Question 1

Which of the following statements is not consistent with Darwin's theory of natural selection?

Accepted Answer

A)  Individuals in a population exhibit variations, some of which are passed from parents to offspring. 
B)  Individual organisms experience genetic change during their life spans to better fit their environment. 
C)  Factors in the environment result in some organisms having better reproductive success than others. 
D)  Natural selection can lead to the appearance of new species. 
A)  Individuals in a population exhibit variations, some of which are passed from parents to offspring. 
B)  Individual organisms experience genetic change during their life spans to better fit their environment. 
C)  Factors in the environment result in some organisms having better reproductive success than others. 
D)  Natural selection can lead to the appearance of new species. B

Question 2

Basic science discoveries often lead to the development of technology, and the development of technology often leads to new scientific discoveries. Which of the following is not an accurate pairing of a technology and a discovery?

Accepted Answer

A)  measurement of atmospheric CO2 and understanding of climate change 
B)  sequencing of genomes and understanding evolutionary relationships among organisms 
C)  genetic engineering and creation of new drugs 
D)  invention of the microscope and creation of evolutionary trees 
A)  measurement of atmospheric CO2 and understanding of climate change 
B)  sequencing of genomes and understanding evolutionary relationships among organisms 
C)  genetic engineering and creation of new drugs 
D)  invention of the microscope and creation of evolutionary trees D

Question 3

The box numbered 2 represents which process?

Accepted Answer

A)  cycling of energy 
B)  decomposers acting on all parts of the system 
C)  cycling of matter 
D)  gases in the atmosphere that can block sunlight 
A)  cycling of energy 
B)  decomposers acting on all parts of the system 
C)  cycling of matter 
D)  gases in the atmosphere that can block sunlight C

Question 4

During a discussion about ecosystems, a student says, "Plants eat sunlight, and animals eat other organisms." Which response to the student's comment is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

A)  Plants don't eat sunlight; they eat sugars that they get from the soil. 
B)  Plants don't eat sunlight; they use sunlight to make sugars. 
C)  Plants eat sunlight, but they also eat other organism such as decomposers. 
D)  Plants eat sunlight, but animals also eat bacteria, which are not considered organisms. 
A)  Plants don't eat sunlight; they eat sugars that they get from the soil. 
B)  Plants don't eat sunlight; they use sunlight to make sugars. 
C)  Plants eat sunlight, but they also eat other organism such as decomposers. 
D)  Plants eat sunlight, but animals also eat bacteria, which are not considered organisms.

Question 5

Scientists interested in knowing the best way to restore an area after a temporary road was built through it completed a study comparing two treatments: (1) restoring the contour of an area so that there was no longer a depression or cut-through where the road was previously and (2) simply abandoning the area to allow vegetation to return on its own. They wanted to know whether either or both of these treatments would return the aboveground vegetation and the belowground soil properties to their original state, as seen in a similar area where there had never been a road.
-This study was focused on which level of life's hierarchy?

Accepted Answer

A)  organism 
B)  community 
C)  population 
D)  ecosystem 
A)  organism 
B)  community 
C)  population 
D)  ecosystem

Question 6

The tree in your backyard is home to two cardinals, a colony of ants, a wasp's nest, two squirrels, and millions of bacteria. Together, all of these organisms represent a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)  species. 
B)  community. 
C)  population. 
D)  ecosystem. 
A)  species. 
B)  community. 
C)  population. 
D)  ecosystem.

Question 7

The kingdom Fungi includes species

Accepted Answer

A)  such as mushrooms and plants. 
B)  that obtain food by ingesting other organisms. 
C)  that use photosynthesis to obtain food. 
D)  that obtain food by decomposing dead organisms and absorbing the nutrients. 
A)  such as mushrooms and plants. 
B)  that obtain food by ingesting other organisms. 
C)  that use photosynthesis to obtain food. 
D)  that obtain food by decomposing dead organisms and absorbing the nutrients.

Question 8

Scientists interested in knowing the best way to restore an area after a temporary road was built through it completed a study comparing two treatments: (1) restoring the contour of an area so that there was no longer a depression or cut-through where the road was previously and (2) simply abandoning the area to allow vegetation to return on its own. They wanted to know whether either or both of these treatments would return the aboveground vegetation and the belowground soil properties to their original state, as seen in a similar area where there had never been a road.
-Which statement best describes data that the scientists should collect and how they should be compared?

Accepted Answer

A)  comparison of plant species in the recontoured area, the abandoned area, and the never-roaded area 
B)  comparison of properties of soil and plant species in the contoured area and abandoned area 
C)  comparison of soil properties and species of plants present in the contoured area with that of the never-roaded area; and that of the abandoned area with that of the never-roaded area 
D)  comparison of soil properties only among all three areas since soil properties will determine plant species 
A)  comparison of plant species in the recontoured area, the abandoned area, and the never-roaded area 
B)  comparison of properties of soil and plant species in the contoured area and abandoned area 
C)  comparison of soil properties and species of plants present in the contoured area with that of the never-roaded area; and that of the abandoned area with that of the never-roaded area 
D)  comparison of soil properties only among all three areas since soil properties will determine plant species

Question 9

Researchers have created a robot that has a very thin leg that is moved by cardiac (heart) cells contracting in unison. The robot, made of a polymer similar to that used in making contact lenses, is bathed in heart cells with supporting cells, which then attach to the robot and provide movement as they contract.
-The robot's cardiac cells, working together in synchrony, could be considered at what level in life's hierarchy of organization?

Accepted Answer

A)  organism 
B)  organelle 
C)  tissue 
D)  organ system 
A)  organism 
B)  organelle 
C)  tissue 
D)  organ system

Question 10

Organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae

Accepted Answer

A)  are photosynthetic. 
B)  obtain food by decomposing the remains of dead organisms and absorbing the nutrients. 
C)  are unicellular. 
A)  are photosynthetic. 
B)  obtain food by decomposing the remains of dead organisms and absorbing the nutrients. 
C)  are unicellular.

Question 11

Researchers set up a study to determine whether large doses of a nutritional supplement would shorten the length of time it takes to recover from a cold. Three thousand volunteers were split into two groups. For two weeks, members of group A took 3,000 mg of the supplement daily. Group B received 3,000 mg of a placebo (sugar pill). At the end of the two-week period, the researchers inserted live cold viruses directly into the noses of all the volunteers. The volunteers in both group A and group B continued to take their daily pills. All the volunteers got colds, and there was no significant difference in the length of time the colds lasted.
-Which was the experimental group?

Accepted Answer

A)  group A only 
B)  group B only 
C)  all 3,000 volunteers 
A)  group A only 
B)  group B only 
C)  all 3,000 volunteers

Question 12

This graph shows an increase in the number of species of pesticide-resistant insects from 1900 to 2000.
-How did this increase in resistant species occur?

Accepted Answer

A)  Insects became more prevalent during the 1900s. 
B)  Insects that were killed by pesticides did not have offspring, but those who were resistant did. 
C)  Pesticide use promoted genetic changes that caused new species to arise. 
D)  Insects needed to survive pesticides, so they gained new mutations for resistance. 
A)  Insects became more prevalent during the 1900s. 
B)  Insects that were killed by pesticides did not have offspring, but those who were resistant did. 
C)  Pesticide use promoted genetic changes that caused new species to arise. 
D)  Insects needed to survive pesticides, so they gained new mutations for resistance.

Question 13

Which of the following organisms belongs to the group represented in box 1?

Accepted Answer

A)  giraffe 
B)  tree 
C)  decomposing bacteria 
D)  leopard 
A)  giraffe 
B)  tree 
C)  decomposing bacteria 
D)  leopard

Question 14

In an ecosystem, energy

Accepted Answer

A)  cycles along with chemical nutrients. 
B)  typically flows from consumers to producers to decomposers. 
C)  typically flows from producers to a series of consumers. 
D)  comes ultimately from bacteria. 
A)  cycles along with chemical nutrients. 
B)  typically flows from consumers to producers to decomposers. 
C)  typically flows from producers to a series of consumers. 
D)  comes ultimately from bacteria.

Question 15

A hypothesis is

Accepted Answer

A)  the same as a theory. 
B)  a proposed explanation for a set of observations. 
C)  an explanatory idea that is broad in scope and supported by a large body of evidence. 
D)  a widely accepted idea about a phenomenon. 
A)  the same as a theory. 
B)  a proposed explanation for a set of observations. 
C)  an explanatory idea that is broad in scope and supported by a large body of evidence. 
D)  a widely accepted idea about a phenomenon.

Question 16

If you eat a hamburger, you are mainly eating ground-up beef muscle. What levels of organization are represented in this ground-up muscle?

Accepted Answer

A)  organism, population, and community 
B)  organ, organ system, and organism 
C)  organelle, cell, and tissue 
D)  tissue, organ, and organ system 
A)  organism, population, and community 
B)  organ, organ system, and organism 
C)  organelle, cell, and tissue 
D)  tissue, organ, and organ system

Question 17

The teeth of grain-eating animals (such as horses) are usually broad and ridged. This makes the teeth suitable for grinding and chewing. Meat-eating animals (such as lions) have pointed teeth that are good for puncturing and ripping flesh. This illustrates

Accepted Answer

A)  a result of natural selection only. 
B)  the connection between form and function only. 
C)  a food web. 
D)  a result of natural selection as well as the connection between form and function. 
A)  a result of natural selection only. 
B)  the connection between form and function only. 
C)  a food web. 
D)  a result of natural selection as well as the connection between form and function.

Question 18

Which statement about ecosystems is false?

Accepted Answer

A)  Bacteria and fungi recycle energy within an ecosystem. 
B)  Plants and other photosynthetic organisms are producers in ecosystems. 
C)  Chemical nutrients cycle within an ecosystem. 
D)  In the process of energy conversions within an ecosystem, some energy is converted to heat. 
A)  Bacteria and fungi recycle energy within an ecosystem. 
B)  Plants and other photosynthetic organisms are producers in ecosystems. 
C)  Chemical nutrients cycle within an ecosystem. 
D)  In the process of energy conversions within an ecosystem, some energy is converted to heat.

Question 19

Which of the following is a group within the domain Eukarya?

Accepted Answer

A)  Fungi 
B)  Archaea 
C)  Bacteria 
A)  Fungi 
B)  Archaea 
C)  Bacteria

Question 20

A scientist performs a controlled experiment. This means that

Accepted Answer

A)  the experiment is repeated many times to ensure that the results are accurate. 
B)  the experiment proceeds at a slow pace to guarantee that the scientist can carefully observe all reactions and process all experimental data. 
C)  two versions of the experiment are conducted, one differing from the other by only a single variable. 
D)  one experiment is performed, but the scientist controls the variables. 
A)  the experiment is repeated many times to ensure that the results are accurate. 
B)  the experiment proceeds at a slow pace to guarantee that the scientist can carefully observe all reactions and process all experimental data. 
C)  two versions of the experiment are conducted, one differing from the other by only a single variable. 
D)  one experiment is performed, but the scientist controls the variables.

Exam 1: Biology: Exploring Life

Which of the following statements is not consistent with Darwin's theory of natural selection?

Basic science discoveries often lead to the development of technology, and the development of technology often leads to new scientific discoveries. Which of the following is not an accurate pairing of a technology and a discovery?

The box numbered 2 represents which process?

During a discussion about ecosystems, a student says, "Plants eat sunlight, and animals eat other organisms." Which response to the student's comment is most accurate?

The tree in your backyard is home to two cardinals, a colony of ants, a wasp's nest, two squirrels, and millions of bacteria. Together, all of these organisms represent a(n)

The kingdom Fungi includes species

Organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae

This graph shows an increase in the number of species of pesticide-resistant insects from 1900 to 2000. -How did this increase in resistant species occur?

Which of the following organisms belongs to the group represented in box 1?

In an ecosystem, energy

A hypothesis is

If you eat a hamburger, you are mainly eating ground-up beef muscle. What levels of organization are represented in this ground-up muscle?

The teeth of grain-eating animals (such as horses) are usually broad and ridged. This makes the teeth suitable for grinding and chewing. Meat-eating animals (such as lions) have pointed teeth that are good for puncturing and ripping flesh. This illustrates

Which statement about ecosystems is false?

Which of the following is a group within the domain Eukarya?

A scientist performs a controlled experiment. This means that

The Chemical Basis of Life

The Molecules of Cells

A Tour of the Cell

The Working Cell

How Cells Harvest Chemical Energy

Photosynthesis: Using Light to Make Food

The Cellular Basis of Reproduction and Inheritance

Patterns of Inheritance

Molecular Biology of the Gene

How Genes Are Controlled

DNA Technology and Genomics

How Populations Evolve

The Origin of Species

Tracing Evolutionary History

Microbial Life: Prokaryotes and Protists

The Evolution of Plant and Fungal Diversity

The Evolution of Invertebrate Diversity

The Evolution of Vertebrate Diversity

Unifying Concepts of Animal Structure and Function

Nutrition and Digestion

Gas Exchange

Circulation

The Immune System

Control of Body Temperature and Water Balance

Hormones and the Endocrine System

Reproduction and Embryonic Development

Nervous Systems

The Senses

How Animals Move

Plant Structure, Growth, and Reproduction

Plant Nutrition and Transport

Control Systems in Plants

The Biosphere: an Introduction to Earths Diverse Environments

Behavioral Adaptations to the Environment

Population Ecology

Communities and Ecosystems

Conservation Biology

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