Question 1

Which of the following best describes a hypothesis in the scientific method?

Accepted Answer

A plausible explanation that arises from observations and can be tested with additional observations

Question 2

A scientist observes that a certain plant grows faster in sunlight than in shade. She proposes that increased sunlight increases the rate of photosynthesis, leading to faster growth. Which step of the scientific method is she performing?

Accepted Answer

Constructing a hypothesis

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

Growth of the plant measured (e.g., height or biomass)

Question 4

Which of the following statements about standard deviation is correct?

Accepted Answer

Standard deviation measures how spread out data are from the mean

Question 5

A student collects the following data set: 4, 6, 8, 10, 12. What is the mean ($$\bar{x}) of $$this data set?

Accepted Answer

$$\bar{x} = 8$$

Question 6

Which of the following is an example of inductive reasoning in biology?

Accepted Answer

Predicting that all mammals have hair because you have observed hair on several mammal species

Question 7

Which level of biological organization is defined as all living things in a particular area plus the abiotic components they interact with?

Accepted Answer

Ecosystem

Question 8

Which of the following statements about DNA is correct?

Accepted Answer

DNA consists of two strands arranged in a double helix

Question 9

Which of the following best describes the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?

Accepted Answer

Eukaryotic cells have membrane-bound organelles, prokaryotic cells do not

Question 10

Which of the following is the correct order of hierarchical classification from broadest to most specific?

Accepted Answer

Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT a property shared by all cells?

Accepted Answer

Having a nucleus

Question 12

According to the endosymbiotic theory, which organelles are believed to have originated from free-living prokaryotes engulfed by a host cell?

Accepted Answer

Mitochondria and chloroplasts

Question 13

During which phase of mitosis do sister chromatids separate and move toward opposite ends of the cell?

Accepted Answer

Anaphase

Question 14

A scientist is studying a newly discovered organism that is unicellular, lacks a nucleus, and lives in extremely salty environments. To which domain does this organism most likely belong?

Accepted Answer

Domain Archaea

Question 15

Which of the following best describes the function of ribosomes in a cell?

Accepted Answer

Carrying out protein synthesis

Question 16

Which of the following statements about homologous chromosomes is correct?

Accepted Answer

They carry the same genes in the same order, but may have different alleles

Question 17

Which of the following is an emergent property at the level of tissues that is not present at the level of individual cells?

Accepted Answer

Coordinated contraction to produce movement

Question 18

Which of the following best explains why standard error of the mean ($$SE) $$decreases as sample size increases?

Accepted Answer

Because $$SE = \frac{SD}{\sqrt{n}}$$, increasing $$n$$ decreases $$SE$$

Question 19

Which of the following is a correct example of binomial nomenclature?

Accepted Answer

Homo sapiens

Question 20

Which of the following is a function of the Golgi apparatus in eukaryotic cells?

Accepted Answer

Sorting, modifying, and directing proteins and lipids to final destinations

General Biology: Foundations, Cell Structure, and Cell Division

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