Multiple-Choice Exercise From the New York State Education Department. Regents High School Examination Internet. Available from http://www.nysedregents.org; accessed January 22, 2012.; All rights reserved. No commercial, for-profit use of this material is allowed. E-mail comments and questions to Tami Maloney.
Choose the correct answer for each question.
A biologist reported success in breeding a tiger with a lion, producing healthy offspring. Other biologists will accept this report as fact only if
research shows that other animals can be crossbred
the offspring are given a scientific name
the biologist included a control in the experiment
other researchers can replicate the experiment
Which level in the pyramid would most likely contain members of the plant kingdom?
A
B
C
D
Which condition would cause an ecosystem to become unstable?
only heterotrophic organisms remain after a change in the environment
a slight increase in the number of heterotrophic and autotrophic organisms occurs
a variety of nonliving factors are used by the living factors
biotic and abiotic resources interact
Nerve cells are essential to an animal because they directly provide
communication between cells
transport of nutrients to various organs
regulation of reproductive rates within other cells
an exchange of gases within the body
Certain bacteria produce a chemical that makes them resistant to penicillin. Since these bacteria reproduce asexually, they usually produce offspring that
can be destroyed by penicillin
mutate into another species
are genetically different from their parents
survive exposure to penicillin
A sudden change in the DNA of a chromosome can usually be passed on to future generations if the change occurs in a
skin cell
liver cell
sex cell
brain cell
A change in the order of DNA bases that code for a respiratory protein will most likely cause
the production of a starch that has a similar function
the digestion of the altered gene by enzymes
a change in the sequence of amino acids determined by the gene
the release of antibodies by certain cells to correct the error
Many vaccinations stimulate the immune system by exposing it to
antibodies
enzymes
mutated genes
weakened microbes
A disruption in dynamic equilibrium is indicated by the temperature change between points
A and B
B and C
C and D
E and F
Which row in the table below best represents the chain of Xs and letters A and B in the diagram?
ATP is being used to move the molecules out of the cell by
cell A, only
cell B, only
both cell A and cell B
neither cell A nor cell B
Letters X and Y represent the
hormones that stimulate the replication of bacterial DNA
biochemical catalysts involved in the insertion of genes into other organisms
hormones that trigger rapid mutation of genetic information
gases needed to produce the energy required for gene manipulation
Which statement best explains the patterns seen in these diagrams?
The organisms at the end of each branch can be found in the environment today.
The organisms that are living today have all evolved at the same rate and have undergone the same kinds of changes.
Evolution involves changes that give rise to a variety of organisms, some of which continue to change through time while others die out.
These patterns cannot be used to illustrate the evolution of extinct organisms.
Which statement best illustrates a rapid biological adaptation that has actually occurred?
Pesticide-resistant insects have developed in certain environments.
Scientific evidence indicates that dinosaurs once lived on land.
Paving large areas of land has decreased habitats for certain organisms.
The characteristics of sharks have remained unchanged over a long period of time.
During meiosis, crossing-over (gene exchange between chromosomes) may occur. Crossingover usually results in
overproduction of gametes
fertilization and development
the formation of identical offspring
variation within the species
Which condition would explain this change over time?
a decrease in the mutation rate of the rabbits with black fur
a decrease in the advantage of having white fur
an increase in the advantage of having white fur
an increase in the chromosome number of the rabbits with black fur
Which process is represented by the arrows in the diagram?
meiosis
fertilization
mitosis
evolution
The reproductive system of the human male produces gametes and
transfers gametes to the female for internal fertilization
produces enzymes that prevent fertilization
releases hormones involved in external fertilization
provides an area for fertilization
Blood can be tested to determine the presence of the virus associated with the development of AIDS. This blood test is used directly for
cure
treatment
diagnosis
prevention
The equation below represents a summary of a biological process.
carbon dioxide + water → glucose + water + oxygen
This process is completed in
mitochondria
ribosomes
cell membranes
chloroplasts
In a stable, long-existing community, the establishment of a single species per niche is most directly the result of
parasitism
interbreeding
competition
overproduction
What is the primary function of this egg?
food supply for predators to preserve predator populations
adaptation to allow maximum freedom for parent birds
continuation of the species through reproduction
preservation of the exact genetic code of the parent birds
Fertilization and development normally occur in structures
1 and 5
2 and 4
3 and 1
4 and 5
The process of cellular respiration is represented by
arrow A, only
arrow B, only
arrow C, only
arrows A, B, and C
The presence of parasites in an animal will usually result in
an increase in meiotic activity within structures of the host
the inability of the host to maintain homeostasis
the death of the host organism within twentyfour hours
an increase in genetic mutation rate in the host organism
In Texas, researchers gave a cholesterol-reducing drug to 2,335 people and an inactive substitute (placebo) to 2,081. Most of the volunteers were men who had normal cholesterol levels and no history of heart disease. After 5 years, 97 people getting the placebo had suffered heart attacks compared to only 57 people who had received the actual drug. The researchers are recommending that to help prevent heart attacks, all people (even those without high cholesterol) take these cholesterol-reducing drugs. In addition to the information above, what is another piece of information that the researchers must have before support for the recommendation can be justified?
Were the eating habits of the two groups similar?
How does a heart attack affect cholesterol levels?
Did the heart attacks result in deaths?
What chemical is in the placebo?
a feedback mechanism in multicellular organisms
an immune response by cells of the pancreas
differentiation of organic molecules
the disruption of cellular communication
In an ecosystem, which component is not recycled?
water
energy
oxygen
carbon
Vultures, which are classified as scavengers, are an important part of an ecosystem because they
hunt herbivores, limiting their populations in an ecosystem
feed on dead animals, which aids in the recycling of environmental materials
cause the decay of dead organisms, which releases usable energy to herbivores and carnivores
are the first level in food webs and make energy available to all the other organisms in the web
“Natural ecosystems provide an array of basic processes that affect humans.”
Which statement does not support this quotation?
Bacteria of decay help recycle materials.
Trees add to the amount of atmospheric oxygen.
Treated sewage is less damaging to the environment than untreated sewage.
Lichens and mosses living on rocks help to break the rocks down, forming soil.
The carrying capacity of a given environment is least dependent upon
recycling of materials
the available energy
the availability of food and water
daily temperature fluctuations
Increased efforts to conserve areas such as rain forests are necessary in order to
protect biodiversity
promote extinction of species
exploit finite resources
increase industrialization
Which practice would most likely deplete a nonrenewable natural resource?
harvesting trees on a tree farm
burning coal to generate electricity in a power plant
restricting water usage during a period of water shortage
building a dam and a power plant to use water to generate electricity
Changes in the chemical composition of the atmosphere that may produce acid rain are most closely associated with
insects that excrete acids
runoff from acidic soils
industrial smoke stack emissions
flocks of migrating birds
One way to help provide suitable environments for future generations is to urge individuals to
apply ecological principles when making decisions that will have an environmental impact
control all aspects of natural environments
agree that population controls have no impact on environmental matters
work toward increasing global warming
Which species most likely performs photosynthesis?
A
B
C
D
Which structure is best observed using a compound light microscope?
a cell
a virus
a DNA sequence
the inner surface of a mitochondrion
A—large, B—simple sugars, C—amino acids
A—small, B—simple sugars, C—amino acids
A—large, B—amino acids, C—simple sugars
A—small, B—amino acids, C—simple sugars
Which conclusion can be drawn regarding these similarities?
The DNA present in their body cells is identical.
The percentage of their proteins with the same molecular composition is high.
The base sequences of their genes are identical.
The mutation rate is the same in their body cells.
