SEMESTER 1 PRACTICE EXAM
1. In an experiment regarding weight and calories, a scientist measures the amount
of calories a person eats and then measures their weight after two weeks to see
if their weight was affected. What is the independent variable?
a. Weight
b. Time after eating
c. Calories eaten
d. Age of individual tested
2. Which of the following orders makes the most sense for the development of
different types of organisms on this planet in terms of evolution?
a. Producers->Small Consumers->Large Predators
b. Consumers->Producers->Large Predators
c. Large Predators-> Small consumers->Producers
d. Producers->Viruses->Small consumers
3. What are the reactants in respiration?
a. Water and carbon dioxide
b. Glucose and water
c. Carbon dioxide and oxygen
d. Glucose and Oxygen
4. How does the burning of fossil fuels contribute to the increase in atmospheric
carbon? a. Photosynthesis is reduced due to increased smoke and haze. b. Carbon released by the burning is not in a form that can be readily absorbed by
plants, leaving residual carbon in the atmosphere.
c. Carbon that has been stored for long periods of time underground is now being
added to the carbon cycling between the atmosphere and natural organisms and
processes on land.
d. Carbon released by the burning is more easily absorbed in the atmosphere than that
produced by natural means.
e. Carbon released by the burning increases plant growth, producing more carbon for
the atmosphere.
Questions 5-7 refer to the following processes
A.
B.
C.
D.
Nitrogen fixation
Nitrification
Assimilation
Denitrification
5. Proteins, DNA, and amino acids are made for the plant.
6. The process where N2 gas is created and released to the atmosphere.
7. This process takes place in the roots of some plants when bacteria convert the
nitrogen gas to NH4.
8. What was the primary force behind the movement of the earth’s continents?
a. Volcanoes
b. Convection in the earth’s crust
c. Convection in the earth’s mantle
d. Increasing size of the oceans
9. Which general latitudes on our planet contain patterns of air that is rising upward from the
surface?
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
0 degrees and 60 degrees
30 degrees and 60 degrees
30 degrees and 80 degrees
50 degrees and 60 degrees
10. The Scandinavian region of Europe is famous for its lush forests of tall conifers, beautiful
snowy mountains, and large timber industry. These conditions are maintained for a variety of
reasons. Due to what you understand from this description, where would you expect to find
region in terms of latitude?
(A) 30-35 degrees south
(B) Just north and south of the equator
(C) 50-70 degrees south
(D) 50-70 degrees north
11. Which of the following conditions must be present for natural selection to occur in a
population?
I. There must be genetic variability within the population
II. The trait must be heritable
III. The trait must lead to differential reproduction
(A) I only
(B) II only
(C) I and II only
(D) II and III only
(E) I, II, and III
12. What process occurred as a result of two populations of bears being separated by the
glacier?
(A) Differential reproduction
(B) Survival of the fittest
(C) Mutations
(D) Background extinction
(E) Geographic isolation
13. Speciation can occur through the evolution of new species can occur as a result of
I. Geographic isolation
II. Background extinction
III. Reproductive isolation
(A) I only
(B) II only
(C) I and III only
(D) II and III only
(E) I and II only
14. Which of the following does NOT make sense as an adaptation for survival in desert regions?
(A) Plants with deep roots for ground water
(B) Short legs to conserve heat
(C) Concentrated urine and feces
(D) Nocturnal animals
(E) Reduced or no hair on animals
15. How does a predator play a beneficial role in the evolution of its prey?
I. Predators teach prey to flee
II. Predators remove the sick, weak, and least fit individuals
III. Predators build foundations within a habitat for prey.
(A) I only
(B) I and II only
(C) I and III only
(D) II only
(E) I, II, and III
Questions 16-19 refer to the listed suggestions A-E that is best for each question.
(A) Native species
(B) Invasive species
(C) Foundation species
(D) Keystone species
(E) Indicator species
16. Trout require clean water with high levels of dissolved oxygen, so their presence tells
researchers that these conditions are present in a stream. For this reason, trout are referred to
as _________________.
17. A species such as zebra mussels move from one water system to the other on the bottom of
boats. Upon arriving, their generalist adaptations allow them to take over niches from local
species and modify ecosystems making them a(n) __________.
18. Sea otters are important to the ecosystems of the coastal Northwest United States. They
keep sea urchin populations under control. If these sea urchins are not kept in check, they will
destroy kelp beds by eating the roots of the kelp and removing the homes of many other
organisms. Sea otters are a(n) _____________.
19. In the southeastern United States, large pythons from South America are being introduced to
the hot, humid climate due to people dumping them when they are too large to be their pets any
longer. When this happens, these pythons will take over the niches of species that have lived in
these regions for thousands of years and have adapted to their conditions. What type of species
are those that are losing their habitats?
20. Some species of Acacia trees have a trait of hollow thorns which excrete nectar. This
adaptation attracts a species of ant which set up nests in the hollows. Whenever a potential
browser tries to eat the leaves of the Acacia the ants emerge and defend the tree with acidic
bites. This relationship is an example of
(A) Interspecific competition
(B) Commensalism
(C) Parasitism
(D) Coevolution
(E) Succession
21. A specialists species faces _________ competition for resources and has ____________
ability to adapt to environmental changes.
A generalist faces ____________________
competition for resources and has _________________ ability to adapt to environmental
changes.
(A) less, greater, greater, less
(B) greater, less, less, greater
(C) less, less, greater, greater
(D) greater, greater, less, less
(E) none of the above
For questions 22-24 use either of the two answers below (they may obviously be used more than
once):
(A) r-selected
(B) k-selected
22. Often times have a very long gestation period (pregnancy) in order to produce very few
offspring
23. Will typically take longer to establish themselves within an ecosystem experiencing primary
or secondary succession
24. Use relatively few resources in order to produce a single offspring (this does not mean they
produce one at a time, however, the resource-to-offspring ratio is small)
25. In which biome would you expect to find large herds of grazing animals?
(A) rainforest
(B) estuary
(C) coniferous forests
(D) grasslands
(E) deserts
26. Nitrate and phosphate concentrations have greatly increased in Chesapeake Bay from
agricultural runoff, which can often result in
(A) increased salinity
(B) increased pH
(C) decreased dissolved oxygen
(D) increased CO2
(E) decreased turbidity
For questions 27-31, choose from the following items:
(A) tropical rainforest
(B) deciduous forest
(C) grassland/savannah
(D) Taiga
(E) Tundra
27. Forests of cold climates and high altitudes, generally containing many conifers
28. Characterized by dry seasons and rainy seasons. Typically contain large amounts of
grasses and scattered trees
29. Characterized by trees that lose their leaves in the winter in order to conserve energy in a
season with little sunlight.
30. This biome makes up around 6% of all land on this planet, however, it contains between 4050% of the earth’s total biodiversity due to its high productivity.
31. Contain very few primary producers due to a very dry climate. This biome also contains
some of the farthest habitats from the equator.
32. The gradual establishment of biotic communities in lifeless areas (such as a parking lot)
where there is no soil is:
(A) Degradative succession
(B) Primary succession
(C) Secondary succession
(D) Random succession
(E) Cyclical succession
33. Which of the following best describes a secondary succession?
(A) Plants and other vegetation die gradually due to drought
(B) Wildflowers grow in an area that was previously destroyed by fire
(C) A farmer removes weeds using a herbicide
(D) Lichens and mosses secrete acids that allow other plants to grow
(E) None of the above
34. Which type of reproductive strategy in a species would be most likely to inhabit an area
experiencing secondary succession first?
(A) r-selected
(B) k-selected
(C) survivorship species
(D) specialist species
(E) keystone species
Use the graph above for the following 2 questions:
35. At which letter is population growing the fastest?
(A) A
(B) B
(C) C
(D) D
(E) K
36. What is the best label for the axis labeled “2” in the graph above?
(A) carrying capacity
(B) population
(C) time
(D) birth rate
(E) death rate
37. Malthus stated I his Essay on Population that human population grows ________________ while food production
and resource extraction grows _____________.
(A) linearly, linearly
(B) exponentially, linearly
(C) linearly, exponentially
(D) exponentially, logistically
(E) logistically, exponentially
38. A population’s growth can best be calculated using which of the following?
(A) (Births + immigration) – (deaths + emigration)
(B) Immigration + emigration
(C) Emigration + births
(D) (Births + emigration) – (deaths + immigration)
(E) Immigration - emigration
39. Replacement level fertility for a couple generally around:
(A) 1.0
(B) 2.0
(C) 2.5
(D) 3.0
(E) Varies depending on country
40. A population has a growth rate of 2 percent per year. How long will it take for this population to double?
(A) 70 years
(B) 40 years
(C) 35 years
(D) 15 years
(E) 2 years
41. The United States had a birth rate of 14.6 live births per 1,000 population in one year. In the same year, the death
rate was 8.3 deaths for every 1,000 population. What is the population growth rate for the U.S. in this time period?
(A) 1.6
(B) .6
(C) -.6
(D) 6
Use the following information to answer the next four questions:
A country in Western Europe has a birth rate of 16.5 and a death rate of 17.8.
42. What is the growth rate for this country?
(A) -1.3%
(B) 1.3%
(C) -13%
(D) -.13%
(E) .13%
43. How long would it take for the population of this country to be cut in half?
(A) 540 years
(B) 269 years
(C) 538 years
(D) 1,080 years
44. What phase of the demographic transition would you expect this country to be in?
(A) Pre-industrial
(B) Industrial
(C) Transitional
(D) Post-industrial
(E) Malthusian
45.
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Which of the following is true of the TFR in this situation?
It is probably very high compared to other countries throughout the planet.
It is probably very low due to changing roles in family structure.
It is probably very far away from RLF.
It is probably about to begin increasing due to advancements made in sanitation and health care.
There is probably a high number of Roman Catholic families within this population.
46. Which phase of the demographic transition is characterized by a sharply declining death rate?
(A) pre-industrial
(B) transitional
(C) industrial
(D) post-industrial
47. All of the following are characteristics of the industrial stage of demographic transition EXCEPT:
(A) urbanization means that families are less dependent on having large amounts of children to provide for
themselves
(B) Education levels increase
(C) Medical care is poor or nonexistent
(D) Birth rates start to decrease, closing in on the death rate
48. All of the following factors tend to cause women to have fewer children EXCEPT:
(A) higher education
(B) high infant mortality
(C) better prenatal care
(D) birth control education
(E) human rights are protected
49. Which of the following best describes an example of a transitional stage for a country?
(A) In Mexico, cities are beginning to expand rapidly, with increased advances made in sanitation and
vaccination.
(B) Niger has the world’s highest TFR at 7.46 due to the fact that there is very little contraception education and
a large portion of the population depends on subsistence agriculture to support themselves
(C) In the United States, industry has long been established, with population growth slowing overall and showing
possible signs of decline in the next 100 years
(D) In Japan, recently it was revealed that diaper sales for the elderly are higher than those for infants, showing
that population is concentrated greatly at the older end of the age-structure diagram.
50. Which of the following numbers is closest to the population of India?
(A) 1 billion
(B) 900 million
(C) 300 million
(D) 50 million
(E) 2 million
51. Which of the following countries would you expect to find the highest infant mortality rate?
(A) The United States
(B) Russia
(C) Nigeria
(D) Italy
(E) Brazil
52. The present human population of the planet Earth is close to:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
900 million
2.5 billion
5.8 billion
7 billion
9 billion
53. Which two regions of the world have the highest birth/fertility rates?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
the Middle East and Africa
Australia and Europe
Africa and South America
China and the Middle East
South America and the Middle East
54. Which of the following best describes the history of human population growth
over the past 100,000 years?
a.
b.
c.
d.
a slow, constant growth up to the present time
fast growth at first which has been gradually declining
moderate growth over the entire time period
slow growth for most of the time period with explosive growth over the past
200 years
e. rapid growth for most of the time period
55. A population which is growing at the rate of 4 percent a year will double its
population in how many years?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
17.5 years
24 years
27 years
32 years
34.5 years
56. A country of 840,000 has 36,000 births, 22,000 deaths, 10,000 immigrants, and
8,000 emigrants each year. How many people were added to this country?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
16,000
12,000
36,000
14,000
2,000
57. Which Age Structure Diagram represents a country that will have the fewest
number of workers supporting the elderly?
a. Age Structure Diagram “A”
b. Age Structure Diagram “B”
c. Age Structure Diagram “C”
58. Which country would also be represented by Age Structure Diagram “B” in the
above graphic?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Nigeria
Germany
Russia
Austria
Japan
59. Which country would also be represented by Age Structure Diagram “A” from
above?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Mexico
Canada
Germany
Australia
Italy
60. All of the following increases the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
except:
a. fossil fuel combustion
b. respiration
c. forest fires
d. photosynthesis
e. decomposition
61. Which of the following is not a way in which humans alter the carbon cycle?
a. cutting down forests
b. mining uranium in Africa
c. burning fossil fuels in cars and trucks
d. turning grasslands into agricultural land
e. increasing the human population
62. Generally, the most important limiting factor that controls the amount of
vegetation in a biome is:
a. the amount of light
b. the level of precipitation
c. the availability of soil nutrients
d. the type of soil
e. proximity (how close) to the ocean
63. Which of the following would be considered a specialist species?
a. humans
b. raccoons
c. panda bears
d. cockroaches
e. rats
64. The biome found in Southern California is
a. the desert
b. the grassland
c. temperate forest
d. chaparral
e. deciduous forest
65. What is a limiting factor for an organism in an ecosystem?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
It is the range in which an organism can survive
It is the range in which an organism can thrive
It is something that an organism needs and has an ample supply of
It is something than an organism needs and does not have enough of
It is something that really isn’t necessary for the survival of an organism
66. The first step of the nitrogen cycle is:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Assimilation
Ammonification
Nitrification
Denitrification
Nitrogen Fixation
67. You are a scientist studying a newly found aquatic species. You find that no
members of the species survive below a pH of 5 or above a pH of 8. As a scientist
you would call this the:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Tragedy of the commons
The limiting factor
The oxygen factor
The range of tolerance
The survivability curve
68. Generally, food chains are short consisting of three or four trophic levels. Which
of the following is the best explanation of why food chains are so short:
a. Most ecosystems do not have a large number of species in order to make
longer food chains
b. The fluids inside of organisms cannot be efficiently transferred from one
organism to the next
c. Because of the first law of thermodynamics which says that energy cannot be
created or destroyed but only change form
d. Most animals are not efficient predators
e. Large amounts of energy are lost as you move from one trophic level to the
next
69. Why does most of the earth’s rain fall near the equator?
a. This is where most of the water is located
b. Because the ocean currents bring in cooler water from the polar regions
c. Because nearby deserts help to evaporate large amounts of water vapor
which , in turn, falls as rains
d. Because this is where most of the sun’s light strikes the earth, generating
warm rising air
e. Prevailing winds from other regions of the earth bring in moisture laden air
70. Which biogeochemical cycle does not have a gaseous state?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Nitrogen cycle
Phosphorous cycle
Sulfur cycle
Carbon cycle
Water cycle
71. A mountain lion would most likely be a:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Producer
Primary consumer
Secondary consumer
Scavenger
Decomposer
Use the diagram below to answer the following questions:
72. If the second trophic level up contains 8,000 kilocalories how many kilocalories
will be found at the owls trophic level?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
0.8
8
80
800
0.08
73. Why can there never be more mice than grasshoppers?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
First law of thermodynamics
Second law of thermodynamics
Third law of thermodynamics
Grasshopper breed more quickly
Mice do not live as long as grasshoppers
74. Which biome is the result of dry air being compressed at the 30 degree
latitudes?
a. deserts
b. rainforests
c. taigas
d. deciduous forests
e. tundras
75. In which ocean zone would you find marine organisms that are adapted to living
in the dark?
a. abyssal zone
b. bathyal zone
c. euphotic zone
d. coastal zone
e. pelagic zone