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100

The diagram on the right shows a Chesapeake Bay Waterbird Food Web. Which of the following organisms from the food web are considered secondary consumers? (Energy Flow, L.17.9)

a) osprey
b) sea ducks
c) bivalves
d) benthic invertebrates
What is: B) sea ducks
100

The graph represents the amount of available energy at successive nutrition levels in a particular food web. The X’s in the diagram represent the amount of energy that was most likely ___. (Energy Flow, L.17.9/N.1.1)

a)hanged into inorganic compounds
b)recycled back to the producers
c)retained indefinitely by the herbivores
d)released as heat to the environment


What is: D) released as heat to the environment

100

Which statement best describes the flow of energy as it passes through the organisms in the pyramid? (Energy Flow, L.17.9)

a)Energy flows through the organisms from bottom to top and decreases at each level.
b)Energy flows through the organisms from top to bottom and increases at each level
c)Energy flows through the organisms from bottom to top and increases at each level.
d)Energy flows through the organisms from top to bottom and decreases at each level.


What is A: Energy flows through the organisms from bottom to top and decreases at each level.

100

Tiny droplets of water in the air collect on the outside of a cold drink and form clouds high in the atmosphere. Which process is involved when water from the air turns into its liquid form? (Biogeochemical, L.17.10)

a)Precipitation
b)Transpiration
c)Evaporation
d)Condensation


What is: D) Condensation

100

Animals need nitrite (NO2) to make proteins. Nitrogen (N2 is found in the air but is not in a form that animals can use. Through the nitrogen cycle, nitrogen from the atmosphere becomes nitrite. Which of these can be concluded about the importance of bacteria in the nitrogen cycle? (Biogeochemical, L.17.10

a)Bacteria are important because they make nitrites that fungi need.
b)Bacteria are important because they allow plant roots to absorb nitrites from the air.
c)Bacteria are important because they change nitrogen into nitrites that animals need.
d)Bacteria are important because they decompose plant matter that compete with living plants for nitrites.


What is: C) Bacteria are important because they change nitrogen into nitrites that animals need. 

200

A biologist compares how different ecosystems undergo succession. She divides the series of events happening during succession into different stages. What feature is found only in secondary succession but not in primary succession? (Changes in Ecosystems, L.17.4)

a)the lack of pioneer species in the second stage
b)the presence of trees and large plants in the final stage
c)the presence of soil in the first stage
d)the presence of pioneer species in the final stage



What is C: the presence of soil in the first stage

200

Turtles are classified in the order Testudines. Some turtles are aquatic and others are terrestrial. Aquatic turtles have webbed feet and short claws but terrestrial turtles do not. Which of the following statements best explainswhy aquatic turtles and terrestrial turtles are classified in the same order but have such different feet? (Natural Selection, L.15.13)

a)Aquatic turtles evolved from fish, and terrestrial turtles evolved from reptiles.
b)Aquatic turtles and terrestrial turtles have similar body plans, but they grow at different rates.
c)Aquatic turtles interbred with different species and terrestrial turtles bred only within their own species.
d)Aquatic turtles and terrestrial turtles evolved from a common ancestor, but they have adapted to different environments

What is D: Aquatic turtles and terrestrial turtles evolved from a common ancestor, but they have adapted to different environments

200

Rainfall in a tropical region is below average for 10 consecutive years. Insect species adapted for dry conditions are much more plentiful at the end of the 10 years. Which of the following statements best explains the increase in the population of these insects? (Natural Selection, L.15.13)

a)Natural selection has favored insect species with a high tolerance for dry conditions.
b)Insects with a high tolerance for dry conditions have migrated out of the region.
c)Biodiversity in the region has increased due to the dry conditions.
d)Natural selection has selected against insect species that are adapted for dry conditions.


What is: A) Natural selection has favored insect species with a high tolerance for dry conditions. 

200

How is natural selection in the evolution of longer necks in giraffes best explained? (Natural Selection, L.15.13)

a)Shorter‐necked giraffes were killed by long‐necked giraffes
b)Giraffes with longer necks survived because they were better suited to the environment.
c)Giraffe necks grew longer because of the bone structure of the animals.
d)Long‐necked giraffes mated only with other long‐necked giraffes.


What is: B) Giraffes with longer necks survived because they were better suited to the environment. 

200

If a snake species were introduced to an ecosystem where it has no natural predators, what long‐term effect do you predict that snakes would have on the population dynamics of the ecosystem? (Biodiversity, L.17.8)

a)They would breed with native snake species, resulting in an increase in biodiversity in the ecosystem.
b)They would form mutualistic relationships with native snakes, since they would occupy the same niche.
c)They would compete with native snake species for resources, causing a decline in native snake populations.
d)They would serve as a food source for predators of native snakes, causing an increase in native snake populations.


What is: C) They would compete with native snake species for resources, causing a decline in native snake populations.

300

A strip‐mining company wants to lease some land that is currently part of a national park. They promise to reclaim the land should any minerals be mined from the area, and they are willing to pay top dollar for the rights. As an ecologist, what factors would you raise with the local government? (Biodiversity, L.17.8)

a)the threat to local biodiversity
b)the new jobs that would be created
c)management of the land after the company leaves
d)the increased traffic in the area


What is: A) the threat to local biodiversity 

300

Turtles are classified in the order Testudines. Some turtles are aquatic and others are terrestrial. Aquatic turtles have webbed feet and short claws but terrestrial turtles do not. Which of the following statements best explains why aquatic turtles and terrestrial turtles are classified in the same order but have such different feet? (Natural Selection, L.15.13)

a)Aquatic turtles evolved from fish, and terrestrial turtles evolved from reptiles.
b)Aquatic turtles and terrestrial turtles have similar body plans, but they grow at different rates.
c)Aquatic turtles interbred with different species and terrestrial turtles bred only within their own species.
d)Aquatic turtles and terrestrial turtles evolved from a common ancestor, but they have adapted to different environments


What is: D) Aquatic turtles and terrestrial turtles evolved from a common ancestor, but they have adapted to different environments

300

Some people see the benefit of wind energy as a clean alternative to fossil fuels for energy production. Others believe it is dangerous for migratory birds. These opinions best illustrate those decisions about alternate energy sources: (Energy Resources, L.17.11)

a)will usually favor older methods of energy production over newer method
b)should be the responsibility of each individual
c)must be made by considering the present needs of the citizens without looking toward the future
d)must be made by weighing the risks and costs against the benefits


What is: D) must be made by weighing the risks and costs against the benefits

300

It is estimated that over 600,000,000 passenger cars travel the streets and roads of the world today, and over 50,000,000 new vehicles are manufactured every year. Which of these would NOT be a result of having so many vehicles on the road? (Human Activity, L.17.20)

a)depletion of oil reserves
b)increase of healthier ecosystems
c)possible global climate change
d)increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere


What is: B) increase of healthier ecosystems 

300

In the 1800’s, many people living in cities in the United States died of infectious diseases such as cholera, which is caused by a bacterium that pollutes water. Cholera is no longer a major problem in the United States. What is the most likely reason for the elimination of cholera as a major disease? (Health, L.14.6)

a)Advances in medicine have led to cures for cholera.
b)Sewage treatment plants have completely eliminated such pathogens from drinking water.
c)People have learned the importance of washing their hands.
d)Regulations have prevented factories from dumping pollution into lakes and rivers.


What is: D) Regulations have prevented factories from dumping pollution into lakes and rivers. 

400

Which statement describes a role the oceans play in climate?

a) Condensation of warm ocean water influences rain patterns.
b) precipitation of warm ocean water includes rain patterns
c)Evaporation of warm ocean water influences rain patterns.
d)Transpiration of warm ocean water influences rain patterns.


What is: C) Evaporation of warm ocean water influences rain patterns. 

400

Individuals in the United States utilize products that cannot be easily broken down by the environment, therefore increasing the amount of pollution and waste products. How can humans reduce the amount of waste they are producing? (Waste Management, L.17.14)

a)maintain current product usage
b)utilize biodegradable products
c)increase the use of fossil fuels
d)decrease the use of renewable resources


What is: B) utilize biodegradable products 

400

Polar bears swim across large expanses of ocean while hunting for seals, their main source of food. The bears use sea ice as resting spots during their long swims. However, the sea ice is rapidly melting as a result of global climate change. Which statement describes what most likely will happen if global climate change continues at its present rate? (Human Activity, L.17.16)

a)Polar bear populations will decrease, reducing biodiversity.
b)Polar bear population will stay the same
c)Polar bear populations will increase, increasing biodiversity.
d)Polar bear populations will move to a different location and continue to survive.


What is: A) Polar bear populations will decrease, reducing biodiversity. 

400

A specific biotechnology method is represented in the diagram on the right. How does the DNA in the offspring produced by this biotechnology methods compare to the DNA in the original organism? (Biotechnology, L.16.10)

a)The offspring contain half the original number of chromosomes.
b)The DNA in the offspring is genetically identical to that of the original organism.
c)The offspring produced contains twice the original number of genes
d)The DNA in the offspring is genetically different in chromosome number

What is: B) The DNA in the offspring is genetically identical to that of the original organism. 

400

Data collected from ice cores have been compared in the diagrams illustrated below taken from a research station in Antarctica. What climate relationship can most likely be concluded from the information shown in these two graphs? (Climate, E.7.7)

a)Higher ice CO levels are the result of higher temperatures.
b)Lower ice CO levels are the result of higher temperatures.
c)Higher atmospheric CO levels correspond to higher temperatures
d)Lower atmospheric CO levels leads to higher temperatures.



What is: C) Higher atmospheric CO levels correspond to higher temperatures 

500

The graph below shows changes in a caribou population over time. Which of the following is a possible explanation for the stabilization of the caribou population? (Population, L.17.5)

a)An equal number of deaths and births
b)An unequal number of deaths and births
c)An unequal number of immigrants and deaths
d)An equal number of immigrants and births


What is: A) An equal number of deaths and births 

500

Some small fish attach themselves to the body of a shark without harming it and feed upon leftover food. The relationship between shark and fish is an example of ____. (population L.17.6)

a)Commensalism
b)mutualism
c)competition
d)Parasitism



What is: A) Commensalism

500

Base your answer(s) to the following question(s) on the graph below and on your knowledge of biology. The graphshows the growth of a population of rabbits in a specific ecosystem. Which environmental factor could have caused the change indicated at A? (Population, L.17.5)

a)Increase predation by herbivores
b)Increased availability of food
c)Increased competition among carnivores
d)Increased number of decomposers


What is: B) Increased availability of food


500

Based on the description of the ocean zones, infer why there are no aquatic plants and phytoplankton that live in the benthic zone of the ocean? (Changes in Ecosystems, L.17.7

a)The ocean floor contains many decomposers
b)Most sunlight is absorbed before reaching this level.
c)Water is a limiting factor.
d)The temperature in this zone is extremely low.


What is: B) Most sunlight is absorbed before reaching this level. 

500

The graph below shows how a white-tailed deer population recovered over a ten-year period after a population decline. Wolves in the same area feed primarily on deer. Which of the four graphs below (A-D) shows the likely change in the wolf population for the same ten-year period? (Population, L.17.5)


What is: Graph D