Biology Exam 3 - Practice Test

Front 1

Why do bananas in a bag ripen so much faster than bananas on a counter top?
A)Ethylene, produced by the fruit, is trapped in the bag.
B)Abscisic acid, produced by the fruit, is trapped in the bag.
C)The bag holds in more moisture.
D)Cytokinins are present in low concentrations in the bag because sunlight stimulates the production of this hormone.
E)Auxins are present in low concentrations in the bag because sunlight stimulates the production of this hormone.

Back 1

Ethylene, produced by the fruit, is trapped in the bag.

Front 2

Which of the following is technically not a fruit?
A)cucumber
B)tomato
C)green pepper
D)lettuce
E)pumpkin

Back 2

Lettuce

Front 3

How does the skin act as a barrier to microbial invasion?
A)The dead skin cells contain bacterial nutrients.
B)It releases B cells and T cells to fight infections.
C)Secretions from sweat glands and sebaceous glands inhibit bacterial growth.
D)Its moist surface slows bacterial growth.

Back 3

Secretions from sweat glands and sebaceous glands inhibit bacterial growth.

Front 4

Which structure prevents foods and liquids from entering the lungs?
A)bronchiole
B)pharynx
C)epiglottis
D)bronchus
E)larynx

Back 4

epiglottis

Front 5

In plants, the diploid, multicellular organism is the:
A)gametophyte.
B)zygote.
C)sporophyte.
D)gamete.
E)spore.

Back 5

Sporophyte

Front 6

Animals need a respiratory system because each cell of their bodies is involved in the process of:
A)hormone production.
B)cellular respiration.
C)extracellular digestion.
D)intracellular digestion.
E)nitrogen fixation.

Back 6

cellular respiration.

Front 7

A scientist who claims to have discovered a new plant hormone must demonstrate that this compound is:
A)needed by the plant as a major source of energy.
B)formed in one part of the plant but has an effect in a different part.
C)capable of stimulating differentiated cells to form meristem tissue.
D)made from cell proteins.
E)produced in large amounts.

Back 7

formed in one part of the plant but has an effect in a different part.

Front 8

The place where a neuron communicates with a muscle fiber, a gland, or another neuron is called the:
A)synapse.
B)soma.
C)glia.
D)axon.
E)dendrite.

Back 8

synapse.

Front 9

Where are apical meristems located?
A)scattered throughout the plant
B)in cylinders along the side of the root
C)at the ends of the roots and stems
D)in clusters in the parenchyma
E)between the xylem and the phloem

Back 9

at the ends of the roots and stems

Front 10

After passing through the nasal cavities, incoming air next moves to the:
A)trachea.
B)larynx.
C)bronchi.
D)pharynx.
E)bronchioles.

Back 10

pharynx.

Front 11

In plants, the haploid, multicellular organism is the:
A)gametophyte.
B)gamete.
C)zygote.
D)sporophyte.
E)spore.

Back 11

gametophyte.

Front 12

What is the evolutionary significance of a flower that has large, brightly colored petals?
A)Such plants are usually self-pollinators and do not rely on external factors for pollination.
B)In general, these are aquatic plants, and water aids in their pollination, regardless of color and odor.
C)These flowers attract pollinators that are animals.
D)The wind is a significant factor in pollination, especially because of the large petals.
E)Such flowers produce only microspores or megaspores, not both.

Back 12

These flowers attract pollinators that are animals.

Front 13

The ________ valve is between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery.
A)atrioventricular
B)bicuspid
C)semilunar
D)tricuspid

Back 13

semilunar

Front 14

________ are white blood cells that attack cancer cells.
A)Microphages
B)Mast cells
C)T cells
D)Plasma cells
E)Macrophages

Back 14

T cells

Front 15

An artificial pacemaker is a device that replaces the actions of the:
A)atrioventricular node.
B)sinoatrial node.
C)ventricles.
D)atria.

Back 15

sinoatrial node.

Front 16

Electrical signals are transmitted to the synaptic terminals along the:
A) cell body.
B) glia.
C) axon.
D) dendrite.
E) synapse.

Back 16

axon

Front 17

Which of the following is an example of a nonspecific response to infection?
A) T cells
B) B cells
C) antibodies
D) fever

Back 17

fever

Front 18

MHC (major histocompatibility complex) proteins:
A) mark cells as "self."
B) control antibody gene expression.
C) are released by T cells to kill infected cells.
D) cause cancer.

Back 18

mark cells as "self."

Front 19

A plant's tendency to grow toward a source of light is called:
A) phototropism.
B) gravitropism.
C) lumitropism.
D) thigmotropism.
E) amylotropism.

Back 19

phototropism.

Front 20

What is the role of valves in the veins?
A) They block the flow of blood to the heart until it has time to contract again.
B) They push the blood back toward the capillaries so that all the oxygen can be removed.
C) They keep blood from flowing backward when the veins are squeezed by skeletal muscles.
D) They push the blood upward toward the heart.
E) They slow blood flow in the veins so that the blood can move more slowly in the capillaries.

Back 20

They keep blood from flowing backward when the veins are squeezed by skeletal muscles.

Front 21

When your blood pressure is measured from an artery in your arm, it is a measurement of the pressure produced by your:
A) right atrium.
B) left atrium.
C) left ventricle.
D) right ventricle.

Back 21

left ventricle.

Front 22

How does carbon dioxide enter a leaf?
A) Atmospheric pressure forces CO2 through pits on the leaf surface.
B) CO2 is moved by active transport into the leaf by special cells called guard cells.
C) CO2 diffuses through the epidermal cells into the mesophyll.
D) CO2 travels dissolved in the water in the xylem.
E) CO2 passes through openings called stomata on the leaf surface.

Back 22

CO2 passes through openings called stomata on the leaf surface.

Front 23

All of the following are true of the SA node EXCEPT that it:
A) directly stimulates the ventricles.
B) is the pacemaker.
C) is influenced by nerve impulses and hormones.
D) directly stimulates the atria.

Back 23

directly stimulates the ventricles.

Front 24

The left ventricle is more muscular than the right ventricle because it must push the blood:
A) through the body's extensive system of vessels that nourish all cells.
B) against gas pressure in the lungs.
C) through the pulmonary arteries only.
D) through wider blood vessels.

Back 24

through the body's extensive system of vessels that nourish all cells.

Front 25

Which of the following is part of the peripheral nervous system?
A) autonomic nervous system
B) brain
C) medulla
D) thalamus
E) spinal cord

Back 25

autonomic nervous system

Front 26

In vertebrates, which heart chamber supplies oxygenated blood to the body cells?
A) right ventricle
B) left ventricle
C) right atrium
D) left atrium

Back 26

left ventricle

Front 27

Which mineral is important for carrying O2 in the blood?
A) calcium
B) potassium
C) sodium
D) zinca
E) iron

Back 27

iron

Front 28

Bile aids in fat digestion by:
A) converting lipids to proteins, which can then be digested by proteases.
B) breaking lipids into smaller components that can then be digested further by pancreatic enzymes.
C) removing the fatty acid chains from the glycerol.
D) acting directly as a lipid-digesting enzyme.

Back 28

breaking lipids into smaller components that can then be digested further by pancreatic enzymes.

Front 29

Endocrine communication depends on:
A) electrical signals within individual cells.
B) cytoplasmic movement through gap junctions.
C) chemicals secreted into the blood for delivery.
D) target cells not binding to a hormone.
E) chemicals secreted through ducts.

Back 29

chemicals secreted into the blood for delivery.

Front 30

"Big eater" cells that ingest and destroy microbes are:
A) natural killer cells.
B) mast cells.
C) T cells.
D) macrophages.
E) plasma cells.

Back 30

macrophages.

Front 31

Endocrine hormones are:
A) released from a nerve cell and diffuse across a synaptic gap to influence its target cell.
B) electrical signals that move between adjacent cells.
C) chemicals that are released by a cell into the surrounding extracellular fluid and affect only other nearby cells.
D) biochemicals released from one cell and transferred via the blood to other (target) cells.
E) released from gap junctions directly into the cytoplasm of the connected cell.

Back 31

biochemicals released from one cell and transferred via the blood to other (target) cells.

Front 32

Gap junctions:
A) allow the rapid passage of electrical signals among heart cells.
B) are found in white blood cells.
C) connect veins and arteries.
D) prevent the backflow of blood from ventricles to atrium.

Back 32

allow the rapid passage of electrical signals among heart cells.

Front 33

Most chemical digestion occurs in the:
A) esophagus.
B) stomach.
C) mouth.
D) large intestine.
E) small intestine.

Back 33

small intestine.

Front 34

The function of the epiglottis is to:
A) cover fish gills.
B) close insect trachea.
C) prevent food from entering the airway.
D) produce the alveolar surfactant.
E) be part of the vocal cords.

Back 34

prevent food from entering the airway.

Front 35

Minerals required for bone formation include:
A) zinc and potassium.
B) calcium and phosphorus.
C) iron and sodium.
D) calcium and sodium.
E) calcium and zinc.

Back 35

calcium and phosphorus.

Front 36

To control the movement of gases, land plants developed:
A) lignan.
B) a cuticle.
C) stomata.
D) flowers.
E) vascular tissue.

Back 36

stomata.

Front 37

Which of these immune cells are produced by the bone marrow?
A) T cells
B) B cells
C) both B and T cells
D) all white and red blood cells

Back 37

both B and T cells

Front 38

Which of the following is the gas-exchange portion of the human lung?
A) bronchi
B) larynx
C) pharynx
D) bronchioles
E) alveoli

Back 38

alveoli

Front 39

________ is a waste product of cellular respiration.
A) Nitrogen
B) ATP
C) Carbon dioxide
D) Glucose
E) Oxygen

Back 39

Carbon dioxide

Front 40

During inhalation, the diaphragm:
A) contracts and is flattened.
B) relaxes and is dome-shaped.
C) contracts and is dome-shaped.
D) relaxes and is flattened.

Back 40

contracts and is flattened.

Front 41

In an alternation of generations life cycle, what alternates?
A) flowers and spores
B) reproductive plants and vegetative plants
C) sporophytes and gametophytes
D) eggs and sperm
E) male plants and female plants

Back 41

sporophytes and gametophytes

Front 42

The respiratory center is located in the:
A) cortex.
B) hypothalamus.
C) spinal cord.
D) medulla.
E) midbrain.

Back 42

medulla.

Front 43

Which of the following are the first line of defense against microbial attack?
A) external barriers
B) nonspecific responses
C) mucous and ciliary actions
D) immune responses

Back 43

external barriers

Front 44

The vocal cords are located in the:
A) bronchi.
B) larynx.
C) trachea.
D) epiglottis.
E) pharynx.

Back 44

larynx.

Front 45

Most of the oxygen in the blood is:
A) in the white blood cells.
B) in the plasma.
C) carried by leukocytes.
D) combined with carbon dioxide.
E) bound to hemoglobin.

Back 45

bound to hemoglobin.

Front 46

The human heart contains cells that do all of the following EXCEPT:
A) generate electrical signals.
B) create new red blood cells.
C) contract.
D) produce a hormone.

Back 46

create new red blood cells.

Front 47

Which of the following weather conditions would you expect to have the greatest positive impact on the sexual reproduction of ferns and mosses?
A) below average temperatures for a few days
B) excessively dry for several days
C) excessively wet and rainy
D) above average temperatures for several days
E) the shade of a forest

Back 47

excessively wet and rainy

Front 48

Which of these proteins identify a cell as a target cell for a hormone?
A) receptors
B) neurotransmitters
C) neuromodulators
D) response proteins
E) cyclic AMP

Back 48

receptors

Front 49

The kinds of peripheral neurons that are responsible for involuntary responses to extreme danger or stress are:
A) the sensory.
B) the sympathetic.
C) the parasympathetic.
D) the somatic.
E) currently unidentified.

Back 49

the sympathetic.

Front 50

Which of the following is "male" in the life cycle of angiosperms?
A) endosperm
B) megaspore mother cell
C) seed cone
D) pollen grain
E) embryo sac

Back 50

pollen grain

Front 51

A gametophyte is:
A) diploid.
B) unable to survive.
C) tetraploid.
D) triploid.
E) haploid.

Back 51

haploid.

Front 52

All bacteria, viruses, and protists, as well as some fungi, are:
A) causes of cancer.
B) plasma cells.
C) microbes.
D) pathogens.
E) antibodies.

Back 52

microbes.

Front 53

Carbon monoxide is poisonous because it:
A) prevents hemoglobin from carrying oxygen.
B) is toxic to the brain.
C) causes breathing to stop.
D) prevents the SA node from functioning.
E) slows the cilia in the respiratory tract.

Back 53

prevents hemoglobin from carrying oxygen.

Front 54

All of the following are components of all circulatory systems EXCEPT:
A) vessels.
B) blood.
C) heart.
D) lymph nodes.

Back 54

lymph nodes.

Front 55

The sporophyte produces:
A) gametes by meiosis.
B) gametes by mitosis, followed by meiosis.
C) spores by meiosis.
D) gametes by mitosis.
E) spores by mitosis.

Back 55

spores by meiosis.

Front 56

Taking a nap after meals is probably a good idea because it allows the body to digest the food as a result of the activities of the ________ nervous system.
A) central
B) sympathetic
C) parasympathetic
D) somatic
E) sensory

Back 56

parasympathetic

Front 57

If you chew on a piece of bread long enough, it will begin to taste sweet because:
A) disaccharidases are forming glucose.
B) lipases are forming fatty acids.
C) proteases are forming amino acids.
D) maltase is breaking down maltose.
E) amylase is breaking down starches into disaccharides.

Back 57

amylase is breaking down starches into disaccharides.

Front 58

Which of these groups is the most concentrated energy source?
A) proteins
B) lipids
C) minerals
D) vitamins
E) carbohydrates

Back 58

lipids

Front 59

What structure prevents swallowed material from passing into the larynx?
A) glottis
B) tongue
C) epiglottis
D) pyloris
E) pharynx

Back 59

epiglottis

Front 60

Which of the following are gymnosperms?
A) conifers, ginkgos, and ferns
B) cycads, conifers, and ferns
C) cycads, ginkgos, and conifers
D) cycads, ginkgos, and ferns
E) ginkgos, conifers, and horsetails

Back 60

cycads, ginkgos, and conifers

Front 61

The amount of energy necessary to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1°C is called:
A) the RDA.
B) a Calorie.
C) the basal metabolism rate.
D) a calorie.
E) the basal energy quotient.

Back 61

a calorie.

Front 62

A fertilized egg is a:
A) zygote.
B) gamete.
C) sporophyte.
D) gametophyte.
E) spore.

Back 62

zygote.

Front 63

Pollen and seeds evolved in response to:
A) moist environments.
B) seed predators.
C) flower evolution.
D) dry land environments.
E) an increase in pollinators.

Back 63

dry land environments.

Front 64

The aorta:
A) is a major artery.
B) connects the right and left ventricles of the heart.
C) is a major vein.
D) contains blood with low pressure.

Back 64

is a major artery.

Front 65

Which pair of hormones is responsible for keeping blood glucose levels within normal ranges?
A) calcitonin and TSH
B) insulin and glucagon
C) thyroxine and thymosin
D) ADH and growth hormone
E) aldosterone and insulin

Back 65

insulin and glucagon

Front 66

What pollinates most gymnosperms?
A) small mammals
B) wind
C) birds
D) insects

Back 66

wind

Front 67

What two organs are considered to be part of the lymphatic system?
A) thalamus and hypothalamus
B) heart and lungs
C) spleen and thymus
D) gall bladder and kidneys
E) pancreas and liver

Back 67

spleen and thymus

Front 68

Gas exchange in the lungs occurs due to:
A) passive diffusion of gases between the blood and the alveolus.
B) active transport of gases between the blood and the alveolus.
C) facilitated diffusion of gases between the hemoglobin and the alveolus.
D) active transport of gases between hemoglobin and the alveolus.
E) facilitated diffusion of gases between the blood and the alveolus.

Back 68

passive diffusion of gases between the blood and the alveolus.

Front 69

Increases in plant length (such as overall height or branch and root length) result from cell division that occurs:
A) equally throughout the plant body.
B) from cell division of differentiated cells.
C) only from lateral meristems (cambiA) .
D) only in apical meristems at shoot and root tips.

Back 69

only in apical meristems at shoot and root tips.

Front 70

Ferns and mosses need water for sexual reproduction because:
A) water is required for sperm production.
B) pollen is transported to nearby plants by raindrops.
C) water is required for spore dispersal.
D) they have swimming sperm.

Back 70

they have swimming sperm.

Front 71

Which of these parts of the brain controls breathing and heart rate?
A) hypothalamus
B) cerebellum
C) thalamus
D) medulla
E) cerebrum

Back 71

medulla

Front 72

An essential nutrient is one that:
A) is required in large amounts.
B) can be found only in animal products.
C) cannot be made by the animal.
D) is used for energy storage.

Back 72

cannot be made by the animal.

Front 73

Tomatoes that are planted upside down still grow upright, displaying:
A) thigmotropism.
B) phototropism.
C) gravitropism.
D) amylotropism.
E) lumitropism.

Back 73

gravitropism.

Front 74

Which of the following characteristics helps differentiate between a monocot and a dicot?
A) whether the plant gains length from an apical or a lateral meristem
B) seeds covered by a fruit
C) number of flower parts
D) presence or absence of pollen grains
E) presence of vascular tissue

Back 74

number of flower parts

Front 75

Natural killer cells:
A) destroy body cells that have been invaded by viruses.
B) are a type of B cell.
C) are a type of T cell.
D) engulf and destroy bacteria.
E) are located on the skin.

Back 75

destroy body cells that have been invaded by viruses.

Front 76

Ventricles force blood directly into the:
A) arterioles.
B) venules.
C) veins.
D) arteries.
E) capillaries.

Back 76

arteries.

Front 77

Plasma is primarily:
A) water.
B) salt.
C) protein.
D) cells.
E) gases.

Back 77

water.

Front 78

Nonspecific internal defenses include:
A) plasma cells.
B) tears and saliva.
C) inflammation.
D) skin.
E) adaptive immune system.

Back 78

inflammation.

Front 79

If you remove red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets from blood, what remains?
A) pure water
B) lymph
C) plasma
D) albumin

Back 79

plasma

Front 80

The autonomic nervous system controls:
A) integration in the brain.
B) the skeletal muscles.
C) the senses.
D) reflexes.
E) contractions of involuntary muscles.

Back 80

contractions of involuntary muscles.

Front 81

Which division has been reduced to one remaining species?
A) bryophytes
B) liverworts
C) cycads
D) ginkgos
E) conifers

Back 81

ginkgos

Front 82

Why do mosses and liverworts need to live in a moist environment?
A) the production of flowers
B) reproduction
C) the production of fruits
D) greater seed production
E) root formation

Back 82

reproduction

Front 83

What type of digestion takes place inside the mouth?
A) absorption only
B) ingestion only
C) mechanical digestion only
D) chemical digestion only
E) mechanical and chemical digestion

Back 83

mechanical and chemical digestion

Front 84

Local hormones are:
A) biochemicals released from one cell and transferred via the blood to other (target) cells.
B) chemicals that are released by a cell into the surrounding extracellular fluid and affect only other nearby cells.
C) electrical signals that move between adjacent cells.
D) released from a nerve cell and diffuse across a synaptic gap to influence its target cell.
E) released from gap junctions directly into the cytoplasm of the connected cell.

Back 84

chemicals that are released by a cell into the surrounding extracellular fluid and affect only other nearby cells.

Front 85

In the lungs, oxygen moves from air into blood by:
A) diffusion.
B) bulk flow.
C) facilitated diffusion.
D) active transport.
E) osmosis.

Back 85

diffusion.

Front 86

What is the cardiac cycle?
A) the alternating relaxation and contraction of the heart chambers
B) the movement of blood from systemic to pulmonary circulation
C) the movement of blood from the heart to the lungs and then back to the heart
D) the passage of electrical impulses from the AV node to the SN node to heart muscle

Back 86

the alternating relaxation and contraction of the heart chambers

Front 87

It is important that the atrioventricular (AV) node produce a delay between the contraction of the atria and the contraction of the ventricles because this allows the:
A) atria to contract in smooth synchrony.
B) ventricles to fill to capacity.
C) ventricles to contract in smooth synchrony.
D) heart to rest for a brief period of time.

Back 87

ventricles to fill to capacity.

Front 88

All of the following can bind to hemoglobin EXCEPT:
A) oxygen.
B) carbon dioxide.
C) nitrogen.
D) carbon monoxide.

Back 88

nitrogen.

Front 89

Axons:
A) act independently of the cell body.
B) have neurotransmitter receptors.
C) decide whether to transmit an action potential.
D) carry an action potential in the direction of a synapse.
E) form the gray matter of the brain and spinal cord.

Back 89

carry an action potential in the direction of a synapse.

Front 90

Which part of the digestive tract has the lowest pH?
A) stomach
B) large intestine
C) rectum
D) small intestine
E) pancreas

Back 90

stomach

Front 91

Motor neurons:
A) connect to the effector organs.
B) carry impulses to the brain.
C) store memories.
D) carry impulses to the spinal cord.
E) contract.

Back 91

connect to the effector organs.

Front 92

Cells that produce antibodies and provide future immunity against similar pathogens are:
A) mast cells.
B) B cells.
C) dendritic cells.
D) natural killer cells.
E) T cells.

Back 92

B cells.

Front 93

Memory, sensory processing, motor responses, creativity, and higher intellectual functions are carried out by the:
A) cerebellum.
B) amygdala.
C) cerebrum.
D) hypothalamus.
E) medulla.

Back 93

cerebrum.

Front 94

The cells that line the human respiratory passages secrete:
A) water.
B) enzymes.
C) blood.
D) mucus.
E) hormones.

Back 94

mucus.

Front 95

To limit water loss, land plants developed:
A) flowers.
B) lignan.
C) a cuticle.
D) vascular tissue.
E) stomata.

Back 95

a cuticle.