Honors Biology Midterm Review Guide: 2014-15
The Cell
1. What is the difference between a plant and animal cell.
2. What is the difference between a prokaryote and eukaryote cell
3. Why is the phospholipid bilayer important – what is it composed of, vesicle formation
4. Diffusion- which way do particles move in an experiment
a. Define diffusion
b. What happens at equilibrium
c. Define Osmosis
5. Lab safety- no question be familiar with class rules for
6. What is the structure (look like) and function of following parts of cell
a. Nucleus
g. Cilia
b. Nucleolus
h. Flagella
c. Endoplasmic Reticulum i. Mitochondria
d. Cell wall
j. Central vacuole
e. Ribosomes
k. Chloroplast
f. Golgi Apparatus
7. What are the principles of cell theory- possible essay
8. How should one look at a slide on the microscope at high power
9. Lab practical- Be able to locate, draw, and label a cell on high power.
Photosynthesis & Cellular Respiration
1. Define and give and example of: autotroph, heterotroph, consumer, producer
2. What types of energy conversion occur in photosynthesis
3. Plants absorb light by? and appear green because of?
4. Experiment
a. Define the independent variable & dependent variable
b. Be able to read a graph- no question
c. What Gas is released by photosynthesis
5. What are the equations for photosynthesis and cellular respiration? How are they similar yet
different?
6. How is energy released in ATP?
7. What are the products and reactants of cellular respiration
8. Yeast and fermentation – what type aerobic or anaerobic?
9. How do muscle cramps develop?
10. What foods are made from fermentation?
11. Comparison of light reaction and Calvin Cycle: light use, location, reactants, products, and
energy types
12. Comparison of Glycolysis, Krebs cycle, Electron transport chain, & fermentation (2 types): #
ATP, location, need for oxygen, produces carbon dioxide
13. Write the balanced chemical equations for photosynthesis & cell respiration- possible essay
Biochemistry
1. What is the atomic number? Atomic weight? An isotope? An ion?
2. Calculate the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons based on the periodic table.
a. What are the number of protons, electrons and neutrons in Magnesium and Chlorine?
3. What are the number of electron cloud layers and how many electrons are in each?
1
a. Draw electron cloud configuration for Magnesium and Chlorine.
4. Identify the reactants and products in a chemical equation
5. What is the difference between an ionic and covalent bond? Give an example of each.
6. What is pH? How does what know if a substance is an acid or base or neutral?
7. Identify which functional groups are present for a given molecule.
8. For carbohydrates, fats, and proteins be able to
a. Identify the monomers for each? How does the molecule progress to be a polymer?
b. How does dehydration synthesis work to build a polymer of each group?
c. How does hydrolysis work to break down the polymer of each group?
d. What are the different functions of each group?
e. Which and how are these groups listed on a food label.
9. What are the different forms and functions of polysaccharides: glycogen, starch, cellulose
10. How can you tell the difference between saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated
fats.
11. What are the 4 types of protein structures? What mechanisms are in place to cause the shape
at each level.
12. Interpret a graph on the effects of an enzyme
13. Explain the induced fit model – such as sucrase on sucrose- possible essay question.
14. How does denaturation occur and affect enzymes.
Ecology
1. Food web /pyramids
a. Define the types of organisms- producers, consumers, decomposers, omnivores
b. What will happen to other organisms if the food web is disrupted
c. Define producer, 1st, 2nd or 3rd order consumers
d. What is the difference between abiotic and biotic factors- examples
e. Be able to read pyramid of numbers and energy- how is energy flow represented
through a food chain / web-possible essay question
2. Human population growth
a. Graphs: Draw and explain J-shape / exponential, S-shape / carrying capacity
b. What are causes for rapid human growth in last 150 years
3. Symbiosis: define and examples of commensalism, mutualism, parasitism, predator-prey
4. Human disturbances
a. Define: Ozone layer depletion, biological magnification
b. Define: Acid rain, deforestation
5. Ecological succession: primary v. secondary – what is the difference
6. Population  Community  Ecosystem  Biome: define each in relations to one another
7. Calculate density of a population- what is the formula
8. Conservation
a. What methods are used to increase biodiversity and protect endangered species
b. What are threats to biodiversity
9. Path of energy in living things- Comes from where and goes through life how?
10. Chemical cycles: Carbon, nitrogen, and water- what does each do?
11. What is the difference between abiotic and biotic. Give examples of each.
12. For each of the following biomes be able to describe general characteristics of each: Desert,
Tundra, Coniferous forest (taiga), Temperate deciduous forest, grassland, tropical rain forest.
Create a table on your paper as below and complete for all listed biomes.
Biome
Water
Temperature
Soil
Plants
Animals
2
Word Parts for Honors Biology Midterm
Part
a
aerosan-
Meaning
without
air, oxygen
without
Vocabulary
abiotic
aerobic
anaerobic
-ase
autobiocarnis,
caro
chlorochroma,
chromo
-cyte, cytode-
enzyme
self
life
flesh
sucrase
autotroph
biosphere
carnivore
green
color
diendo-
two
inner,
inside
true
outside
plant
other,
different
water
over, more
under, less
equal
nucleus
study of
to loosen,
cut
euexoherba
heterohydrohyperhypoisokaryo-logy
lysis
cell
from
Part
magna
Meaning
big,large
Vocabulary
magnify
micromonoomni
-ose
small
one
all
sugar
microscope
monomer
omnivore
glucose
-philic
love
hydrophilic
chloroplast
chromatograph
y
cytoplasm
dehydration
synthesis
disaccharide
endocytosis
-phobic
photo-
fear
light
hydrophobic
photosynthesis
phyllon
-phyto-
leaf
plant
chlorophyll
phytoplankton
plasm-, -plasm
poly-
forming, liquid
many
cytoplasm
polysaccharide
eukaryotic
exocytosis
herbivore
heterotroph
primos,
pro-sacchar
stoma
first
before
sugar
mouth
primary consumer
prokaryote
monosaccharide
stomata
hydrolysis
hypertonic
hypotonic
isotonic
karyotype
biology
lysosome
syn-
together
ATP synthase
transtri-, trestroph
vacuos
vorare
across
three
feeding, nutrition
empty
devour
transport
triphosphate
trophic level
vacuole
omnivore
Essays
1. Explain the three parts of the cell theory and explain why it is important to biology?
2. Compare & contrast the photosynthesis equation with the cellular respiration equation.
3. Apply the induced-fit model of enzymes and substrates to sucrose / sucrase. How does
denaturing affect an enzymatic reaction.
4. Trace the path and amount of energy (including % loss) from the sun to a quarternary level
consumer in a food chain.
Exam Breakdown
The questions will be grouped by topic on the exam. There will be 15 questions for each of the
following sections: Cell, Cell Respiration/Photosynthesis, Word Parts, Biochemistry, & Ecology and 5
questions lab application.
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Honors Biology Midterm Review Guide: 2014-15 ANSWERS
The Cell
1. What is the difference between a plant and animal cell
Plant
Animal
Membrane and cell wall
Plasma membrane
Mitochondria and chloroplast
Mitochondria
Cytoplasm, nucleus
Cytoplasm, nucleus
Most organelles
Most organelles
1. What is the difference between a prokaryote and eukaryote cell
– prokaryotic lacks a nucleus and most other organelles
- eukaryotic cell has a membrane bound nucleus and organelles
2. Why is the phospholipid bilayer important- regulates the transport of substances across it, hydrophilic
heads and hydrophobic tails, transport ptoteins. Oxygen and water diffuse, glucose by proteins.
Exocytosis / endocytosis- moving material out or into cell by vesicless made of membrane
3. Diffusion- which way do particles move in an experiment
a. Define diffusion- net movement of the particles of a substance from where they are more
concentrated to where they are less concentrated
b. What happens at equilibrium- reached when the movement of particles in one direction is equal
to the number of particles moving in the other
c. Define osmosis- passive transport of water across a selectively permeable membrane
4. Lab safety- be familiar with class rules for: fire use, acid use, glass breakage
5. What is the structure (look like) and function of following parts of cell
a. Nucleus: center of cell, circular; the part that houses the cell's genetic material in the form of DNA
b. Nucleolus: ball-like mass of fibers and granules in a cell nucleus
c. Endoplasmic Reticulum: may be smooth or rough ribbon-like; network of membranes within a
cell's cytoplasm that produces a variety of molecules
d. Cell wall: box like structure; strong wall outside a plant cell's plasma membrane that protects the cell
and maintains its shape
e. Ribosomes: small dot structures- cluster of proteins and nucleic acids that constructs proteins in a cell
f. Golgi apparatus: flattened stack of ovals; cellular organelle that modifies, stores, and routes cell
products
g. Cilia: short hair-like structures from a cell and containing bundles of microtubules that move a cell
through its surroundings or move fluid over the cell's surface
h. Flagella: whip-like structure responsible for movement
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i. Mitochondria: powerplant of cell- turns glucose into ATP; bean shaped
j. Central vacuole: large structure (bigger than nucleus) stores water to help hold plants up
k. Chloroplast: green disk structure responsible to turn solar energy into glucose
7. What are the principles of cell theory
- All living things are composed of cells, cells are the basic unit of structure and function in living
things (life legos), cells come from pre-existing cells
8. How should one look at a slide on the microscope at high power: set in on low power and find the
object, go to medium and then high keeping the organism in the center of the field of view, only use the fine
adjustment on high power.
Chemistry
1. What is the atomic number? Atomic weight? An isotope? An ion? Atomic number is the number of
protons in an element – it is its identity. Atomic mass is the number of protons and neutrons in an
element. Isotope is form of an element that weighs more due to more neutrons. Ion is either a positively
or negatively charged element / compound due to gaining or losing electrons.
2. Calculate the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons based on the periodic table. The number
of protons is the atomic number. The number of electrons of an element on the periodic table is the
atomic number. Neutrons are calculated by the atomic mass minus the atomic number.
a. What are the number of protons, electrons and neutrons in Carbon & Chlorine?
Carbon: 6 protons, 6 electrons, 6 neutrons
Chlorine: 17 electrons, 17 protons, 18 neutrons
3. What are the number of electron cloud layers and how many electrons are in each? Each row of
the periodic table is the number of layers in the electron cloud. Each column (up and down) is the
number of electrons in the outer most layer.
a. Draw electron cloud configuration for Magnesium and Chlorine
4. Identify the reactants and products in a chemical equation- reactans are on the left side of the
equation and products are on the right side. Hydrogen and oxygen are reactants that make water.
H2 + O2  H2O
5. What is the difference between an ionic and covalent bond? Give an example of each. Ionic bonds
are made when an electron leaves the outer layer of one element and goes to another element – creating
two ions. The atoms attract due to opposite charge like salt Na+ and Cl-. Covalent bonds are when
elements share the electrons in the outermost layer like H2O.
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6. What is pH? How does what know if a substance is an acid or base or neutral? pH is the measure of
H+ ion concentration in a solution. Scale 0-14. Less than 7 acid, greater than 7 base. & is considered
neutral or pure water.
7. Identify which functional groups are present for a given molecule.
Hydroxyl
Carboxyl
Amino
Aldehyde
Ketone
phosphate
nitrogen lone pair
8. For carbohydrates, fats, and proteins be able to
a. Identify the monomers for each? How does the molecule progress to be a polymer?
b. How does dehydration synthesis work to build a polymer of each group?
c. How does hydrolysis work to break down the polymer of each group?
d. What are the different functions of each group?
e. Which and how are these groups listed on a food label.
Category
Carbohydrates
Fats
Proteins
Monosaccharide like
Glycerol & fatty acids
Amino acids 
Monomers
glucose or fructose  triglyceride.
polypeptide chains 
Polymers
polysaccharide
primary, secondary,
tertiary, quarternary
Remove 1 water to
Remove 3 water
Remove 1 water molecule
Dehydration
make a disaccharide
molecules to bind
to make a peptide bond
synthesis & bonds
from 2
glycerol with 3 fatty
monosaccharides
acids
Polysaccarides 
Triglyceride 
4th structure 3rd
Hydrolysis (add
Monosaccharides
Glycerol + 3 fatty
structure  2nd
water to cut)
acids
structure polypeptide
chain  amino acids
Sugars, syrups
fats, oils
meats, legumes
Common names/
food
1.Energy for body
1.Stored energy
1.Structures- hair, muscle,
Functions
2.Stored energy
2.Cell membranes
tissues
2.Hormones & enzymes
Carbohydrates, sugars
Fats, saturated,
Proteins
Food Label
cholesterol
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9. What are the different forms and functions of polysaccharides: glycogen, starch, cellulose
Glycogen- branched chain stored energy for glucose
Cellulose- structural support in stems of plants
Starch- complex sugar food source found in potatoes, rice, and corn
10. How can you tell the difference between saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fats.
Saturated- have no C=C double bonds and all C are saturated with H atoms. Monounsaturated- have one
C=C double bond, and polyunsaturated has two or more C=C bonds.
11. What are the 4 types of protein structures? What mechanisms are in place to cause the shape at
each level.
Primary- polypeptide; Secondary-alpha helix and beta-pleated sheets; Tertiary- Ionic bonds, sulfur bridges,
hydrophobic reactions, hydrogen bonds; Quarternary- multiple amino acids form protein structure.
12. Interpret a graph on the effects of an enzyme-interpretation of graph data
13. Explain the induced fit model – such as sucrase on sucrose- possible essay question.
E + S --> ES --> E + P / Sucrase (enzyme) binds to sucrose (substrate)  (products) glucose and
fructose +sucrase (enzyme)
14. What is denaturation of an enzyme – how does it occur? Protein breaks down and unfolds due to
extreme temperature and pH changes.
Photosynthesis / Cell Respiration
1. Define and give and example of:
-autotroph- organism that makes its own food; plant
-heterotroph- organism that obtains food by eating other organisms; animal
-consumer- gains energy from eating another organism
-producer- an organism that makes its own food and produces organic molecules that serve as food for
other organisms in an ecosystem
2. What types of energy conversion occur in photosynthesis: sun light into chemical energy
3. Plants absorb light by?pigments called chlorophyll and appear green because of? Chlorophyll /
chloroplast
4. Experiment
a. Define the independent variable & dependent variable
Independent- the variable being manipulated; dependent- the variable that may change from the
independent variable being manipulated
b. Be able to read a graph
c. What gas is released by photosynthesis: oxygen
5. What are the equations for photosynthesis and cellular respiration? How are they similar yet
different?
Cell respiration: 6O2 + C6H12O6  6CO2 + 6H2O + 38 ATP
Photosynthesis: 6CO2 + 6H2O + Solar Energy  6O2 + C6H12O6
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6. How is energy released in ATP? When chemical bonds are broken between phosphates energy is
released
7. What are the products and reactants of cellular respiration: in # 5. Products (outputs) are on the right
side of chemical equations, reactants (inputs) are on the left side
8. Yeast and fermentation – what type aerobic or anaerobic? Anaerobic because do not need oxygen
9. How do muscle cramps develop? Build up of lactic acid during fermentation in muscles due to lack of
oxygen
10. What foods are made from fermentation? Cheese, alcoholic beverages, breads, yogurt.
11. Comparison of light reaction and Calvin Cycle: light use, location, reactants, products, and energy
types
Light Reaction
Calvin Cycle
Light use
Light-dependent reaction
Light-Independent reaction / Dark Reaction
Location
Thylakoid membrane
Stroma
Input / Reactant
Light + water
CO2 + RuP
Output / Product
Oxygen
G3P  C6H12O6
Energy
NADP+  NADPH
9 ATP  9 ADP + P per turn
ADP + P  ATP
6 NADPH 6 NADH+ per turn
12. Comparison of Glycolysis, Krebs cycle, Electron transport chain, & fermentation (2 types): #
ATP, location, need for oxygen, produces carbon dioxide
Glycolysis
Krebs
Electron transport
Fermentation
Chain
# ATP
2ATP
2ATP
34 ATP
2 ATP
Location
Cytoplasm
Mitochondria
Mitochondria
Yeast / Muscles
Need OxygenNo
No
Yes
No
Aerobic
CO2 produced
No
Yes
No
Yes- alcohol
13. Write the chemical equations for photosynthesis & cell respiration- possible essay
Photosynthesis- Carbon dioxide + light + water  glucose + oxygen;
Cell Respiration- Glucose + oxygen  carbon dioxide + water + ATP
Ecology
1. Food web /pyramids
a. Define the types of organisms- producers, consumers- see #1 photosynthesis
decomposers - organism that breaks down wastes and dead organisms
omnivores- consumer that eats both producers and consumers
b. What will happen to other organisms if the food web is disrupted- decrease or increase other
organisms
c. Define producer- see photosynthesis #1
1st order consumers- consumer that feeds directly on producers
2nd order consumers- consumer that eats primary consumers
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3rd order consumers- consumer that eats secondary consumers
d. What is the difference between abiotic- nonliving like rocks, weather and biotic factors- living
factors like number of prey
e. Be able to read pyramid of numbers and energy- how is energy flow represented- energy
decreases as go up orders due to heat loss
2. Human population growth
a. Graphs: Draw and explain J-shape / exponential, S-shape / carrying capacity:
b. What are causes for rapid human growth in last 150 years: sanitation, medicine, technology
3. Symbiosis- close interaction between species in which one species lives in or on the other and
examples of
-commensalisms- symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits, while the other organism is
neither harmed nor helped
-mutualism- type of symbiotic relationship in which both organisms involved benefit
-parasitism- relationship in which a parasitic organism obtains its food at the expense of a host organism
-predator-prey- : interaction in which one organism consumes another
4. Human disturbances
a. Define: Ozone layer - atmospheric gas (O3) that absorbs ultraviolet radiation, shielding
organisms from its damaging effects
biological magnification- process by which pollutants become more concentrated in successive
trophic levels of a food web
b. Define: Acid rain- precipitation that contains nitric and/or sulfuric acids
deforestation- clearing of forests for agriculture, lumber, or other uses
5. Ecological succession: primary v. secondary – what is the difference
primary succession: process by which a community arises in a virtually lifeless area with no soil
secondary succession: change following a disturbance that damages an existing community but leaves
the soil intact
6. Population  Community  Ecosystem  Biome: define each in relations to one another
7. Calculate density of a population- what is the formula: # of individuals / sq. area or volume
8.
Conservation
a. What methods are used to increase biodiversity and protect endangered specieszoned reserve: area of land that is relatively undisturbed by humans and is surrounded by buffer zones
that are minimally impacted by humans
buffer zone: area of a reserve that is minimally impacted by humans
sustainable development: use of natural resources in a way that allows them to renew themselves and
be available for the future
b. What are threats to biodiversityoverexploitation: practice of harvesting or hunting to such a degree that remaining individuals may not
be able to replenish the population
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9. Path of energy in living things- Comes from where and goes through life how? Starts with sun then
plants then other organisms. The amount of the sun’s energy decreases as go up food chain due to heat loss
and mass building.
10. Chemical cycles:
Carbon- recycles oxygen and carbon dioxide,
nitrogen- places nitrogen from atmosphere into soil and living things and back into atmosphere,
water- recycle water in various physical states
11.What is the difference between abiotic and biotic. Give examples of each. Abiotic deal with things that
are not living like soil and rocks and water. Biotic deals with living things such as plants, animals, and humans.
12. For each of the following biomes be able to describe general characteristics of each: Desert,
Tundra, Coniferous forest (taiga), Temperate deciduous forest, grassland, tropical rain forest.
10
11
Word Parts for Honors Biology Midterm
Part
a
aerosan-
Meaning
without
air, oxygen
without
Vocabulary
abiotic
aerobic
anaerobic
-ase
autobiocarnis,
caro
chlorochroma,
chromo
-cyte, cytode-
enzyme
self
life
flesh
sucrase
autotroph
biosphere
carnivore
green
color
diendo-
two
inner,
inside
true
outside
plant
other,
different
water
over, more
under, less
equal
nucleus
study of
to loosen,
cut
euexoherba
heterohydrohyperhypoisokaryo-logy
lysis
cell
from
Part
magna
Meaning
big,large
Vocabulary
magnify
micromonoomni
-ose
small
one
all
sugar
microscope
monomer
omnivore
glucose
-philic
love
hydrophilic
chloroplast
chromatograph
y
cytoplasm
dehydration
synthesis
disaccharide
endocytosis
-phobic
photo-
fear
light
hydrophobic
photosynthesis
phyllon
-phyto-
leaf
plant
chlorophyll
phytoplankton
plasm-, -plasm
poly-
forming, liquid
many
cytoplasm
polysaccharide
eukaryotic
exocytosis
herbivore
heterotroph
primos,
pro-sacchar
stoma
first
before
sugar
mouth
primary consumer
prokaryote
monosaccharide
stomata
hydrolysis
hypertonic
hypotonic
isotonic
karyotype
biology
lysosome
syn-
together
ATP synthase
transtri-, trestroph
vacuos
vorare
across
three
feeding, nutrition
empty
devour
transport
triphosphate
trophic level
vacuole
omnivore
Essays
1. Explain the three parts of the cell theory and explain why it is important to biology?
2. Compare & contrast the photosynthesis equation with the cellular respiration equation.
3. Apply the induced-fit model of enzymes and substrates to sucrose / sucrase. How does
denaturing affect an enzymatic reaction.
4. Trace the path and amount of energy from the sun to a quarternary level consumer in a food
chain.
12