1 MAXE • 101 DOIB
Portage Learning
PL College of Science & Health
Y O U R F U T U R E . Y O U R W A Y.
EST. 2011
BIOD 101 — Exam 1 (Chapters 1–3)
T H E M E S O F B I O LO G Y, C H E M I ST R Y O F L I F E & M A C R O M O L E CU L E S
INSTITUTION Portage Learning COURSE CODE BIOD 101
PROGRAM Biology / Pre-Nursing Pathway ACADEMIC YEAR
EXAM TITLE Exam 1 — Chapters 1, 2 & 3 TOTAL QUESTIONS Complete Study Guide
COURSE TITLE General Biology I FORMAT Multiple Choice — Select the Single Best
Answer
EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Select the single best answer for each question.
▸ This study guide covers the seven unifying themes of biology, hierarchy of life, chemistry fundamentals, water properties, and
the four classes of biological macromolecules.
▸ Correct answers and detailed rationales appear below each question.
▸ All content is derived from Portage Learning BIOD 101, Chapters 1–3.
SECTION I — CHAPTER 1: THEMES OF BIOLOGY & HIERARCHY OF LIFE Part A
1. Biology is best defined as the study of:
A. Chemical reactions within cells.
B. Life.
C. The physical environment.
D. Atomic structures.
CORRECT ANSWER B — Life.
RATIONALE Biology is fundamentally the scientific study of life—from the molecular level to entire ecosystems. While
chemistry and physics are components, the overarching definition of biology is the study of living organisms
and life processes.
2. Which of the following is NOT one of the seven unifying themes of biology?
A. Order
B. Reproduction
C. Energy processing
D. Spontaneous generation
CORRECT ANSWER D — Spontaneous generation.
RATIONALE The seven unifying themes are: order, reproduction, growth and development, energy processing, response
to the environment, evolutionary adaptation, and emergent properties. Spontaneous generation is a
disproven historical theory, not a unifying theme.
, 3. Emergent properties are best described as:
A. Properties that exist at the atomic level only.
B. New properties that emerge with each step upward in the hierarchy of life, due to the arrangement and interactions
of parts as complexity increases.
C. Properties that are inherited from parents to offspring.
D. Characteristics that emerge only in plants.
CORRECT ANSWER B — New properties that emerge with each step upward in the hierarchy of life.
RATIONALE Emergent properties arise from the increasing complexity of organization—the whole is greater than the sum
of its parts. For example, a single molecule cannot think, but billions of organized neurons can produce
consciousness.
4. Which of the following correctly lists the levels of the biosphere hierarchy from largest to smallest?
A. Organism → population → community → ecosystem → biosphere
B. Biosphere → ecosystem → community → population/species → organism
C. Biosphere → population → community → organism → ecosystem
D. Ecosystem → biosphere → community → organism → population
CORRECT ANSWER B — Biosphere → ecosystem → community → population/species → organism.
RATIONALE The correct descending order is: biosphere (all life on Earth), ecosystem (living + nonliving components in an
area), community (all species in an ecosystem), population/species (individuals of one species in an area),
and organism (individual living thing).
5. What is the basic unit of life?
A. The atom
B. The molecule
C. The cell
D. The organ
CORRECT ANSWER C — The cell.
RATIONALE The cell is the smallest unit that can perform all functions of life—it is the fundamental structural and
functional unit of all living organisms. Atoms and molecules are chemical components, but they are not alive.
Organs are composed of many cells.
6. DNA is best described as:
A. The basic unit of life.
B. The unit of inheritance that holds information to express proteins.
C. A carbohydrate molecule.
D. An energy storage molecule.
CORRECT ANSWER B — The unit of inheritance that holds information to express proteins.
RATIONALE DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) stores genetic information and contains the instructions for building proteins
through gene expression. It is the hereditary material passed from parent to offspring.
Portage Learning
PL College of Science & Health
Y O U R F U T U R E . Y O U R W A Y.
EST. 2011
BIOD 101 — Exam 1 (Chapters 1–3)
T H E M E S O F B I O LO G Y, C H E M I ST R Y O F L I F E & M A C R O M O L E CU L E S
INSTITUTION Portage Learning COURSE CODE BIOD 101
PROGRAM Biology / Pre-Nursing Pathway ACADEMIC YEAR
EXAM TITLE Exam 1 — Chapters 1, 2 & 3 TOTAL QUESTIONS Complete Study Guide
COURSE TITLE General Biology I FORMAT Multiple Choice — Select the Single Best
Answer
EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Select the single best answer for each question.
▸ This study guide covers the seven unifying themes of biology, hierarchy of life, chemistry fundamentals, water properties, and
the four classes of biological macromolecules.
▸ Correct answers and detailed rationales appear below each question.
▸ All content is derived from Portage Learning BIOD 101, Chapters 1–3.
SECTION I — CHAPTER 1: THEMES OF BIOLOGY & HIERARCHY OF LIFE Part A
1. Biology is best defined as the study of:
A. Chemical reactions within cells.
B. Life.
C. The physical environment.
D. Atomic structures.
CORRECT ANSWER B — Life.
RATIONALE Biology is fundamentally the scientific study of life—from the molecular level to entire ecosystems. While
chemistry and physics are components, the overarching definition of biology is the study of living organisms
and life processes.
2. Which of the following is NOT one of the seven unifying themes of biology?
A. Order
B. Reproduction
C. Energy processing
D. Spontaneous generation
CORRECT ANSWER D — Spontaneous generation.
RATIONALE The seven unifying themes are: order, reproduction, growth and development, energy processing, response
to the environment, evolutionary adaptation, and emergent properties. Spontaneous generation is a
disproven historical theory, not a unifying theme.
, 3. Emergent properties are best described as:
A. Properties that exist at the atomic level only.
B. New properties that emerge with each step upward in the hierarchy of life, due to the arrangement and interactions
of parts as complexity increases.
C. Properties that are inherited from parents to offspring.
D. Characteristics that emerge only in plants.
CORRECT ANSWER B — New properties that emerge with each step upward in the hierarchy of life.
RATIONALE Emergent properties arise from the increasing complexity of organization—the whole is greater than the sum
of its parts. For example, a single molecule cannot think, but billions of organized neurons can produce
consciousness.
4. Which of the following correctly lists the levels of the biosphere hierarchy from largest to smallest?
A. Organism → population → community → ecosystem → biosphere
B. Biosphere → ecosystem → community → population/species → organism
C. Biosphere → population → community → organism → ecosystem
D. Ecosystem → biosphere → community → organism → population
CORRECT ANSWER B — Biosphere → ecosystem → community → population/species → organism.
RATIONALE The correct descending order is: biosphere (all life on Earth), ecosystem (living + nonliving components in an
area), community (all species in an ecosystem), population/species (individuals of one species in an area),
and organism (individual living thing).
5. What is the basic unit of life?
A. The atom
B. The molecule
C. The cell
D. The organ
CORRECT ANSWER C — The cell.
RATIONALE The cell is the smallest unit that can perform all functions of life—it is the fundamental structural and
functional unit of all living organisms. Atoms and molecules are chemical components, but they are not alive.
Organs are composed of many cells.
6. DNA is best described as:
A. The basic unit of life.
B. The unit of inheritance that holds information to express proteins.
C. A carbohydrate molecule.
D. An energy storage molecule.
CORRECT ANSWER B — The unit of inheritance that holds information to express proteins.
RATIONALE DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) stores genetic information and contains the instructions for building proteins
through gene expression. It is the hereditary material passed from parent to offspring.
