WGU C190 OA PREP EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS (VERIFIED AND
UPDATED)
What best describes metabolism in living organisms? - ANS Metabolism is all the chemical
reactions in a cell that allow an organism to grow, repair tissues, maintain homeostasis, and
produce energy.
What process breaks down large molecules to release energy? - ANS Catabolism.
What process builds large molecules from smaller ones using energy? - ANS Anabolism.
What is the main energy currency of the cell? - ANS ATP (adenosine triphosphate).
How does ATP release energy for cell functions? - ANS By losing one phosphate group to form
ADP.
What is cellular respiration? - ANS The process by which cells break down glucose into ATP.
Where does glycolysis occur and what is produced? - ANS Glycolysis occurs in the cytoplasm
and produces a small amount of ATP and pyruvate.
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,Where does the Krebs cycle occur, and what is released? - ANS Mitochondria; carbon dioxide
is released.
Which stage of cellular respiration produces the most ATP? - ANS Electron transport chain.
Why is oxygen necessary for aerobic respiration? - ANS Oxygen accepts electrons at the end
of the electron transport chain.
What happens when oxygen is absent? - ANS Cells use fermentation to produce ATP.
What is fermentation? - ANS An anaerobic process that makes ATP without oxygen.
What waste product forms in human muscle fermentation? - ANS Lactic acid.
What is photosynthesis? - ANS A process in which plants use sunlight to produce glucose and
oxygen from CO2 and water.
Where do light-dependent reactions occur? - ANS In the thylakoid membranes of the
chloroplasts.
What does the Calvin cycle produce? - ANS Glucose (sugar).
Why is metabolism essential for living things? - ANS It allows organisms to grow, repair,
reproduce, and maintain homeostasis.
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, Which molecule stores the energy cells use for immediate work? - ANS ATP.
How are catabolic and anabolic reactions linked? - ANS Catabolism provides the energy
needed for anabolism.
What happens to glucose during cellular respiration? - ANS It is broken down into CO2 and
H2O, releasing energy as ATP.
What is biology? - ANS Biology is the scientific study of life and living organisms.
What is a hypothesis? - ANS A hypothesis is a testable prediction about how something
works.
What is a theory? - ANS A well-tested explanation of natural phenomena.
What is the difference between a hypothesis and a theory? - ANS A hypothesis is a
prediction; a theory explains observations.
What is a controlled experiment? - ANS An experiment where only one variable is changed at
a time.
What is an independent variable? - ANS The factor that is deliberately changed in an
experiment.
What is a dependent variable? - ANS The factor that is measured in an experiment.
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
AND ANSWERS (VERIFIED AND
UPDATED)
What best describes metabolism in living organisms? - ANS Metabolism is all the chemical
reactions in a cell that allow an organism to grow, repair tissues, maintain homeostasis, and
produce energy.
What process breaks down large molecules to release energy? - ANS Catabolism.
What process builds large molecules from smaller ones using energy? - ANS Anabolism.
What is the main energy currency of the cell? - ANS ATP (adenosine triphosphate).
How does ATP release energy for cell functions? - ANS By losing one phosphate group to form
ADP.
What is cellular respiration? - ANS The process by which cells break down glucose into ATP.
Where does glycolysis occur and what is produced? - ANS Glycolysis occurs in the cytoplasm
and produces a small amount of ATP and pyruvate.
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,Where does the Krebs cycle occur, and what is released? - ANS Mitochondria; carbon dioxide
is released.
Which stage of cellular respiration produces the most ATP? - ANS Electron transport chain.
Why is oxygen necessary for aerobic respiration? - ANS Oxygen accepts electrons at the end
of the electron transport chain.
What happens when oxygen is absent? - ANS Cells use fermentation to produce ATP.
What is fermentation? - ANS An anaerobic process that makes ATP without oxygen.
What waste product forms in human muscle fermentation? - ANS Lactic acid.
What is photosynthesis? - ANS A process in which plants use sunlight to produce glucose and
oxygen from CO2 and water.
Where do light-dependent reactions occur? - ANS In the thylakoid membranes of the
chloroplasts.
What does the Calvin cycle produce? - ANS Glucose (sugar).
Why is metabolism essential for living things? - ANS It allows organisms to grow, repair,
reproduce, and maintain homeostasis.
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, Which molecule stores the energy cells use for immediate work? - ANS ATP.
How are catabolic and anabolic reactions linked? - ANS Catabolism provides the energy
needed for anabolism.
What happens to glucose during cellular respiration? - ANS It is broken down into CO2 and
H2O, releasing energy as ATP.
What is biology? - ANS Biology is the scientific study of life and living organisms.
What is a hypothesis? - ANS A hypothesis is a testable prediction about how something
works.
What is a theory? - ANS A well-tested explanation of natural phenomena.
What is the difference between a hypothesis and a theory? - ANS A hypothesis is a
prediction; a theory explains observations.
What is a controlled experiment? - ANS An experiment where only one variable is changed at
a time.
What is an independent variable? - ANS The factor that is deliberately changed in an
experiment.
What is a dependent variable? - ANS The factor that is measured in an experiment.
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
