Competency 1 – Inquiry
1. What type of graph is best for showing a relationship between two variables?
A. bar graph
B. circle graph
C. line graph
D. pie graph
2. According to the scientific method, how would you test a hypothesis?
A. collect data
B. conduct research
C. design and conduct an experiment
D. collect information on the Internet
3. Juan and Shanice took samples from around their classroom to grow bacterial cultures. After the bacterial
cells have been growing for three days in the petri dishes, what is the most appropriate tool for them to use to
measure the diameters of the colonies?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Yard stick
Metric ruler
Graduated cylinder
Triple beam balance
4. What is the best procedure for focusing a compound light microscope?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Use a visual inspection of the object to determine which objective lens to use first.
Begin to focus using the highest power objective lens in order to detect small objects.
Begin to focus using the highest power objective lens and switch to other lenses as necessary.
Begin by using the lowest power objective lens and then switching to the next highest power lens.
5. Which is correct lab safety?
A. Rodney wafted the fumes produced during the reaction toward his nose.
B. Andrew heated the test tube towards himself in order to better observe the reaction.
C. Kadie was aware of the lab procedures that day so she began the lab before the rest of the class to be sure
she would finish.
D. Suzanne did not use all of the sulfuric acid she poured out for the experiment, so she returned the remainder
to the stock bottle.
6. Which safety precaution is common to ALL laboratory activities?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Wear a lab apron.
Follow Instructions.
Disinfection of the lab bench.
Disposal of materials into hazardous waste containers.
7. When an experiment is repeated and the new results are different from the original results what may likely
be inferred?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Addition test/trials are needed.
Both results are wrong due to the discrepancy.
The hypothesis is incorrect and must be modified.
The first must be inaccurate because you are sure the second results are correct.
Use the following chart for questions 8.
8. Dr. Trout has noticed that salmon in his fish hatchery seem to enjoy listening to the radio in his lab. The fish
in the tank closest to the radio seem to grow larger. Dr. Trout decides that the more music he plays, the larger
the fish must grow. To test his idea, he sets up 5 large ponds with 100 salmon in each pond. He places a
loudspeaker at the middle of each pond and plays various amounts of music in each one. He plays the same
band, feeds the fish the same diet, and keeps water conditions in all tanks exactly the same. After 10 weeks, he
ends the trial and finds the average mass of the fish in each pond.
Dr. Trout's data is illustrated in the table. Which statement is most supported?
A. Music has no effect, therefore the hypothesis is supported.
B. Music has no effect, therefore the hypothesis is not supported.
C. Music increases weight, therefore the hypothesis is not supported.
D. Music increases weight, therefore the hypothesis is supported.
9. In the data table, what would the comment column be classified as?
A. Qualitative data
B. Quantitative data
C. Experimental data
D. Independent data
10. Microscopes should be carried by the
A. Base and arm.
B. Binocular and arm.
C. Eyepiece and ocular.
D. Illuminator and precipitator.
11. Which of the following piece of lab equipment is the BEST way to measure liquid volume?
A. Flask
B. Beaker
C. Test tube
D. Graduated cylinder
Use the following chart for question 12.
12. Coach Wood's class is trying to determine what factor is most important in the growth of earthworms. Each
day, they take the METRIC length of four different worms in four different soil samples. Today, it is Moore's
turn to measure the earthworms. For the worm above, Moore records a length of 6.0 cm. Explain whether
Moore's recording is accurate and why.
A. The earthworm length is shorter than 6.0 cm because the worm is curved.
B. The earthworm length is shorter than 6.0 cm because Moore used the incorrect units.
C. The earthworm length is longer than 6.0 cm because the worm needs to be straightened.
D. The earthworm measurement is accurate because Moore subtracted the beginning and ending points from
the ruler.
13. Which question would be MOST appropriate to guide a scientific investigation?
A. Which cup material is the best insulator?
B. Which room deodorizer smells the sweetest?
C. What is the effect of playing video games on memory?
D. In a taste test, which soft drink tasted better, Coke or Pepsi?
14. Mrs. Roberts' class was designing science experiments. Carl and his partner decided to use the outdoor
classroom as their laboratory. Since there was a bird feeder in the outdoor classroom, they decided to design an
experiment about the feeding habits of birds in their area.
Which question would be MOST appropriate to guide the scientific investigation?
A.
B.
C.
D.
What do birds eat?
What type of seeds do birds prefer?
What time of day do birds prefer to eat?
Which types of seeds do our feeder birds eat?
15. What must a scientist always try to avoid in scientific experiments?
A. Bias
B. Lab safety
C. Large data samples
D. Detailed procedures
Use the following chart for question 16.
16. Mr. Kim's eighth grade science class was trying to maintain a classroom garden. Unfortunately, the weeds
were taking over. Mr. Kim saw a weed killer advertised on TV which said that one application would kill the
three most common garden weeds and would be effective for at least one month. Mr. Kim bought some and
applied it to the classroom garden. His students kept track of the weeds growing in their garden.
What could Mr. Kim's students infer from their data?
A. The weed killer was most effective on lespedeza and dandelion.
B. The weed killer was effective on the plantain for three weeks.
C. The weed killer was not effective on any of the weeds for one month.
D. The weed killer wiped out the dandelions and plantain for over one month.
Use the following chart for question for 17.
Plant Table
Mass of Plant
Amount of
Plant
after 3 Weeks (kg) Fertilizer (grams)
1
0.2
0
2
0.4
2
3
1.2
3
4
1.0
4
5
Died
5
17. “Plant growth is dependent on the amount of fertilizer applied.” That was the hypothesis Mel and Bill
decided on for their science project. They planted identical seeds in the same potting mix, in similar pots. Each
pot received the same amount of water and all the pots were placed in the same location in the greenhouse. Mel
and Bill’s data was summarized after three weeks.
What would be the MOST appropriate conclusion for this experiment?
A. High applications of fertilizer will kill the plants.
B. Fertilizer application had no real effect on plant growth.
C. Optimal plant growth is attained by applying fertilizer.
D. An application of 3 grams of fertilizer produced the largest plant in three weeks.
Use the following chart for question 18.
Hand Washing Test
Treatment
Bacterial cultures (#/plate)
Warm water
24
Hand sanitizer
28
Soap A
12
Soap B
13
18. Ms. James wanted to buy a product that would kill bacteria on her students' hands before taking them to
lunch. The label on the hand sanitizer said that it would kill bacteria better than any soap on the market. Ms.
James decided to compare the hand sanitizer to two brands of soap and plain warm water. The results are in the
data table.
What should Ms. James infer about the hand cleaning products?
A. Both soap products were more effective than the hand sanitizer.
B. Soap is not necessary to kill bacteria. You should just use water.
C. Although hand sanitizer worked best, Soap A was almost as effective.
D. Hand sanitizer worked the best and warm water was more effective than either soap.
19. Why might a scientist repeat an experiment if she didn't make a mistake in the first one?
A. To make more money.
B. To ensure that the results are consistent and repeatable.
C. To make sure to obtain expected results to match hypothesis.
D. To determine if any portion can be skipped and still get the same results.
20. You have been collecting data to determine the average monthly temperature for a particular year. You
have 30 samples recorded in degrees Celsius each month. You want to show temperature trends over the entire
year. What would be the BEST way to represent your data to illustrate the average temperature for each month?
A. On a calendar
B. On a bar graph
C. In a data table
D. In a descriptive paragraph
Use the following chart for question 21.
Water Depth (cm) at Monitoring Stations June 10th-14th
Station ID June 10 June 11 June 12 June 13
Station A
44.5
45.3
46.4
47.0
Station B
43.5
44.0
45.2
46.5
Station C
42.7
43.4
44.5
47.2
Station D
33.2
31.3
30.7
28.4
21. A team of scientists examining the effects of drought conditions on fish populations assembled the data
shown. The data are collected from automated stations that monitor water levels in a stream. The scientists
suspect that one of the automated stations may be malfunctioning. Based on the data shown, which monitoring
station is most likely malfunctioning and reporting erroneous data?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Station A
Station B
Station C
Station D
22. After school each day, students head to several locations around town. Data was collected and the number
of students visiting 4 different locations was recorded.
Location - Number of Students
McDonald's
Jo's Arcade
The Library
Bill's House
- 25
- 10
- 15
- 10
What would be the BEST way to illustrate the percent of students visiting each site?
A. Bar graph
B. Pie chart
C. Histogram
D. Line graph
Use the following chart for question 23.
23. Based on the information provided in the graph, we can see that as the independent variable increases,
A. The dependent variable decreases.
B. The dependent variable also increases.
C. There is no change in the dependent variable.
D. There is not enough information to form a conclusion.
24. In a controlled scientific experiment, the ___________ variable is manipulated by the researcher.
A. Control
B. Dependent
C. Experimental
D. Independent
25. Jimmy and Jenny have designed an experiment to test how termites react to the chemicals in ink pens. They
use one termite in their experiment. Jenny draws four circles, using four different brands of black ink. Jimmy
places the termite on each circle of ink and they watch the termite's behavior as it is placed on each circle, one
try per circle. In all four cases, the termite veers off the ink circle. Jimmy and Jenny conclude that termites are
not attracted to ink at all.
What suggestion would you give Jimmy and Jenny concerning their experimental design?
A. Run repeated trails with the one termite.
B. Use more than one termite and run many trials.
C. Use more than one termite and the same brand of ink pen each time.
D. Compare the termite's behavior on ink circles to the behavior on pencil circles.
Use the following chart for question 26.
26. As resources, such as food and space, become depleted, the bacterial population density will decrease.
From the choices offered, during which month would resources be the most limited?
A.
B.
C.
D.
March
May
July
September
27. While working on a pH lab, Alex spilled strong acid all over the table. What should Alex's first step be to
remedy this problem?
A. Inform his teacher.
B. Wipe it up with a paper towel.
C. Light it on fire to burn it off the table.
D. Mix it with a base and wipe it with a cloth rag.
28. In performing any laboratory experiment, what is the first step performed out of the following choices?
A. Collect data
B. Analyze data
C. Publish results
D. Form hypothesis
29. A farmer wants to know the effects of a new fertilizer on his crop of butter beans. One year, he fertilizes 1/4
of his crop (A) with the new fertilizer, 1/4 of his crop (B) with the fertilizer he has used in the past, 1/4 of his
crop (C) with a mixture of the two fertilizers, and 1/4 of his crop (D) with no fertilizer. Assuming all other
factors - sunlight, rainfall, soil composition, etc. - are the same as previous years, what is the control group in
this experiment?
A. Group A
B. Group B
C. Group C
D. Group D
COMPETENCY 2
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
1. An enzyme known as amylase is found in the saliva of humans. This enzyme helps to begin the process of
digesting starch molecules in the foods we eat. Which of these BEST describes how enzymes like amylase help
in the process of digestion?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Amylase acts as a buffer to keep the pH of foods at a consistent level.
Amylase breaks down the food molecules directly by forming powerful acids.
Amylase is a catalyst that speeds up the chemical process of breaking down food molecules.
Amylase contains the DNA molecules necessary to assemble the proteins needed for digestion.
Use the following diagram for question 2.
2. Water’s _________makes it an excellent solvent for salts, like sodium chloride, as well as other substances
required by cells to carry out metabolic processes.
A.
B.
C.
D.
pH
polarity
specific heat
molecular weight
Use the following picture for question 3.
3. Fill a glass with water above the rim. It forms a domed surface. Add a paper clip and watch it float, even
though the paper clip is made of a metal that is denser than water. This is due to water’s surface tension. Water
has several very unique properties, like surface tension, cohesion, and adhesion because water:
A. is the universal solvent and can hold anything, even paper clips.
B. is polar and every water molecule electrically attracts the neighboring water molecules.
C. bonds like metals so water molecules forms crystal lattice structure when in a container.
D. is polar and tends to attract metallic substances like the material that makes up the paper clip.
4. Reaction velocity of a biological enzyme is highest at body temperature. Which of these models represent
this situation?
A.
B.
C.
D.
5. Milk of Magnesia is a base. What happens when you drink milk of magnesia on an upset stomach?
A.
B.
C.
D.
It raises the pH of your stomach
It lowers the pH of your stomach
It cleanses the stomach of harmful, painful bacteria
It coats the walls of your stomach with a protective layer.
6. One of the monosaccharides is a building block of plant’s cell wall. Which is the monosaccharide?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Glucose
Maltose
Mannose
Sucrose
Use the following chart for question 7.
A strawberry farmer conducted an experiment to test the optimum pH level of soil to give the greatest
production of strawberries. He believed that the optimum pH would be around 5.5. For each pH level, he
recorded average grams of strawberries produced per plant and total grams of strawberries produced per acre.
His results are shown in the table below.
The Effect of Soil pH on Strawberry Production
pH Level
4.5
5.0
5.5
6.0
6.5
7.0
7.5
8.0
8.5
Grams per Plant
0.44
0.47
0.51
0.54
0.57
0.55
0.52
0.46
0.40
Grams per Acre
5982
6390
6934
7342
7750
7478
7070
6254
5439
7. According to the table, what is the best pH level for optimum strawberry production?
A. 5.0
B. 6.5
C. 7.0
D. 8.5
Use the following pH scale for question 8.
8. According to the pH scale which of these substances is the strongest acid?
A. NaOH
B. Blood
C. Bleach
D. Lemon juice
9. In the structure of DNA, which nucleotide always pairs with adenine?
A. Cytosine
B. Guanine
C. Thymine
D. Uracil
10. What type of bonds share valence electrons?
A. Ionic bonds
B. Atomic bonds
C. Covalent bonds
D. Hydrogen bonds
11. PEPSI, VINEGAR, ORANGE JUICE
What property do all three of these common household substances have in common?
A. They are all acidic.
B. They all taste bitter
C. They all have a pH above 7.
D. They all turn litmus paper blue
12. Chemically speaking, enzymes are composed of chains of ___________, and they are considered to be a
type of_______________________.
A. fatty acids, lipid
B. amino acids, protein
C. nucleotides, nucleic acid
D. monosaccharides, carbohydrates
13. The illustration depicts the formation of an ionic chemical bond between sodium and chlorine atoms. Why is
the resulting compound more stable than the individual atoms?
A. The shared electron from sodium to chlorine provides each atom with a full outer energy level.
B. The shared electron from sodium to chlorine provides each atom with an empty outer energy level.
C. The transferred electron from sodium to chlorine provides each atom with a full outer energy level
D. The transferred electron from sodium to chlorine provides each atom with an empty outer energy level.
14. The proteins in the cell membrane allow substances to come or go, based on their concentrations. This is
an important part of _____________________, which maintains the immediate conditions necessary for life.
A. osmosis
B. metabolism
C. homeostasis
D. endocytosis
15. The ability of water to hold more heat than land keeps the temperature on Earth:
A.
B.
C.
D.
moderate
the same
very low
very high
16. _____________form the majority of the plasma membrane of cells.
A. Proteins
B. Phospholipids
C. Steroids
D. Triglycerides
17. In the chemical process of photosynthesis, water is a
A. catalyst
B. enzyme
C. product
D. reactant
18. All BUT one of the conditions will increase the reaction rate of an enzyme. Which of the following will
decrease the reaction rate of an enzyme?
A. Reaching optimal pH
B. Reaching optimal temperature
C. Decreasing the concentration of the enzyme
D. Decreasing the concentration of the substrate
19. A person starts to eat a hamburger. As she takes a bite and chews, an enzyme called salivary lipase helps to
begin the process of digestion. Which of these is the BEST description of the role of enzymes in digestion?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Enzymes are acids that physically break down food molecules.
Enzymes moisten food to help teeth in the mechanical process of grinding and chewing.
Enzymes are proteins that speed up the process of chemically breaking down food molecules.
Enzymes are cells that secrete saliva and other necessary substances needed for digestion.
20. A substance with a pH of 9 has:
A. no H+ ions or OH-ions
B. more H+ ions than OH- ions
C. more OH- ions than H+ ions
D. the same number of H+ ions as does OH- ions
21. Amino acid is to protein as
A. Fat is to lipid.
B. DNA is to RNA.
C. Sugar is to fat.
D. Simple sugar is to starch.
22. The attraction between hydrogen and oxygen atoms in different water molecules is known as a
A. ionic bond
B. hydrogen bond
C. covalent bond
D. peptide bond
23. Which of the following statements is true?
A. Simple sugars are made of polysaccharides.
B. Glycerol is made of nucleic acids.
C. RNA molecules are made of nucleotides.
D. DNA molecules are made of polypeptides.
Use the following diagram of a lithium atom and a fluorine atom shown below for item 24.
24. When lithium reacts chemically with fluorine, the outermost electron of lithium will transfer to which
numbered area in the diagram?
A. l
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
25. A molecule with a structure composed primarily of amino acids would be classified in which of the
following groups?
A. lipids
B. proteins
C. nucleic acids
D. carbohydrates
26. Adhesion occurs when water is attracted to other polar substances. Which of the following is an example of
adhesion in organisms?
A. Capillary action of liquid in plant stems
B. release of sweat to reduce body heat
C. movement of ions to maintain homeostasis
D. pumping of blood through the circulatory system
27. The pH of the water in several lakes in Norway and Sweden has decreased to below 5.0, resulting in the
decline of several fish populations. The decrease in the pH is due to which of the following?
A. a greater rate of ozone depletion
B. an increase in acidic precipitation
C. An increase in environmental temperatures
D. A rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.
28. Bee venom contains acids and other compounds that cause the pain and itching from a bee sting. Calamine
lotion, which is a mild base, helps relieve the symptoms. Which best explains how the calamine lotion relieves
a bee sting?
A. The calamine lotion hydrates the skin around the bee sting
B. The calamine lotion neutralizes the acids in the bee venom
C. The calamine lotion decreases the pH of the bee venom.
D. The calamine lotion repairs the cells damaged by the bee sting.
29. The enzyme lactase will break down the sugar lactose into which of the following components?
A. Monosaccharides
B. Nucleic acids
C. Amino Acids
D. Phospholipids
COMPETENCY 3
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
1. Soil erosion is a direct result of flooding. What is a secondary, positive result of flooding and erosion?
A.
B.
C.
D.
landslides
property damage
habitat destruction
fertile soil deposits
2. In which habitat is one likely to find plants that have developed extremely large, broadleaf, evergreen leaves
for gathering light, epiphytes, and climbing vines that strangle other plants?
A.
B.
C.
D.
taiga
kelp forest
tropical rainforest
temperate deciduous forest
3. Which of the following populations would begin the flow of energy through a desert food web?
A.
B.
C.
D.
coyotes
cactus finch
beaded lizards
mesquite shrubs
4. Algal blooms occur due to the presence of an excess amount of nutrients, like phosphorus, in fresh water.
How does excess phosphorus get into fresh water?
A.
B.
C.
D.
The nutrients are added to the water by fishermen to feed the fish.
The nutrients leak into fresh water from oil refineries in the vicinity.
The nutrients are a part of the fertilizers that are often washed away into ponds.
The nutrients are formed by the decomposition of organic wastes dumped into fresh water.
Use the following diagram for question 5.
5. Which phrase could be used in place of the question mark in the diagram?
A.
B.
C.
D.
four distinct seasons
located near the equator
extremely heavy precipitation
variety of herbivores and carnivores
6. Fossil fuels are considered nonrenewable resources becauseA.
B.
C.
D.
They exist in very small amounts
They convert to carbon dioxide when they are burned
They change forever when they are burned
They need millions of years to form
7. During World War II, DDT was used to get rid of mosquitoes, which spread malaria and typhus. DDT is
credited with the eradication of malaria. This was a great achievement for the human population but it had some
negative side effects. Which of the following is the MOST well known negative side effect of using DDT?
A.
B.
C.
D.
killed mosquitoes
eradicated malaria
damaged nontargeted species
decreased the rate of cancer in humans
8. Populations of organisms, such as kudzu and the fire ant that are introduced into a new habitat and reproduce
very rapidly are known as _____________ species.
A.
B.
C.
D.
native
predatory
invasive
parasitic
9. The development of a shopping mall can split a natural habitat into smaller parts. This effect is known as
A.
B.
C.
D.
biodiversity.
habitat preservation.
habitat fragmentation.
biological magnification.
Use the following diagram for question 10.
10. Organisms at the bottom of the pyramid produce enough energy to support the entire ecosystem through
A.
B.
C.
D.
predation.
photosynthesis.
cell respiration.
anaerobic respiration.
11. Cone-bearing trees (like pines, spruce and fir) grow best in areas where winters are long and cold. Large
mammals like moose, elk and bear also live and thrive in these cold areas known collectively as the
________________ biome.
A.
B.
C.
D.
taiga
desert
temperate grassland
temperate deciduous forest
Use the following table for question 12.
12. According to the graph, what abiotic factor
influences tadpole survival?
A.
B.
C.
D.
size of pond
cadmium dosage
available food
number of surviving tadpoles
13. An isolated African canyon community in which cheetahs and leopards consume only impala antelopes
is being observed. If the number of leopards increases, which of the following is MOST LIKELY to happen
first?
A.
B.
C.
D.
The impala population will decrease.
The cheetah population will increase.
The cheetah population will decrease.
The impala population will remain the same.
14. Flagellate protozoans live in the guts of termites. The flagellates break down the cellulose that the termites
eat, and both organisms benefit from the resulting nutrients. This relationship between protozoan and termite is
an example ofA.
B.
C.
D.
commensalism.
equilibrium.
mutualism.
parasitism.
Use the picture below for question 15.
15. In a food chain, the organism pictured is considered a(n)
A.
B.
C.
D.
autotroph.
consumer.
decomposer.
herbivore
16. Only part of the energy in one trophic level gets passed to the next level. In any energy pyramid, about
_____________ is passed from level to level.
A.
B.
C.
D.
10%
30%
50%
90%
17. The desert and tundra are alike because they both have
A.
B.
C.
D.
extreme daily temperature changes.
large seasonal variation.
limited available water.
sandy soils.
18. The land of Kenya and South Africa is grass-covered with very few trees and gazelles and other grazers are
common here. Why does this biome have a low population of trees?
A. Large grazing animals destroy the trees.
B. It is a deforested rainforest with poor soil.
C. It doesn’t receive enough rainfall to support trees.
D. It has a long rainy season followed by flooding.
19. The single MOST important factor contributing to the modern-day extinction of hundreds on species on
Earth is
A.
B.
C.
D.
acid rain.
deforestation.
greenhouse effect.
habitat destruction.
Use the following diagram for question 20.
20. In food chains, the flow of energy is ALWAYS _________.
A.
B.
C.
D.
one-way.
reversable.
two-way.
uncontrolled.
21. In a deciduous forest ecosystem, a white-tailed deer eats tree leaves while a Cooper’s hawk hunts a downy
woodpecker. In the ground, earthworms break down leaves. In the ecosystem described, the earthworms are
classified as a
A.
B.
C.
D.
consumer.
decomposer.
predator.
producer.
22. What are the two defining factors of a terrestrial biome?
A. Soil type and pH
B. Temperature and precipitation
C. Amount of sunlight and Carbon Dioxide
D. Temperature and growth season
23. Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere enters the living parts of the biosphere through –
A.
B.
C.
D.
burning of forests
photosynthesis
combustion of fossil fuels
transpiration
24. How does nitrogen get recycled back to the atmosphere?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Decay by bacteria
Infiltration of groundwater
Runoff of precipitation
Lightning in storm clouds
25. Which two biogeochemical cycles depend on photosynthesis for part of the recycling process?
A.
B.
C.
D.
carbon and oxygen
water and nitrogen
water and oxygen
carbon and nitrogen
Use the following chart for question 26.
26. Which organism in this food web receives the least amount of energy from the producers?
A.
B.
C.
D.
mountain lion
grasshopper
rabbit
caterpillar
Use the following chart for question 27.
27. The numbered boxes in the diagram represent which of the following?
A.
B.
C.
D.
1 – water vapor; 4 – runoff
1 – atmospheric carbon dioxide; 4 – fuels
1 – oxygen; 4 – water
1-atmospheric nitrogen; 4 – nitrifying bacteria
28. A lake or pond receives runoff containing a large amount of chemical fertilizer. Which of the following
may occur immediately upon this contact?
A.
B.
C.
D.
algal bloom
algae death and decomposer overpopulation
recycling of organic compounds
drop in carbon dioxide levels
29. If a new species is introduced into an ecosystem and it has no predators, which of the following is most
likely to occur?
A.
B.
C.
D.
the new species will overpopulate
the new species will become extinct
the new species will become a predator
the new species will eat new foods
Use the following picture for question 30.
30. The figure above shows succession in an ecosystem. What organisms are found in the climax community
for this ecosystem?
A.
B.
C.
D.
lichens and moss
trees and shrubs
weeds and grasses
volcanoes and soil
COMPETENCY 4
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
1. An animal cell that is surrounded by fresh water will burst because the osmotic pressure causes
A. Water to move into the cell.
B. Water to move out of the cell.
C. Solutes to move into the cell.
D. Solutes to move out of the cell.
2. Use the following diagram for question 2.
2. Identify the name of the cell organelle G in the graphic.
A. Lysosome
B. Mitochondria
C. Golgi Appartus
D. Endoplasmic Reticulum
3. Which of these organism’s cells have a cell wall?
A. Butterfly
B. Oak tree
C. Human
D. Algae
4. Use the following diagram for question 4.
Which of the following conclusions could you draw about the cell shown above?
A. The cell is eukaryotic because it has a nucleus.
B. The cell is prokaryotic because it has a nucleus.
C. The cell is eukaryotic because it does not have a nucleus.
D. The cell is prokaryotic because it does not have a nucleus.
5. Protozoa are classified by the presence of cilia, flagella, and pseudopods or by their nonmotility. This
classification method is based on their means of
A. Growth
B. Reproduction
C. Circulation
D. Locomotion
6. Which of the following structures serves as the cell’s boundary from its environment?
A. Mitochondrion
B. Cell membrane
C. Chloroplast
D. Channel protein
7. A cell that has many mitochondria would produce a great deal of
A. Protein
B. Energy
C. Enzymes
D. Cytoplasm
8. The building of proteins from amino acids occurs on the cell’s
A. Membrane
B. Ribosomes
C. Nucleus
D. Centriole
9. Which of the following organisms are prokaryotes?
A. Plants
B. Animals
C. Bacteria
D. Fungi
10. Which of the following is a function of the nucleus?
A. stores DNA
B. stores sugars
C. builds proteins
D. packages proteins
Use the following diagram for question 11.
11. In prokaryotic cells, this molecule is
A. attached to ribosomes.
B. not enclosed within a nucleus.
C. attached to glucose complexes.
D. found within the nuclear membrane.
12. What part of the cell contains digestive enzyme that break down old cell parts?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Lysosome
Nucleus
Endoplasmic reticulum
Cell membrane
13. What structure is part of the cell’s skeleton?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Golgi Apparatus
Microfilaments
Plasma membrane
Mitochondria
14. Which organelle would you expect to find in plant cells but not animal cells?
A.
B.
C.
D.
mitochondrion
ribosome
chloroplast
smooth endoplasmic reticulum
Use the diagram below represents a unicellular green alga known as chlamydomonas for question 15.
X
15. Structure X helps chlamydomonas move through the pond in which it lives. Structure X represents
A.
B.
C.
D.
Cilia
Antenna
Tentacle
Flagella
Use the following text for question 16.
Brain
Central nervous system
Human being
Nerve tissue
Neuron
16. Organize the parts of this body system in the CORRECT order according to the levels of
organization in a multicellular organism.
A. Human being- central nervous system- brain- nerve tissue- neurons
B. Brain- neurons-nerve tissue- central nervous system- human being
C. Neurons-nerve tissue- brain-central nervous system- human being
D. Nerve tissue- neurons-brain- central nervous system- human being
Use the diagram below for question 17.
17. The diagram is showing the process of —
A.
B.
C.
D.
osmosis.
active transport.
phagocytosis.
exocytosis.
18. What substance combines with oxygen in cellular respiration?
A. Fat
B. Sugar
C. Water
D. Carbon dioxide
19. What is the primary function of the phloem in vascular plants?
A. Transport sugar
B. Transport water
C. Anchor the plant
D. Provide structure and sugar
20. .The plasma membrane of a cell is selectively permeable, which means it—
A. controls all cellular activities.
B. is responsible for asexual reproduction.
C. allows some materials to pass.
D. has a carbohydrate foundation.
21. The cell membrane contains channels and pumps that help move materials from one side to the other. What
are these channels and pumps made of?
A. carbohydrates
B. lipids
C. bilipids
D. proteins
22. During diffusion, when the concentration of molecules on both sides of a membrane is the same, the
molecules will
A. move across the membrane to the outside of the cell.
B. stop moving across the membrane.
C. continue to move across the membrane in both directions.
D. move across the membrane to the inside of the cell.
23. Which sequence represents the correct order of organization in complex organisms?
A.
B.
C.
D.
tissues 
organs 
systems 
cells 








Use the following diagram for question 24.
24. Which means of particle transport is shown?
A. endocytosis
B. exocytosis
C. facilitated diffusion
D. protein pump
25. Which of the following is a non-vascular plant?
A. Angiosperm
B. Conifer
C. Fern
D. Moss
26. Homesostasis is the condition in which the body maintains:
A. The lowest possible energy usage.
B. A relatively stable internal environment, within limits.
C. A changing state, within an unlimited range.
D. A stable state with no change from predetermined range.
Use the following diagram for question 27.
27. The __________ molecule is known as the universal energy source of the cell.
A. AMP
B. ATP
C. GTP
D. NADH
28. What is the correct equation for cellular respiration?
A. 6O2 + C6H12O6
6CO2 + 6H2O + Energy
B. 6O2 + C6H12O6 + Energy 6CO2 + 6H2O
C. 6CO2 + 6H2O
6O2 + C6H12O6 + Energy
D. 6CO2 + 6H2O + Energy 6O2 + C6H12O6
Use the following diagram for question 29.
29. Using the figure above, which pairing matches the structures shown in the cell diagrams with the processes
that take place within those structures?
A.
B.
C.
D.
A: photosynthesis; B: cellular respiration
C: photosynthesis; D: cellular respiration
D: photosynthesis; E: cellular respiration
E: photosynthesis; D: cellular respiration
30. Golgi apparatus is to vacuole as packaging is to —
A. protecting.
B. storing.
C. absorbing.
D. hydrating