Deck 3: Matter, Energy, and Life

Question 1

The productivity of an ecosystem refers to the

A) amount of food consumed by the organisms per unit space.
B) average number of offspring produced per adult female per unit time.
C) amount of biological material produced during a certain period of time.
D) reproductive output.

Answer 1

amount of biological material produced during a certain period of time.

Question 2

Photosynthesis and respiration are most significant in the ______ cycle.

A) nitrogen
B) carbon
C) sulfur
D) phosphorus

Answer 2

carbon

Question 3

The second law of thermodynamics states that

A) whenever energy is used, some becomes converted to a form difficult to use to do work.
B) energy cannot be shifted from one form to another.
C) life forms cannot survive without energy.
D) energy exists in both potential and kinetic form.

Answer 3

whenever energy is used, some becomes converted to a form difficult to use to do work.

Question 4

A population

A) consists of all the plants and animals in a given region.
B) consists of all individuals of a given species living in the same area.
C) consists of all species on Earth.
D) consists of a given species and all of the other species it consumes.

Question 5

Organic compounds are those substances

A) found only in living organisms.
B) containing chains and rings of carbon atoms.
C) composed of atoms of a single element.
D) exhibiting radioactive decay.

Question 6

DNA molecules

A) are unique to every individual.
B) are single stranded.
C) are protein.
D) are only found in humans.

Question 7

Atoms of the same element but with different atomic mass are called

A) radioactive.
B) molecules.
C) isotopes.
D) ions.

Question 8

A group of individuals of a particular type that are able to successfully interbreed is called a/an

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

Question 9

Vegetation and forests are important carbon sinks.

Question 10

The smallest particle exhibiting the characteristics of an element is a/an

A) atom.
B) molecule.
C) isotope.
D) ion.

Question 11

The conservation of matter principle is that matter

A) is composed of atoms and molecules.
B) cannot be created, destroyed, nor changed in form.
C) must be used carefully or Earth will eventually run out.
D) can neither be created nor destroyed.

Question 12

A carbon sink is a place where carbon

A) atoms wash up for supper.
B) is stored after removal from the atmosphere.
C) is released after cellular respiration.
D) is the carbon released by combustion.

Question 13

The final breakdown and recycling of organic material is accomplished by

A) top level consumers.
B) decomposers.
C) scavengers.
D) detritivores.

Question 14

Which have the most diverse diet?

A) Photosynthetic plants
B) Herbivores
C) Omnivores
D) Carnivores

Question 15

Which two kinds of organisms introduce energy to an ecosystem?

A) Plants and primary consumers
B) Plants and animals at the very top of the food chain
C) Animals in trophic levels III and IV
D) Plants and algae

Question 16

Substances that readily give up hydrogen atoms are called bases.

Question 17

Ecologists study:

A) Living things and their genetic makeup
B) Genetic patterns and the chemistry in them
C) The physical world and its processes
D) The Earth and its processes
E) Relationships between organisms and their environment

Question 18

Molecules which regulate chemical processes without being used up are called

A) acids.
B) bases.
C) catalysts.
D) nucleotides.

Question 19

Cellular respiration is the process by which organisms

A) release energy from sugar for metabolic use.
B) create complex organic molecules from simple molecules.
C) convert heat to chemical bond energy for metabolic work.
D) More than one of these choices are correct

Question 20

The _________ cycle is most dependent on a variety of types of bacteria that shift the element among several different chemical forms.

A) nitrogen
B) carbon
C) sulfur
D) phosphorus

Question 21

Which of the following has the highest quality energy?

A) A warm brick
B) An intense fire
C) A flowing stream
D) A rock rolling downhill
E) Hot air

Question 22

The motion of a rock rolling downhill is known as __________ energy.

A) Kinetic
B) Latent
C) Potential
D) Electrical
E) Mechanical

Question 23

Metabolism is a collective term for thousands of:

A) Organic compounds in a cell
B) Enzymatic reactions necessary for life
C) Cells in an organism
D) Molecular reactions in a cell

Question 24

The distinction between an organic compound and an inorganic compound is that organic compounds contain:

A) Carbon-Oxygen bonds
B) Water
C) Carbon-Carbon bonds
D) Nitrogen-Carbon bonds

Question 25

The smallest particle that exhibits the characteristics of a chemical element is known as a(n):

A) Molecule
B) Microorganism
C) Atom
D) Phase of matter
E) Isotope

Question 26

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) contains billions of atoms and is very large. It would be considered a(n):

A) Element
B) Enzyme
C) Compound
D) Mega-atom
E) Isotope

Question 27

Which of the following is a form of energy?

A) Electricity
B) Food
C) Heat
D) Light
E) All of these are forms of energy

Question 28

Potential energy is _______ energy.

A) Electrical
B) Motion
C) Stored
D) Heat
E) Latent

Question 29

What implication(s) does the law of conservation of matter have for humans?

A) We cannot create energy because it is neither created nor destroyed.
B) As matter is recycled, it loses some of its integrity, so we need to be careful when we dispose of goods.
C) Natural resources are unlimited because they are used and reused by living organisms.
D) Disposable goods are not going "away" when we throw them out.
E) All of these are implications of the law of conservation of matter.

Question 30

Water vapor, water, and ice are examples of:

A) Types of matter
B) Phases of matter
C) Transfers of energy into matter
D) Forms of energy
E) Types of mass

Question 31

Which of the following is NOT a molecule?

A) O₃
B) O₂
C) H₂O
D) C₆H₁₂O₆
E) Na+

Question 32

Which of the following is NOT a type of organic molecule?

A) Lipids
B) Proteins
C) Carbohydrates
D) Nucleic Acids
E) Salts

Question 33

A fat or oil is to a _______, as an enzyme is to a _______.

A) Nucleic acid; lipid
B) Protein; nucleic acid
C) Nucleic acid; carbohydrate
D) Carbohydrate; protein
E) Lipid; protein

Question 34

The law of conservation of matter tells us that matter:

A) Can never be reused
B) Needs to be conserved or it will not be available for future generations
C) Can be destroyed
D) Can be conserved by some adaptive strategies
E) Is used repeatedly

Question 35

An enzyme ____________ a chemical reaction and ______________ so it is ready to perform the reaction again.

A) catalyzes; is not consumed as it is used
B) speeds up; organizes pieces together to form something different
C) slows; is not consumed as it is used
D) initiates; provides the energy to put something together

Question 36

How are matter and mass related?

A) Mass is a component of matter.
B) Neither matter nor mass take up space.
C) Matter is a component of mass.
D) Both matter and mass take up space.
E) Mass takes up space, while matter does not take up space.

Question 37

A cell is:

A) The smallest molecule exhibiting organic characteristics
B) A building block for DNA
C) A small organic compound made of carbon, water, and nitrogen
D) Made up of DNA
E) The smallest unit in which life processes go on

Question 38

Nucleic acid is to _______, as lipid is to _______.

A) Cellular membrane structure; energy storage
B) Cellulose structure; genetic storage
C) Energy storage; cellulose structure
D) Genetic storage; cellular membrane structure
E) Energy storage; genetic storage

Question 39

A compound is composed of _________.

A) Elements
B) Isotopes
C) Atoms
D) Molecules

Question 40

In chemical terms, water (H₂O) would best be described as a(n):

A) Element
B) Atom
C) Ion
D) Compound
E) Isotope

Question 41

On the electromagnetic spectrum of energy wavelengths, visible light falls nearest to:

A) Gamma radiation
B) Radio waves
C) Infrared radiation
D) X-rays
E) Microwaves

Question 42

What implication(s) does the second law of thermodynamics have for biological systems regarding entropy?

A) Systems cannot create energy because it is neither created nor destroyed.
B) With each transformation, less energy is available to do work, so older systems have less energy.
C) A constant supply of energy is necessary for maintenance of biological systems.
D) Energy is unlimited because it is used and reused by living organisms.
E) None of these is an implication of the second law of thermodynamics.

Question 43

Photosynthesis is the process of converting __________ into __________ energy.

A) Chemical bond energy; kinetic
B) Sunlight; chemical bond
C) Solar energy; kinetic
D) Solar electrical energy; heat
E) Chemical bond energy; potential

Question 44

Biomass includes all:

A) Material in an ecosystem
B) Things that are living at a given time
C) Living and nonliving things
D) Matter produced by primary producers
E) Biological material

Question 45

The process of __________ allows organisms to use inorganic molecules as an energy source.

A) photosynthesis
B) phosphorylation
C) cellular respiration
D) chemosynthesis

Question 46

A biological community consists of all:

A) Populations living and interacting in an area
B) Members of a species living in the same area
C) Living things on Earth
D) Populations of a given species
E) Members of a species living in the same biome

Question 47

Many ecologists think of ecosystems and even the Earth as a superorganism because its systems appear to be:

A) Unregulated
B) Self-regulating and self-stabilizing
C) Completely unpredictable
D) Unchangeable
E) Hierarchical

Question 48

The second law of thermodynamics states that as energy moves through different forms and systems, it gradually:

A) Becomes more concentrated
B) Dissipates and becomes unavailable
C) Disappears and is lost
D) Accumulates in the form of electricity
E) Changes from kinetic to potential energy

Question 49

Although there are exceptions, in general, a species includes all organisms that are similar enough to:

A) Produce fertile offspring in nature
B) Look alike
C) Fill the same niche
D) Occupy the same community
E) Live together

Question 50

The first law of thermodynamics and the law of conservation of matter are similar in that

A) Under normal circumstances neither energy nor matter is created nor destroyed.
B) Both energy and matter flow in a one-way path through biological systems.
C) Under normal circumstances energy and matter are created as they pass through biological systems.
D) The first law of thermodynamics and the law of conservation of matter are not similar.

Question 51

Photosynthesis produces sugars from

A) Water, carbon dioxide, and solar energy
B) Water, other sugars, and oxygen
C) Oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water
D) Carbon dioxide, enzymes, and solar energy
E) Oxygen, water, and solar energy

Question 52

As energy is used and transformed, it gradually becomes _______ quality and _______ concentrated.

A) Higher; more
B) Lower; more
C) Higher; less
D) Lower; less
E) As energy is used, it does not become transformed; there is no change in quality, and it stays the same concentration

Question 53

If an ecosystem exchanges both matter and energy with its surroundings, it would be referred to as a(n) ______ system.

A) Closed
B) Open
C) Dynamic
D) Isolated
E) Interactive

Question 54

About ___________ percent of the solar energy that falls on plants is captured for photosynthesis.

A) 100
B) 60-70
C) 40-50
D) 10-20
E) 1-2

Question 55

Productivity in an ecosystem has to do with:

A) The efficiency of its primary producers
B) The number of different species living in the ecosystem
C) Its longevity
D) The combined metabolic rate of the biological communities
E) Its rate of producing biomass

Question 56

The process of cellular respiration:

A) Helps primary producers store energy accumulated by chloroplasts
B) Utilizes energy from chemical bonds of molecules, such as glucose
C) Eliminates the need for enzymes in metabolism
D) Does not occur in primary producers
E) Does not occur in detritivores

Question 57

Producers and consumers rely on ____________ to release chemical energy stored as ATP.

A) Photosynthesis
B) Cellular respiration
C) The sun
D) Metabolism
E) Chemosynthesis

Question 58

The process of photosynthesis and cellular respiration are similar as that they both

A) Capture energy in the form of sugar
B) Occur in all living organisms
C) Store energy in the form of ATP
D) Capture energy from the sun
E) Photosynthesis and cellular respiration are not similar, they are opposite processes

Question 59

An ecosystem consists of:

A) A physical environment within which a biological community lives
B) The species with which a biological community interacts
C) A biological community and its physical environment
D) The primary producers within a biological community
E) All the species in a biological community

Question 60

All members of a species that live in the same area, at the same time, make up a(n):

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

Question 61

Detritivores, scavengers, and decomposers are all similar as they:

A) Consume nonliving organic matter
B) Are primarily microorganisms
C) Are primary producers
D) Are among the Earth's least useful organisms
E) Consume abiotic material

Question 62

A simple linked feeding series such as grass-rabbit-wolf is known as a(n):

A) Energy cycle
B) Food web
C) Carbon cycle
D) Food chain
E) Food cycle

Question 63

Which of the following biogeochemical cycles does not have an atmospheric phase?

A) Hydrologic cycle
B) Nitrogen cycle
C) Sulfur cycle
D) Carbon cycle
E) Phosphorous cycle

Question 64

Nitrogen is an essential component of:

A) Amino acids and proteins
B) Organic molecules
C) Sugars, the product of photosynthesis
D) The hydrologic cycle
E) Carbohydrates

Question 65

Which of the following is not a step in the global nitrogen cycle?

A) Nitrogen fixation
B) Nitrification
C) Photosynthesis
D) Ammonification
E) Denitrification

Question 66

Primary consumers are also known as:

A) Carnivores
B) Scavengers
C) Decomposers
D) Herbivores
E) Top carnivores

Question 67

Acids and bases are highly reactive; therefore, they can cause important environmental problems.

Question 68

Outline the path of a carbon atom as it moves through the carbon cycle. Do not include human influences.

Question 69

Water molecules readily dissolve ionic substances such as sugar because of the covalent bonds between the hydrogen and oxygen atoms.

Question 70

Energy enters a system as sunlight and a producer is able to produce 10 kilograms of tissue. If eaten, the producer would produce about ______ kilogram(s) of consumer tissue that would provide about __________ kilogram(s) of tissue for a secondary consumer.

A) 100; 10
B) 10; 1
C) 100; 1
D) 1; 0.1
E) 10; 0.1

Question 71

Phosphorus cycles through the Earth's ecosystems:

A) Extremely quickly
B) Very slowly
C) Only when activated by human activity
D) Very rarely
E) Quickly when humans burn large amounts of fossil fuels

Question 72

The amount of energy in the universe is believed to be the same as it was billions of years ago.

Question 73

Approximately one-half of the energy available in an organism is transferred to the consumer that eats it.

Question 74

Omnivores eat mainly:

A) Detritivores
B) Plants
C) Animals
D) Dead plants and animals
E) Plants and animals

Question 75

Which of the following does not cycle repeatedly through the Earth's ecosystems?

A) Water
B) Nitrogen
C) Matter
D) Carbon
E) Energy

Question 76

Using examples, compare and contrast the cycling of energy through biological systems and biogeochemical cycles.

Question 77

Which of the following statements is false?

A) Nutrients are cycled in the ecosphere in biogeochemical cycles.
B) Elements in the rock cycle are generally cycled slower than elements in gaseous cycles.
C) Biogeochemical cycles are driven by the sun and by gravity.
D) There are three types of biogeochemical cycles: air, water, and land.
E) The hydrologic cycle involves the ocean, air, land, and living organisms.

Question 78

Living vegetation and the ocean are known as "carbon sinks" because:

A) They are made of carbon.
B) They create carbon.
C) They destroy carbon.
D) They store carbon.
E) Due to gravity, carbon is found closer to the ground.

Question 79

Human activities such as the ____________ release large quantities of sulfur.

A) Burning of fossil fuels
B) Burning of wood
C) Use of synthetic fertilizers
D) Use of detergents
E) Cultivation of sulfur-fixing crops