Head first
336 words over 30 numbered lines, then 8 parts worth 15 marks (Linear Paper 2 (4BI1/2B) style, 14–18 marks). Read the article, answer each part, then open its mark scheme and set your mark.
Illustrative article written for Scholar Lab, not a Pearson text. The biology is real; the studies, people and figures are invented or rounded for practice.
Head first
In the last minute of a school rugby match, a player is tackled hard
and his head hits the ground. He gets up quickly and says he is fine,
but he seems confused and cannot remember the score. The coach takes
him off the pitch. The player has probably had a concussion, a brain
injury caused by a blow that makes the brain move inside the skull.
The brain and spinal cord make up the central nervous system. The
brain is protected by the skull and surrounded by fluid, but a sudden
blow can still stretch and damage neurones. Messages may then pass
along neurones more slowly, which explains why people with concussion
often react slowly and feel dizzy.
Doctors at the side of the pitch use simple tests. They ask questions
about the match, test balance and shine a light into each eye. In a
healthy person, bright light makes the pupils become smaller within a
fraction of a second. This is a reflex action, so it happens without
the person thinking about it. Pupils of different sizes, or pupils
that do not respond to light, can be a sign of serious injury.
Reaction time is also measured. In an illustrative study of 40 school
players, the mean time taken to catch a falling ruler was 0.21 s
before the season. Players tested after a concussion had a mean time
of 0.27 s.
After a concussion, the brain needs time to recover. Neurones use a
great deal of energy, and for several days after an injury the brain
cannot use glucose normally. Players are told to rest, avoid screens
and stay away from sport until they have no symptoms. They then return
to exercise in stages.
Some sports have changed their rules to reduce the number of head
injuries. Young footballers are no longer allowed to head the ball in
some countries, and rugby tackles above the chest are punished.
Scientists are also testing mouthguards that contain sensors to
measure the force of each impact.
Read the article. Use the information in the article and your own knowledge to answer the questions. The lines in brackets show where to look; select them to highlight the text.
Use the information in the article and your own knowledge to answer the questions. The lines in brackets show you where to look; select them to highlight the text.
State what is meant by the term reflex action.
(1)Which type of neurone carries impulses from the central nervous system to an effector?
(1)Describe how the iris makes the pupil smaller in bright light.
(3)Suggest why pupils that do not respond to light can be a sign of serious injury.
(2)Calculate the percentage increase in mean reaction time after a concussion. Give your answer to the nearest whole number.
(2)Describe how the ruler-drop test could be used to compare the reaction times of the players fairly.
(3)Explain why neurones need a constant supply of glucose.
(2)Suggest one way the information from mouthguard sensors could be used.
(1)Total for this question: 15 marks
0 / 15 marks · 0 of 8 parts rated
Open each mark scheme, compare it with your answer and set your mark. Only your marks are kept, in this browser on this device; your written answers are never saved. Green is full marks, amber is half or more, red is under half.