EXAM I PRACTICE TEST A VIEW OF LIFE multiple Choice 1. Which of the following is NOT one of the characteristics of living organisms? A. to be organized B. to respond C. to grow D. to metabolize E. All of the above are characteristics of living organisms. 2. A university biology department wishes to hire a scientist to work on the relationships among the wolves, moose, trees and physical features on an island. If you were charged with writing the job announcement, you should title the position A. population geneticist. B. molecular biologist. C. community ecologist. D. organismic physiologist. E. island zoologist. 3. Which term is based on Greek root words meaning “ordered arrangement of the home”? A. biology B. biosphere C. homeostasis D. photosynthesis E. ecosystem 4. Which of the following sequences of organization is likely to be seen in a multicellular organism, going from smallest to largest? A. cell, organ, tissue, organism B. cell, organ, system, tissue C. cell, tissue, system, organism D. organism, system, organ, tissue E. tissue, system, cell, organ 5. Studying a brick does not predict the design of a skyscraper. Intense examination of muscle tissues does not allow you to predict the design of a kangaroo or clam. The structure of chlorophyll does not dictate the unique structure of a tree. These cases demonstrate A. essential properties of life. B. levels of organization from atom to biosphere. C. determinism, or how all phenomena are predictable effects of causes. D. emergent properties that are easily predicted by examining their parts. E. emergent properties that cannot be predicted by examining their parts. 6. Which of the following characteristics is NOT required for the life of an individual organism to continue? A. to be organized B. to respond C. to metabolize D. to reproduce 8. Which of the following organisms is NOT ultimately dependent on the sun as a source of energy? A. A night-blooming flower is pollinated by night-flying bats. B. An underground earthworm avoids the sun. C. A cave fish feeds on debris that washes down to it. D. All of the above ARE ultimately dependent on the sun. E. All of the above are NOT ultimately dependent on the sun. 9.The process by which the sun’s energy is trapped as the source of energy used by virtually all living organisms? A. evolution B. metabolism C. adaptation D. homeostasis E. photosynthesis 11. What is the name of all the chemical energy transformations that occur within a cell? A. evolution B. metabolism C. adaptation D. homeostasis E. photosynthesis 13. What do we call the maintenance of internal conditions of an organism within a certain boundary range? A. evolution B. metabolism C. adaptation D. homeostasis E. photosynthesis 17. Which of these is the process by which changes occur in the characteristics of species of organisms over time? A. evolution B. metabolism C. adaptation D. homeostasis E. photosynthesis 18. All ecosystems taken together make up a A. niche. B. biosphere. C. community. D. population. E. habitat. 19. Interactions between different populations in an ecosystem tend to A. disrupt the ecosystem. B. increase the use of raw materials. C. decrease the need for energy. D. keep the system relatively stable 21. Who was the person who first devised the binomial system of naming a species? A. Aristotle B. Gregor Mendel C. Carolus Linnaeus D. Charles Darwin 22. Which of the following sequences correctly gives the different classification levels of an organism, going from the largest grouping to the smallest? (Some are left out.) A. species, genus, family, class, phylum B. kingdom, phylum, class, order, species C. class, family, kingdom, species, genus D. genus, class, phylum, species, family 23. Which term is based on the Greek root words for “laws” of “classification”? A. species, genus, family, class, phylum B. taxonomy C. homeostasis D. nomenclature E. hypothesis 25. Which of the following domains contains the most primitive bacteria that live in extreme environments? A. Archaea B. Bacteria C. Plantae D. Fungi E. Eukarya 26. Which of the following domains contains the common advanced plants and animals and fungi? A. Archaea B. Bacteria C. Plantae D. Fungi E. Eukarya 27. Which of the following kingdoms contains multicellular organisms that ingest their food? A. Protista B. Animalia C. Plantae D. Archaea E. Fungi 28. Which of the following kingdoms contains primarily multicellular, larger-celled, photosynthetic organisms? A. Protista B. Animalia C. Plantae D. Archaea E. Fungi 30. A researcher reports he has conducted many experiments where a galvanometer (lie detector) was hooked up to detect the plant’s responses. He reports that when a spider was released near the plant, the spider’s decision to escape was picked up by the plant, “causing a reaction in the leaf.” When other researchers repeated the experiment, they could not get any galvanometer responses. The researcher then concluded that plants could be put into a faint by humans. A. This is a justified conclusion from a research design that appears to follow the scientific method. B. The only problem with this general research plan is that it lacks a control. C. Results must be somewhat repeatable and these results that only work for this researcher do not qualify as science. D. The design is scientific; it just lacks a hypothesis. E. If the researcher has actual numerical counts, this must be accepted as valid science. 34. What is a hypothesis? A. a tentative statement, based on data, that can be used to guide further observations and experiments B. a report of the findings of scientific experiments C. a general statement made to infer a specific conclusion, often in an “if . . . then” format D. using isolated facts to reach a general idea that may explain a phenomenon 35. Which statement is NOT true about a hypothesis? A. Experiments or observations are undertaken to test a hypothesis. B. A hypothesis cannot be proven true. C. A hypothesis cannot be proven false. D. Data that support a hypothesis do not actually prove it. E. If data from experiments do not support a hypothesis, the hypothesis must be rejected or revised. 36. Which best describes a control group in an experiment? A. the condition that is being tested B. a sample taken through all experimental steps except the one being tested C. a variable that is being deliberately varied in the experiment D. the dependent variable 37. Four groups of mice consume different amounts of sweetener in their food. The control group is the one that receives A. 10 mg/day of sweetener. B. 50 mg/day of sweetener. C. no sweetener. D. extra food. E. milk instead of water. 38. Which statement is NOT true about experimental design? A. All conditions are held the same except for the condition being tested by the experiment. B. It is best to use genetically identical mice to reduce the uncontrolled variables. C. Mice for each group should be selected at random. D. The condition being tested in an experiment is the control variable. E. The dependent variable is observed at the end of the experiment when statistical comparisons are made between groups. 41. You are interested in the effect of increased carbon dioxide versus normal air, and also in the effect of green light versus full sunlight on the growth of corn plants in a greenhouse. Although you can set up your experiment inside a greenhouse, it is possible that there will be plant growth effects due to effects that you do not know and may never know. Which of the following are important to ensure control of unknown variables? A. An increase in carbon dioxide does not result in a substantial decrease of other necessary gases. B. All seedlings are from one uniform strain. C. The intensity or brightness of the green light equals the intensity of the full sunlight. D. All temperatures and available water remain the same. E. All of the above are important. 45. Which statement is NOT true about science? A. Science is concerned about understanding the natural world. B. Science approaches data in a subjective manner. C. Science gains information by observing and testing the natural world. D. The conclusions of science are subject to change based on new findings. E. Science attempts to avoid prejudice in making judgments. 47. Which of the following concepts is NOT one of the unifying theories of biology? A. Virtually all organisms are composed of cells. B. Life may arise through spontaneous generation. C. Life comes only from life. D. Organisms contain coded information that dictates their form, function, and behavior. E. All living things have a common ancestor and are adapted to a particular way of life. 48. The characteristic of an individual that is necessary to the survival of the species but NOT to the survival of that individual is A. adaptation B. reproduction C. metabolism D. organization 49. Some members of a species have a genetic change that causes them to be better suited to their environment. These members survive to reproduce and pass these genetic changes to their offspring. This is A. adaptation B. natural selection C. the driving force for evolution D. all of the previous E. none of the previous 50. All individuals of a given species living in a defined area at a defined time are a (an) A. population B. community C. ecosystem D. biosphere 56. Biodiversity in a particular ecosystem A. is the total number of species in that ecosystem B. includes the variability of the individuals genes C. impacts the function of the ecosystem in which the species live D. all of the previous True/False 57. The only thing life forms require from their environment is energy. 58. Extinction can occur if a species is unable to adapt to a changing environment. 59. Interactions among the populations in an ecosystem tend to keep the ecosystem relatively stable. 60. A system is said to be in dynamic balance if the organisms in the system remain unchanged over a long period of time. 61. Evolution is considered to be a unifying principle of biology since it explains both the unity and diversity of life. 62. The classification system most commonly used by biologists today contains five domains. 63. The binomial system of naming species uses a single primary name to identify each species. 64. The human population fits into the ecosystem in the same way as other species, with relatively little effect on the interactions of the system. 65. Humans have an exaggerated impact on the ecosystem through their use of extra sources of energy and raw materials, and the production of extra wastes that must be handled. 66. Science is only concerned with understanding and explaining the natural world. 67. A hypothesis is formulated from observations or experimental data to explain the data and to serve as a guide for further research. 68. Scientific observations should be made in a subjective manner. 69. The control group in an experiment is the one that shows the dependent variable. 70. The control group in an experiment is given all the same treatments as the experimental group(s), except for the one variable being tested. 71. It is important that an experimental procedure include a control group where possible. 72. In an experiment testing sweetener in the diet of mice, the control group is the one that has the most sweetener. 73. Some scientific data are obtained through observation rather than experimental results. 74. A theory is strongly supported by many forms of evidence, is accepted by an overwhelming number of scientists, and has not yet been found to be incorrect. 75. A theory in science is different from the usage of the term in everyday language. 76. Human activities are the primary driving force causing species extinction. 77. The major factor that determines where different ecosystems are found on Earth is the climate. BASIC CHEMISTRY Multiple Choice 1. Which of the following elements is NOT one of the six most common in living organisms? A. carbon B. oxygen C. iron D. nitrogen E. hydrogen 2. There are _____ naturally occurring elements. A. 57 B. 108 C. 95 D. 92 E. 87 3. Which statement is NOT true about elements? A. An element cannot be broken down into substances with different properties. B. An element consists of atoms and molecules. C. There is only one kind of atom in each type of element. D. All atoms of an element contain the same number of protons. E. Atoms of an element may contain different numbers of neutrons. 5. Which of the following is/are an atom, an isotope and an ion? A. H+ B. 2H or deuterium C. 3H or tritium D. H2 or hydrogen gas E. All of the above are atoms, isotopes and ions. 7. Which statement is NOT true about subatomic particles? A. Protons are found in the nucleus. B. Neutrons have no electrical charge. C. Electrons contain much less mass than neutrons. D. Electrons are found in orbitals around the nucleus. E. All electrons in an atom contain the same amount of energy. 8. Which is NOT true about the electrical charges in chemistry? A. Protons carry a positive charge. B. In an atom, the number of protons and neutrons must be equal. C. An atom is neutral when the positive and negative charges balance. D. An ion contains one or more positive or negative charges. 9. An atom’s atomic number is best described as the number of A. protons it contains. B. neutrons it contains. C. electrons in the outermost shell. D. protons and neutrons it contains. E. protons and electrons it contains. 10. An atom’s atomic mass is best described as the mass of A. the protons it contains. B. the neutrons it contains. C. electrons in the outermost shell. D. protons and neutrons it contains. E. protons and electrons it contains. 14. The characteristic way in which atoms of an element react is most related to the A. number of electrons in the outermost shell. B. number of electrons in the innermost shell. C. number of neutrons in the nucleus. D. size of the nucleus. 15. Potential energy is best described as the A. ability to do work. B. energy of motion of molecules. C. energy that comes from the sun. D. energy in the nucleus of an atom. E. stored energy that is available to do work. 16. Which of the following statements is NOT true about electron configurations? A. If an atom has only one shell, it is complete with two electrons. B. If an atom has two or more shells, the octet rule applies. C. If an atom has two or more shells, the outer shell is complete with eight electrons. D. Atoms with more than eight electrons in the outer shell react by gaining electrons. E. Atoms with eight electrons in the outer shell are not reactive at all. 17. An orbital is best described as A. the electron shell closest to the nucleus. B. the outermost electron shell of an atom. C. the volume of space in which electrons are most often found. D. the original energy level of electrons in photosynthesis. 18. Which statement does NOT describe a chemical equation? A. The products are placed to the left of the arrow. B. The reactants are placed to the left of the arrow. C. The arrow represents the direction in which the reaction proceeds. D. Atoms must be balanced on both sides of the arrow. 19. Which of the following biologically important reactions is NOT written as chemically balanced? A. 6H2O + 6CO2 . C6H12O6 + 6O2 [photosynthesis input and products] B. C6H12O6 .2 C2H6 O + 2CO2 [Glucose to ethyl alcohol] C. C6H12O6 .2 C3H6O3[Glucose to lactic acid] D. 2C6H12O6 .2O2 + 2H2O + 2CO2 [Cell respiration] E. All of the above are balanced. 21. Which statement is NOT true about ionic bonds? A. One atom acts as an electron donor and another acts as an electron acceptor. B. Electrons are completely lost or gained in ion formation. C. An ion has the same number of electrons as a nonionic atom of the same element. D. An ionic reaction occurs between positive ions and negative ions. E. A salt such as NaCl is formed by an ionic reaction. 22. Which statement is NOT true about covalent bonds? A. Covalent bonds form when an electron is completely lost or gained from an atom. B. A covalent molecule contains one or more covalent bonds. C. A single covalent bond is drawn as a line between two atoms. D. A pair of electrons is shared between two atoms for each covalent bond. E. Shared electrons allow an atom to complete its outer electron shell in a covalent molecule. 23. Which statement is NOT true about polar covalent bonds? A. Most covalent bonds are nonpolar, with electrons shared fairly equally between the atoms. B. Polar covalent bonds are important in the characteristics of water. C. Electrons are shared unequally in a polar covalent bond. D. The larger atom in a polar bond attracts the electron more strongly than the smaller atom. E. The oxygen of a water molecule is electropositive relative to the hydrogen. 24. Which statement is NOT true about water’s properties? A. Water molecules are cohesive, able to cling to each other. B. Water molecules are adhesive, able to wet substances other than water. C. Water is a universal solvent due to its polar nature. D. The temperature of water rises and falls very quickly. E. Ice is less dense than water and floats on its surface. 26. What happens when water ionizes? A. Equal amounts of hydrogen and hydroxyl ions are formed. B. Ions are irreversibly formed. C. Many ions are produced. D. Anything in solution in water becomes ionized. E. The water changes its pH because of the ions. 27. Which statement is NOT true about the pH scale? A. The scale indicates the relative concentrations of hydrogen and hydroxyl ions in a solution. B. The scale ranges from 1 to 15. C. pH 7 has a balanced level of H+ and OH-. D. Anything below pH 7 is acidic and above pH 7 is basic. E. A change of one pH unit represents a ten-fold increase or decrease in hydroxyl ion concentration. 28. An abandoned Indiana coal mine spoil bank contains chunks of pyrite minerals. Under constant erosion and weathering, the pyrites leech large amounts of sulfuric acid (H2SO4). The spoil banks are also mixed with large quantities of basic limestone and clay carbonates. What should occur over time? A. The pH level will drop until all acid has washed out. B. The pH level will remain at 7.0 because of constant washing with rain. C. The pH level will remain at 7.0 because all acid will be immediately neutralized by bases. D. The pH levels will be spotty and vary over time, first more acidic but drifting back toward 7.0. E. Bases always dominate over acids. 29. If the pH of cytoplasm is approximately 7.2, the cytoplasm is A. very acidic. B. slightly acidic. C. precisely neutral. D. slightly alkaline. E. very alkaline. 34. The subatomic particle of an atom that carries no charge is a (an) A. electron B. proton C. neutron D. ion 35. Isotopes of an element A. may or may not be radioactive B. have the same atomic number but differing atomic masses C. may be used for human disease diagnostics D. all of the previous. 36. In the water molecule A. the oxygen molecule is more electronegative than the hydrogens B. the oxygen atom has an overall negative charge with the hydrogen atoms having an overall positive charge C. unequal sharing of electrons results in a polar molecule D. all of the previous 37. As a solid, water floats. This means that A. solid water is less dense than liquid water B. organisms in ponds, lakes, and reservoirs can survive under the ice cover C. this is due to hydrogen bonding changes D. all of the previous 38. A maritime climate is moderated primarily by which of the following properties of water? Water A. is the universal solvent B. is cohesive and adhesive C. resists changes of state D. has a high surface tension. 39. Human blood has a pH of about 7.4. This is A. neutral B. very acidic C. slightly acidic D. slightly basic True/False 42. Energy is anything that occupies space and has weight. 43. Matter exists as a solid, liquid, or gas. 44. A molecule must contain more than one atom of more than one element. 45. All living things contain a vital force that gives them the characteristics of life. 46. Sulfur and phosphorus are among the six most common elements in living organisms. 47. There are six elements that make up 100% of the body weight of an organism. 48. Isotopes of an element contain the same number of protons and different numbers of electrons. 49. Isotopes of an element contain the same number of protons and different numbers of neutrons. 50. Most isotopes are stable, but some are unstable and break apart, releasing radiation. 51. Electrons in different electron shells contain more energy if they are further from the nucleus. 52. In photosynthesis, energy from the sun is used to move electrons to higher energy levels; then energy is released for food production as the electrons move back to their original shells. 53. Atoms can interact to give up, accept, or share electrons to produce a filled outer shell. 54. Molecules form when energy relationships occur between atoms, called chemical bonds. 55. Molecules that are attracted to water are called hydrophobic. 56. Ions dissolve easily in water because water is polar in nature. 57. Water moderates the temperatures on earth because it can absorb and release large amounts of heat. 58. Buffers are chemicals that can both take up and release hydrogen ions, thus maintaining pH changes in a chemical system. 59. Oil floats on the surface of water. This is because oil is hydrophylic. 60. Anything that takes up space and has mass is matter. THE CHEMISTRY OF LIFE Multiple Choice 1. Which of the following is NOT one of the four most common elements found in living organisms? A. hydrogen B. oxygen C. carbon D. sulfur E. nitrogen 2. Organic molecules are those that contain at least A. carbon. B. carbon and oxygen. C. carbon and hydrogen. D. carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen. 3. The differences between organic and inorganic molecules do not follow simple absolute rules. However, most organic molecules are associated with living organisms. Which of the following statements does NOT correspond to the general distinctions between these types of molecules? A. Carbon dioxide (CO2) lacks hydrogen atoms found in organic molecules. B. Formaldehyde (CH2O) is a small molecule compared to most organic molecules. C. Salt (Na+Cl- ) is not an organic molecule but is important to the life of many organisms. D. Because they are in living organisms, organic carbon atoms are different from the inorganic carbon atoms forming the molecular structure of soot or a diamond. 4. A hydrocarbon is hydrophobic A. at all times. B. only in the living cell environment. C. except when it has an attached ionized functional group. D. in carbohydrates but not in lipids. 5. What term is used for molecules that have identical molecular formulas but the atoms in each molecule are arranged differently? A. isotope B. isomer C. homomolecules D. organic E. balanced 7. Which is NOT an isomer of the other three? A. glucose B. ribose C. fructose D. galactose 10. A polysaccharide is a polymer made up of which kind of monomers? A. simple sugars B. amino acids C. nucleotides D. alternating sugar and phosphate groups E. fatty acids and glycerol 11. A lipid is a polymer made up of which kind of monomers? A. glucose or modified glucose molecules B. amino acids C. nucleotides D. alternating sugar and phosphate groups E. fatty acids and glycerol 13. A dehydration synthesis reaction is also known as A. a condensation reaction. B. a hydrolysis reaction. C. an isomeric reaction. D. an energy-releasing reaction. E. monomer formation. 14. Which pair are both structural carbohydrate molecules? A. starch and glycogen B. starch and cellulose C. glycogen and cellulose D. cellulose and chitin E. glycogen and chitin 15. Which carbohydrate is found in the cell walls of plants? A. starch B. chitin C. cellulose D. glycogen E. glycerol 16. Which carbohydrate is used in the liver for energy storage? A. starch B. chitin C. cellulose D. glycogen E. glycerol 17. Which carbohydrate is found in the exoskeleton of insects and crabs? A. starch B. chitin C. cellulose D. glycogen E. glycerol 18. Which lipid does NOT contain at least some subunits similar to those in the others? A. steroids B. neutral fats C. waxes D. phospholipids 19. Which of the following lipids forms a bilayer between two watery regions, such as in the plasma membrane of a cell? A. steroids B. neutral fats C. waxes D. phospholipids 20. Cholesterol belongs to which of the following groups? A. steroids B. neutral fats C. waxes D. phospholipids 21. If an animal needed to store energy for long-term use, but not be encumbered with the weight of extra tissue, which is the best molecule for storage? A. fructose and glucose in the form of honey B. high-calorie fat molecules C. complex cellulose molecules D. starch E. glycogen with extensive side branches of glucose 23. A protein is a polymer made up of which kind of monomers? A. glucose or modified glucose molecules B. amino acids C. nucleotides D. alternating sugar and phosphate groups E. fatty acids and glycerol 24. A peptide bond is found in which type of biological molecule? A. carbohydrate B. lipid C. nucleic acid D. protein 25. The alpha helix and beta sheet are found at which level of protein organization? A. primary structure B. secondary structure C. tertiary structure D. quaternary structure 28. A nucleic acid is a polymer made up of which kind of monomers? A. amino acids B. nucleotides C. glucose or modified glucose molecules D. alternating sugar and phosphate groups E. fatty acids and glycerol 29. Which of these statements is NOT true about DNA? A. It is the genetic material of the cell. B. It forms a double helix. C. Adenine pairs with thymine and guanine pairs with cytosine. D. It contains the sugar ribose. E. The sugar and phosphate groups form the backbone of the molecule. 30. Fish sperm consists mostly of the male fish’s DNA. If we tested a sample chemically, we should find relatively high amounts of A. nitrogenous bases, sugar, and phosphate groups. B. phospholipids and steroids. C. amino acids and unsaturated fats. D. triglycerides and ATP. E. globular proteins and stored fats. 31. Which statement is true about RNA? A. It contains adenine paired to thymine. B. One of the bases from DNA is replaced by uracil. C. It contains the sugar deoxyribose. D. Its nucleotides contain twice as many phosphate groups as DNA’s nucleotides. E. It is a double-stranded molecule. 32. A molecule is chemically determined to have ionic bonding and a small number of atoms. This molecule is A. inorganic in nature and most probably a part of non-living matter. B. organic and associated with living matter. C. hydrophobic. D. an isotope. 34. The reactivity of an organic molecule is primarily dependent upon ____________of the molecule. A. the carbon skeleton B. the attached functional groups such as an hydroxyl group C. the isomer D. all of the previous 35. Polymers are A. large organic molecules linking together repeating subunits of the same type called monomers. B. found in proteins, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids. C. due to a dehydration reaction. D. all of the previous. 36. Which of the following is NOT a biologically active polymer? A. starch B. collagen C. water D. DNA 37. Fats, oils, and steroids are A. proteins. B. nucleic acids. C. polysaccharides. D. lipids. 38. A saturated fat is A. solid at room temperature. B. has fatty acids with no double bonds between the carbon atoms. C. is of animal origin. D. all of the previous. True/False 39. All molecules that contain carbon are considered organic molecules. 40. Inorganic molecules are only found in nonliving matter. 41. Carbon contains six electrons in its outer shell. 42. Carbon can form covalent bonds with as many as four other atoms. 43. Carbon compounds can form rings or long chains. 44. Hydrolysis is a process by which water is used to break apart a chemical bond. 45. Energy is used in the process of hydrolysis. 46. The general formula for a carbohydrate is (CH2O)n, where n is the number of groups in the molecule. 47. Proteins may have structural and metabolic functions. 48. Hemoglobin is a phospholipid that transports oxygen in the blood. 49. Waxes consist of a glycerol bonded to three long-chain fatty acids. 50. There are 20 amino acids that act as monomers for producing common proteins. 51. Denaturation of protein, followed by renaturation in some cases, shows that it is the primary sequence of the monomers that determines the final configuration of the molecule. 52. Nucleotides are joined in a specific sequence through condensation reactions. 53. ATP is a protein that supplies energy to the cell. 54. Starch is a protein that serves in energy storage in plant cells. 55. Bases in DNA are joined in the middle part of the molecule through complementary base pairing. 56. Cholesterol is a lipid specified as a steroid. 57. Migratory birds store energy as glycogen which is lighter than fat. 58. The energy currency of a cell is adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP is chemically a lipoprotein.