Question 1

Which of the following statements is true regarding the complexity of biological systems?

Accepted Answer

A)  An understanding of the interactions between different components within a living system is an approach towards understanding reductionism. 
B)  Knowing the function of a component of a living system can provide insights into the structure and organization of the living system. 
C)  Understanding the chemical structure of DNA reveals how it directs the functioning of a living cell. 
D)  An ecosystem displays complex properties of the biotic component only. 
A)  An understanding of the interactions between different components within a living system is an approach towards understanding reductionism. 
B)  Knowing the function of a component of a living system can provide insights into the structure and organization of the living system. 
C)  Understanding the chemical structure of DNA reveals how it directs the functioning of a living cell. 
D)  An ecosystem displays complex properties of the biotic component only.

Question 2

Cells are ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  only found in pairs, because single cells cannot exist independently 
B)  limited in size to 200 and 500 micrometers in diameter 
C)  characteristic of eukaryotic but not prokaryotic organisms 
D)  characteristic of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms 
A)  only found in pairs, because single cells cannot exist independently 
B)  limited in size to 200 and 500 micrometers in diameter 
C)  characteristic of eukaryotic but not prokaryotic organisms 
D)  characteristic of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms

Question 3

Which of the following are qualities of any good scientific hypothesis?
I.It is testable.
II.It is falsifiable.
III.It produces quantitative data.
IV.It produces results that can be replicated.

Accepted Answer

A)  I only 
B)  III only. 
C)  I and II 
D)  III and IV 
A)  I only 
B)  III only. 
C)  I and II 
D)  III and IV

Question 4

Which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  mRNA is the only type of RNA found in the living system 
B)  All forms of life employ the same genetic code 
C)  A typical human liver cell has one set of chromosomes 
D)  Organisms interact but do not affect their environment 
A)  mRNA is the only type of RNA found in the living system 
B)  All forms of life employ the same genetic code 
C)  A typical human liver cell has one set of chromosomes 
D)  Organisms interact but do not affect their environment

Question 5

Which of the following is 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 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 requires genetic variation, results in descent with modification, and involves differential reproductive success.

Question 6

The following experiment is used for the following question.
A researcher discovered a species of moth that lays its eggs on oak trees. Eggs are laid at two distinct times of the year: early in spring when the oak trees are flowering and in midsummer when flowering is past. Caterpillars from eggs that hatch in spring feed on oak flowers and look like oak flowers, but caterpillars that hatch in summer feed on oak leaves and look like oak twigs.
How does the same population of moths produce such different-looking caterpillars on the same trees? To answer this question, the biologist caught many female moths from the same population and collected their eggs. He put at least one egg from each female into eight identical cups. The eggs hatched, and at least two larvae from each female were maintained in one of the four temperature and light conditions listed below.
$\begin{array}{l|l}
\text { Temperature } & \text { Day Length } \
\hline \text { Springlike } & \text { Springlike } \
\hline \text { Springlike } & \text { Summerlike } \
\hline \text { Summerlike } & \text { springlike } \
\hline \text { Summerlike } & \text { summerlike }
\end{array}$

In each of the four environments, one of the caterpillars was fed oak flowers, the other oak leaves. Thus, there were a total of eight treatment groups (4 environments × 2 diets).
Recall that eggs from the same female were exposed to each of the eight treatments used. This aspect of the experimental design tested which of the following hypotheses?

Accepted Answer

A)  The longer day lengths of summer trigger the development of twig-like caterpillars. 
B)  Differences in air pressure, due to elevation, trigger the development of different types of caterpillars. 
C)  Differences in diet trigger the development of different types of caterpillars. 
D)  The differences are genetic. A female will either produce all flowerlike caterpillars or all twig-like caterpillars. 
A)  The longer day lengths of summer trigger the development of twig-like caterpillars. 
B)  Differences in air pressure, due to elevation, trigger the development of different types of caterpillars. 
C)  Differences in diet trigger the development of different types of caterpillars. 
D)  The differences are genetic. A female will either produce all flowerlike caterpillars or all twig-like caterpillars.

Question 7

The following experiment is used for the following question.
A researcher discovered a species of moth that lays its eggs on oak trees. Eggs are laid at two distinct times of the year: early in spring when the oak trees are flowering and in midsummer when flowering is past. Caterpillars from eggs that hatch in spring feed on oak flowers and look like oak flowers, but caterpillars that hatch in summer feed on oak leaves and look like oak twigs.
How does the same population of moths produce such different-looking caterpillars on the same trees? To answer this question, the biologist caught many female moths from the same population and collected their eggs. He put at least one egg from each female into eight identical cups. The eggs hatched, and at least two larvae from each female were maintained in one of the four temperature and light conditions listed below.
$\begin{array}{l|l}
\text { Temperature } & \text { Day Length } \
\hline \text { Springlike } & \text { Springlike } \
\hline \text { Springlike } & \text { Summerlike } \
\hline \text { Summerlike } & \text { springlike } \
\hline \text { Summerlike } & \text { summerlike }
\end{array}$

In each of the four environments, one of the caterpillars was fed oak flowers, the other oak leaves. Thus, there were a total of eight treatment groups (4 environments × 2 diets).
Which one of the following is not a plausible hypothesis that can be tested in this experiment?

Accepted Answer

A)  The longer day lengths of summer trigger the development of twig-like caterpillars. 
B)  The cooler temperatures of spring trigger the development of flowerlike caterpillars. 
C)  Differences in air pressure, due to differences in elevation, trigger the development of different types of caterpillars. 
D)  Differences in diet trigger the development of different types of caterpillars. 
A)  The longer day lengths of summer trigger the development of twig-like caterpillars. 
B)  The cooler temperatures of spring trigger the development of flowerlike caterpillars. 
C)  Differences in air pressure, due to differences in elevation, trigger the development of different types of caterpillars. 
D)  Differences in diet trigger the development of different types of caterpillars.

Question 8

In presenting data that result from an experiment, a group of students show that most of their measurements fall on a straight diagonal line on their graph. However, two of their data points are "outliers" and fall far to one side of the expected relationship. What should they do?

Accepted Answer

A)  Do not show these points because clearly something went wrong in the experiment. 
B)  Average several trials, rule out the improbable results, and do not show them in the final work. 
C)  Show all results obtained and then try to explore the reason(s) for these outliers. 
D)  Change the details of the experiment until they can obtain the expected results. 
A)  Do not show these points because clearly something went wrong in the experiment. 
B)  Average several trials, rule out the improbable results, and do not show them in the final work. 
C)  Show all results obtained and then try to explore the reason(s) for these outliers. 
D)  Change the details of the experiment until they can obtain the expected results.

Question 9

You are suffering from Streptococcus throat infection. You share the following with the bacteria that is responsible for your condition.

Accepted Answer

A)  You both belong to the same domain. 
B)  You both are made up of cells. 
C)  You both have genetic material in your nucleus. 
D)  You and Streptococcus have nothing in common. 
A)  You both belong to the same domain. 
B)  You both are made up of cells. 
C)  You both have genetic material in your nucleus. 
D)  You and Streptococcus have nothing in common.

Question 10

Agrobacterium infects plants and causes them to form tumors. You determine that tumor formation requires a large amount of the plant's energy for tissue formation. How might this change the number of offspring a plant produces, and what is the most likely explanation for this change?

Accepted Answer

A)  The number of offspring should increase because in general, illness increases the reproductive output of organisms. 
B)  The number of offspring should increase because the bacteria will provide energy for the plant. 
C)  The number of offspring should decrease because the plant will divert energy from reproduction to tumor formation. 
D)  There should be no effect of infection on offspring production because energy for reproduction is independent of infection. 
A)  The number of offspring should increase because in general, illness increases the reproductive output of organisms. 
B)  The number of offspring should increase because the bacteria will provide energy for the plant. 
C)  The number of offspring should decrease because the plant will divert energy from reproduction to tumor formation. 
D)  There should be no effect of infection on offspring production because energy for reproduction is independent of infection.

Question 11

A scientist, who wants to study the effects of nitrogen on wheat plants, sets up an experiment with 4 groups of wheat plants: group A gets 20 pounds per acre, group B gets 40 pounds per acre, group C gets 60 pounds per acre, and group D gets 0 pounds per acre. Which of the following is the control group?

Accepted Answer

A)  group A 
B)  group B 
C)  group C 
D)  group D 
A)  group A 
B)  group B 
C)  group C 
D)  group D

Question 12

Which of the following questions is considered a thought-provoking scientific query?

Accepted Answer

A)  How long ago did the Pterosaurs live on this planet? 
B)  Does the amount of solute in water affect the boiling point of the solution? 
C)  Who invented the telescope? 
D)  How many tigers are left in India? 
A)  How long ago did the Pterosaurs live on this planet? 
B)  Does the amount of solute in water affect the boiling point of the solution? 
C)  Who invented the telescope? 
D)  How many tigers are left in India?

Question 13

As letters are to English language, ________ is/are to genetic information.

Accepted Answer

A)  proteins 
B)  nucleotides 
C)  DNA double helix 
D)  A and B 
A)  proteins 
B)  nucleotides 
C)  DNA double helix 
D)  A and B

Question 14

When your body temperature rises on a hot day, the neural and hormonal mechanisms activate sweating. Evaporation of sweat leads to cooling of the body surface. This is an example of ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  positive feedback regulation 
B)  negative feedback regulation 
C)  chemical cycling 
D)  emergent properties 
A)  positive feedback regulation 
B)  negative feedback regulation 
C)  chemical cycling 
D)  emergent properties

Question 15

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

Accepted Answer

A)  community 
B)  population 
C)  ecosystem 
D)  family 
A)  community 
B)  population 
C)  ecosystem 
D)  family

Question 16

Characters are transmitted from parents to offspring. ________ are the units of inheritance.

Accepted Answer

A)  Genes 
B)  Proteins 
C)  RNA 
D)  DNA 
A)  Genes 
B)  Proteins 
C)  RNA 
D)  DNA

Question 17

To understand the chemical basis of inheritance, we must understand the molecular structure of DNA. This is an example of the application of which concept to the study of biology?

Accepted Answer

A)  evolution 
B)  emergent properties 
C)  reductionism 
D)  feedback regulation 
A)  evolution 
B)  emergent properties 
C)  reductionism 
D)  feedback regulation

Question 18

The best experimental design ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  includes a large sample size for each condition 
B)  includes a control 
C)  alters only one condition between the controls and the experimental condition 
D)  includes a large sample size and a control, and alters only one condition between the controls and the experimental condition 
A)  includes a large sample size for each condition 
B)  includes a control 
C)  alters only one condition between the controls and the experimental condition 
D)  includes a large sample size and a control, and alters only one condition between the controls and the experimental condition

Question 19

Which of the following is an example of qualitative data?

Accepted Answer

A)  The fish swam in a zigzag motion. 
B)  The contents of the stomach are mixed every 20 seconds. 
C)  The temperature decreased from 20°C to 15°C. 
D)  The six pairs of robins hatched an average of three chicks each. 
A)  The fish swam in a zigzag motion. 
B)  The contents of the stomach are mixed every 20 seconds. 
C)  The temperature decreased from 20°C to 15°C. 
D)  The six pairs of robins hatched an average of three chicks each.

Question 20

Systems biology is mainly an attempt to

Accepted Answer

A)  analyze genomes from different species. 
B)  simplify complex problems by reducing the system into smaller, less complex units. 
C)  understand the behavior of entire biological systems by studying interactions among its component parts. 
D)  build high-throughput machines for the rapid acquisition of biological data. 
A)  analyze genomes from different species. 
B)  simplify complex problems by reducing the system into smaller, less complex units. 
C)  understand the behavior of entire biological systems by studying interactions among its component parts. 
D)  build high-throughput machines for the rapid acquisition of biological data.

Exam 1: Evolution, the Themes of Biology, and Scientific Inquiry

Which of the following statements is true regarding the complexity of biological systems?

Cells are ________.

Which of the following are qualities of any good scientific hypothesis? I.It is testable. II.It is falsifiable. III.It produces quantitative data. IV.It produces results that can be replicated.

Which of the following statements is true?

Which of the following is true of natural selection?

In presenting data that result from an experiment, a group of students show that most of their measurements fall on a straight diagonal line on their graph. However, two of their data points are "outliers" and fall far to one side of the expected relationship. What should they do?

You are suffering from Streptococcus throat infection. You share the following with the bacteria that is responsible for your condition.

Agrobacterium infects plants and causes them to form tumors. You determine that tumor formation requires a large amount of the plant's energy for tissue formation. How might this change the number of offspring a plant produces, and what is the most likely explanation for this change?

Which of the following questions is considered a thought-provoking scientific query?

As letters are to English language, ________ is/are to genetic information.

When your body temperature rises on a hot day, the neural and hormonal mechanisms activate sweating. Evaporation of sweat leads to cooling of the body surface. This is an example of ________.

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

Characters are transmitted from parents to offspring. ________ are the units of inheritance.

To understand the chemical basis of inheritance, we must understand the molecular structure of DNA. This is an example of the application of which concept to the study of biology?

The best experimental design ________.

Which of the following is an example of qualitative data?

Systems biology is mainly an attempt to

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

Gene Expression: From Gene to Protein

Regulation of Gene Expression

Viruses

DNA Tools and 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

Vascular 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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