Test Information Guide

Field 13: Biology
Sample Multiple-Choice Questions

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Nature of Science

Objective 0004
Understand the historical and contemporary relationships among science, technology, and society.

1. There is concern that an increase in the production of corn-based ethanol for fuel in the United States is likely to lead to increases in:

  1. food prices.
  2. new car costs.
  3. tailpipe emissions.
  4. oil prices.
Answer
Correct Response: A.

Correct Response: A.

Chemistry of Life and Cell Biology

Objective 0005
Understand the chemical components of living systems and basic principles of biochemistry.

2. The four hydrogen atoms in a methane molecule always form a tetrahedron. This kind of predictability in the shape of molecules that is so important to their biological functioning is a direct result of:

  1. the polarity of the molecules.
  2. the tendency of atoms to form hydrogen bonds.
  3. the nature of covalent bonds between atoms.
  4. the ability of molecules to ionize in water.
Answer
Correct Response: C.

Correct Response: C.

Objective 0006
Understand cell structure and function.

3. Which of the following symptoms is most likely to be found in a person suffering from a disorder involving malfunctioning mitochondria?

  1. inability to sweat
  2. nervous tremors
  3. recurring thirst
  4. excessive fatigue
Answer
Correct Response: D.

Correct Response: D.

Characteristics of Organisms

Objective 0008
Understand the structures, structural organization, and life processes of plants.

4. Key adaptations that enabled the gymnosperms to replace the lycophytes, horsetails, and ferns as the dominant form of terrestrial vegetation during the Mesozoic included the evolution of:

  1. vascular tissue.
  2. chlorophyll a and carotenoids.
  3. pollen and seeds.
  4. C4 and CAM photosynthesis.
Answer
Correct Response: C.

Correct Response: C.

Objective 0009
Understand the structures, structural organization, and life processes of archaea, bacteria, protists, fungi, and invertebrates.

5. Which of the following best describes the process of bacterial transformation?

  1. A bacterium connects to another bacterium via a pilus and donates a plasmid.
  2. A virus inserts its DNA into a bacterium, which triggers the production of new viruses.
  3. A nucleotide sequence is taken into a bacterial cell and incorporated into its genome.
  4. A bacterium exposed to a mutagenic substance undergoes changes in its DNA.
Answer
Correct Response: C.

Correct Response: C.

Human Anatomy and Physiology

Objective 0014
Understand the structures and functions of the human nervous, endocrine, and reproductive systems.

6. A particular type of autoimmune disease causes antibodies to destroy acetylcholine receptors of neurons. Which of the following effects will this have on nervous system functioning?

  1. Presynaptic neurons will be unable to release neurotransmitters into the synaptic clefts.
  2. Polarized neurons will be unable to propagate action potentials along their axons.
  3. Depolarized neurons will be unable to reestablish an ionic gradient across their membranes.
  4. Postsynaptic neurons will be unable to detect signals from presynaptic neurons.
Answer
Correct Response: D.

Correct Response: D.

Objective 0015
Understand the structures and functions of the human skeletal, muscular, and integumentary systems.

7. Which of the following best explains the decrease in muscle tension as a muscle is stretched beyond its normal resting length?

  1. Stretching causes the membranes of the muscle fibers to become leaky to ions so the fibers are unable to initiate and propagate action potentials.
  2. Stretching reduces the amount of overlap between the thin and thick filaments in the muscle fibers, so fewer active cross bridges form and less tension is produced.
  3. Stretching distorts the structure of the thin filaments in the muscle fibers so that cross bridges cannot bind to the actin and muscle tension cannot be created.
  4. Stretching interferes with the production of ATP in a muscle fiber, so there is little energy available for muscular contraction.
Answer
Correct Response: B.

Correct Response: B.

Genetics, Evolution, and Biodiversity

Objective 0016
Understand the principles of heredity.

8. In watermelons, the alleles for green color and short fruit are dominant over the alleles for striped color and long fruit. Two watermelon plants that are heterozygous for both characteristics are crossed. What fraction of the offspring would be expected to have green color and long fruit?

  1. nine over sixteen
  2. seven over sixteen
  3. three over sixteen
  4. one over sixteen
Answer
Correct Response: C.

Correct Response: C.

Objective 0017
Understand the molecular basis of genetics.

9. A team of researchers has isolated a chemical from a tropical tree that causes insects to die when they ingest it. The researchers determine that the chemical deactivates the enzyme RNA polymerase. This chemical likely causes the insects to die by interfering directly with:

  1. transcription of RNA from the DNA template.
  2. transport of RNA from the nucleus to the cytoplasm.
  3. translation of polypeptides from RNA molecules.
  4. excision of transcribed introns.
Answer
Correct Response: A.

Correct Response: A.

Populations, Ecosystems, and the Environment

Objective 0020
Understand populations, communities, ecosystems, and biomes.

10. Chickens that are raised in hygienic conditions are more susceptible to intestinal infections by Salmonella bacteria than are chickens raised under natural conditions. Researchers have found that feeding chickens a product that contains harmless intestinal bacteria reduces the incidence of Salmonella infection. Which of the following principles best explains the effectiveness of this product in preventing Salmonella infection?

  1. disruptive selection
  2. commensalism
  3. biological magnification
  4. competitive exclusion
Answer
Correct Response: D.

Correct Response: D.