,OpenStax College Concepts of Biology Supplemental Test Items
Chapter 01: Introduction to Biology
Supplemental Test Items to accompany OpenStax College Concepts of Biology. Note that not all chapters
of OpenStax College Concepts of Biology have accompanying test items. Building on the community-
oriented nature of OpenStax College resources, we invite you to submit items to be considered for
future inclusion.
Chapter 01: Introduction to Biology
1. A scientist observes that when she opens the back door of her house to let her cat out, the
songs of a certain species of bird abruptly change. She wants to follow up on her
observations with an informal experiment. Which of the following is the best hypothesis for
explaining the birds’ song changes? (Outcome #Ia) (DOK 2) (Paired Item 1)
A. The bird species switches from song to warning call whenever it sees a potential
predator.*
B. The bird species has a variety of songs that it sings, regardless of what is happening
in its environment.
C. The scientist is mistaken and the songs do not change.
2. A scientist wants to test the hypothesis that a certain bird species in her back yard changes
its songs to warning calls whenever it detects the presence of a potential predator. Which
of the following most likely describes her initial observations? (Outcome #Ia) (DOK 2)
(Paired Item 2)
A. The scientist noticed that whenever she opened a door to her house, she heard
birds beginning to sing.
B. Each time the scientist let her cat outside, the birds abruptly changed their songs.*
C. The scientist noticed that the birds only appeared at certain times of the day, always
singing the same song during those times.
3. What is the main purpose of conducting experiments? (Outcome #Ib) (DOK 1) (Paired Item
1)
A. proving a theory
B. making initial observations
C. disproving a hypothesis*
4. The attempt to disprove a hypothesis is accomplished by which of the following tasks?
(Outcome #Ib) (DOK 1) (Paired Item 2)
A. conducting experiments*
B. making initial observations
C. proposing a theory
5. A scientist wishes to test a new antibiotic’s ability to treat stubborn bacterial infections. He
tests his hypothesis that the antibiotic works better than existing treatments by giving
bacterial infections to mice and treating them with the antibiotic. He then determines how
many of the mice recover from their infections. What is missing from his experimental
design? (Outcome #Ib) (DOK 3) (Paired Item 1)
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,OpenStax College Concepts of Biology Supplemental Test Items
Chapter 01: Introduction to Biology
A. He is missing a control group of mice that received a half dose of the new antibiotic.
B. He is missing a control group of mice that did not receive the new antibiotic.*
C. Nothing is missing—he has done everything he needs to do for this to be a
successful experiment.
6. A scientist wants to determine whether a new chemical she isolated can cure a certain
disease. To test her hypothesis that the new chemical cures the disease more effectively
than current treatments, she infects mice with the disease and gives them the new
chemical. She then assesses how many mice were cured of the disease. What is missing
from her experimental design? (Outcome #Ib) (DOK 3) (Paired Item 2)
A. She is not missing anything—her experimental design is adequate to test her
hypothesis.
B. She is missing a control group of mice that received a half dose of the new chemical.
C. She is missing a control group of mice that did not receive the new chemical.*
7. A scientist believes that she has found a new life form. Which of the following conditions is
not considered essential in determining whether the putative new life form is alive?
(Outcome #Ic) (DOK 2) (Paired Item 1)
A. The creature possesses purposeful anatomical structures that differ from one
another.
B. The creature’s body is bilaterally symmetrical.*
C. The creature seems to react to being touched.
8. A scientist discovers a putative new life form and notes that the creature’s body is
bilaterally symmetrical and consequently satisfies the criteria for defining life in which of
the following categories? (Outcome #Ic) (DOK 2) (Paired Item 2)
A. none, symmetry is not a basic characteristic of life*
B. order
C. growth and development
9. Which of the following lists correctly presents levels of organization from simplest to most
complex? (Outcome #Ic) (DOK 2) (Paired Item 1)
A. organs, organ systems, organelles, organisms
B. biosphere, atoms, communities, organisms
C. molecules, cells, populations, ecosystems*
10. Which of the following lists correctly presents levels of organization from most complex to
simplest? (Outcome #Ic) (DOK 2) (Paired Item 2)
A. cell, organelle, atom, molecule
B. biosphere, community, organism, organ system*
C. macromolecule, population, community, ecosystem
11. An “educated guess” as to what causes an observed phenomenon is known as a: (Outcome
#1) (DOK 1)
A. theory
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,OpenStax College Concepts of Biology Supplemental Test Items
Chapter 01: Introduction to Biology
B. hypothesis*
C. control
12. Why are theories stronger and more reliable than hypotheses? (Outcome #1) (DOK 2)
A. because we believe in them more
B. because they have a control group
C. because they are based on many experimentally tested hypotheses*
Page 3 of 3
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,OpenStax College Concepts of Biology Supplemental Test Items
Chapter 02: Chemistry of Life
Supplemental Test Items to accompany OpenStax College Concepts of Biology. Note that not all chapters
of OpenStax College Concepts of Biology have accompanying test items. Building on the community-
oriented nature of OpenStax College resources, we invite you to submit items to be considered for
future inclusion.
Chapter 02: Chemistry of Life
1. Water molecules have one oxygen atom that is more electronegative than the two
hydrogen atoms bound to it. As a result, which type of bonding holds water molecules
together? (Outcome #Id) (DOK 2) (Paired Item 1)
A. non-polar covalent bonding
B. polar covalent bonding*
C. ionic bonding
2. Which of the following statements correctly identifies and describes the type of covalent
bond found between oxygen and hydrogen in water molecules? (Outcome #Id) (DOK 2)
(Paired Item 2)
A. polar covalent bonds because hydrogen is more electronegative than oxygen
B. hydrogen bonds because hydrogen is more electronegative than oxygen
C. polar covalent bonds because oxygen is more electronegative than hydrogen*
3. A team of researchers is investigating a new carbon-rich molecule important to life. They
find evidence for the presence of both cis and trans isomers of the molecule in a mixture of
near-pure molecules. Which of the following must be contained in the new molecule?
(Outcome #Id) (DOK 2) (Paired Item 1)
A. a double bond*
B. an aliphatic hydrocarbon
C. a hydrocarbon ring structure
4. A team of researchers is investigating a new carbon-rich molecule important to life. They
find evidence for the presence of a carbon-carbon double bond in the molecule. This
observation means that the new molecule likely exists as which of following? (Outcome #Id)
(DOK 2) (Paired Item 2)
A. a hydrocarbon ring
B. both cis and trans isomers*
C. an aliphatic hydrocarbon
5. Consider the following chemical equation which depicts the mechanism by which humans
maintain an acid-base balance in the blood:
H+ + HCO3- ↔ H2CO3 ↔ H20 + CO2
What happens if the carbon dioxide on the right is not removed from the blood via the
lungs? (Outcome #Id) (DOK 3) (Paired Item 1)
A. The reaction will be driven toward the left, resulting in the blood becoming more
acidic.*
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Chapter 02: Chemistry of Life
B. The reaction will be driven toward the left, resulting in the blood becoming more
basic.
C. The reaction will be driven toward the center, and the pH of the blood will remain
neutral.
6. Consider the following chemical equation which depicts the mechanism by which humans
maintain an acid-base balance in the blood:
H+ + HCO3- ↔ H2CO3 ↔ H20 + CO2
What happens in this reaction if the blood becomes more acidic, and what is the
physiological response? (Outcome #Id) (DOK 3) (Paired Item 2)
A. The reaction will be driven toward the left, and the blood will become more basic.
B. The reaction will be driven toward the right, and more CO2 will be removed via
exhalation.*
C. The reaction will be driven toward the center, and the pH of the blood will remain
neutral.
7. A biologist isolates a large, unidentified molecule from some cells in his lab. What type of
reaction could he initiate to determine whether the molecule is a polymer and, thus, a
macromolecule? (Outcome #Ie) (DOK 2) (Paired Item 1)
A. condensation
B. dehydration
C. hydrolysis*
8. A biologist isolates a large, unidentified molecule from some cells in his lab. He determines
that the macromolecule breaks into smaller pieces with the concomitant loss of water.
What reaction has he observed? (Outcome #Ie) (DOK 2) (Paired Item 2)
A. hydrolysis*
B. condensation
C. dehydration
9. The disease called sickle-cell anemia is caused by a change in a single amino acid residue in
the hemoglobin protein, resulting in a distortion of the protein’s shape at which levels?
(Outcome #Ie) (DOK 2)
A. primary and quaternary
B. primary and secondary*
C. secondary and tertiary
10. Why are humans unable to digest cellulose? (Outcome #Ie) (DOK 2)
A. Cellulose is made of glucose molecules connected by β 1-4 glycosidic linkages.*
B. Cellulose is made of glucose molecules connected by α 1-4 glycosidic linkages.
C. Cellulose is made of glucose molecules connected by α 1-6 glycosidic linkages.
11. A biochemist is analyzing an aqueous solution of a pure unidentified macromolecule that
she isolated from the cytosolic fraction of plant cells. After adding an enzyme that catalyzes
Page 2 of 5
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from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. Licensed Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.
,OpenStax College Concepts of Biology Supplemental Test Items
Chapter 02: Chemistry of Life
the breaking of phosphodiester bonds, she observes that the macromolecule disappears.
What is the most likely explanation? (Outcome #Ie) (DOK 3) (Paired Item 1)
A. The macromolecule was a polysaccharide from the cell wall.
B. The macromolecule was DNA from the chloroplast and mitochondria.*
C. The macromolecule was a protein from the cytosol.
12. A biochemist is analyzing an aqueous solution of a pure unidentified macromolecule that
she isolated from the cytosolic fraction of plant cells. She determined that the
macromolecule is probably DNA from chloroplasts and mitochondria by adding an enzyme
that catalyzed the destruction of the macromolecule. The enzyme most likely broke which
type of bonds? (Outcome #Ie) (DOK 3) (Paired Item 2)
A. glycosidic
B. peptide
C. phosphodiester*
13. Why are amino acids called “amino acids?” (Outcome #Id) (DOK 1)
A. They are single molecules that contain both an amine group and a carboxylic acid
group.*
B. They are subunits of macromolecules that act as both strong acids and strong bases
in solution.
C. They are acidic and were first discovered by a Russian researcher by the name of
Aminov.
14. The “backbones” of the macromolecules of life made of what element? (Outcome #1) (DOK
1)
A. carbon*
B. nitrogen
C. oxygen
15. Which of the following elements is not particularly associated with living things? (Outcome
#1) (DOK 1)
A. nitrogen
B. silicon*
C. oxygen
16. How did the hydrocarbons found in petroleum products such as gasoline get their energy?
(Outcome #1) (DOK 3)
A. from the decay of non-living substances
B. from fossilized molecules built up in previously existing living organisms*
C. from kinetic energy
17. A molecule with more than one type of elements is known as a: (Outcome #1) (DOK 1)
A. macromolecule
B. protein
C. compound*
18. Which of the following macromolecules are made from amino acids? (Outcome #1) (DOK 1)
A. proteins*
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Chapter 02: Chemistry of Life
B. complex carbohydrates
C. nucleic acids
19. Which of the following macromolecules are made from simple sugars? (Outcome #1) (DOK
1)
A. proteins
B. complex carbohydrates*
C. nucleic acids
20. Which of the following macromolecules are associated with RNA and DNA? (Outcome #1)
(DOK 1)
A. proteins*
B. complex carbohydrates
C. nucleic acids
21. Fatty acids are a component of what type of macromolecule? (Outcome #1) (DOK 1)
A. lipids*
B. complex carbohydrates
C. nucleic acids
22. Water molecules attract one another via: (Outcome #1) (DOK 1)
A. covalent bonds
B. ionic bonds
C. hydrogen bonds*
23. What type of chemical bond stabilizes the 3 dimensional shapes of nucleic acids and
proteins: (Outcome #1) (DOK 1)
A. covalent bonds
B. ionic bonds
C. hydrogen bonds*
24. What type of chemical bond stabilizes crystals of table salt? (Outcome #1) (DOK 1)
A. covalent bonds
B. ionic bonds*
C. hydrogen bonds
25. Atoms that gain or lose electrons are known as: (Outcome #1) (DOK 1)
A. elements
B. molecules
C. ions*
26. The chemical group on an amino acid that distinguishes one form another is known as the:
(Outcome #1) (DOK 1)
A. R group*
B. P group
C. C group
27. The chemical bond between amino acids is called a _______ bond. (Outcome #1) (DOK 1)
A. phosphodiester
B. hydrogen
C. peptide*
28. What level of protein structure is associated with the sequence of amino acids? (Outcome
#1) (DOK 1)
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,OpenStax College Concepts of Biology Supplemental Test Items
Chapter 02: Chemistry of Life
A. primary*
B. secondary
C. tertiary
29. What level of protein structure is associated the alpha helix and beta-pleated sheet?
(Outcome #1) (DOK 1)
A. primary
B. secondary*
C. tertiary
30. Proteins with more than one polypeptide chain are said to have a ______ structure.
(Outcome #1) (DOK 1)
A. quaternary*
B. secondary
C. tertiary
31. Why does heating up a protein such as an enzyme cause it to lose function? (Outcome #1)
(DOK 3)
A. because it burns up
B. because it loses its shape*
C. because it works best at low temperatures
32. Explain why cooked egg white never turns back into the clear egg white seen in a raw egg.
(Outcome #1) (DOK 3)
A. because the protein is denatured in raw egg white
B. because the protein is denatured in cooked egg white
C. because the denaturing of the egg proteins is not reversible*
33. Which of the following is not a component of a nucleotide? (Outcome #1) (DOK 1)
A. nitrogenous base
B. fatty acid*
C. sugar
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Chapter 03: Cell Structure and Function
Supplemental Test Items to accompany OpenStax College Concepts of Biology. Note that not all chapters
of OpenStax College Concepts of Biology have accompanying test items. Building on the community-
oriented nature of OpenStax College resources, we invite you to submit items to be considered for
future inclusion.
Chapter 03: Cell Structure and Function
1. Where is most of the DNA found in the cell? (Outcome #1) (DOK 2)
A. nucleus*
B. mitochondria
C. Golgi
2. The study of DNA and inheritance is known as: (Outcome #1) (DOK 1)
A. physiology
B. genetics*
C. anatomy
3. Why do charged molecules have difficulty crossing a phospholipid bilayer? (Outcome #1)
(DOK 1)
A. they are too big
B. they are too nonpolar
C. they are too polar*
4. The inside of a phospholipid bilayer is known as being: (Outcome #1) (DOK 1)
A. hydrophobic*
B. hypotonic
C. hydrophilic
5. Explain why phospholipids spontaneously form bilayer when mixed with water? (Outcome
#1) (DOK 3)
A. because they have on end that is polar and another that is non-polar*
B. because the polar tails come together in the inside of the membrane
C. because the polar head groups come together
6. What property of the phospholipid bilayer allows proteins to move laterally in the
membrane? (Outcome #1) (DOK 3)
A. proteins attract each other with opposite charges
B. phospholipid molecules are not covalently bonded to each other*
C. phospholipids are attracted to each other by opposite charges
7. Which type of microspore can be used to view cellular organelles such as the endoplasmic
reticulum and Golgi? (Outcome #2) (DOK 1)
A. light microscope
B. transmission electron microscope*
C. scanning electron microscope
8. Which if the following are found in eukaryotic cells but not prokaryotic cells? (Outcome #2)
(DOK 1)
A. Golgi body*
B. DNA
C. ribosomes
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Chapter 01: Introduction to Biology
Supplemental Test Items to accompany OpenStax College Concepts of Biology. Note that not all chapters
of OpenStax College Concepts of Biology have accompanying test items. Building on the community-
oriented nature of OpenStax College resources, we invite you to submit items to be considered for
future inclusion.
Chapter 01: Introduction to Biology
1. A scientist observes that when she opens the back door of her house to let her cat out, the
songs of a certain species of bird abruptly change. She wants to follow up on her
observations with an informal experiment. Which of the following is the best hypothesis for
explaining the birds’ song changes? (Outcome #Ia) (DOK 2) (Paired Item 1)
A. The bird species switches from song to warning call whenever it sees a potential
predator.*
B. The bird species has a variety of songs that it sings, regardless of what is happening
in its environment.
C. The scientist is mistaken and the songs do not change.
2. A scientist wants to test the hypothesis that a certain bird species in her back yard changes
its songs to warning calls whenever it detects the presence of a potential predator. Which
of the following most likely describes her initial observations? (Outcome #Ia) (DOK 2)
(Paired Item 2)
A. The scientist noticed that whenever she opened a door to her house, she heard
birds beginning to sing.
B. Each time the scientist let her cat outside, the birds abruptly changed their songs.*
C. The scientist noticed that the birds only appeared at certain times of the day, always
singing the same song during those times.
3. What is the main purpose of conducting experiments? (Outcome #Ib) (DOK 1) (Paired Item
1)
A. proving a theory
B. making initial observations
C. disproving a hypothesis*
4. The attempt to disprove a hypothesis is accomplished by which of the following tasks?
(Outcome #Ib) (DOK 1) (Paired Item 2)
A. conducting experiments*
B. making initial observations
C. proposing a theory
5. A scientist wishes to test a new antibiotic’s ability to treat stubborn bacterial infections. He
tests his hypothesis that the antibiotic works better than existing treatments by giving
bacterial infections to mice and treating them with the antibiotic. He then determines how
many of the mice recover from their infections. What is missing from his experimental
design? (Outcome #Ib) (DOK 3) (Paired Item 1)
Page 1 of 3
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from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. Licensed Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.
,OpenStax College Concepts of Biology Supplemental Test Items
Chapter 01: Introduction to Biology
A. He is missing a control group of mice that received a half dose of the new antibiotic.
B. He is missing a control group of mice that did not receive the new antibiotic.*
C. Nothing is missing—he has done everything he needs to do for this to be a
successful experiment.
6. A scientist wants to determine whether a new chemical she isolated can cure a certain
disease. To test her hypothesis that the new chemical cures the disease more effectively
than current treatments, she infects mice with the disease and gives them the new
chemical. She then assesses how many mice were cured of the disease. What is missing
from her experimental design? (Outcome #Ib) (DOK 3) (Paired Item 2)
A. She is not missing anything—her experimental design is adequate to test her
hypothesis.
B. She is missing a control group of mice that received a half dose of the new chemical.
C. She is missing a control group of mice that did not receive the new chemical.*
7. A scientist believes that she has found a new life form. Which of the following conditions is
not considered essential in determining whether the putative new life form is alive?
(Outcome #Ic) (DOK 2) (Paired Item 1)
A. The creature possesses purposeful anatomical structures that differ from one
another.
B. The creature’s body is bilaterally symmetrical.*
C. The creature seems to react to being touched.
8. A scientist discovers a putative new life form and notes that the creature’s body is
bilaterally symmetrical and consequently satisfies the criteria for defining life in which of
the following categories? (Outcome #Ic) (DOK 2) (Paired Item 2)
A. none, symmetry is not a basic characteristic of life*
B. order
C. growth and development
9. Which of the following lists correctly presents levels of organization from simplest to most
complex? (Outcome #Ic) (DOK 2) (Paired Item 1)
A. organs, organ systems, organelles, organisms
B. biosphere, atoms, communities, organisms
C. molecules, cells, populations, ecosystems*
10. Which of the following lists correctly presents levels of organization from most complex to
simplest? (Outcome #Ic) (DOK 2) (Paired Item 2)
A. cell, organelle, atom, molecule
B. biosphere, community, organism, organ system*
C. macromolecule, population, community, ecosystem
11. An “educated guess” as to what causes an observed phenomenon is known as a: (Outcome
#1) (DOK 1)
A. theory
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Chapter 01: Introduction to Biology
B. hypothesis*
C. control
12. Why are theories stronger and more reliable than hypotheses? (Outcome #1) (DOK 2)
A. because we believe in them more
B. because they have a control group
C. because they are based on many experimentally tested hypotheses*
Page 3 of 3
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from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. Licensed Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.
,OpenStax College Concepts of Biology Supplemental Test Items
Chapter 02: Chemistry of Life
Supplemental Test Items to accompany OpenStax College Concepts of Biology. Note that not all chapters
of OpenStax College Concepts of Biology have accompanying test items. Building on the community-
oriented nature of OpenStax College resources, we invite you to submit items to be considered for
future inclusion.
Chapter 02: Chemistry of Life
1. Water molecules have one oxygen atom that is more electronegative than the two
hydrogen atoms bound to it. As a result, which type of bonding holds water molecules
together? (Outcome #Id) (DOK 2) (Paired Item 1)
A. non-polar covalent bonding
B. polar covalent bonding*
C. ionic bonding
2. Which of the following statements correctly identifies and describes the type of covalent
bond found between oxygen and hydrogen in water molecules? (Outcome #Id) (DOK 2)
(Paired Item 2)
A. polar covalent bonds because hydrogen is more electronegative than oxygen
B. hydrogen bonds because hydrogen is more electronegative than oxygen
C. polar covalent bonds because oxygen is more electronegative than hydrogen*
3. A team of researchers is investigating a new carbon-rich molecule important to life. They
find evidence for the presence of both cis and trans isomers of the molecule in a mixture of
near-pure molecules. Which of the following must be contained in the new molecule?
(Outcome #Id) (DOK 2) (Paired Item 1)
A. a double bond*
B. an aliphatic hydrocarbon
C. a hydrocarbon ring structure
4. A team of researchers is investigating a new carbon-rich molecule important to life. They
find evidence for the presence of a carbon-carbon double bond in the molecule. This
observation means that the new molecule likely exists as which of following? (Outcome #Id)
(DOK 2) (Paired Item 2)
A. a hydrocarbon ring
B. both cis and trans isomers*
C. an aliphatic hydrocarbon
5. Consider the following chemical equation which depicts the mechanism by which humans
maintain an acid-base balance in the blood:
H+ + HCO3- ↔ H2CO3 ↔ H20 + CO2
What happens if the carbon dioxide on the right is not removed from the blood via the
lungs? (Outcome #Id) (DOK 3) (Paired Item 1)
A. The reaction will be driven toward the left, resulting in the blood becoming more
acidic.*
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Chapter 02: Chemistry of Life
B. The reaction will be driven toward the left, resulting in the blood becoming more
basic.
C. The reaction will be driven toward the center, and the pH of the blood will remain
neutral.
6. Consider the following chemical equation which depicts the mechanism by which humans
maintain an acid-base balance in the blood:
H+ + HCO3- ↔ H2CO3 ↔ H20 + CO2
What happens in this reaction if the blood becomes more acidic, and what is the
physiological response? (Outcome #Id) (DOK 3) (Paired Item 2)
A. The reaction will be driven toward the left, and the blood will become more basic.
B. The reaction will be driven toward the right, and more CO2 will be removed via
exhalation.*
C. The reaction will be driven toward the center, and the pH of the blood will remain
neutral.
7. A biologist isolates a large, unidentified molecule from some cells in his lab. What type of
reaction could he initiate to determine whether the molecule is a polymer and, thus, a
macromolecule? (Outcome #Ie) (DOK 2) (Paired Item 1)
A. condensation
B. dehydration
C. hydrolysis*
8. A biologist isolates a large, unidentified molecule from some cells in his lab. He determines
that the macromolecule breaks into smaller pieces with the concomitant loss of water.
What reaction has he observed? (Outcome #Ie) (DOK 2) (Paired Item 2)
A. hydrolysis*
B. condensation
C. dehydration
9. The disease called sickle-cell anemia is caused by a change in a single amino acid residue in
the hemoglobin protein, resulting in a distortion of the protein’s shape at which levels?
(Outcome #Ie) (DOK 2)
A. primary and quaternary
B. primary and secondary*
C. secondary and tertiary
10. Why are humans unable to digest cellulose? (Outcome #Ie) (DOK 2)
A. Cellulose is made of glucose molecules connected by β 1-4 glycosidic linkages.*
B. Cellulose is made of glucose molecules connected by α 1-4 glycosidic linkages.
C. Cellulose is made of glucose molecules connected by α 1-6 glycosidic linkages.
11. A biochemist is analyzing an aqueous solution of a pure unidentified macromolecule that
she isolated from the cytosolic fraction of plant cells. After adding an enzyme that catalyzes
Page 2 of 5
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from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. Licensed Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.
,OpenStax College Concepts of Biology Supplemental Test Items
Chapter 02: Chemistry of Life
the breaking of phosphodiester bonds, she observes that the macromolecule disappears.
What is the most likely explanation? (Outcome #Ie) (DOK 3) (Paired Item 1)
A. The macromolecule was a polysaccharide from the cell wall.
B. The macromolecule was DNA from the chloroplast and mitochondria.*
C. The macromolecule was a protein from the cytosol.
12. A biochemist is analyzing an aqueous solution of a pure unidentified macromolecule that
she isolated from the cytosolic fraction of plant cells. She determined that the
macromolecule is probably DNA from chloroplasts and mitochondria by adding an enzyme
that catalyzed the destruction of the macromolecule. The enzyme most likely broke which
type of bonds? (Outcome #Ie) (DOK 3) (Paired Item 2)
A. glycosidic
B. peptide
C. phosphodiester*
13. Why are amino acids called “amino acids?” (Outcome #Id) (DOK 1)
A. They are single molecules that contain both an amine group and a carboxylic acid
group.*
B. They are subunits of macromolecules that act as both strong acids and strong bases
in solution.
C. They are acidic and were first discovered by a Russian researcher by the name of
Aminov.
14. The “backbones” of the macromolecules of life made of what element? (Outcome #1) (DOK
1)
A. carbon*
B. nitrogen
C. oxygen
15. Which of the following elements is not particularly associated with living things? (Outcome
#1) (DOK 1)
A. nitrogen
B. silicon*
C. oxygen
16. How did the hydrocarbons found in petroleum products such as gasoline get their energy?
(Outcome #1) (DOK 3)
A. from the decay of non-living substances
B. from fossilized molecules built up in previously existing living organisms*
C. from kinetic energy
17. A molecule with more than one type of elements is known as a: (Outcome #1) (DOK 1)
A. macromolecule
B. protein
C. compound*
18. Which of the following macromolecules are made from amino acids? (Outcome #1) (DOK 1)
A. proteins*
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Chapter 02: Chemistry of Life
B. complex carbohydrates
C. nucleic acids
19. Which of the following macromolecules are made from simple sugars? (Outcome #1) (DOK
1)
A. proteins
B. complex carbohydrates*
C. nucleic acids
20. Which of the following macromolecules are associated with RNA and DNA? (Outcome #1)
(DOK 1)
A. proteins*
B. complex carbohydrates
C. nucleic acids
21. Fatty acids are a component of what type of macromolecule? (Outcome #1) (DOK 1)
A. lipids*
B. complex carbohydrates
C. nucleic acids
22. Water molecules attract one another via: (Outcome #1) (DOK 1)
A. covalent bonds
B. ionic bonds
C. hydrogen bonds*
23. What type of chemical bond stabilizes the 3 dimensional shapes of nucleic acids and
proteins: (Outcome #1) (DOK 1)
A. covalent bonds
B. ionic bonds
C. hydrogen bonds*
24. What type of chemical bond stabilizes crystals of table salt? (Outcome #1) (DOK 1)
A. covalent bonds
B. ionic bonds*
C. hydrogen bonds
25. Atoms that gain or lose electrons are known as: (Outcome #1) (DOK 1)
A. elements
B. molecules
C. ions*
26. The chemical group on an amino acid that distinguishes one form another is known as the:
(Outcome #1) (DOK 1)
A. R group*
B. P group
C. C group
27. The chemical bond between amino acids is called a _______ bond. (Outcome #1) (DOK 1)
A. phosphodiester
B. hydrogen
C. peptide*
28. What level of protein structure is associated with the sequence of amino acids? (Outcome
#1) (DOK 1)
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Chapter 02: Chemistry of Life
A. primary*
B. secondary
C. tertiary
29. What level of protein structure is associated the alpha helix and beta-pleated sheet?
(Outcome #1) (DOK 1)
A. primary
B. secondary*
C. tertiary
30. Proteins with more than one polypeptide chain are said to have a ______ structure.
(Outcome #1) (DOK 1)
A. quaternary*
B. secondary
C. tertiary
31. Why does heating up a protein such as an enzyme cause it to lose function? (Outcome #1)
(DOK 3)
A. because it burns up
B. because it loses its shape*
C. because it works best at low temperatures
32. Explain why cooked egg white never turns back into the clear egg white seen in a raw egg.
(Outcome #1) (DOK 3)
A. because the protein is denatured in raw egg white
B. because the protein is denatured in cooked egg white
C. because the denaturing of the egg proteins is not reversible*
33. Which of the following is not a component of a nucleotide? (Outcome #1) (DOK 1)
A. nitrogenous base
B. fatty acid*
C. sugar
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Chapter 03: Cell Structure and Function
Supplemental Test Items to accompany OpenStax College Concepts of Biology. Note that not all chapters
of OpenStax College Concepts of Biology have accompanying test items. Building on the community-
oriented nature of OpenStax College resources, we invite you to submit items to be considered for
future inclusion.
Chapter 03: Cell Structure and Function
1. Where is most of the DNA found in the cell? (Outcome #1) (DOK 2)
A. nucleus*
B. mitochondria
C. Golgi
2. The study of DNA and inheritance is known as: (Outcome #1) (DOK 1)
A. physiology
B. genetics*
C. anatomy
3. Why do charged molecules have difficulty crossing a phospholipid bilayer? (Outcome #1)
(DOK 1)
A. they are too big
B. they are too nonpolar
C. they are too polar*
4. The inside of a phospholipid bilayer is known as being: (Outcome #1) (DOK 1)
A. hydrophobic*
B. hypotonic
C. hydrophilic
5. Explain why phospholipids spontaneously form bilayer when mixed with water? (Outcome
#1) (DOK 3)
A. because they have on end that is polar and another that is non-polar*
B. because the polar tails come together in the inside of the membrane
C. because the polar head groups come together
6. What property of the phospholipid bilayer allows proteins to move laterally in the
membrane? (Outcome #1) (DOK 3)
A. proteins attract each other with opposite charges
B. phospholipid molecules are not covalently bonded to each other*
C. phospholipids are attracted to each other by opposite charges
7. Which type of microspore can be used to view cellular organelles such as the endoplasmic
reticulum and Golgi? (Outcome #2) (DOK 1)
A. light microscope
B. transmission electron microscope*
C. scanning electron microscope
8. Which if the following are found in eukaryotic cells but not prokaryotic cells? (Outcome #2)
(DOK 1)
A. Golgi body*
B. DNA
C. ribosomes
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