Zombie Biology 1
A new strain of airborne zombie virus is spreading rapidly. Which of the following best describes the method by which this virus would replicate within a human host?
A) By forming a symbiotic relationship with host cells to create new, functional cells.
B) By integrating its genetic material into the host cell's DNA and hijacking the cell's machinery.
C) By consuming host cell organelles directly as a food source for new virus particles.
D) By undergoing meiosis within the host cell to produce genetically diverse viral offspring.
B) By integrating its genetic material into the host cell's DNA and hijacking the cell's machinery.
A group of survivors discovers a stockpile of rusted iron tools (Fe
2
O
3
). To make them usable, they decide to remove the rust using a chemical reaction. Which of the following processes describes the formation of this rust and its chemical classification?
A) Oxidation of iron, forming an oxide
B) Reduction of iron, forming a base.
C) Oxidation of iron, forming an acid
D) Polymerization of iron, forming a complex compound.
A) Oxidation of iron, forming an oxide.
A survivor needs to calculate the force required to break through a barricaded door. If the door has a mass of 50 kg and needs to accelerate at 2 m/s², what is the minimum force required according to Newton's Second Law?
A) 25 N
B) 50 N
C) 100 N
D) 250 N
C) 100 N
A survivor notes that a zombie bite quickly leads to infection and reanimation. This rapid onset suggests the infectious agent has a short:
A) Incubation period
B) Resolution phase
C) Recovery time
D) Antibody production time
A) Incubation period
A survivor needs to make a torch. If they want the bulb to be as bright as possible, and they have three identical batteries, how should they connect them?
A) All three in parallel.
B) All three in series.
C) Two in series, one in parallel.
D) One battery is enough; adding more won't change brightness.
B) All three in series.
To create an effective vaccine against the zombie virus, scientists are investigating its outer protein coat. Which part of the immune system would primarily be responsible for producing antibodies specific to this protein coat?
A) Phagocytes, by engulfing and destroying the virus directly.
B) T-lymphocytes, by recognising infected cells and initiating apoptosis.
C) B-lymphocytes, which mature into plasma cells to secrete antibodies.
D) Neutrophils, by releasing enzymes to break down the viral structure.
C) B-lymphocytes, which mature into plasma cells to secrete antibodies.
Survivors are trying to purify water from a contaminated source, fearing zombie pathogens. Which of the following methods would best remove dissolved ionic impurities?
A) Simple distillation
B) Filtration through sand
C) Chlorination
D) Decanting
A) Simple distillation
To escape a zombie, a survivor jumps from a roof. Neglecting air resistance, what happens to their gravitational potential energy as they fall?
A) It increases as they fall closer to the ground.
B) It decreases as it is converted into kinetic energy.
C) It remains constant throughout the fall.
D) It converts into electrical energy.
B) It decreases as it is converted into kinetic energy.
To understand how the zombie virus spreads through a population, scientists would create a model that tracks the infected. This involves understanding:
A) Only the rate of individual zombie decomposition.
B) The number of healthy individuals immune to the virus.
C) The reproductive rate (R0) of the virus and transmission pathways.
D) The exact genetic sequence of every infected individual.
C) The reproductive rate (R0) of the virus and transmission pathways.
To preserve food for long-term survival, survivors decide to use salting. How does salting food help prevent spoilage by microorganisms?
A) It increases the water activity, encouraging bacterial growth.
B) It causes microorganisms to gain water by osmosis, leading to lysis.
C) It causes microorganisms to lose water by osmosis, inhibiting their growth.
D) It denatures the enzymes in the food itself, preventing decomposition.
C) It causes microorganisms to lose water by osmosis, inhibiting their growth.
A survivor observes that infected individuals develop stiff muscles and a lack of motor control. This suggests the zombie virus might be affecting the transmission of nerve impulses. Which neurotransmitter, crucial for muscle contraction, might be disrupted?
A) Dopamine
B) Serotonin
C) Acetylcholine
D) Adrenaline
C) Acetylcholine
The human body, including a reanimated corpse, contains various functional groups. If a scientist wants to create a chemical weapon that specifically targets the amide linkages in zombie proteins, what type of reaction would be most effective?
A) Oxidation
B) Reduction
C) Hydrolysis
D) Polymerisation
C) Hydrolysis
You are aiming a crossbow bolt at a fast-moving zombie. To hit the zombie, you must consider its velocity. Which of the following is the correct definition of velocity?
A) The total distance travelled per unit time.
B) The rate of change of speed.
C) The speed in a given direction.
D) The time taken to cover a certain distance.
C) The speed in a given direction.
A new species of plant is discovered that appears to be resistant to the zombie virus. If scientists want to breed more of these resistant plants quickly, which method would be most effective?
A) Sexual reproduction with a susceptible plant to introduce genetic variation.
B) Growing from seeds, which can take a long time to mature.
C) Tissue culture (micropropagation), using small pieces of the plant.
D) Grafting the resistant plant onto a susceptible rootstock.
C) Tissue culture (micropropagation), using small pieces of the plant.
You're trying to build a periscope to observe zombies safely over a wall. The periscope relies on mirrors. Which property of light is most crucial for the functioning of a simple periscope?
A) Refraction
B) Diffraction
C) Reflection
D) Dispersion
C) Reflection
Forensic biologists examine a deceased zombie and find abnormal build-up of misfolded proteins in its brain. This phenomenon is characteristic of which type of disease?
A) A bacterial infection causing inflammation and tissue damage.
B) A prion disease, similar to BSE or CJD, leading to neurodegeneration.
C) A viral infection causing lysis of brain cells.
D) A genetic mutation affecting carbohydrate metabolism in neural tissue.
B) A prion disease, similar to BSE or CJD, leading to neurodegeneration.
A group of survivors finds an old factory producing sulfuric acid (H2SO4). They know it's a strong acid. Which of the following describes the ionisation of sulfuric acid in water?
A) It partially ionises, producing a low concentration of H+ ions.
B) It completely ionises, producing a high concentration of OH− ions.
C) It completely ionises, producing a high concentration of H+ ions.
D) It does not ionise at all, remaining as H2SO4 molecules.
C) It completely ionises, producing a high concentration of H+ ions.
A group of survivors uses a lever to move a heavy fallen tree. They apply a downward force of 200 N at a distance of 3 meters from the pivot. What is the moment produced by their force?
A) 66.7 Nm
B) 200 Nm
C) 400 Nm
D) 600 Nm
D) 600 Nm
In the dire post-apocalyptic world, sanitation is poor. This increases the risk of waterborne diseases. Which of the following best describes the role of decomposers in nutrient cycling, which would be disrupted in a contaminated environment?
A) Converting light energy into chemical energy.
B) Breaking down dead organic matter and returning nutrients to the soil.
C) Producing oxygen through photosynthesis.
D) Fixing atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms.
B) Breaking down dead organic matter and returning nutrients to the soil.
Survivors encounter an area with unusually high levels of radiation from a damaged nuclear facility. What type of radiation would be stopped by a thick sheet of lead, but is highly penetrating?
A) Alpha particles
B) Beta particles
C) Gamma rays
D) Neutron radiation
C) Gamma rays
To slow down the decomposition of captured zombie tissue for study, scientists would likely store it in conditions that inhibit microbial activity. Which of the following conditions would be most effective for this purpose?
A) Warm and moist, to encourage rapid bacterial growth.
B) Anaerobic (oxygen-free) environment at room temperature.
C) Low temperature and low water availability (e.g., freezing or drying).
D) High light intensity to promote photosynthesis by any remaining plant cells.
C) Low temperature and low water availability (e.g., freezing or drying).
You're trying to create a quick-setting concrete barrier to block a horde. The setting of concrete is an exothermic reaction. Which statement about an exothermic reaction is true?
A) It absorbs energy from the surroundings, causing a decrease in temperature.
B) It releases energy to the surroundings, causing an increase in temperature.
C) The products have higher energy than the reactants.
D) The activation energy for the reverse reaction is lower than the forward reaction.
B) It releases energy to the surroundings, causing an increase in temperature.
To generate electricity for a safe house, survivors are building a simple wind turbine. The blades have a large surface area. How does increasing the surface area of the blades affect the efficiency of the wind turbine in converting wind energy into rotational kinetic energy?
A) It decreases efficiency by increasing drag.
B) It has no significant effect on efficiency.
C) It increases efficiency by capturing more kinetic energy from the wind.
D) It only affects the direction of rotation, not the efficiency.
C) It increases efficiency by capturing more kinetic energy from the wind.
Survivors discover that a specific enzyme in the zombie's brain is responsible for its aggression. If they could denature this enzyme, what would be the most likely consequence?
A) The enzyme would work faster, increasing aggression.
B) The enzyme would change shape, losing its function and reducing aggression.
C) The enzyme would produce more of its product, leading to increased activity.
D) The enzyme would spontaneously mutate into a beneficial protein.
B) The enzyme would change shape, losing its function and reducing aggression.
To analyse a zombie sample for viral RNA, scientists perform gel electrophoresis. What is the fundamental principle that separates nucleic acid fragments in gel electrophoresis?
A) Differences in their boiling points.
B) Differences in their mass-to-charge ratio, causing them to move at different speeds in an electric field.
C) Differences in their solubility in the gel medium.
D) Differences in their magnetic properties.
B) Differences in their mass-to-charge ratio, causing them to move at different speeds in an electric field.