nw 200-bi: biology and society - unit 1

Which of the following would NOT be a reason for a peer-reviewed paper to be retracted by its publisher as untrue or inaccurate? a. The author has made a clear error in the scientific process b. It has been shown that the author has plagiarized someone else's work c. It has been discovered that the author violated ethical guidelines or was involved in other scientific misconduct d. Other researchers have published work that appears to contradict the paper in question

d. Other researchers have published work that appears to contradict the paper in question

Based on the scientific evidence presented in more than 100 peer-reviewed, published research articles that evaluated millions of children, which of the following is NOT the reason for the observed increase of autism in the United States and other countries since the 1970s? a. There is a heightened awareness of autism in society b. More schools are screening more students for autism c. People are generally more willing to label a broader range of conditions within the spectrum of autism disorders d. The MMR vaccine is being more broadly administered, so more children are getting autism

d. The MMR vaccine is being more broadly administered, so more children are getting autism

Which of the following accurately describes viruses? a. They are small cellular infectious agents that are only capable of reproducing when inside a living cell, and they can attack plants as well as animals. b. Each is typically a piece of genetic material encased in proteins and can reproduce on their own. c. They are cells that can attack plants and animals. d. They are typically a piece of genetic material encased in proteins.

d. They are typically a piece of genetic material encased in proteins.

Bats consume billions of insects each year. A researcher interested in the interactions between bats and insects, such as their predation on mosquitoes, is studying life at which biological level? a. population level b. organism level c. ecosystem level d. community level

d. community level

If tomato plants are exposed to more sun, they will grow more tomatoes. Based on this prediction, what is the hypothesis? a. Does increased sun exposure lead to more tomatoes? b. increased sun exposure leads to more tomatoes c. amount of sun exposure affects tomato quantity d. either B or C could be the hypothesis

d. either B or C could be the hypothesis

If the Centers for Disease Control's recommended vaccination schedule is delayed, the children who do not receive their vaccines on schedule a. are just as well protected from diseases as they would be if they were on schedule b. experience a decreased risk of contracting disease than if they were on schedule c. experience no change in protection from diseases d. experience an increased risk of disease

d. experience an increased risk of disease

Which scenario demonstrates a cause-and-effect relationship? a. a population of dead bats is discovered with noses that are coated with a white fungus b. bats with microscopic damage to wing membranes are found to be infected with a cold-loving fungus c. agricultural regions with high infestations of insect pests are located near caves that contain a white fungus and very few bats d. in a laboratory, 100 healthy bats exposed to a fungus develop white-nose syndrome and die

d. in a laboratory, 100 healthy bats exposed to a fungus develop white-nose syndrome and die

Which of the following is LEAST likely to include unchecked bias when making scientific statements? a. political groups b. religious groups c. marketing groups d. peer-reviewed scientific journals

d. peer-reviewed scientific journals

The fact that the onset of autism symptoms typically occur at about the same age children receive many of their vaccinations, including the MMR, is an example of an observed a. Correlation but not necessarily evidence of a cause-effect relationship. b. Correlation and strong evidence of a cause-effect relationship. c. Cause-effect relationship supported by empirical evidence. d. Cause-effect relationship, but not necessarily a correlation.

a. Correlation but not necessarily evidence of a cause-effect relationship.

A researcher studying a group of individuals of the same species living and interacting in a shared environment is said to be working at the level of a a. biome b. biosphere c. community d. population

d. population

Some antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections kill the bacteria by chemically punching holes in the cell wall of the bacteria, by preventing the bacteria from replicating their DNA, or by many other actions that ultimately cause cell death. Why do these antibiotics not work to kill viruses and cure people of viral infections? a. Antibiotics cannot kill a virus because viruses are not living cells with cell walls to puncture, nor do they have the structures necessary for autonomous reproduction. B. viruses are too virulent to be killed by those antibiotics. c. viruses are too quick for the antibiotics to work. d. Viruses mutate at a rate faster than the rate at which antibiotics can kill them.

a. Antibiotics cannot kill a virus because viruses are not living cells with cell walls to puncture, nor do they have the structures necessary for autonomous reproduction.

A scientist notices that a population of birds has decreased dramatically within one year and suspects that a newly introduced snail population may be affecting the bird population. Some individuals within the bird population eat snails primarily, while other individuals avoid eating snails. Which of the following statements represents a prediction based on a well-constructed hypothesis for this observation? a. If the birds are affected by eating snails, then there will be a difference in the survival rate of birds that eat snails and those that avoid snails. b. If snails live in most habitats, then snails will be eaten more frequently by birds. c. If birds consume snails, then they'll have a higher body mass index than birds that don't eat snails. d. If snails that are sick leave their shells, which allows birds to consume them, then snail populations will be protected from illness.

a. If the birds are affected by eating snails, then there will be a difference in the survival rate of birds that eat snails and those that avoid snails.

Which of these characteristics of living organisms are present in viruses? a. composed of one or more cells b. can evolve as groups c. maintain energy from their environment d. obtain energy from their environment

b. can evolve as groups

Which of the following is a part of accepted cell theory? a. every living organism is composed of one or more cells, and all living cells have membrane-enclosed organelles b. every living organism is made of one or more cells; all living cells arise from preexisting cells c. all living cells arise from preexisting cells, and all living cells have membrane-enclosed organelles d. all living cells have membrane-enclosed organelles

b. every living organism is made of one or more cells; all living cells arise from preexisting cells

New medications undergo extensive human testing before receiving FDA approval. These tests represent an experiment and variations in the dosage given to participants represents the a. dependent variable b. independent variable c. correlation coefficient d. invariable

b. independent variable

DNA is one of the features common to all known forms of life; it is used to a. protect the outer membrane of cells b. transfer information from parents to their offspring c. obtain energy from the environment d. sense changes within the environment

b. transfer information from parents to their offspring

Prokaryotes and eukaryotes are primarily distinguished by the absence or presence of a. ribosomes b. plasma membranes c. organelles d. cell walls

c. organelles