Final

A null hypothesis: a) is the premise that no difference exists between a treatment and control group. b) is the premise that treatment groups were not adequately controlled. c) results from an improperly controlled experiment. d) cannot be rejected. e) is a hypothesis that the experimenter hopes will be falsified.

A

A powerful way to demonstrate that observed differences between a treatment group and a control group truly reflect the effect of the treatment is for researchers to: a) conduct the experiment over and over again. b) get their study published in a scientific journal. c) use a variety of statistical tests until they find one that shows statistical significance. d) formulate as many hypotheses as they can. e) make more observations.

A

All of the following are branches of biology EXCEPT: a) geology. b) genetics. c) behavior. d) evolution. e) ecology.

A

An experimental condition applied to research subjects is called a: a) treatment. b) control. c) randomization. d) placebo. e) variable.

A

Anecdotal evidence: a) can appear to reveal links between two phenomena that do not actually exist. b) tends to be more reliable than data based on observations of large numbers of diverse individuals. c) is often the only way to prove important causal links between two phenomena. d) is a more efficient method for understanding the world than the scientific method. e) is a necessary part of the scientific method.

A

DNA differs from RNA because DNA A) contains thymine in place of uracil. B) consists of a single rather than a double polynucleotide strand. C) contains the sugar ribose rather than the sugar deoxyribose. D) contains phosphate groups not found in RNA.

A

Despite all of the intellectual analyses the scientific method gives rise to and objective conclusions it makes possible, it CANNOT: a) generate moral statements. b) aid in technical advances. c) generate new hypotheses. d) reject false claims. e) affect one's opinions about social issues.

A

Gene ________ refers to the combined processes of transcription and translation. A. expression B. replication C. modification D. regulation

A

If your hypothesis is "Estrogens in sewage runoff turn fish into hermaphrodites," what is your null hypothesis? a) Estrogens in sewage runoff have no effect in turning fish into hermaphrodites. b) Estrogens in sewage runoff turn turtles into hermaphrodites. c) Estrogens in sewage runoff turn hermaphroditic fish into unisexual fish. d) Testosterones in sewage runoff turn fish into hermaphrodites. e) Testosterones in sewage runoff have no effect in turning fish into hermaphrodites.

A

Science as a way of seeking principles of order differs from art, religion, and philosophy in that: a) science deals exclusively with known facts. b) science limits its search to the natural world of the physical universe. c) all scientific knowledge is gained by experimentation. d) science denies the existence of the supernatural. e) there is no room for intuition or guessing.

A

Scientific theories do not represent speculations or guesses about the natural world. Instead, they are hypotheses—proposed explanations for natural phenomena—that have been: a) so strongly and persuasively supported by empirical observation that the scientific community views them as unlikely to be altered by new evidence. b) verified by at least one critical experiment. c) validated by the International Board of Scientific Theories. d) used to support the political stances of the scientists who have developed them. e) found to be statistically significant.

A

The essence of heredity is the ability of cells to use the information in their DNA to bring about the production of particular ________, thereby affecting what the cells will be like. A. proteins B. ribosomes C. RNAs D. helicases

A

The placebo effect: a) is the frequently observed, poorly understood, phenomenon that people tend to respond favorably to any treatment. b) reveals that sugar pills are generally as effective as actual medications in fighting illness. c) is an urban legend. d) reveals that experimental treatments cannot be proven as effective. e) demonstrates that most scientific studies cannot be replicated.

A

The polypeptide-making organelles residing in the cytoplasm are called A. ribosomes. B. Golgi bodies. C. lysosomes. D. the endoplasmic reticulum. E. mitochondria.

A

The raw materials of science are: a) observations. b) hunches. c) predictions. d) theories. e) hypotheses.

A

Thinking scientifically hinges on which of the following? A) objective observation and experimentation B) learning a list of facts C) Intuition

A

What does it mean when you replicate a study? A) The same study is repeated, sometimes with a tiny variation. B) When you replicate a study, you repeat multiple versions of the experiment all at once. C) Replicating a study is when someone illegally copies the results from another study and falsifies their own study with those results. D) Someone at another lab or location copies your exact experiment, illegally. E) You cannot replicate studies; they are unique, one-time instances.

A

What should you do when something you believe turns out to be wrong? a) Change your mind. b) Feel ashamed. c) Blame the government. d) Hold to your beliefs. e) Doubt your ability to properly perceive the sensory stimuli of the world.

A

Which of the following is MOST correct? a) You can accept or reject a hypothesis, but never prove it to be true. b) You can prove a hypothesis to be true. c) You can prove a hypothesis to be false. d) Accepting or rejecting a hypothesis is the same as proving whether or not the hypothesis is true. e) By rejecting a hypothesis, you also reject any theory that was correlated with that hypothesis.

A

Which of the following is usually employed before the others by an investigator using the scientific method? a) Make observations. b) Formulate a hypothesis. c) Devise a testable prediction. d) Conduct a critical experiment. e) Analyze data.

A

Which of the following questions would be LEAST helped by application of the scientific method? a) formulating public policy on euthanasia b) comparing the effectiveness of two potential antibiotics c) developing more effective high school curricula d) determining the most effective safety products for automobiles e) evaluating the relationship between violence in video games and criminal behavior in teens

A

Which of the following statements BEST explains the observation that more autism cases exist now than in the past? a) Doctors are more aware of the condition and have better techniques for diagnosing and reporting it. b) More parents neglect their children, which is a cause of autism, now than in the past. c) The vaccine for measles, mumps, and rubella has been established as a significant cause of autism. d) Autism has been selected for in recent generations by natural selection. e) All of the above are equally good explanations for the observation that more autism cases exist now than in the past.

A

Which of the following terms and phrases best describes the application of scientific knowledge to specific purposes? a) technology b) statistics c) deduction d) junk science e) pseudoscience

A

Which one of the following contains a carboxyl and an amino group? A) amino acids B) fats C) sugars D) ATP E) vinegar

A

Which statement describes one characteristic of DNA? A) It is the template for the replication of genetic information. B) Organic catalysts are made up of these molecules. C) It is different in each cell of an organism. D) Cell membranes contain many of these molecules.

A

Xeroderma Pigmentosum (XP) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder. Patients with XP exhibit a cellular hypersensitivity to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, a high incidence of skin cancer and premature aging. Based on these clinical characteristics, what is the underlying cause for this disease? A. defects in DNA repair B. defects in DNA replication C. lack of telomerase activity D. shortened telomeres

A

"Engaging in aerobic activity three times each week will reduce cholesterol levels" is a: a) control group. b) testable hypothesis. c) scientific control. d) critical experiment. e) All of the above are correct.

B

Biology is ________. a) mostly a collection of facts that can be ordered and memorized b) the study of living things c) always used responsibly in advertising claims d) a separate branch of science from the study of how organisms interact with each other and with their environment e) Both a and b.

B

Biology is to science as ________ is to ________. a) baseball; tennis b) basketball; sports c) American soccer; European football d) college baseball; professional baseball e) the home team; the visiting team

B

Chargaff's rules for the pairing of nitrogen bases is A. A = C and G = T. B. A pairs with T and G pairs with C. C. A pairs with G and C pairs with T. D. A pairs with C and G pairs with T. E. T = C and G = A.

B

Eukaryotic mRNA molecules are occasionally interspersed with non-coding sequences that must be removed before protein synthesis. These are called A. anticodons. B. introns. C. exons. D. nucleosomes. E. chromomeres.

B

In _________, a ribosome assembles a polypeptide, whose amino acid sequence is specified by the nucleotide sequence in the mRNA (which itself is a copy of the template DNA). A. transcription B. translation C. replication D. synthesis

B

In controlled experiments: a) all variables are held constant. b) one variable is manipulated, while others are held constant. c) all critical variables are manipulated. d) all variables are dependent on each other. e) all variables are independent of each other.

B

Many names for sugars end in the suffix A) -acid. B) -ose. C) -hyde. D) -ase. E) -ing.

B

Most eukaryotic genes contain coding sequences called ________ that are interspersed with noncoding sequences. A. introns B. exons C. codons D. DNA

B

Pseudoscience capitalizes on the belief shared by most people that: a) the scientific bases for scientific-sounding claims are often not clear. b) scientific thinking is a powerful method for learning about the world. c) scientific thinking is beyond the reach of the average person. d) science is intimidating. e) scientific claims can be evaluated through the political process.

B

Science is: A) a field of study that requires certain "laws of nature" to be taken on faith. B) both a body of knowledge and an intellectual activity encompassing observation, description, experimentation, and explanation of natural phenomena. C) a way of thinking that is very difficult and best left to scientists. D) the only way to understand the natural world. E) None of the above.

B

Scientific data: a) must be collected in laboratories. b) are used to support or refute a hypothesis. c) cannot be collected in a completely unbiased way. d) are always true. e) All of the above are true.

B

The proposed explanation for a phenomenon is BEST described as: a) an observation. b) a hypothesis. c) a testable prediction. d) an experiment. e) a theory.

B

Thinking scientifically relies on which of the following? a) intuition b) objective observation and experimentation c) statements from authorities d) learning a list of facts e) applying your preconceptions

B

What is the best way for a scientist to address his/her own biases? a) Make sure that no biases influence his/her work. b) Use careful controls to minimize them. c) Understand his/her biases and interpret the data differently as a result. d) Never be involved in any kind of scientific study where his/her possible biases might impact the study. e) None of the above is correct; there is no way a scientist can deal with biases.

B

When conducting a scientific experiment, which of the following is tested? a) an observation b) a prediction c) a result d) a question e) the null variable

B

A major type of lipid found in cell membranes is A) cellulose. B) triglycerides. C) phospholipids. D) glycerol. E) waxes.

C

How can science best help each of us understand the role of humans in nature? a) Science can provide us with a set of moral precepts. b) Science can provide us with a specific political agenda. c) Science can provide understanding of how the systems of nature work. d) Science can teach us to love nature. e) None of the above is correct.

C

In a recent study, patients treated with a genetically engineered heart drug were able to walk on a treadmill for 26 seconds longer than those not receiving the drug and showed no side effects. Can we conclude that this drug is an effective treatment for heart disease? a) Yes. b) No. It is not clear that the proper controls were made. c) No. It is not clear that the drug is not a placebo. d) No. It is not clear how many subjects were in the study. e) No. Genetically engineered drugs cannot be tested via the scientific method. They require comparative observations.

C

In science, theories tend to be ___________ than hypotheses. a) more speculative b) less scientific c) broader in scope d) more experimental e) more empirical

C

Organic compounds A) always contain nitrogen. B) are synthesized by only animal cells. C) always contain carbon. D) can only be synthesized in a laboratory. E) always contain oxygen

C

The enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of new RNA transcripts is called A. RNA ligase. B. DNA polymerase. C. RNA polymerase. D. DNA helicase. E. RNA helicase.

C

The proteins necessary for the use of lactose in E. coli are collectively called the A. lac regulator. B. lac suppressor. C. lac operon. D. lac promoter. E. lac transcriptional operator.

C

Watson and Crick developed a model of DNA in which the two strands twist into the shape of a _________________. A. circle B. slinky C. double helix D. double pleated sheet E. origami swan

C

What is the general function of enzymes within a cell? A) to promote the synthesis of monomers B) to stop chemical reactions C) to speed up chemical reactions D) to reverse the direction of chemical reactions E) to provide structural support for the cell

C

When a chewing gum manufacturer makes the claim, "Four out of five dentists surveyed recommend sugarless gum for their patients who chew gum," how many dentists need to have been surveyed for the statement to be factually accurate? a) at least 500 b) at least 100 c) five d) four e) ten

C

Which of the following is NOT true about control of gene expression? A. In bacteria it allows them to adopt to changing environments. B. In multicellular organisms it is critical for development. C. In bacteria it allows them to replicate without control. D. In multicellular organisms it allows them to maintain homeostasis. E. In multicellular organisms it allows them to function as a whole.

C

Which of the following is an important feature of the scientific method? a) A good hypothesis does not necessarily need to be tested. b) If research results are not conclusive, the opinion of experts should be relied upon. c) Anyone should be able to repeat an experiment. d) A researcher's methods should not be described once desired results have been obtained. e) Once demonstrated, conclusions cannot be changed.

C

Which of the following lists contains only polysaccharides? A) sucrose, starch, and cellulose B) starch, amino acids, and glycogen C) cellulose, starch, and glycogen D) nucleotides, glycogen, and cellulose E) fructose, cellulose, and glucose

C

Which of the following statements is CORRECT? a) The scientific method can be used only to understand scientific phenomena. b) Common sense is usually a good substitute for the scientific method when trying to understand the world. c) A hypothesis that does not generate a testable prediction is not useful. d) It is not necessary to make observations as part of the scientific method. e) All of the above are correct.

C

Why is it that creationism can never be accepted as a scientific explanation of the origin of life? a) Because the age of the earth, as given in Genesis, can never be determined. b) Because most scientists are not deeply religious people. c) Because the ideas of creationism cannot be tested through experiment and observation. d) Because creationism, similar to evolution, is a theory and therefore cannot be proved. e) None of the above; creationism can be accepted as a scientific explanation of the origin of life.

C

A scientific theory is one that: a) perfectly sums up many years of accumulated experimental results. b) is based on hunches with no actual supporting evidence. c) changes each time a different observation is made. d) is the foundation of all scientific experiments. e) sounds the most plausible.

D

Biological literacy is the ability to: a) use the process of scientific inquiry to think creatively about real-world issues that have a biological component. b) communicate ideas about biology to others. c) integrate ideas about biology into your decision-making. d) All of the above are components of biological literacy. e) Only b and c are components of biological literacy.

D

If a researcher uses the same experimental setup as another study to collect data, but uses different research subjects, it is considered: a) exploration. b) a two-tailed test of the hypothesis. c) inductive reasoning. d) replication. e) extrapolation.

D

In gene regulation, negative control is exerted by a(n) A. activator. B. operon. C. promoter. D. regulator. E. repressor.

D

Lactose intolerance is the inability to A) produce milk proteins. B) produce lactose. C) digest cellulose. D) digest lactose. E) digest milk fats.

D

Multiple atoms linked together are called: a) a reactant. b) an isotope. c) a substrate. d) a molecule. e) an element.

D

Using the graphic above as a guide, what is Step 4 in the scientific process? a) Make observations. b) Formulate a hypothesis. c) Devise a testable prediction. d) Conduct a critical experiment. e) Draw conclusions and make revisions.

D

Which of the following statements about replication of DNA is false? A. The two strands are separated. B. Each strand is used as a template for making a new duplex. C. The synthesis on each strand is in the opposite direction. D. The newly synthesized DNA is packaged into one nucleus, and the old DNA is packaged into another nucleus.

D

A shortage of phosphorus in the soil would make it especially difficult for a plant to manufacture _____.

DNA and RNA

Alon claimed that a tincture of a local herb was effective in lowering anxiety and was planning to invest in the product. As evidence of his claim, Alon, who had anxiety over his financial situation, said that he felt much better after the treatment, was much more relaxed, and no longer worried about his finances. Which of the following combinations of methodological flaws BEST characterizes Alon's investigation? a) lack of an appropriate outcome measure b) lack of appropriate controls and lack of an appropriate outcome measure c) lack of randomization, lack of replication, and lack of an appropriate outcome measure d) lack of replication and lack of appropriate controls e) lack of an appropriate outcome measure, replication, randomization, and controls

E

In a scientific experiment, a control group: a) is less important than an experimental group. b) makes the experiment better, but is not essential. c) can be compared with an experimental group to assess whether one particular variable is causing a change in the experimental group. d) must be kept in a laboratory. e) All of the above are correct.

E

In a well-designed experiment, the: a) prediction will be highly probable if the explanation is correct. b) prediction will be highly improbable if the explanation is incorrect. c) prediction will most likely be true. d) null hypothesis will not be tested. e) Both a and b.

E

The scientific method will never prove or disprove: a) the existence of God. b) the beauty of Shakespeare's sonnets. c) the ability of echinacea to prevent the common cold. d) All of the above are examples of statements that the scientific method will never prove or disprove. e) Only a and b are examples of statements that the scientific method will never prove or disprove.

E

Three sequential nucleotides on an RNA molecule that code for an amino acid are called a(n) A. gene B. exon C. intron D. codex E. codon

E

Which of the following areas is NOT heavily influenced by biology? a) agriculture b) environmental issues c) criminology d) behavioral issues e) Biology heavily influences ALL of these areas.

E

Which of the following is NOT an example of a theory? A) evolution B) gravity C) relativity D) electromagnetism E) All of the above are considered to be theories.

E

Which of the following questions CANNOT be answered by the scientific method? a) Does taking echinacea reduce the intensity or duration of the common cold? b) Does chemical runoff give rise to hermaphrodite fish? c) Does hair that is shaved grow back coarser? d) Is eyewitness testimony in criminal proceedings reliable? e) Which Shakespearean sonnet is the most beautiful?

E

_________________ may have biases that affect their abilities to perform in an objective fashion. a) Scientists b) Research assistants c) Politicians d) Authors of test questions e) All of the above are correct.

E

What is step two in the scientific process? (OHPEC)

Hypothesis

Why is astrology not a true scientific discipline?

It cannot be tested by controlled experiments.

Which structural level of a protein would be least affected by a disruption in hydrogen bonding?

Primary

It is not possible to address supernatural or religious phenomena through the lens of science because:

They do not lend themselves to controlled experimentation.