BIOLOGY PLACEMENT TEST WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS 100% 2023/2024
What defines living organisms separate from non-living things?
Living things are made up of basic units called cells, are based on a universal genetic code, obtain and
use materials and energy, grow and develop, reproduce, respond to their environment, maintain a
stable internal environment, and change over time
Discuss the scientific method and its use in acquiring knowledge.
Involves observing and asking questions, making inferences and forming hypotheses, conducting
controlled experiments, collecting and analyzing data, and drawing conclusions
What are atoms?
The basic units of matter
What are atoms made of?
Made of protons, neutrons, and electrons
How do we define and recognize one type of atom from another?
By looking at the number of protons in the nucleus
How are atoms held together into molecules?
They attach to other atoms to make a covalent bond. If there are 4 attached atoms, it is a double
bond. If there are 6 attached atoms, it is a triple bond
Discuss the structure and function of the major types of large molecules found in living organisms.
Van der Waals forces are a slight attraction that develops between oppositely charged regions of
nearby molecules. They aren't as strong as ionic and covalent bonds, but they hold molecules
together, especially the large ones
What are special properties of water?
Water is a polar molecule and it is able to form multiple hydrogen bonds
How do the properties of water benefit living organisms?
Water is the best solvent on Earth. It is able to dissolve both ionic compounds and other polar
molecules
What are the two different types of cells found in living organisms?
Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
How are prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells different?
Prokaryotic cells don't have a nucleus and eukaryotic cells have a nucleus, where they separate the
genetic information from the rest of the cell
Organelles
Many of the structures in cells; called "little organs"
, Cytoplasm
The portion of the cell outside the nucleus
Vacuoles
Store materials like water, salts, proteins, and carbohydrates
Lysosomes
Break down lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins into small molecules that can be used by the rest of
the cell. They are also involved in breaking down organelles that have outlived their usefulness
Cytoskeleton
Helps the cell maintain its shape and is also involved in movement
Microfilaments
Threadlike structures made up of a protein called actin
Microtubles
A hollow structure made up of proteins known as tubulins
Centrioles
Located near the nucleus and help organize cell division. Not found in plant cells
Ribosomes
Small particles of RNA and protein found throughout the cytoplasm in all cells
Endoplasmic Reticulum
Where lipid components of the cell membrane are assembled, along with proteins and other material
that are exported from the cell
Golgi Apparatus
Modifies, sorts, and packages proteins and other material from the endoplasmic reticulum for storage
in the cell or release outside the cell
Cholorplasts
Capture the energy from sunlight and convert it into food that contains chemical energy in a process
called photosynthesis
Mitochondria
Convert the chemical energy stored into food into compounds that are more convenient for the cell
to use
Two ways that cells exchange molecules with the environment
Passive transport and active transport
SOLUTIONS 100% 2023/2024
What defines living organisms separate from non-living things?
Living things are made up of basic units called cells, are based on a universal genetic code, obtain and
use materials and energy, grow and develop, reproduce, respond to their environment, maintain a
stable internal environment, and change over time
Discuss the scientific method and its use in acquiring knowledge.
Involves observing and asking questions, making inferences and forming hypotheses, conducting
controlled experiments, collecting and analyzing data, and drawing conclusions
What are atoms?
The basic units of matter
What are atoms made of?
Made of protons, neutrons, and electrons
How do we define and recognize one type of atom from another?
By looking at the number of protons in the nucleus
How are atoms held together into molecules?
They attach to other atoms to make a covalent bond. If there are 4 attached atoms, it is a double
bond. If there are 6 attached atoms, it is a triple bond
Discuss the structure and function of the major types of large molecules found in living organisms.
Van der Waals forces are a slight attraction that develops between oppositely charged regions of
nearby molecules. They aren't as strong as ionic and covalent bonds, but they hold molecules
together, especially the large ones
What are special properties of water?
Water is a polar molecule and it is able to form multiple hydrogen bonds
How do the properties of water benefit living organisms?
Water is the best solvent on Earth. It is able to dissolve both ionic compounds and other polar
molecules
What are the two different types of cells found in living organisms?
Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
How are prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells different?
Prokaryotic cells don't have a nucleus and eukaryotic cells have a nucleus, where they separate the
genetic information from the rest of the cell
Organelles
Many of the structures in cells; called "little organs"
, Cytoplasm
The portion of the cell outside the nucleus
Vacuoles
Store materials like water, salts, proteins, and carbohydrates
Lysosomes
Break down lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins into small molecules that can be used by the rest of
the cell. They are also involved in breaking down organelles that have outlived their usefulness
Cytoskeleton
Helps the cell maintain its shape and is also involved in movement
Microfilaments
Threadlike structures made up of a protein called actin
Microtubles
A hollow structure made up of proteins known as tubulins
Centrioles
Located near the nucleus and help organize cell division. Not found in plant cells
Ribosomes
Small particles of RNA and protein found throughout the cytoplasm in all cells
Endoplasmic Reticulum
Where lipid components of the cell membrane are assembled, along with proteins and other material
that are exported from the cell
Golgi Apparatus
Modifies, sorts, and packages proteins and other material from the endoplasmic reticulum for storage
in the cell or release outside the cell
Cholorplasts
Capture the energy from sunlight and convert it into food that contains chemical energy in a process
called photosynthesis
Mitochondria
Convert the chemical energy stored into food into compounds that are more convenient for the cell
to use
Two ways that cells exchange molecules with the environment
Passive transport and active transport
