CIE 9700 - Topic 1.1 - Past Paper MCQs

Which of the statements about light microscopes are correct? (1) The magnification of a light microscope is limited by the wavelength of light. (2) The resolution of a light microscope is limited by the wavelength of light. (3) To calculate the magnification of a light microscope the eyepiece lens and objective lens magnifications are added together.

• A. 1 and 2
• B. 1 and 3
• C. 2 and 3
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Which row correctly describes the magnification and resolution of an electron microscope in relation to alight microscope?

• A
• B
• C
• D

At approximately which magnification would the resolution of a light microscope become too low to produce a clear image?

• A. X100
• B. X200
• C. X400
• D. X1500

Which of the following is not a step involved in the preparation of an onion cell specimen for viewing under a light microscope?

• A. Place one edge of a coverslip on the slide and carefully lower the rest of the coverslip onto the specimen
• B. Add a drop of iodine stain
• C. Remove a layer of onion tissue that is one cell thick from a piece of onion
• D. Add a drop of methylene blue stain

Specimens can be measured using eyepiece graticules and stage micrometers. Which of the following correctly describes the role of a stage micrometer?

• A. Directly measuring the size of a specimen
• B. Determining the size of the eyepiece graticule units
• C. Determining the magnification at which at object is being viewed
• D. A type of slide upon which a specimen can be prepared

A microscope has a resolution of 200 nm. Which of the following organelles would not be resolved by this microscope?

• A. Mitochondria
• B. Lysosomes
• C. Ribosomes
• D. Chloroplasts

Which of the following is not a convention that should be used when producing biological drawings of cells?

• A. Single, clear pencil lines should be used
• B. Shading should be used to indicate light and dark regions of cells
• C. Label lines should not have arrow heads
• D. At least half of the available space on the page should be taken up by the drawing

Which of the options gives the resolution, in nanometres, of an electron microscope and a light microscope?

• A
• B
• C
• D

A lysosome has a diameter of 0.4 μm. Which of the following gives the lysosome diameter in nm?

• A. 4
• B. 40
• C. 400
• D. 4000

Which of the following correctly defines the term resolution in light microscopy?

• A. The size of the smallest object that can be seen
• B. Twice the wavelength of the light used to illuminate the specimen
• C. The shortest distance at which two objects can be seen as separate points
• D. The product of the magnifications of the eyepiece and the objective lens