1st Semester Biology Exam
1. Written Exam
a. You will have multiple choice questions, true false questions and open ended questions
where you fill in the blanks.
b. During the first semester we covered Units 1 to 6 in the book, but the exam will only be
over Units 1 to 5 which cover chapters 1 through 17.
c. Read the chapter assessments for those 17 chapters. The final exam will have most of
the questions taken from those chapter assessments. For instance for Chapter 10
(Mendel and Meosis), know how to answer the questions on page 279
d. Students will be given the opportunity to earn extra credit to boost their exam grade by
completing a Biology related project.
e. The question topics are as follows:
1. List (4) evidence supporting an endosymbiotic origin of mitochondria and chloroplasts.
2. Marsupials probably evolved in what is now North America and Asia, yet their diversity is found
in Australia. How can you account for this biogeographic distribution?
3. How did Melvin Calvin and his students discover the sugar-producing cycle of photosynthesis?
4. Experiments with artificial membranes have added to our understanding of the structure and
function of the plasma membrane.
5. How do we know DNA is the genetic material?
6. X-ray diffraction, model building, and analysis of base pairing led to the development of the
double helix model of DNA.
7. What can long-term ecological research teach us about human impact on the biosphere?
8. Measurements of rates of transpiration using parts of plants have helped biologists understand
the role of the roots and the leaves.
9. Name the special molecule that sets living things apart from the nonliving world and be able to
explain why this molecule is important.
10. The cell is considered to be the basic living unit. Be able to distinguish between single-celled
organisms and multicellular organisms.
11. Be able to arrange in order, from smallest to largest, the levels of organization that occur in
nature and to write a brief description of each.
12. What does the term metabolism mean to the cell and the organism?
13. Organisms use a molecule known as ATP to transfer chemical energy from one molecule to
another. Why is this essential for living things to exist?
14. Homeostasis is defined as a state in which the conditions of an organism's internal environment
are maintained within tolerable limits. What mechanisms in your body are involved with
homeostasis?
15. Reproduction is the means by which each new organism arises. Why is this an essential
characteristic of life?
16. How are DNA and cellular reproduction linked in the process of inheritance?
17. A trait that assists an organism in survival and reproduction in a certain environment is said to
be adaptive. What sorts of adaptive traits do you have? How do they aid your survival?
18. List the five kingdoms of life that are currently recognized by most scientists; tell generally what
kinds of organisms are classified in each kingdom, and discuss the new ideas about Domains and
how they may alter the five kingdom approach.
19. Arrange in order, from the fewer to the greater numbers of organisms included, the following
categories of classification: class, family, genus, kingdom, order, phylum, and species.
20. Explain what the term biological diversity means to you, and speculate about what caused the
great diversity of life on Earth.
21. Define natural selection and briefly describe what is occurring when a population is said to
evolve.
22. Outline a set of steps that might be used in the scientific method of investigating a problem.
23. Explain why a control group is used in an experiment.
24. Define what is meant by a theory; cite an actual example that is significant to biology.
Students should insure they know all the following key vocabulary words and phrases.
This is not a complete list of the vocabulary that you need to know. To make sure you have all the
vocabulary you will need check the list at the beginning of each chapter (page 171 for cellular biology).
Adaptation
ATP (adenosine triphosphate)
inheritance of acquired characteristics
kingdom
antibiotics
Animalia
asexual and sexual reproduction
atmosphere
binomial nomenclature
biochemistry
biosphere
cells
cell theory
cardiovascular system
catastrophism
community
conservation of matter and energy
consumers
cyanobacteria
DNA
ecosystem
energy
entropy
Eubacteria
euglenoids
family
food webs
fossils
Fungi
genus
heart muscle tissue
heterotrophic
lithosphere
mitochondrion
Monera
multicellular
multinucleate
natural selection
order
organ
organelles
parasites
photosynthesis
phylum
Plantae
populations
prokaryotes
proteins
Protista
protozoa
retroviruses
RNA
ribosome
scientific method
species
symbioses
taxonomytheory
tissue
unicellular
uniformitarianism
HIV
Fungi
homeostasis
hydrosphere
hypothesis
uninucleate
viruses
eukaryotic
producers
chloroplasts
9
A
10
B
Biology Prep for 1st
Semester Exam
11
A
12
B
13
A
Biology Practice
Exam Review and
Take Home Exam
Biology Practice
Exam
16
17
18
19
20
B
A
B
A
B
Biology 1st
Semester Review
Biology 1st
Semester Exam