Questions and Answers
the colony behaviors of social insects, the laws of classical mechanics and weather
patterns are all examples of which of the following characteristics of complex
natural systems?
a. efficient energy conversion
b. positive feedback loops
c. emergent properties
d. boundary maintenance - Correct answer-c. emergent properties
each number in a Fibonacci sequence is the sum of the two previous numbers.
which of the following natural phenomena has been described using a Fibonacci
sequence?
a. the rate of growth of a seedling, such that the ratio of the length of the stem to
the length of the root remains constant
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,b. the arrangement of lev es on a stem, such that the arrangement minimizes the
degree to which they shade each other
c. the increase in bone diameter of young mammals, such that the bones of the legs
can support the weight of the body as it grows
d. the foraging behavior of predators, such that every square meter in a territory is
searched - Correct answer-b. the arrangement of lev es on a stem, such that the
arrangement minimizes the degree to which they shade each other
during the time that Charles Darwin was developing his ideas on "descent with
modification" which later became better known as Darwins theory of evolution, his
views were most strongly supported by:
a. George cuviers theory of catratophism
b. jean-baptiste lamarcks theory of the inheritance of acquired characteristics
c. gregor menders work on patterns of inheritance
d. Alfred Russel Wallace's work on the geographic distribution of species - Correct
answer-d. Alfred Russel Wallace's work on the geographic distribution of species
a population of frogs undergoes a dramatic increase during an unseasonably hot
summer. a scientists carefully designs and performs an experiment to test the
hypothesis that the higher than average water temperatures that have been observed
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,are causing female frogs to lay more eggs than usual. if the data does not support
the hypothesis what is the most appropriate NEXT step for the scientists to take?
a. considering the factors that might affect population size and formulating a new
hypothesis
b. using the different experimental design with better controls
c. concluding that water temperature is not a factor in the increased population
numbers
d. asking a colleague in a different laboratory to replicate the experiment - Correct
answer-a. considering the factors that might affect population size and formulating
a new hypothesis
in the classroom, a physical model would be most helpful in illustrating which of
the following biological concepts? (c)
a. the dimensions of an ecological niche
b. the construction of a Punnett square
c. the construction of a DNA model
d. the configuration of the genetic code - Correct answer-c. the construction of a
DNA model
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, two bird species regularly visit feeders for sunflower seeds during the winter. for a
month, several students take turns watching the feeding station from 6:30 to 7:30
every morning and recording their observations. they find that whenever
individuals of one species arrive at the feeder, individuals of the other species
leave. the students conclude that competition for food between the species is an
important factor in their ecological relationship.
the students' conclusion described in the passage would be most strengthened by
adding which of the following elements to their study?
a. including more than one type of food resource at the feeding station
b. observing the feeding behaviors of both species under natural conditions
c. recording feeding behaviors at different times during the day
d. having the students work in pairs while making the observation - Correct
answer-b. observing the feeding behaviors of both species under natural conditions
to remove pigments from the leaves of a plant, wilted leaves from the plant are
places in a flask of alcohol. the alcohol must be heated just to its boiling point to
remove the pigments from th leaves. which of the following is the most appropriate
procedure for heating the alcohol and the leaves?
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