Science Competency Test (Advanced Level)

Food enters the stomach where it is churned and mixed with gastric juices. Which type of digestive process is occurring?

• Absorption

• Mechanical and chemical digestion

• Elimination

• Secretion only

Which of the following best explains why villi and microvilli in the small intestine are essential for survival?

• They increase mechanical processing of food.

• They allow efficient absorption of nutrients by increasing surface area.

• They help break down proteins into amino acids.

• They prevent harmful bacteria from entering the bloodstream.

The kidneys help regulate water balance after digestion. Which systems are working together here?

• Digestive, excretory, circulatory

• Nervous, skeletal, muscular

• Respiratory, endocrine, digestive

• Digestive, respiratory, immune

Water moves upward in plants mainly because of:

• Root pressure and transpiration pull

• Active transport of glucose

• Capillary action only

• Osmosis from leaves to roots

If the phloem of a plant stem is damaged, what process will be directly affected?

• Water transport from roots

• Sugar transport from leaves to storage organs

• Gas exchange in stomata

• Mineral absorption in roots

A pedigree shows a trait skipping generations but reappearing later. What does this suggest?

• Dominant trait

• Recessive trait

• X-linked dominant

• Mitochondrial inheritance

If a homozygous recessive individual (aa) is crossed with a heterozygous individual (Aa), what percent of the offspring are expected to be heterozygous?

• 25%

• 50%

• 75%

• 100%

A cross between Tt and Tt produces offspring. Which Punnett square conclusion is correct?

• All offspring will be tall.

• 75% of the offspring will show the dominant phenotype.

• 50% of offspring will be tall, 50% short.

• 25% of offspring will be heterozygous.

Why was the three-domain system introduced in addition to the six-kingdom system?

• To separate organisms based on mode of nutrition

• To better reflect evolutionary relationships using molecular data

• To classify plants and animals more accurately

• To eliminate the need for the Protista kingdom

Which of the following best explains why humans are classified as primates?

• They can use tools and make fire.

• They have forward-facing eyes, large brains, and opposable thumbs.

• They give birth to live young.

• They feed their young with milk.