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Definition of Biology
Multiple Choice
True False
Short Answer
__ 1. What does the term Biology mean?
Essay
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e)
island zoologist.
7. A __________ consists of the interactions between groups of different individuals
and the non-living factors in a particular area.
a)
population
b)
ecosystem
c)community
d)
domain
e)
biosphere
8. All members of one species form a:
a)
biosphere
b)
ecosystem
c)population
d)
community
e)
country
9. Which of the following does not comprise a logical hierarchy of organization?
a)
molecules, atoms, organelles, tissues, systems
b)
atoms, molecules, cells, tissues, organ systems
c)cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, organisms
d)
organisms, populations, communities, biomes, biosphere
e)
family, order, class, phylum, kingdom
10. All populations in one natural setting plus their physical environment constitutes
a(n):
a)
biosphere
b)
ecosystem
c)population
d)
community
e)
country
11. Which of the following represents the lowest level of organization in the group?
a)
Biosphere
b)
Community
c)Population
d)
Species
e)
Ecosystem
12. Which correctly indicates the sequence of increasing organization?
a)
molecule, cell, organelle, organ
b)
organelle, tissue, cell, organ
c)atom, molecule, organelle, cell
d)
organ, tissue, cell, molecule
e)
cell, organ, tissue, organ system
13. Which of the following levels in the hierarchy of biological organization include
all of the other levels in the list?
a)
organ system
b)
organism
c)population
d)
ecosystem
e)
community
14. Which of the following levels in the hierarchy of biological organization includes
all of the other levels in the list?
__
__
__
__
__
__
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a)
organelles
b)
macro molecules
c)cells
d)
atoms
e)
tissues
15. With each step upward in the hierarchy of biological order, novel properties
emerge that were not present at the simpler levels of organization. These
emergent properties result from
a)
vital forces that arise at each level.
b)
the physical and chemical phenomena that operate only in living things.
c)the arrangement and interactions between components.
d)
simple summation of the individual behavior of the component parts.
e)
the emergence of supernatural forces.
16. Organs are composed of tissues, which are composed of cells. This is an
example of which characteristic of life?
a)
Living things grow and develop
b)
Living things respond to stimuli
c)Living things maintain themselves by homeostasis
d)
Living things have levels of organization
e)
Living things are adapted to their environment
17. The study of tissues is called:
a)
cytology
b)
molecular biology
c)histology
d)
parasitology
e)
pathology
18. Which of the following is composed of two or more tissue types that come
together to perform a function?
a)
organs
b)
organ systems
c)organisms
d)
cells
e)
macromolecules
19. A physician specializes on surgery involving the esophagus, stomach, and
intestines. This physician is specialized at which level of organization.
a)
cell
b)
tissue
c)organ
d)
organ system
e)
organism
20. Which sequence correctly lists the different levels of biological organization?
a)
cells - organs - tissues - organ systems - organism
b)
cells - tissues - organ systems - organs - organism
c)tissues - cells - organs - organ systems - organism
d)
tissues - organs - organ systems - organism - cells
e)
cells - tissues - organs - organ systems - organism
21. Which of the following is the correct order of levels of organization from small to
large?
a)
b)
c)cell
d)
e)
True False
__ 22. The levels of organization of matter on Earth goes from smallest which are the
subatomic particles to the largest which is the Biosphere.
a)
True
b)
False
__ 23. Cytology is a branch of biology that studies cells.
a)
True
b)
False
Short Answer
__ 24. The smallest unit of life is the __________.
__ 25. A large group of similar, interbreeding organisms is defined as a __________.
__ 26. A group of very similar, interbreeding organisms belong to the same __________.
__ 27. What are the levels of biological organization, starting from the smallest and
proceeding in order to the largest?
__ 28. Describe an ecosystem, and explain energy flow through an ecosystem.
Essay
__
__
__
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d)
autotroph
e)
chemotroph
31. An organism that uses light is referred to as a(n):
a)
heterotroph
b)
phototroph
c)organotroph
d)
autotroph
e)
chemotroph
32. An organism that uses chemical is referred to as a(n):
a)
heterotroph
b)
phototroph
c)organotroph
d)
autotroph
e)
chemotroph
33. What is the process by which the sun's energy is trapped as the source of
energy used by virtually all living organisms?
a)
evolution
b)
metabolism
c)adaptation
d)
homeostasis
e)
photosynthesis
34. Which of the following organisms is not ultimately dependent on the sun as a
source of energy?
a)
A night-blooming flower is pollinated by night-flying bats.
b)
An underground earthworm avoids the sun.
c)A cave fish feeds on debris that washes down to it.
d)
All of the choices ARE ultimately dependent on the sun.
e)
All of the choices are NOT ultimately dependent on the sun.
35. What is the name of all the chemical energy transformations that occur within a
cell?
a)
evolution
b)
metabolism
c)adaptation
d)
homeostasis
e)
photosynthesis
36. Metabolism is the sum of chemical reactions that occur in living cells, and we
are accustomed to living cells continuously using energy and respiring. Even
when plants and seeds are "dormant," we expect that they are carrying on
metabolism but at a very slow rate. "Cryptobiosis" is a state of almost total loss
of water seen in some roundworms, rotifers, and tardigrades and has been
considered a near cessation of metabolism. Recently, a botanist working in a
British museum accidentally spilled fluid on 120+ year old herbarium mounts.
Fearing damage to the plant specimen, he immediately inspected it under the
microscope only to find small tardigrades "waking up." Such observations
a)
support the claim that the tardigrades were always alive but respiring at a
very slow rate.
b)
generate the possibility that we can bring most dead animals back to life.
c)contradict the cell theory that all life comes from life.
d)
indicate that metabolism probably did totally stop, and that organization
may be sufficient to maintain the possibility for "life."
e)
suggest that a "vital force" may be involved in defining when life is
present.
__ 37. What is metabolism?
a)
The consumption of energy.
b)
The release of energy.
c)The sum of all chemical reactions taking place in an organism.
d)
The production of heat by chemical reactions.
e)
The exchange of nutrients and waste products with the environment.
__ 38. The sum total of the chemical activity at the cellular level which enables an
organism to meet its nutrient and energy demands is termed:
a)
Evolution
b)
Responsiveness
c)Metabolism
d)
Growth
e)
Energy
__ 39. Why do animals require "food" for survival?
a)
Food is a source of energy.
b)
Necessary chemicals are provided by food.
c)Food is a primary source of water for all animals.
d)
a and b.
e)
a, b, and c.
True False
__ 40. Photosynthetic bacteria are examples of autotrophs.
a)
True
b)
False
__ 41. The only thing life forms require from their environment is energy.
a)
True
b)
False
Short Answer
Essay
True False
Short Answer
Essay
__ 56. Using his antennae, the male moth finds female moths by following a trail of
airborne chemicals, called pheromones, upwind to the female producing them.
This is an example of how living things...
a)
acquire nutrients
b)
grow
c)reproduce
d)
respond to stimuli
e)
maintain homeostasis
True False
Short Answer
__ 57. Organisms respond to both internal and external stimuli. Describe the difference
between these two types of stimuli and give an example of each.
Essay
True False
Short Answer
Essay
c)Homeostasis
d)
Evolve
e)
Response to stimuli
True False
Short Answer
Essay
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
a)
homeostasis
b)
hydrolysis
c)evolution
d)
metabolism
e)
responsiveness
68. Evolution is "the biological theme that ties together all the others." This is
because the process of evolution
a)
explains how organisms become adapted to their environment.
b)
explains the diversity of organisms.
c)explains why all organisms have characteristics in common.
d)
explains why distantly-related organisms sometimes resemble one
another.
e)
All of these are appropriate answers.
69. The bones in a bird are hollow so as to reduce its weight for flight. This is an
example of which characteristic of life?
a)
Living things grow and develop
b)
Living things utilize materials and energy from the environment
c)Living things reproduce
d)
Living things are adapted
e)
Living things are homeostatic
70. Mutation is essential to...
a)
an organism's survival.
b)
evolution.
c)sexual reproduction.
d)
growth.
e)
gamete formation.
71. The concept of evolution is based upon
a)
genetic variation within a population.
b)
inheritance of variations by offspring of parents with the variations.
c)survival and reproductive success of organisms with favorable variations.
d)
all genetic variation in a population is equally successful.
e)
all of the above.
72. All of the following are examples of adaptations, except
a)
mice learning a maze to get food.
b)
larger teeth in beavers for gnawing wood.
c)different beak shape for birds that eat seeds vs. insects.
d)
insects that resemble twigs.
e)
flower coloration that attracts pollinators.
73. A mutation is
a)
a physical deformity
b)
a change in DNA sequence
c)a dose of radiation
d)
a defective egg or sperm cell
e)
the inability to speak
74. In a word, evolution means ______.
a)
selection
b)
improvement
c)mutation
__
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d)
change
e)
nature
75. In evolutionary terms, which cell listed is considered to be most primitive?
a)
Protistan
b)
Prokaryotic
c)Autotrophic
d)
Yeast
e)
Eukaryotic
76. Which of these is a peculiarity of form, function, or behavior that promotes the
likelihood of a species' continued existence?
a)
evolution
b)
metabolism
c)adaptation
d)
homeostasis
e)
photosynthesis
77. Evolution is described as change from pre-existing life forms to modern-day
organisms. What actually changed?
a)
Rate of reproduction
b)
Ability of organisms to cope with external stimuli
c)Energy and nutrition demands of the organisms
d)
Genetic makeup of the species
e)
The species' physical appearance
78. The characteristic of an individual that is necessary to the survival of the
species but NOT to the survival of that individual is
a)
adaptation
b)
reproduction
c)metabolism
d)
organization
True False
__ 79. Variation among organisms is due to adaptations.
a)
True
b)
False
__ 80. Adaptations aid in the survival and reproduction of an organism in a particular
environment.
a)
True
b)
False
__ 81. Extinction can occur if a species is unable to adapt to a changing environment.
a)
True
b)
False
__ 82. Evolution is considered to be a unifying principle of biology since it explains both
the unity and diversity of life.
a)
True
b)
False
Short Answer
__ 83. In terms of natural selection what does the phrase "survival of the fittest"
mean?
Essay
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c)3
d)
Only 1 and 3 are correct.
e)
1, 2, and 3 are correct.
94. A fossil was once a living organism but its tissues have been replaced by
minerals and it no longer exhibits most properties of life, except for:
a)
organization
b)
homeostasis
c)growth and reproduction
d)
response to stimuli
e)
metabolism
95. Clay particles in clay soil contain layered aluminum and iron compounds that
determine the pattern of adjacent layers. This technically is a "self-replication",
which is also a characteristic of life.
a)
Therefore clay is living.
b)
Clay is not living because it cannot think.
c)Clay is not living because there is no chemical changes involved in soils.
d)
Clay is not living because it does not contain carbon; if it did, then it would
be a living system.
e)
Clay is not living because this formation is a simple repetitive process
without the ability to evolve or respond to the environment.
96. One classic definition of life is "a self-replicating molecular assemblage."
However, clay particles (in clay soil) contain layered aluminum and iron
compounds that determine the pattern of the adjacent layers of sediment. This is
technically a self-replicating molecular assemblage.
a)
Therefore, it is living.
b)
It is not living because it cannot think.
c)It is not living because there were no molecular changes (or chemistry)
involved.
d)
It is not living because there is no carbon involved; otherwise, such
duplication would be living.
e)
It is not living because it is a simple repetitive process without the ability
to evolve or respond to the environment.
97. Which of the following is not characteristic of all life?
a)
responsiveness
b)
reproduction
c)evolution
d)
random cell structure
98. A characteristic of life is:
a)
chemical bonds
b)
the production of CO2
c)the use of oxygen
d)
evolution
99. The reason plastics are not living is that:
a)
they do not contain carbon
b)
they are not responsive
c)they cannot diffuse
d)
no one loves them
100. Living organisms are characterized by:
__
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__
__
__
a)
adapting to the environment.
b)
evolving over time.
c)displaying homeostatic mechanisms.
d)
all of the choices pertain to living organisms.
101. Organisms belonging to the same _____ would be the most closely related.
a)
kingdom
b)
phylum
c)family
d)
class
e)
order
102. Which of the following is NOT one of the characteristics of living organisms?
a)
to be organized
b)
to respond
c)to grow
d)
to metabolize
e)
All of the choices are characteristics of living organisms.
103. Which of the following characteristics is NOT required for the life of an
individual organism to continue?
a)
to be organized
b)
to respond
c)to metabolize
d)
to reproduce
104. Which statement is FALSE about nearly all living things?
a)
Living things are made up of cells.
b)
Living things must obey the laws of chemistry and physics.
c)Living things show biological organization and other common characteristics of
life.
d)
Emergent properties can be used to distinguish living things from nonliving
things.
e)
Living things are composed only of organic elements, whereas nonliving
things are made up of inorganic elements.
105. Concerning the nature of "life" (the property that makes living things differ
from nonliving), which of the following statements would most biologists support?
a)
Development of an organism, even a single cell, is too complex to be
explained by chemical and physical laws.
b)
The critical "vitalist" force that makes organisms live is of a different
nature from nonliving chemistry and is yet to be discovered.
c)Life consists of a property called "soul" and this leaves the body when an
organism dies.
d)
Development of living forms from simple to complex forms contradicts
physical laws.
e)
None of the statements is a mainline biology perspective.
True False
__ 106. All living things contain a vital force that gives them the characteristics of life.
a)
True
b)
False
Short Answer
__ 107. List and briefly describe five characteristics of living organisms. Give an
example of each.
__ 108. Consider that quartz crystals have the ability to "grow" new crystal faces over
time in the presence of solutions, "reproducing" new crystals off the parent
pattern. Quartz also "responds" to light by generating a current. Since growth,
reproduction and response are properties of life, why do we not consider quartz
to be "alive"?
__ 109. When the unmanned Viking spacecraft was sent to land on the surface of Mars,
the foremost question was "Is there life on Mars?" Still photos and instrument
readings had to be relayed back to earth as transmissionsno real material could
be returned. Now, the discovery of possible fossil bacteria in a Mars meteorite
has renewed our interest. What materials or properties would you search for with
a Mars spacecraft lander to detect and/or confirm current life on Mars? Consider
the following: water, carbon molecules, DNA, ATP, movement, and others.
Essay
__ 110. In 2020, you are the top biologist at a research station studying biodiversity in
Costa Rica. A young scientist brings you a sample from a new, previously
unexplored collection site. She asks you to look at the sample and determine if it
is indeed a living organism. As you begin your investigations you must first
decide what characteristics define life from non-life. How would you characterize
a living organism to be able to differentiate it from something that is non-living?
Consider some of the aspects of life that you learned in your biology courses as
an undergraduate.
__ 111. List four characteristics of living things and give an example to illustrate each.