Biology Semester 1 Exam Study Guide

Based on what you know about life on Earth, what might scientists be most likely to look for on other planets with regard to living organisms?

Carbon

The mitochondrion is host to which portion of cellular respiration? A) Glycolysis B) Alcoholic fermentation C) Lactic acid fermentation D) The Krebs cycle

D) The Krebs cycle

All eukaryotic cells have a cytoskeleton, including plant cells, which have cell walls as well. What does the cytoskeleton in a plant cell do that the cell wall cannot?

It helps keep the organelles in place and directs their movement as needed.

What happens after a lysosome is made in the rough endoplasmic reticulum of a plant cell?

It is sent to the Golgi apparatus for further processing.

How would you describe what happens to an enzyme after it catalyzes a chemical reaction?

It is unchanged and can be used again for the same chemical reaction.

What unique property of water enables insects to land on and walk on water?

It's strong Surface Tension

What group of organic molecules is made up of a sequence of an amino group, a carboxyl group, a hydrogen atom, and a side chain bonded to the central carbon atom?

Proteins

What best describes the relationship between the shape of enzymes and the reactions they catalyze?

The shape of an enzyme determines which reaction it can catalyze.

What best explains how a dissecting microscope differs from a compound light microscope?

A compound light microscope has much greater magnification power than a dissecting microscope.

What affect would a damaged thylakoid membrane have on photosynthesis?

A damaged thylakoid would affect ATP synthesis.

The slight negative charge at one end of one water molecule is attracted to the slight positive charge of another water molecule. What is this attraction called?

A hydrogen bond

Which of the following is true of modern cell theory? A) As technology improves, so will our understanding of cells. B) Multi-celled organisms are the focus of most modern discoveries. C) Early cell theory has turned out to be incorrect. D) Scientists have learned all they can about cells at this point.

A) As technology improves, so will our understanding of cells.

Review the moth diagram. What can be correctly inferred from the information in the diagram?

A) Black moths are adapted to their environment better than speckled moths. B) Speckled moths are better tasting than black moths. C) Black moths have a longer life span and produce more offspring than speckled moths. D) Speckled moths produce more offspring than black moths.

The most basic concepts of cell theory are that cells are the basic units of life and that all living things are made of cells. Which answer correctly explains why these concepts are the basis of a theory and not a hypothesis? A) Cell theory explains how cells function rather than predicting how they function. B) Cell theory has been unchanged for many decades and as a result can be accepted as fact. C) Cell theory is a prediction based on observation and not a fully accepted idea. D) Cell theory remains largely untested rather than being subject to testing.

A) Cell theory explains how cells function rather than predicting how they function.

Reynaldo is reviewing a study on the effectiveness of a new drug-free remedy for depression. In the study, a group of participants was given a natural supplement for a period of six weeks. They rated their mood both before and after treatment. Two-thirds of the group reported a marked improvement after the trial. What change in this study would do the most to increase Reynaldo's confidence that sound scientific practices were followed? A) Including a control group that did not receive the supplement B) Including information about the manufacturer and cost of the supplement C) Including testimony of participants in the study's documentation D) Including more details about the self-reported mood ratings

A) Including a control group that did not receive the supplement

What can you conclude about the advantage of the double-layer arrangement of a cell membrane? A) The cell requires a barrier between itself and its environment. B) The cell requires the ability to digest and eliminate enzymes. C) The cell requires a means to store starches and glucose. D) The cell requires a structure for eliminating waste.

A) The cell requires a barrier between itself and its environment

Which of the following questions can be answered scientifically? A) Which liquid takes the longest to burn? B) Are cotton or polyester clothes more comfortable? C) To what extent should we protect the rainforests? D) Can star positions be used to determine the future?

A) Which liquid takes the longest to burn?

Chemical reactions move at different speeds. When a chemical reaction is moving at a slow speed, what can be done to speed up the reaction?

Adding an enzyme to decrease the activation energy of the reaction

Which of the following would most likely be key to gathering evidence that the RNA World hypothesis is valid? A) Creation of suitable environments for long-term study of single-celled organisms B) Simulation of early Earth conditions and long-term study of the resulting molecules C) Development of a system for studying the microsphere's ability to absorb additional molecules D) Categorization of the different specific conditions that result in the development of microspheres

B) Simulation of early Earth conditions and long-term study of the resulting molecules

After many experiments and observations, Jacques Charles described how gases expand at the same rate as a change in temperature. This observation is represented in the formula V100 − V0 = kV0. These findings are not the basis of a scientific theory because A) they establish a claim that can be tested and retested by the scientific community B) they describe what happens in nature without explaining why it happens C) they explain the relationship between gases and temperature based on observation D) they predict what will happen in nature without tests and supporting evidence

B) they describe what happens in nature without explaining why it happens

How can we make the following conclusion? The amino acids combine in different ways to form proteins with different shapes, and this affects which molecules can bind to it, which in turn directs the protein's function.

Because All proteins have amino acids as their building blocks. Even though there are only 20 amino acids, there are more than a million different proteins, and each works in a unique way.

The quantity of each type of organelle in a cell varies depending on the tasks the individual cell must perform. If a scientist needed to find cells that contained a large number of chloroplasts, where would be the best place to look? A) The stem of a young tree B) A flower petal in partial sunlight C) A leaf growing in full sunlight D) The stem of a mature tree

C) A leaf growing in full sunlight

Which of the following correctly describes the image below: H H O I I I H--N---C---C---OH I R A) Protein Molecule B) RNA Molecule C) Amino Acid D) Carboxylic Acid

C) Amino Acid

Jamie is reviewing a new diet plan that involves purchasing pre-packaged meals and taking a patented energy supplement. In an ad explaining how it works, Jamie reads about a study cited as evidence supporting the effectiveness of the plan. In the study, two groups were followed: one following the plan and another following a simple low-carbohydrate diet. What should Jamie look for in the study to have full confidence in its scientific reliability? A) A list of differences between the two diets in the study B) A comparison of the plan to a variety of diets C) Details on the number of studies conducted and the results of each trial D) Testimony from a wide range of users

C) Details on the number of studies conducted and the results of each trial

A sports drink company develops a new product that is advertised to decrease soreness after rigorous exercise. Which of the following evidence of this claim would the scientific community accept as the most reliable? A) A written description of the experiments used to support the claim B) High-profile athletes supporting the claim in sports journals and magazines C) Other scientists not associated with the product testing the claims D) Disclosure of the ingredients of the product and their known side effects

C) Other scientists not associated with the product testing the claims

Organic molecules are sometimes found within meteorites that crash into Earth. Which meteorite condition in space is similar to what most likely was present in Earth's early atmosphere? A) Abundance of oxygen B) Very cold temperatures C) Presence of inorganic molecules D) Low levels of ultraviolet radiation

C) Presence of inorganic molecules

Cameron is collecting data to determine the time of completion for each stage of germination in seeds. He is using bean seeds for his investigation and recording his results. He repeats his data collection many times to obtain reliable results. Which aspect of his experimental process is most important for obtaining reliable results? A) Collecting enough varieties of bean seeds B) Talking to other scientists during the experiment C) Taking observations at precise intervals D) Using a variety of microscopes for exact measurements

C) Taking observations at precise intervals

If several highly educated scientists all study the same scientific data, what would most likely explain why they may all have different conclusions?

Conclusions involve the scientist's interpretation.

Birds belong to different species but share similar characteristics. What inference can be correctly drawn about this statement? A) All birds share the same habitat. B) All birds reproduce with genetic variation. C) All birds produced similar offspring. D) All birds share a common ancestor.

D) All birds share a common ancestor.

Which of the following questions can be answered scientifically? A) Should we just let the river flow where it wants? B) What can be done to stop erosion? C) Is erosion control worth the financial costs? D) Can planting cover crops reduce erosion?

D) Can planting cover crops reduce erosion?

Which of the following best explains why what we know about cells is called a theory and not a law? A) We do not have enough evidence yet to call cell theory a law. B) We have not reviewed cell behavior enough yet to call it a law. C) Cell theory is still changing but may eventually become a law. D) Cell theory explains cell behavior where a law would describe it.

D) Cell theory explains cell behavior where a law would describe it.

Christiaan Eijkman shared the Nobel Prize in 1929 for the discovery of vitamins. Eijkman went to Java to isolate the pathogen causing beriberi, an illness that appeared to be contagious as it was common in prisons and among ship crews. Eijkman noticed that chickens fed a diet of white rice also suffered from a similar disorder. When the chickens were fed a diet of red rice, the chickens quickly recovered. Eijkman returned to the Netherlands and persuaded a prison to feed the prisoners red rice, and the incidence of beriberi decreased. What would the next step for Eijkman be? A) He can infer that all prisoners should get the new diet right away. B) He can infer that humans and chickens have very similar dietary needs. C) He can infer that humans should eat a more varied diet. D) He can infer that beriberi may be related to diet, but more and better studies are needed.

D) He can infer that beriberi may be related to diet, but more and better studies are needed.

Kendra watches a television commercial for a new alternative medicine. She is interested in the medicine, but she is unsure if it will really work. Which of the following would give reliable evidence of the medicine's properties? A) Testimony of well-respected medical professionals supporting the medicine's abilities B) The fact that the company owns several multi-million dollar research facilities C) Testimony of many users that the medicine really works D) Many experimental trials with results that support the claims

D) Many experimental trials with results that support the claims

Prior to the invention of refrigeration, meat was often preserved by soaking it in brine (a solution of water with a high concentration of salt) to kill any microorganisms that might have tried to use the meat as their own food source. Which of the following BEST explains how a brine solution could be lethal to those microorganisms?

Need to Find Correct Answer

If carbon dioxide and water were abundantly available to a heterotrophic prokaryotic cell, would it be possible for the cell to use them as a food source?

Neither carbon dioxide nor water contains energy the cell could use, so they would not be a food source. Heterotrophic organisms use organic compounds, usually from other organisms, as carbon sources.

How are simple carbohydrates able to form larger macromolecules?

Organic compounds chemically combine using carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms.

Claims about new scientific breakthroughs often appear in the media. If such a claim is made, which media source should be considered most reliable?

Peer-reviewed journals

What discovery is most crucial to explaining why all organisms share the same genetic code?

RNA's ability to self-catalyze

Provide a description of a difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?

The DNA in eukaryotic cells is enclosed in the nucleus, while the DNA in prokaryotic cells is not separated from the rest of the cell's contents.

What is most likely responsible for the fact that organic molecules no longer form spontaneously on Earth?

The amount of oxygen in the atmosphere increased.

The structure of a simple organic molecule makes it possible for simple organic molecules to combine to make a larger molecule. What best explains this phenomenon?

The backbone of the organic molecule is made up of carbon atoms.

What would most likely happen if the membrane of a cell were no longer selectively permeable?

The cell would die as it would not be able to regulate which substances could enter and leave.

Cellular respiration is a series of complicated reactions. Some of the enzymes that are necessary for the reactions to take place effectively are not produced by the body and must be eaten in a person's diet. Explain what happens when a person's diet lacks the necessary enzymes for cellular respiration.

The cell's energy level will diminish as the enzyme decreases.

What best explains the relationship between structure and function of the cell membrane?

The lipids and proteins that make up the membrane allow it to be selective about what enters and leaves the cell.

While looking at a cell under a microscope, a scientist is able to see a biological molecule. This molecule is a nucleic acid with double strands and contains the nitrogenous bases adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine. Based on this information, what conclusion can the scientist draw regarding this nucleic acid?

The nucleic acid is DNA and would be found in the cell's nucleus.

Isabella works for an environmental safety group. Her group wants to answer the question "To what lengths must we go to protect plants and animals?" Why is her group's research question flawed?

They are trying to answer an ethical question, not a scientific one.

How do the structures of chitin and cellulose make them hard to digest?

They both have an alternating arrangement of glucose molecules, but cellulose has hydrogen bonds while chitin has amino group bonds.

What do anaerobic organisms have in common with photosynthetic organisms?

They both need an energy source in order to survive.

In both the iron sulfide hypothesis and the lipid membrane hypothesis, small, enclosed spaces are suggested as the precursors of the first cells. What benefit do small spaces provide in the formation of organic molecules?

They provide an area in which molecules can be concentrated.

A group of research scientists believe that their laboratory has gathered scientific evidence for a new cancer treatment drug. What is the primary purpose for reporting their findings in a peer-reviewed scientific journal?

To ensure the reliability of the evidence by allowing other scientists to check their findings

While the average human is able to hold his or her breath for approximately one minute, a whale can dive for over 30 minutes without returning to the surface. Why would this be possible?

Whales are more efficient at gas exchange than humans which helps them conserve energy.

The study of biology is correctly defined as

learning about the interactions and functions of living organisms

Scientists review the work of other scientists to

validate the results and check the evidence's reliability