Question 1

Which of the following best describes the logic of scientific inquiry?

Accepted Answer

A) If I generate a testable hypothesis,tests and observations will support it. 
B) If my prediction is correct,it will lead to a testable hypothesis. 
C) If my observations are accurate,they will support my hypothesis. 
D) If my hypothesis is correct,I can expect certain test results. 
A) If I generate a testable hypothesis,tests and observations will support it. 
B) If my prediction is correct,it will lead to a testable hypothesis. 
C) If my observations are accurate,they will support my hypothesis. 
D) If my hypothesis is correct,I can expect certain test results.

Question 2

Which of the following descriptions constitutes a controlled experiment?

Accepted Answer

A) using a microscope to observe organisms present in a sample of pond water and recording the number of each type of organism observed 
B) setting up a bird feeder and compiling a list of all of the bird species seen at the feeder over a period of several weeks 
C) growing one set of 10 seedlings under white light and one set of the same type of seedlings under red light and measuring their growth over a period of two weeks 
D) growing one set of 10 seedlings under white light at 30°C and one set of a different type of seedlings under red light at 25°C and measuring their growth over a period of two weeks 
A) using a microscope to observe organisms present in a sample of pond water and recording the number of each type of organism observed 
B) setting up a bird feeder and compiling a list of all of the bird species seen at the feeder over a period of several weeks 
C) growing one set of 10 seedlings under white light and one set of the same type of seedlings under red light and measuring their growth over a period of two weeks 
D) growing one set of 10 seedlings under white light at 30°C and one set of a different type of seedlings under red light at 25°C and measuring their growth over a period of two weeks

Question 3

Over time,the lineage that led to modern whales shows a change from four-limbed land animals to aquatic animals with two limbs that function as flippers.This change is best explained by which of the following concepts or processes?

Accepted Answer

A) an emergent property 
B) reductionism 
C) the hierarchy of the biological organization of life 
D) natural selection 
A) an emergent property 
B) reductionism 
C) the hierarchy of the biological organization of life 
D) natural selection

Question 4

Investigating the molecular structure of DNA in order to understand the chemical basis of inheritance is an example of which approach utilized in the study of biology?

Accepted Answer

A) systems biology 
B) emergent properties 
C) reductionism 
D) deductive reasoning 
A) systems biology 
B) emergent properties 
C) reductionism 
D) deductive reasoning

Question 5

Which of the following is the best description of a control for an experiment?

Accepted Answer

A) The control group is kept in an unchanging environment. 
B) The control group is left alone by the experimenters. 
C) The control group is matched with the experimental group except for the one experimental variable. 
D) The control group is exposed to only one variable rather than several. 
A) The control group is kept in an unchanging environment. 
B) The control group is left alone by the experimenters. 
C) The control group is matched with the experimental group except for the one experimental variable. 
D) The control group is exposed to only one variable rather than several.

Question 6

Which of the following statements describes a controlled experiment?

Accepted Answer

A) an experiment that is repeated many times to ensure that the results are accurate 
B) an experiment that proceeds at a slow pace to guarantee that the scientist can carefully observe all reactions and process all experimental data 
C) an experiment with at least two groups,one of which does not receive the experimental treatment 
D) an experiment with at least two groups,one differing from the other by two or more variables 
A) an experiment that is repeated many times to ensure that the results are accurate 
B) an experiment that proceeds at a slow pace to guarantee that the scientist can carefully observe all reactions and process all experimental data 
C) an experiment with at least two groups,one of which does not receive the experimental treatment 
D) an experiment with at least two groups,one differing from the other by two or more variables

Question 7

Strong evidence in support of the common ancestry of all life comes from which of the following observations about living things?

Accepted Answer

A) the fact that decomposers include both bacteria and fungi 
B) the ability of plants to convert light energy to chemical energy 
C) the existence of a nearly universal genetic code 
D) the universal use of protein catalysts by all cells 
A) the fact that decomposers include both bacteria and fungi 
B) the ability of plants to convert light energy to chemical energy 
C) the existence of a nearly universal genetic code 
D) the universal use of protein catalysts by all cells

Question 8

The process of science involves testing which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A) a data set 
B) a hypothesis 
C) an observation 
D) a conclusion 
E) a control group 
A) a data set 
B) a hypothesis 
C) an observation 
D) a conclusion 
E) a control group

Question 9

Approximately what proportion of the carbon dioxide (CO2)released by burning fossil fuels remains in the atmosphere,contributing to the trapping of heat close to Earth's surface?

Accepted Answer

A) less than 1% 
B) 5% 
C) 50% 
D) 90% 
A) less than 1% 
B) 5% 
C) 50% 
D) 90%

Question 10

Imagine there is a species-specific fishing regulation that mandates that only adult fish of this species that are 75 cm or longer may be kept;shorter fish must be released.Based on your knowledge of natural selection,how would you predict that the average length of the adult fish population might be affected?

Accepted Answer

A) Length would remain unchanged. 
B) Length would gradually decrease. 
C) Length would rapidly decrease. 
D) Length would gradually increase. 
E) Length would rapidly increase. 
A) Length would remain unchanged. 
B) Length would gradually decrease. 
C) Length would rapidly decrease. 
D) Length would gradually increase. 
E) Length would rapidly increase.

Question 11

All the living organisms in a particular area along with all the nonliving aspects of the environment with which organisms interact are collectively described by which of the following terms?

Accepted Answer

A) an ecosystem 
B) the biosphere 
C) a biological community 
D) a population 
A) an ecosystem 
B) the biosphere 
C) a biological community 
D) a population

Question 12

Living things are divided into three different domains.Which of these domains are classified as prokaryotes?

Accepted Answer

A) Bacteria and Eukarya 
B) Archaea and Eukarya 
C) Bacteria and Fungi 
D) Bacteria and Archaea 
A) Bacteria and Eukarya 
B) Archaea and Eukarya 
C) Bacteria and Fungi 
D) Bacteria and Archaea

Question 13

Why is it important that an experiment include a control group?

Accepted Answer

A) A control group provides a reference by which to determine if a particular outcome may reasonably result from the variable being tested. 
B) The control group provides a reserve of experimental subjects. 
C) A control group is required for the development of an "If ...then" statement. 
D) A control group assures that an experiment will be repeatable. 
A) A control group provides a reference by which to determine if a particular outcome may reasonably result from the variable being tested. 
B) The control group provides a reserve of experimental subjects. 
C) A control group is required for the development of an "If ...then" statement. 
D) A control group assures that an experiment will be repeatable.

Question 14

A single-celled organism isolated from a deep-sea,hot thermal vent was found to have a cell wall but lacked a nucleus.This organism is most likely a member of which of the following domains?

Accepted Answer

A) Eukarya 
B) Archaea 
C) Animalia 
D) Plantae 
E) Fungi 
A) Eukarya 
B) Archaea 
C) Animalia 
D) Plantae 
E) Fungi

Question 15

The primary source of energy for producers in an ecosystem is

Accepted Answer

A) light energy. 
B) kinetic energy. 
C) thermal energy. 
D) chemical energy. 
A) light energy. 
B) kinetic energy. 
C) thermal energy. 
D) chemical energy.

Question 16

Charles Darwin proposed that "descent with modification" resulted when organisms of a particular species become adapted to their environment because they possess which of the following characteristics?

Accepted Answer

A) nonheritable traits that enhance survival and decrease their reproductive success in the local environment 
B) nonheritable traits that enhance their survival and reproductive success in the local environment 
C) heritable traits that enhance their survival and reproductive success in the local environment 
D) heritable traits that enhance their survival and decrease their reproductive success in the local environment 
A) nonheritable traits that enhance survival and decrease their reproductive success in the local environment 
B) nonheritable traits that enhance their survival and reproductive success in the local environment 
C) heritable traits that enhance their survival and reproductive success in the local environment 
D) heritable traits that enhance their survival and decrease their reproductive success in the local environment

Exam 1: Introduction: Evolution and the Foundations of Biology

Which of the following best describes the logic of scientific inquiry?

Which of the following descriptions constitutes a controlled experiment?

Over time,the lineage that led to modern whales shows a change from four-limbed land animals to aquatic animals with two limbs that function as flippers.This change is best explained by which of the following concepts or processes?

Investigating the molecular structure of DNA in order to understand the chemical basis of inheritance is an example of which approach utilized in the study of biology?

Which of the following is the best description of a control for an experiment?

Which of the following statements describes a controlled experiment?

Strong evidence in support of the common ancestry of all life comes from which of the following observations about living things?

The process of science involves testing which of the following?

Approximately what proportion of the carbon dioxide (CO2)released by burning fossil fuels remains in the atmosphere,contributing to the trapping of heat close to Earth's surface?

All the living organisms in a particular area along with all the nonliving aspects of the environment with which organisms interact are collectively described by which of the following terms?

Living things are divided into three different domains.Which of these domains are classified as prokaryotes?

Why is it important that an experiment include a control group?

A single-celled organism isolated from a deep-sea,hot thermal vent was found to have a cell wall but lacked a nucleus.This organism is most likely a member of which of the following domains?

The primary source of energy for producers in an ecosystem is

Charles Darwin proposed that "descent with modification" resulted when organisms of a particular species become adapted to their environment because they possess which of the following characteristics?

The Chemical Context of Life

Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life

A Tour of the Cell

Membrane Transport and Cell Signaling

An Introduction to Metabolism

Cellular Respiration and Fermentation

Photosynthesis

The Cell Cycle

Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycles

Mendel and the Gene Idea

The Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance

The Molecular Basis of Inheritance

Gene Expression: From Gene to Protein

Regulation of Gene Expression

Development,stem Cells,and Cancer

Viruses

Genomes and Their Evolution

Descent With Modification

Phylogeny

The Evolution of Populations

The Origin of Species

Broad Patterns of Evolution

Early Life and the Diversification of Prokaryotes

The Origin and Diversification of Eukaryotes

The Colonization of Land by Plants and Fungi

The Rise of Animal Diversity

Plant Structure and Growth

Resource Acquisition,nutrition,and Transport in Vascular Plants

Reproduction and Domestication of Flowering Plants

Plant Responses to Internal and External Signals

Homeostasis and Endocrine Signaling

Animal Nutrition

Circulation and Gas Exchange

The Immune System

Reproduction and Development

Neurons,synapses,and Signaling

Nervous and Sensory Systems

Motor Mechanisms and Behavior

Population Ecology and the Distribution of Organisms

Ecological Communities

Ecosystems and Energy

Conservation Biology and Global Change

Filters

Approximately what proportion of the carbon dioxide (CO₂)released by burning fossil fuels remains in the atmosphere,contributing to the trapping of heat close to Earth's surface?