Deck 1: The Scientific Study of Life

Question 1

Which of the following is/are independent variable(s)in this experiment?

A) amount of ammonium nitrate and light
B) amount of water
C) amount of carbon dioxide
D) height of the plants and amount of light
E) height of the plants

Answer 1

A
Explanation: The independent variable is the variable which the experimenter varies to look for responses in the system, rather than what is measured.

Question 2

Asexual reproduction differs from sexual reproduction in that

A) asexual reproduction produces genetically diverse offspring.
B) asexual reproduction utilizes DNA from two parents to code for traits in offspring.
C) asexual reproduction occurs only in plants.
D) asexual reproduction produces offspring containing DNA from only one parent.
E) asexual reproduction only occurs in animals.

Answer 2

D
Explanation: Asexual reproduction produces genetic clones of the parent organism since only the one parent's DNA is present in the offspring.

Question 3

You are sorting cards with pictures of organisms and their descriptions into groups.You would place the card with an osprey and the description "organisms that obtain energy by consuming other organisms" with cards for other 

A) autotrophs.
B) plants.
C) heterotrophs.
D) producers.
E) photosynthesizers.

Answer 3

C
Explanation: Consumers eat other consumers or producers to obtain energy and reduced carbon compounds.

Question 4

A major difference between prokaryotes and eukaryotes is that prokaryotes

A) have cell walls while eukaryotes do not.
B) do not have a nucleus in their cells while eukaryotes do.
C) have a nucleus in their cells while eukaryotes do not.
D) are autotrophs while eukaryotes are not.
E) are not living organisms, while eukaryotes are.

Question 5

In cleaning up after lab,you have to sort cards into boxes.You would put all of the below cards into a box marked "ecosystem" except 

A) community.
B) biosphere.
C) populations.
D) organisms.
E) nonliving environmental components.

Question 6

If you were grading a set of exams dealing with the scientific method,which statement would lead to a student losing points?

A) It is a general way of answering questions with evidence.
B) It is a framework to consider ideas in a repeatable way.
C) It begins with observations.
D) It does not apply to problems encountered in everyday life.
E) It enables the testing of ideas.

Question 7

Which is the correct sequence for levels of biological organization occurring beyond an organism?

A) population - ecosystem - community - biosphere
B) community - population - ecosystem - biosphere
C) community - population - biosphere - ecosystem
D) population - community - ecosystem - biosphere
E) ecosystem - population - biosphere - community

Question 8

In a scientific experiment,the investigator measures the response of the ________ variable(s).

A) independent
B) dependent
C) control group
D) standardized
E) dependent and independent

Question 9

What statement deals with an aspect of experimentation but with the incorrect explanation?

A) The larger the sample size, the more meaningful the results.
B) The smaller the sample size, the more meaningful the results.
C) A control group is an untreated group and provides a basis for comparison.
D) It is important to standardize aspects of an experiment that might affect the outcome, other than the independent variable.
E) All answers are correct.

Question 10

The four kingdoms included in the domain Eukarya are

A) Bacteria, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia.
B) Bacteria, Protista, Plantae, and Animalia.
C) Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia.
D) Archaea, Bacteria, Plantae, and Animalia.
E) Archaea, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia.

Question 11

Which of the following is not a "control" in an experimental procedure?

A) a placebo
B) a known standard of comparison
C) a normal group
D) an experimental group
E) a "zero"-value group

Question 12

If you observed a newly discovered 'thing' and tried to decide if it might be alive,what would be the weakest distinction for life?

A) homeostasis
B) movement
C) structural organization
D) evolution
E) energy use

Question 13

Which statement about a hypothesis is incorrect?

A) It can be proven true.
B) It can be proven false.
C) It is a tentative explanation.
D) It is based on previous knowledge.
E) It must be testable to be useful.

Question 14

A structure consisting of tissues organized to carry out a specific function defines a(n)

A) organ.
B) cell.
C) population.
D) atom.
E) molecule.

Question 15

A theory differs from a hypothesis in that a theory

A) has more supportive evidence than a hypothesis.
B) is broader in scope than a hypothesis.
C) has predictive power.
D) ties together many existing observations.
E) All answers are correct.

Question 16

If you wanted to demonstrate homeostasis to a friend,you could use as an example 

A) a population changing over time.
B) environmental conditions holding constant through time.
C) cells having enough water to survive.
D) plants and animals needing energy sources.
E) an organism maintaining nearly constant internal conditions.

Question 17

Organisms that extract energy from nonliving environmental resources are called

A) heterotrophs.
B) decomposers.
C) parasites.
D) consumers.
E) producers.

Question 18

Which is the correct sequence for levels of biological organization within a multicellular organism?

A) atom - molecule - organelle - cell - tissue
B) molecule - atom - organelle - tissue - cell
C) cell - organelle - atom - tissue - molecule
D) organelle - molecule - atom - tissue - cell
E) atom - organelle - molecule - cell - tissue

Question 19

All living organisms

A) are prokaryotes.
B) are either unicellular or multicellular.
C) are eukaryotes.
D) are multicellular.
E) are unicellular.

Question 20

In a scientific experiment,the investigator manipulates the ________ variable(s)to determine whether it causes another variable to change.

A) standardized
B) control group
C) dependent
D) independent
E) control group and standardized

Question 21

The bacterium Staphylococcus aureus belongs to which domain?

A) Eukarya
B) Archaea
C) Prokarya
D) Protista
E) Bacteria

Question 22

Ammonium nitrate is

A) an atom.
B) a molecule.
C) a cell.
D) a tissue.
E) a biosphere.

Question 23

The proximate reason for the uptake by plants of nutrients like ammonium nitrate is 

A) asexual reproduction.
B) sexual reproduction.
C) natural selection.
D) evolution.
E) homeostasis.

Question 24

Homo sapiens is in which domain?

A) Archaea
B) Bacteria
C) Eukarya
D) Animalia
E) Protista

Question 25

The leaf of a strawberry plant is

A) an organ.
B) a molecule.
C) an organelle.
D) a cell.
E) an organism.

Question 26

The bacterium Staphylococcus aureus has which of the following?

A) nucleus and ribosomes
B) DNA and nucleus
C) DNA and cell membrane
D) cell membrane and nucleus
E) None of the answer choices are correct.

Question 27

Pollination is a step of ________ in a plant.

A) sexual reproduction
B) asexual reproduction
C) development
D) metabolism
E) homeostasis

Question 28

If you found an organism that was single-celled and had a nucleus,you would classify it as a member of the Archaea.

Question 29

What did Charles Darwin predict after observing the 11-inch long nectaries of the Angraecum sesquipedale orchid in Madagascar?

A) the existence of a moth with a 10-11 inch long tongue
B) the existence of a competitor that also possessed especially long nectaries
C) the presence of very small bees that could fit into long nectaries
D) that the orchid must reproduce asexually
E) that the orchid was an evolutionary dead end and could no longer reproduce

Question 30

Why isn't scientific inquiry foolproof?

A) Multiple interpretations of the data are possible.
B) Definitive answers may not exist.
C) Observations can be misinterpreted.
D) Unexpected conclusions are not always readily accepted.
E) All answers are correct.

Question 31

In an experiment,Charles Darwin's prediction about long nectaries and long-tongued moths would be a(n) 

A) standardized variable.
B) theory.
C) independent variable.
D) dependent variable.
E) hypothesis.

Question 32

What is the advantage to the Madagascan orchid of having an 11-inch long nectar tube?

A) It can produce nectar over a larger area and attract more pollinators.
B) It can collect more rainwater.
C) It can be pollinated easily only by the moths with long tongues.
D) It can collect more sunlight for photosynthesis.
E) It can trap insects as a source of nutrients.

Question 33

Which of the following is/are dependent variable(s)in this experiment?

A) amount of ammonium nitrate and light
B) amount of carbon dioxide
C) amount of water
D) height of the plants
E) height of the plants and amount of light

Question 34

The "kingdom" is the most all-inclusive taxonomic category.

Question 35

What is the advantage of a moth having a very long tongue if an orchid has a very long nectar spur?

A) It is used to attract mates through sexual selection.
B) It can pollinate only one type of flower.
C) It makes flying more efficient.
D) It can be used to capture other flying insects for food.
E) It can reach nectar that no other pollinator can reach.

Question 36

Which of the following questions cannot be answered by science?

A) What is the meaning of life?
B) Why is the sky the color blue?
C) What causes species' extinctions?
D) How did I start from only an egg and sperm?
E) Why is too much fatty food bad for me?

Question 37

In this experiment,the size of the pot is

A) an independent variable.
B) a dependent variable.
C) a standardized variable.
D) a placebo.
E) a control.

Question 38

How do you know the computer you are working on is not alive?

A) It is not made of cells.
B) It does not maintain an internal consistency of water, solutes, and other components.
C) It cannot reproduce, asexually or sexually.
D) It cannot evolve.
E) All answers are correct.

Question 39

You want to test Charles Darwin's prediction that an orchid with long pollen tubes has a pollinator with long,thin mouthparts that can reach the bottom of the elongated nectar tube.You place nets over some orchids,which allows pollinators with small,short mouthparts to enter but prevents the entry of pollinators with long,thin mouthparts.Next,you compare the number of seeds produced by plants with and without the nets.In this experiment,seed production is a(n) 

A) dependent variable.
B) hypothesis.
C) theory.
D) independent variable.
E) standardized variable.

Question 40

The scientific method cannot be used to answer questions about immaterial and philosophical issues.

Question 41

Gravity is a theory because it is

A) a tentative explanation of an observation.
B) an untestable prediction.
C) a changeable element of experiments.
D) an opinion or hunch.
E) an encompassing explanation of a natural phenomenon that is well accepted.