Question 1

Which of the following best demonstrates the unity among all organisms?

Accepted Answer

A)  emergent properties 
B)  descent with modification 
C)  DNA structure and function 
D)  natural selection 
A)  emergent properties 
B)  descent with modification 
C)  DNA structure and function 
D)  natural selection

Question 2

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 3

Membrane-enclosed components of cells that carry out specialized functions are

Accepted Answer

A)  tissues. 
B)  organs. 
C)  organelles. 
D)  molecules. 
A)  tissues. 
B)  organs. 
C)  organelles. 
D)  molecules.

Question 4

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 5

A controlled experiment is one that

Accepted Answer

A)  proceeds slowly enough that a scientist can make careful records of the results. 
B)  tests experimental and control groups in parallel. 
C)  is repeated many times to make sure the results are accurate. 
D)  keeps all variables constant. 
A)  proceeds slowly enough that a scientist can make careful records of the results. 
B)  tests experimental and control groups in parallel. 
C)  is repeated many times to make sure the results are accurate. 
D)  keeps all variables constant.

Question 6

Which of the following is a requirement for a good scientific hypothesis?

Accepted Answer

A)  It must generate quantitative data. 
B)  It must explain a large body of specific observations. 
C)  It must lead to testable predictions. 
D)  It must be proven to be true. 
A)  It must generate quantitative data. 
B)  It must explain a large body of specific observations. 
C)  It must lead to testable predictions. 
D)  It must be proven to be true.

Question 7

Which of the following statements best distinguishes hypotheses from theories in science?

Accepted Answer

A)  Theories are hypotheses that have been proved. 
B)  Hypotheses are guesses; theories are correct answers. 
C)  Hypotheses usually are relatively narrow in scope; theories have broad explanatory power. 
D)  Theories are proved true; hypotheses are often contradicted by experimental results. 
A)  Theories are hypotheses that have been proved. 
B)  Hypotheses are guesses; theories are correct answers. 
C)  Hypotheses usually are relatively narrow in scope; theories have broad explanatory power. 
D)  Theories are proved true; hypotheses are often contradicted by experimental results.

Question 8

Which of the following is a distinguishing characteristic of fungi?

Accepted Answer

A)  obtaining nutrients by absorbing them from the environment 
B)  obtaining nutrients by ingesting other organisms 
C)  producing sugars by photosynthesis 
D)  living in extreme environments like boiling hot springs 
A)  obtaining nutrients by absorbing them from the environment 
B)  obtaining nutrients by ingesting other organisms 
C)  producing sugars by photosynthesis 
D)  living in extreme environments like boiling hot springs

Question 9

All of the individuals of the same species living within a specified area is known as a

Accepted Answer

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

Question 10

All of the living things in a particular area along with all of the nonliving aspects of the environment with which organisms interact is known as

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 11

Which of the following represents the correct hierarchy of biological organization from large-scale to smaller scale?

Accepted Answer

A)  ecosystems → biosphere → communities → populations → organisms 
B)  communities → populations → organisms → ecosystems → biosphere 
C)  biosphere → communities → populations → ecosystems → organisms 
D)  biosphere → ecosystems → communities → populations → organisms 
E)  biosphere → ecosystems → populations→ communities → organisms 
A)  ecosystems → biosphere → communities → populations → organisms 
B)  communities → populations → organisms → ecosystems → biosphere 
C)  biosphere → communities → populations → ecosystems → organisms 
D)  biosphere → ecosystems → communities → populations → organisms 
E)  biosphere → ecosystems → populations→ communities → organisms

Question 12

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

Question 13

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, you would predict that the average length of the adult fish population will

Accepted Answer

A)  remain unchanged. 
B)  gradually decline. 
C)  rapidly decline. 
D)  gradually increase. 
E)  rapidly increase. 
A)  remain unchanged. 
B)  gradually decline. 
C)  rapidly decline. 
D)  gradually increase. 
E)  rapidly increase.

Question 14

Which of the following is an example of inductive reasoning?

Accepted Answer

A)  If a banana is not ripe, then an ape will not eat it. 
B)  Numerous different species live in sunny parts of an ecosystem; therefore, they are all photosynthetic. 
C)  Hundreds of cultures of a unicellular alga are incubated in the presence of light, and in all of the samples the cells congregate on the side of the culture toward the light. Therefore, the alga is phototactic (attracted to light). 
D)  If two species are members of the same genus, then they are more similar to each other than they are to members of a different genus. 
A)  If a banana is not ripe, then an ape will not eat it. 
B)  Numerous different species live in sunny parts of an ecosystem; therefore, they are all photosynthetic. 
C)  Hundreds of cultures of a unicellular alga are incubated in the presence of light, and in all of the samples the cells congregate on the side of the culture toward the light. Therefore, the alga is phototactic (attracted to light). 
D)  If two species are members of the same genus, then they are more similar to each other than they are to members of a different genus.

Question 15

Which of the following 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 ten 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 ten 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 ten 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 ten 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 16

All of the living things on Earth along with all of the places where life exists is known as

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.

Exam 1: Introduction: Evolution and the Foundations of Biology

Which of the following best demonstrates the unity among all organisms?

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

Membrane-enclosed components of cells that carry out specialized functions are

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

A controlled experiment is one that

Which of the following is a requirement for a good scientific hypothesis?

Which of the following statements best distinguishes hypotheses from theories in science?

Which of the following is a distinguishing characteristic of fungi?

All of the individuals of the same species living within a specified area is known as a

All of the living things in a particular area along with all of the nonliving aspects of the environment with which organisms interact is known as

Which of the following represents the correct hierarchy of biological organization from large-scale to smaller scale?

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?

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, you would predict that the average length of the adult fish population will

Which of the following is an example of inductive reasoning?

Which of the following constitutes a controlled experiment?

All of the living things on Earth along with all of the places where life exists is known as

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

Species Interactions

Ecosystems and Energy

Global Ecology and Conservation Biology

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