Question 1

Which of the following classification categories for humans is not correct?

Accepted Answer

A)  Homo sapiens: Binomial Name 
B)  Homo: genus 
C)  Animalia: Kingdom 
D)  sapiens: family 
E)  Domain: Eukarya 
A)  Homo sapiens: Binomial Name 
B)  Homo: genus 
C)  Animalia: Kingdom 
D)  sapiens: family 
E)  Domain: Eukarya

Question 2

The purpose of a control group in an experiment is

Accepted Answer

A)  to prove the hypothesis. 
B)  for comparison to the other test groups. 
C)  for comparison to the results of other experiments. 
D)  to prove the prediction. 
E)  to control the dependent variable. 
A)  to prove the hypothesis. 
B)  for comparison to the other test groups. 
C)  for comparison to the results of other experiments. 
D)  to prove the prediction. 
E)  to control the dependent variable.

Question 3

The smallest unit of life is a

Accepted Answer

A)  tissue. 
B)  organ. 
C)  cell. 
D)  specie. 
E)  organism. 
A)  tissue. 
B)  organ. 
C)  cell. 
D)  specie. 
E)  organism.

Question 4

Why is evolution an important process for living things?

Accepted Answer

A)  It gives them more traits. 
B)  It gives them the perfect traits. 
C)  It gives them fewer traits. 
D)  It gives them traits that better match their environment. 
E)  It gives them only the right traits. 
A)  It gives them more traits. 
B)  It gives them the perfect traits. 
C)  It gives them fewer traits. 
D)  It gives them traits that better match their environment. 
E)  It gives them only the right traits.

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT true with regards to extinction?

Accepted Answer

A)  Extinction of different species can impact humans. 
B)  All extinctions are caused by human activities such as habitat destruction. 
C)  As many as 400 species per day may be lost due to human activities. 
D)  Introduction of nonnative species to an area can increase the rate of extinction. 
E)  Extinction is the death of a species or a larger taxonomic group. 
A)  Extinction of different species can impact humans. 
B)  All extinctions are caused by human activities such as habitat destruction. 
C)  As many as 400 species per day may be lost due to human activities. 
D)  Introduction of nonnative species to an area can increase the rate of extinction. 
E)  Extinction is the death of a species or a larger taxonomic group.

Question 6

Scientists were studying temperature selection among pregnant big brown bats. What would the treatment group be in this experiment?

Accepted Answer

A)  pregnant bats 
B)  female bats that were not pregnant. 
C)  male bats 
D)  juvenile male bats 
E)  Juvenile female bats 
A)  pregnant bats 
B)  female bats that were not pregnant. 
C)  male bats 
D)  juvenile male bats 
E)  Juvenile female bats

Question 7

The beaks of birds are well suited to the type of food they eat. This result arises from

Accepted Answer

A)  organisms changing so that they can do things more efficiently. 
B)  adaptations that occur as part of natural selection leading to a closer and closer fit between organisms and their environment. 
C)  birds eating only what their beaks are well suited to eat. 
D)  adaptations only allowing those organisms who are well suited to a food source to feed on it. 
E)  natural selection causing adaptations to develop in the birds to match the beaks. 
A)  organisms changing so that they can do things more efficiently. 
B)  adaptations that occur as part of natural selection leading to a closer and closer fit between organisms and their environment. 
C)  birds eating only what their beaks are well suited to eat. 
D)  adaptations only allowing those organisms who are well suited to a food source to feed on it. 
E)  natural selection causing adaptations to develop in the birds to match the beaks.

Question 8

Martin keeps a worm bin in his basement because they need cooler temperatures to survive. He feeds them about 1 pound of kitchen scraps each week. One summer the temperatures rise above the optimal temperature for the red worms (~ 85°F) and many in his colony die. However, those that survive continue to reproduce and within 6 months his colony is again thriving. The next summer, unusually warm temperatures again cause the basement temperatures to rise above 85°F for 2 days in a row. Surprisingly, Martin noticed that only a small portion of the worm colony died. What is the best explanation for this?

Accepted Answer

A)  After the first summer a new species of worm evolved. 
B)  The worms sensed that the temperature was going to be hot in the future and adapted. 
C)  The worms learned how to tolerate higher temperatures. 
D)  The worms surviving the first year had a higher heat tolerance and passed this trait to their offspring. 
E)  Worms are insensitive to heat changes. 
A)  After the first summer a new species of worm evolved. 
B)  The worms sensed that the temperature was going to be hot in the future and adapted. 
C)  The worms learned how to tolerate higher temperatures. 
D)  The worms surviving the first year had a higher heat tolerance and passed this trait to their offspring. 
E)  Worms are insensitive to heat changes.

Question 9

Bioethics is a branch of biology concerned with

Accepted Answer

A)  the development and consequences of biological technology. 
B)  studying the ethics of stem cell research. 
C)  determining if experimental results are valid. 
D)  studying the validity of scientific laws. 
E)  studying the effects of human actions on extinction rates. 
A)  the development and consequences of biological technology. 
B)  studying the ethics of stem cell research. 
C)  determining if experimental results are valid. 
D)  studying the validity of scientific laws. 
E)  studying the effects of human actions on extinction rates.

Question 10

Richard is an avid gardener who spends a lot of time caring for the plants in his garden. To minimize damage from pests from his garden, Richard uses a pesticide spray. At first the spray is very effective and kills off most of the insects that he sees on his vegetable plants. However, after a few years of using the same pesticide he notices that some insects are surviving and continuing to eat his plants. The ability of some of the insects to survive pesticide spraying would be considered

Accepted Answer

A)  natural selection. 
B)  evolution. 
C)  an adaptation. 
D)  a gene. 
E)  a learned response. 
A)  natural selection. 
B)  evolution. 
C)  an adaptation. 
D)  a gene. 
E)  a learned response.

Question 11

Richard is an avid gardener who spends a lot of time caring for the plants in his garden. To minimize damage from pests from his garden, Richard uses a pesticide spray. At first the spray is very effective and kills off most of the insects that he sees on his vegetable plants. However, after a few years of using the same pesticide he notices that some insects are surviving and continuing to eat his plants. The constant use of pesticides by Richard has led to genetic changes in the population over many generations. This is an example of

Accepted Answer

A)  natural selection. 
B)  evolution. 
C)  an adaptation. 
D)  a gene. 
E)  a learned response. 
A)  natural selection. 
B)  evolution. 
C)  an adaptation. 
D)  a gene. 
E)  a learned response.

Question 12

Richard is an avid gardener who spends a lot of time caring for the plants in his garden. To minimize damage from pests from his garden, Richard uses a pesticide spray. At first the spray is very effective and kills off most of the insects that he sees on his vegetable plants. However, after a few years of using the same pesticide he notices that some insects are surviving and continuing to eat his plants. This selection for herbicide resistance in the insects is an example of

Accepted Answer

A)  natural selection. 
B)  evolution. 
C)  an adaptation. 
D)  a gene. 
E)  a learned response. 
A)  natural selection. 
B)  evolution. 
C)  an adaptation. 
D)  a gene. 
E)  a learned response.

Question 13

Which of the following statements, is not true with respect to scientific theory?

Accepted Answer

A)  Theories are accepted explanations for how the world works. 
B)  Theories are possible explanations for natural events. 
C)  The theory of evolution is considered the unifying concept in biology. 
D)  Theories can help scientists generate new testable hypotheses. 
E)  Theories are supported by many observations and experiments. 
A)  Theories are accepted explanations for how the world works. 
B)  Theories are possible explanations for natural events. 
C)  The theory of evolution is considered the unifying concept in biology. 
D)  Theories can help scientists generate new testable hypotheses. 
E)  Theories are supported by many observations and experiments.

Question 14

Populations of amphibians, including frogs and toads, have been plagued by disease and high rates of deformity. A recent study investigated whether problems among the populations have arisen due to poisons from chemicals associated with agriculture. Biologists from the University of Florida collected local adult cane toads (Bufo marinus) from more than 20 different locations. Toads were collected from areas close to agriculture; both large-scale and small-scale farms as well as from suburbs. At collection sites where 50-97% of the adjacent land was farmed, males showed high levels of feminization. Feminized male toads were similar in color to females and had lower levels of testosterone and often also deformed gonads. These changes can lead to sterile males or changes in behavior that prevent mating from occurring. In this study, what is the genus of the study animal?

Accepted Answer

A)  Bufo marinus 
B)  cane toad 
C)  amphibian 
D)  Bufo 
E)  marinus 
A)  Bufo marinus 
B)  cane toad 
C)  amphibian 
D)  Bufo 
E)  marinus

Question 15

Populations of amphibians, including frogs and toads, have been plagued by disease and high rates of deformity. A recent study investigated whether problems among the populations have arisen due to poisons from chemicals associated with agriculture. Biologists from the University of Florida collected local adult cane toads (Bufo marinus) from more than 20 different locations. Toads were collected from areas close to agriculture; both large-scale and small-scale farms as well as from suburbs. At collection sites where 50-97% of the adjacent land was farmed, males showed high levels of feminization. Feminized male toads were similar in color to females and had lower levels of testosterone and often also deformed gonads. These changes can lead to sterile males or changes in behavior that prevent mating from occurring. At the end of their study, scientists stated that they had supported their theory that agricultural chemical cause deformities.

Accepted Answer

A)  True based on the data collected during the study. 
B)  False because they would need more data to prove a theory. 
C)  False because they were testing a hypothesis not a theory. 
D)  True because this was a controlled study. 
E)  False because this was a controlled study. 
A)  True based on the data collected during the study. 
B)  False because they would need more data to prove a theory. 
C)  False because they were testing a hypothesis not a theory. 
D)  True because this was a controlled study. 
E)  False because this was a controlled study.

Question 16

Populations of amphibians, including frogs and toads, have been plagued by disease and high rates of deformity. A recent study investigated whether problems among the populations have arisen due to poisons from chemicals associated with agriculture. Biologists from the University of Florida collected local adult cane toads (Bufo marinus) from more than 20 different locations. Toads were collected from areas close to agriculture; both large-scale and small-scale farms as well as from suburbs. At collection sites where 50-97% of the adjacent land was farmed, males showed high levels of feminization. Feminized male toads were similar in color to females and had lower levels of testosterone and often also deformed gonads. These changes can lead to sterile males or changes in behavior that prevent mating from occurring. Based on this study, what is/are the test group(s)?

Accepted Answer

A)  male toads collected from the suburbs 
B)  male toads collected from areas near large-scale farms 
C)  male toads collected from small-scale farms 
D)  male toads collected from all the different sites 
E)  female toads collected from all the different sites 
A)  male toads collected from the suburbs 
B)  male toads collected from areas near large-scale farms 
C)  male toads collected from small-scale farms 
D)  male toads collected from all the different sites 
E)  female toads collected from all the different sites

Question 17

Which of the following is the most encompassing level of organization?

Accepted Answer

A)  community 
B)  population 
C)  ecosystem 
D)  species 
E)  cells 
A)  community 
B)  population 
C)  ecosystem 
D)  species 
E)  cells

Question 18

Living organisms must constantly take in energy in order to power functions necessary to remain alive. The chemical reaction that involve energy conversion are called

Accepted Answer

A)  adaptations 
B)  cell respiration 
C)  photosynthesis 
D)  metabolism 
E)  homeostasis 
A)  adaptations 
B)  cell respiration 
C)  photosynthesis 
D)  metabolism 
E)  homeostasis

Question 19

Linda is studying the interaction between porcupines, pinion pine trees, and pine bark beetles. Over the course of her study in northern Texas, she observes the behaviors of 25 porcupines, records the location of 151 pinion pines, and traps 332 beetles. Her study encompasses _________ population(s) and ___________ organisms.

Accepted Answer

A)  1; 508 
B)  3; 3 
C)  508; 508 
D)  3; 508 
E)  508; 3 
A)  1; 508 
B)  3; 3 
C)  508; 508 
D)  3; 508 
E)  508; 3

Question 20

Natural selection is a process where organisms that are better suited to a certain set of environmental conditions tend to survive and reproduce more often than others. This leads to evolution as

Accepted Answer

A)  organisms with those traits appear more often in the population. 
B)  the environment changes fast enough to prevent overpopulation. 
C)  the traits mutate into other traits. 
D)  organisms with different traits appear more often. 
E)  organisms with those traits appear less often in the population. 
A)  organisms with those traits appear more often in the population. 
B)  the environment changes fast enough to prevent overpopulation. 
C)  the traits mutate into other traits. 
D)  organisms with different traits appear more often. 
E)  organisms with those traits appear less often in the population.

Exam 1: A View of Life

Which of the following classification categories for humans is not correct?

The purpose of a control group in an experiment is

The smallest unit of life is a

Why is evolution an important process for living things?

Which of the following is NOT true with regards to extinction?

Scientists were studying temperature selection among pregnant big brown bats. What would the treatment group be in this experiment?

The beaks of birds are well suited to the type of food they eat. This result arises from

Bioethics is a branch of biology concerned with

Which of the following statements, is not true with respect to scientific theory?

Which of the following is the most encompassing level of organization?

Living organisms must constantly take in energy in order to power functions necessary to remain alive. The chemical reaction that involve energy conversion are called

Natural selection is a process where organisms that are better suited to a certain set of environmental conditions tend to survive and reproduce more often than others. This leads to evolution as

The Chemical Basis of Life

The Organic Molecules of Life

Inside the Cell

The Dynamic Cell

Energy for Life

Energy for Cells

Cellular Reproduction

Sexual Reproduction

Patterns of Inheritance

DNA Biology and Technology

Gene Regulation and Cancer

Genetic Counseling

Darwin and Evolution

Evolution on a Small Scale

Evolution on a Large Scale

The Microorganisms: Viruses, Bacteria, and Protists

Land Environment: Plants and Fungi

Both Water and Land: Animals

Plant Anatomy and Growth

Plant Structure and Function

Being Organized and Steady

The Transport Systems

The Maintenance Systems

Human Nutrition

Defenses Against Diseases

Control Systems

Sensory Input and Motor Output

Reproduction and Development

Ecology and Populations

Communities and Ecosystems

Human Impact on the Biosphere

Filters