Question 1

When a hypothesis cannot be written in an "If…then" format, what does this mean?

Accepted Answer

A)  It does not represent deductive reasoning. 
B)  It cannot be a scientific hypothesis. 
C)  The subject cannot be explored scientifically. 
D)  The hypothesizer does not have sufficient information. 
E)  It cannot be testable. 
A)  It does not represent deductive reasoning. 
B)  It cannot be a scientific hypothesis. 
C)  The subject cannot be explored scientifically. 
D)  The hypothesizer does not have sufficient information. 
E)  It cannot be testable.

Question 2

Charles Darwin proposed a mechanism for descent with modification that stated that organisms of a particular species are adapted to their environment when they possess

Accepted Answer

A)  non-inheritable traits that enhance their survival in the local environment. 
B)  non-inheritable traits that enhance their reproductive success in the local environment. 
C)  non-inheritable traits that enhance their survival and reproductive success in the local environment. 
D)  inheritable traits that enhance their survival and reproductive success in the local environment. 
E)  inheritable traits that decrease their survival and reproductive success in the local environment. 
A)  non-inheritable traits that enhance their survival in the local environment. 
B)  non-inheritable traits that enhance their reproductive success in the local environment. 
C)  non-inheritable traits that enhance their survival and reproductive success in the local environment. 
D)  inheritable traits that enhance their survival and reproductive success in the local environment. 
E)  inheritable traits that decrease their survival and reproductive success in the local environment.

Question 3

Prokaryotes are classified as belonging to two different domains. What are the domains?

Accepted Answer

A)  Bacteria and Eukarya 
B)  Archaea and Monera 
C)  Eukarya and Monera 
D)  Bacteria and Protista 
E)  Bacteria and Archaea 
A)  Bacteria and Eukarya 
B)  Archaea and Monera 
C)  Eukarya and Monera 
D)  Bacteria and Protista 
E)  Bacteria and Archaea

Question 4

Which of the following best describes what occurred after the publication of Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species?

Accepted Answer

A)  The book received little attention except from a small scientific community. 
B)  The book was banned from schools. 
C)  The book was widely discussed and disseminated. 
D)  The book's authorship was disputed. 
E)  The book was discredited by most scientists. 
A)  The book received little attention except from a small scientific community. 
B)  The book was banned from schools. 
C)  The book was widely discussed and disseminated. 
D)  The book's authorship was disputed. 
E)  The book was discredited by most scientists.

Question 5

Why is Darwin considered original in his thinking?

Accepted Answer

A)  He provided examples of organisms that had evolved over time. 
B)  He demonstrated that evolution is continuing to occur now. 
C)  He described the relationship between genes and evolution. 
D)  He proposed the mechanism that explained how evolution takes place. 
E)  He observed that organisms produce large numbers of offspring. 
A)  He provided examples of organisms that had evolved over time. 
B)  He demonstrated that evolution is continuing to occur now. 
C)  He described the relationship between genes and evolution. 
D)  He proposed the mechanism that explained how evolution takes place. 
E)  He observed that organisms produce large numbers of offspring.

Question 6

A localized group of organisms that belong to the same species is called a

Accepted Answer

A)  biosystem. 
B)  community. 
C)  population. 
D)  ecosystem. 
E)  family. 
A)  biosystem. 
B)  community. 
C)  population. 
D)  ecosystem. 
E)  family.

Question 7

Which of these is an example of inductive reasoning?

Accepted Answer

A)  Hundreds of individuals of a species have been observed and all are photosynthetic; therefore, the species is photosynthetic. 
B)  These organisms live in sunny parts of this area so they are able to photosynthesize. 
C)  If horses are always found grazing on grass, they can be only herbivores and not omnivores. 
D)  If protists are all single-celled, then they are incapable of aggregating. 
E)  If two species are members of the same genus, they are more alike than each of them could be to a different genus. 
A)  Hundreds of individuals of a species have been observed and all are photosynthetic; therefore, the species is photosynthetic. 
B)  These organisms live in sunny parts of this area so they are able to photosynthesize. 
C)  If horses are always found grazing on grass, they can be only herbivores and not omnivores. 
D)  If protists are all single-celled, then they are incapable of aggregating. 
E)  If two species are members of the same genus, they are more alike than each of them could be to a different genus.

Question 8

The application of scientific knowledge for some specific purpose is known as

Accepted Answer

A)  technology. 
B)  deductive science. 
C)  inductive science. 
D)  anthropologic science. 
E)  pure science. 
A)  technology. 
B)  deductive science. 
C)  inductive science. 
D)  anthropologic science. 
E)  pure science.

Question 9

Which branch of biology is concerned with the naming and classifying of organisms?

Accepted Answer

A)  informatics 
B)  schematic biology 
C)  taxonomy 
D)  genomics 
E)  evolution 
A)  informatics 
B)  schematic biology 
C)  taxonomy 
D)  genomics 
E)  evolution

Question 10

Which of the following is (are)true of natural selection?

Accepted Answer

A)  It requires genetic variation. 
B)  It results in descent with modification. 
C)  It involves differential reproductive success. 
D)  It results in descent with modification and involves differential reproductive success. 
E)  It requires genetic variation, results in descent with modification, and involves differential reproductive success. 
A)  It requires genetic variation. 
B)  It results in descent with modification. 
C)  It involves differential reproductive success. 
D)  It results in descent with modification and involves differential reproductive success. 
E)  It requires genetic variation, results in descent with modification, and involves differential reproductive success.

Question 11

Which of the following statements best distinguishes hypotheses from theories in science?

Accepted Answer

A)  Theories are hypotheses that have been proved. 
B)  Hypotheses are guesses; theories are correct answers. 
C)  Hypotheses usually are relatively narrow in scope; theories have broad explanatory power. 
D)  Hypotheses and theories are essentially the same thing. 
E)  Theories are proved true; hypotheses are often falsified. 
A)  Theories are hypotheses that have been proved. 
B)  Hypotheses are guesses; theories are correct answers. 
C)  Hypotheses usually are relatively narrow in scope; theories have broad explanatory power. 
D)  Hypotheses and theories are essentially the same thing. 
E)  Theories are proved true; hypotheses are often falsified.

Question 12

Which of the following best describes a model organism?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is often pictured in textbooks and easy for students to imagine. 
B)  It lends itself to many studies that are useful to beginning students. 
C)  It is well studied, easy to grow, and results are widely applicable. 
D)  It is small, inexpensive to raise, and lives a long time. 
E)  It has been chosen for study by the earliest biologists. 
A)  It is often pictured in textbooks and easy for students to imagine. 
B)  It lends itself to many studies that are useful to beginning students. 
C)  It is well studied, easy to grow, and results are widely applicable. 
D)  It is small, inexpensive to raise, and lives a long time. 
E)  It has been chosen for study by the earliest biologists.

Question 13

What is the major distinguishing characteristic of fungi?

Accepted Answer

A)  gaining nutrition through ingestion 
B)  being sedentary 
C)  being prokaryotic 
D)  absorbing dissolved nutrients 
E)  being decomposers of dead organisms 
A)  gaining nutrition through ingestion 
B)  being sedentary 
C)  being prokaryotic 
D)  absorbing dissolved nutrients 
E)  being decomposers of dead organisms

Question 14

Why is the theme of evolution considered to be the core theme of biology by biologists?

Accepted Answer

A)  It provides a framework within which all biological investigation makes sense. 
B)  It is recognized as the core theme of biology by organizations such as the National Science Foundation. 
C)  Controversy about this theory provides a basis for a great deal of experimental research. 
D)  Since it cannot be proven, biologists will be able to study evolutionary possibilities for many years. 
E)  Biologists do not subscribe to alternative models. 
A)  It provides a framework within which all biological investigation makes sense. 
B)  It is recognized as the core theme of biology by organizations such as the National Science Foundation. 
C)  Controversy about this theory provides a basis for a great deal of experimental research. 
D)  Since it cannot be proven, biologists will be able to study evolutionary possibilities for many years. 
E)  Biologists do not subscribe to alternative models.

Question 15

Which of the following is an example of qualitative data?

Accepted Answer

A)  The temperature decreased from 20°C to 15°C. 
B)  The plant's height is 25 centimeters (cm). 
C)  The fish swam in a zigzag motion. 
D)  The six pairs of robins hatched an average of three chicks. 
E)  The contents of the stomach are mixed every 20 seconds. 
A)  The temperature decreased from 20°C to 15°C. 
B)  The plant's height is 25 centimeters (cm). 
C)  The fish swam in a zigzag motion. 
D)  The six pairs of robins hatched an average of three chicks. 
E)  The contents of the stomach are mixed every 20 seconds.

Question 16

-What do these two plants have in common?

Accepted Answer

A)  adaptations to extreme heat 
B)  adaptations to conserve water 
C)  identical stem structures 
D)  identical flower structures 
E)  lack of photosynthesis 
A)  adaptations to extreme heat 
B)  adaptations to conserve water 
C)  identical stem structures 
D)  identical flower structures 
E)  lack of photosynthesis

Question 17

Which of the following is not an observation or inference on which Darwin's theory of natural selection is based?

Accepted Answer

A)  Poorly adapted individuals never produce offspring. 
B)  There is heritable variation among individuals. 
C)  Because of overproduction of offspring, there is competition for limited resources. 
D)  Individuals whose inherited characteristics best fit them to the environment will generally produce more offspring. 
E)  A population can become adapted to its environment over time. 
A)  Poorly adapted individuals never produce offspring. 
B)  There is heritable variation among individuals. 
C)  Because of overproduction of offspring, there is competition for limited resources. 
D)  Individuals whose inherited characteristics best fit them to the environment will generally produce more offspring. 
E)  A population can become adapted to its environment over time.

Question 18

A filamentous organism has been isolated from decomposing organic matter. This organism has a cell wall but no chloroplasts. How would you classify this organism?

Accepted Answer

A)  domain Bacteria, kingdom Prokaryota 
B)  domain Archaea, kingdom Bacteria 
C)  domain Eukarya, kingdom Plantae 
D)  domain Eukarya, kingdom Protista 
E)  domain Eukarya, kingdom Fungi 
A)  domain Bacteria, kingdom Prokaryota 
B)  domain Archaea, kingdom Bacteria 
C)  domain Eukarya, kingdom Plantae 
D)  domain Eukarya, kingdom Protista 
E)  domain Eukarya, kingdom Fungi

Question 19

A controlled experiment is one in which

Accepted Answer

A)  the experiment is repeated many times to ensure that the results are accurate. 
B)  the experiment proceeds at a slow pace to guarantee that the scientist can carefully observe all reactions and process all experimental data. 
C)  there are at least two groups, one of which does not receive the experimental treatment. 
D)  there are at least two groups, one differing from the other by two or more variables. 
E)  there is one group for which the scientist controls all variables. 
A)  the experiment is repeated many times to ensure that the results are accurate. 
B)  the experiment proceeds at a slow pace to guarantee that the scientist can carefully observe all reactions and process all experimental data. 
C)  there are at least two groups, one of which does not receive the experimental treatment. 
D)  there are at least two groups, one differing from the other by two or more variables. 
E)  there is one group for which the scientist controls all variables.

Question 20

Once labor begins in childbirth, contractions increase in intensity and frequency until delivery. The increasing labor contractions of childbirth are an example of which type of regulation?

Accepted Answer

A)  a bioinformatic system 
B)  positive feedback 
C)  negative feedback 
D)  feedback inhibition 
E)  enzymatic catalysis 
A)  a bioinformatic system 
B)  positive feedback 
C)  negative feedback 
D)  feedback inhibition 
E)  enzymatic catalysis

Exam 1: Introduction: Themes in the Study of Life

When a hypothesis cannot be written in an "If…then" format, what does this mean?

Charles Darwin proposed a mechanism for descent with modification that stated that organisms of a particular species are adapted to their environment when they possess

Prokaryotes are classified as belonging to two different domains. What are the domains?

Which of the following best describes what occurred after the publication of Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species?

Why is Darwin considered original in his thinking?

A localized group of organisms that belong to the same species is called a

Which of these is an example of inductive reasoning?

The application of scientific knowledge for some specific purpose is known as

Which branch of biology is concerned with the naming and classifying of organisms?

Which of the following is (are)true of natural selection?

Which of the following statements best distinguishes hypotheses from theories in science?

Which of the following best describes a model organism?

What is the major distinguishing characteristic of fungi?

Why is the theme of evolution considered to be the core theme of biology by biologists?

Which of the following is an example of qualitative data?

-What do these two plants have in common?

Which of the following is not an observation or inference on which Darwin's theory of natural selection is based?

A filamentous organism has been isolated from decomposing organic matter. This organism has a cell wall but no chloroplasts. How would you classify this organism?

A controlled experiment is one in which

Once labor begins in childbirth, contractions increase in intensity and frequency until delivery. The increasing labor contractions of childbirth are an example of which type of regulation?

The Chemical Context of Life

Water and Life

Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life

The Structure and Function of Large Biological Molecules

A Tour of the Cell

Membrane Structure and Function

An Introduction to Metabolism

Cellular Respiration and Fermentation

Photosynthesis

Cell Communication

The Cell Cycle

Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycles

Mendel and the Gene Idea

The Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance

The Molecular Basis of Inheritance

From Gene to Protein

Regulation of Gene Expression

Viruses

Biotechnology

Genomes and Their Evolution

Descent with Modification: A Darwinian View of Life

The Evolution of Populations

The Origin of Species

The History of Life on Earth

Phylogeny and the Tree of Life

Bacteria and Archaea

Protists

Plant Diversity I: How Plants Colonized Land

Plant Diversity II: The Evolution of Seed Plants

Fungi

An Overview of Animal Diversity

An Introduction to Invertebrates

The Origin and Evolution of Vertebrates

Plant Structure, Growth, and Development

Resource Acquisition and Transport in Vascular Plants

Soil and Plant Nutrition

Angiosperm Reproduction and Biotechnology

Plant Responses to Internal and External Signals

Basic Principles of Animal Form and Function

Animal Nutrition

Circulation and Gas Exchange

The Immune System

Osmoregulation and Excretion

Hormones and the Endocrine System

Animal Reproduction

Animal Development

Neurons, Synapses, and Signaling

Nervous Systems

Sensory and Motor Mechanisms

Animal Behavior

An Introduction to Ecology and the Biosphere

Population Ecology

Community Ecology

Ecosystems and Restoration Ecology

Conservation Biology and Global Change

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