★ DNA ★
Portage Learning
101 DOIB
P Geneva College · Online Education
AFFORDABLE, ACCREDITED, ACCESSIBLE · SINCE 2014
EST. 2014
BIOD 101 · Exam 1
B I O LO G Y: F O U N D AT I O N S O F L I F E — C H E M I ST R Y, C E L LS & T R A N S P O RT
INSTITUTION Portage Learning / Geneva College COURSE CODE BIOD 101
PROGRAM Pre-Nursing / Health Sciences ACADEMIC YEAR
EXAM TITLE Exam 1 — Foundations of Biology TOTAL QUESTIONS 53 Questions
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 chemistry of life, biomacromolecules, cell structure, and membrane transport.
CHEMISTRY, MACROMOLECULES, CELLS & TRANSPORT Questions 1 – 53
1. What is matter and what states can it exist in?
A. Anything with energy; solid and plasma only.
B. Anything that takes up space, has volume and mass; solid, liquid, or gas.
C. Anything that can be weighed; solid and liquid only.
D. Pure substances only; solid, gas, or plasma.
CORRECT ANSWER B — Anything that takes up space, has volume and mass; solid, liquid, or gas.
RATIONALE Matter is defined as anything that occupies space (has volume) and has mass. It exists in three primary states:
solid, liquid, and gaseous.
2. Explain the difference between essential and trace elements.
A. Essential elements are toxic; trace elements are safe.
B. Essential elements are required for life; trace elements are needed only in small quantities.
C. Trace elements are more important than essential elements.
D. Both terms mean the same thing.
CORRECT ANSWER B — Essential elements are required for life; trace elements are needed only in small quantities.
RATIONALE Essential elements (e.g., C, H, N, O, P, S) are required for human survival. Trace elements (e.g., Fe, Zn, Cu) are
equally necessary but are required only in minute amounts.
, 3. Describe an ionic bond.
A. Electrons are shared equally between atoms.
B. Formed when ions of opposite charge are attracted to one another.
C. A weak bond formed by hydrogen.
D. Electrons move freely in a "sea."
CORRECT ANSWER B — Formed when ions of opposite charge are attracted to one another.
RATIONALE Ionic bonds form when an electron is transferred from one atom to another, creating oppositely charged ions
(cation and anion) that are electrostatically attracted.
4. Describe a covalent bond.
A. Formed when electrons are shared equally between two atoms.
B. Formed by electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions.
C. A very weak interaction between molecules.
D. A bond involving a metal and a nonmetal.
CORRECT ANSWER A — Formed when electrons are shared equally between two atoms.
RATIONALE Covalent bonds involve sharing of electron pairs between atoms to complete valence shells. Nonpolar
covalent bonds share equally; polar covalent bonds share unequally.
5. Describe a hydrogen bond.
A. A strong intramolecular bond.
B. Formed by electrostatic interactions between molecules; relatively weak and breaks easily.
C. The bond holding sodium and chloride together.
D. A covalent bond involving hydrogen.
CORRECT ANSWER B — Formed by electrostatic interactions between molecules; relatively weak and breaks easily.
RATIONALE Hydrogen bonds are weak intermolecular attractions between a hydrogen atom (covalently bonded to an
electronegative atom) and another electronegative atom. They are easily broken but collectively provide
significant stability (e.g., in DNA, water).
6. True or False: Anions are positively charged ions whereas cations are negatively charged ions.
A. True.
B. False.
CORRECT ANSWER B — False. Cations are positively charged ions; anions are negatively charged ions.
RATIONALE The statement reverses the definitions. Cations (e.g., Na⁺, K⁺) are positive. Anions (e.g., Cl⁻, HCO₃⁻) are
negative.
Portage Learning
101 DOIB
P Geneva College · Online Education
AFFORDABLE, ACCREDITED, ACCESSIBLE · SINCE 2014
EST. 2014
BIOD 101 · Exam 1
B I O LO G Y: F O U N D AT I O N S O F L I F E — C H E M I ST R Y, C E L LS & T R A N S P O RT
INSTITUTION Portage Learning / Geneva College COURSE CODE BIOD 101
PROGRAM Pre-Nursing / Health Sciences ACADEMIC YEAR
EXAM TITLE Exam 1 — Foundations of Biology TOTAL QUESTIONS 53 Questions
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 chemistry of life, biomacromolecules, cell structure, and membrane transport.
CHEMISTRY, MACROMOLECULES, CELLS & TRANSPORT Questions 1 – 53
1. What is matter and what states can it exist in?
A. Anything with energy; solid and plasma only.
B. Anything that takes up space, has volume and mass; solid, liquid, or gas.
C. Anything that can be weighed; solid and liquid only.
D. Pure substances only; solid, gas, or plasma.
CORRECT ANSWER B — Anything that takes up space, has volume and mass; solid, liquid, or gas.
RATIONALE Matter is defined as anything that occupies space (has volume) and has mass. It exists in three primary states:
solid, liquid, and gaseous.
2. Explain the difference between essential and trace elements.
A. Essential elements are toxic; trace elements are safe.
B. Essential elements are required for life; trace elements are needed only in small quantities.
C. Trace elements are more important than essential elements.
D. Both terms mean the same thing.
CORRECT ANSWER B — Essential elements are required for life; trace elements are needed only in small quantities.
RATIONALE Essential elements (e.g., C, H, N, O, P, S) are required for human survival. Trace elements (e.g., Fe, Zn, Cu) are
equally necessary but are required only in minute amounts.
, 3. Describe an ionic bond.
A. Electrons are shared equally between atoms.
B. Formed when ions of opposite charge are attracted to one another.
C. A weak bond formed by hydrogen.
D. Electrons move freely in a "sea."
CORRECT ANSWER B — Formed when ions of opposite charge are attracted to one another.
RATIONALE Ionic bonds form when an electron is transferred from one atom to another, creating oppositely charged ions
(cation and anion) that are electrostatically attracted.
4. Describe a covalent bond.
A. Formed when electrons are shared equally between two atoms.
B. Formed by electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions.
C. A very weak interaction between molecules.
D. A bond involving a metal and a nonmetal.
CORRECT ANSWER A — Formed when electrons are shared equally between two atoms.
RATIONALE Covalent bonds involve sharing of electron pairs between atoms to complete valence shells. Nonpolar
covalent bonds share equally; polar covalent bonds share unequally.
5. Describe a hydrogen bond.
A. A strong intramolecular bond.
B. Formed by electrostatic interactions between molecules; relatively weak and breaks easily.
C. The bond holding sodium and chloride together.
D. A covalent bond involving hydrogen.
CORRECT ANSWER B — Formed by electrostatic interactions between molecules; relatively weak and breaks easily.
RATIONALE Hydrogen bonds are weak intermolecular attractions between a hydrogen atom (covalently bonded to an
electronegative atom) and another electronegative atom. They are easily broken but collectively provide
significant stability (e.g., in DNA, water).
6. True or False: Anions are positively charged ions whereas cations are negatively charged ions.
A. True.
B. False.
CORRECT ANSWER B — False. Cations are positively charged ions; anions are negatively charged ions.
RATIONALE The statement reverses the definitions. Cations (e.g., Na⁺, K⁺) are positive. Anions (e.g., Cl⁻, HCO₃⁻) are
negative.
