Lesson 4.4.1.2

4.4.1.2 Rate of photosynthesis Quiz: AQA Biology, Unit 4

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 4.4.1.2, Rate of photosynthesis: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA GCSE Biology (8461), Unit 4: Bioenergetics, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Which factor directly affects the rate of photosynthesis in plants?

    • Light intensity
    • Oxygen concentration
    • Glucose concentration
    • Soil acidity

  2. Which pigment absorbs light for photosynthesis?

    • Cellulose
    • Chlorophyll
    • Starch
    • Nitrate

  3. Which organism is suggested for the light intensity practical?

    • Earthworm
    • Mouse
    • Rose bush
    • Pondweed

  4. What is measured when counting oxygen bubbles from pondweed?

    • Transpiration rate
    • Respiration rate
    • Photosynthesis rate
    • Germination rate

  5. What term describes an environmental factor that restricts the rate of photosynthesis?

    • Optimal factor
    • Inhibitory factor
    • Yield factor
    • Limiting factor

  6. Which law is linked to light intensity in the specification (HT only)?

    • Ohm's law
    • Hooke's law
    • Inverse square law
    • Boyle's law

  7. According to the inverse square law, light intensity is proportional to what value?

    • 2 × distance
    • 1 / distance
    • Distance²
    • 1 / distance²

  8. A plant has abundant light but low carbon dioxide. What is the limiting factor?

    • Temperature
    • Chlorophyll concentration
    • Light intensity
    • Carbon dioxide

  9. Why do commercial greenhouse growers control limiting factors like temperature and light?

    • To destroy pests
    • To save water
    • To maximise profit
    • To produce seeds

  10. Moving pondweed closer to a lamp increases which rate when light is low?

    • Respiration rate
    • Photosynthesis rate
    • Absorption rate
    • Transpiration rate

  11. A photosynthesis graph levels off as carbon dioxide increases. What limits the rate?

    • Glucose concentration
    • Carbon dioxide level
    • Light or temperature
    • Water absorption

  12. What is counted per minute to measure photosynthesis rate in pondweed?

    • Glucose crystals
    • Water droplets
    • Carbon dioxide bubbles
    • Oxygen bubbles

  13. If distance from a light source is doubled, light intensity falls to what fraction?

    • One quarter
    • One sixteenth
    • One eighth
    • One half

  14. If distance from a light source is tripled, light intensity falls to what fraction?

    • One third
    • One ninth
    • One twelfth
    • One sixth

  15. How does a reduced amount of chlorophyll affect the rate of photosynthesis?

    • Has no effect
    • Decreases it
    • Doubles it
    • Increases it

  16. If the rate of photosynthesis equals 3 times the light intensity, what is the rate when the intensity is 5?

    • 53
    • 15
    • 8
    • 35

  17. Why does increasing temperature not increase photosynthesis rate at very low light intensity?

    • Chlorophyll is destroyed
    • Enzymes are denatured
    • Temperature is limiting
    • Light is limiting

  18. (HT only) At high light but low CO2, which factor limits the rate?

    • Light intensity
    • Chlorophyll
    • Carbon dioxide
    • Temperature

  19. Why might a greenhouse grower choose not to increase carbon dioxide further?

    • It kills plants
    • It damages leaves
    • It reduces profit
    • It stops growth

  20. How does increasing the distance between a lamp and pondweed affect light intensity?

    • It increases
    • It doubles
    • It stays constant
    • It decreases

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