Chap 1 - The Study of Life (General Biology)

Which of the following statements is based on scientific observation and reasoning? ( ) Some chemical compounds react differently in different human cultures. ( ) If a tree falls in a forest but this is never witnessed by a human, there are no physical or biological consequences. ( ) Many physical and biological phenomena lack any cause-and-effect; outcomes from one situation may be one way today and another tomorrow. ( ) Objects fall downward anywhere on the earth's surface regardless of the observer. ( ) A scientist records only the data that are easiest to interpret.

( ) Objects fall downward anywhere on the earth's surface regardless of the observer.

Which statement is FALSE regarding science? ( ) Science helps us to understand the natural world. ( ) Science strives to be objective rather than subjective. ( ) Correct scientific conclusions are permanent and never subject to change or refinement. ( ) Information is gathered by scientific methods. ( ) Information is gained by observing and testing.

Correct scientific conclusions are permanent and never subject to change or refinement.

Which of the following is one of the domains of life? ( ) Animalia ( ) Eukarya ( ) Molds ( ) Protista ( ) Fungi

Eukarya

The bones in a bird are hollow, reducing its weight for flight. This is an example of which characteristic of life?

Living things are adapted.

The body temperature in humans is maintained around 37°C. Which characteristic of life does this information represent?

Living things are homeostatic.

What might plausibly be said by a scientist?

There is always a possibility that a more advanced experiment might falsify any hypothesis.

The term "biodiversity" refers to

the total number of species, variation of species and the ecosystems in which they live.

Which classification category includes the most species? ( ) family ( ) genus ( ) class ( ) phylum ( ) kingdom

kingdom

You have discovered a previously unknown organism. It is multicellular, with a filamentous form, and absorbs food from its environment. Upon microscopic examination, you see that the cells have nuclei. How would you classify this organism?

kingdom Fungi

When researchers test a new human cancer drug using mice, the mice constitute the

model.

Ever since the antibiotic drug penicillin was discovered in 1928, the incidence of resistant bacteria has steadily increased as a direct result of

natural selection.

Which level of biological organization is composed of tissues?

organ

A physician specializes in surgery involving the following group of organs: mouth, esophagus, stomach and intestines. Overall, this physician is specialized at which level of organization?

organ system

An unmanned spacecraft has been sent to another planet to detect other life forms that might be quite different from those on Earth. If the probe could only send back one still picture, which property or properties of life would be most evident?

organization

All the banded sunfish (Enneacanthus obesus) in a pond would comprise a

population.

Which statement regarding the scientific method is FALSE? ( ) Hypotheses are tentative explanations of observed phenomena. ( ) A hypothesis may become a theory, which may become a law. ( ) Deductive reasoning is often used in the design of an experiment. ( ) A control group is always exposed to the factor being tested. ( ) Conclusions are formed after an experiment is conducted.

A control group is always exposed to the factor being tested.

Which domains contain organisms that lack a membrane bound nucleus?

Archaea & Bacteria

The three major domains of life are

Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukaryotes.

Which of the following domains contains organisms that are adapted to life in harsh environments? ( ) Domain Archaea ( ) Domain Bacteria ( ) Domain Eukarya ( ) Domain Animalia ( ) Domain Plantae

Domain Archaea

Which of these is an example of inductive reasoning used to form a hypothesis? ( ) Every fungus that has ever been studied absorbs its food; therefore, food absorption is characteristic of fungi. ( ) All fungi absorb their food; if mushroom are fungi; then the mushroom absorbs its food. ( ) A mushroom is classified in the kingdom Fungi of the domain Eukarya. ( ) This cell from a mushroom has a nucleus. ( ) Fungi are not capable of photosynthesis.

Every fungus that has ever been studied absorbs its food; therefore, food absorption is characteristic of fungi.

What is the correct format for the binomial name of human beings?

Homo sapiens

The common name for "cat" in Spanish is "gato" and in Chinese is "mao." Which of the following statements pertaining to the use of scientific names instead of common names is FALSE? ( ) Common names may include different sets of organisms. ( ) Scientific names can be known and recognized by all scientists throughout the world. ( ) To recognize an organism in the literature by its common name, a scientist would have to know multiple languages. ( ) The scientific name begins to tie the organism into related groups. ( ) The common name clearly identifies an organism as unique.

The common name clearly identifies an organism as unique.

If a new anti-cancer drug is found effective in initial tests with mice, what do researchers conclude?

The drug is effective in the mouse model; it must still be tested in humans.

Using technology in the field of agriculture has enabled farmers to feed a growing human population. True or False?

True

In the late 1800s, Louis Pasteur was searching for a vaccine for anthrax in livestock. One French veterinarian had a local reputation for being able to cure anthrax by applying oils and wrapping the animal in cloth to induce a fever. Pasteur also knew that some animals got well on their own when left untreated. Pasteur tested the effectiveness of the local veterinarian's methods by injecting four cattle with anthrax bacteria. He then directed the veterinarian to perform his procedures on two cattle. The other two cattle were left alone. What is the rationale for Pasteur's experimental design?

Two cattle represent a test of the treatment; two serve as a control to determine the likelihood of survival without treatment.

Which of the following biological technology has enabled scientists to extend the life span of individuals who are suffering from HIV/AIDS? ( ) Virology ( ) Cell biology ( ) Biology ( ) Physics ( ) Technology

Virology

In the late 1800s, Louis Pasteur was searching for a vaccine for anthrax in livestock. One French veterinarian had a local reputation for being able to cure anthrax by applying oils and wrapping the animal in cloth to induce a fever. Pasteur also knew that some animals got well on their own when left untreated. Pasteur tested the effectiveness of the local veterinarian's methods by injecting four cattle with anthrax bacteria. He then directed the veterinarian to perform his procedures on two cattle. The other two cattle were left alone. One cow from each group died and the other one in each group survived. Pasteur dismissed the veterinarian's procedure as ineffective, but he also considered this to be a poor test. Why would he consider this to be a poor test?

With such a small group you can't determine if survival was dependent on the treatment or random chance.

You are conducting an experiment to determine which brand of fertilizer results in the greatest amount of fruit production by tomato plants. In this example, the response variable would be the

amount of fruit produced by the tomato plants.

Technology is the ______________________.

application of scientific knowledge for a practical purpose.

As the human population size increases,

biodiversity is adversely affected as humans have destructive effects on ecosystems.

The layer where organisms can exist on the surface of the earth is the

biosphere.

The smallest unit that has all of the characteristics of life is the

cell.

List the sequence of biological organization, from the smallest and simplest to the largest and most complex. ( ) cells-organs-tissues-organ systems-organism ( ) cells-tissues-organ systems-organs-organism ( ) tissues-cells-organs-organ systems-organism ( ) tissues-organs-organ systems-organisms-cells ( ) cells-tissues-organs-organ systems-organisms

cells-tissues-organs-organ systems-organisms

When comparing energy and chemicals in an ecosystem,

chemicals cycle over and over again but energy flows through once.

The most important factor that determines where major ecosystems are located on the globe is

climate.

All the organisms of various species living within a given area constitute a

community.

A community of organisms along with their physical environment constitutes an

ecosystem.

If the human population faces potential extinction, cloning of humans is the only technology that will save us. True or False?

False

Which of the following represents a potential threat to biodiversity? ( ) People construct artificial reefs to support marine life. ( ) Humans clear land for agriculture and housing. ( ) Energy flows through an ecosystem, with much lost as heat. ( ) Tropical rain forests and coral reefs are found where solar energy is the most abundant. ( ) In a food chain, one population feeds on another.

Humans clear land for agriculture and housing.

Which statement regarding the scientific method is FALSE? ( ) Experimental results are reported in scientific journals. ( ) Hypotheses are finally proven as absolutely true or false. ( ) The control is not subjected to the experimental variable. ( ) Statistical tests may be used to analyze experimental results. ( ) Experimental results are often summarized in a graph or table.

Hypotheses are finally proven as absolutely true or false.

A multicellular, photosynthetic organism with complex, specialized cells and tissues would most likely be assigned to

Kingdom Plantae.

Which statement about living organisms is NOT correct? ( ) Living organisms create energy. ( ) Living organisms maintain homeostasis. ( ) Living organisms reproduce. ( ) Living organisms have adaptations. ( ) Living organisms grow and develop.

Living organisms create energy.

Nutrient molecules are used as building blocks or for energy. This best represents which characteristic of life?

Living things acquire materials and energy from the environment.

Organs are composed of tissues, which are composed of cells. This is an example of which characteristic of life?

Living things have levels of hierarchical organization.

List the steps of the scientific method in the correct order:

Observation, Hypothesis, Experiment, Conclusion, Scientific theory

Which statement regarding the scientific method is FALSE? ( ) Inductive reasoning is used to form a hypothesis. ( ) Observations are used to form a hypothesis. ( ) Experiments need to be repeatable. ( ) Original hypotheses are formed after an experiment. ( ) The control and experimental group are identical except for one variable.

Original hypotheses are formed after an experiment.

Corn belongs to the kingdom

Plantae.

Which of the following is of LEAST importance when concerning the preservation of ecosystems? ( ) Ecosystem preservation maintains the status of species in their current state. ( ) Many different organisms perform services that ensure our continued existence. ( ) Humans derive medicines, food and many important materials from functioning ecosystems. ( ) Preservation of ecosystems allows humans to exploit as many resources as possible. ( ) It is estimated that possibly 400 species become extinct each day due to activities of humans.

Preservation of ecosystems allows humans to exploit as many resources as possible.

Which statement regarding science technology is FALSE? ( ) Science technology has brought about life-improving discoveries, such as antibiotics. ( ) Science technology helps us to understand the causes of cancer. ( ) Science technology is a basis for all ethical or moral decisions. ( ) Science technology may ease the feeding of the world population by producing new plant strains. ( ) Scientific experimentation may make use of a model instead of an actual subject.

Science technology is a basis for all ethical or moral decisions.

List the sequence of classification categories in the proper order from least to most inclusive:

Species, Genus, Family, Order, Class, Phylum, Kingdom, Domain

Some students consume large amounts of coffee and so-called energy drinks to help them stay alert when studying. You notice that many who engage in this practice seem to do poorly on exams. Suppose you want to investigate the relationship between caffeine consumption and exam performance. What would be an appropriate hypothesis?

Students who consume large amounts of caffeine while studying will have lower exam scores than those who consume less caffeine.

Which statement concerning reproduction is FALSE? ( ) Hereditary information is passed on to the next generation. ( ) Hereditary information is in the form of genes. ( ) The offspring of asexual organisms have the same genes as the single parent. ( ) The offspring of sexual organisms have roughly one half of the genes from each parent. ( ) The offspring of multicellular organisms tend to be identical to the parent.

The offspring of multicellular organisms tend to be identical to the parent.

Which statement regarding the scientific method is FALSE? ( ) A theory that has been repeatedly supported is sometimes called a law. ( ) Consistent observations about a hypothesis may lead to a theory. ( ) Theories formed in everyday life carry the same validity as a scientific theory. ( ) Only one experimental variable is used in a controlled experiment. ( ) Published research should provide enough detail to allow anyone to repeat the experiment in the same manner.

Theories formed in everyday life carry the same validity as a scientific theory.

Which of the following is a potential consequence if people stop using technology in the agriculture industry? ( ) There could be a significant decrease in the amount of food produced. ( ) A collapse of many of the terrestrial ecosystems on Earth. ( ) The extinction of the top level species that reside in the communities around the agricultural land. ( ) The amount of food produced would increase. ( ) None of these consequences will occur if people stop using technology in the agriculture industry.

There could be a significant decrease in the amount of food produced.

Which statement about an ecosystem is INCORRECT? ( ) Chemicals are recycled in an ecosystem. ( ) Energy flows through an ecosystem, with some being lost as heat. ( ) Some organisms produce food used by themselves and others. ( ) There is a community of organisms, but no non-living components. ( ) Climate is the main factor that determines where an ecosystem will be located.

There is a community of organisms, but no non-living components.

You are conducting an experiment to determine what concentration of disinfectant is most effective in killing bacteria. In this example, the concentration of disinfectant would represent the

experimental variable.

Which of these classification categories contains the closest related organisms? ( ) domain ( ) genus ( ) family ( ) phylum ( ) kingdom

genus

When you are overheated, you perspire, and when you are too cold, you shiver to generate heat. Which property of life is best represented by this example?

homeostasis

A possible explanation for a natural event, based on observations and past knowledge, is a

hypothesis.

A piece of petrified wood was once part of a living organism, but its tissues have been replaced by minerals and it no longer exhibits most properties of life, except for

organization.