Deck 1: Light and Life

Question 1

Which term refers to an electromagnetic radiation that is of the shortest wavelength and highest energy?

A) radio waves
B) gamma rays
C) UV light
D) X-rays

Answer 1

B

Question 2

When does the absorption of light occur in matter?

A) when the energy of the photon is transferred to a proton within a molecule
B) when the energy of the photon is transferred to an electron within a molecule
C) when the energy of the photon is transferred to an atom within a molecule
D) when the energy of the photon is transferred to another photon within a molecule

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Which phrase expresses what photons lack versus what they have a precise amount of?

A) mass versus atoms
B) atoms versus mass
C) energy versus mass
D) mass versus energy

Answer 3

D

Question 4

What is the light used for in Chlamydomonas?

A) as a source of information about the external environment
B) as a source of information about the internal environment
C) as a source of energy and as a source of information about the external environment
D) as a source of energy and as a source of information about the internal environment

Question 5

Which of the following must occur in order for light to be used by an organism?

A) The light must be transmitted.
B) The light must be absorbed.
C) The light must be transferred.
D) The light must be reflected.

Question 6

Which of the following characteristics of light is most commonly used for defining light as a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum?

A) the fact that all living organisms can detect it
B) the fact that plants can detect it
C) the fact that humans can detect it with their eyes
D) the fact that non-human animals can detect it with their eyes

Question 7

Which two things are sensed by a Chlamydomonas cell's eyespot?

A) light location and colour
B) light location and intensity
C) light energy and colour
D) light energy and intensity

Question 8

Which term refers to an electromagnetic radiation that is of the longest wavelength and lowest energy?

A) radio waves
B) gamma rays
C) UV light
D) X-rays

Question 9

When does the electron become excited?

A) when the energy of the photon is transferred to it
B) when the light is not absorbed
C) when the energy of the photon is taken away from it
D) when the light does not exist

Question 10

Which of the following allows energy to be used by living things?

A) It cannot cause changes.
B) It can be reflected.
C) It has no mass.
D) It can interact with matter.

Question 11

Suppose Monet did NOT have a reduced ability to see over the years. What would his paintings have looked like?

A) They would have been less vibrant.
B) They would have been less blue-green.
C) They would not have had narrow brush strokes.
D) They would not have consisted of bleeding colours.

Question 12

Which of the following are within the range of most radiation reaching the surface of Earth?

A) near-infrared and infrared radiation
B) infrared radiation and microwaves
C) ultraviolet and near-infrared radiation
D) ultraviolet radiation and X-rays

Question 13

The light sensor in a Chlamydomonas cell allows it to sense both light direction and light intensity. What do we call this light sensor?

A) a vacuole
B) an eye
C) a spot
D) an eyespot

Question 14

Which natural phenomenon is the most fundamental?

A) warmth
B) sensitivity
C) sound
D) light

Question 15

When light hits a pigment, what happens to the energy from a photon?

A) It is reflected from an electron of the pigment molecule.
B) It is transferred to an electron of the pigment molecule.
C) It is transmitted through an electron of the pigment molecule.
D) It is transmitted and reflected from an electron of the pigment molecule.

Question 16

Which light transmittance decreases when the increased opaqueness of the lens absorbs certain wavelengths of light?

A) green light
B) red light
C) blue light
D) yellow light

Question 17

What is a conjugated system?

A) a pigment region where hydrogen atoms are covalently bonded to each other with alternating single and double bonds
B) a pigment region where oxygen atoms are covalently bonded to each other with alternating single and double bonds
C) a pigment region where carbon atoms are covalently bonded to each other with alternating single and double bonds
D) a pigment region where nitrogen atoms are covalently bonded to each other with alternating single and double bonds

Question 18

Light serves two important functions for life on Earth. What is light's one source that sustains life, and what information does it provide organisms with?

A) energy; information about physical life
B) chemicals; information about physical life
C) chemicals; information about surrounding life
D) energy; information about chemical life

Question 19

Consider the range of electromagnetic spectrum. What is the relationship between the wavelength of light and the energy of the photons it carries?

A) the shorter the wavelength, the lower the energy of the photons it contains
B) the longer the wavelength, the higher the energy of the photons it contains
C) the longer the wavelength, the lower the energy of the photons it contains
D) the more average the wavelength, the higher the energy of the photons it contains

Question 20

Which of the following is within the range of heat escaping from the surface of Earth?

A) infrared radiation
B) gamma rays
C) UV radiation
D) X-rays

Question 21

Why is light a source of energy?

A) It excites an electron within a pigment molecule, which then serves as a source of light energy that can be used for work.
B) It excites an electron within a pigment molecule, which then serves as a source of heat energy that can be used for work.
C) It excites an electron within a pigment molecule, which then serves as a source of potential energy that can be used for work.
D) It excites an electron within a pigment molecule, which then serves as a source of kinetic energy that can be used for work.

Question 22

In the model of a bacteriorhodopsin, which pigment is bound to the protein?

A) rhodopsin
B) retinal
C) chlorophyll a
D) indigo

Question 23

The plant photoreceptor phytochrome is important for which of the following?

A) photomorphogenesis
B) photorespiration
C) growth
D) photosynthesis

Question 24

What does the conjugated system arrangement in pigments result in?

A) delocalization of protons
B) localization of electrons
C) delocalization of electrons
D) localization of protons

Question 25

What is the most common photoreceptor found in nature?

A) chlorophyll b
B) chlorophyll a
C) rhodopsin
D) carotene

Question 26

Which pair is properly matched?

A) chlorophyll a and photosynthesis
B) chlorophyll a and vision
C) indigo and photosynthesis
D) indigo and vision

Question 27

In which form does energy enter the ecosystem?

A) chemical energy
B) heat
C) light energy
D) magnetic energy

Question 28

Which of the following describes a red pigment?

A) It can reflect the green wavelength.
B) It cannot reflect the red wavelength.
C) It cannot reflect the green wavelength.
D) It can reflect the red wavelength.

Question 29

Suppose that you observe an organism that moves by phototaxis. Which of the following is the organism most likely doing?

A) swimming toward or away from a heat source
B) swimming toward or away from a magnetic source
C) swimming toward or away from a light source
D) swimming toward or away from a chemical source

Question 30

Why do red and blue light drive photosynthesis more effectively than green light?

A) because chlorophyll cannot absorb red and blue light
B) because chlorophyll can absorb green light
C) because chlorophyll can absorb red and blue light
D) because chlorophyll cannot absorb green light

Question 31

Which aspect of pigments makes them efficient in capturing light?

A) They all share a region where hydrogen atoms are covalently bonded to each other with single bonds.
B) They all share a region where hydrogen atoms are covalently bonded to each other with alternating single and double bonds.
C) They all share a region where carbon atoms are covalently bonded to each other with alternating single and double bonds.
D) They all share a region where carbon atoms are covalently bonded to each other with double bonds.

Question 32

Why is chlorophyll green in colour?

A) It can reflect the green wavelength.
B) It cannot reflect the red wavelength.
C) It cannot reflect the green wavelength.
D) It can reflect the red wavelength.

Question 33

When light hits a pigment, how many electrons are excited by a single photon?

A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4

Question 34

What does photosynthesis capture?

A) chemical energy
B) light energy
C) heat
D) magnetic energy

Question 35

What are opsins and what are they a part of?

A) membrane lipids that form a complex with a retinal molecule at the centre
B) membrane proteins that form a complex with a retinal molecule at the centre
C) retinal molecules that form a complex with membrane proteins at the centre
D) retinal molecules that form a complex with membrane lipids at the centre

Question 36

Which of the following is characteristic of an object that is black in colour?

A) It does not absorb any wavelength.
B) It absorbs all wavelengths.
C) It reflects some wavelengths, but not all.
D) It reflects all wavelengths.

Question 37

What is the raw material for photosynthesis?

A) sugar and water
B) sugar and oxygen
C) carbon dioxide and oxygen
D) carbon dioxide and water

Question 38

Which of the following describes a red pigment?

A) It can absorb the green wavelength.
B) It cannot absorb the red wavelength.
C) It cannot absorb the green wavelength.
D) It can absorb the red wavelength.

Question 39

Which phrase best explains why some photosynthesis still occurs under green light?

A) because chlorophyll absorbs red and blue light
B) because many different pigments are involved in photosynthesis
C) because chlorophyll absorbs green light
D) because chlorophyll is green in colour

Question 40

Why is chlorophyll green in colour?

A) because it can absorb portions of blue light
B) because it can absorb some red light
C) because it can absorb green light
D) because it cannot absorb green light

Question 41

Suppose that you are studying the simplest eye. Which organism are you most likely using for your study?

A) Euglena
B) Chlorella
C) Chlamydomonas
D) Planaria

Question 42

When phytochrome is activated to sense a change in the environment, what is most likely happening in a seedling?

A) the normal developmental process activated by seedlings when exposed to heat
B) the normal developmental process activated by seedlings when exposed to light
C) the normal developmental process activated by seedlings when exposed to cold
D) the normal developmental process activated by seedlings when exposed to salinity

Question 43

Which wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum are the only ones used for photosynthesis?

A) from about 300 to 600 nm
B) from about 400 to 700 nm
C) from about 500 to 800 nm
D) from about 600 to 900 nm

Question 44

What is the free-running nature of circadian rhythm analogous to?

A) a desktop computer
B) a digital telephone
C) an old-fashioned wrist watch
D) a modern calculator

Question 45

If a photosystem II complex is under normal light conditions, how often might you expect that it needs to be repaired?

A) 10 minutes
B) 20 minutes
C) 30 minutes
D) 60 minutes

Question 46

Which of the following is of particular concern for causing damage by light energy?

A) higher-energy gamma radiation
B) lower-energy gamma radiation
C) higher-energy ultraviolet radiation
D) lower-energy ultraviolet radiation

Question 47

Which is a difference between eyes and the photosynthetic apparatus of plants and algae?

A) The photosynthetic apparatus of plants and algae is particularly susceptible to photo-oxidative damage.
B) The photosynthetic apparatus of plants and algae is not susceptible to photo-oxidative damage.
C) Eyes are particularly susceptible to photo-oxidative damage.
D) Eyes are not susceptible to photo-oxidative damage.

Question 48

The UV light affects the nucleotide bases of DNA. What can UV light form, and how many neighbouring bases of DNA become covalently linked in this situation?

A) It can form a primer with two bases linked.
B) It can form a dimer with one base linked.
C) It can form a trimer with three bases linked.
D) It can form a dimer with two bases linked.

Question 49

Which wavelengths are absorbed by the ozone layer high in the atmosphere?

A) visible wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation
B) longer wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation
C) any wavelength of electromagnetic radiation
D) shorter wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation

Question 50

How did the eye that exists in humans and other animals appear?

A) It did not appear suddenly.
B) It possibly appeared suddenly.
C) It definitely appeared suddenly.
D) It is not known.

Question 51

What controls circadian rhythms, and which environment sets this clock?

A) an internal clock; an external environment
B) an artificial clock; a natural environment
C) an external clock; an internal environment
D) a natural clock; an artificial environment

Question 52

What distinguishes the eye from the eyespot?

A) colour
B) vision
C) sensitivity
D) adaptability

Question 53

Why is ultraviolet radiation damaging?

A) Because it consists of wavelengths that are longer than visible light, the energy of the photons of ultraviolet light is greater and more damaging to biological molecules.
B) Because it consists of wavelengths that are shorter than visible light, the energy of the photons of ultraviolet light is greater and more damaging to biological molecules.
C) Because it consists of wavelengths that are shorter than visible light, the energy of the photons of ultraviolet light is lesser and more damaging to biological molecules.
D) Because it consists of wavelengths that are shorter than visible light, the energy of the photons of ultraviolet light is lesser and less damaging to biological molecules.

Question 54

In what way are eyes and eyespots similar to each other?

A) They are both simple.
B) They both sense light.
C) They are both big.
D) They both sense the absence of light.

Question 55

Where are ocelli single-lens eyes found?

A) only in invertebrates, not in vertebrates
B) in most vertebrates, including humans, but not in invertebrates
C) in some invertebrates and most vertebrates, including humans
D) in some vertebrates only, but not in humans

Question 56

What does phototaxis allow a cell to do?

A) stay in the optimum light environment
B) stay in the optimum magnetic environment
C) stay in the optimum chemical environment
D) stay in the optimum climate environment

Question 57

What is the importance of the pigment melanin in humans?

A) It prevents destruction of vitamin D caused by UV light.
B) It allows formation of vitamin B caused by UV light.
C) It prevents DNA damage by absorbing UV light.
D) It prevents DNA damage by reflecting UV light.

Question 58

When does phytochrome become active in seedlings?

A) when a seedling is exposed to wavelengths of blue light
B) when a seedling is exposed to wavelengths of red light
C) when a seedling is exposed to wavelengths of green light
D) when a seedling is exposed to wavelengths of yellow light

Question 59

What does light absorption trigger during phototaxis?

A) rapid changes in the concentrations of ions, including potassium and oxygen
B) rapid changes in the concentrations of ions, including sodium and oxygen
C) rapid changes in the concentrations of ions, including sodium and calcium
D) rapid changes in the concentrations of ions, including potassium and calcium

Question 60

In what way are insects, arthropods, and molluscs similar to each other?

A) They have an endoskeleton.
B) They have eyespots.
C) They have wings.
D) They have compound eyes.

Question 61

How are leaf-dropping in trees and colour change in the coat of the Artic fox related?

A) They are examples found in dark-dependent organisms.
B) They are examples of adaptation to climate.
C) They are examples found in organisms that live in the same area.
D) They are examples of photoperiod-dependent phenomena.

Question 62

Which of the following best describes coevolution?

A) A change in one species has no effect on the other species.
B) A change in one species has an effect on the other species.
C) Neither of the two species change.
D) Both species change, but independently of each other.

Question 63

Where is the central pacemaker that controls circadian rhythm found in many animals?

A) in the suprachiasmatic nucleus
B) in the eye
C) in the skin
D) in the optic nerve

Question 64

Suppose that you find a flower that is yellow in colour. Which of the following will most likely be its pollinator?

A) wind
B) hummingbird
C) possum
D) bee

Question 65

What is the purpose of the functional photoreceptors in mole rats, even though the image-forming part of the brain is dramatically reduced?

A) It allows them to set their biological clock properly, which is necessary for reproduction.
B) It allows them to hunt successfully.
C) It allows them to see other individuals in their group properly.
D) It allows them to set their biological clock properly, which is necessary for the proper regulation of circadian rhythm.

Question 66

Suppose that dinoflagellates are NOT bioluminescent. Which of the following would most likely characterize them?

A) They will not be able to feed.
B) They will not be able to reproduce.
C) They will not be able to scare off potential predators.
D) They will not be able to expel wastes.

Question 67

Which colours are bees attracted to?

A) green and red
B) green and blue
C) yellow and red
D) yellow and blue

Question 68

Which of the following makes pollination important?

A) It enables recognition of male and female flowers in plants.
B) It enables the pollinator to feed.
C) It enables fertilization and reproduction in plants, while the pollinator has no benefits.
D) It enables fertilization and reproduction in plants, while the pollinator can feed.

Question 69

Which of the following processes loses less than 5% of the energy as heat?

A) photosynthesis
B) cellular respiration
C) bioluminescent light production
D) fermentation

Question 70

Suppose that some marine bacteria that are normally bioluminescent are NOT any more. As a result, what would the bacteria most likely be unable to do?

A) They would be unable to scare off potential predators.
B) They would be unable to feed.
C) They would be unable to communicate.
D) They would be unable to reproduce.

Question 71

What is one difference between the energy produced from the light bulb and the energy produced during the process of bioluminescent light production?

A) Less than 5% of the energy converted is lost as chemical energy during the process of bioluminescent light production.
B) Less than 5% of the energy converted is lost as heat energy during the process of bioluminescent light production.
C) The conversion of heat energy produced during the process of bioluminescent light production is very inefficient.
D) The conversion of chemical energy produced during the process of bioluminescent light production is very inefficient.

Question 72

What is the cause of blindness in mole rats?

A) They live in dry areas that do not provide enough moisture.
B) They live in a group and do not need to see.
C) They live in the light and are blinded by it.
D) They live in underground darkness.

Question 73

What do tarsiers and giant squids have in common?

A) They are both active during daytime as well as at night.
B) They both live in water.
C) They are both active during daytime.
D) They are both nocturnal.

Question 74

How is the eye of a tarsier similar to the eye of a giant squid?

A) Both are compound.
B) Both are simple.
C) Both are blue.
D) Both are blind.

Question 75

In what way are animals that are normally active during the daytime different than animals that are normally active at night?

A) Animals that are normally active during the daytime display worse visual acuity under high-light conditions compared to animals that are normally active during the night.
B) Animals that are normally active during the daytime display improved visual acuity under high-light conditions compared to animals that are active during the night.
C) Animals that are normally active at night display worse visual acuity under low-light conditions compared to animals that are normally active during the daytime.
D) Animals that are normally active at night display improved visual acuity under low-light conditions compared to animals that are normally active during the daytime.

Question 76

Which of these organisms use chemical energy to excite an electron in a molecule, so that it bounces back and forth?

A) bacteria, Archaea, and protists
B) bacteria, squid, and fireflies
C) squids, octopuses, and clams
D) fireflies, butterflies, and dragonflies

Question 77

Why do animals in deep ocean depths live in complete darkness?

A) because 100% of the ocean is at a depth where no light penetrates
B) because over 90% of the ocean is at a depth where no light penetrates
C) because over 80% of the ocean is at a depth where no light penetrates
D) because over 70% of the ocean is at a depth where no light penetrates

Question 78

Suppose that the suprachiasmatic nucleus within the brain is damaged. Which of the following is the most likely to occur?

A) The organism would not be able to control its circadian rhythm.
B) The organism would die.
C) The organism would not experience any change.
D) The organism would not be able to move.

Question 79

Which colour are hummingbirds attracted to?

A) yellow
B) blue
C) red
D) green

Question 80

How do bioluminescent animals deal with light?

A) They absorb light from the environment.
B) They reflect light to the environment.
C) They produce their own light.
D) They transmit light form the environment.