Question 1

All animals have the capacity to sense and respond to their environment; humans, for example,

Accepted Answer

A)  can see better than any other animal. 
B)  can hear better than any other animal. 
C)  have a better sense of smell than any other animal. 
D)  while not the fastest or strongest animal, have a set of sensory adaptations that are entirely compatible with human biology and environment. 
A)  can see better than any other animal. 
B)  can hear better than any other animal. 
C)  have a better sense of smell than any other animal. 
D)  while not the fastest or strongest animal, have a set of sensory adaptations that are entirely compatible with human biology and environment. D

Question 2

An organ is defined as a body structure composed of

Accepted Answer

A)  two or more molecules. 
B)  two or more cells. 
C)  two or more tissues. 
D)  none of the above 
A)  two or more molecules. 
B)  two or more cells. 
C)  two or more tissues. 
D)  none of the above C

Question 3

There is a unity in the characteristics of living organisms because they

Accepted Answer

A)  are all multicellular. 
B)  are all producers. 
C)  have been stable and unchanging throughout time. 
D)  descended from a common ancestor. 
A)  are all multicellular. 
B)  are all producers. 
C)  have been stable and unchanging throughout time. 
D)  descended from a common ancestor. D

Question 4

Developing a scientific understanding of a natural phenomenon typically begins by

Accepted Answer

A)  making a prediction. 
B)  testing a hypothesis. 
C)  proving an answer. 
D)  making an observation. 
A)  making a prediction. 
B)  testing a hypothesis. 
C)  proving an answer. 
D)  making an observation.

Question 5

Scientists disagree whether viruses

Accepted Answer

A)  should be classified as living organisms. 
B)  reproduce. 
C)  contain genetic material. 
D)  have nuclei and organelles. 
A)  should be classified as living organisms. 
B)  reproduce. 
C)  contain genetic material. 
D)  have nuclei and organelles.

Question 6

A medical diagnosis is

Accepted Answer

A)  an observation. 
B)  an experiment. 
C)  a theory. 
D)  a hypothesis. 
A)  an observation. 
B)  an experiment. 
C)  a theory. 
D)  a hypothesis.

Question 7

Which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Since they do not consume their prey, decomposers are usually not included within the food web for a typical ecosystem. 
B)  Ecosystems create the energy needed for their continued existence; the process can be represented using a food web. 
C)  Organisms that eat plants do not use energy. 
D)  Energy generally flows in one direction through the biosphere. 
A)  Since they do not consume their prey, decomposers are usually not included within the food web for a typical ecosystem. 
B)  Ecosystems create the energy needed for their continued existence; the process can be represented using a food web. 
C)  Organisms that eat plants do not use energy. 
D)  Energy generally flows in one direction through the biosphere.

Question 8

In which of the following objects would the energy content be most directly connected to solar energy?

Accepted Answer

A)  an apple 
B)  a hamburger 
C)  a slice of pizza 
D)  a grilled cheese sandwich 
A)  an apple 
B)  a hamburger 
C)  a slice of pizza 
D)  a grilled cheese sandwich

Question 9

What characteristic is not shared by all living organisms?

Accepted Answer

A)  They make their own energy. 
B)  They grow and develop. 
C)  They evolve through time. 
D)  They are composed of one or more cells. 
A)  They make their own energy. 
B)  They grow and develop. 
C)  They evolve through time. 
D)  They are composed of one or more cells.

Question 10

A _______ is a group of individuals belonging to the same species.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A _______ is a group of individuals...

Question 11

Hypotheses can be rejected or supported by experiments, or, in some instances, new observations.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Modern life often masks the struggles that have characterized human life through much of its history; survival in the past was critically dependent on the ability of humans to

Accepted Answer

A)  run faster than most human predators. 
B)  solve complex problems. 
C)  hear sounds at much lower intensities than other animals. 
D)  sense a wider range of smells than other animals. 
A)  run faster than most human predators. 
B)  solve complex problems. 
C)  hear sounds at much lower intensities than other animals. 
D)  sense a wider range of smells than other animals.

Question 13

When you dial a telephone number you are

Accepted Answer

A)  making an observation. 
B)  testing a hypothesis. 
C)  conducting an experiment. 
D)  b and c above 
A)  making an observation. 
B)  testing a hypothesis. 
C)  conducting an experiment. 
D)  b and c above

Question 14

Those organisms classified as consumers capture their energy directly from the sun.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

A good hypothesis is easy to prove.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Which of the following ecological features would not be considered a component of an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

A)  an individual 
B)  a community 
C)  a population 
D)  a biome 
A)  an individual 
B)  a community 
C)  a population 
D)  a biome

Question 17

When compared to a natural system, a college campus is most similar to

Accepted Answer

A)  an ecosystem. 
B)  a community. 
C)  a biome. 
D)  a population. 
A)  an ecosystem. 
B)  a community. 
C)  a biome. 
D)  a population.

Question 18

Once supported by a predictable experimental outcome, a scientific hypothesis

Accepted Answer

A)  is never reexamined. 
B)  still cannot be considered to have been proven true. 
C)  can be used to predict the outcome of all future similar events. 
D)  is elevated to the status of theory. 
A)  is never reexamined. 
B)  still cannot be considered to have been proven true. 
C)  can be used to predict the outcome of all future similar events. 
D)  is elevated to the status of theory.

Question 19

The scientific method cannot be used to evaluate untestable hypotheses; what types of questions are untestable?

Accepted Answer

A)  questions about topics other than the natural world 
B)  questions about the events immediately following the origin of the universe 
C)  questions about the behavior of plants and animals 
D)  questions whose possible answers are socially controversial 
A)  questions about topics other than the natural world 
B)  questions about the events immediately following the origin of the universe 
C)  questions about the behavior of plants and animals 
D)  questions whose possible answers are socially controversial

Question 20

New cells are created when existing cells divide; immediately after division every cell of every known living organism will contain DNA.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 1: The Nature of Science and the Characteristics of Life

All animals have the capacity to sense and respond to their environment; humans, for example,

An organ is defined as a body structure composed of

There is a unity in the characteristics of living organisms because they

Developing a scientific understanding of a natural phenomenon typically begins by

Scientists disagree whether viruses

A medical diagnosis is

Which of the following statements is true?

In which of the following objects would the energy content be most directly connected to solar energy?

What characteristic is not shared by all living organisms?

A _______ is a group of individuals belonging to the same species.

Hypotheses can be rejected or supported by experiments, or, in some instances, new observations.

Modern life often masks the struggles that have characterized human life through much of its history; survival in the past was critically dependent on the ability of humans to

When you dial a telephone number you are

Those organisms classified as consumers capture their energy directly from the sun.

A good hypothesis is easy to prove.

Which of the following ecological features would not be considered a component of an ecosystem?

When compared to a natural system, a college campus is most similar to

Once supported by a predictable experimental outcome, a scientific hypothesis

The scientific method cannot be used to evaluate untestable hypotheses; what types of questions are untestable?

New cells are created when existing cells divide; immediately after division every cell of every known living organism will contain DNA.

Organizing the Diversity of Life

Major Groups of Living Organisms

Chemical Building Blocks

Cell Structure and Internal Compartments

Cell Membranes, Transport, and Communication

Energy and Enzymes

Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration

Cell Division

Patterns of Inheritance

Chromosomes and Human Genetics

DNA

From Gene to Protein

Control of Gene Expression

DNA Technology

How Evolution Works

Evolution of Populations

Adaptation and Speciation

The Evolutionary History of Life

Maintaining the Internal Environment

Animal Nutrition and Digestion

Gas Exchange

The Circulatory System

Animal Hormones

The Nervous System

Sensing the Environment

Skeletons, Muscles, and Movement

Defenses against Disease

Reproduction and Development

Animal Behavior

Plant Structure, Nutrition, and Transport

Plant Growth and Reproduction

The Biosphere

Growth of Populations

Interactions among Organisms

Communities of Organisms

Ecosystems

Global Change

Biodiversity and People

Cancer: Cell Division Out of Control

Harnessing the Human Genome

Humans and Evolution

Smoking--Beyond Lung Cancer

Feeding a Hungry Planet

Building a Sustainable Society

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