STUDY QUIZ Topic 1

Which of the following would be a fact? a) Bats with white noses have been observed in the wild. b) A fungal infection causes bats to wake up repeatedly during the winter and use up their fat reserves. c) A fungal infection is solely responsible for the spread of white noses and associated higher mortality across bat populations and species. d) Specific pathogens are directly responsible for specific diseases and conditions.

a) Bats with white noses have been observed in the wild.

Which of the following statements about cells is correct? a) Both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms are made up of cells. b) Single cells cannot exist independently. c) Cells are limited in size, which is between 200 to 500 centimeters in diameter. d) Some cells are non-living in nature.

a) Both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms are made up of cells.

Which of the following statements best distinguishes hypotheses from theories in science? a) Hypotheses usually are relatively narrow in scope; theories have broad explanatory power. b) Theories are proved true; hypotheses are often contradicted by experimental results. c) Theories are hypotheses that have been proved. d) Hypotheses are guesses; theories are correct answers.

a) Hypotheses usually are relatively narrow in scope; theories have broad explanatory power

A scientific hypothesis must be constructed with which of the following characteristics? a) It provides a reasonable explanation to a question and is consistent with current observations; it must also be testable and falsifiable b) It is always provable and clearly states what is already known to be fact c) It does not require testing by experimentation or additional observations. It is not falsifiable d) It provides an explanation consistent with accepted theological ideas and does not need to be tested.

a) It provides reasonable explanation to a question and is consistent with current observations; it must also be testable and falsifiable

Which of the following is an example of genetic variation? a) One sibling has brown eyes, the other has green b) One of the twins has a scar the other does not c) Two brothers who are twins d) One sibling is vegan, the other eats meat

a) One sibling has brown eyes, the other has green

Scientific understanding can always be challenged, and even changed, with new ways of observing and with different interpretations. For example, new tools and techniques have resulted in new observations and the discovery of additional information. This has resulted in revised ways of understanding how molecules are moved across the plasma membrane of cells. Hence, there is no certainty in science, only degrees of probability (likelihood) and potential for change. In light of this understanding, which of the following statements is MOST meaningful? a) Scientific knowledge is based on current knowledge. b) Scientific knowledge is a static and unchanging collection of facts. c) Scientific knowledge is absolute knowledge. d) Scientific knowledge is a rigid collection of invariable facts.

a) Scientific knowledge is based on current knowledge

A tissue is defined as a) a group of cells that performs a unique set of tasks in the body b) two or more atoms held together by strong chemical bonds c) the basic unit of life d) a network of organs that perform a wide range of functions

a) a group of cells that performs a unique set of tasks in the body

Which of the following instructions contribute to a productive experimental design? a) alter only one condition between the control and the experimental condition b) include a small sample size c) do not run the experiment more than once, the results might become confusing d) do not include a control, it is a waste of resources.

a) alter only one condition between the control and the experimental condition

Recently, beekeepers have noticed an alarming and sudden disappearance of honeybees from their hives. Some beekeepers and environmentalists worry that crops genetically engineered to produce Bt insecticidal toxin may be killing the bees. Which of these experiments tests the hypothesis that Bt toxin is killing the bees? a) collecting hundreds of bees; half of the bees would be kept in a facility with plants genetically engineered to contain the gene for Bt toxin, while the other half would be kept in a facility with plants not genetically engineered to contain the gene for Bt toxin. The survival rate for both sets of bees would be calculated and compared. b) spraying Bt toxin on a field and counting the number of bees present before and after spraying c) The number of bees in two adjacent fields would be counted before and after spraying one of the fields with Bt toxin. The survival rate of bees in both fields would be calculated and compared. d) collecting hundreds of bees and spraying only half of them with Bt toxin; the survival rate for both sets of bees would be calculated and compared

a) collecting hundreds of bees; half of the bees would be kept in a facility with plants genetically engineered to contain the gene for Bt toxin, while the other half would be kept in a facility with plants not genetically engineered to contain the gene for Bt toxin. The survival rate for both sets of bees would be calculated and compared.

Which branch of biology is concerned with the naming and classifying of organisms? a) taxonomy b) genomics c) evolution d) informatics

a) taxonomy

Agrobacterium infects plants and causes them to form tumors. You are asked to determine how long a plant must be exposed to these bacteria to become infected. Which of the following experiments will provide the best data to address that question? a) Determine the survival rate of Agrobacterium when exposed to different concentrations of an antibiotic. b) Measure the number of tumors formed on plants, which are exposed to Agrobacterium for different lengths of time. c) Measure the concentration of Agrobacterium in different soil environments where the plants grow. d) Measure the number of tumors formed on a plant when exposed to various concentrations of Agrobacterium.

b) Measure the number of tumors formed on plants, which are exposed to Agrobacterium for different lengths of time.

Use the following information when answering the following question. In 1668, Francesco Redi performed a series of experiments on spontaneous generation. He began by putting similar pieces of meat into eight identical jars. Four jars were left open to the air, and four were sealed. He then did the same experiment with one variation: Instead of sealing four of the jars completely, he covered them with gauze (the gauze excluded the flies while allowing the meat to be exposed to air). In both experiments, he monitored the jars and recorded whether or not maggots (young flies) appeared in the meat. What hypothesis was being tested in the initial experiment with open versus sealed jars? a) The type of meat used affects the likelihood of spontaneous generation. b) Spontaneous generation can occur only if meat is exposed to air. c) Spontaneous generation is more likely during the long days of summer. d) Maggots do not arise spontaneously, but from eggs laid by adult flies.

b) Spontaneous generation can occur only if meat is exposed to air.

Which of the following is an example of qualitative data? a) The six pairs of robins hatched an average of three chicks each. b) The fish swam in a zigzag motion. c) The temperature decreased from 20C to 15C. d) The contents of the stomach are mixed every 20 seconds.

b) The fish swam in a zigzag motion

What characteristic is NOT shared by all living organisms? a) They evolve through time. b) They make their own energy. c) They are composed of one or more cells. d) They grow and develop.

b) They make their own energy

Is it important for scientists to communicate their results to fellow scientists? a) No. There is no reason for scientists to communicate their results to fellow scientists. b) Yes. The quality and accuracy of the scientific work can be enhanced by input, further review, and possibly even repetition by other scientists working in the same field. c) Yes. Scientists want to receive recognition and monetary reward for their work. d) No. Communication between scientists is discouraged because it can confuse the details of the experiments.

b) Yes. The quality and accuracy of the scientific work can be enhanced by input, further review, and possibly even repetition by other scientists working in the same field.

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) correlation coefficient. b) independent variable. c) invariable. d) dependent variable.

b) independent variable

Two organisms are ___ if they share more taxonomic classification levels. a) further apart in the food chain b) more similar in characteristics c) closer together in the biosphere they live d) easier to tell apart

b) more similar in characteristics

A cell lacking which of the following structures is most likely to be a prokaryote? a) cell membrane b) nuclear membrane c) nucleic acid d) cytoplasm

b) nuclear membrane

In an experiment to test the hypothesis, "temperature controls sex determination in crocodile embryos" a researcher incubates crocodile eggs in incubators set at different temperatures. Which of the following correctly identifies the dependent and independent variables in the experiment? a) temperature is dependent, type of incubator is independent b) sex is dependent, temperature is independent c) type of incubator is dependent, temperature is independent d) temperature is dependent, sex is independent

b) sex is dependent, temperature is independent

A controlled experiment is one that a) is repeated many times to make sure the results are accurate b) tests experimental and control groups in parallel c) keeps all variables constant d) proceeds slowly so a scientist can make careful records

b) tests experimental and control groups in parallel

David Blehert and his research team captured 117 healthy bats to study in the laboratory and divided them into four groups. Group 1 was housed in an area free from Geomyces destructans. Group 2 was housed in an area that shared the same air as bats infected with WNS, but these bats did not have direct contact with the infected bats. Group 3 was housed in direct contact with other bats infected with WNS. Bats in group 4 were directly exposed to Geomyces destructans when it was applied to their wings. During the study period the bats were monitored for signs of WNS. In this experiment, the independent was ___ and the dependent variable was ___. a) the number of bats included in the study; the type of exposure to Geomyces destructans b) the type of exposure to Geomyces destructans; whether the bats became sick with WNS c) whether the bats became sick with WNS; the number of bats included in the study d) whether the bats became sick with WNS; the type of exposure to Geomyces destructans

b) the type of exposure to Geomyces destructans; whether the bats became sick with WNS

Systems biology is mainly an attempt to a) simplify complex problems by reducing the systems into smaller, less complex units b) understand the behavior of entire biological systems by studying interactions among its component parts. c) build high-throughput machines to rapidly acquire data d) analyze genomes from different species

b) understand the behavior of entire biological systems by studying interactions among it's component parts

A double-stranded DNA molecule with three guanine and five thiamine nucleotides (on one 5' to 3' strand) has how many nucleotides in total? a) 8 b) 3 c) 16 d) 5

c) 16

Which of the following is the quality of a good scientific hypothesis? a) It always produces quantitative data b) It relies on controversial factors c) It should be testable in a valid period of time d) It always produces qualitative data

c) It should be testable in a valid period of time

Why is a scientific topic best discussed by people of varying points of view, from different subdisciplines, and representing diverse cultures? a) Scientists can coordinate with others to conduct experiments in similar ways. b) This is a way of ensuring that everyone gets the same results. c) Robust and critical discussion between diverse groups improves scientific thinking. d) Scientific theory requires input from different cultures and communities.

c) Robust and critical discussion between diverse groups improves scientific thinking.

Which of the following would be a theory? a) A fungal infection is responsible for the spread of white noses and associated higher mortality across bat populations and species b) Bats with white noses have been observed in the wild c) Specific pathogens are directly responsible for specific diseases d) A fungal infection causes bats to wake up repeatedly during the winter and use up their fat reserves

c) Specific pathogens are directly responsible for specific diseases and conditions.

Which term best describes the temperate deciduous forests that cover the northeastern United States, including the Adirondack Mountains? a) ecosystem b) community c) biome d) biosphere

c) biome

Living organisms maintain a constant internal environment by sensing and responding to their internal conditions. This stable maintenance of internal conditions is known as a) reproduction. b) sensation. c) homeostasis. d) evolution.

c) homeostasis

A patient often experiences numbness and pain in the thumb and first two fingers on his right hand. He goes to the doctor, who suspects that carpal tunnel syndrome is the reason for the numbness and pain. The doctor then orders a simple test to see how fast nerve impulses are moving up and down the patient's arm. The doctor's preliminary diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome is a(n) a) fact b) theory c) hypothesis d) experiment

c) hypothesis

Land biomes are most commonly defined by a) the dominant plant life that influences the dominant animal life in them b) only the dominant plant life in them c) their climate and physical characteristics that influence the dominant plant life and, subsequently, animal life in them d) their climate, physical characteristics and dominant animal life

c) their climate and physical characteristics that influence the dominant plant life and, subsequently, animal life in them

The hypothesis that there is a common ancestor to all living organisms is strengthened by what observation? a) Each type of living organism adheres to the general principles of the biological hierarchy. b) All living organisms use energy acquired directly from the environment or from other organisms. c) All living organisms reproduce. d) Almost all cells in all living organisms use DNA to direct their structure, function, and behavior.

d) Almost all cells in all living organisms use DNA to direct their structure, function, and behavior

Which statement about ecological organization is correct? a) An ecosystem is made up of organisms only. b) A community is part of a population. c) Biosphere is a part of the ecosystem. d) An organism is part of a community.

d) An organism is part of a community

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 snails that are sick leave their shells so that birds will consume them, then snail populations are protected from illness. b) If snails live in moist habitats, then snails will be eaten more frequently by birds. c) If birds consume snails, then they will have a higher body mass index than birds that do not eat snails. d) If 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.

d) If 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 sentence best describes the logic of scientific inquiry? a) If my observations are accurate, they will support my hypothesis. b) If I generate a testable hypothesis, tests an observations will support it. c) If my prediction is correct, it will lead to a testable hypothesis. d) If my prediction turns out to be correct, my hypothesis is supported.

d) If my prediction turns out to be correct, my hypothesis is supported

Which of the following statements is true? a) A valid scientific hypothesis is self-evident and does not need to be tested by experimentation. b) Once a hypothesis has been proposed, it can never be challenged. c) If properly designed, experiments always prove hypotheses to be wrong. d) The scientific method or process can help people make informed medial and environmental decisions.

d) The scientific method or process can help people make informed medical and environmental decisions.

An individual is suffering from a streptococcus infection in their throat. Which of the following do the individual and the streptococcus bacteria have in common? a) The individual and Streptococcus have nothing in common. b) They both have genetic material in their nucleus. c) They both belong to the same domain. d) They both are made up of cells.

d) They are both made up of cells

All the organisms on your campus make up a) a taxonomic domain b) a population c) an ecosystem d) a community

d) a community

Which of these provides evidence of the common ancestry of all life? a) structure of cilia b) structure of the nucleus c) structure of chloroplasts d) near universality of the genetic code

d) near universality of the genetic code

As letters are to English language, ___ is/are to genetic information a) DNA double helix b) proteins c) carbohydrates d) nucleotides

d) nucleotides

Scientists are human beings and, like all human beings, are susceptible to personal and group biases that may influence how they interpret evidence. Before original research work is accepted and added to a growing body of scientific understanding, perhaps even contributing to our understanding of an important scientific theory, it must be scrutinized by experts in the field who have no direct connection to the research under review. The main mechanism for doing this is a) the Discovery Channel b) popular magazines c) Wikipedia d) peer-reviewed publications

d) peer-reviewed publications

A scientific hypothesis must be ___; if not, science cannot evaluate it. a) accepted b) rejected c) provable d) testable

d) testable

The caves in upstate New York, where Alan Hicks's team first noticed the deaths of thousands of bats, represent the ___ where the bats lived. a) biosphere b) biome c) ecosystem d) community

not "community"

A way to visualize the breadth and scope of life, from the smallest structures of atoms and cells to the broadest interactions between living and nonliving systems that we can comprehend, is typically referred to as the biological ___.

not "systems"

When scientists generate a single informed, logical, and plausible explanation for a question and observations of the natural world, they are proposing a scientific a) correlation b) theory c) observation d) hypothesis

not "theory"

Following a scientific method, which of the following is the correct order of steps? a) Observation → Hypothesis → Experiment → Communicate results → Analysis → Conclusion b) Experiment → Hypothesis → Observation → Analysis → Conclusion → Communicate results c) Observation → Analysis → Hypothesis → Conclusion → Communicate results → Experiment d) Observation → Hypothesis → Experiment → Analysis → Conclusion → Communicate results

not (a)

Use the following information when answering the following question. In 1668, Francesco Redi performed a series of experiments on spontaneous generation. He began by putting similar pieces of meat into eight identical jars. Four jars were left open to the air, and four were sealed. He then did the same experiment with one variation: Instead of sealing four of the jars completely, he covered them with gauze (the gauze excluded the flies while allowing the meat to be exposed to air). In both experiments, he monitored the jars and recorded whether or not maggots (young flies) appeared in the meat. In both experiments, flies appeared in all of the open jars and only in the open jars. Which one of the following statements is correct? a) The experiment supports the hypothesis that spontaneous generation occurs in rotting meat. b) The experiment supports the hypothesis that maggots arise only from eggs laid by adult flies. c) The experiment was inconclusive because it did not run long enough. d) The experiment was inconclusive because Redi used only one kind of meat.

not (a)

Which of the following questions could NOT be used to develop a testable hypothesis? a) Does exposure to secondhand smoke affect the probability of developing lung cancer? b) Does a can of vegetable juice contain more salt than the same size can of iced tea? c) Should everyone drink bottled water only? d) Do organic vegetables contain harmful substances?

not (d)

When Dr. Blehert and his team set out to determine the cause of death for thousands of bats, they determined that the sick and dead bats had a strange white fuzz on their noses and wings along with depleted fat reserves and damaged wing tissue. After performing observational studies, the researchers used a branch of mathematics called ________ to quantify the reliability of their data.

statistics