123
1. 1995/I/4b 
Below is a simplified diagram of a section of the human skin : 
 
(i)  (1)    Name structures A and B.                            (2 marks) 
(2)    Explain how they help to speed up heat loss from the body when the body temperature rises.     
(6 marks) 
(ii)      In a fire, a large area of C of a person was burnt. Give two reasons why this damage may endanger 
his life.                                    (2 marks) 
 
  2. 1996/I/4c 
An experiment was performed to study the effect of environmental temperature on the skin temperature and 
the  body  temperature  of  a  person.  During  the  experiment,  the  person  was  kept  in  a  room  with  a  constant 
relative humidity of 65%. He was allowed to eat and move around freely but he was not allowed to change 
the amount of clothing. 
The results are shown in the graph below : 
 
(i)  (1)    Describe  the  change  in  the  skin  temperature  when  the  room  temperature  rose  from  18
o
C  to 
28
o
C.                                     (1 mark) 
(2)    What physiological change in the skin may cause this change in skin temperature ?   (2 marks) 
(ii)      When the room temperature rose from 38
o
C to 40
o
C, 
(1)    describe the change in the body temperature.                    (1 mark) 
(2)    what was the main way by which the body heat was lost to the environment ? Explain how you 
arrived at your answer.                            (3 marks) 
(3)    explain why the person's life might be endangered if the relative humidity of the room rose to 
95%.                                    (3 marks) 
HKCEE BIOLOGY    |    6.2 Regulation of body temperature     |                                                                    P.1 
 
124 
 
  3. 1999/I/2c 
A person spent two hot days on a beach. He drank plenty of water to avoid the danger of dehydration. The 
air temperature and the relative humidity at the beach on these two days are recorded in the table below : 
  Air temperature (
o
C)  Relative humidity (%) 
Day 1 
Day 2 
38 
38 
65 
90 
(i)    Explain why heat loss from the persons body was mainly effected through sweating on Day 1.   
(4 marks) 
(ii)    Compared  to  Day  1,  explain  why  it  would  be  more  dangerous  for  the  person  to  carry  out  vigorous 
exercise on the beach on Day 2.                          (5 marks) 
 
  4. 2001/I/4a 
Simon went hiking in Sai Kung on a hot afternoon. 
(i)    After walking for half an hour, Simons face became red. 
(1)    Explain why his face became red.                      (3 marks) 
(2)    Why is this response important ?                       (2 marks) 
(ii)    After  4  hours  of  walking,  he  had  drunk  all  the  water  he  brought  along  and  his  sweat  production 
became greatly reduced. His body temperature increased significantly. This might lead to heatstroke. 
Account for the increase in his body temperature.                  (2 marks) 
(iii)    The  following  table  provides  some  information  on  the  weather  conditions  in  Sai  Kung  on  three 
afternoons : 
Day  Temperature (
o
C)  Relative humidity (%)  Ultra-violet light 
intensity 
Wind speed   
(km h
1
) 
1  32.8  90  medium  5 
2  33.1  72  high  15 
3  32.6  80  high  31 
On which afternoon would a person have the highest risk of developing heatstroke if he went hiking in Sai 
Kung  ?  Justify  your  answer  by  stating  two  special  features  of  the  weather  of  that  afternoon  as  compared 
with the other two afternoons.                            (3 marks) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
HKCEE BIOLOGY    |    6.2 Regulation of body temperature     |                                                                    P.2 
 
125 
 
  5. 2005/I/7 
Jane spent a day on the beach in the summer. The graph below shows the changes in the air temperature on 
the beach on that day: 
 
(a)    Draw a line on the graph to show the possible changes in Jane's body temperature on that day.     
(1 mark) 
(b)    Referring to the  change in air temperature from 0600 to 1000 hour,  explain how the blood vessels in 
Jane's skin are involved in the regulation of her body temperature during this period.       (4 marks) 
(c)    What is the main way of heat loss from Jane's body at 1400 hour? Why do you think so?      (3 marks) 
 
  6. 2008/I/10ai,ii 
The  table  below  shows  the  body  temperature  and  the  rate  of  urine  formation  of  a  person  under  two 
conditions. 
  At rest  During heavy exercise 
Body temperature (
o
C)  37.05  37.45 
Rate of urine formation 
(cm
3
 per hour) 
58  21 
(i)      Why does the body temperature increase during heavy exercise?              (2 marks) 
(ii)      There  is  only  a  small  rise  in  body  temperature  during  heavy  exercise.  Other  than  the  sweat  gland, 
describe  how  one  structure  of  the  skin  helps  to  maintain  a  relatively  constant  body  temperature 
under such conditions.                              (3 marks) 
HKCEE BIOLOGY    |    6.2 Regulation of body temperature     |                                                                    P.3