Question 1

Which of the following best describes the five fundamental traits shared by all living things?

Accepted Answer

They are composed of cells, use energy, respond to stimuli, reproduce, and evolve.

Question 2

Pasteur’s experiment with straight-necked and swan-necked flasks was designed to test which theory?

Accepted Answer

The theory that cells arise from preexisting cells.

Question 3

Which of the following best describes the central dogma of molecular biology?

Accepted Answer

DNA is transcribed into RNA, which is translated into protein.

Question 4

Which equation correctly represents the transfer of energy in a chemical reaction?

Accepted Answer

$\Delta G = \Delta H - T \Delta S$

Question 5

Water is an efficient solvent because:

Accepted Answer

It is polar and can form hydrogen bonds with many substances.

Question 6

Which of the following statements about amino acids is correct?

Accepted Answer

Amino acids are the monomers that polymerize to form proteins.

Question 7

Which property of water is most important for maintaining homeostasis in living organisms?

Accepted Answer

Its ability to buffer changes in pH due to its amphoteric nature.

Question 8

Which of the following best explains why carbon is so important in biology?

Accepted Answer

Carbon atoms can form four covalent bonds, allowing for complex molecular shapes.

Question 9

Which of the following is a function of the plasma membrane?

Accepted Answer

It regulates the movement of substances into and out of the cell.

Question 10

Which statement about phospholipid bilayers is correct?

Accepted Answer

Phospholipid bilayers are selectively permeable, allowing some molecules to pass while blocking others.

Question 11

Which of the following best describes diffusion?

Accepted Answer

The movement of molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration.

Question 12

Which of the following is true about the structure of DNA?

Accepted Answer

DNA strands are antiparallel and form a double helix.

Question 13

Which of the following is a correct statement about monosaccharides?

Accepted Answer

Monosaccharides differ in the arrangement of their atoms, which affects their function.

Question 14

Which of the following best describes the role of enzymes in biological systems?

Accepted Answer

Enzymes act as catalysts to speed up chemical reactions without being consumed.

Question 15

Which of the following is a correct statement about protein folding?

Accepted Answer

Protein folding is often spontaneous due to the interactions among amino acid side chains.

Question 16

Which of the following is a correct statement about hydrolysis and condensation reactions?

Accepted Answer

Hydrolysis breaks polymers into monomers by adding water; condensation joins monomers by removing water.

Question 17

Which of the following is true about the directionality of DNA and RNA strands?

Accepted Answer

DNA and RNA strands have a 5' to 3' directionality due to the orientation of their sugar-phosphate backbone.

Question 18

Which of the following is a correct statement about the first and second laws of thermodynamics?

Accepted Answer

The first law states that energy cannot be created or destroyed; the second law states that entropy tends to increase.

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

Phospholipids have hydrophilic heads and hydrophobic tails, causing them to arrange in bilayers.

General Biology Unit 1 Study Guide: The Chemistry and Biology of Life

Study Guide - Practice Questions