Question 1

Recent discoveries of microscopic fossils have extended the known history of life to about

Accepted Answer

A) 2 billion years ago. 
B) 4.5 billion years ago. 
C) a few thousand years ago. 
D) 10-15 billion years ago. 
E) a few million years ago. 
A) 2 billion years ago. 
B) 4.5 billion years ago. 
C) a few thousand years ago. 
D) 10-15 billion years ago. 
E) a few million years ago.

Question 2

Structures that have similar structure and function but different evolutionary origins are called

Accepted Answer

A) homologous. 
B) analogous. 
C) inherited. 
D) uniform. 
E) evolutionary modifications. 
A) homologous. 
B) analogous. 
C) inherited. 
D) uniform. 
E) evolutionary modifications.

Question 3

Darwin was a self-taught naturalist who gained much field experience during his five-year voyage on the HMS Beagle.Darwin's success as a naturalist can be attributed to

Accepted Answer

A) his disagreements with Alfred Russell Wallace about Wallace's ideas on evolution. 
B) his immediate publication of his ideas on evolution after returning from his voyage on the HMS Beagle. 
C) his ability to ask questions about his observations and to seek unifying principles to answer these questions. 
D) his knowledge of the principles of genetics. 
A) his disagreements with Alfred Russell Wallace about Wallace's ideas on evolution. 
B) his immediate publication of his ideas on evolution after returning from his voyage on the HMS Beagle. 
C) his ability to ask questions about his observations and to seek unifying principles to answer these questions. 
D) his knowledge of the principles of genetics.

Question 4

Hierarchical organization in living organisms goes from lowest to highest in which of the following statements.

Accepted Answer

A) molecule;cell;organ;population;community 
B) organelle,organism;community;population 
C) atoms;cell;organism;ecosystem;species 
D) ecosystem;population;organism;cell 
E) cell;organ;tissue;species 
A) molecule;cell;organ;population;community 
B) organelle,organism;community;population 
C) atoms;cell;organism;ecosystem;species 
D) ecosystem;population;organism;cell 
E) cell;organ;tissue;species

Question 5

Which of the following is an example of hypothesis-driven research?

Accepted Answer

A) You are interested in studying the effect of chocolate consumption on test grades.You hand out a chocolate bar to half of the people in the class and instruct them to eat it immediately prior to taking the test.After the test you analyze the grade distribution to see how grades were affected by chocolate consumption. 
B) You are interested in studying the effect of chocolate consumption on test grades.You hand out a chocolate bar to everyone in the class and instruct them to eat it immediately prior to taking the test.After the test you analyze the grade distribution to see how these grades differed from the last exam when no one ate any chocolate. 
C) You propose that the consumption of chocolate immediately prior to taking the biology midterm will result in a high grade.You hand out a chocolate bar to half of the people in the class and instruct them to eat it immediately prior to taking the test.After the test you analyze the grade distribution to determine if students who ate chocolate got higher grades than students who did not eat chocolate. 
D) You decide that the consumption of chocolate immediately prior to taking the biology midterm will impact grades.You hand out a chocolate bar to half of the people in the class and instruct them to eat it immediately prior to taking the test.After the test you analyze the grade distribution to determine if students who ate chocolate got higher or lower grades than students who did not eat chocolate. 
A) You are interested in studying the effect of chocolate consumption on test grades.You hand out a chocolate bar to half of the people in the class and instruct them to eat it immediately prior to taking the test.After the test you analyze the grade distribution to see how grades were affected by chocolate consumption. 
B) You are interested in studying the effect of chocolate consumption on test grades.You hand out a chocolate bar to everyone in the class and instruct them to eat it immediately prior to taking the test.After the test you analyze the grade distribution to see how these grades differed from the last exam when no one ate any chocolate. 
C) You propose that the consumption of chocolate immediately prior to taking the biology midterm will result in a high grade.You hand out a chocolate bar to half of the people in the class and instruct them to eat it immediately prior to taking the test.After the test you analyze the grade distribution to determine if students who ate chocolate got higher grades than students who did not eat chocolate. 
D) You decide that the consumption of chocolate immediately prior to taking the biology midterm will impact grades.You hand out a chocolate bar to half of the people in the class and instruct them to eat it immediately prior to taking the test.After the test you analyze the grade distribution to determine if students who ate chocolate got higher or lower grades than students who did not eat chocolate.

Question 6

You look outside and realize that your grass needs to be mowed.You pick up the container of gasoline and see that you have approximately a third of a gallon left.You hypothesize that this amount will be enough to mow your entire lawn.Unfortunately,half way through mowing your lawn you run out of gasoline.You grumble and think to yourself that next time you mow the lawn,you will make sure to have at least two-thirds of a gallon of gasoline available.How did the results your lawn-mowing experience influence the validity of your hypothesis of gasoline needs in the future?

Accepted Answer

A) Your prediction of future gas needs is based on experimental data and therefore increases the validity of your hypothesis. 
B) The hypothesis was invalidated by your experimental evidence. 
C) Your hypothesis was supported by trial and error.One more trial added to your data set. 
D) Your prediction proved that your hypothesis is correct. 
A) Your prediction of future gas needs is based on experimental data and therefore increases the validity of your hypothesis. 
B) The hypothesis was invalidated by your experimental evidence. 
C) Your hypothesis was supported by trial and error.One more trial added to your data set. 
D) Your prediction proved that your hypothesis is correct.

Question 7

Karl Popper suggested that scientists use "imaginative preconception," which means that successful scientists

Accepted Answer

A) often predict the outcome of experiments. 
B) cannot predict the outcome of experiments. 
C) do not need to do experiments to test their ideas. 
D) do not keep records of experiments that fail. 
E) only perform applied research. 
A) often predict the outcome of experiments. 
B) cannot predict the outcome of experiments. 
C) do not need to do experiments to test their ideas. 
D) do not keep records of experiments that fail. 
E) only perform applied research.

Question 8

You are interested in studying the function of GABAA receptors and how certain deficits in GABAA receptor signaling result in anxiety-related behaviors in humans.Since many of the experiments you want to do cannot be performed on humans,you choose to study these processes in mice.In this case,mice can be considered what type of experimental organism?

Accepted Answer

A) a variable 
B) a control 
C) an applied 
D) a model 
A) a variable 
B) a control 
C) an applied 
D) a model

Question 9

To be valid,an experiment must not include

Accepted Answer

A) a variable that is altered in a specific way. 
B) a control. 
C) both a control and a variable,which are treated in parallel. 
D) only one variable. 
E) more than one variablE. 
A) a variable that is altered in a specific way. 
B) a control. 
C) both a control and a variable,which are treated in parallel. 
D) only one variable. 
E) more than one variablE.

Question 10

Walnut trees may respond to the advancing season in the same way that Gingko trees do.

Accepted Answer

A) deductive reasoning 
B) experiment 
C) hypothesis 
D) inductive reasoning 
E) theory 
A) deductive reasoning 
B) experiment 
C) hypothesis 
D) inductive reasoning 
E) theory

Question 11

Plants adapt to seasonal changes in their surroundings.

Accepted Answer

A) deductive reasoning 
B) experiment 
C) hypothesis 
D) inductive reasoning 
E) theory 
A) deductive reasoning 
B) experiment 
C) hypothesis 
D) inductive reasoning 
E) theory

Question 12

Which of the following was not one of the beliefs of Darwin's time?

Accepted Answer

A) Various organisms and their structures resulted from a creator's actions. 
B) Species were unchangeable over the course of time. 
C) The world is fixed and constant. 
D) Operation of natural laws produces constant change and improvement. 
E) A divine creator exists. 
A) Various organisms and their structures resulted from a creator's actions. 
B) Species were unchangeable over the course of time. 
C) The world is fixed and constant. 
D) Operation of natural laws produces constant change and improvement. 
E) A divine creator exists.

Question 13

After making careful observations,scientists construct a(n)

Accepted Answer

A) experiment. 
B) hypothesis. 
C) conclusion. 
D) theory. 
E) data set. 
A) experiment. 
B) hypothesis. 
C) conclusion. 
D) theory. 
E) data set.

Question 14

The method of reasoning that uses construction of general principles by careful examination of many specific cases is called

Accepted Answer

A) deductive reasoning. 
B) theoretical reasoning. 
C) hypothetical reasoning. 
D) inductive reasoning. 
E) experimental reasoning. 
A) deductive reasoning. 
B) theoretical reasoning. 
C) hypothetical reasoning. 
D) inductive reasoning. 
E) experimental reasoning.

Question 15

Which of the following statements is not true about a hypothesis?

Accepted Answer

A) It is an explanation that accounts for careful observations. 
B) It is a proposition that might be true. 
C) It fits the known facts. 
D) It always withstands the test of experiments. 
E) It might be rejected in future in light of new information. 
A) It is an explanation that accounts for careful observations. 
B) It is a proposition that might be true. 
C) It fits the known facts. 
D) It always withstands the test of experiments. 
E) It might be rejected in future in light of new information.

Question 16

How does peer review influence the development of scientific theories?

Accepted Answer

A) Peer review allows other scientists to know what is current in their field. 
B) Careful evaluation of research results by other scientists ensures that only solid and legitimate research results are published,and helps prevent faulty research or false claims from being viewed as scientific fact. 
C) Peer review increases competition among scientists and thus increases the quality of the published work. 
D) Peer review makes it extremely difficult for work to be published other than earth-shattering scientific theories. 
A) Peer review allows other scientists to know what is current in their field. 
B) Careful evaluation of research results by other scientists ensures that only solid and legitimate research results are published,and helps prevent faulty research or false claims from being viewed as scientific fact. 
C) Peer review increases competition among scientists and thus increases the quality of the published work. 
D) Peer review makes it extremely difficult for work to be published other than earth-shattering scientific theories.

Question 17

Based in the information provided,the best explanation for the low numbers of spiders and insects in plot 5 is

Accepted Answer

A) centipedes are actively consuming insects and spiders. 
B) there were not enough insects to support a large centipede population. 
C) centipedes prefer spiders to insects. 
D) there were not enough spiders to catch and consume all the insects. 
A) centipedes are actively consuming insects and spiders. 
B) there were not enough insects to support a large centipede population. 
C) centipedes prefer spiders to insects. 
D) there were not enough spiders to catch and consume all the insects.

Question 18

The knowledge of _________ is becoming increasingly essential for any educated citizen of the world.

Accepted Answer

A) archeology 
B) biology 
C) chemistry 
D) history 
A) archeology 
B) biology 
C) chemistry 
D) history

Question 19

Besides Darwin,the theory of evolution by means of natural selection was also independently proposed by

Accepted Answer

A) Alfred Wallace. 
B) Charles Lyell. 
C) Thomas Malthus. 
D) Karl Popper. 
E) Peter Raven. 
A) Alfred Wallace. 
B) Charles Lyell. 
C) Thomas Malthus. 
D) Karl Popper. 
E) Peter Raven.

Question 20

The naturalist on the ship HMS Beagle was

Accepted Answer

A) Bacon. 
B) Darwin. 
C) Johnson. 
D) Wallace. 
E) Lyell. 
A) Bacon. 
B) Darwin. 
C) Johnson. 
D) Wallace. 
E) Lyell.

Exam 1: The Science of Biology

Recent discoveries of microscopic fossils have extended the known history of life to about

Structures that have similar structure and function but different evolutionary origins are called

Darwin was a self-taught naturalist who gained much field experience during his five-year voyage on the HMS Beagle.Darwin's success as a naturalist can be attributed to

Hierarchical organization in living organisms goes from lowest to highest in which of the following statements.

Which of the following is an example of hypothesis-driven research?

Karl Popper suggested that scientists use "imaginative preconception," which means that successful scientists

To be valid,an experiment must not include

Walnut trees may respond to the advancing season in the same way that Gingko trees do.

Plants adapt to seasonal changes in their surroundings.

Which of the following was not one of the beliefs of Darwin's time?

After making careful observations,scientists construct a(n)

The method of reasoning that uses construction of general principles by careful examination of many specific cases is called

Which of the following statements is not true about a hypothesis?

How does peer review influence the development of scientific theories?

Based in the information provided,the best explanation for the low numbers of spiders and insects in plot 5 is

The knowledge of _________ is becoming increasingly essential for any educated citizen of the world.

Besides Darwin,the theory of evolution by means of natural selection was also independently proposed by

The naturalist on the ship HMS Beagle was

The Nature of Molecules

The Chemical Building Blocks of Life

Cell Structure

Membranes

Energy and Metabolism

How Cells Harvest Energy

Photosynthesis

Cell Communication

How Cells Divide

Sexual Reproduction and Meiosis

Patterns of Inheritance

Chromosomes Mapping and the Meiosis - Inheritance Connection

Dna: the Genetic Material

Genes and How They Work

Control of Gene Expression

Biotechnology

Genomics

Cellular Mechanisms of Development

Genes Within Populations

The Evidence for Evolution

The Origin of Species

Systematics and the Phylogenetic Revolution

Genome Evolution

Evolution of Development

The Tree of Life

Viruses

Prokaryotes

Protists

Overview of Green Plants

Fungi

Overview of Animal Diversity

Noncoelomate Invertebrates

Coelomate Invertebrates

Vertebrates

Plant Form

Vegetative Plant Development

Transport in Plants

Plant Nutrition and Soils

Plant Defense Responses

Sensory Systems in Plants

Plant Reproduction

The Animal Body and Principles of Regulation

The Nervous System

Sensory Systems

The Endocrine System

The Musculoskeletal System

The Digestive System

The Respiratory System

The Circulatory System

Osmotic Regulation and the Urinary System

The Immune System

The Reproductive System

Animal Development

Behavioral Biology

Population Ecology

Community of Ecology

Dynamics of Ecosystems

The Biosphere

Conservation Biology

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