Question 1

Which of the following best describes an 'emergent property' in biological systems?

Accepted Answer

A property that arises from the interaction of parts within a system, which cannot be predicted by examining the parts in isolation.

Question 2

Place the following levels of biological organization in the correct sequence from smallest to largest: 1) Organism, 2) Cell, 3) Ecosystem, 4) Tissue, 5) Population.

Accepted Answer

2, 4, 1, 5, 3

Question 3

Which four elements make up more than 95% of the human body’s mass?

Accepted Answer

Oxygen, Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen

Question 4

Which type of bond is formed when two atoms share electrons unequally due to a difference in electronegativity?

Accepted Answer

Polar covalent bond

Question 5

Water molecules are able to form hydrogen bonds with each other. Which property of water molecules allows this to occur?

Accepted Answer

The presence of partial positive and negative charges due to polar covalent bonds

Question 6

Which of the following best explains why ice floats on liquid water?

Accepted Answer

Hydrogen bonds stabilize and keep water molecules farther apart in ice than in liquid water.

Question 7

A dehydration synthesis reaction is best described as:

Accepted Answer

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

Question 8

Which of the following macromolecules is NOT formed by the polymerization of monomers?

Accepted Answer

Lipids

Question 9

Which type of lipid is the main component of cell membranes?

Accepted Answer

Phospholipids

Question 10

Which of the following statements about saturated and unsaturated fatty acids is correct?

Accepted Answer

Saturated fatty acids have no double bonds between carbon atoms and tend to be solid at room temperature.

Question 11

Which of the following best describes the structure of a nucleotide?

Accepted Answer

A phosphate group, a five-carbon sugar, and a nitrogenous base

Question 12

Which level of protein structure is characterized by alpha-helices and beta-pleated sheets stabilized by hydrogen bonds?

Accepted Answer

Secondary structure

Question 13

Which of the following is a function of the rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in eukaryotic cells?

Accepted Answer

Synthesis of proteins to be secreted or inserted into membranes

Question 14

Which organelle is primarily responsible for the production of ATP in eukaryotic cells?

Accepted Answer

Mitochondrion

Question 15

According to the endosymbiont theory, which of the following is evidence that mitochondria originated from free-living prokaryotes?

Accepted Answer

Mitochondria have their own circular DNA and double membranes.

Question 16

Which of the following best distinguishes prokaryotic cells from eukaryotic cells?

Accepted Answer

Prokaryotic cells lack a membrane-bound nucleus.

Question 17

A scientist is studying a protein that is secreted from the cell. Which of the following best describes the path this protein takes from synthesis to secretion?

Accepted Answer

Rough ER → Golgi apparatus → vesicle → plasma membrane

Question 18

Which of the following best explains why phospholipids form bilayers in aqueous environments?

Accepted Answer

Their hydrophilic heads interact with water while their hydrophobic tails avoid water.

Question 19

Which of the following best describes the difference between monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides?

Accepted Answer

Monosaccharides are single sugar units, disaccharides are two sugars joined together, and polysaccharides are long chains of sugars.

General Biology I: Core Concepts and Study Guide

Study Guide - Practice Questions

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