Structure & Function
Red meat is not harmful to most people. However, some people develop a reaction that affects their ability to breathe when they eat red meat. This response to red meat is known as
(1) an allergy (2) a stimulus
(3) an infection (4) an adaptation
What is Choice 1 - an allergy
In order for large food molecules to pass across a cell membrane, they must be broken down into their building blocks. Which choice correctly pairs a large organic food molecule with its building blocks?
(1) starches --- BB proteins
(2) amino acids --- BB fats
(3) proteins --- BB amino acids
(4) sugars --- BB starches
What is choice 3 - proteins --- BB amino acids
Genetic information stored in DNA is most directly used to
(1) synthesize new fats
(2) digest complex carbohydrates
(3) produce specific proteins
(4) metabolize starch molecules
What is choice 3 - produce specific proteins.
Carbon dioxide absorbed from the atmosphere into the oceans increases acid levels and threatens the survival of many marine organisms. Which human activity could slow the increasing acidity of the ocean?
(1) Reduce the burning of fossil fuels
(2) Decrease protection of the ozone shield
(3) Create preserves in ocean regions to stop overfishing
(4) Regulate the disposal of plastics in the ocean
What is choice 1 - Reduce the burning of fossil fuels
Scientists have found many similarities in specific organic compounds of raccoons and bears. These similarities suggest that raccoons and bears have
(1) stopped evolving
(2) a common ancestor
(3) identical DNA
(4) the same number of chromosomes
What is choice 2 - a common ancestor
Which statement describes a characteristic of the human reproductive system?
(1) The testes produce sperm cells that contain twice as much DNA as body cells.
(2) The placenta provides oxygen and nutrients to a developing fetus.
3) The uterus produces cells that form an embryo.
(4) The ovaries are where fertilization occurs.
What is choice 2 - The placenta provides oxygen and nutrients to a developing fetus.
The main purpose of the process that takes place in the mitochondria is to supply the cell with
(1) usable energy (3) carbon dioxide
(3) glucose (4) water
What is choice 1 - usable energy
Serratia marcescens is a species of bacteria that is red at 25C and white when the temperature is 37C. The most probable explanation for this is that
(1) lower temperatures alter the base sequences of proteins that code for color in bacteria
(2) factors in the environment influence gene expression in this bacteria
(3) pigment molecules influence environmental factors in which bacteria grow
(4) hormone activity in the bacteria is directly proportional to available nutrients
What is choice 2 - factors in the environment influence gene expression in this bacteria
The U.S. imports many products from other countries. As more goods are transported into the United States, the risk of invasive organisms arriving with them greatly increases. Any invasive organisms that enter a new area would most likely
(1) alter inheritable traits of organisms
(2) decrease infinite resources
(3) increase ecological succession
(4) disrupt an ecosystems stability
What is choice 4 - disrupt an ecosystems stability
(1) Only large fish survived when the pH level in the water dropped
(2) The surviving fish were able to change their DNA in response to the change in pH
(3) The fish that survived were able to produce chemicals that returned the pH of the lake to normal levels
(4) The survivors already had genetic differences that made them better suited to the lower pH of the water
What is choice 4 - The survivors already had genetic differences that made them better suited to the lower pH of the water
Which statement best describes how a group of specialized cells could interact?
(1) Organelles could work together to form an organ.
(2) Cells could work together to form an organelle.
(3) Organs could work together to form a tissue.
(4) Tissues could work together to form an organ.
What is choice 4 - Tissues could work together to form an organ
The inorganic compounds used by a green plant cell in the process of photosynthesis are
(1) oxygen and water
(2) glucose and carbon dioxide
(3) carbon dioxide and water
(4) glucose and oxygen
What is choice 3 - carbon dioxide and water
A single point mutation in one base of a DNA sequence may have a direct effect on the
(1) sequence of amino acids it produces
(2) sequence of simple sugars it produces
(3) type of carbohydrates needed
(4) type of ribosomes in a cell
What is choice 1 - sequence of amino acids it produces
Which of the following would cause a decrease in the carrying capacity of a coyote population?
(1) A mild winter allowed more mice and rabbits to survive
(2) A disease caused a decrease in the rabbit population
(3) The coyotes found a new food source
(4) The rabbits competed more successfully for food than the mice
What is choice 2 - A disease caused a decrease in the rabbit population.
Factors that contribute to the evolution of a species include
(1) cloning and mutation
(2) migration and asexual reproduction
(3) recombination and selective breeding
(4) variation and competition
What is choice 4 - variation and competition
The diagram below shows steps in the vaccination of an individual.
X is injected into the human body to stimulate the production of specific antibodies against X
Substance X most likely contains
(1) white blood cells (2) weakened microbes
(3) hormones (4) ATP
What is Choice 2 - weakened microbes
In a food web, the herbivores are most directly dependent on the types of
(1) heterotrophs (2) decomposers
(3) autotrophs (4) predators
What is choice 3 - autotrophs
Crossing over is an important component to sexual reproduction because it
(1) increases the number of chromosomes in the cell to double its original number
(2) increases the number of new gene combinations that can be passed on to offspring
(3) eliminates mutations in reproductive cells and zygotes
(4) forms new genes that will decrease variation in future generations
What is choice 2 - increases the number of new gene combinations that can be passed on to offspring
Some scientists claim that overfishing is disrupting ocean food webs. Evidence that best supports this claim is that
(1) there are fewer top predators that maintain small fish populations at appropriate levels
(2) there are fewer small fish that consume the plants necessary for other ocean species
(3) fish that rely on plants change their diet to one that includes only other animals
(4) because of less competition, plants that once grew on land are now growing in the ocean
What is choice 1 - there are fewer top predators that maintain small fish populations at appropriate levels
Mutations are an important part of evolution. One reason for this is that mutations
(1) that occur in body cells are passed to offspring
(2) are random events that always increase the ability of members to reproduce
(3) occur only in sexually reproducing organisms
(4) may result in gene variations that provide a survival advantage
What is choice 4 - may result in gene variations that provide a survival advantage
Which mechanism is used to maintain a stable internal environment in humans?
(1) use of guard cells to control water loss and gas exchange
(2) destruction of the immune system by AIDS virus
(3) increased perspiration during periods of intense activity
(4) an allergic reaction to pollen from cats
What is Choice 3 - increased perspiration during periods of intense activity
Which statement best identifies how a maple tree cycles carbon between two of Earth’s spheres?
(1) It releases carbon as glucose from the biosphere to the atmosphere
(2) It removes carbon as carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to the biosphere
(3) It releases carbon as carbon dioxide from the biosphere to the atmosphere
(4) It removes carbon as glucose from the atmosphere to the biosphere
What is choice 2 - It removes carbon as carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to the biosphere
As a way to reduce the number of cases of malaria, a human tropical disease, a specific DNA sequence is inserted into the reproductive cells of Anopheles mosquitoes. Which process was most likely used to alter these mosquitoes?
(1) cloning studies
(2) genetic engineering
(3) natural selection
(4) random mutations
(1) many fish can be caught at one time but fish that are not meant to be caught are often killed
(2) using nets is efficient and many fish can be caught at one time
(3) some fish that are not intended to be caught are killed, and some are in danger of extinction
(4) when fish become abundant, fisherman can go out farther in the ocean to catch them
What is choice 1 - many fish can be caught at one time but fish that are not meant to be caught are often killed
When a colony of bacteria was exposed to a particular antibiotic, some of the bacteria survived while others did not. Which concept is supported by this example?
(1) Biotic factors in the environment influence gene expression
(2) Favorable mutations occur as a result of environmental changes
(3) Overproduction limits genetic variation
(4) Some variations in a population have an adaptive value
What is choice 4 - Some variations in a population have an adaptive value