★ DNA ★
Portage Learning
101 DOIB
P Geneva College · Online Education
AFFORDABLE, ACCREDITED, ACCESSIBLE · SINCE 2014
EST. 2014
BIOD 101 · Exam 2
B I O LO G Y: C H A R A C T E R I ST I CS O F L I F E , C L A SS I F I C AT I O N & E CO LO G Y
INSTITUTION Portage Learning / Geneva College COURSE CODE BIOD 101
PROGRAM Pre-Nursing / Health Sciences ACADEMIC YEAR
EXAM TITLE Exam 2 — Life, Taxonomy & TOTAL QUESTIONS 22 Questions
Microorganisms
COURSE TITLE Biology 101 — Foundations of Life FORMAT Multiple Choice / True/False / Short
Answer
EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Select the single best answer for each multiple-choice question.
▸ True/False questions require marking the correct option.
▸ Content covers characteristics of life, taxonomy, microorganisms, and ecology.
LIFE, CLASSIFICATION, MICROORGANISMS & SYMBIOSIS Questions 1 – 22
1. List the 7 most widely accepted characteristics of living organisms.
A. Movement, consciousness, speech, thought, memory, emotion, personality.
B. Order, evolutionary adaptation, regulation, energy processing, growth and development, response to the
environment, reproduction.
C. Photosynthesis, respiration, fermentation, digestion, absorption, excretion, circulation.
D. Cell wall, nucleus, mitochondria, ribosomes, ER, Golgi, lysosomes.
CORRECT ANSWER B — Order, evolutionary adaptation, regulation, energy processing, growth and development,
response to the environment, reproduction.
RATIONALE These seven properties are the consensus criteria defining life: (1) order — complex organization; (2)
evolutionary adaptation — heritable traits improving survival; (3) regulation — homeostasis; (4) energy
processing — metabolism; (5) growth and development — inherited instructions; (6) response to environment
— stimuli; (7) reproduction.
2. Describe evolutionary adaptation and give an example.
A. Large-scale changes over millions of years; example: dinosaurs to birds.
B. Smaller, genetic changes that allow for better survival of an organism; example: camouflage.
C. An individual changing during its lifetime; example: building muscle.
D. Random mutations with no survival benefit; example: eye color.
CORRECT ANSWER B — Smaller, genetic changes that allow for better survival; example: camouflage.
RATIONALE Evolutionary adaptation refers to genetic modifications over generations that enhance fitness. Camouflage is
a classic example — organisms that blend with their environment are less likely to be preyed upon, live
longer, and reproduce more, passing the adaptive trait to offspring.
, 3. What is an adaptation? Which characteristic of life would an adaptation fall into?
A. A temporary change; growth and development.
B. A change that allows an organism to become better suited to its environment; evolutionary adaptation.
C. A learned behavior; response to environment.
D. A disease process; regulation.
CORRECT ANSWER B — A change that allows an organism to become better suited to its environment; evolutionary
adaptation.
RATIONALE An adaptation is any heritable characteristic — behavioral or physical — that improves an organism's ability to
survive and reproduce in its environment. This falls under "evolutionary adaptation," one of the seven
characteristics of life.
4. Sexual reproduction involves:
A. A single organism dividing into two identical offspring.
B. Fusion of two gametes, one from each parent, uniting to grow into a new offspring.
C. Budding of a new organism from the parent body.
D. Fragmentation and regeneration.
CORRECT ANSWER B — Fusion of two gametes, one from each parent, uniting to grow into a new offspring.
RATIONALE Sexual reproduction requires the union of haploid gametes (sperm and egg) to form a genetically unique
diploid zygote. This increases genetic variation within the population. Asexual reproduction (A, C, D) produces
genetically identical offspring from a single parent.
5. Asexual reproduction:
A. Gives rise to a new offspring from a single organism.
B. Requires two parents.
C. Produces genetically diverse offspring.
D. Occurs only in plants.
CORRECT ANSWER A — Gives rise to a new offspring from a single organism.
RATIONALE Asexual reproduction produces offspring that are genetically identical to the parent (clones) without gamete
fusion. Methods include binary fission (bacteria), budding (yeast), and fragmentation. It is efficient but limits
genetic diversity.
6. A group of one particular species living within defined boundaries of a community best describes what?
A. Ecosystem.
B. Population.
C. Biome.
D. Biosphere.
CORRECT ANSWER B — Population.
RATIONALE A population is all individuals of a single species living in a defined area at a given time. A community includes
all populations of different species in an area. An ecosystem encompasses the community plus abiotic factors.
A biome is a large-scale ecological region.
Portage Learning
101 DOIB
P Geneva College · Online Education
AFFORDABLE, ACCREDITED, ACCESSIBLE · SINCE 2014
EST. 2014
BIOD 101 · Exam 2
B I O LO G Y: C H A R A C T E R I ST I CS O F L I F E , C L A SS I F I C AT I O N & E CO LO G Y
INSTITUTION Portage Learning / Geneva College COURSE CODE BIOD 101
PROGRAM Pre-Nursing / Health Sciences ACADEMIC YEAR
EXAM TITLE Exam 2 — Life, Taxonomy & TOTAL QUESTIONS 22 Questions
Microorganisms
COURSE TITLE Biology 101 — Foundations of Life FORMAT Multiple Choice / True/False / Short
Answer
EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Select the single best answer for each multiple-choice question.
▸ True/False questions require marking the correct option.
▸ Content covers characteristics of life, taxonomy, microorganisms, and ecology.
LIFE, CLASSIFICATION, MICROORGANISMS & SYMBIOSIS Questions 1 – 22
1. List the 7 most widely accepted characteristics of living organisms.
A. Movement, consciousness, speech, thought, memory, emotion, personality.
B. Order, evolutionary adaptation, regulation, energy processing, growth and development, response to the
environment, reproduction.
C. Photosynthesis, respiration, fermentation, digestion, absorption, excretion, circulation.
D. Cell wall, nucleus, mitochondria, ribosomes, ER, Golgi, lysosomes.
CORRECT ANSWER B — Order, evolutionary adaptation, regulation, energy processing, growth and development,
response to the environment, reproduction.
RATIONALE These seven properties are the consensus criteria defining life: (1) order — complex organization; (2)
evolutionary adaptation — heritable traits improving survival; (3) regulation — homeostasis; (4) energy
processing — metabolism; (5) growth and development — inherited instructions; (6) response to environment
— stimuli; (7) reproduction.
2. Describe evolutionary adaptation and give an example.
A. Large-scale changes over millions of years; example: dinosaurs to birds.
B. Smaller, genetic changes that allow for better survival of an organism; example: camouflage.
C. An individual changing during its lifetime; example: building muscle.
D. Random mutations with no survival benefit; example: eye color.
CORRECT ANSWER B — Smaller, genetic changes that allow for better survival; example: camouflage.
RATIONALE Evolutionary adaptation refers to genetic modifications over generations that enhance fitness. Camouflage is
a classic example — organisms that blend with their environment are less likely to be preyed upon, live
longer, and reproduce more, passing the adaptive trait to offspring.
, 3. What is an adaptation? Which characteristic of life would an adaptation fall into?
A. A temporary change; growth and development.
B. A change that allows an organism to become better suited to its environment; evolutionary adaptation.
C. A learned behavior; response to environment.
D. A disease process; regulation.
CORRECT ANSWER B — A change that allows an organism to become better suited to its environment; evolutionary
adaptation.
RATIONALE An adaptation is any heritable characteristic — behavioral or physical — that improves an organism's ability to
survive and reproduce in its environment. This falls under "evolutionary adaptation," one of the seven
characteristics of life.
4. Sexual reproduction involves:
A. A single organism dividing into two identical offspring.
B. Fusion of two gametes, one from each parent, uniting to grow into a new offspring.
C. Budding of a new organism from the parent body.
D. Fragmentation and regeneration.
CORRECT ANSWER B — Fusion of two gametes, one from each parent, uniting to grow into a new offspring.
RATIONALE Sexual reproduction requires the union of haploid gametes (sperm and egg) to form a genetically unique
diploid zygote. This increases genetic variation within the population. Asexual reproduction (A, C, D) produces
genetically identical offspring from a single parent.
5. Asexual reproduction:
A. Gives rise to a new offspring from a single organism.
B. Requires two parents.
C. Produces genetically diverse offspring.
D. Occurs only in plants.
CORRECT ANSWER A — Gives rise to a new offspring from a single organism.
RATIONALE Asexual reproduction produces offspring that are genetically identical to the parent (clones) without gamete
fusion. Methods include binary fission (bacteria), budding (yeast), and fragmentation. It is efficient but limits
genetic diversity.
6. A group of one particular species living within defined boundaries of a community best describes what?
A. Ecosystem.
B. Population.
C. Biome.
D. Biosphere.
CORRECT ANSWER B — Population.
RATIONALE A population is all individuals of a single species living in a defined area at a given time. A community includes
all populations of different species in an area. An ecosystem encompasses the community plus abiotic factors.
A biome is a large-scale ecological region.
