BIOLOGY: THE CORE 3RD EDITION
(ERIC J. SIMON) EXAM QUESTIONS
(CHAPTERS 1–12) | VERIFIED TEST
BANK | HIGH-SCORE STUDY GUIDE
BIOLOGY: THE CORE — 3rd Edition (Eric J. Simon) Complete Chapter List
• Chapter 1 — An Introduction to the Science of Life
• Chapter 2 — The Chemistry of Life
• Chapter 3 — The Cell: The Fundamental Unit of Life
• Chapter 4 — Energy and Life
• Chapter 5 — Chromosomes and Inheritance
• Chapter 6 — DNA: Molecule of Life
• Chapter 7 — Darwinian Evolution
• Chapter 8 — Biodiversity 1: Microscopic Organisms
• Chapter 9 — Biodiversity 2: Fungi and Plants
• Chapter 10 — Biodiversity 3: Animals
• Chapter 11 — Human Body Systems
• Chapter 12 — Ecology
BIOLOGY: THE CORE — 3rd Edition (Eric J. Simon)
VERIFIED EXAM QUESTION BANK | CHAPTERS 1–12
Multiple Choice Questions
CHAPTER 1 — An Introduction to the Science
of Life
,Question 1 What is biology?
A. The study of chemicals and reactions
B. The study of planets and space
C. The scientific study of life
D. The study of human behavior
E. The study of rocks and minerals
CORRECT ANSWER: C RATIONALE: Biology is defined as the scientific study of life,
encompassing all living organisms and their interactions with the environment.
Question 2 Which of the following is NOT a property of life?
A. Growth and development
B. Response to the environment
C. Energy processing
D. Ability to photosynthesize
E. Reproduction
CORRECT ANSWER: D RATIONALE: Not all living organisms photosynthesize.
Photosynthesis is limited to plants, algae, and some bacteria. All living things share
properties like growth, reproduction, and energy use.
Question 3 What is the basic unit of life?
A. Atom
B. Organ
C. Cell
D. Tissue
E. Molecule
CORRECT ANSWER: C RATIONALE: The cell is the fundamental unit of life. All living
organisms are made of one or more cells, and all cells come from pre-existing cells.
,Question 4 Which of the following best describes a hypothesis?
A. A proven fact about nature
B. A random guess with no basis
C. A testable explanation for an observation
D. A final conclusion of an experiment
E. A theory supported by decades of research
CORRECT ANSWER: C RATIONALE: A hypothesis is a testable, specific explanation
for an observation. It must be falsifiable and is tested through experimentation.
Question 5 What is the correct order of the levels of biological organization from
smallest to largest?
A. Organ → Cell → Tissue → Organism
B. Atom → Organ → Molecule → Cell
C. Atom → Molecule → Cell → Tissue → Organ → Organism
D. Organism → Tissue → Cell → Atom
E. Molecule → Organ → Tissue → Atom
CORRECT ANSWER: C RATIONALE: Biological organization proceeds from atoms
to molecules, then to cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, organisms, populations,
communities, ecosystems, and the biosphere.
Question 6 Which domain includes organisms whose cells lack a nucleus?
A. Eukarya
B. Fungi
C. Bacteria and Archaea
D. Plantae
E. Animalia
, CORRECT ANSWER: C RATIONALE: Bacteria and Archaea are prokaryotes — their
cells lack a membrane-bound nucleus. Eukarya includes organisms with nucleated
cells.
Question 7 What is natural selection?
A. Organisms choosing the best environment
B. Random mutations with no survival effect
C. A process where individuals with favorable traits reproduce more
successfully
D. A human-controlled breeding process
E. The ability of organisms to change at will
CORRECT ANSWER: C RATIONALE: Natural selection, proposed by Darwin, is the
mechanism by which individuals with heritable traits better suited to their environment
survive and reproduce more than others.
Question 8 Which of the following is an example of a controlled experiment?
A. Observing animals in the wild without interference
B. Collecting data from multiple environments
C. Testing one variable while keeping all others constant
D. Making predictions without testing
E. Reading published scientific journals
CORRECT ANSWER: C RATIONALE: A controlled experiment changes only one
independent variable while keeping all other variables constant, allowing scientists to
determine cause and effect.
Question 9 What does DNA stand for?
A. Di-Nucleic Acid
B. Double Nitrogen Atom
C. Deoxyribonucleic Acid
(ERIC J. SIMON) EXAM QUESTIONS
(CHAPTERS 1–12) | VERIFIED TEST
BANK | HIGH-SCORE STUDY GUIDE
BIOLOGY: THE CORE — 3rd Edition (Eric J. Simon) Complete Chapter List
• Chapter 1 — An Introduction to the Science of Life
• Chapter 2 — The Chemistry of Life
• Chapter 3 — The Cell: The Fundamental Unit of Life
• Chapter 4 — Energy and Life
• Chapter 5 — Chromosomes and Inheritance
• Chapter 6 — DNA: Molecule of Life
• Chapter 7 — Darwinian Evolution
• Chapter 8 — Biodiversity 1: Microscopic Organisms
• Chapter 9 — Biodiversity 2: Fungi and Plants
• Chapter 10 — Biodiversity 3: Animals
• Chapter 11 — Human Body Systems
• Chapter 12 — Ecology
BIOLOGY: THE CORE — 3rd Edition (Eric J. Simon)
VERIFIED EXAM QUESTION BANK | CHAPTERS 1–12
Multiple Choice Questions
CHAPTER 1 — An Introduction to the Science
of Life
,Question 1 What is biology?
A. The study of chemicals and reactions
B. The study of planets and space
C. The scientific study of life
D. The study of human behavior
E. The study of rocks and minerals
CORRECT ANSWER: C RATIONALE: Biology is defined as the scientific study of life,
encompassing all living organisms and their interactions with the environment.
Question 2 Which of the following is NOT a property of life?
A. Growth and development
B. Response to the environment
C. Energy processing
D. Ability to photosynthesize
E. Reproduction
CORRECT ANSWER: D RATIONALE: Not all living organisms photosynthesize.
Photosynthesis is limited to plants, algae, and some bacteria. All living things share
properties like growth, reproduction, and energy use.
Question 3 What is the basic unit of life?
A. Atom
B. Organ
C. Cell
D. Tissue
E. Molecule
CORRECT ANSWER: C RATIONALE: The cell is the fundamental unit of life. All living
organisms are made of one or more cells, and all cells come from pre-existing cells.
,Question 4 Which of the following best describes a hypothesis?
A. A proven fact about nature
B. A random guess with no basis
C. A testable explanation for an observation
D. A final conclusion of an experiment
E. A theory supported by decades of research
CORRECT ANSWER: C RATIONALE: A hypothesis is a testable, specific explanation
for an observation. It must be falsifiable and is tested through experimentation.
Question 5 What is the correct order of the levels of biological organization from
smallest to largest?
A. Organ → Cell → Tissue → Organism
B. Atom → Organ → Molecule → Cell
C. Atom → Molecule → Cell → Tissue → Organ → Organism
D. Organism → Tissue → Cell → Atom
E. Molecule → Organ → Tissue → Atom
CORRECT ANSWER: C RATIONALE: Biological organization proceeds from atoms
to molecules, then to cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, organisms, populations,
communities, ecosystems, and the biosphere.
Question 6 Which domain includes organisms whose cells lack a nucleus?
A. Eukarya
B. Fungi
C. Bacteria and Archaea
D. Plantae
E. Animalia
, CORRECT ANSWER: C RATIONALE: Bacteria and Archaea are prokaryotes — their
cells lack a membrane-bound nucleus. Eukarya includes organisms with nucleated
cells.
Question 7 What is natural selection?
A. Organisms choosing the best environment
B. Random mutations with no survival effect
C. A process where individuals with favorable traits reproduce more
successfully
D. A human-controlled breeding process
E. The ability of organisms to change at will
CORRECT ANSWER: C RATIONALE: Natural selection, proposed by Darwin, is the
mechanism by which individuals with heritable traits better suited to their environment
survive and reproduce more than others.
Question 8 Which of the following is an example of a controlled experiment?
A. Observing animals in the wild without interference
B. Collecting data from multiple environments
C. Testing one variable while keeping all others constant
D. Making predictions without testing
E. Reading published scientific journals
CORRECT ANSWER: C RATIONALE: A controlled experiment changes only one
independent variable while keeping all other variables constant, allowing scientists to
determine cause and effect.
Question 9 What does DNA stand for?
A. Di-Nucleic Acid
B. Double Nitrogen Atom
C. Deoxyribonucleic Acid
