Deck 1: Exploring Life and Science

Question 1

All of the changes that occur from the time an egg is fertilized through childhood, adolescence, and adulthood are called

A) metabolism.
B) evolution.
C) homeostasis.
D) reproduction.
E) development.

Answer 1

E

Question 2

Which organisms are most closely related to humans?

A) spiders
B) earthworms
C) parakeets
D) meerkats
E) snakes

Answer 2

D

Question 3

The Domain Eukarya contain(s) ______ kingdom(s).

A) one
B) two
C) three
D) four
E) five

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Four million years ago, horses were rather small compared to today's horses and had relatively stocky bodies with a straight shoulder and thick neck. This statement is an example of which biological concept?

A) metabolism
B) evolution
C) development
D) homeostasis
E) reproduction

Question 5

All of the ecosystems on the planet together are called the

A) atmosphere.
B) hydrosphere.
C) biosphere.
D) lithosphere.
E) stratosphere.

Question 6

Organisms are composed of multiple cells.

Question 7

The development of resistance of MRSA bacteria to antibiotics is an example of

A) homeostasis.
B) metabolism.
C) evolution.
D) reproduction.
E) organization.

Question 8

A complex individual that consists of organ systems is known as a/an

A) community.
B) population.
C) organism.
D) tissue.
E) species.

Question 9

The region in which populations interact with each other and with the physical environment is called

A) an entity.
B) an ecosystem.
C) a biosystem.
D) a community.
E) a biosphere.

Question 10

The cell you are examining under the microscope appears to contain a nucleus. This organism belongs to the domain

A) Bacteria.
B) Archaea.
C) Eukarya.
D) Animalia.
E) Fungi.

Question 11

Fish have scales that enable them to live in a water environment. This is an example of

A) homeostasis.
B) adaptation.
C) metabolism.
D) development.
E) cellular organization.

Question 12

Which of the following is not a basic characteristic of all living things?

A) Living things are organized.
B) Living things acquire materials and energy.
C) Living things contain a nucleus and organelles.
D) Living things reproduce.
E) Living things grow and develop.

Question 13

Which of the following statements most correctly defines homeostasis?

A) All living organisms are alike.
B) Living organisms do not change much over time.
C) Human beings and other animals acquire materials and energy when they eat food.
D) It takes energy to maintain the organization of the cell.
E) Cells and organisms must be able to maintain a fairly constant internal environment.

Question 14

Traditions, beliefs, and values are considered what aspect of human life?

A) communicative
B) cultural
C) instructional
D) biological
E) chemical

Question 15

Viruses are not considered alive. Which of the following characteristics of living things do they lack?

A) Living things reproduce.
B) Living things have an evolutionary history.
C) Living things grow and develop.
D) Living things respond to stimuli.
E) Living things acquire energy.

Question 16

In a swamp, all of the alligators would represent a/an

A) organism.
B) population.
C) community.
D) ecosystem.
E) biosphere.

Question 17

The process of change that produces the diversity of life on Earth is called

A) evolution.
B) homeostasis.
C) levels of organization.
D) biological classification.
E) molecular diversification.

Question 18

The scientific study of life is called:

A) biology
B) ecology
C) anatomy
D) biochemistry
E) limnology

Question 19

Choose the CORRECT order (1-5) of increasing complexity/organization.

A) (1) tissues, (2) organ systems, (3) cells, (4) organs, (5) organism
B) (1) cells, (2) organ systems, (3) tissues, (4) organs, (5) organism
C) (1) tissues, (2) organs, (3) organ systems, (4) cells, (5) organism
D) (1) cells, (2) tissues, (3) organs, (4) organ systems, (5) organism
E) (1) organism, (2) organ systems, (3) organs, (4) tissues, (5) cells

Question 20

The face of a sunflower turns to follow the sun as it moves across the sky. This is an example of

A) metabolism.
B) homeostasis.
C) response to stimuli.
D) development.
E) reproduction.

Question 21

The tentative explanation to be tested is called

A) a theory.
B) a hunch.
C) a hypothesis.
D) the data.
E) the conclusion.

Question 22

Which of the following statements would be considered anecdotal data?

A) "I lost 21 lbs on the Atkins diet."
B) Out of a study of 23 individuals, 12 participants lost between 15 and 22 pounds on the Atkins diet.
C) The average weight loss for participants in the Atkins diet was 15 pounds in 8 weeks.
D) The South Beach diet helped 27 people lose between 22 and 32 pounds over the course of 12 weeks.
E) Participants who stayed on the South Beach Diet for a total of 12 weeks lost an average of 22 pounds.

Question 23

________ observations are supported by factual information while _______ observations involve personal judgment.

A) Subjective/analytical
B) Objective/analytical
C) Objective/subjective
D) Objective/hypothetical
E) Subjective/theoretical

Question 24

Which of the following statements is a hypothesis?

A) If a student buys a meal plan he/she will eat more vegetables.
B) Ginny gained 5 lbs her freshman year.
C) Blake failed the test.
D) There are more calories in french fries than in colas.
E) I like my biology class better than my other classes.

Question 25

Which of the following statements is an objective observation?

A) This milk tastes funny.
B) This package is larger than that one.
C) I like this picture.
D) This mattress feels hard to me.
E) I think I am going to be sick.

Question 26

What is the unifying principle of the biological sciences?

A) Technology
B) Anatomy
C) Biochemistry
D) Taxonomy
E) Evolution

Question 27

Which of the following is not a basic theory of biology?

A) Theory of ecosystems
B) Cell theory
C) Gene theory
D) Theory of evolution
E) Theory of gravity

Question 28

The cause of stomach ulcers appears to be

A) excess stomach acid.
B) the bacterium Helicobacter pylori.
C) drinking too much coffee.
D) extreme stress.
E) diets rich in meat products.

Question 29

Humans evolved from apes.

Question 30

Where on the graph can you find the information that the graph pertains to?

A) The x & y axis
B) The x & z axis.
C) The dot points that are connected by the lines of the graph.
D) The top of each bar in a bar graph.
E) The y & z axis.

Question 31

The information collected during the experiment or observation is called

A) a theory.
B) a hunch.
C) the hypothesis.
D) the data.
E) the conclusion.

Question 32

The general public needs to have an understanding of science in order to make informed decisions about the future of our species.

Question 33

A controlled study when neither the patient nor the examiner is aware of whether the patient is receiving a treatment, is called a/an

A) statistical study.
B) double-blind study.
C) variable study.
D) adaptive study.
E) blind study.

Question 34

Humans are part of the biosphere and must live in harmony with it if we are to survive as a species.

Question 35

Line graphs are used to depict the relationship between two quantities.

Question 36

Which study could be rejected on the grounds of testimonial data?

A) A study about the effects of herbicide on Japanese beetles was conducted in the laboratory using a sample size of 20 beetles.
B) A study about the effects of herbicide on Japanese beetles was conducted in Illinois using a 20 acre field as a study site.
C) A study about the effectiveness of antacids in a study group of of 200 people who suffer from ulcers.
D) A study about the impact zebra mussels have upon the Great Lakes.
E) A study consisting of 200 test subjects who are interested in a new weight loss pill.

Question 37

Humans clear forests to grow crops, and they build houses and cities. What are these an example of?

A) how humans modify the biosphere
B) how humans preserve ecosystems
C) the high value humans place on biodiversity
D) the positive impact of humans on life on Earth
E) how humans do not need the rest of life on Earth

Question 38

In an experiment designed to test the effect of temperature on goldfish respiration, the temperatures that were changed represent what type of variable?

A) control
B) responding
C) experimental
D) correlative
E) placebo

Question 39

Only humans have a language that allows us to communicate information and experiences symbolically.

Question 40

Humans have identified and named almost all of the 15 million species on Earth.

Question 41

List the characteristics that are common to all living organisms.

Question 42

Which of the following URLs would you perhaps distrust in writing a scientific paper?

A) .com
B) .gov
C) .edu
D) .org
E) Both .edu and .gov

Question 43

In conducting a review of the literature on the Internet, which of the following sources would be the least reliable?

A) The Centers of Disease Control
B) The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
C) The National Institute of Health
D) The Pasteur Institute
E) Astrology and Medicine

Question 44

Technology is the application of scientific knowledge to the interests of humans.

Question 45

An important part of scientific research is repeatability.

Question 46

Scientists who have a financial stake in a company are now required to state that when they do research. This is an example of

A) ethics in science.
B) financial planning.
C) a new business model.
D) a biotechnology revolution.
E) statistical significance.

Question 47

If the control group in an experiment shows the same results as the test group, the treatment was successful.

Question 48

Which of the following statements explains the atomic bomb and the benefit of nuclear physics to cancer therapy?

A) Science and technology are not risk free.
B) Science and technology are wrong.
C) Science and technology are good for mankind.
D) Science and technology are value-neutral.
E) Science and technology always provide value to people.

Question 49

The purpose of informed consent is

A) to determine whether a patient is acceptable for a particular study.
B) to ensure that the doctor does not know which patient is receiving the treatment.
C) to decide whether a patient goes into the test group or the control group.
D) to ensure the patient knows the risks and is volunteering.
E) to determine whether the treatment works.

Question 50

The standard error tells

A) how often the examiner made an error.
B) how often the experimental variable was tested.
C) the relationship between the control and test groups.
D) whether or not the research has been published in a scientific journal.
E) how uncertain a particular value is.

Question 51

List the four kingdoms of life that are classified under the Domain Eukarya and indicate the key features of each.

Question 52

Describe the steps associated with the scientific method.

Question 53

Which of the following is an example of correlation without causation?

A) HPV can cause cervical cancer.
B) Illegal drug use causes an increase in crime.
C) Helicobacter pylori can cause ulcers.
D) People who commit crimes also consume bread.
E) Parents have children.

Question 54

In a graph, the experimental variable is plotted on the

A) x axis.
B) y axis.
C) x and y axis.
D) z axis.
E) x and z axis.

Question 55

To make all subjects think they are receiving the same treatment, patients in the control group can receive a placebo.

Question 56

Choose the following interest group that should be held most responsible for the future roles of new scientific technologies.

A) Scientists
B) Politicians
C) Clergy
D) Educators
E) Everyone

Question 57

Jessica is interested in a new vitamin pill her friend recommended. Her friend told her that it really helped her. Should Jessica accept this type of evidence?

Question 58

After studying biology, it is hoped that you

A) will become an animal rights activist.
B) will be better able to make wise decisions regarding your own well being and the Earth's.
C) will get a high paying job as a biologist.
D) will understand all there is to know about humans and biology.
E) will dislike anything to do with biology.

Question 59

One of the difficulties with publication of research in scientific journals is that it

A) is technical and may be difficult for a layperson to read.
B) is often out of context or misunderstood.
C) is unverified and usually not referenced.
D) displays bias.
E) is designed to convince readers to purchase a product.

Question 60

A probability value of less than 5% in a scientific study is acceptable.