Question 1

A localized group of organisms that belong to the same species is called a

Accepted Answer

A)   biosystem.
B)   community.
C)   population.
D)   ecosystem.
E)   family. C

Question 2

Which of the following statements best distinguishes hypotheses from theories in science?

Accepted Answer

A)   Theories are hypotheses that have been proved.
B)   Hypotheses are guesses; theories are correct answers.
C)   Hypotheses usually are relatively narrow in scope; theories have broad explanatory power.
D)   Hypotheses and theories are essentially the same thing.
E)   Theories are proved true; hypotheses are often falsified. C

Question 3

Which branch of biology is concerned with the naming and classifying of organisms?

Accepted Answer

A)   informatics
B)   schematic biology
C)   taxonomy
D)   genomics
E)   evolution C

Question 4

All the organisms on your campus make up

Accepted Answer

A)   an ecosystem.
B)   a community.
C)   a population.
D)   an experimental group.
E)   a domain.

Question 5

When applying the process of science, which of these is tested?

Accepted Answer

A)   a conclusion
B)   a result
C)   an observation
D)   a hypothesis
E)   a control group

Question 6

Imagine there is a species-specific fishing regulation that mandates only adult fish of this species that are 75 cm or longer may be kept and shorter fish must be released. Based on your knowledge of natural selection, you would predict that the average length of the adult fish population will

Accepted Answer

A)   remain unchanged.
B)   gradually decline.
C)   rapidly decline.
D)   gradually increase.
E)   rapidly increase.

Question 7

Which of the following is an example of qualitative data?

Accepted Answer

A)   The temperature decreased from 20°C to 15°C.
B)   The plant's height is 25 centimeters (cm) .
C)   The fish swam in a zigzag motion.
D)   The six pairs of robins hatched an average of three chicks.
E)   The contents of the stomach are mixed every 20 seconds.

Question 8

The application of scientific knowledge for some specific purpose is known as

Accepted Answer

A)   technology.
B)   deductive science.
C)   inductive science.
D)   anthropologic science.
E)   pure science.

Question 9

A water sample from a hot thermal vent contained a single-celled organism that had a cell wall but lacked a nucleus. What is its most likely classification?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 10

Which of the following is the best description of a control for an experiment?

Accepted Answer

A)   The control group is kept in an unchanging environment.
B)   The control is left alone by the experimenters.
C)   The control group is matched with the experimental group except for the one experimental variable.
D)   The control group is exposed to only one variable rather than several.
E)   Only the experimental group is tested or measured.

Question 11

Which of these is an example of inductive reasoning?

Accepted Answer

A)   Hundreds of individuals of a species have been observed and all are photosynthetic; therefore, the species is photosynthetic.
B)   These organisms live in sunny parts of this area, so they are able to photosynthesize.
C)   If horses are always found grazing on grass, they can be only herbivores and not omnivores.
D)   If protists are all single-celled organisms, then they are incapable of aggregating.
E)   If two species are members of the same genus, they are more alike than each of them could be to a different genus.

Question 12

Which of the following taxonomic categories is least likely to be later revised for a particular organism?

Accepted Answer

A)   kingdom
B)   class
C)   order
D)   phylum
E)   species

Question 13

To understand the chemical basis of inheritance, we must understand the molecular structure of DNA. This is an example of the application of which concept to the study of biology?

Accepted Answer

A)   evolution
B)   emergent properties
C)   reductionism
D)   the cell theory
E)   feedback regulation

Question 14

A controlled experiment is one in which

Accepted Answer

A)   the experiment is repeated many times to ensure that the results are accurate.
B)   the experiment proceeds at a slow pace to guarantee that the scientist can carefully observe all reactions and process all experimental data.
C)   there are at least two groups, one of which does not receive the experimental treatment.
D)   there are at least two groups, one differing from the other by two or more variables.
E)   there is one group for which the scientist controls all variables.

Question 15

Why is it important that an experiment include a control group?

Accepted Answer

A)   The researcher predetermines the results for the control group.
B)   The control group provides a reserve of experimental subjects.
C)   A control group is required for the development of an "If…then" statement.
D)   A control group assures that an experiment will be repeatable.
E)   Without a control group, there is no basis for knowing if a particular result is due to the variable being tested.

Question 16

Which of these provides evidence of the common ancestry of all life?

Accepted Answer

A)   ubiquitous use of catalysts by living systems
B)   near universality of the genetic code
C)   structure of the nucleus
D)   structure of cilia
E)   structure of chloroplasts

Question 17

Which of the following best describes the logic of scientific inquiry?

Accepted Answer

A)   If I generate a testable hypothesis, tests and observations will support it.
B)   If my prediction is correct, it will lead to a testable hypothesis.
C)   If my observations are accurate, they will support my hypothesis.
D)   If my hypothesis is correct, I can expect certain test results.
E)   If my experiments are set up right, they will lead to a testable hypothesis.

Question 18

Organisms interact with their environments, exchanging matter and energy. For example, plant chloroplasts convert the energy of sunlight to

Accepted Answer

A)   the energy of motion.
B)   carbon dioxide and water.
C)   chemical energy.
D)   oxygen.
E)   kinetic energy.

Question 19

The main source of energy for producers in an ecosystem is

Accepted Answer

A)   light energy.
B)   kinetic energy.
C)   thermal energy.
D)   chemical energy.
E)   ATP.

Question 20

Which of the following best demonstrates the unity among all organisms?

Accepted Answer

A)   identical DNA sequences
B)   descent with modification
C)   the structure and function of DNA
D)   natural selection
E)   emergent properties

Exam 1: Introduction: Evolution and the Foundations of Biology