Question 1

Which of the following best describes the hierarchical organization of life from smallest to largest?

Accepted Answer

Atom → Molecule → Organelle → Cell → Tissue → Organ → Organism → Population → Community → Ecosystem → Biosphere

Question 2

Which of the following statements best explains the concept of emergent properties in biology?

Accepted Answer

Emergent properties are characteristics that arise at each new level of biological organization that are not present at the preceding level.

Question 3

A scientist observes that a certain enzyme only functions at a specific pH. Which step of the scientific method is the scientist performing if they propose that changing the pH will alter enzyme activity?

Accepted Answer

Formulating a hypothesis

Question 4

Which of the following correctly defines an isotope?

Accepted Answer

Atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons

Question 5

Which type of chemical bond is formed when two atoms share electrons unequally, resulting in partial charges on the atoms?

Accepted Answer

Polar covalent bond

Question 6

Water has a high surface tension due to which property?

Accepted Answer

Hydrogen bonding between water molecules

Question 7

If the concentration of hydrogen ions $[H^+]$ in a solution increases from $1 	imes 10^{-7}$ M to $1 	imes 10^{-5}$ M, what happens to the pH?

Accepted Answer

The pH decreases by 2 units

Question 8

Which functional group is present in all amino acids and is responsible for their acidic properties?

Accepted Answer

Carboxyl group ($-COOH$)

Question 9

Which of the following best describes the difference between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids?

Accepted Answer

Saturated fatty acids have no double bonds between carbon atoms, while unsaturated fatty acids have one or more double bonds.

Question 10

A protein's tertiary structure is primarily stabilized by which of the following interactions?

Accepted Answer

Interactions between R groups (side chains) of amino acids

Question 11

Which of the following statements about DNA and RNA is correct?

Accepted Answer

DNA contains deoxyribose sugar, while RNA contains ribose sugar.

Question 12

Which of the following best explains why cells are small in size?

Accepted Answer

A high surface area to volume ratio allows for efficient exchange of materials with the environment.

Question 13

Which organelle is responsible for the synthesis of proteins that are exported from the cell?

Accepted Answer

Rough endoplasmic reticulum

Question 14

Which of the following is a function of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in animal cells?

Accepted Answer

Providing structural support and mediating cell signaling

Question 15

Which of the following best describes the endosymbiotic theory for the origin of mitochondria and chloroplasts?

Accepted Answer

Mitochondria and chloroplasts originated from free-living prokaryotes that were engulfed by ancestral eukaryotic cells.

Question 16

A solution has a pH of 4. What is the concentration of hydrogen ions $[H^+]$ in this solution?

Accepted Answer

$1 	imes 10^{-4}$ M

Question 17

Which of the following best describes the role of ribosomes in the cell?

Accepted Answer

They are the sites of protein synthesis, translating mRNA into polypeptides.

Question 18

Which of the following is a correct pairing of a macromolecule and its monomer?

Accepted Answer

Protein – Amino acid

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

They have hydrophilic heads and hydrophobic tails, causing them to arrange with heads facing water and tails facing inward.

Question 20

Which of the following best describes the difference between a scientific hypothesis and a scientific theory?

Accepted Answer

A hypothesis is a testable explanation for an observation, while a theory is a well-supported, broad explanation for a wide range of phenomena.

General Biology I: Unit 1 Study Guide – Foundations of Life, Chemistry, Macromolecules, and Cells

Study Guide - Practice Questions

Study Guide - Flashcards