Question 1

Fireflies produce light inside their bodies. The enzyme luciferase is involved in the reaction that produces the light. Scientists have isolated the luciferase gene.A scientist inserts the luciferase gene into the DNA of cells from another organism. If these cells produce light, the scientist knows that which of the following occurred?

Accepted Answer

A)  The luciferase gene mutated inside the cells.
B)  The luciferase gene was transcribed and translated.
C)  The luciferase gene destroyed the original genes of the cells.
D)  The luciferase gene moved from the nucleus to the endoplasmic reticulum. B

Question 2

Which of the following best describes the result of a mutation in an organism's DNA?

Accepted Answer

A)  The mutation may produce a zygote.
B)  The mutation may cause phenotypic change.
C)  The mutation causes damage when it occurs.
D)  The mutation creates entirely new organisms. B

Question 3

A person who is cold shivers to generate body heat. Which of the following lists the primary body systems that interact to maintain homeostasis in this situation?

Accepted Answer

A)  nervous, excretory, and respiratory
B)  excretory, digestive, and respiratory
C)  digestive, muscular, and circulatory
D)  muscular, circulatory, and nervous D

Question 4

Shelly and Jason are siblings, but Shelly looks like their father while Jason looks like their mother. Which of the following statements best explains the difference in Shelly's and Jason's features?

Accepted Answer

A)  Shelly inherited a greater number of chromosomes from their father than Jason did.
B)  Shelly inherited a smaller number of X chromosomes from their mother than Jason did.
C)  Shelly and Jason had different mutations occur in the 46 chromosomes they inherited from their mother and father.
D)  Shelly and Jason inherited different combinations of 23 chromosomes from their mother and 23 chromosomes from their father.

Question 5

On the Galápagos Islands, finches adapted over time to different food sources through changes in their beak structure. Which of the following most likely resulted from the finches' beak structure adaptations?

Accepted Answer

A)  a decreased predation on finches
B)  an increased species diversity of finches
C)  an increased competition among finches
D)  a decreased reproductive rate in finches

Question 6

Which of the following is a central role of carbon in the chemistry of living organisms?

Accepted Answer

A)  Carbon can only bond with other carbon atoms.
B)  Carbon is a solvent that breaks chemical bonds.
C)  Carbon readily forms ionic bonds that separate easily.
D)  Carbon can form many types of molecules with covalent bonds.

Question 7

Scientists have found geysers on one of Saturn's moons. The geysers release water vapor containing complex organic compounds, which may indicate the presence of life. Which of the following elements is most likely abundant in the organic compounds in the water vapor?

Accepted Answer

A)  carbon
B)  chlorine
C)  iron
D)  zinc

Question 8

During DNA replication, the wrong nucleotide was inserted in the DNA sequence. Which of the following terms describes this situation?

Accepted Answer

A)  mutation
B)  regeneration
C)  transcription
D)  translation

Question 9

In sexual reproduction, what is the source of the genetic material in a zygote?

Accepted Answer

A)  an egg cell only
B)  a sperm cell only
C)  an egg cell and a sperm cell
D)  an egg cell and a polar body

Question 10

Which type of milk, per serving, will theoretically yield a greater amount of ATP in the human body, and what is the reason for this?

Accepted Answer

A)  dairy milk, because it contains vitamin C
B)  soymilk, because it contains no cholesterol
C)  dairy milk, because it has larger amounts of sugar and fat
D)  soymilk, because it has larger amounts of vitamins A and D

Question 11

If an animal cell is placed in distilled water, it will swell and burst. The bursting of the cell is a result of which biological process?

Accepted Answer

A)  active transport
B)  enzyme activity
C)  osmosis
D)  respiration

Question 12

Which of the following statements best explains why oxygen diffuses from the alveoli into the blood?

Accepted Answer

A)  The diaphragm draws oxygen into the alveoli at a rapid speed.
B)  Alveoli cells contain hemoglobin to transfer gases to the blood.
C)  The concentration of oxygen is greater in the alveoli than in the blood.
D)  Red blood cells move one at a time through the capillaries surrounding the alveoli.

Question 13

Which of the following describes plant cells but not animal cells?

Accepted Answer

A)  The nucleus contains the chromosomes.
B)  The ribosomes assist in protein synthesis.
C)  Plastids store starch made during photosynthesis.
D)  Mitochondria produce energy through respiration.

Question 14

Lemurs' bodies are adapted to efficiently store energy for times when food is scarce. This adaptation may help to explain how lemur ancestors survived the trip across the Mozambique Channel from mainland Africa to Madagascar. Which of the following types of molecules are primarily used for long-term energy storage in the lemur?

Accepted Answer

A)  lipids
B)  monosaccharides
C)  nucleic acids
D)  proteins

Question 15

Which of the following organs removes extra water from the blood to keep the amount of fluid in the bloodstream at the proper level?

Accepted Answer

A)  kidneys
B)  liver
C)  pancreas
D)  stomach

Question 16

Which of the following is a body system response that adjusts body temperature when it is higher than normal?

Accepted Answer

A)  Breathing rate begins to decrease.
B)  Blood vessels near the skin constrict.
C)  Sweat glands produce and secrete sweat.
D)  Hormones increase the metabolic rate of the liver.

Question 17

Which of the following cell structures carries out the process represented by the arrows labeled "2" in the diagrams?

Accepted Answer

A)  mitochondrion
B)  nucleus
C)  ribosome
D)  vacuole

Question 18

In phenylketonuria (PKU), an enzyme that converts one amino acid into another does not work properly. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this genetic condition?

Accepted Answer

A)  an error in the transcription of the gene for the enzyme
B)  a mutation in the DNA sequence that codes for the enzyme
C)  an excess of the amino acids necessary to produce the enzyme
D)  a structural variation in the amino acid modified by the enzyme

Question 19

In which of the following ways are photosynthesis and cellular respiration alike?

Accepted Answer

A)  Both processes produce glucose.
B)  Both processes consume carbon dioxide.
C)  Both processes take place in chloroplasts.
D)  Both processes involve energy transformations.

Question 20

Some cells, such as human nerve and muscle cells, contain many more mitochondria than do other cells, such as skin cells. Why do some cells have more mitochondria than others?

Accepted Answer

A)  The cells use more energy.
B)  The cells store more nutrients.
C)  The cells degrade more proteins.
D)  The cells divide more frequently.

Exam 1: Biology