Biology Self Quiz Ch 1

Place the following levels of biological organization in order from smallest to largest: atom, biosphere, cell, ecosystem, molecule, organ, organism, population, tissue. Which is the smallest level capable of demonstrating all of the characteristics of life?

Atom, molecule, cell, tissue, organ, organism, population, ecosystem, biosphere; the cell.

________________ is the core idea that unifies all areas of biology.

Evolution

How does natural selection cause a population to become adapted to its environment over time?

On average, those individuals with heritable traits best suited to the local environment produce the greatest number of offspring that survive and reproduce. This increases the frequency of those traits in the population over time. The result is the accumulation of evolutionary adaptions.

Plants use the process of photosynthesis to convert the energy in sunlight to chemical energy in the form of sugar. While doing so, they consume carbon dioxide and water and release oxygen. Explain how this process functions in both the cycle of chemical nutrients and the flow of energy through an ecosystem.

Photosynthesis cycles nutrients by converting the carbon in carbon dioxide to sugar, which is then consumed by other organisms. Additionally, the oxygen in water is released as oxygen gas. Photosynthesis contributes to energy flow by converting sunlight to chemical energy, which is then also consumed by other organisms, and by producing heat.

For each of the following organism, match its description to its most likely domain and/or kingdom: a. A foot-tall organism capable of producing its own food from sunlight. b. A microscopic, simple, nucleus-free organism found living in a riverbed. c. An inch-tall organism growing on the forest floor that consumes material from dead leaves. d. A thimble-sized organism that feeds on algae growing in a pond. 1. Bacteria 2. Eukarya/Animalia 3. Eukarya/Fungi 4. Eukarya/Plantae

a. A foot-tall organism capable of producing its own food from sunlight. (4. Eukarya/Plantae) b. A microscopic, simple, nucleus-free organism found living in a riverbed. (1. Bacteria) c. An inch-tall organism growing on the forest floor that consumes material from dead leaves. (3. Eukarya/Fungi) d. A thimble-sized organism that feeds on algae growing in a pond. (2. Eukarya/Animalia)

Match each of the following terms to the phrase that best describes it. a. Natural selection b. Evolution c. Hypothesis d. Biosphere 1. A testable idea 2. Descent with modification 3. Unequal reproduction success 4. All life-supporting environments on Earth

a. Natural selection (3. Unequal reproduction success) b. Evolution (2. Descent with modification) c. Hypothesis (1. A testable idea) d. Biosphere (4. All life-supporting environments on Earth)

Which of the following is not a characteristic of all living organisms? a. Capable of self-reproduction b. Composed of multiple cells c. Complex yet organized d. Uses energy

b. Composed of multiple cells

Which of the following statements best distinguishes hypothesis from theories in science? a. Theories are hypotheses that have been proved. b. Hypotheses are tentative guesses; theories are are correct answers to questions about nature. c. Hypotheses usually are narrow in scope; theories have broad explanatory power. d. Hypotheses and theories essentially the same thing in science

c. Hypotheses usually are narrow in scope; theories have broad explanatory power.

Which of the following statements best describes the logic of the scientific method? a. If I generate a testable hypothesis, tests, and observations will support it. b. If my prediction is correct, it will lead to a testable hypothesis c. If my observations are accurate, they will support my hypothesis d. If my hypothesis is correct, I can expect certain test results

d. If my hypothesis is correct, I can expect certain test results