Deck 1: The Nature of Science and the Characteristics of Life

Question 1

The scientific method cannot be used to evaluate untestable hypotheses; what types of questions are untestable?

A) questions about topics other than the natural world
B) questions about the events immediately following the origin of the universe
C) questions about the behavior of plants and animals
D) questions whose possible answers are socially controversial

Answer 1

A

Question 2

The figure below represents the steps in the scientific method.
Dr) JoAnn Burkholder believes the wrong strains of Pfiesteria were used by independent laboratories looking for fish-killing toxin.What step in the figure above would her contention represent?

A) observation
B) hypothesis
C) prediction
D) test

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Living cells are separated from the outside environment by a flexible

A) nucleus.
B) membrane.
C) cell wall.
D) DNA circle.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Dr. Burkholder hypothesized that Pfiesteria was associated with the massive die-offs of estuarine fish. Her hypothesis was supported when

A) Pfiesteria was shown to be capable of living within the climatic ranges of North Carolina.
B) a predicted increase in Pfiesteria populations coincided with a fish die-off.
C) new observations revealed Pfiesteria could kill laboratory fish.
D) a virulent toxin was isolated from Pfiesteria cultures grown in the laboratory.

Question 5

Which of the following statements is true?

A) Once a hypothesis has been proposed, it can never be challenged.
B) A valid scientific hypothesis is self-evident and does not need to be tested by experimentation.
C) The scientific method can help people make informed medical and environmental decisions.
D) If properly designed, experiments always prove hypotheses to be wrong.

Question 6

The basic unit of life is the

A) cell.
B) organ.
C) organelle.
D) tissue.

Question 7

Some questions fall outside the realm of science; which of the following questions could not be answered using the scientific method?

A) What is the function of the appendix in human beings?
B) Why is it unethical to test newly developed drugs in animals?
C) Why do smokers develop lung cancer more frequently than nonsmokers?
D) Why is it so difficult to quit smoking?

Question 8

When you dial a telephone number you are

A) making an observation.
B) testing a hypothesis.
C) conducting an experiment.
D) b and c above

Question 9

A group of interbreeding organisms whose offspring are themselves fertile constitutes a

A) web.
B) biome.
C) unit.
D) species.

Question 10

Which of the following questions could not be used to develop a testable hypothesis?

A) Does exposure to second-hand smoke affect the probability of developing lung cancer?
B) Do organic vegetables contain harmful substances?
C) Should everyone drink bottled water only?
D) Does a can of vegetable juice contain more salt than the same size can of iced tea?

Question 11

Although it seems contradictory, science cannot prove a hypothesis to be true. This is because

A) all true hypotheses will be rejected by the scientific method because they can be proven false.
B) future experiments or discoveries may provide data that refutes the hypothesis.
C) science is a human endeavor, and like all human endeavors, is limited by human understanding.
D) the scientific method is limited to examination of the natural world.

Question 12

A medical diagnosis is

A) an observation.
B) an experiment.
C) a theory.
D) a hypothesis.

Question 13

Which of the following has a reproductive strategy that does not depend on eggs and sperm?

A) a grasshopper
B) a black widow spider
C) a turtle
D) a bacterium

Question 14

Which of the following is an experiment?

A) reading a blood pressure gauge
B) examining an X-ray
C) taking prescription medicine
D) making a medical diagnosis

Question 15

Once supported by a predictable experimental outcome, a scientific hypothesis

A) is never reexamined.
B) still cannot be considered to have been proven true.
C) can be used to predict the outcome of all future similar events.
D) is elevated to the status of theory.

Question 16

Developing a scientific understanding of a natural phenomenon typically begins by

A) making a prediction.
B) testing a hypothesis.
C) proving an answer.
D) making an observation.

Question 17

What characteristic is not shared by all living organisms?

A) They make their own energy.
B) They grow and develop.
C) They evolve through time.
D) They are composed of one or more cells.

Question 18

Homeostasis is the ability to detect and correct disturbances that develop within an organism; which of the following illustrates homeostasis?

A) hunger
B) thirst
C) perspiration
D) all of the above

Question 19

Which of the following represents conducting an experiment?

A) dialing a telephone number
B) comparing prices of computers
C) checking your midterm grades online
D) predicting the outcome of a basketball game

Question 20

Which organism might harvest energy from iron?

A) a human
B) a cricket
C) a bacterium
D) a goat

Question 21

An organ is defined as a body structure composed of

A) two or more molecules.
B) two or more cells.
C) two or more tissues.
D) none of the above

Question 22

Land biomes are most commonly defined by

A) their food webs.
B) the dominant animal life in them.
C) the dominant plant life in them.
D) the combination of dominant plant and animal life in them.

Question 23

When compared to a natural system, a college campus is most similar to

A) an ecosystem.
B) a community.
C) a biome.
D) a population.

Question 24

When compared to living organisms, viruses display several unusual features; one of the most striking is that

A) viruses do not evolve.
B) viral reproduction utilizes a cloning strategy that is independent of DNA.
C) viruses utilize both DNA and RNA in their biochemistry.
D) viruses are not constructed from cells.

Question 25

Scientists disagree whether viruses

A) should be classified as living organisms.
B) reproduce.
C) contain genetic material.
D) have nuclei and organelles.

Question 26

There is a unity in the characteristics of living organisms because they

A) are all multicellular.
B) are all producers.
C) have been stable and unchanging throughout time.
D) descended from a common ancestor.

Question 27

Although vaccination can provide a lifelong protection against some diseases, flu vaccines are rarely effective against next year's flu because the virus that causes flu

A) is not alive.
B) can evolve quickly.
C) can change its cell membranes and block the action of the vaccine.
D) can develop into immune bacteria and neutralize the action of the vaccine.

Question 28

Examine the figure below.
What best explains the motivation of the snake?

A) Mice will eat snake eggs if they are unprotected in the nest; the snake is protecting its eggs.
B) Snakes are highly territorial and attack intruders; the mouse wandered into the snake's territory
C) The snake is a consumer; it is eating the mouse to obtain energy.
D) Any one of the above is a reasonable hypothesis; but more information is needed before the question can be answered.

Question 29

Charles Darwin introduced the concept of adaptation, which he defined as features

A) that help organisms survive and reproduce.
B) that allow an organism to resist the pressures of evolutionary change.
C) that allow organisms to change their environment in ways that best ensure continued survival.
D) All of the above are aspects of the definition of adaptation.

Question 30

Which of the following statements incorrectly describes a characteristic of living organisms?

A) All organisms require energy.
B) All organisms consume other living things to obtain their energy.
C) All organisms can sense and respond to their environment.
D) All organisms reproduce.

Question 31

Which of the following ecological features would not be considered a component of an ecosystem?

A) an individual
B) a community
C) a population
D) a biome

Question 32

Which of the following statements is true?

A) Producers obtain their energy from other organisms.
B) Producers represent the final energy transfer in a food web.
C) Consumers obtain their energy from other organisms.
D) Consumers represent the initial energy transfer in a food web.

Question 33

Which of the following sequences correctly represents the biological hierarchy of a multicellular organism?

A) cells ® tissues ® organs ® individual
B) tissues ® organs ® cells ® individual
C) individual ® cells ® organ systems ® tissues
D) organ systems ® organs ® tissues ® individual

Question 34

Examine the figure below.
What best explains why the young woman is drinking after her exercise session?

A) Exercise creates body heat, which needs to be eliminated.
B) Cold water cools the body and restores the temperature balance-a process known as homeostasis.
C) The beverage is most likely a sugar-sweetened soft drink; sugar replenishes the energy lost during exercise.
D) Sweating to eliminate excess heat is a source of water loss, which must be replenished if homeostasis is to be maintained.

Question 35

A ______ consists of groups of different species living and interacting in a given area.

A) biosphere
B) population
C) community
D) habitat

Question 36

Consider each of the following true statements; which statement supports the theory that all living organisms descended from one common ancestor?

A) Viruses have a protein coat.
B) Offspring resemble their parents.
C) All living organisms use DNA as their hereditary material.
D) Some organisms are consumers, while others are producers.

Question 37

In which of the following objects would the energy content be most directly connected to solar energy?

A) an apple
B) a hamburger
C) a slice of pizza
D) a grilled cheese sandwich

Question 38

Which of the following statements is true?

A) Ecosystems are composed of one or more biomes.
B) Communities are composed of one or more ecosystems.
C) The biosphere includes all life forms and the spaces where they live.
D) The biosphere is an intermediate classification that falls between ecosystems and biomes.

Question 39

DNA is one of the features common to all known forms of life;

A) it forms the protective outer membrane of cells.
B) it is produced expressly for reproduction and is found only in egg and sperm.
C) it is the blueprint that guides the growth, development, behavior, and reproduction of all organisms.
D) its absence in viruses is the basis for classifying them as nonliving.

Question 40

All animals have the capacity to sense and respond to their environment; humans, for example,

A) can see better than any other animal.
B) can hear better than any other animal.
C) have a better sense of smell than any other animal.
D) while not the fastest or strongest animal, have a set of sensory adaptations that are entirely compatible with human biology and environment.

Question 41

The scientific method begins with________.

Question 42

Biology is the scientific study of _______.

Question 43

Although rare, rock fragments of Mars have reached earth after having been blown into space during meteorite impacts, and could possibly have transported organisms like nanobacteria with them. What type of organism would support this hypothesis?

A) organisms whose overall dimensions were smaller than most cellular components
B) organisms that used a molecule very different from DNA during their reproduction
C) organisms that were simultaneously producers and consumers
D) organisms that resisted decomposition following death.

Question 44

Which of the following statements is true?

A) Since they do not consume their prey, decomposers are usually not included within the food web for a typical ecosystem.
B) Ecosystems create the energy needed for their continued existence; the process can be represented using a food web.
C) Organisms that eat plants do not use energy.
D) Energy generally flows in one direction through the biosphere.

Question 45

Plants convert the energy in _______ into energy-rich substances using a process called photosynthesis.

Question 46

Modern life often masks the struggles that have characterized human life through much of its history; survival in the past was critically dependent on the ability of humans to

A) run faster than most human predators.
B) solve complex problems.
C) hear sounds at much lower intensities than other animals.
D) sense a wider range of smells than other animals.

Question 47

Having first developed a _________, scientists can then propose testable predictions.

Question 48

Advantageous features that evolve over time and help an organism survive or reproduce are called _______.

Question 49

Experimentation is the primary means that verify or refute the _______ made by a hypothesis.

Question 50

Living organisms must be able to sense and respond to both their internal and external _______ in order to survive.

Question 51

Plants and animals need a variety of resources to carry out and maintain life processes; the most important is _______.

Question 52

In the scientific method observations are followed most often by___________ and then ___________.

Question 53

Most ecosystems experience energy loses that equal energy gain; the quantity of incoming solar energy is equal to the quantity of outgoing _______ energy.

A) light
B) sound
C) heat
D) ultraviolet

Question 54

Stanley Miller simulated Earth's ancient atmosphere and exposed it to "lightning" to test whether

A) DNA could be produced from RNA.
B) life could have evolved on planets other than Earth.
C) the chemical molecules characteristic of life could have arisen independently of living organisms.
D) cells could tolerate an exposure to electricity.

Question 55

Multicellular organisms are constructed from many types of specialized cells. Why might this be more advantageous than being a single-celled organism?

A) Specialized cells can do a given job better than a general-purpose cell can.
B) Specialized cells can survive independently of the multicellular organism.
C) Nonspecialized cells do not live as long as specialized cells.
D) Nonspecialized cells are unable to stick together to make up a multicellular organism.

Question 56

Because the distinction between life and nonlife is an arbitrary one, not all biologists agree on what things should be considered living; one group, the _______, appears to be right at the boundary between life and nonlife.

Question 57

The figure below of a desert ecosystem illustrates the interdependency of natural systems.
What component, if removed, would have the most immediate disruptive effect on the system?

A) sunlight
B) producers
C) consumers
D) decomposers

Question 58

Through the process of _______, a group of organisms can develop new characteristics over time.

Question 59

Ecologists use food webs to diagrammatically or verbally represent

A) how organisms in an ecosystem select their mates during reproduction.
B) how energy moves between the various members of the ecosystem.
C) which species can interbreed with other species.
D) the organization of an organism.

Question 60

The genetic material used for reproduction by those organisms conventionally considered to be living is _______.

Question 61

Not all living things obtain their energy from the sun, iron can be an energy source for some organisms.

Question 62

Some bacteria can sense direction using magnetic particles in their cells.

Question 63

A _______ is a group of individuals belonging to the same species.

Question 64

A _______ is constructed from a molecule of genetic material contained within a capsule of protein.

Question 65

New cells are created when existing cells divide; immediately after division every cell of every known living organism will contain DNA.

Question 66

Those organisms classified as consumers capture their energy directly from the sun.

Question 67

A scientific hypothesis must be testable; if not, science cannot evaluate it.

Question 68

All living organisms sense their environment and respond to it.

Question 69

Organisms classified as decomposers challenge the stability of ecosystems by prematurely removing organisms directly responsible for the flow of energy.

Question 70

Because the brain is constructed from nerve cells it is considered an organ.

Question 71

DNA is an example of the molecular level of biological organization.

Question 72

In the biosphere energy moves from the sun first to producers, then to consumers, and then to __________.

Question 73

Hypotheses can be rejected or supported by experiments, or, in some instances, new observations.

Question 74

Once experimental data verifies a prediction the hypothesis is considered proven.

Question 75

A good hypothesis is easy to prove.