Topic A
What is the primary difference between 'living' and 'nonliving' things?
A) Living things are made of cells, while nonliving things are not.
B) Living things can grow, while nonliving things cannot.
C) Living things have genetic material, while nonliving things do not.
D) All of the above.
D) All of the above.
Which of the following describes the structure of an atom?
A) Protons and neutrons are in the nucleus, and electrons orbit the nucleus in shells.
B) Protons and electrons are in the nucleus, and neutrons orbit the nucleus.
C) Electrons and neutrons are located in the nucleus, while protons orbit the nucleus.
D) Electrons, protons, and neutrons are all evenly distributed in the nucleus.
A) Protons and neutrons are in the nucleus, and electrons orbit the nucleus in shells.
Why are cells so small?
A) Smaller cells require less energy to function.
B) A larger surface area-to-volume ratio allows for more efficient nutrient exchange and waste removal.
C) Larger cells can absorb more nutrients and produce more energy.
D) Smaller cells can store more genetic material.
B) A larger surface area-to-volume ratio allows for more efficient nutrient exchange and waste removal.
Which of the following best summarizes the first and second laws of thermodynamics as they relate to biological systems?
A) Energy can be created or destroyed, and systems tend to become more organized over time.
B) Energy cannot be created or destroyed, and systems tend to increase in disorder (entropy) over time.
C) Energy is only used in photosynthesis, and all systems must maintain order.
D) Energy is always transferred in the form of light, and systems will always maintain equilibrium.
B) Energy cannot be created or destroyed, and systems tend to increase in disorder (entropy) over time.
Which of the following organisms is classified as a decomposer in an ecosystem?
A) A lion that hunts antelopes
B) A mushroom that breaks down dead organic material
C) A rabbit that eats plants
D) A bird that eats insects
B) A mushroom that breaks down dead organic material
What is homeostasis, and why is it important for living organisms?
A) Homeostasis is the process by which organisms change in response to environmental conditions.
B) Homeostasis is the ability of organisms to maintain a stable internal environment despite external changes.
C) Homeostasis refers to the reproduction of organisms in stable conditions.
D) Homeostasis involves the breakdown of nutrients into energy.
B) Homeostasis is the ability of organisms to maintain a stable internal environment despite external changes.
How do ions and isotopes differ, and how are isotopes medically relevant?
A) Ions differ by their charge, and isotopes differ by the number of protons; isotopes have no medical use.
B) Ions differ by their charge, and isotopes differ by the number of neutrons; isotopes are used in medical imaging.
C) Ions differ by the number of neutrons, and isotopes differ by their charge; isotopes are used in medicine only for radiation therapy.
D) Ions and isotopes are the same, with isotopes being unstable molecules used in medicine.
B) Ions differ by their charge, and isotopes differ by the number of neutrons; isotopes are used in medical imaging.
How does the presence of organelles in eukaryotic cells increase cellular efficiency?
A) They allow for compartmentalization of cellular processes, enabling more specialized and efficient functions.
B) They help cells store energy in the form of ATP.
C) They increase the size of the cell, allowing more space for metabolic reactions.
D) They allow cells to absorb more nutrients from their surroundings.
A) They allow for compartmentalization of cellular processes, enabling more specialized and efficient functions.
Which of the following lists the correct order of events in photosynthesis?
A) Light-independent reactions → Calvin cycle → Light-dependent reactions
B) Light-dependent reactions → Calvin cycle
C) Glycolysis → Krebs cycle → Electron transport chain
D) Glycolysis → Calvin cycle → Light-dependent reactions
B) Light-dependent reactions → Calvin cycle
What is the primary difference between how energy flows and nutrients cycle in an ecosystem?
A) Energy flows in one direction, while nutrients are recycled within the ecosystem.
B) Energy cycles through the ecosystem, and nutrients flow in one direction.
C) Energy is recycled, and nutrients flow in one direction.
D) Energy and nutrients both flow in one direction.
A) Energy flows in one direction, while nutrients are recycled within the ecosystem.
Which of the following is considered "alive"?
A) Virus
B) Bacterium
C) Paramecium
D) Both B and C
D) Both B and C
Which three elements make up the majority of the human body?
A) Oxygen, carbon, hydrogen
B) Nitrogen, hydrogen, calcium
C) Carbon, nitrogen, oxygen
D) Calcium, potassium, sodium
A) Oxygen, carbon, hydrogen
Which of the following is a function of the mitochondria in a cell?
A) Synthesis of proteins
B) Energy production through cellular respiration
C) Storage of genetic information
D) Regulation of the cell's water balance
B) Energy production through cellular respiration
What is the role of enzymes in biochemical reactions?
A) Enzymes increase the activation energy of reactions.
B) Enzymes slow down reactions by adding heat.
C) Enzymes lower the activation energy, speeding up reactions.
D) Enzymes are consumed in reactions, so they are not reusable.
C) Enzymes lower the activation energy, speeding up reactions.
What does the term "trophic level" refer to in an ecosystem?
A) The number of species in a food web.
B) The position an organism occupies in the food chain.
C) The amount of energy an organism can consume.
D) The total biomass produced at each level in a food web.
B) The position an organism occupies in the food chain.
Which of the following is the correct order of biological organization from the smallest to the largest level?
A) Organism, population, community, ecosystem, biosphere
B) Atom, molecule, cell, organism, population, biosphere
C) Molecule, atom, cell, biosphere, population
D) Organism, ecosystem, community, biosphere, molecule
B) Atom, molecule, cell, organism, population, biosphere
How does the number of electrons in an atom’s outermost shell impact electron stability and dictate different types of bonds?
A) Fewer electrons lead to stronger bonds because the atom is more stable.
B) More electrons in the outer shell result in more instability and weaker bonds.
C) Atoms with full outer shells are stable and less likely to form bonds.
D) The number of electrons in the outer shell determines how many bonds an atom can form, affecting stability.
D) The number of electrons in the outer shell determines how many bonds an atom can form, affecting stability.
What is meant by the term "selective permeability"?
A) The ability of a membrane to allow all substances to pass through freely.
B) The process by which a cell selects specific substances for transport.
C) The ability of a membrane to allow only certain substances to pass through while blocking others.
D) The regulation of internal cellular temperature by the plasma membrane.
C) The ability of a membrane to allow only certain substances to pass through while blocking others.
What is the primary purpose of ATP in biological systems?
A) To store genetic information
B) To provide energy for cellular activities and processes
C) To store long-term energy in fat molecules
D) To transport ions across the cell membrane
B) To provide energy for cellular activities and processes
Why does energy decrease at each trophic level in an ecosystem?
A) Because energy is used up by organisms at each level, and only a fraction is passed on to the next level.
B) Because energy is replenished at each level by producers.
C) Because energy is converted into heat and lost through the process of respiration.
D) Both A and C are correct.
D) Both A and C are correct.
Which of the following is a characteristic of a scientific hypothesis?
A) It can never be disproven.
B) It can be supported by evidence but never proven true.
C) It must be based on personal opinion.
D) It should always be supported by the scientific community.
B) It can be supported by evidence but never proven true.
What are the three types of chemical bonds, and how do they differ?
A) Ionic, covalent, and hydrogen bonds; ionic bonds are the weakest, covalent bonds are the strongest, and hydrogen bonds are intermediate.
B) Ionic, covalent, and hydrogen bonds; ionic bonds are the strongest, covalent bonds are the weakest, and hydrogen bonds are intermediate.
C) Ionic, covalent, and hydrogen bonds; covalent bonds are the strongest, ionic bonds are intermediate, and hydrogen bonds are the weakest.
D) Ionic, covalent, and hydrogen bonds; all bonds are equally strong.
C) Ionic, covalent, and hydrogen bonds; covalent bonds are the strongest, ionic bonds are intermediate, and hydrogen bonds are the weakest.
Which of the following describes the movement of water and solutes in a red blood cell placed in a hypotonic solution?
A) Water enters the cell, and the cell swells due to an influx of water.
B) Water leaves the cell, causing it to shrink.
C) Solutes move into the cell while water exits, keeping the cell size constant.
D) No movement of water or solutes occurs, and the cell remains unchanged.
A) Water enters the cell, and the cell swells due to an influx of water.
Which of the following describes the energy production and oxygen usage in aerobic respiration compared to anaerobic respiration?
A) Aerobic respiration produces more ATP and requires oxygen; anaerobic respiration produces less ATP and does not require oxygen.
B) Aerobic respiration produces less ATP than anaerobic respiration and does not require oxygen.
C) Aerobic respiration produces ATP without oxygen, while anaerobic respiration requires oxygen.
D) Both aerobic and anaerobic respiration produce the same amount of ATP and require oxygen.
A) Aerobic respiration produces more ATP and requires oxygen; anaerobic respiration produces less ATP and does not require oxygen.
How does the greenhouse effect contribute to global warming?
A) It causes a decrease in atmospheric CO2, cooling the planet.
B) It traps solar radiation in the atmosphere, warming the Earth’s surface.
C) It removes pollutants from the atmosphere, cooling the planet.
D) It increases the Earth’s albedo, causing global cooling.
B) It traps solar radiation in the atmosphere, warming the Earth’s surface.