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Subjects · Leaving Cert Biology

Leaving Cert Biology: Breathing

How often Breathing comes up on the Biology papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 7 of the last 10 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2026. most years

OL Asked on 8 of the last 10 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2026. most years

June 2027 is the first exam on the new Biology course. These come from the 2016–2026 papers, so read them as a guide.

Breathing, Higher Level(6 marks)

Quick ones on Breathing.

(a)Tiny air sacs where gas exchange occurs?
  1. Bronchi
  2. Alveoli
  3. Villi
(b)Diaphragm during inhalation?
  1. Does not move
  2. Relaxes and domes up
  3. Contracts and flattens
(c)Flap that stops food entering the trachea?
  1. Epiglottis
  2. Uvula
  3. Larynx
Show the answers

(a) Alveoli

(b) Contracts and flattens

(c) Epiglottis

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Breathing.

Higher Level

Asked on 7 of the last 10 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2026. most years

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026Q3
2025Q16
2024Not asked
2023Q17
2022Not asked
2021Q16
2019Q6
2018Not asked
2017Q15
2016Q8

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Breathing questions

Breathing, 2 marks

Hair-like structures that sweep mucus out of the airways?

  1. Villi
  2. Alveoli
  3. Cilia
Show the answer

Cilia

Mucus traps dust and germs; cilia beat to sweep it up to the throat to be swallowed. Smoking damages cilia, causing 'smoker's cough'.

Breathing, 2 marks

Instrument that records the volume of air breathed in and out?

  1. Anemometer
  2. Spirometer
  3. Potometer
Show the answer

Spirometer

A spirometer trace shows breathing rate and depth, and how they change during and after exercise.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 8 of the last 10 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2026. most years

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026Q7
2025Q17
2024Q10
2023Q15
2022Q13
2021Q3
2019Not asked
2018Q7
2017Q15
2016Not asked

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Breathing questions

Breathing, 2 marks

What are the tiny air sacs in the lungs called?

  1. Villi
  2. Bronchi
  3. Alveoli
Show the answer

Alveoli

Alveoli are in the lungs, villi are in the small intestine. Both are tiny structures that give a very large surface area.

Breathing, 2 marks

Which muscle below the lungs helps you to breathe in?

  1. The cardiac muscle
  2. The diaphragm
  3. The biceps
Show the answer

The diaphragm

The diaphragm flattens downwards, the chest gets bigger, the pressure inside drops and air rushes in.

Breathing, 3 marks

What happens to the ribs when you breathe in?

  1. They move up and out
  2. They move down and in
  3. They do not move at all
Show the answer

They move up and out

Ribs up and out plus the diaphragm down makes the chest bigger, so air is drawn in. The opposite happens when you breathe out.

Other Biology topics

All of Leaving Cert Biology