Question 1

Which of the following best describes the relationship between monomers and polymers in biological macromolecules?

Accepted Answer

Monomers are small molecules that are joined together by dehydration synthesis to form polymers.

Question 2

During the digestion of starch in the human body, which chemical reaction is primarily responsible for breaking the polymer into its monomeric units?

Accepted Answer

Hydrolysis, which adds a water molecule to break the glycosidic bonds.

Question 3

Which of the following is the correct name for the covalent bond that links monosaccharides together in carbohydrates?

Accepted Answer

Glycosidic bond

Question 4

Which polysaccharide serves as the main storage form of carbohydrates in animals, and what is its primary function?

Accepted Answer

Glycogen; it stores glucose for energy in liver and muscle cells.

Question 5

Cellulose and starch are both polymers of glucose. Which of the following best explains why humans can digest starch but not cellulose?

Accepted Answer

Humans have enzymes that hydrolyze $$\alpha-1$$,4 glycosidic bonds in starch, but not the $$\beta-1$$,4 glycosidic bonds in cellulose.

Question 6

Which of the following statements about phospholipids is correct?

Accepted Answer

They are amphipathic, meaning they have both hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions.

Question 7

Why is the amphipathic nature of phospholipids critical for the formation of biological membranes?

Accepted Answer

It allows them to form bilayers, with hydrophobic tails facing inward and hydrophilic heads facing outward, creating a selective barrier.

Question 8

Which of the following correctly matches the macromolecule with its monomer and the type of bond linking the monomers?

Accepted Answer

Protein – amino acid – peptide bond

Question 9

A mutation in the DNA sequence of a gene leads to a change in a single amino acid in a protein. Which level(s) of protein structure could be directly affected by this change?

Accepted Answer

Primary, and potentially secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures

Question 10

Which of the following best describes the secondary structure of a protein?

Accepted Answer

Regular folding patterns such as $$\alpha-$$helices and $$\beta-$$pleated sheets stabilized by hydrogen bonds.

Question 11

Which of the following is a function of proteins in cells?

Accepted Answer

Catalyzing biochemical reactions as enzymes

Question 12

Which of the following best describes the general structure of an amino acid?

Accepted Answer

A central carbon atom bonded to an amino group ($$-\mathrm{NH}_2$$), a carboxyl group ($$-\mathrm{COOH}$$), a hydrogen atom, and a variable R group.

Question 13

Which of the following correctly differentiates between purines and pyrimidines in nucleic acids?

Accepted Answer

Purines have a double-ring structure (adenine and guanine), while pyrimidines have a single-ring structure (cytosine, thymine, and uracil).

Question 14

Which of the following is the correct name for the covalent bond that links nucleotides together in nucleic acids?

Accepted Answer

Phosphodiester bond

Question 15

A scientist is analyzing a sample of plant tissue and finds a polysaccharide composed entirely of glucose monomers joined by $$\alpha-1$$,4 and $$\alpha-1$$,6 glycosidic bonds. Which polysaccharide is this most likely to be?

Accepted Answer

Starch

Question 16

Which of the following best explains the difference between the 3’ and 5’ ends of a nucleotide sequence in DNA?

Accepted Answer

The 5’ end has a phosphate group attached to the fifth carbon of the sugar, while the 3’ end has a hydroxyl group attached to the third carbon.

Question 17

Which of the following is NOT a function of nucleic acids in cells?

Accepted Answer

Catalyzing metabolic reactions as enzymes

Question 18

A patient is diagnosed with a genetic disorder that results in the production of a misfolded enzyme. Which level of protein structure is most directly responsible for the enzyme’s specific function, and why?

Accepted Answer

Tertiary structure, because it determines the three-dimensional shape and active site of the enzyme.

Question 19

Which of the following best describes a dehydration synthesis reaction?

Accepted Answer

A reaction in which two monomers are joined by removing a molecule of water.

Question 20

Which of the following is a correct example of a lipid and its function in the cell?

Accepted Answer

Triglyceride; long-term energy storage

Chapter 5: Macromolecules – Guided Study for General Biology

Study Guide - Practice Questions

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