Honors Biology Midterm Exam
Student Learning Targets
Intro Unit
I can:
o Identify what biologists study
o Explain the 8 characteristics of living things
o Distinguish between a hypothesis and a theory
o Identify independent and dependent variables in a controlled experiment
o Evaluate experimental design
Unit 1: Population & Community Ecology
I can:
o Identify each macroscopic level of biological organization (organism  biosphere).
o Distinguish between biotic and abiotic factors.
o Analyze how a population changes over time.
 Positive growth
 Negative growth
o Analyze how populations are distributed.
 Clumped
 Random
 Uniform
o Solve mathematical story problems based on data from ecological research.
 Population size
 Rate of change (+ or -)
 Population density
o Apply mathematical models to estimating the population size of a species.
 Random sampling method
 Capture-recapture
 Quadrant
o Analyze a graph to determine how a population changes over time.
 Exponential growth
 Logistic growth
 Predator Prey Relationships
 Carrying Capacity
 Human demographics
o Analyze a story problem and identify the species interactions in a community.
 Symbiosis
 Mutualism
 Commensalism
 Predation
 Parasitism
o Determine how a population will respond to specific community interactions.
 Competition
 Ecological niche
o Analyze how a community will change over time.
 Primary ecological succession
 Secondary ecological succession
Unit 2: Ecosystems & the Biosphere
I can:
o Analyze how abiotic factors impact biotic factors in ecosystems.
o Explain how matter cycles through ecosystems.
 Carbon cycle

Role of photosynthesis

Role of cellular respiration

Human impact on
o Explain how energy flows through ecosystems.
 Trophic levels

Producers, primary consumers,
secondary consumers, tertiary consumers,
decomposers

Autotroph, heterotroph

Herbivore, carnivore, omnivore
 Food chains
 Food webs
o Solve mathematical story problems based on energy flow in ecosystems.
 10% rule
o Evaluate the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity
 Deforestation
 Pollution – air quality, acid rain
 Introduction of invasive (non-native) species
 Global climate change
Unit 3: Biochemistry & Cell Structure/Function
I can:
o Explain the structure and biological function of the following:
 Organic molecules:

Carbohydrates
 Cellular organelles

Chloroplast

Mitochondria
o Explain how energy flows into and out of an organism:
 Illustrate light energy  chemical energy (glucose)
 Illustrate chemical energy (glucose)  usable chemical energy (ATP)
o Explain how matter cycles in the biosphere:
 Illustrate photosynthesis within an organism:

Identify molecular inputs and outputs.

Apply the goals of this process to experimental results.
 Illustrate aerobic cellular respiration within an organism:

Identify molecular inputs and outputs.

Apply the goals of this process to experimental results.
Unit 4: Homeostasis of Organisms
I can:
o Explain how the structure and biological function of the cell membrane maintain homeostasis and/or
enable cell to cell communication:
 Phospholipid bilayer
 Cholesterol
 Receptor proteins
 Channel proteins
 Semi-permeability
o Explain how feedback mechanisms maintain homeostasis.
 Stomata
 Body temperature
 Blood glucose level
 Breathing rate
o Compare and contrast passive and active transport.
o Explain the role of passive transport on homeostasis on plant and animal cells and apply it to story
problems.
 Diffusion
 Osmosis
 Hypotonic solutions
 Hypertonic solutions
 Isotonic solutions
o Explain the role of active transport on homeostasis on animal cells.