Question 1

Which of the following is NOT a property shared by all living things, according to biologists?

Accepted Answer

They are able to photosynthesize.

Question 2

A scientist is studying a newly discovered microscopic entity. It has a complex structure, can evolve over time, but cannot reproduce on its own. According to the properties of life, how should this entity be classified?

Accepted Answer

It is likely a virus, which is not considered alive by most biologists.

Question 3

Which of the following best illustrates the concept of 'emergent properties' in biological systems?

Accepted Answer

A cell can reproduce itself, but its individual molecules cannot.

Question 4

In a controlled experiment testing the effect of a new fertilizer on plant growth, which of the following is the dependent variable?

Accepted Answer

The height of the plants after a set period.

Question 5

A researcher wants to test whether a new drug reduces blood pressure. She gives the drug to one group and a sugar pill to another, without telling the participants which they receive. What is this experimental design called?

Accepted Answer

Single-blind experiment

Question 6

Which of the following statements about scientific theories is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

A scientific theory is a well-supported explanation that can explain a wide range of observations.

Question 7

Which of the following best describes the relationship between structure and function in biology?

Accepted Answer

The structure of a biological component often determines its function.

Question 8

A student claims that eating carrots improves night vision. She designs an experiment where one group eats carrots and another does not, but both groups are told they are eating foods to improve vision. What is the purpose of this design?

Accepted Answer

To control for the placebo effect.

Question 9

Which of the following is an example of a hypothesis that is both testable and falsifiable?

Accepted Answer

Switching to cake flour will result in taller cookies than using all-purpose flour.

Question 10

Which of the following best explains why the phrase 'just a theory' is inappropriate when referring to scientific theories?

Accepted Answer

Scientific theories are well-supported by objective data and can explain many observations.

Question 11

A biologist observes that elephants have large, thin ears. Which major theme of biology does this observation best illustrate?

Accepted Answer

Structure and function correlation

Question 12

Which of the following is an example of a negative control in an experiment?

Accepted Answer

A group that receives no treatment and is not expected to change.

Question 13

Which of the following best describes the flow of information in biological systems?

Accepted Answer

Genes encode information in a chemical language common to all organisms.

Question 14

A scientist wants to study the effect of temperature on the rate of photosynthesis in plants. She keeps all variables constant except temperature. What is the independent variable in this experiment?

Accepted Answer

The temperature at which the plants are kept

Question 15

Which of the following scenarios best demonstrates the process of evolution by natural selection?

Accepted Answer

A population of bacteria becomes resistant to antibiotics over several generations.

Question 16

Which of the following is a fact, as defined in scientific terms?

Accepted Answer

Elephants are the largest land animals.

Question 17

A student reads an article online claiming a new diet can cure all diseases. According to scientific thinking, what is the best first step to evaluate this claim?

Accepted Answer

Check if the article cites reliable scientific sources and evidence.

Question 18

Which of the following best describes the difference between an experimental and an observational study?

Accepted Answer

Experimental studies manipulate variables, while observational studies do not.

Question 19

A scientist is investigating the effect of light intensity on the rate of photosynthesis. She measures the rate at different light intensities and plots the data. Which type of graph would best display this relationship?

Accepted Answer

Line graph

Question 20

Which of the following best illustrates the theme of interconnections within and between levels of biological systems?

Accepted Answer

The function of an organ depends on the coordinated activity of its cells and tissues.

Chapter 1: An Introduction to the Science of Life – Study Notes

Study Guide - Practice Questions

Study Guide - Flashcards