Question 1

When compared with natural systems,a college campus-including its facilities-is most similar to a(n)
A) ecosystem.
B) community.
C) biome.
D) population.

Accepted Answer

A college campus is a human-made environment that includes a variety of facilities, such as buildings, roads, and athletic fields. These facilities are similar to the components of an ecosystem, which is a community of living organisms and their physical environment.

Question 2

Microbiologists quickly responded to the paper by Dr.Wolfe-Simon in which she claimed to have discovered bacteria that were using arsenic to construct their DNA.One of the most challenging criticisms was that she and her colleagues
A) were unable to account for arsenic's toxicity to other organisms.
B) published the paper before going through the conventional peer review process.
C) had an inadequate protocol for eliminating all phosphorus from the test tubes that contained the bacteria.
D) lacked comparative information about closely related bacteria within the Halomonadaceae family.

Accepted Answer

One of the most challenging criticisms about the paper by Dr.Wolfe-Simon was that she and her colleagues had an inadequate protocol for eliminating all phosphorus from the test tubes that contained the bacteria. This raised questions about whether the bacteria were truly using arsenic instead of phosphorus in their DNA.

Question 3

Which of the following features is LEAST likely to be used to define a biome?
A) shared physical characteristics
B) the presence or absence of humans
C) a distinctive community of organisms
D) the climate

Accepted Answer

The presence or absence of humans is not a characteristic of a biome as it is a temporary and variable factor that does not define the natural and ecological conditions of a region. A biome is primarily defined by physical factors such as climate, soil, and topography, which determine the types of plant and animal communities that can thrive in a particular area. Additionally, the distinctive communities of organisms and shared physical characteristics are also important features of a biome.

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

The answer of Plants and animals need a variety of...

Question 5

New medications undergo extensive human testing before receiving FDA approval.These tests represent an experiment,and the variations in the dosage given to test participants represents the ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of New medications undergo extensive human testing before...

Question 6

The scientific method begins with ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The scientific method begins with ________....

Question 7

To survive,living organisms must be able to sense and respond to both their internal and external ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of To survive,living organisms must be able to...

Question 8

Biology is the scientific study of ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Biology is the scientific study of ________....

Question 9

Using a process called photosynthesis,plants make energy-rich substances by using the energy contained in ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Using a process called photosynthesis,plants make energy-rich...

Question 10

A group of organisms can develop new characteristics over time through the process of ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A group of organisms can develop new...

Question 11

Which of the following statements is NOT a reason why humans are the most difficult organism to study?
A) For ethical reasons, an ideal experimental design may not be allowed to be performed with human subjects.
B) Some types of double-blind experiments cannot be performed with human subjects.
C) Long-term (longitudinal) studies may involve inaccurate reporting by the participants.
D) Longitudinal studies of human subjects can be very expensive.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following statements is NOT...

Question 12

The discovery that bacteria living in Mono Lake may have replaced the phosphorus in certain biomolecules with ________ has challenged long-held assumptions about the chemical nature of life.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The discovery that bacteria living in Mono...

Question 13

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

Accepted Answer

A biome is a larger classification that encompasses multiple ecosystems, whereas an ecosystem includes individuals, populations, and communities interacting with their environment.

Question 14

In the scientific method,observations are most often followed by ________ and then ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In the scientific method,observations are most often...

Question 15

The observation that polar ice floes are thinning or melting much earlier each spring than they did 20 years ago is an example of a scientific ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The observation that polar ice floes are...

Question 16

Scientists can propose testable predictions after first developing a(n)________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Scientists can propose testable predictions after first...

Question 17

The directions for the specific genetic characteristics in all living things are functionally organized into discrete segments called genes; these genes are composed of ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The directions for the specific genetic characteristics...

Question 18

Experimentation is the primary means that verifies or refutes the ________ made by a hypothesis.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Experimentation is the primary means that verifies...

Question 19

The genetic material used for reproduction by organisms that are conventionally considered to be living is ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The genetic material used for reproduction by...

Question 20

Which of the following statements about the biological hierarchy 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 places where they live.
D) The biosphere is an intermediate classification that falls between ecosystems and biomes.

Accepted Answer

The biosphere encompasses all living organisms on Earth and the environments in which they live, making it the broadest level of biological organization.

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

When compared with natural systems,a college campus-including its facilities-is most similar to a(n)

Microbiologists quickly responded to the paper by Dr.Wolfe-Simon in which she claimed to have discovered bacteria that were using arsenic to construct their DNA.One of the most challenging criticisms was that she and her colleagues

Which of the following features is LEAST likely to be used to define a biome?