Deck 1: The Science of Biology

Question 1

If you analyzed the chemical composition of a tree branch and the leg of a cow, you would find a similar proportion of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen. What is the best explanation for this observation?

A) Cows and trees are closely related species.
B) Other elements must be present that account for the differences seen in the tree and cow.
C) The tree branch and leg of the cow must have similar functions and thus be homologous structures.
D) The organization of the atoms in the tree and cow account for differences between these species.
E) The chemicals that make up an organism are not important, any chemicals could be used.

Answer 1

The organization of the atoms in the tree and cow account for differences between these species.

Question 2

Although a computer is not alive it shares which fundamental property of life?

A) Cellular organization
B) Reproduction
C) Heredity
D) Energy utilization
E) Homeostasis

Answer 2

Energy utilization

Question 3

Darwin hypothesized that Galapagos finches

A) had migrated from South America at least 14 times to account for the variation in species.
B) beaks were adapted to allow them to eat local foods.
C) looked the same but had learned different behaviors that allowed them to eat different foods.
D) were hybrids of South American and African finches.

Answer 3

beaks were adapted to allow them to eat local foods.

Question 4

Based on the literature, you hypothesize that students in traditional biology lectures will have the same grades as students in online biology lectures. You decide to test your hypothesis by comparing grades of students in traditional and online biology lectures over a semester. As a result of the experiment, you observe that the grades in the traditional lectures and the grades in the online lectures are not significantly different. What do these observations allow you to do?

A) develop a scientific theory
B) reject the null hypotheses
C) reject the hypothesis
D) accept the hypothesis without further question

Question 5

A student poses the question: How does the presence of dissolved salt affect the freezing point of water? To answer this question, the student set up two conditions. In the first condition, the student added salt to water in a container and referred to this condition as the variable. In the second condition, the student did not add any salt to water in a second container and referred to this condition as the control. The student took both containers and attempted to freeze the water at various temperatures to assess the freezing point. Would this be a valid experiment?

A) Yes, because there is more than one variable.
B) No, because there is not more than one variable
C) Yes, because there is one variable and a control
D) No because there is only one variable and a control

Question 6

In California, a species of salamanders were geographically separated over time. The group that lived in southern California relied heavily on large gold blotches on their skin that helped to camouflage them from predators. The group that lived along the coast adopted a color pattern that mimicked a poisonous, colorful newt common to that area. Instead of being camouflaged, these salamanders advertised their colors. What type of selection process has occurred over time?

A) artificial selection
B) experimental selection
C) theoretical selection
D) natural selection

Question 7

structures that have similar functions are said to be

A) uniform.
B) inherited.
C) evolved.
D) homologous.
E) analogous.

Question 8

What is the closest relative to a whale?

A) A shark.
B) A hippo.
C) A fish.
D) A bird.

Question 9

If you were to design a long-term research study to determine why there are no human births in Lapland during the months of August, September, and October, you would need to also examine a comparison population of humans in which births took place every month. The primary reason for including a comparison population within the design of this experiment would be to:

A) accumulate more facts that could be reported to other scientists.
B) test the effects of more than one variable at the same time.
C) prove that there are no births in Lapland during August, September, and October.
D) act as a control that would ensure that the results obtained are due to a difference in only one variable.

Question 10

Essay on the Principle of Population, written by Thomas Malthus in 1798, influenced Darwin's thoughts as he struggled to understand what mechanisms could be at work to produce evolution. Malthus proposed that populations of animals and plants, including humans,

A) increased arithmetically in numbers while the nutrients available only increased geometrically.
B) decreased arithmetically in numbers while the nutrients available increased geometrically.
C) increased geometrically in numbers while the nutrients available only increased arithmetically.
D) increased geometrically in numbers while the nutrients available increased arithmetically.
E) evolved from mainland to islands, thus explaining why the island flora and fauna resembled the mainland species so closely.

Question 11

A student set up an experiment to test if plants give off water vapor. Fifty pea plants, growing in pots, were covered with individual glass containers and left overnight. The next morning, the inside of each lid was covered in droplets of water. The lab student concluded that plants generally give off water vapor. What critique would you make of the experimental design?

A) There was no control so the water could have come from other sources such as air in the jar or the soil.
B) There was not a large enough sample of pea plants used to get adequate data.
C) The student did not have a clearly stated hypothesis before beginning the experiment.
D) The experiment was not precise, meaning it was not reproducible.

Question 12

The primary difference between fungi and animals is that fungi

A) digest their food externally.
B) are photosynthetic.
C) are multicellular.
D) have nuclei.

Question 13

An alien from another planet landed on earth. He is fascinated by cars and is determined to figure out how they work. He decides to disassemble one of them and examine each part independently. He removes one of the tires and proceeds to learn all he can about the tire. He then removes one of the headlights and proceeds to learn all he can about the headlight. What type of approach is this alien taking to learn about the car?

A) inductive reasoning
B) deductive reasoning
C) reductionism
D) Emergent properties

Question 14

You have been assigned to address a problem of overpopulation of species X in a nearby county. One of the members of your team suggests introducing species Y, which is a natural predator of species X, but not normally found in the area. After some discussion, you go ahead and introduce species Y. Which aspect of the hierarchical organization will be affected first?

A) population
B) tissue
C) biosphere
D) community

Question 15

You have been assigned to analyze some extraterrestrial material recently collected from Mars. After examining a sample using a microscope you jump up excitedly and shout to your colleagues that you have confirmed the existence of life on Mars. One of your colleagues takes a look at your sample and remarks that all he sees is a single-celled "blob" with little internal structure. Assuming that life on Mars can be classified into similar domains and kingdoms as Earth, to which domain does your "blob" belong?

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

Question 16

You look outside and realize that your grass needs to be mowed. You pick up the container of gasoline and see that you have approximately a third of a gallon left. You hypothesize that this amount will be enough to mow your entire lawn. Unfortunately, half way through mowing your lawn you run out of gasoline. You grumble and think to yourself that the next time you mow the lawn, you hypothesize that you will need to have at least two-thirds of a gallon of gasoline available. How did the results of your lawn-mowing experience influence the validity of your new hypothesis for future gasoline needs?

A) Your prediction of future gas needs is based on experimental data and therefore increases the validity of your hypothesis.
B) Your prediction proved that your hypothesis is correct.
C) Your hypothesis was supported by trial and error. One more trial added to your data set.
D) The hypothesis was invalidated by your experimental evidence.

Question 17

A plant and animal would be most similar at which level of organization?

A) Tissue
B) Organ
C) Organelle
D) Cell

Question 18

How does peer review influence the development of scientific theories?

A) Peer review allows other scientists to know what is current in their field.
B) Careful evaluation of research results by other scientists ensures that only solid and legitimate research results are published, and helps prevent faulty research or false claims from being viewed as scientific fact.
C) Peer review increases competition among scientists and thus increases the quality of the published work.
D) Peer review makes it extremely difficult for work to be published other than earth-shattering scientific theories.

Question 19

Cell theory is one of the foundations of biology. What are the tenants of the cell theory? Check all that apply.

A) All organisms are made up of more than one cell.
B) All cells have the ability to move.
C) Cells carry genetic material passed to daughter cells during cellular division.
D) Cells arise from other cells through the process of cell division.
E) Organisms are formed through spontaneous generation
F) All living organisms consist of cells

Question 20

Darwin's theory of evolution is supported by many modern pieces of evidence. Check all that apply.

A) New measurements of the age of the earth.
B) An understanding of the mechanism of heredity.
C) Human population growth.
D) Comparative studies of animal structures.
E) Similarities in DNA of related species.

Question 21

Amanda was studying turtles based on DNA analysis. Under the current classification scheme, which of the following turtle species are thought to be most closely related? (1) Graptemys ouachitensis, (2) Trachymes scripta, (3) Apalone spinifera, (4) Graptemys khonni.

A) 1 and 3 due to inductive reasoning
B) 1 and 3 due to deductive reasoning
C) 2 and 3 due to inductive reasoning
D) 2 and 3 due to deductive reasoning
E) 1 and 4 due to inductive reasoning
F) 1 and 4 due to deductive reasoning

Question 22

-Which species are genetically the most similar?

A) F and R
B) Z and F
C) R and D
D) Z, and R
E) A and Z

Question 23

Bacterial cells are placed into a 250mL liquid growth medium in a closed laboratory flask. According to Malthusian theory, they will reproduce exponentially and then:

A) continue reproducing arithmetically as long as there are no limitations on food supply.
B) continue reproducing geometrically until the food supply is used up, then they will cease to grow.
C) continue reproducing arithmetically until the food supply is used up, then they will cease to grow.
D) continue reproducing geometrically as long as there are no limitations on food supply.

Question 24

A dental student wants to test if fluoride is an effective additive against tooth decay. The student studies tooth decay in a population of people who live in neighborhoods supplied with fluoridated water. What would be an effective control group to ask this question?

A) Individuals with access to differing amounts of fluoride in the water.
B) Individuals with access to fluoridated water.
C) Individuals who have fluoride added to their toothpaste but not their water.
D) Individuals with access to water with no fluoride added.

Question 25

Which statement is true about the development of the theory of evolution?

A) Darwin was the first to propose evolution.
B) In Darwin's time most people believed that different organisms evolved from a common ancestor, but they did not know how.
C) Evolution from a common ancestor was proposed 100 years before Darwin's Origin of Species.
D) Initial experiments performed by Darwin did not support his hypothesis.

Question 26

Dr. Edward Jenner realized that cows have a disease called cowpox, which is like a disease that infects humans called smallpox; Jenner noticed that milkmaids who hands were infected with cowpox were not contracting smallpox. Jenner infected a child with the pus from a cowpox blister, and found that the child did not contract smallpox. Which statement represents a supporting hypothesis?

A) The cowpox virus prevented the small pox virus from entering the child's immune system.
B) The smallpox virus was so similar to the cowpox virus that the child's immune system recognized it and was able to fight it.
C) The cowpox infection will prevent the child from being infected by the small pox virus.
D) The cowpox infection will have no affect on the child's immunity to the small pox virus.