Bio Regents (from Barron's book)

Male turkeys are birds that naturally strut and display their large tail feathers, which attracts female turkeys. This display is an example of (1) a behavioral adaptation (2) selective breeding (3) asexual reproduction (4) a learned behavior

a behavioral adaptation

Which statement is correct concerning hereditary information? (1) A chromosome is composed of many genes. (2) A gene is composed of many chromosomes. (3) Each chromosome carries the same information. (4) Each gene carries the same information.

a chromosome is composed of many genes.

A DNA segment removed from neurospora (a pink mold) contained the base sequence G-T-C-C-A-T-G-C-A. A similar segment of DNA removed from neurospora that had been exposed to radiation for several hours had the base sequence G-T-C-C-A-T. This change in the base sequence is an example of (1) a deletion (2) an insertion (3) a substitution (4) a replication

a deletion

Which situation is most likely to lead to ecological succession? (1) The fish populations in a large lake remain the same for many years. (2) Hunters are allowed to hunt wolves, with no limits, for one season. (3) The amount of industrialization increased in an area, resulting in the increased burning of fossil fuels. (4) A farmer who has planted corn for many years retires, and the field is left abandoned

a farmer who has planted corn for many years retires, and the field is left abandoned

Plants that live in hot, dry climates have evolved mechanisms to help conserve limited water supplies. One example is the closing of leaf openings by guard cells during the day to decrease water loss from their leaves. This detection of and response to an environmental stimulus is an example of (1) a feedback mechanism (2) a genetic mutation (3) an organ malfunction (4) an allergic reaction

a feedback mechanism

Which statement describes a situation that would reduce the stability of a forest ecosystem? (1) A fierce predator is removed from the ecosystem. (2) The number of producers remains constant in the ecosystem. (3) Organisms frequently interact within the ecosystem. (4) The energy in the ecosystem flows from the Sun.

a fierce predator is removed from the ecosystem.

A finite resource in the environment that keeps a population from steadily increasing is known as (1) dynamic equilibrium (2) a limiting factor (3) a reproductive enzyme (4) ecological succession

a limiting factor

If the concentration of sodium is greater outside a cell than inside the cell, which process could move sodium out of the cell? (1) diffusion (2) carbohydrate synthesis (3) active transport (4) digestion

active transport

Wildflowers grow and reproduce during the spring snowmelt in the desert region of Death Valley, California. Which environmental factor would most likely have the greatest influence on these activities? (1) percentage of nitrogen in the atmosphere (2) number of plant species in the area (3) variety of scavengers in the ecosystem (4) amount of time that water is present

amount of time that water is present

Farmers in India have increased the harvest yield of food crops like eggplant by growing them from seeds that have been modified to produce a bacterial toxin that is harmful to pest insects. This is an example of (1) selective breeding of the insects (2) spraying an insecticide on plants (3) selective breeding of the eggplant (4) an application of biotechnology

an application of biotechnology

A scientist plans to cut a segment of DNA so that it can be inserted into the DNA of a bacterium, a single-celled organism. The scientist needs to use a special type of organic molecule to perform this cutting process. This molecule is (1) a lipid (2) a carbohydrate (3) an enzyme (4) a hormone

an enzyme

Over time, data that support the successful evolution of a species would include observations that describe (1) an increase in the genetic changes occurring in body cells (2) a decrease in the genetic variety carried in sex cells (3) an increase in the proportion of offspring that have favorable characteristics (4) a decrease in the proportion of the population that has beneficial traits

an increase in the proportion of offspring that have favorable characteristics

The basic building blocks of a protein are (1) glucose molecules (2) amino acids (3) hormones (4) fats

animo acid

The hormone adrenaline can affect only cells with (1) appropriately shaped receptors (2) the appropriate antibodies (3) ribosomes that produce adrenaline (4) genes that break down adrenaline

appropriately shaped receptors

Aphids, small insects that feed on the sap of plants, undergo asexual reproduction during the summer months. They produce eggs that are formed without the separation of chromosomes. These eggs do not need to be fertilized, and all of the resulting offspring are female. The best explanation for all of these offspring being female is that: (1) there is not enough food to support male aphids (2) asexual reproduction produces offspring with many mutations (3) only the females are able to feed on the sap of the plants (4) asexual reproduction produces offspring that are genetically identical to the parent

asexual reproduction produces offspring that are genetically identical to the parent

In living cells, chemical processes,such as synthesis, all require the action of (1) specialized antibiotics (2) hormones (3) salts (4) biological catalysts

biological catalysts

Shrimp that live in the cold waters off Alaska will die if introduced into warm water. One likely reason these shrimp do not survive is that enzymes in the shrimp (1) start to replicate (2) change shape (3) are composed of fat molecules that melt (4) break down into small starch molecules

change shape

Water pollution as a result of fertilizer runoff from farms is harmful because it initially (1) changes the chemical composition of nearby streams and lakes (2) adds ozone to the atmosphere, increasing global temperatures (3) decreases the water temperature of streams and lakes (4) decreases the amount of nutrient recycling in lakes

changes the chemical composition of nearby streams and lakes

Bacteria and humans are similar in that they both (1) contain genetic material (2) are single-celled (3) lack cell organelles (4) carry out autotrophic nutrition

contain genetic material

An ecosystem is self-sustaining as long as organ- isms have sufficient quantities of energy, oxygen, minerals, and water. When organisms die, some of these materials are recycled back to plants in the ecosystem primarily through the activity of (1) predators (2) decomposers (3) pathogens (4) parasites

decomposers

In an embryo, the formation of many types of tissues and organs occurs as a result of the process of (1) fertilization (2) genetic sorting (3) differentiation (4) gene recombination

differentiation

A person usually experiences small variations in body temperature over a 24-hour period. These variations in temperature are an example of (1) an immune response (2) genetic differences between individuals (3) an adaptation to global warming (4) dynamic equilibrium

dynamic equilibrium

A mutation occurring in a human can be passed from parent to offspring when it occurs in a (1) lung cell, due to exposure to a toxic gas (2) gamete formed in the ovary (3) body cell undergoing mitosis (4) heart cell with chromosome damage

gamete formed in ovary

Potato farmers in Ireland during the mid 1800s all grew the same type of potato. The potato plants were all produced as clones of one another. When a fungus infected the crop, all of the potatoes were destroyed. This occurred because these potato plants (1) had little genetic variability (2) had increased biodiversity (3) were the product of fertilization (4) were the result of biotechnology

had little genetic variability

Although the digestive system is primarily responsible for the breakdown of food, this process can be disrupted if the circulatory system malfunctions. The best explanation for this disruption is that (1) human body systems interact with each other to perform life functions (2) the circulatory system is the control center of the body (3) the digestive system and the circulatory system have many organs in common (4) the circulatory system is responsible for the coordination of life functions, including the breakdown of food

human body systems interact with each other to perform life functions

When a paramecium, a single-celled organism, is living under stressful conditions, it sometimes switches from asexual to sexual reproduction. The main advantage when this switch occurs is that the paramecium is most likely to (1) produce fewer offspring (2) increase variation among its offspring (3) avoid having to find a mate (4) produce clones of itself

increase variation among its offspring

Human reproduction usually involves (1) internal fertilization and internal development (2) external fertilization and external development (3) internal fertilization and external development (4) external fertilization and internal development

internal fertilization and internal development

Which statement best describes how a major change in the size of one population affects an ecosystem? (1) It will immediately affect every population and the physical conditions. (2) It will affect the physical conditions, but not the other populations. (3) It could directly or indirectly affect the physical conditions and any population. (4) It affects every population, not the physical conditions.

it could directly or indirectly affect the physical conditions and any population

Which statement describes a function of the hormone estrogen? (1) It regulates the secretion of digestive enzymes. (2) It promotes sperm production in males. (3) It influences the development of adult sex characteristics. (4) It maintains blood sugar levels.

it influences the development of adult sex

Which statement concerning sexual reproduction is correct? (1) It is not necessary in order for the individual to survive. (2) The offspring are identical to the parent. (3) It is necessary in order for the individual to survive. (4) The offspring are identical to each other.

it is not necessary in order for the individual to survive.

Which cell structure is mainly responsible for releasing energy from food molecules in some single-celled organisms? (1) ribosome (2) chloroplast (3) cell membrane (4) mitochondrion

mitochondria

Some plants increase in height due to changes in specialized regions of cells in the tips of their branches. The processes that result in these changes include (1) meiosis, cell growth, and cloning (2) mitosis, zygote formation, and cloning (3) meiosis, gamete formation, and differentiation (4) mitosis, cell growth, and differentiation

mitosis, cell growth, and differentiation

Sometimes, a person is born with one or more extra chromosomes in each cell. This usually results in abnormalities because the affected person has (1) a reduced number of genes in cell nuclei (2) fewer cell mutations than a person with a normal chromosome number (3) more genes in each cell than a person with a normal chromosome number (4) less DNA in cell nuclei, but more proteins in cell mitochondria

more genes in each cell than a person with a normal chromosome number

A scientist at a large natural history museum has a collection of fossils that were found throughout the world. Only a few of the fossils represent species that are still alive on Earth today. One reason for this is that (1) most of the species that have ever lived on Earth are alive today (2) most of the species that have ever lived on Earth are extinct (3) fossils of only extinct species have been found (4) species alive today will not form any fossils for future discovery by scientists

most of the species that have ever lived on Earth are extinct

Which process is most closely associated with the regulation of water loss from the leaves of trees? (1) digestion of water within the cytoplasm in the leaf cells of the trees (2) synthesis of protein by the chloroplasts in the leaf cells of the trees (3) movement of water through leaf openings controlled by the guard cells (4) absorption of nitrogen through leaf openings controlled by the guard cells

movement of water through leaf openings controlled by the guard cells

Every time a child visited a cousin who has two cats, the child's eyes turned red, itched, and began to water. Then, the child began to have trouble breathing. It is most likely that the child reacted this way because (1) normally harmless cat antigens stimulated the immune system (2) it is difficult for the respiratory system to filter cat antigens out of the inhaled air (3) cat antigens are a health hazard, since they always cause disease (4) cat antigens stop the immune system from making antibodies, so bacteria cause these responses

normally harmless cat antigens stimulated the immune system

Which sequence represents structures organized from least complex to most complex? (1) nerve cell → nucleus → nervous system → brain (2) nucleus → nerve cell → brain → nervous system (3) brain → nervous system → nucleus → nerve cell (4) nervous system → brain → nerve cell → nucleus

nucleus → nerve cell → brain → nervous system

When an organism reproduces asexually, it usually has (1) only one parent, and half as much DNA as the parent (2) only one parent, and the same chromosome number as the parent (3) two parents, and twice as much DNA as either parent (4) two parents, and the same chromosome number as each parent

only one parent, and the same chromosome number as the parent

Members of a bird-watching club observed the activities of three species of birds for an entire spring and summer. They noticed that the different species fed at different heights in the same pine tree. Which ecological concept is supported by this observation? (1) Organisms that feed on different foods in the same area of an ecosystem fill the same niche. (2) Organisms that live in the same ecosystem can occupy different niches in the ecosystem. (3) Different species feeding in the same ecosystem will eventually compete with each other, eliminating all the species except one. (4) Different species living in the same area of an ecosystem usually have the same physical characteristics.

organisms that live in the same ecosystem can occupy different niches in the ecosystem.

Which factor would be least likely to contribute to the development of a new species? (1) plentiful resources within the environment occupied by the species (2) increased genetic variation within the species (3) changes in the environment of the species (4) the ability of the species to increase its numbers by sexual reproduction

plentiful resources within the environment occupied by the species

The primary function of the human male reproductive system is to (1) provide a site for fertilization (2) produce and transport gametes (3) protect and nourish the embryo (4) prevent urine from leaving the body

produce and transport gametes

Which group consists entirely of organic molecules? (1) protein, oxygen, fat (2) protein, starch, fat (3) water, carbon dioxide, oxygen (4) water, starch, protein

protein, starch, fat

In the fall, some farmers plow the remains of corn plants into the ground. This activity contributes most directly to the (1) increase in the biodiversity of their fields (2) depletion of nonrenewable resources (3) destruction of natural habitats (4) recycling of organic matter

recycling of organic matter

Which activity would be an appropriate first step when designing an experiment? (1) reporting a conclusion based on multiple experimental trials (2) researching the problem, using information from a variety of sources (3) creating a data table to organize experimental observations (4) repeating the experiment with a different hypothesis

researching the problem, using information from a variety of sources

During gas exchange, the cell membrane of a single-celled organism has the same function as which organ system in humans? (1) nervous (2) reproductive (3) digestive (4) respiratory

respiratory

The corn we eat today is larger and has more kernels than the corn people first grew thousands of years ago. Which process is most likely responsible for the changes that have occurred? (1) mitosis (2) succession (3) direct harvesting (4) selective breeding

selective breeding

Even though human proteins are synthesized from only 20 different amino acids, there are thousands of different proteins found in human cells. This great variety of proteins is possible because the (1) size of a specific amino acid can vary within a protein (2) chemical composition of a specific amino acid can vary (3) sequence and number of amino acids can be different in each protein (4) same amino acid can have many different properties

sequence and number of amino acids can be different in each protein

Caffeine is a compound found in the seeds of many different plants, such as coffee beans, cola nuts, and cacao beans (the source of chocolate). The presence of this chemical in all three types of plants suggests that these plants (1) inherited identical mutations (2) share a common ancestry (3) were exposed to the same type of radiation in the past (4) were cloned from a caffeine plant

share a common ancestry

Which sequence best represents the flow of energy through an ecosystem? (1) Sun → green plants → herbivores → carnivores (2) Sun → herbivores → producers → consumers (3) green plants → carnivores → consumers → herbivores (4) consumers → carnivores → herbivores → producers

sun → green plants → herbivores → carnivores

Overfishing has depleted the rich harvests of fish from the oceans. As a solution, a large industry that cultivates shrimp and fish in warm coastal ponds has been developed. To make way for these ponds, mangrove forests are cut down. Local organisms are displaced. In order for people to decide if this new fish farming technology is a good long-term solution, they must consider (1) (2) that the mangrove forests would probably die off someday anyway (3) that food production is always more important than any other concern (4) the number of fish produced in the first year as compared with ocean fishing

the risks and costs as well as the benefits

Which statement is most likely correct regarding soil bacteria that inhabit the polar regions of Earth? (1) They do not carry out the process of respiration. (2) They contain enzymes that function at low temperatures. (3) They are part of the abiotic resources of that ecosystem. (4) They do not reproduce.

they contain enzymes that functions at low

Fossil fuels have been used for years as a source of energy. Even though there are many negative issues associated with the use of fossil fuels, they continue to be used to a great extent. This is most likely because (1) they have been commercially available as an energy source (2) there are alternatives to these types of fuels (3) they have had a positive effect on global temperatures (4) fossil fuels can be burned to produce large quantities of carbon dioxide

they have been commercially available as an energy source