Biology Chapter 1 Study Test Questions
1) Scientific inquiry is based on A) natural causes. B) information found in a gossip magazine. C) stories that are passed down through generations. D) cultural biases or traditions.
A
15) Which of the following statements is a hypothesis rather than a theory? 15) A) Female birds prefer to mate with male birds that have longer tails. B) Matter is composed of atoms. C) Living things are made of cells. D) Modern organisms descended from preexisting life-forms.
A
24) Evolution is sometimes described as the change from preexisting life-forms to modern-day organisms. What actually changes in every case of evolution is the A) genetic makeup of the species due to mutations. B) ability of organisms to respond to external stimuli. C) energy and nutritional demands of the organism. D) species' physical appearance. E) rate of reproduction.
A
29) In a word "evolution" means A) change. B) improvement. C) selection. D) nature.
A
44) Using its antennae the male moth finds female moths by following a trail of airborne chemicals called pheromones upwind from the female producing them. This is an example of how living things A) detect and respond to stimuli. B) reproduce. C) maintain precise internal conditions. D) acquire nutrients. E) grow.
A
46) Why do heterotrophs require "food" for survival? A) Food provides the organic chemicals needed by heterotrophs. B) Food provides at least half of the water required by heterotrophs. C) Food is an alternative source of energy for heterotrophs when sunlight is unavailable. D) Heterotrophs cannot photosynthesize without the chemicals provided by food.
A
49)A puppy is born weighing 5 pounds and eventually becomes a 75-pound golden retriever.
A
50)At the beginning of the week, a plant is 3 inches tall and at the end of the week, it is 4 inches tall.
A
52) A bacterium divides into two bacteria that are identical to, but smaller than, the original bacterium.
A
55) In evolutionary terms, which of the following cells is considered to be the most primitive? A) Prokaryote B) Heterotroph C) Autotroph D) Eukaryote
A
57) A basic difference between a prokaryotic cell and a eukaryotic cell is that the prokaryotic cell A) lacks a nucleus. B) is considerably larger. C) possesses membrane-bound organelles. D) lacks DNA. E) is structurally more complex.
A
6) The scientific method includes all of the following EXCEPT 6) A) a testable theory. B) a hypothesis. C) an observation. D) conclusions. E) experimentation.
A
73) Suppose that a meteorite crashes into Earth and a sample of it is taken to a local research lab for 91) analysis. Embedded several inches within the rocky structure, a microscopic cluster of dormant, spore-like structures is found. The scientists culture some of this material in a standard microbiological nutrient broth, and they are surprised to find many single-celled "organisms" moving around, growing, and reproducing in the broth. The "organisms" behave the same in both daylight and dark conditions, do not require oxygen, and thrive under a wide range of temperatures and pH levels. They stop moving, growing, and reproducing, however, when fewer nutrients are available in the medium. In this scenario, the "organisms" most closely resemble a(n) A) heterotrophic species of Archaea. B) autotrophic species of Eukarya. C) heterotrophic species of Eukarya. D) nonliving virus. E) photosynthetic species of Bacteria.
A
10) A carefully formulated scientific explanation that is based on extensive observations and is in accord with scientific principles is called a A) postulate. B) theory. C) fact. D) control. E) hypothesis.
B
12) Suppose you are testing a treatment for AIDS patients and find that 75% respond well whereas 25% show no improvement or a decline in health. You should A) conclude that you have proven the effectiveness of the drug. B) review the results modify the drug or the dosage and repeat the experiment. C) begin work on developing a new drug. D) discontinue experimentation with this treatment because 25% of patients did not improve. E) conclude that only 75% of AIDS patients should be treated.
B
18) Which of the following levels of organization is the most inclusive (i.e. includes the most life-forms)? A) Population B) Biosphere C) Species D) Community E) Ecosystem
B
19) The smallest units that still retain the characteristics of an element are called A) molecules. B) atoms. C) cells. D) tissues. E) organic molecules.
B
20) Which of the following is an example of deductive reasoning? A) Living objects are composed of cells. B) If an object exhibits all the characteristics of life it must be living. C) Atoms make up molecules which make up cells which make up tissues. D) All objects on Earth will fall down when dropped and none will "fall up."
B
23) To test the effect of vitamin D on growth two groups of rats were raised under identical conditions 2 and fed the same diet. One of the groups received daily injections of vitamin D. The other group received injections of saline which did not contain vitamin D. All the rats were weighed weekly for 2 months. In this experiment the control was the A) average weight gain of the rats. B) group receiving saline. C) 2-month period of time. D) group receiving vitamin D.
B
28) A mutation is a A) dose of radiation. B) change in the DNA sequence. C) physical deformity such as the loss of a limb. D) defective egg or sperm cell.
B
3) Science cannot answer certain faith-based questions because A) there aren't enough variables. B) faith-based beliefs are impossible to either prove or disprove. C) scientists are not able to study human behavior. D) faith requires deductive reasoning.
B
30) The concept of evolution is based on A) any type of genetic variation within a population. B) survival and successful reproduction in organisms with favorable variations. C) all genetic variation in a population being equally successful in the same environment. D) parents with variations that pass these variations on to their offspring.
B
33) The variation among individuals on which natural selection acts describes A) random occurrences in the lifetimes of individuals. B) genetic differences. C) nutritional differences. D) physical training and exercise.
B
37) Dinosaurs are not alive today because they A) evolved adaptations that were beneficial in their constant unchanging environment. B) did not evolve fast enough to keep up with rapid environmental change. C) evolved too quickly in response to a changing environment. D) did not possess the genetic material that beneficial mutations act on.
B
38) Which of the following is a characteristic of living organisms? A) Have membrane-bound organelles B) Maintenance and regulation of internal conditions C) Ability to produce energy D) Eat other organisms E) Have a nucleus
B
45) An organism in the domain Eukarya is characterized by all of the following EXCEPT 45) A) the ability to maintain precise internal conditions. B) being composed of prokaryotic cells. C) the potential to grow and reproduce. D) ingestion of organic matter to acquire nutrients.
B
48)A sunflower follows the sun as it moves across the sky during the period of a single day.
B
53) Over time, the average neck length of giraffes has increased. Only those giraffes with longer necks survived by eating the leaves high up on the trees, and they were able to reproduce and pass those long-neck genes on to the next generation.
B
7) We use the scientific method every day. Imagine that your car doesn't start one morning before A) I should change the battery or the starter. B) If I put gas in my carit will start. C) I should check whether the lights were left on and drained the battery. D) I'm going to be late. E) I should add a quart of oil.
B
72) A 57-year-old woman was admitted to a hospital with an infected toe, and the infection was 90) spreading rapidly. The damage was being caused by an unknown microorganism that could not be cultured in the lab. Doctors observed that antibiotics, which kill only prokaryotes, were ineffective. They suspected that the microbe was a fungus, so they tried the drug Amphotericin, which targets the ergosterols in fungal cells. Because animal cells contain cholesterols, not ergosterols, they are unaffected by the drug. Shortly after receiving Amphotericin, the patient improved, her infection ceased, and she was released from the hospital. In this scenario, what was the hypothesis? A) A microbe that has cholesterol is causing the infection. B) Antibiotics will not kill the microbe because it is a fungal species. C)The infection will spread rapidly. D)If the infection is caused by an animal, then Amphotericin will cure the patient. E) Why didn't the antibiotics kill the microbe that caused the infection?
B
8) A scientific theory A) is less reliable than a hypothesis. B) is a general explanation for natural phenomena. C) will never be changed. D) is an educated guess.
B
9) A scientific explanation that is conditional and requires more investigation is called a(n) A) fact. B) hypothesis. C) theory. D) observation. E) control.
B
11) All of the following are features of the scientific method EXCEPT A) repeatable by other scientists. B) hypothesis formulation. C) supernatural causes. D) observation and experimentation. E) deductive reasoning.
C
13) Alexander Fleming observed a colony of mold that inhibited the growth of nearby bacteria. What was the hypothesis proposed by Fleming to explain this result? A) The mold was dead. B) The mold used all of the nutrients so that the bacteria couldn't grow. C) The mold produced a substance that killed nearby bacteria. D) The bacteria changed their DNA when growing near the mold.
C
2) Which of the following is an example of a natural cause? A) Maggots appear spontaneously on rotting meat. B) If you sneeze you will die. C) Epilepsy is a disease caused by uncontrolled firing of nerve cells in the brain. D) Mice arise from discarded garbage.
C
21) The experiments of Francesco Redi A) disproved the scientific method. B) used the scientific method to prove the idea of spontaneous generation. C) disproved the idea of spontaneous generation. D) disproved that maggots and flies were related. E) determined that fly larvae were present in raw meat and when left on the counter they turned into flies.
C
22) Francesco Redi designed an experiment to test the notion of spontaneous generation. He left the first jar of meat open to the air and covered the second jar. The first jar would be called the ________ jar. A) experimental B) hypothetical C) control D) conclusive
C
26) Which is NOT an example of evolution? A) Annual changes in the flu virus due to mutations B) The 2- to 3-year effectiveness of most commercial pesticides in killing insects C) A dog learning how to open the cabinet where its food is kept D) Flightless birds living on islands without predators E) The development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria
C
27) A mutation can be the cause for A) sexual reproduction. B) sperm and egg formation. C) natural selection. D) growth and development. E) environmental change.
C
32) Suppose an organism has an enzyme that repairs changes in its DNA. The result is a decrease in mutations. This trait would definitely influence the organism's ability to A) move. B) obtain energy. C) evolve. D) maintain homeostasis.
C
35) A change in the genetic makeup of a species over time is called A) natural causality. B) mutation. C) evolution. D) adaptation.
C
40) After you drink a glass of acidic lemonade your body's pH does not change. This is an example of how humans and other organisms A) are immune to weak acids. B) maintain cellular organization. C) maintain precise internal conditions through homeostasis. D) evolve in response to the environment.
C
43) You observe a plant on your windowsill that is growing at an angle toward the outside. This is an example of a living thing A) reproducing. B) evolving. C) responding to stimuli. D) maintaining precise internal conditions.
C
47) The main difference between an autotroph and a heterotroph is A) how they respond to stimuli. B) their ability to move. C) how they obtain energy. D) how they reproduce.
C
51) A paramecium moves from direct light toward the dark.
C
58) Which of the following statements about the Bacteria and Eukarya domains is TRUE? A) Only members of Eukarya have the ability to grow and reproduce. B) All members of Bacteria are single-celled and all members of Eukarya are multicellular. C) All members of Bacteria are prokaryotic cells and all members of Eukarya are eukaryotic cells. D) All members of Bacteria acquire nutrients via ingestion and all members of Eukarya acquire nutrients by photosynthesis.
C
59) Which group has prokaryotic individuals? 59) A) Kingdom Plantae B) Kingdom Fungi C) Domain Archaea D) Protist kingdoms E) Kingdom Animalia
C
60) Which kingdom possesses unicellular animal-like species and unicellular plantlike species? A) Fungi B) Plantae C) Protista D) Animalia
C
17) Which is the correct sequence of increasing organization? A) Molecule, cell, organelle, organ B) Organelle, tissue, cell, organ C) Organ tissue, cell, molecule D) Cell tissue, organ, organ system E) Atom, molecule, tissue cell
D
25) All of the following are important to the theory of evolution EXCEPT A) mutations. B) variation in traits within an entire population. C) inheritance of traits. D) changes in individuals within their lifetimes. E) environmental change.
D
34) Chromosomes are made of A) DNA. B) cells. C) carbohydrates. D) DNA and proteins. E) proteins.
D
36) Adaptations include all of the following EXCEPT A) larger body size in male gorillas which fight over females. B) reduced heart rate and oxygen consumption in seals that dive deep for long periods of time. C) inborn migratory behavior of young birds born in the Arctic. D) teaching a pet parrot to talk.
D
39) All of the following are true of all living organisms EXCEPT that they A) are made of cells. B) can reproduce themselves. C) can grow. D) possess either DNA or RNA. E) respond to stimuli.
D
4) Which of the following is FALSE about scientific theories? 4) A) They can be either supported or modified by new observations. B) They are used to support observations using deductive reasoning. C) They have been thoroughly tested. D) They are firmly established and cannot be refuted. E) They are developed by inductive reasoning.
D
41) Why do humans born without sweat glands usually not survive? A) Sweat glands create openings in the skin where gas exchange occurs. B) Sweating is important for eliminating impurities from the body. C) Sweating is the only way the body eliminates excess water. D) Sweating is an important mechanism for maintaining the correct body temperature.
D
42) An organism's ability to detect stimuli from either the internal or external environment is called A) natural selection. B) evolution. C) mutation. D) responsiveness. E) DNA.
D
5) Which of these would be an example of a NON-scientific study? A) A company uses different advertising methods for a product to determine which one produces the most sales. B) NASA sends tadpoles up in the space shuttle to see how gravity affects their development. C) People are immunized with different vaccines to determine their relative effectiveness against the flu virus. D) Consumers are asked which tomato variety produces the best-tasting spaghetti sauce. E) A study determines differences in the species composition in two parks.
D
54) Of the following levels of organization, Archaea have A) atoms, molecules, and organs. B) molecules only. C) atoms only. D) atoms and molecules. E) organs only.
D
56) In which kingdom does a multicellular, eukaryotic, photosynthetic organism belong? A) Fungi B) Animalia C) Protists D) Plantae
D
61) A cell that lacks organelles is a(n) A) animal cell. B) member of the Kingdom Plantae. C) eukaryotic cell. D) prokaryotic cell.
D
14) Imagine that 1 milliliter of an experimental drug diluted in a saline solution is injected into 20 14) pregnant mice to determine possible side effects. Which of the following is a suitable control for this experiment? A) 20 pregnant mice injected with 2 milliliters of the drug B) 20 non-pregnant mice injected with 1 milliliter of the drug C) 20 male mice injected with 1 milliliter of saline D) 20 male mice injected with 1 milliliter of the drug E) 20 pregnant mice injected with 1 milliliter of saline
E
16) Which of the following is TRUE regarding faith-based beliefs and scientific theories? 16) A) Faith-based beliefs can become scientific theories. B) Scientific theories are not modifiable but faith-based beliefs are. C) Both faith-based beliefs and scientific theories can be proven. D) Any and all faith-based beliefs can be disproven but scientific theories cannot. E) Any and all scientific theories can be disproven but faith-based beliefs cannot.
E
31) All of the following are examples of adaptations EXCEPT A) larger teeth in beavers for gnawing wood. B) different beak shapes for birds that eat seeds or insects. C) flower coloration that attracts pollinators. D) insects that resemble twigs. E) mice learning a maze to get food.
E
62) Scientific theories are the same in any part of the world (meaning they do not vary by location).
FALSE
64) A good experiment should include as many variables as possible at the same time.
FALSE
65) A hypothesis is typically stated as an "If . . . then" statement.
FALSE
70) Prokaryotic cells have a true nucleus and eukaryotic cells do not.
FALSE
71) Biodiversity is the total number of organisms in an ecosystem.
FALSE
63) Scientific experimentation generally leads to more questions.
TRUE
66) Variation among organisms is due to mutations.
TRUE
67) Adaptations aid in the survival and reproduction of an organism in a particular environment.
TRUE
68) The energy that sustains life ultimately comes from sunlight.
TRUE
69) Photosynthetic bacteria are examples of autotrophs.
TRUE
