Practice Test 1

Both living and nonliving things may range from simple to complex. Consider a computer loaded with computer software. The computer and software are considered nonliving and yet this system may be capable of complex computations that exceed the ability of a human brain. Now consider a sea sponge attached to the ocean floor. It is considered living, but an adult sponge cannot move around on its own nor does it have the ability to think.

Scientists agree on four to eight characteristics that distinguish living organisms from nonliving objects. Which one characteristic below would cause scientists to determine that an unknown object is living opposed to nonliving?

• the observation of movement

• the presence of one or more cells

• the presence of organic macromolecules, such as carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, or nucleic acids

• the ability of the object to use energy

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Which two organelles could be found in plant cells but not in animal cells?

• chloroplasts

• cell membrane

• centrioles

• ribosomes

• cell wall

Meiosis produces sperm cells in males and egg cells in females. Which processes that occur in meiosis contribute the most to genetic variation in offspring?

• independent assortment of homologous chromosomes and crossing over

• DNA and RNA replication during interphase

• tetrad formation of paired homologous chromosomes and their alignment at the equatorial plate

• disjunction and polar migration of homologous chromosomes

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Within the scientific community, there has been some ongoing debate as to whether or not viruses represent living organisms. The debate hinges on the definition of life. All of the following describe the characteristics of viruses. Which two characteristics of viruses give the best support that viruses could be classified as living organisms?

• They are surrounded by a protein coat.

• They contain genetic information in the form of either DNA or RNA.

• They are specific in the type of cell they can infest.

• They evolve over time through mutations in their genetic code.

• They do not seek food or energy to grow and develop on their own.

The graphic models a dehydration synthesis reaction that is occurring in the ribosomes of a cell. Study the reaction carefully.

Which of the following correctly describes the reactants and product?

• Two monosaccharides are being combined to form a disaccharide.

• Fatty acids are being combined to form a phospholipid molecule.

• Nucleotides are being combined in the process of forming a molecule of RNA.

• Amino acids are being combined in the process of forming a protein.

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Study the model of a macromolecule.

What is the function of this macromolecule?

• to store genetic information and to pass this information on to future generations

• to form the main structural component of skeletal muscle, skin, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, horns, bone, hair, and feathers or to act as a chemical messenger or enzyme

• to store energy long-term

• to aid in the creation of proteins

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The graphs show the general relationship between enzyme activity, temperature, and pH.

As temperature and pH increase past a certain measure, enzyme activity begins to decrease. How is this decrease in enzyme best explained?

• Increased temperature and pH give more energy to fuel a reaction so that enzymes are no longer needed.

• Increased temperature and pH decrease the energy available for chemical reactions to occur.

• Increased temperature and pH increase the rate that enzymes are broken down into amino acids.

• Increased temperature and pH alter the enzyme's shape so that it is less able to attach to the substrate.

Similar to Tay-Sachs disease, Niemann-Pick disease is a serious metabolic disorder that occurs because a specific type of lipid accumulates inside cells. This lipid accumulation occurs because the cellular organelle responsible for intracellular digestion is defective.

A model of a typical animal cell is shown with several labeled organelles. The defect in which labeled organelle is responsible for Niemann-Pick disease?

• nucleus

• ribosome

• lysosome

• mitochondrion

Cells that make up the heart muscle must supply constant energy to keep the heart pumping. When compared to skin cells that need much less energy, the cells of the heart would have more of which organelle?

• vacuoles

• lysosomes

• centrioles

• mitochondria

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Compare the drawings below. Which one represents a prokaryotic cell?

• 
• 
• 
• 

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