Ecology
What is the term for all the living and nonliving things in an area?
Ecosystem
What biomolecule is the main source of quick energy for the cell?
Carbohydrates
Which organelle is the cell’s “powerhouse”?
Mitochondria
During which phase does the cell grow and perform normal functions?
Interphase (specifically G1)
What do you call a snowman with a six-pack?
An abdominal snowman
What is the main source of energy in most ecosystems?
The Sun
What property of water allows insects to walk on its surface?
Surface tension (caused by cohesion)
Which singer is known as the “Queen of Christmas”?
Mariah Carey
What process divides the cell into two identical cells?
Mitosis
What lobe of the brain controls decision-making and personality?
Frontal lobe
When two different species live together and both benefit, what type of interaction is this?
Symbiosis
What are the two most popular names for Santa Claus around the world?
Saint Nicholas and Father Christmas
What type of transport moves molecules from high to low concentration without energy?
Diffusion / passive transport
Meiosis results in cells that are…
Haploid/Genetically Diverse
Which immune cells engulf pathogens by “eating” them?
Phagocytes / Macrophages
In The Polar Express, what does the main character receive as a gift?
A silver bell from Santa’s sleigh
Water can dissolve many substances. What property explains this?
Polarity / Being a universal solvent
Which plant organ is primarily responsible for photosynthesis?
Leaves
What event in meiosis increases genetic variation by swapping DNA segments between homologous chromosomes?
Crossing over
Which blood vessels carry blood away from the heart?
Arteries
Why do energy pyramids always get narrower at the top?
Energy is lost as heat at each trophic level, so less energy is available for higher levels.
Which biomolecule stores the most long-term energy, and why is it ideal for storage?
Lipids — they contain many C–H bonds that store large amounts of chemical energy.
Why does the phospholipid bilayer form with the heads facing outward and tails inward?
Heads are hydrophilic and interact with water; tails are hydrophobic and avoid water.
In which U.S. state was the first Christmas celebrated?
Florida
A person gets the flu and recovers, then is exposed again weeks later but doesn’t get sick. Which immune components prevent reinfection, and how?
Memory B cells rapidly produce antibodies, and memory T cells quickly target infected cells.