Deck 1: An Introduction to Life on Earth

Question 1

A carefully formulated scientific explanation that is based on extensive observations and is in accord with scientific principles is called a

A) control.
B) theory.
C) postulate.
D) fact.
E) hypothesis.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

We use the scientific method every day. Imagine that your car doesnʹt start one morning before school. Which of these is a reasonable hypothesis regarding the problem?

A) Iʹm going to be late.
B) I should add a quart of oil.
C) If I put gas in my car, it will start.
D) I should check whether the lights were left on and drained the battery.
E) I should change the battery or the starter.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Which of the following is FALSE about scientific theories?

A) They are developed by inductive reasoning.
B) They can be either supported or modified by new observations.
C) They are used to support observations using deductive reasoning.
D) They have been thoroughly tested.
E) They are firmly established and cannot be refuted.

Answer 3

E

Question 4

Which of the following is an example of a natural cause?

A) Maggots appear spontaneously on rotting meat.
B) If you sneeze, you will die.
C) Epilepsy is a disease caused by uncontrolled firing of nerve cells in the brain.
D) Mice arise from discarded garbage.

Question 5

Which of the following statements is a hypothesis rather than a theory?

A) Matter is composed of atoms.
B) Female birds prefer to mate with male birds that have longer tails.
C) Modern organisms descended from preexisting life-forms.
D) Living things are made of cells.

Question 6

Which of the following is TRUE regarding faith-based beliefs and scientific theories?

A) Faith-based beliefs can become scientific theories.
B) Scientific theories are not modifiable, but faith-based beliefs are.
C) Any and all faith-based beliefs can be disproven, but scientific theories cannot.
D) Both faith-based beliefs and scientific theories can be proven.
E) Any and all scientific theories can be disproven, but faith-based beliefs cannot.

Question 7

The scientific method includes all of the following EXCEPT

A) experimentation.
B) conclusions.
C) an observation.
D) a hypothesis.
E) a testable theory.

Question 8

Imagine that 1 milliliter of an experimental drug diluted in a saline solution is injected into 20 pregnant mice to determine possible side effects. Which of the following is a suitable control for this experiment?

A) 20 pregnant mice injected with 1 milliliter of saline
B) 20 male mice injected with 1 milliliter of the drug
C) 20 non-pregnant mice injected with 1 milliliter of the drug
D) 20 pregnant mice injected with 2 milliliters of the drug
E) 20 male mice injected with 1 milliliter of saline

Question 9

Which of the following levels of organization is the most inclusive (i.e., includes the most life-forms)?

A) Community
B) Population
C) Ecosystem
D) Species
E) Biosphere

Question 10

Alexander Fleming observed a colony of mold that inhibited the growth of nearby bacteria. What was the hypothesis proposed by Fleming to explain this result?

A) The bacteria changed their DNA when growing near the mold.
B) The mold used all of the nutrients so that the bacteria couldnʹt grow.
C) The mold produced a substance that killed nearby bacteria.
D) The mold was dead.

Question 11

Which of the following is an example of deductive reasoning?

A) Living objects are composed of cells.
B) Atoms make up molecules, which make up cells, which make up tissues.
C) All objects on Earth will fall down when dropped, and none will ʺfall up.ʺ
D) If an object exhibits all the characteristics of life, it must be living.

Question 12

All of the following are features of the scientific method EXCEPT

A) hypothesis formulation.
B) supernatural causes.
C) observation and experimentation.
D) repeatable by other scientists.
E) deductive reasoning.

Question 13

Suppose you are testing a treatment for AIDS patients and find that 75% respond well, whereas 25% show no improvement or a decline in health. You should

A) review the results, modify the drug or the dosage, and repeat the experiment.
B) conclude that only 75% of AIDS patients should be treated.
C) begin work on developing a new drug.
D) discontinue experimentation with this treatment because 25% of patients did not improve.
E) conclude that you have proven the effectiveness of the drug.

Question 14

Which is the correct sequence of increasing organization?

A) Cell, tissue, organ, organ system
B) Molecule, cell, organelle, organ
C) Organelle, tissue, cell, organ
D) Organ, tissue, cell, molecule
E) Atom, molecule, tissue, cell

Question 15

A scientific explanation that is conditional and requires more investigation is called a(n)

A) control.
B) fact.
C) hypothesis.
D) theory.
E) observation.

Question 16

Scientific inquiry is based on

A) information found in a gossip magazine.
B) cultural biases or traditions.
C) natural causes.
D) stories that are passed down through generations.

Question 17

The smallest units that still retain the characteristics of an element are called

A) cells.
B) organic molecules.
C) atoms.
D) tissues.
E) molecules.

Question 18

Science cannot answer certain faith-based questions because

A) scientists are not able to study human behavior.
B) faith-based beliefs are impossible to either prove or disprove.
C) there arenʹt enough variables.
D) faith requires deductive reasoning.

Question 19

A scientific theory

A) is an educated guess.
B) will never be changed.
C) is less reliable than a hypothesis.
D) is a general explanation for natural phenomena.

Question 20

Which of these would be an example of a NON-scientific study?

A) NASA sends tadpoles up in the space shuttle to see how gravity affects their development.
B) A study determines differences in the species composition in two parks.
C) A company uses different advertising methods for a product to determine which one produces the most sales.
D) Consumers are asked which tomato variety produces the best-tasting spaghetti sauce.
E) People are immunized with different vaccines to determine their relative effectiveness against the flu virus.

Question 21

To test the effect of vitamin D on growth, two groups of rats were raised under identical conditions and fed the same diet. One of the groups received daily injections of vitamin D. The other group received injections of saline, which did not contain vitamin D. All the rats were weighed weekly for 2 months. In this experiment, the control was the

A) group receiving vitamin D.
B) 2-month period of time.
C) average weight gain of the rats.
D) group receiving saline.

Question 22

The experiments of Francesco Redi

A) disproved the idea of spontaneous generation.
B) determined that fly larvae were present in raw meat, and when left on the counter they turned into flies.
C) used the scientific method to prove the idea of spontaneous generation.
D) disproved the scientific method.
E) disproved that maggots and flies were related.

Question 23

Suppose an organism has an enzyme that repairs changes in its DNA. The result is a decrease in mutations. This trait would definitely influence the organismʹs ability to

A) move.
B) maintain homeostasis.
C) evolve.
D) obtain energy.

Question 24

In a word, ʺevolutionʺ means

A) nature.
B) change.
C) improvement.
D) selection.

Question 25

The variation among individuals, on which natural selection acts, describes

A) genetic differences.
B) physical training and exercise.
C) nutritional differences.
D) random occurrences in the lifetimes of individuals.

Question 26

After you drink a glass of acidic lemonade, your bodyʹs pH does not change. This is an example of how humans and other organisms

A) evolve in response to the environment.
B) maintain cellular organization.
C) are immune to weak acids.
D) maintain precise internal conditions through homeostasis.

Question 27

Chromosomes are made of

A) proteins.
B) DNA.
C) DNA and proteins.
D) carbohydrates.
E) cells.

Question 28

The concept of evolution is based on

A) any type of genetic variation within a population.
B) all genetic variation in a population being equally successful in the same environment.
C) survival and successful reproduction in organisms with favorable variations.
D) parents with variations that pass these variations on to their offspring.

Question 29

Adaptations include all of the following EXCEPT

A) inborn migratory behavior of young birds born in the Arctic.
B) reduced heart rate and oxygen consumption in seals that dive deep for long periods of time.
C) teaching a pet parrot to talk.
D) larger body size in male gorillas, which fight over females.

Question 30

Which of the following is a characteristic of living organisms?

A) Eat other organisms
B) Ability to produce energy
C) Maintenance and regulation of internal conditions
D) Have membrane-bound organelles
E) Have a nucleus

Question 31

Evolution is sometimes described as the change from preexisting life -forms to modern-day organisms. What actually changes, in every case of evolution, is the

A) genetic makeup of the species, due to mutations.
B) ability of organisms to respond to external stimuli.
C) speciesʹ physical appearance.
D) energy and nutritional demands of the organism.
E) rate of reproduction.

Question 32

A mutation can be the cause for

A) natural selection.
B) environmental change.
C) sexual reproduction.
D) sperm and egg formation.
E) growth and development.

Question 33

All of the following are important to the theory of evolution EXCEPT

A) changes in individuals within their lifetimes.
B) variation in traits within an entire population.
C) environmental change.
D) mutations.
E) inheritance of traits.

Question 34

All of the following are true of all living organisms EXCEPT that they

A) respond to stimuli.
B) can reproduce themselves.
C) can grow.
D) possess either DNA or RNA.
E) are made of cells.

Question 35

Which is NOT an example of evolution?

A) Flightless birds living on islands without predators
B) The development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria
C) Annual changes in the flu virus due to mutations
D) The 2- to 3-year effectiveness of most commercial pesticides in killing insects
E) A dog learning how to open the cabinet where its food is kept

Question 36

All of the following are examples of adaptations EXCEPT

A) larger teeth in beavers for gnawing wood.
B) mice learning a maze to get food.
C) insects that resemble twigs.
D) different beak shapes for birds that eat seeds or insects.
E) flower coloration that attracts pollinators.

Question 37

A change in the genetic makeup of a species over time is called

A) adaptation.
B) natural causality.
C) mutation.
D) evolution.

Question 38

Francesco Redi designed an experiment to test the notion of spontaneous generation. He left the first jar of meat open to the air and covered the second jar. The first jar would be called the jar.

A) conclusive
B) experimental
C) hypothetical
D) control

Question 39

A mutation is a

A) dose of radiation.
B) physical deformity, such as the loss of a limb.
C) defective egg or sperm cell.
D) change in the DNA sequence.

Question 40

Dinosaurs are not alive today because they

A) did not possess the genetic material that beneficial mutations act on.
B) evolved too quickly in response to a changing environment.
C) did not evolve fast enough to keep up with rapid environmental change.
D) evolved adaptations that were beneficial in their constant, unchanging environment.

Question 41

Which kingdom possesses unicellular animal-like species and unicellular plantlike species?

A) Plantae
B) Fungi
C) Protista
D) Animalia

Question 42

In which kingdom does a multicellular, eukaryotic, photosynthetic organism belong?

A) Animalia
B) Fungi
C) Plantae
D) Protists

Question 43

For the following question(s), choose the characteristic of a living organism that best corresponds to each statement. Selections may be used once, more than once, or not at all.

-A sunflower follows the sun as it moves across the sky during the period of a single day.

A) Response to stimuli
B) Reproduction
C) Growth
D) Evolution

Question 44

Using its antennae, the male moth finds female moths by following a trail of airborne chemicals, called pheromones, upwind from the female producing them. This is an example of how living things

A) maintain precise internal conditions.
B) acquire nutrients.
C) detect and respond to stimuli.
D) grow.
E) reproduce.

Question 45

You observe a plant on your windowsill that is growing at an angle toward the outside. This is an example of a living thing

A) evolving.
B) responding to stimuli.
C) reproducing.
D) maintaining precise internal conditions.

Question 46

Why do humans born without sweat glands usually not survive?

A) Sweating is important for eliminating impurities from the body.
B) Sweat glands create openings in the skin where gas exchange occurs.
C) Sweating is the only way the body eliminates excess water.
D) Sweating is an important mechanism for maintaining the correct body temperature.

Question 47

For the following question(s), choose the characteristic of a living organism that best corresponds to each statement. Selections may be used once, more than once, or not at all.

-A paramecium moves from direct light toward the dark.

A) Response to stimuli
B) Reproduction
C) Growth
D) Evolution

Question 48

Why do heterotrophs require ʺfoodʺ for survival?

A) Food is an alternative source of energy for heterotrophs when sunlight is unavailable.
B) Food provides the organic chemicals needed by heterotrophs.
C) Heterotrophs cannot photosynthesize without the chemicals provided by food.
D) Food provides at least half of the water required by heterotrophs.

Question 49

The main difference between an autotroph and a heterotroph is

A) how they reproduce.
B) how they obtain energy.
C) how they respond to stimuli.
D) their ability to move.

Question 50

For the following question(s), choose the characteristic of a living organism that best corresponds to each statement. Selections may be used once, more than once, or not at all.

-At the beginning of the week, a plant is 3 inches tall and at the end of the week, it is 4 inches tall.

A) Response to stimuli
B) Reproduction
C) Growth
D) Evolution

Question 51

Of the following levels of organization, Archaea have

A) atoms, molecules, and organs.
B) atoms and molecules.
C) molecules only.
D) organs only.
E) atoms only.

Question 52

For the following question(s), choose the characteristic of a living organism that best corresponds to each statement. Selections may be used once, more than once, or not at all.

-A puppy is born weighing 5 pounds and eventually becomes a 75-pound golden retriever.

A) Response to stimuli
B) Reproduction
C) Growth
D) Evolution

Question 53

In evolutionary terms, which of the following cells is considered to be the most primitive?

A) Heterotroph
B) Autotroph
C) Prokaryote
D) Eukaryote

Question 54

An organism in the domain Eukarya is characterized by all of the following EXCEPT

A) ingestion of organic matter to acquire nutrients.
B) the potential to grow and reproduce.
C) being composed of prokaryotic cells.
D) the ability to maintain precise internal conditions.

Question 55

A basic difference between a prokaryotic cell and a eukaryotic cell is that the prokaryotic cell

A) lacks DNA.
B) is structurally more complex.
C) possesses membrane-bound organelles.
D) is considerably larger.
E) lacks a nucleus.

Question 56

Which of the following statements about the Bacteria and Eukarya domains is TRUE?

A) All members of Bacteria are prokaryotic cells and all members of Eukarya are eukaryotic cells.
B) All members of Bacteria are single-celled and all members of Eukarya are multicellular.
C) All members of Bacteria acquire nutrients via ingestion and all members of Eukarya acquire nutrients by photosynthesis.
D) Only members of Eukarya have the ability to grow and reproduce.

Question 57

For the following question(s), choose the characteristic of a living organism that best corresponds to each statement. Selections may be used once, more than once, or not at all.

-A bacterium divides into two bacteria that are identical to, but smaller than, the original bacterium.

A) Response to stimuli
B) Reproduction
C) Growth
D) Evolution

Question 58

Which group has prokaryotic individuals?

A) Kingdom Fungi
B) Kingdom Plantae
C) Protist kingdoms
D) Domain Archaea
E) Kingdom Animalia

Question 59

An organismʹs ability to detect stimuli from either the internal or external environment is called

A) responsiveness.
B) mutation.
C) evolution.
D) DNA.
E) natural selection.

Question 60

For the following question(s), choose the characteristic of a living organism that best corresponds to each statement. Selections may be used once, more than once, or not at all.

-Over time, the average neck length of giraffes has increased. Only those giraffes with longer necks survived by eating the leaves high up on the trees, and they were able to reproduce and pass those long-neck genes on to the next generation.

A) Response to stimuli
B) Reproduction
C) Growth
D) Evolution

Question 61

Prokaryotic cells have a true nucleus and eukaryotic cells do not.

Question 62

A good experiment should include as many variables as possible at the same time.

Question 63

Photosynthetic plants are considered ?self-feeders,? or _________.

Question 64

Errors or changes in the DNA of an organism are called _________.

Question 65

Adaptations aid in the survival and reproduction of an organism in a particular environment.

Question 66

All scientific study begins with_________ and the formation of testable hypotheses.

Question 67

Scientific theories are the same in any part of the world (meaning they do not vary by location).

Question 68

A cell that lacks organelles is a(n)

A) eukaryotic cell.
B) animal cell.
C) prokaryotic cell.
D) member of the Kingdom Plantae.

Question 69

A group of similar, interbreeding individuals that live in the same area is a(n)_________ .

Question 70

Photosynthetic bacteria are examples of autotrophs.

Question 71

Cells that contain a nucleus are eukaryotic, and cells without a nucleus are _________.

Question 72

The three natural processes that underlie evolution are genetic variation, inheritance, and_________.

Question 73

A group of individuals who are able to interbreed, regardless of their geographical location, is defined as a(n)_________ .

Question 74

Scientific experimentation generally leads to more questions.

Question 75

The basic unit of life is the _________.

Question 76

The energy that sustains life ultimately comes from sunlight.

Question 77

Variation among organisms is due to mutations.

Question 78

Single-celled organisms that lack a nucleus belong to the domains Bacteria and_________ .

Question 79

Biodiversity is the total number of organisms in an ecosystem.

Question 80

A hypothesis is typically stated as an ʺIf . . . thenʺ statement.