BIL 150 Practice Exam 1
1. When the body's blood glucose level rises, the pan- negative feedback
creas secretes insulin and, as a result, the blood glu-
cose level declines. When the blood glucose level is
low, the pancreas secretes glucagon and, as a result,
the blood glucose level rises. Such regulation of the
blood glucose level is the result of
2. Which of the following is (are) true of natural selec- c) It requires genetic variation,
tion? results in descent with modi-
a) It requires genetic variation. fication, and involves differen-
b) It involves differential reproductive success. tial reproductive success.
c) It requires genetic variation, results in descent
with modification, and involves differential repro-
ductive success.
d) It results in descent with modification.
e) It results in descent with modification and involves
differential reproductive success.
3. 3) Why is it important that an experiment include a b) Without a control group,
control group? there is no basis for knowing
a) A control group assures that an experiment will be if a particular result is due to
repeatable. the variable being tested.
b) Without a control group, there is no basis for
knowing if a particular result is due to the variable
being tested.
c) The control group is the group that the researcher
is in control of, the group in which the researcher
predetermines the results.
d) The control group provides a reserve of experi-
mental subjects.
e) A control group is required for the development of
an "If...then" statement
, BIL 150 Practice Exam 1
4. 4) What factors are most important in determining d) both the relative abun-
which elements are most common in living matter? dances of the elements and
a) the relative abundances of the elements in Earth's the emergent properties of
crust and atmosphere the compounds made from
b) the chemical stability of the elements these elements
c) the reactivity of the elements with water
d) both the relative abundances of the elements and
the emergent properties of the compounds made
from these elements
e) the emergent properties of the simple com-
pounds made from these elements
5. 5) The organic molecules in living organisms have e) Photosynthesis preferen-
a measurably lower ratio of carbon-13/carbon-12, tially uses carbon dioxide
two stable isotopes of carbon that comprise approx- molecules with carbon-12,
imately 1.1% and 98.9% of atmospheric carbon, re- and the lower carbon-13/car-
spectively. What is a reasonable explanation for this bon-12 ratio propagates
phenomenon? through the food chain.
a) Carbon dioxide molecules with carbon-13 stay in When carbon is taken up from
the upper atmosphere and are less available to ter- the atmosphere by a plant
restrial plants and algae. during photosynthesis, C-12,
b) Carbon-13 has a different valence electron config- C-13, and C-14 isotopes are
uration and is therefore less chemically reactive than incorporated into the plant
carbon-12. in the same proportions in
c) Carbon dioxide molecules containing carbon-13 which they were present in the
are heavier and sink into the ocean depths, making atmosphere.
them less available to living organisms.
d) Oxygen atoms preferentially react with carbon-13,
thereby enriching the atmosphere with carbon diox-
ide molecules containing carbon-13 atoms.
, BIL 150 Practice Exam 1
e) Photosynthesis preferentially uses carbon diox-
ide molecules with carbon-12, and the lower car-
bon-13/carbon-12 ratio propagates through the
food chain.
6. 6) The illustration shows a representation of formic d) will form hydrogen bonds
acid. A formic acid molecule with water molecules.
a) consists of largely nonpolar covalent bonds.
b) is held together by hydrogen bonds.
c) has a tetrahedral configuration of hybrid electron
orbitals for the carbon atom.
d) will form hydrogen bonds with water molecules.
e) has a tetrahedral shape and will form hydrogen
bonds with water molecules.
7. 7) The reactivity of an atom arises from a) the existence of unpaired
a) the existence of unpaired electrons in the valence electrons in the valence shell
shell
b) the energy difference between the s and p or-
bitals.
c) the average distance of the outermost electron
shell from the nucleus.
d) the sum of the potential energies of all the elec-
tron shells.
e) the potential energy of the valence shell.
8. 8) The partial negative charge in a molecule of water a) the electrons shared be-
occurs because tween the oxygen and hydro-
gen atoms spend more time
a) the electrons shared between the oxygen and around the oxygen atom nu-
hydrogen atoms spend more time around the oxy- cleus than around the hydro-
gen atom nucleus than around the hydrogen atom gen atom nucleus.
nucleus.
1. When the body's blood glucose level rises, the pan- negative feedback
creas secretes insulin and, as a result, the blood glu-
cose level declines. When the blood glucose level is
low, the pancreas secretes glucagon and, as a result,
the blood glucose level rises. Such regulation of the
blood glucose level is the result of
2. Which of the following is (are) true of natural selec- c) It requires genetic variation,
tion? results in descent with modi-
a) It requires genetic variation. fication, and involves differen-
b) It involves differential reproductive success. tial reproductive success.
c) It requires genetic variation, results in descent
with modification, and involves differential repro-
ductive success.
d) It results in descent with modification.
e) It results in descent with modification and involves
differential reproductive success.
3. 3) Why is it important that an experiment include a b) Without a control group,
control group? there is no basis for knowing
a) A control group assures that an experiment will be if a particular result is due to
repeatable. the variable being tested.
b) Without a control group, there is no basis for
knowing if a particular result is due to the variable
being tested.
c) The control group is the group that the researcher
is in control of, the group in which the researcher
predetermines the results.
d) The control group provides a reserve of experi-
mental subjects.
e) A control group is required for the development of
an "If...then" statement
, BIL 150 Practice Exam 1
4. 4) What factors are most important in determining d) both the relative abun-
which elements are most common in living matter? dances of the elements and
a) the relative abundances of the elements in Earth's the emergent properties of
crust and atmosphere the compounds made from
b) the chemical stability of the elements these elements
c) the reactivity of the elements with water
d) both the relative abundances of the elements and
the emergent properties of the compounds made
from these elements
e) the emergent properties of the simple com-
pounds made from these elements
5. 5) The organic molecules in living organisms have e) Photosynthesis preferen-
a measurably lower ratio of carbon-13/carbon-12, tially uses carbon dioxide
two stable isotopes of carbon that comprise approx- molecules with carbon-12,
imately 1.1% and 98.9% of atmospheric carbon, re- and the lower carbon-13/car-
spectively. What is a reasonable explanation for this bon-12 ratio propagates
phenomenon? through the food chain.
a) Carbon dioxide molecules with carbon-13 stay in When carbon is taken up from
the upper atmosphere and are less available to ter- the atmosphere by a plant
restrial plants and algae. during photosynthesis, C-12,
b) Carbon-13 has a different valence electron config- C-13, and C-14 isotopes are
uration and is therefore less chemically reactive than incorporated into the plant
carbon-12. in the same proportions in
c) Carbon dioxide molecules containing carbon-13 which they were present in the
are heavier and sink into the ocean depths, making atmosphere.
them less available to living organisms.
d) Oxygen atoms preferentially react with carbon-13,
thereby enriching the atmosphere with carbon diox-
ide molecules containing carbon-13 atoms.
, BIL 150 Practice Exam 1
e) Photosynthesis preferentially uses carbon diox-
ide molecules with carbon-12, and the lower car-
bon-13/carbon-12 ratio propagates through the
food chain.
6. 6) The illustration shows a representation of formic d) will form hydrogen bonds
acid. A formic acid molecule with water molecules.
a) consists of largely nonpolar covalent bonds.
b) is held together by hydrogen bonds.
c) has a tetrahedral configuration of hybrid electron
orbitals for the carbon atom.
d) will form hydrogen bonds with water molecules.
e) has a tetrahedral shape and will form hydrogen
bonds with water molecules.
7. 7) The reactivity of an atom arises from a) the existence of unpaired
a) the existence of unpaired electrons in the valence electrons in the valence shell
shell
b) the energy difference between the s and p or-
bitals.
c) the average distance of the outermost electron
shell from the nucleus.
d) the sum of the potential energies of all the elec-
tron shells.
e) the potential energy of the valence shell.
8. 8) The partial negative charge in a molecule of water a) the electrons shared be-
occurs because tween the oxygen and hydro-
gen atoms spend more time
a) the electrons shared between the oxygen and around the oxygen atom nu-
hydrogen atoms spend more time around the oxy- cleus than around the hydro-
gen atom nucleus than around the hydrogen atom gen atom nucleus.
nucleus.
