Cambridge IGCSE™

COMBINED SCIENCE 0653/23

Paper 2 Multiple Choice (Extended) May/June 2024
45 minutes

You must answer on the multiple choice answer sheet.

*9014437754*

You will need: Multiple choice answer sheet

Soft clean eraser
Soft pencil (type B or HB is recommended)

INSTRUCTIONS
 There are forty questions on this paper. Answer all questions.
 For each question there are four possible answers A, B, C and D. Choose the one you consider correct
and record your choice in soft pencil on the multiple choice answer sheet.
 Follow the instructions on the multiple choice answer sheet.
 Write in soft pencil.
 Write your name, centre number and candidate number on the multiple choice answer sheet in the
spaces provided unless this has been done for you.
 Do not use correction fluid.
 Do not write on any bar codes.
 You may use a calculator.

INFORMATION
 The total mark for this paper is 40.
 Each correct answer will score one mark.
 Any rough working should be done on this question paper.
 The Periodic Table is printed in the question paper.

This document has 16 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.

IB24 06_0653_23/2RP
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1 ......1...... is the ability to detect and respond to changes in the environment.

Which word completes gap 1?

A Excretion
B Movement
C Sensitivity
D Reproduction

2 The diagram shows a ciliated cell.

cilia

Which row shows where ciliated cells are found in the human gas exchange system and their
correct function?

location of ciliated cells function of ciliated cells

move mucus move mucus
bronchi trachea
away from lungs towards lungs

A    
B    
C    
D    

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3 A plant cell was placed in a solution with a lower water potential than the cell.

Which diagram represents the movement of water during the process of osmosis?

A B

key

= less water
movement

= more water
C D
movement

4 Which small molecules are used to make proteins?

A amino acids
B fatty acids
C glucose
D glycerol

5 Which substances are used and produced during photosynthesis?

substances used substances produced

A carbon dioxide and glucose oxygen and water

B carbon dioxide and water glucose and oxygen
C glucose and oxygen carbon dioxide and water
D oxygen and water carbon dioxide and glucose

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6 Which process is defined as the taking of substances, for example food and drink, into the body
through the mouth?

A absorption
B digestion
C egestion
D ingestion

7 Which changes will increase transpiration rate?

humidity temperature

A decrease decrease
B decrease increase
C increase decrease
D increase increase

8 A diagram of the human heart is shown.

valves valves

muscle

Which row describes the function of the valves and the action of the muscles when blood is
pumped out of the heart?

valves muscles

A allow blood to flow in both directions contract

B allow blood to flow in both directions relax
C allow blood to flow in one direction only contract
D allow blood to flow in one direction only relax

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9 Why do cells respire?

A to produce oxygen
B to produce water
C to release energy
D to use glucose

10 A light shines onto a shoot from one side.

Which row explains why the shoot bends towards the light?

more auxin on the more cell elongation

side of the shoot on the side of the shoot

A furthest from the light furthest from the light

B furthest from the light nearest to the light
C nearest to the light furthest from the light
D nearest to the light nearest to the light

11 Which combination of features describes pollen grains from a wind-pollinated flower?

A large and spiky

B small and light
C spiky and sticky
D sticky and smooth

12 Which type of blood cell is affected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and which effect
does the virus have on those cells?

type of blood cell effect on the blood cell

A red prevents them carrying oxygen

B red reduces antibody production
C white prevents them carrying oxygen
D white reduces antibody production

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13 Some effects that may happen in an ecosystem are listed.

1 decrease in atmospheric carbon dioxide

2 increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide
3 build up of soil
4 loss of soil

Which effects can be caused by deforestation?

A 1 and 3 B 1 and 4 C 2 and 3 D 2 and 4

14 Which term describes ammonia, NH3?

A atom
B molecule
C element
D ion

15 A mixture of salt water and sand is filtered.

Which statement is correct?

A The salt and the sand are trapped by the filter paper.
B The salt is dissolved in the water and passes through the filter paper.
C The sand is insoluble in water and passes through the filter paper.
D The sand is trapped by the filter paper and pure water is obtained.

16 Copper sulfate crystals dissolve in water.

Which word describes the role of the water?

A filtrate
B solute
C solution
D solvent

17 Which statement about covalent compounds is correct?

A They are formed between a metal and a non-metal.

B They are formed when atoms gain or lose electrons.
C They are formed when atoms share pairs of electrons.
D They conduct electricity when they are molten.

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18 Magnesium reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid forming magnesium chloride and hydrogen.

Which equation is correct for this reaction?

A Mg + 2HCl  MgCl + H2

B Mg + 2HCl  MgCl 2 + H2

C Mg + HCl  MgCl + H

D 2Mg + 2HCl  MgCl 2 + H2

19 Concentrated aqueous sodium chloride is electrolysed using platinum electrodes.

Which statements are correct?

1 The equation for the reaction at the cathode is Na+(aq) + e–  Na(s).

2 The equation for the reaction at the anode is 2Cl –(aq)  Cl 2(g) + 2e–.
3 At the positive electrode, hydroxide ions from water form oxygen.
4 At the negative electrode, hydrogen ions from water form hydrogen.

A 1 and 2 B 1 and 3 C 2 and 4 D 3 and 4

20 The energy level diagram for an endothermic reaction is shown.

energy

progress of reaction

Which statement about this reaction is correct?

A The activation energy is the minimum energy to react.

B The energy required to break bonds is less than the energy released on making new bonds.
C The activation energy is less than the energy change for the reaction.
D The final products have less energy than the reactants.

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21 Magnesium is reacted with dilute hydrochloric acid.

The volume of gas produced is measured for 6 minutes.

The graph obtained from the results is shown.

volume of 4
gas / cm3 3

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
time / min

Which part of the graph shows the greatest rate of reaction?

A between 0 and 1 minute

B between 2 and 4 minutes
C between 4 and 5 minutes
D between 5 and 6 minutes

22 Magnesium sulfate is a soluble salt which is prepared by reacting magnesium with dilute
sulfuric acid.

Which row shows the first two steps in the preparation of pure magnesium sulfate?

step 1 step 2
A react excess dilute heat to evaporate
sulfuric acid with magnesium unreacted acid
B react excess dilute filter to remove
sulfuric acid with magnesium the excess acid
C react dilute sulfuric acid filter to remove the
with excess magnesium unreacted magnesium
D react dilute sulfuric acid heat to evaporate
with excess magnesium some of the water

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23 What is the test for nitrate ions?

A add aqueous sodium hydroxide, then aluminum foil, and warm, test any gas formed with
damp red litmus paper
B acidify, then add aqueous barium chloride
C acidify, then add aqueous silver nitrate
D add dilute hydrochloric acid, test any gas produced with limewater

24 Which equation represents a displacement reaction of the elements in Group VII of the Periodic
Table?

A Br2 + 2NaCl  2NaBr + Cl 2

B Cl 2 + 2NaI  2NaCl + I2

C I2 + 2NaCl  2NaI + Cl 2

D I2 + 2NaBr  2NaI + Br2

25 Which statement about the reactivity of metals is correct?

A Sodium is very reactive because its atoms attract electrons very strongly.
B Aluminium is more reactive than magnesium because aluminium forms 3+ ions but
magnesium forms 2+ ions.
C Calcium is a reactive metal because it forms very strong covalent bonds with other elements.
D Copper is less reactive than magnesium because magnesium has a greater tendency to form
positive ions.

26 Which substance reduces iron(III) oxide in the blast furnace?

A carbon dioxide
B carbon monoxide
C limestone (calcium carbonate)
D oxygen

27 Which statements describe the molecules within a single fraction obtained from petroleum?

1 They are unsaturated hydrocarbons.

2 They have very different numbers of carbon atoms.
3 They have similar boiling points.
4 They react with other chemicals in a similar way.

A 1 and 2 B 1 and 3 C 2 and 4 D 3 and 4

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28 The distance–time graph is for a student walking across a park.

50
distance / m
40
30
20
10
0
0 5 10 15 20
time / s

What is the student’s average speed walking across the park?

A 2.0 m / s B 2.5 m / s C 3.0 m / s D 4.0 m / s

29 The gravitational field strength is 10 N / kg.

What is the mass of an object that has a weight of 5.0 N?

A 0.50 kg B 2.0 kg C 5.0 kg D 50 kg

30 A wire is stretched by a force. A force–extension graph is produced.

What is the significance of the extension at the limit of proportionality on the graph?

A It is the maximum extension before the wire breaks.

B It is the maximum extension for which Hooke’s law is obeyed.
C It is the minimum extension before the wire breaks.
D It is the minimum extension for which Hooke’s law is obeyed.

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31 A worker exerts a horizontal force on a trolley.

The trolley moves in a straight line along a horizontal surface.

The worker pushes the trolley forwards for 5.0 m and then pulls it backwards for 2.0 m.

The worker exerts a force of 200 N when pushing and when pulling.

How much work does the worker do on the trolley?

A 400 J B 600 J C 1000 J D 1400 J

32 A stone of mass 0.30 kg is thrown upwards with an initial speed of 12 m / s.

The speed of the stone decreases as the stone rises.

By how much does the kinetic energy decrease when the stone reaches 4.0 m / s?

A 2.4 J B 9.6 J C 19 J D 38 J

33 Which statement describes one way in which solids conduct thermal energy?

A Electrons are tightly packed so that vibrations pass from one electron to the next.
B Molecules are tightly packed so that vibrations pass from one molecule to the next.
C Solids contain free molecules that are able to move through the solid.
D Solids contain molecules that are arranged in a regular structure so that thermal energy can
pass through the spaces between them.

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34 The diagram shows two identical thermometers, initially at the same temperature, placed in bright
sunshine.

The bulb of thermometer P is painted black.

The bulb of thermometer Q is painted white.

rays from
the Sun

thermometer P thermometer Q

black white

The readings on the thermometers increase by different amounts.

How are the thermometer readings different and why?

A The reading on P is greater than on Q because black surfaces are good absorbers of
radiation.
B The reading on P is greater than on Q because black surfaces are poor emitters of radiation.
C The reading on P is smaller than on Q because black surfaces are good emitters of radiation.
D The reading on P is smaller than on Q because black surfaces are poor absorbers of
radiation.

35 A converging lens is used as a magnifying glass.

Where is the image formed and what is the nature of the image?

position of image nature

A on the opposite side of the lens from the object real

B on the opposite side of the lens from the object virtual
C on the same side of the lens as the object real
D on the same side of the lens as the object virtual

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36 A telescope in the vacuum of space has an infrared detector, an ultraviolet detector and a visible
light detector.

An explosion on the surface of the Sun emits infrared, ultraviolet and visible light at the same
time.

Which detector is the first to detect radiation from the explosion?

A the infrared detector

B the ultraviolet detector
C the visible light detector
D all three detect radiation at the same time

37 Two sounds with equal frequencies are produced by a loudspeaker.

The first sound has a large amplitude.

The second sound has a smaller amplitude.

How do the two sounds compare?

A The second sound is higher pitched.

B The second sound is lower pitched.
C The second sound is louder.
D The second sound is quieter.

38 A series circuit consists of a variable resistor and a power supply that supplies a variable
electromotive force (e.m.f.).

Both the resistance of the variable resistor and the e.m.f. of the power supply are changed.

Which two changes together must cause the current in the circuit to decrease?

resistance of e.m.f. of
variable resistor power supply

A decreases decreases
B decreases increases
C increases decreases
D increases increases

39 A car has two lamps connected in parallel to a 12 V battery. Each lamp has a resistance of 2.5 .

What is the total current in the circuit when the lamps are switched on?

A 2.4 A B 4.8 A C 9.6 A D 15 A

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40 What is the relationship between energy E transferred in a component, current I through it,
potential difference (p.d.) V across it, and time t ?
It Vt
A E= B E = IVt C E = VI D E=
V t I

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To avoid the issue of disclosure of answer-related information to candidates, all copyright acknowledgements are reproduced online in the Cambridge
Assessment International Education Copyright Acknowledgements Booklet. This is produced for each series of examinations and is freely available to download
at www.cambridgeinternational.org after the live examination series.

Cambridge Assessment International Education is part of Cambridge Assessment. Cambridge Assessment is the brand name of the University of Cambridge
Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), which is a department of the University of Cambridge.

© UCLES 2024 0653/23/M/J/24

 The Periodic Table of Elements
Group

© UCLES 2024
I II III IV V VI VII VIII
1 2
H He
hydrogen helium
Key 1 4
3 4 atomic number 5 6 7 8 9 10

Li Be atomic symbol B C N O F Ne
lithium beryllium name boron carbon nitrogen oxygen fluorine neon
7 9 relative atomic mass 11 12 14 16 19 20
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar
sodium magnesium aluminium silicon phosphorus sulfur chlorine argon
23 24 27 28 31 32 35.5 40
19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36
K Ca Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn Ga Ge As Se Br Kr
potassium calcium scandium titanium vanadium chromium manganese iron cobalt nickel copper zinc gallium germanium arsenic selenium bromine krypton
39 40 45 48 51 52 55 56 59 59 64 65 70 73 75 79 80 84
37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54
Rb Sr Y Zr Nb Mo Tc Ru Rh Pd Ag Cd In Sn Sb Te I Xe
rubidium strontium yttrium zirconium niobium molybdenum technetium ruthenium rhodium palladium silver cadmium indium tin antimony tellurium iodine xenon
16

85 88 89 91 93 96 – 101 103 106 108 112 115 119 122 128 127 131
55 56 57–71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86

0653/23/M/J/24
lanthanoids
Cs Ba Hf Ta W Re Os Ir Pt Au Hg Tl Pb Bi Po At Rn
caesium barium hafnium tantalum tungsten rhenium osmium iridium platinum gold mercury thallium lead bismuth polonium astatine radon
133 137 178 181 184 186 190 192 195 197 201 204 207 209 – – –
87 88 89–103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118
actinoids
Fr Ra Rf Db Sg Bh Hs Mt Ds Rg Cn Nh Fl Mc Lv Ts Og
francium radium rutherfordium dubnium seaborgium bohrium hassium meitnerium darmstadtium roentgenium copernicium nihonium flerovium moscovium livermorium tennessine oganesson
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71
lanthanoids La Ce Pr Nd Pm Sm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Er Tm Yb Lu
lanthanum cerium praseodymium neodymium promethium samarium europium gadolinium terbium dysprosium holmium erbium thulium ytterbium lutetium
139 140 141 144 – 150 152 157 159 163 165 167 169 173 175
89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103
actinoids Ac Th Pa U Np Pu Am Cm Bk Cf Es Fm Md No Lr
actinium thorium protactinium uranium neptunium plutonium americium curium berkelium californium einsteinium fermium mendelevium nobelium lawrencium
– 232 231 238 – – – – – – – – – – –

The volume of one mole of any gas is 24 dm3 at room temperature and pressure (r.t.p.).