Starr Biology Review

During an extended dry season in an area, the majority of the ground cover dried up. Which description best explains how this would affect the ecosystem in that area?

• The ecosystem would become less stable because the ranges of many organisms would expand and overlap.

• The ecosystem would become more stable because there would be less competition among canopy plants.

• The ecosystem would become less stable because less energy would be available to it from the decrease in producers.

• The ecosystem would become more stable because organisms in higher trophic levels would be able to find prey more easily.

Answer explanation

The ecosystem would become less stable if most of the ground cover dried up. Less energy would be available to the ecosystem due to a decrease in the number of producers.

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Which of the following is the smallest unit of life that can carry out all life functions?

• the mitochondria

• the vacuoles

• the nucleus

• the cell

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Which structures are found in every living cell?

• cell membrane and cytoplasm

• chloroplasts and mitochondria

• a cell wall and nucleus

• chloroplasts and cell wall

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What is the function of a cell wall?

• to protect and support the cell

• to perform different functions in each cell

• to prevent water from passing through it

• to prevent oxygen from entering the cell

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A student noticed that the freshwater plant, Elodea, produced bubbles when placed in direct light. What could the student most likely conclude?

• Bubbles of carbon dioxide were produced as a result of photosynthesis.

• Bubbles of oxygen were produced as a result of photosynthesis.

• Bubbles of carbon dioxide were produced as a result of cellular respiration

• Bubbles of oxygen were produced as a a result of cellular respiration

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Plant cells are able to produce their own food. This process happens in which structure?

• cell wall

• chloroplast

• mitochondrion

• vacuole

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These diagrams show a variety of cells from the same organism. How can cells from the same organism have such different shapes and functions?

• As each cell differentiates, the DNA changes so that each type of cell has different DNA once it reaches maturity.

• Mutations in the cells' nuclei lead to new combinations of DNA, resulting in different shapes and functions in the different types of cells.

• During differentiation, different parts of the DNA in each type of cell are activated, resulting in the different structure and function of the cells.

• During differentiation, different types of cells produce proteins which destroy the nonactive DNA, leading to cell specialization.

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Which statement best explains how sweating during exercise maintains homeostasis?

• It regulates mineral concentrations in cells.

• It regulates body temperature.

• It maintains water balance.

• It maintains sugar balance in cells.

Which statement best explains why animals are considered heterotrophic?

• They are able to produce food through the process of photosynthesis.

• They are able to produce food through the process of respiration.

• They are able to obtain nutrients by decomposing plant and animal tissue.

• They are able to obtain nutrients by consuming other organisms or their products.

Which word equation best represents the process of cellular respiration?

• carbon dioxide + glucose --> oxygen + water

• carbon dioxide + water --> glucose + oxygen

• glucose + oxygen ---> carbon dioxide + water

• oxygen + water ---> carbon dioxide + glucose

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