Name: _________________________
Date: __________________________
Homeroom: ____________________
The Human Body Unit Exam
The questions on this test measure your
knowledge and understanding of science.
The test has two parts: Part I (multiple choice
questions) and Part 2 (short answer questions).
Please answer all questions in this test booklet.
After you have finished all questions in both
parts, fill in the circles for your answers to Part
1 on the provided answer sheet.
1. Nutrients from digested food enter the blood
stream through the process of
(1) absorption
(3) respiration
(2) elimination
(4) secretion
2. The kidneys, which remove dissolved
wastes from the blood, are organs of the
(1) endocrine system (3) skeletal system
(2) excretory system (4) nervous system
3. Which two systems of a rabbit’s body must
be working together for the rabbit to run away
from a fox?
(1) digestive and endocrine
(2) reproductive and nervous
(3) muscular and skeletal
(4) excretory and respiratory
4. In which process is oxygen used to release
the energy stored in food?
(1) photosynthesis
(3) digestion
(2) respiration
(4) reproduction
5. Fats are important nutrients because they
(1) provide genetic information
(2) contain stored energy
(3) are used in photosynthesis
(4) maintain bone density
The Human Body Unit Exam
Points Earned =
out of 46
Converted Percentage Grade =
%
State Exam Equivalent =
6. When a person breathes, the lungs absorb
oxygen, which is used by cells to carry out the
process of
(1) respiration
(3) photosynthesis
(2) secretion
(4) excretion
7. Running is an activity that causes the cells
in the muscular system to use oxygen at a
faster rate. Which system responds by
delivering more oxygen to these cells?
(1) digestive
(3) circulatory
(2) nervous
(4) endocrine
8. Which human body systems are directly
involved in reflex actions, such as knee jerk,
blinking, and jumping when startled?
(1) circulatory and respiratory
(2) digestive and excretory
(3) nervous and muscular
(4) reproductive and skeletal
9. In which human body system are hormones
produced?
(1) respiratory
(3) nervous
(2) endocrine
(4) digestive
10. When do organs begin to develop in
humans?
(1) in the sperm cell before fertilization
(2) before fertilization and after birth
(3) in the egg cell after fertilization
(4) after fertilization and before birth
11. Which body system is responsible for the
elimination of liquid and gaseous wastes?
(1) nervous
(3) excretory
(2) skeletal
(4) digestive
Page 1 of 8
12. Which factor has the least effect on a
person’s metabolism?
(1) exercise
(3) intelligence
(2) hormones
(4) diet
17. The diagram below shows a human body
system.
13. What is the main function of the
circulatory
system?
(1) secrete enzymes (3) produce hormones
(2) digest proteins
(4) transport materials
14. Infectious diseases are caused by
(1) allergies
(2) vitamin deficiencies
(3) chemical spills
(4) microorganisms
15. The diagram below represents a magnified
view of an air sac in the human lung. The
white arrows indicate blood flow.
Which two systems are interacting in this
diagram?
(1) skeletal and muscular
(2) nervous and endocrine
(3) reproductive and digestive
(4) respiratory and circulatory
16. The energy obtained from food is
measured in units called
(1) watts
(3) degrees
(2) Calories
(4) pounds
The Human Body Unit Exam
What are two of the functions performed by
this body system?
(1) protects and supports the body
(2) produces and transports oxygen
(3) produces and excretes waste products
(4) controls and coordinates body activities
18. The main function of the human digestive
system is to
(1) break down foods for absorption into blood
(2) exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide in the
lungs
(3) release energy from sugars within the cells
(4) carry nutrients to all parts of the body
19. Which sequence lists the levels of
organization in the human body from simplest
to most complex?
(1) organ system → tissue → cell → organ
(2) tissue → cell → organ → organ system
(3) organ → organ system → tissue → cell
(4) cell → tissue → organ → organ system
20. Which three systems of the human body
function together to move and control body
parts?
(1) nervous, skeletal, and muscular
(2) muscular, endocrine, and excretory
(3) digestive, excretory, and reproductive
(4) circulatory, endocrine, and respiratory
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21. The labeled organs in the diagram below
are part of which human body system?
24. Compared to the amount of hereditary
information in a human body cell, how much
hereditary information is contained in a human
sex cell?
(1) one-quarter the amount
(2) one-half the amount
(3) the same amount
(4) twice the amount
25. Which term describes an organism’s
ability to maintain a stable internal
environment?
(1) reproduction
(2) extinction
(3) locomotion
(4) regulation
(1) respiratory
(2) endocrine
(3) digestive
(4) circulatory
22. The diagram below shows a human arm
bending at the elbow.
26. In animal skin tissue, cell division is
responsible for
(1) growth and repair
(2) sexual reproduction
(3) obtaining energy
(4) production of sex cells
27. Which unit is used to indicate the amount
of energy in food?
(1) ounce
(3) calorie
(2) degree
(4) gram
28. The diagram below shows changes that a
butterfly undergoes as it develops from an egg
into an adult.
Which two body systems most directly cause
the arm to bend?
(1) skeletal and muscular
(2) reproductive and endocrine
(3) respiratory and excretory
(4) nervous and digestive
23. What is the result of cellular respiration?
(1) Energy for cell processes is released.
(2) Oxygen is released for photosynthesis.
(3) Cells undergo decomposition.
(4) Nutrients are excreted to prevent the
buildup of body fat.
The Human Body Unit Exam
Which process is illustrated in the diagram?
(1) mutation
(3) germination
(2) photosynthesis
(4) metamorphosis
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29. The table below shows the symptoms of some diseases that are caused by bacteria.
Disease
Symptoms
botulism
vomiting, abdominal pain, coughing, muscular
weakness, visual disturbance
pneumonia
inflammation of lungs, fever, shortness of breath,
fluid in lungs
typhoid fever
red rashes, high fever, intestinal bleeding
tetanus
uncontrolled contractions of voluntary muscles
Which two diseases listed in the table affect the digestive system?
(1) botulism and typhoid fever
(3) tetanus and pneumonia
(2) botulism and pneumonia
(4) tetanus and typhoid fever
30. In humans, a fertilized egg contains 46 chromosomes. Which bar graph best represents the
number of chromosomes contained in the sperm and egg before they united to make the fertilized
egg?
Base your answers to questions 31 and 32 on the diagram below and on your knowledge of
science. The diagram shows four stages in the development of a human after fertilization.
31. Between stages A and D, which process must occur?
(1) mutation
(3) cell division
(2) sexual reproduction
(4) extinction
32. Which sequence of development is correct?
The Human Body Unit Exam
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Part 2: Answer all questions in this test booklet.
33. The two human body systems shown below interact to perform several functions for the
whole organism. Describe how gas exchange occurs when the circulatory and respiratory
systems work together. [2]
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Base your answers to questions 34 and 35 on the chart below and on your knowledge of
science. Each food in the chart is a particularly good source of the nutrient listed.
Nutrient
Food Source
protein
fish
carbohydrate
orange juice
fat
olive oil
34. Which nutrient listed in the chart is primarily responsible for growth and repair in the human
body? [1]
_________________________________________________________
35. Which food source listed in the chart would provide a quick source of energy for the cells of
the body? [1]
_________________________________________________________
The Human Body Unit Exam
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Base your answers to questions 36 and 37 on the diagrams below, which show a system in a
human and a system in a plant.
36. Select one structure labeled in the human system above and explain how it contributes to the
way the human system functions. [1]
Human Structure: _______________________________________________
Explanation: __________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
37. Select one structure labeled in the plant system above and explain how it contributes to the
way the organism functions. [1]
Plant Structure: _______________________________________________
Explanation: __________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
The Human Body Unit Exam
Page 6 of 8
38. The diagram below shows several organs in the human digestive system.
Explain two ways that food is changed as it passes through the digestive system. [2]
(1) ________________________________________________________
(2) ________________________________________________________
Base your answers to questions 39 through 41 on the information below and on your
knowledge of science.
Maintaining a constant body temperature, no matter what the temperature of its
surroundings, is a condition that needs to be balanced in many organisms. This ability is
important to the organism’s survival. These organisms have many different body
structures and behaviors that help maintain a constant body temperature.
39. Whales have a thick layer of blubber (fat) under their skin. How does this blubber help the
whales to maintain a constant body temperature? [1]
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
40. Humans sweat when they are in the hot sun. How does sweating help humans to maintain a
constant body temperature? [1]
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
41. Foxes living in different parts of the world have different-sized ears. The arctic fox, which
lives in cold climates, has small ears. The desert fox, which lives in hot climates, has large ears.
How does ear size help each of these foxes to maintain a constant body temperature? [1]
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
The Human Body Unit Exam
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42. Humans have several organ systems that allow them to carry on all life activities. Complete
the chart below by identifying one organ system that is responsible for each life activity listed.
The first row has been completed as an example. [3]
Life Activity
breaking down large food molecules into smaller
molecules
Human Organ System
digestive system
exchanging gases between the blood and the
environment
removing liquid and gaseous wastes from the
body
transporting needed materials to the cells and
carrying wastes away from cells
producing offspring
moving the body
The Human Body Unit Exam
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