Test banks:
Essentials of the Living World, 6e (Johnson)
Chapter 1 The Science of Biology
1) The simplest organisms do not have nuclei. In the list below, which group has the simplest
organisms?
A) Bacteria
B) Fungi
C) Plantae
D) Animalia
E) Protista
Answer: A
Explanation: The Bacteria and the Archaea lack even the nuclear membrane which defines a
true nucleus. Please see section 1.1.
Section: 01.01
Topic: Levels of Biological Organization
Bloom's: 2. Understand
Learning Outcome: 01.01.01 List the six kingdoms of life.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
2) The process of using and transforming energy in living cells is called
A) response to stimulation.
B) complexity.
C) metabolism.
D) homeostasis.
E) evolution.
Answer: C
Explanation: Metabolism produces all of the chemicals needed for life. Please see sections 1.2
and 1.4, focusing on metabolism.
Section: 01.02; 01.04
Topic: Characteristics of Life
Bloom's: 1. Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.02.01 Name and describe the five basic properties shared by all living
things.; 01.04.01 Explain the five general themes that define biology as a science.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
◻
3) There are five properties of living things. Which of the following properties provides and
increase in the number of organisms within a population?
A) growth and reproduction
,B) metabolism
C) cellular organization
D) homeostasis
E) heredity
Answer: A
Explanation: Growth and reproduction provides an increase in an organisms size and an increase
in the population. Please see section 1.2.
Section: 01.02
Topic: Characteristics of Life
Bloom's: 2. Understand
Learning Outcome: 01.02.01 Name and describe the five basic properties shared by all living
things.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
4) All living things are able to maintain stable internal conditions, whether they are unicellular,
or complex, multicellular organisms. This property is called
A) metabolism.
B) homeostasis.
C) heredity.
D) cellular organization.
E) growth and reproduction.
Answer: B
Explanation: Homeostasis shows an organism working against the increase in entropy, or
disorder, within itself. Please see sections 1.2 and 1.4.
Section: 01.02; 01.04
Topic: Characteristics of Life
Bloom's: 1. Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.02.01 Name and describe the five basic properties shared by all living
things.; 01.04.01 Explain the five general themes that define biology as a science.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
◻
5) In a multicellular organism, different tissues that function together are grouped into
A) organisms.
B) cells.
C) organs.
D) tissue systems.
E) atoms.
Answer: C
Explanation: Organs are an intermediate level in the hierarchical organization of living things.
Please see section 1.3.
Section: 01.03
Topic: Levels of Biological Organization
Bloom's: 1. Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.03.01 List the 13 hierarchical levels of the organization of life.
,Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
6) All the populations of a particular kind of organism, that are able to interact with each other,
are members of the same
A) community.
B) species.
C) habitat.
D) ecosystem.
E) kingdom.
Answer: B
Explanation: Species consists of the same organism that are able to interact with each other.
Please see section 1.3.
Section: 01.03
Topic: Levels of Biological Organization
Bloom's: 1. Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.03.01 List the 13 hierarchical levels of the organization of life.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
◻
7) The different populations of all the species in a given area make up a(n)
A) community.
B) association.
C) ecosystem.
D) population.
E) habitat.
Answer: A
Explanation: Communities include the living things which interact in a given area. Please see
section 1.3.
Section: 01.03
Topic: Levels of Biological Organization
Bloom's: 1. Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.03.01 List the 13 hierarchical levels of the organization of life.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
8) Charles Darwin used to visualize the mechanisms of natural selection.
A) artificial selection
B) biology
C) natural history
D) evolution
E) scientific reasoning
Answer: A
Explanation: Artificial selection, which occurs when humans select organisms for particular
traits, drives evolution like natural selection does. Please see section 1.4.
Section: 01.04
Topic: History of Evolutionary Theory
, Bloom's: 2. Understand
Learning Outcome: 01.04.01 Explain the five general themes that define biology as a science.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
◻
9) There are five general themes that serve to both unify and explain the science of biology.
Which of the following falls outside of the underlying themes?
A) cooperation
B) flow of energy
C) evolution
D) creation
E) homeostasis
Answer: D
Explanation: Creation is an idea related to religion, which cannot be properly tested using the
scientific method. Please see section 1.4.
Section: 01.04
Topic: Characteristics of Life
Bloom's: 1. Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.04.01 Explain the five general themes that define biology as a science.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
10) The proper order for steps in the scientific process is
A) predictions → testing → observation → hypothesis.
B) testing → observation → predictions → hypothesis.
C) hypothesis → observation → testing → predictions.
D) observation → hypothesis → predictions → testing.
E) predictions → observation → hypothesis → testing.
Answer: D
Explanation: Review section 1.5. Testing can only come when observations have led to a
hypothesis and predictions based on the hypothesis.
Section: 01.05
Topic: Scientific Method
Bloom's: 1. Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.05.01 Explain how the six stages of a scientific investigation allow
biologists to discover general principles by careful examination of specific cases.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
◻
11) All organisms possess a genetic system that is based on
A) RNA.
B) protein.
C) DNA.
D) cells.
E) sugars.
Essentials of the Living World, 6e (Johnson)
Chapter 1 The Science of Biology
1) The simplest organisms do not have nuclei. In the list below, which group has the simplest
organisms?
A) Bacteria
B) Fungi
C) Plantae
D) Animalia
E) Protista
Answer: A
Explanation: The Bacteria and the Archaea lack even the nuclear membrane which defines a
true nucleus. Please see section 1.1.
Section: 01.01
Topic: Levels of Biological Organization
Bloom's: 2. Understand
Learning Outcome: 01.01.01 List the six kingdoms of life.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
2) The process of using and transforming energy in living cells is called
A) response to stimulation.
B) complexity.
C) metabolism.
D) homeostasis.
E) evolution.
Answer: C
Explanation: Metabolism produces all of the chemicals needed for life. Please see sections 1.2
and 1.4, focusing on metabolism.
Section: 01.02; 01.04
Topic: Characteristics of Life
Bloom's: 1. Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.02.01 Name and describe the five basic properties shared by all living
things.; 01.04.01 Explain the five general themes that define biology as a science.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
◻
3) There are five properties of living things. Which of the following properties provides and
increase in the number of organisms within a population?
A) growth and reproduction
,B) metabolism
C) cellular organization
D) homeostasis
E) heredity
Answer: A
Explanation: Growth and reproduction provides an increase in an organisms size and an increase
in the population. Please see section 1.2.
Section: 01.02
Topic: Characteristics of Life
Bloom's: 2. Understand
Learning Outcome: 01.02.01 Name and describe the five basic properties shared by all living
things.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
4) All living things are able to maintain stable internal conditions, whether they are unicellular,
or complex, multicellular organisms. This property is called
A) metabolism.
B) homeostasis.
C) heredity.
D) cellular organization.
E) growth and reproduction.
Answer: B
Explanation: Homeostasis shows an organism working against the increase in entropy, or
disorder, within itself. Please see sections 1.2 and 1.4.
Section: 01.02; 01.04
Topic: Characteristics of Life
Bloom's: 1. Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.02.01 Name and describe the five basic properties shared by all living
things.; 01.04.01 Explain the five general themes that define biology as a science.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
◻
5) In a multicellular organism, different tissues that function together are grouped into
A) organisms.
B) cells.
C) organs.
D) tissue systems.
E) atoms.
Answer: C
Explanation: Organs are an intermediate level in the hierarchical organization of living things.
Please see section 1.3.
Section: 01.03
Topic: Levels of Biological Organization
Bloom's: 1. Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.03.01 List the 13 hierarchical levels of the organization of life.
,Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
6) All the populations of a particular kind of organism, that are able to interact with each other,
are members of the same
A) community.
B) species.
C) habitat.
D) ecosystem.
E) kingdom.
Answer: B
Explanation: Species consists of the same organism that are able to interact with each other.
Please see section 1.3.
Section: 01.03
Topic: Levels of Biological Organization
Bloom's: 1. Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.03.01 List the 13 hierarchical levels of the organization of life.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
◻
7) The different populations of all the species in a given area make up a(n)
A) community.
B) association.
C) ecosystem.
D) population.
E) habitat.
Answer: A
Explanation: Communities include the living things which interact in a given area. Please see
section 1.3.
Section: 01.03
Topic: Levels of Biological Organization
Bloom's: 1. Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.03.01 List the 13 hierarchical levels of the organization of life.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
8) Charles Darwin used to visualize the mechanisms of natural selection.
A) artificial selection
B) biology
C) natural history
D) evolution
E) scientific reasoning
Answer: A
Explanation: Artificial selection, which occurs when humans select organisms for particular
traits, drives evolution like natural selection does. Please see section 1.4.
Section: 01.04
Topic: History of Evolutionary Theory
, Bloom's: 2. Understand
Learning Outcome: 01.04.01 Explain the five general themes that define biology as a science.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
◻
9) There are five general themes that serve to both unify and explain the science of biology.
Which of the following falls outside of the underlying themes?
A) cooperation
B) flow of energy
C) evolution
D) creation
E) homeostasis
Answer: D
Explanation: Creation is an idea related to religion, which cannot be properly tested using the
scientific method. Please see section 1.4.
Section: 01.04
Topic: Characteristics of Life
Bloom's: 1. Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.04.01 Explain the five general themes that define biology as a science.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
10) The proper order for steps in the scientific process is
A) predictions → testing → observation → hypothesis.
B) testing → observation → predictions → hypothesis.
C) hypothesis → observation → testing → predictions.
D) observation → hypothesis → predictions → testing.
E) predictions → observation → hypothesis → testing.
Answer: D
Explanation: Review section 1.5. Testing can only come when observations have led to a
hypothesis and predictions based on the hypothesis.
Section: 01.05
Topic: Scientific Method
Bloom's: 1. Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.05.01 Explain how the six stages of a scientific investigation allow
biologists to discover general principles by careful examination of specific cases.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
◻
11) All organisms possess a genetic system that is based on
A) RNA.
B) protein.
C) DNA.
D) cells.
E) sugars.
