrong about trees.
  2. Trees are nice and everyone likes them, so the city should pay for more.
  3. Funding urban tree planting is therefore a cost-effective investment in cooler, healthier cities. Correct answer.
  4. In conclusion, this paragraph has discussed urban tree planting and its various effects.

Explanation

A strong conclusion restates the argument's central claim, ties it to the reasons given, and uses evaluative but defensible language. It should synthesise rather than merely announce that a topic was discussed or dismiss opponents.

Question 39Language 1 (L1) - compulsory written examination

An L1 passage uses the passive voice repeatedly: 'Mistakes were made. Data were lost. Responsibility was not assigned.' Which comment best explains the rhetorical effect of this pattern?

  1. The passive makes the passage more vivid by emphasising who acted.
  2. The passive is required because the sentences describe scientific facts.
  3. The passive removes the agents, so responsibility for the errors is obscured. Correct answer.
  4. The passive shortens the sentences and therefore improves clarity.

Explanation

By omitting the agent, the passive voice directs attention away from whoever performed the actions, which here obscures accountability. The effect is rhetorical: the writer avoids naming those responsible for the errors.

Question 40Language 1 (L1) - compulsory written examination

An L1 candidate must evaluate this reasoning: 'Either we ban the chemical entirely or we accept that children will be harmed. Since no one accepts harm to children, the chemical must be banned.' Which analysis of the argument is most accurate?

  1. It is valid and sound because the conclusion follows from the premises.
  2. It is invalid because its first premise is a tautology.
  3. It commits an appeal to authority by citing children.
  4. It relies on a false dilemma, since intermediate regulatory options are excluded. Correct answer.

Explanation

The argument presents only two options, a total ban or accepting harm, and ignores intermediate measures such as restricted use or exposure limits. This is the false-dilemma fallacy, so the conclusion does not follow even if the premises are accepted.

Question 41Language 2 (L2) - compulsory written examination

In the European Baccalaureate L2 Biology written paper, a candidate reads: «La membrane plasmique est qualifiée de mosaïque fluide.» Which English rendering preserves the scientific meaning of this statement?

  1. The plasma membrane is described as a fluid mosaic. Correct answer.
  2. The plasma membrane is described as a rigid bilayer.
  3. The plasma membrane is described as a fixed lattice.
  4. The plasma membrane is described as a solid mosaic.

Explanation

The standard English term is 'fluid mosaic model', matching the French 'mosaïque fluide', which conveys both the protein-lipid arrangement and lateral mobility. The adjective order changes in English but the concept is identical, so only the rendering that keeps both 'fluid' and 'mosaic' is faithful.

Question 42Language 2 (L2) - compulsory written examination

A French-language L2 Biology text states: «L'ATP est le principal vecteur d'énergie de la cellule.» Which English sentence is the accurate translation in a scientific register?

  1. ATP is the main energy barrier of the cell.
  2. ATP is the main energy waste of the cell.
  3. ATP is the main energy consumer of the cell.
  4. ATP is the main energy carrier of the cell. Correct answer.

Explanation

'Vecteur d'énergie' corresponds to 'energy carrier' or 'energy currency' in English biochemistry usage. The other renderings replace the transfer function with unrelated concepts, which would misrepresent ATP's role in coupled reactions.

Question 43Language 2 (L2) - compulsory written examination

A candidate must translate into English: «Les enzymes sont des catalyseurs biologiques qui abaissent l'énergie d'activation.» Which version is correct?

  1. Enzymes are biological catalysts that remove the activation energy.
  2. Enzymes are biological reagents that raise the activation energy.
  3. Enzymes are biological catalysts that lower the activation energy. Correct answer.
  4. Enzymes are biological substrates that lower the activation energy.

Explanation

'Catalyseurs' is 'catalysts' and 'abaissent' is 'lower', so the sentence must keep both terms. Enzymes reduce, but never eliminate, the activation energy, and they are not themselves the substrate.

Question 44Language 2 (L2) - compulsory written examination

In an L2 Biology text you read: «La photosynthèse se déroule dans les chloroplastes, tandis que la respiration cellulaire commence dans le cytoplasme.» Which English sentence best reflects the contrast expressed?

  1. Photosynthesis takes place in chloroplasts, because cellular respiration begins in the cytoplasm.
  2. Photosynthesis takes place in chloroplasts, unless cellular respiration begins in the cytoplasm.
  3. Photosynthesis takes place in chloroplasts, whereas cellular respiration begins in the cytoplasm. Correct answer.
  4. Photosynthesis takes place in chloroplasts, so cellular respiration begins in the cytoplasm.

Explanation

'Tandis que' signals contrast, which English renders with 'whereas' or 'while'. Causal, conditional and consequential connectors all change the logical relation between the two clauses.

Question 45Language 2 (L2) - compulsory written examination

A German-language L2 Biology task asks: «Welche Aussage beschreibt die Diffusion korrekt?» Which answer is scientifically and linguistically correct?

  1. Teilchen bewegen sich vom Ort höherer Konzentration zum Ort niedrigerer Konzentration. Correct answer.
  2. Teilchen bewegen sich ausschließlich durch aktiven Transport.
  3. Teilchen bewegen sich vom Ort niedrigerer Konzentration zum Ort höherer Konzentration.
  4. Teilchen bewegen sich nur mit ATP-Verbrauch über die Membran.

Explanation

Diffusion is passive net movement down a concentration gradient, from higher to lower concentration. Active transport, which requires ATP, moves substances against the gradient and is a distinct process.

Question 46Language 2 (L2) - compulsory written examination

An English-language L2 Biology instruction reads: 'Describe the role of the stomata in the leaf.' Which response uses the correct terminology for the L2 written paper?

  1. They regulate translocation by loading sucrose into the phloem.
  2. They regulate photosynthesis by synthesising chlorophyll.
  3. They regulate water uptake by absorbing minerals from the soil.
  4. They regulate gas exchange by opening and closing the stomatal pore. Correct answer.

Explanation

Stomata are pores bordered by guard cells that control the exchange of carbon dioxide, oxygen and water vapour. Mineral uptake, chlorophyll synthesis and phloem loading occur in roots, chloroplasts and vascular tissue respectively.

Question 47Language 2 (L2) - compulsory written examination

In a Spanish-language L2 Biology paper: «El ADN está formado por dos cadenas complementarias y antiparalelas.» Which English translation is correct?

  1. DNA is made up of two complementary and antiparallel strands. Correct answer.
  2. DNA is made up of two complementary and parallel strands.
  3. DNA is made up of two identical and antiparallel strands.
  4. DNA is made up of two complementary and antiparallel proteins.

Explanation

The Spanish terms 'cadenas', 'complementarias' and 'antiparalelas' translate directly as 'strands', 'complementary' and 'antiparallel'. The two strands run in opposite directions and are not identical in sequence.

Question 48Language 2 (L2) - compulsory written examination

A French L2 Biology text says: «Le brassage génétique lors de la méiose augmente la diversité génétique.» Which English sentence preserves the meaning?

  1. Genetic shuffling during mitosis increases genetic diversity.
  2. Genetic shuffling during meiosis decreases genetic diversity.
  3. Genetic cloning during meiosis increases genetic diversity.
  4. Genetic shuffling during meiosis increases genetic diversity. Correct answer.

Explanation

'Brassage génétique' is standardly rendered as 'genetic shuffling' or 'recombination', and 'méiose' is meiosis. Crossing over and independent assortment during meiosis generate new allele combinations, thereby increasing diversity.

Question 49Language 2 (L2) - compulsory written examination

A candidate must translate into English: «Chez les êtres vivants, l'information génétique est transcrite en ARN messager puis traduite en protéine.» Which version is accurate?

  1. In living organisms, genetic information is replicated into messenger RNA and then translated into protein.
  2. In living organisms, genetic information is transcribed into protein and then translated into messenger RNA.
  3. In living organisms, genetic information is translated into messenger RNA and then transcribed into protein.
  4. In living organisms, genetic information is transcribed into messenger RNA and then translated into protein. Correct answer.

Explanation

The central dogma order is DNA to mRNA (transcription) and mRNA to protein (translation). The French sentence uses 'transcrite' first and 'traduite' second, so the English must keep that order and those terms.

Question 50Language 2 (L2) - compulsory written examination

A German L2 Biology text states: «Die Zellmembran ist semipermeabel.» Which English rendering is scientifically precise?

  1. The cell membrane is impermeable.
  2. The cell membrane is non-permeable to water.
  3. The cell membrane is semipermeable. Correct answer.
  4. The cell membrane is fully permeable.

Explanation

'Semipermeabel' translates as 'semipermeable', meaning the membrane allows some substances, notably water, to pass while restricting others. Impermeable and fully permeable describe opposite extremes.