,CHAPTER 1
MULTIPLE CHOICE - Choose the one alternative that best completes the statement or
answers the question.
1) The property of living organisms that involves a unique and complex molecular
organization is called
A) growth.
B) development.
C) metabolism.
D) reproduction.
E) chemical uniqueness.
2) A characteristic of science is
A) it is not explained by natural laws.
B) its hypotheses are testable.
C) its conclusions are final.
D) it is not falsifiable.
E) it seeks to define the vitalistic forces of life.
3) A cell dies and its complex organic molecules degrade into a mass of simple molecules
no more organized than the nonliving matter outside the cell. This feature of life, which is now
lost, is
A) growth and reproduction.
B) adaptability.
C) metabolism.
D) irritability.
E) complexity and hierarchical organization.
4) Which hierarchy of organization is seen in multicellular organisms such as animals,
going from smallest to largest?
Version 1 1
, A) cell, organ, tissue, organism
B) cell, organ, organ system, tissue
C) cell, tissue, organ system, organism
D) organism, organ system, organ, tissue
E) tissue, organ system, cell, organism
5) The structure of a brick does not predict the design of a home. Study of muscle tissues
does not allow you to predict the design of a bird or snake. Such examples demonstrate
A) the essential properties found in all forms of life.
B) the hierarchy of organization from atom to biosphere.
C) deterministic philosophy or how all phenomena are predictable effects of causes.
D) emergent properties that cannot be predicted by examining component parts.
6) Which of the following characteristics is NOT required for the life of an individual
organism to continue?
A) chemical uniqueness and organization
B) response to stimuli
C) evolution
D) a genetic program to control cell processes
7) Which statement about living things is FALSE?
A) Living things are made up of cells.
B) Living things obey the laws of chemistry and physics.
C) Living things show organization and other common characteristics of life.
D) Emergent properties arise from interactions among the components of a system.
E) Living things are composed only of organic elements, whereas nonliving things are
made up of inorganic elements.
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, 8) "Self-replicating molecular assemblage" is a classic definition of life. However, clay
particles in clay soil contain aluminum and iron compounds that determine the pattern of
particles in adjacent layers over time and, therefore, represent a self-replicating molecular
assemblage. What can we conclude?
A) Clay soil is living.
B) Clay soil is not living because there was no molecular change involved.
C) Clay soil is not living because no carbon is involved; otherwise, such replication
would be living.
D) Clay soilis not living because what is described is a simple repetitive process
without the ability to evolve or respond to the environment.
9) All of the chemical energy transformations that occur within a cell constitute
A) evolution.
B) metabolism.
C) adaptation.
D) homeostasis.
10) "Cryptobiosis" is a state of almost total water loss found in some roundworms, rotifers,
and tardigrades and was previously considered a near cessation of metabolism. Recently, a
British Museum botanist accidentally spilled fluid on a120+year-old herbarium mount of a
lichen. Fearing damage to the specimen, he immediately inspected it under the microscope and
found tardigrades "waking up." This observation
A) supports the claim that the tardigrades were dead but began respiring again at a very
slow rate after the fluid was added.
B) makes it possible that we can bring most dead animals back to life.
C) contradicts both the cell theory and evolutionary theory.
D) indicates metabolism did not stop, and that organization and water made it sufficient
to maintain the possibility for "life."
11) Reproduction of organisms involves the apparently contradictory phenomena of
Version 1 3
MULTIPLE CHOICE - Choose the one alternative that best completes the statement or
answers the question.
1) The property of living organisms that involves a unique and complex molecular
organization is called
A) growth.
B) development.
C) metabolism.
D) reproduction.
E) chemical uniqueness.
2) A characteristic of science is
A) it is not explained by natural laws.
B) its hypotheses are testable.
C) its conclusions are final.
D) it is not falsifiable.
E) it seeks to define the vitalistic forces of life.
3) A cell dies and its complex organic molecules degrade into a mass of simple molecules
no more organized than the nonliving matter outside the cell. This feature of life, which is now
lost, is
A) growth and reproduction.
B) adaptability.
C) metabolism.
D) irritability.
E) complexity and hierarchical organization.
4) Which hierarchy of organization is seen in multicellular organisms such as animals,
going from smallest to largest?
Version 1 1
, A) cell, organ, tissue, organism
B) cell, organ, organ system, tissue
C) cell, tissue, organ system, organism
D) organism, organ system, organ, tissue
E) tissue, organ system, cell, organism
5) The structure of a brick does not predict the design of a home. Study of muscle tissues
does not allow you to predict the design of a bird or snake. Such examples demonstrate
A) the essential properties found in all forms of life.
B) the hierarchy of organization from atom to biosphere.
C) deterministic philosophy or how all phenomena are predictable effects of causes.
D) emergent properties that cannot be predicted by examining component parts.
6) Which of the following characteristics is NOT required for the life of an individual
organism to continue?
A) chemical uniqueness and organization
B) response to stimuli
C) evolution
D) a genetic program to control cell processes
7) Which statement about living things is FALSE?
A) Living things are made up of cells.
B) Living things obey the laws of chemistry and physics.
C) Living things show organization and other common characteristics of life.
D) Emergent properties arise from interactions among the components of a system.
E) Living things are composed only of organic elements, whereas nonliving things are
made up of inorganic elements.
Version 1 2
, 8) "Self-replicating molecular assemblage" is a classic definition of life. However, clay
particles in clay soil contain aluminum and iron compounds that determine the pattern of
particles in adjacent layers over time and, therefore, represent a self-replicating molecular
assemblage. What can we conclude?
A) Clay soil is living.
B) Clay soil is not living because there was no molecular change involved.
C) Clay soil is not living because no carbon is involved; otherwise, such replication
would be living.
D) Clay soilis not living because what is described is a simple repetitive process
without the ability to evolve or respond to the environment.
9) All of the chemical energy transformations that occur within a cell constitute
A) evolution.
B) metabolism.
C) adaptation.
D) homeostasis.
10) "Cryptobiosis" is a state of almost total water loss found in some roundworms, rotifers,
and tardigrades and was previously considered a near cessation of metabolism. Recently, a
British Museum botanist accidentally spilled fluid on a120+year-old herbarium mount of a
lichen. Fearing damage to the specimen, he immediately inspected it under the microscope and
found tardigrades "waking up." This observation
A) supports the claim that the tardigrades were dead but began respiring again at a very
slow rate after the fluid was added.
B) makes it possible that we can bring most dead animals back to life.
C) contradicts both the cell theory and evolutionary theory.
D) indicates metabolism did not stop, and that organization and water made it sufficient
to maintain the possibility for "life."
11) Reproduction of organisms involves the apparently contradictory phenomena of
Version 1 3
