OCR General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) Biology Practice Exam

What is NOT a use of energy in animals and plants?

1. Active transport

2. Maintaining body temperatures

3. Photosynthesis

4. Repairing damaged tissues

The correct answer is: Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis is the process through which green plants, algae, and some bacteria convert light energy into chemical energy, specifically glucose, using carbon dioxide and water. This process requires energy from sunlight and is vital for sustaining life on Earth, as it provides food and oxygen for living organisms. While photosynthesis itself does require energy, it is not a direct use of energy in the same manner that animals utilize energy from food for immediate biological processes. In contrast, active transport is a process that requires energy to move substances across cell membranes against their concentration gradient. Maintaining body temperatures in animals is a critical process that demands energy to ensure cellular functions can occur optimally, particularly in endothermic organisms. Repairing damaged tissues also necessitates energy, as cells must synthesize new materials to heal wounds and maintain health. Thus, while all the other answers pertain to biological functions that directly consume energy within the organism, photosynthesis serves as a means of energy capture rather than consumption, distinguishing it from the other listed processes.