TEST NAME: 8.L.2 Bank
TEST ID: 2702422
GRADE: 08 - Eighth Grade
SUBJECT: Life and Physical Sciences
TEST CATEGORY: School Assessment
8.L.2 Bank
Page 1 of 19
Student:
Class:
Date:
1.
2.
3.
4.
What is involved in creating genetically modified bacteria?
A.
allowing them to reproduce freely
B.
changing their food source
C.
using biotechnology techniques
D.
growing them on selected plants
Which of these careers would a student studying biotechnology most
likely pursue?
A.
electrical engineering
B.
astronomy
C.
agricultural research
D.
geology
Which is a way the agricultural biotechnology industry could have a
positive impact on the environment?
A.
by producing crops that are virus resistant
B.
by making robots to replace large farm machines
C.
by reducing the need for countries to import food
D.
by increasing the use of wind farms that produce electricity
Personal medical records become more available and more detailed
because of biotechnological research. Based on this information, which is
a major concern to the public?
A.
transmission of more diseases
B.
an increase in underqualified doctors
C.
inappropriate use of medical information
D.
overdiagnosis of certain medical conditions
8.L.2 Bank
Page 2 of 19
5.
6.
7.
8.
Which is an application of genetic engineering?
A.
destroying all bacteria
B.
creating synthetic insulin
C.
producing cells from nonliving material
D.
preventing weeds from spreading to farmland
How has genetic modification most likely affected the safety and
availability of fruits and vegetables?
A.
It has decreased the safety and availability of fruits and vegetables.
B.
It has increased the safety and availability of fruits and vegetables.
C.
It has decreased the safety of food, but increased the availability of
fruits and vegetables.
D.
It has increased the safety of food, but decreased the availability of
fruits and vegetables.
Which was most likely the earliest way biotechnology was studied by
humans?
A.
finding evidence of crimes
B.
making new medicines to cure sicknesses
C.
discovering the cause of hereditary diseases
D.
breeding better varieties of crops and livestock
To help meet the world’s demand for food, which biotechnological process
is most likely to be used by agricultural industries?
A.
crop rotation
B.
crop diversification
C.
use of transgenic crops
D.
spraying of organic herbicide
8.L.2 Bank
Page 3 of 19
9.
10.
11.
12.
David tests a small amount of new drug developed at a laboratory to
make sure it meets the Food and Drug Administration standards. What is
most likely David’s occupation?
A.
pharmaceutical technician
B.
pharmaceutical salesman
C.
pharmacist
D.
physician
Which organisms are used to manufacture human insulin?
A.
algae
B.
amoebas
C.
bacteria
D.
protozoans
Which would least likely be a result of biotechnology in agriculture?
A.
increase in soil erosion
B.
decrease in use of pesticide
C.
increase in nutritional value of food
D.
decrease in amount of land used for farmland
Which is an example of scientists using biotechnology to benefit
aquaculture?
A.
creating pest-resistant crops
B.
making new forms of human antibiotics
C.
developing a rot-resistant gene for trees
D.
producing a faster-growing salmon species
8.L.2 Bank
Page 4 of 19
13.
14.
15.
16.
Which type of bioengineered foods might provide consumers with a
healthier diet?
A.
foods lower in saturated fats
B.
foods higher in simple starches
C.
foods that do not need to be refrigerated
D.
foods with large amounts of preservatives
As biotechnology is used more often in food production for human
consumption, people may only be able to purchase meat that has been
injected with hormones. Which prediction is the most reasonable?
A.
The hormones will be ingested by consumers and then used by their
bodies.
B.
People will stop eating commercially produced meat because they
don’t like the taste of it.
C.
Farmers will not want to raise hormone-injected animals because the
process will be more expensive.
D.
Food production will become a more time-consuming process because
the hormones will slow down animal reproduction.
What type of science allows us to alter the DNA of a corn plant so that it
will contain more protein?
A.
biology
B.
biotechnology
C.
geology
D.
physiology
Many countries in the world eat a diet consisting mostly of rice which is
filling but is often low in nutritional value. Which one of these
biotechnologies could be used to create a more nutritional rice?
A.
genetic modification of current rice plants
B.
selective breeding of current rice plants
C.
cloning of current rice plants
8.L.2 Bank
Page 5 of 19
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
Which has impacted North Carolina’s economy the least in the field of
bioremediation?
A.
cleaning of air pollution
B.
cleaning of soil pollution
C.
cleaning of water pollution
Which process describes how many pure-bred dogs have been produced?
A.
cloning
B.
crossbreeding
C.
selective breeding
Which is a career that would use microorganisms to remove pollutants
from water?
A.
medical specialist
B.
DNA fingerprint specialist
C.
Environmental Protection Agency specialist
Which is an agricultural benefit of biotechnology in North Carolina?
A.
farmers’ growing cost of fuel
B.
farmers growing smaller vegetables
C.
farmers growing longer lasting vegetables
Genetic engineering has directly increased productivity in which U.S.
industry?
A.
agriculture
B.
automobile
C.
media
8.L.2 Bank
Page 6 of 19
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
Which best describes genetic modification?
A.
It allows large quantities of medications to be produced.
B.
It improves the removal of pollution from soil and water.
C.
It is used to alter crops to become insect-resistant.
Which would most likely increase the amount of money made from
agriculture in North Carolina?
A.
Tomatoes that are resistant to disease.
B.
Tomatoes that are more expensive.
C.
Tomatoes that taste the same.
What is most likely the greatest economic benefit for North Carolina from
biotechnology?
A.
improvements in DNA testing leading to more arrests
B.
fewer people who use laboratory-created human insulin
C.
increased disease-resistant crops and greater crop yields
What is one benefit of giving farm animals vaccines?
A.
It kills insects that attack farm animals.
B.
It reduces the cost of farm animals.
C.
It produces healthier farm animals.
Which improvement to agriculture is most likely a result of
biotechnology?
A.
increased land
B.
increased fertilizer
C.
increased productivity
8.L.2 Bank
Page 7 of 19
27.
28.
29.
30.
Tomatoes are genetically modified to have a longer shelf life, slowing the
ripening and softening of the tomato. Which best describes a concern
people have with eating genetically-modified tomatoes?
A.
Genetically-modified tomatoes do not taste as good as regular
tomatoes.
B.
Genetically-modified tomatoes are more expensive than regular
tomatoes.
C.
The DNA used to modify the tomatoes could change the DNA of the
person eating the tomato.
Biotechnology uses a procedure called genetic engineering. Which best
describes genetic engineering?
A.
making artificial DNA in the laboratory from chemicals
B.
cutting out pieces of DNA from an organism under a microscope
C.
adding DNA from one organism into the DNA of another organism
How does biotechnology most benefit the economy of North Carolina?
A.
creation of jobs
B.
creation of hybrid plants
C.
creation of new medicines
D.
creation of transgenic species
Which is a positive result of the use of biotechnology in agriculture?
A.
increased cost
B.
increased yield
C.
increased use of pesticides
D.
increased use of preservatives
8.L.2 Bank
Page 8 of 19
31.
32.
33.
34.
Farmers use insecticides and fertilizers on their fruit and vegetable
crops. Which best describes the effect of these chemicals?
A.
The crops require less water and nutrients to grow.
B.
The crops are more susceptible to insect damage.
C.
The crops yield smaller fruits and vegetables.
D.
The crops yield more fruits and vegetables.
Which best describes a controversial issue associated with the use of
genetically modified crops?
A.
the use of genetically modified crops to increase potential yield
B.
the short-term use of genetically modified crops in famine-stricken
countries
C.
the development of genetically modified crops which are resistant to
herbicides
D.
the long-term effects which may arise from the use of genetically
modified crops
A number of projects in North Carolina biotechnology involve genomics.
Which best describes genomics?
A.
the study of anatomy and how the body functions
B.
the study of biology and how energy flows in cells
C.
the study of genes and how they function
D.
the study of technology and how it works
Which best describes the technique of genetic engineering?
A.
manufacturing synthetic DNA in the laboratory from chemicals
B.
cutting out segments of the DNA of an organism under a microscope
C.
exposing the DNA of an organism to radioactivity to produce
mutations
D.
introducing foreign DNA into an organism in order to modify the
organism’s DNA
8.L.2 Bank
Page 9 of 19
35.
DNA analysis performed by a forensic scientist on blood found at a crime
scene is compared to the DNA analysis of four suspects as shown below.
Which suspect was most likely present at the crime scene?
36.
A.
Suspect A
B.
Suspect B
C.
Suspect C
D.
Suspect D
Which molecule from humans is inserted into bacteria to cause them to
produce insulin?
A.
DNA
B.
lipids
C.
proteins
D.
carbohydrates
8.L.2 Bank
Page 10 of 19
37.
38.
39.
40.
Bacteria cells can be used to produce insulin for the treatment of
diabetes in humans. Which best explains how the bacteria cells are able
to produce insulin for humans?
A.
The bacteria have been grown on a petri dish containing insulin.
B.
The bacteria have been genetically engineered to contain the DNA
needed to produce insulin.
C.
The bacteria have been exposed to radioactivity to create mutant
strains capable of producing insulin.
D.
The bacteria have been grown on a petri dish containing sugar; the
bacteria produce insulin in response to the sugar.
Which area of biotechnology would most likely create ethical issues
within human society?
A.
insulin production by bacteria
B.
organ cloning for use in transplants
C.
genetic engineering to improve agricultural yields
D.
DNA and forensic testing of crime scene evidence
Which would most likely result in the largest economic benefit to North
Carolina?
A.
North Carolina partnering with farmers for use of agricultural
biotechnology
B.
North Carolina being a lead consumer state in pharmaceutical
manufacturing
C.
North Carolina making the world’s best-trained work force for
biomanufacturing
D.
North Carolina making a long-standing commitment to biotechnology
development
How can biotechnology affect agriculture on a single plot of land?
A.
The land could produce more food than before.
B.
The land could produce several harvests at once.
C.
The land could require more fertilizer for crops to grow.
D.
The land could require moderate temperatures for crops to grow.
8.L.2 Bank
Page 11 of 19
41.
42.
43.
44.
A company that creates hair dye would most likely employ a
biotechnician for which job?
A.
researching trends
B.
developing new colors
C.
creating cost-effective packaging
D.
developing a product that will be safe for consumers
Which is the most useful change made to crops using applications of
biotechnology?
A.
Crops use more nutrients.
B.
Crops need more fertilizer.
C.
Crops resist more diseases.
D.
Crops take more time to grow.
Which project is most likely to be worked on by a biotechnician?
A.
developing plants with resistance to high temperatures
B.
developing architectural designs for houses in floodplains
C.
discovering different isotopes of existing elements in the periodic
table
D.
designing lightweight, strong metallic alloys for use in car
manufacturing
Which person would benefit most from biotechnology?
A.
a cook
B.
a farmer
C.
an architect
D.
an automobile engineer
8.L.2 Bank
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45.
46.
47.
48.
Which are most closely related to biotechnology?
A.
medicine and agriculture
B.
construction and engineering
C.
water treatment and electricity generation
D.
communication and information technology
How does knowledge about human genetics best help doctors?
A.
Doctors can remove damaged genes from a patient’s body.
B.
Doctors can change patients’ genes to make them resistant to
disease.
C.
Doctors can give patients new genes to improve the health of their
children.
D.
Doctors can predict whether patients are at risk of developing a
genetic disease.
Which application of biotechnology is of greatest economic benefit to
North Carolina?
A.
development of livestock that are more domesticated
B.
development of livestock that produce higher quality meat
C.
development of crops that can be grown in extremely dry
environments
D.
development of crops that can be grown in extremely low
temperatures
Residents of North Carolina presently burn 5 billion gallons of imported
petroleum-based liquid fuel per year. How would the state’s economy be
affected if North Carolina could produce biofuels locally as a
replacement?
A.
Tax revenues would decrease.
B.
Unemployment would increase.
C.
The economy would decline due to exports.
D.
The economy would improve with new jobs and tax revenue.
8.L.2 Bank
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49.
50.
51.
52.
Which is a concern of scientists when genetically modifying plants?
A.
Plants will pass on diseases to animals.
B.
There will be a decrease in biodiversity.
C.
Plants will have a longer growing season.
D.
There will be a decrease in revenue for pesticide manufacturers.
All states test infants for specific genetic diseases that can be treated
early in life. Which would most likely be the result if newborn genetic
screening were eliminated?
A.
The human population would drastically decline.
B.
The overall genetic health would drastically decline.
C.
There would be an increase in the adult mortality rate.
D.
There would be an increase in the infant mortality rate.
Which is the most likely result of having a large number of biotechnology
companies located in North Carolina?
A.
decrease in available jobs
B.
improvement in crop yields
C.
increase in antibiotic resistance
D.
decrease in vaccine effectiveness
Which is a benefit of storing the genetic information of people who have
previously committed a serious crime?
A.
Offenders will be easier for potential victims to identify since their
genetic information is on file.
B.
Offenders can be genetically profiled to determine which type of crime
they will commit in the future.
C.
Offenders can be more easily identified by their genetic information if
they commit a crime in the future.
D.
Offenders can have their genetic information altered so that they are
less likely to commit crimes in the future.
8.L.2 Bank
Page 14 of 19
53.
54.
55.
56.
Which would a person who pursues a career in bioinformatics study?
A.
ways DNA stores information
B.
ways of cross-breeding plants
C.
ways of cross-breeding animals
D.
ways of storing and retrieving biological data
North Carolina has over 400 biotechnology companies. How would the
economy most likely change if that number were reduced by half?
A.
The economy would decline because of job loss.
B.
The economy would suffer as funding for research decreases.
C.
The economy would increase due to an increase in production.
D.
The economy would improve when the government offers assistance.
How does biotechnology most likely affect North Carolina’s population?
A.
Jobs are created and attract more people to the area.
B.
Research advancement causes people in need of medicines to move
to the area.
C.
People are not concerned with biotechnology so the overall population
is not impacted.
D.
The issue causes controversy and people hesitate to live in a state
where a large amount of research takes place.
Which describes a beneficial relationship between biotechnology and
North Carolina farmers?
A.
Improvements in biotechnology make farming an obsolete profession.
B.
Improvements in biotechnology help plants become more disease and
insect resistant, increasing farmers’ profits.
C.
Improvements in biotechnology create crops that pose biological
threats for consumers, hurting farmers’ profits.
D.
Biotechnology research leads to a decreasing need for traditional food
sources as more synthetic foods are created in laboratories.
8.L.2 Bank
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57.
58.
59.
60.
Which is a hypothesis a scientist could test using principles of
biotechnology?
A.
How long can a wheat plant live without water?
B.
What are the effects of extreme cold on wheat plants?
C.
Can wheat be genetically modified to be resistant to mold?
D.
Which variety of wheat tastes best when made into pasta?
Which is a benefit of genetically modified foods?
A.
The cost of research is included in the cost to the consumer.
B.
The cost of food will decrease, and the quality of food will increase.
C.
When foods are genetically modified, they no longer need to be
studied.
D.
When foods are genetically modified, they are completely resistant to
disease and drought.
Which career field is most closely related to biotechnology?
A.
medicine
B.
journalism
C.
meteorology
D.
political science
Which describes a way scientists use biotechnology in the field of
agriculture?
A.
Bacteria is used to clean up oil spills.
B.
Criminals are linked to cases by their DNA.
C.
Vaccines for infectious diseases are created.
D.
Food crops are manipulated to be more nutritious.
8.L.2 Bank
Page 16 of 19
61.
62.
63.
64.
Wes graduated with a degree in biotechnology. For which job is he best
qualified?
A.
financial manager
B.
automobile mechanic
C.
laboratory researcher
D.
mathematics teacher
Which is most important when investigating ethical issues in
biotechnology?
A.
cost of the technology
B.
advantage of the technology
C.
public opinion of the technology
D.
benefits of the technology outweighing the harm
Which task is best accomplished with the use of specific genetic
information in biotechnology?
A.
conserving water
B.
cleaning up oil spills
C.
producing synthetic hormones
D.
creating ethanol fuel from corn
Which use of biotechnology most benefits North Carolina agriculture?
A.
producing human vaccines
B.
producing disease-resistant crops
C.
producing new medicines from bacteria
D.
producing enzymes to eliminate pollutants
8.L.2 Bank
Page 17 of 19
65.
66.
67.
68.
Which is an ethical issue surrounding the use of genetically modified
foods?
A.
cost of production
B.
long-term health effects
C.
ability to grow more nutritious foods
D.
ability to produce a lot of food quickly
Which is a potential ethical issue resulting from the use of
biotechnology?
A.
deteriorating the ozone layer
B.
causing mass extinction of a species
C.
increasing pollution of natural resources
D.
introducing a genetically-altered species
Which would be reduced as a result of the development of pest-resistant
crops?
A.
use of organic fertilizers
B.
use of chemical insecticides
C.
practice of crop rotation techniques
D.
practice of hydroponic farming techniques
In which area would biotechnology have the greatest effect on
agriculture?
A.
development of biological weapons
B.
development of biopharmaceuticals
C.
development of biological pesticides
D.
development of biodegradable plastics
8.L.2 Bank
Page 18 of 19
69.
Which is a genetic engineering advancement directly related to a career
in biotechnology?
A.
improving solar energy collection
B.
transporting textiles at higher rates
C.
creating crop foods that resist insect pests
D.
repairing historical sites with quality materials
8.L.2 Bank
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