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Problem 2
All the organisms on your campus make up
a. An ecosystem
b. A community
c. A population
d. The biosphere
Problem 3
Which of these is not a property of all living organisms?
a. Capable of reproduction
b. Uses energy
c. Composed of multiple cells
d. Responds to the environment
Problem 4
Which of the following statements best distinguishes hypotheses from theories in science?
a. Theories are hypotheses that have been proven.
b. Hypotheses usually are narrow in scope; theories have broad explanatory power.
c. Hypotheses are tentative guesses; theories are correct answers to questions about nature.
d. Hypotheses and theories are different terms for essentially the same thing in science.
Problem 5
Which of the following best demonstrates the unity among all living organisms?
a. Structure correlated with function
b. DNA and a common genetic code
c. Emergent properties
d. Natural selection
Problem 6
A controlled experiment is one that
a. Proceeds slowly enough that a scientist can make careful records of the results.
b. Keeps all variables constant.
c. Is repeated many times to make sure the results are accurate.
d. Tests experimental and control groups in parallel.
Problem 7
Which of the following is a true statement of observational data?
a. It is always qualitative, not quantitative.
b. It is used to form hypotheses, but not to test them.
c. It can include comparisons of fossils as well as DNA sequences.
d. It is the type of data used for the independent variable in a controlled experiment.
Problem 8
A biologist studying interactions among the bacteria in an ecosystem could not be working at which level in life's hierarchy? (Choose carefully and explain your answer.)
a. The population level
b. The molecular level
c. The organism level
d. The organ level
Problem 9
Which of the following best describes the logic of scientific inquiry?
a. If I generate a testable hypothesis, my experiments will support it.
b. If my prediction is correct, it will lead to a testable hypothesis.
c. If my observations are accurate, they will support my hypothesis.
d. If my hypothesis is correct, I can expect certain test results.
Problem 10
In an ecosystem, how is the flow of energy similar to that of matter, and how is it different?
Problem 11
Explain the role of heritable variations in Darwin's theory of natural selection.
Problem 12
Describe the process of scientific inquiry and explain why it is not a rigid method.
Problem 13
Contrast technology with science. Give an example of each to illustrate the difference.
Problem 14
Biology can be described as having both a vertical scale and a horizontal scale. Explain what that means.
Problem 15
Explain what is meant by this statement: Natural selection is an editing mechanism rather than a creative process.
Problem 16a
The graph below shows the results of an experiment in which mice learned to run through a maze.
State the hypothesis and prediction that you think this experiment tested.
Problem 16b
The graph below shows the results of an experiment in which mice learned to run through a maze.
Which was the control group and which was the experimental?
Why was a control group needed?
Problem 16c
The graph below shows the results of an experiment in which mice learned to run through a maze. List some variables that must have been controlled so as not to affect the results.
Problem 16d
The graph below shows the results of an experiment in which mice learned to run through a maze.
Do the data support the hypothesis? Explain.
Problem 17
Suppose that in an experiment similar to the camouflage experiment described in Module 1.5, a researcher observed and recorded more total predator attacks on dark-model mice in the inland habitat than on dark models in the beach habitat. From comparing these two pieces of data, the researcher concluded that the camouflage hypothesis is false.
Do you think this conclusion is justified? Why or why not?