Bio Sci 131
First Midterm Exam from Fall 1998.
This exam is worth 100 pts. towards your final grade. Make sure your name is on
the top of your Scantron form. Anyone who copies from another's paper or uses
unauthorized materials will receive a zero. Good Luck!
Choose the ONE word/phrase that best completes or answers the statement.
There are 35 multiple choice questions (2 pts. each).
Items in RED do not apply to our current class – Spring 2006
1.
Evolution may be defined in modern terminology as a change _____________.
A. in the number of individuals in a population
B. in the genetic makeup of a population.
C. in the environmental conditions.
D. in the genetic makeup of an individual.
E. in the diversity of different species within a community.
2.
Before Lyell and Darwin the accepted concept in Britain about the age of the earth and its
species was:
A. the earth was few thousand years old and populations changed radically after periodic
catastrophes.
B. the earth was few thousand years old and populations gradually change.
C. the earth was few thousand years old and populations are unchanging.
D. the earth was very old and populations are unchanging.
E. the earth was very old and populations gradually change.
3.
Darwin’s theory differed from Lamarck’s in that Darwin stressed that ___.
A. species are not fixed.
B. evolution leads to better adaptations to a species’ environment.
C. life on Earth did not evolve abruptly but rather through gradual process of minute
changes
D. inherent variations in the population are more important in evolution than variations
acquired during individual lifetimes.
E. Both theories share all these points.
4.
Lamarck's contribution to Darwin’s theory of evolution was that _____ .
A. species are unchanging.
B. the Earth is 6,000 years old.
C. the environment creates favorable characteristics on demand.
D. the main mechanism of evolution is the inheritance of acquired characteristics.
E. organisms evolve to better suit their environment.
5.
Linnaeus’ major contribution to Biology was _____ .
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A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
binary scheme of groupings
branching diagram of interrelationships
hierarchy of increasingly general categories
map that distinguishes kinship among animals
decimal plan for sorting all living organisms.
6.
What did Cuvier study that provided an abundance of evidence that the Earth has had a
succession of flora and fauna?
A. population genetics
B. geology
C. natural selection
D. the fossil record
E. natural theology
7.
Which of the following is generally demonstrated by the fossil record?
A. Similar fossils are found in varying environments at different times.
B. There is a progression, generally with older fossils having simpler structure and recent
fossils having more complex structure.
C. Life has remained essentially unchanged since it began 6000 years ago.
D. All animal classes make their first appearance in the fossil record in rocks of the same
age.
E. The fossil record proves Darwin's hypothesized genetic variation in populations.
8.
Darwin’s idea to explain natural selection as “ Survival of the fittest” was inspired by
______ .
A. Hutton
B. Lamarck
C. Lyell
D. Cuvier
E. Malthus
9.
What evidence supports the idea that protobionts may have formed spontaneously?
A. the discovery of ribozymes, showing that prebiotic RNA molecules may have been
autocatalytic.
B. the fossil record.
C. the laboratory synthesis of microspheres, liposomes, and coacervates.
D. the abiotic synthesis of DNA.
E. the production of organic compounds within a laboratory apparatus simulating
conditions on early Earth.
10.
Our current understanding of the origin of cells suggests that the first genetic material was
most likely _________ .
A. a DNA polymer
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B.
C.
D.
E.
a DNA oligonucleotide.
an RNA polymer.
a protein.
a protein enzyme.
11.
The oldest fossils yet discovered are stromatolites estimated to be from _______ years ago.
A. 6,000
B. 3,500,000
C. 6,000,000
D. 3,500,000,000
E. 5,000,000,000,000
12.
Which gas was probably LEAST abundant in the Earth's very early atmosphere
A. O2 (oxygen)
B. H2 (hydrogen)
C. CH4 (methane)
D. H2O (water vapor)
E. N2 (nitrogen)
13.
In their laboratory simulation of the early Earth, Miller and Urey observed the abiotic
synthesis of _____ .
A. proteins, and complex carbohydrates
B. amino acids, simple organic compounds
C. DNA in chromosomes
D. liposomes
E. microspheres
14.
Why was the primitive atmosphere of early Earth more conducive to the origin of life than
the modern atmosphere of Earth?
A. The primitive atmosphere had a layer of ozone that shielded the first fragile cells.
B. The primitive atmosphere removed electrons (oxidative) .
C. The primitive atmosphere was reducing (electron rich).
D. The primitive atmosphere had more oxygen than the modern atmosphere and thus it
successfully sustained the first living organisms.
E. The primitive atmosphere had less free energy than the modern atmosphere, and thus
newly formed organisms were less likely be destroyed.
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15.
Based on laboratory evidence, clay possible played a key role by in the origin of life by
_____________.
A. forming microspheres.
B. assembling into liposome membranes.
C. generating life through spontaneous processes.
D. accumulating components necessary for life through the mechanism of panspermia.
E. providing a catalytic surface for the polymerization of organic monomers.
16.
Based on our current understanding of the origin of the cell, which of the following is the
hypothesized correct sequence of events in the origin of life?
1. Formation of protobionts
2. Abiotic synthesis of organic monomers
3. Abiotic synthesis of organic polymers
A. 1, 2, and 3.
B. 1, 3, and 2.
C. 2, 3, and 1.
D. 3, 1, and 2.
E. 3, 2, and 1.
17.
Why is it believed most organisms have evolved genes made of DNA instead of RNA?
A. DNA is chemically more stable and replicates with fewer errors (mutations) than
RNA.
B. Only DNA can replicate during cell division.
C. RNA is too involved with translation of proteins and cannot provide multiple
functions.
D. DNA forms the rod-shaped chromosomes necessary for cell division.
E. Replication of RNA occurs too quickly.
18.
How could RNA have become involved in the mechanism for translation (protein
synthesis)?
A. Only ribozymes were available as catalysts.
B. RNA replication is enhanced if proteins are produced.
C. Natural selection acted against autocatalyic protein formation.
D. DNA was not available for protein translation.
E. Natural selection favored RNA molecules that sequenced proteins that enhanced the
replication of more of the same RNA.
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19.
The first form of nutrition to evolve was probably that of _____
A. photoautotrophs that used light energy to reduce CO2 with electrons from H2O.
B. photoheterotrophs that used light for energy and abiotically made
organic
compounds for a carbon source.
C. anaerobic chemoautotrophs.
D. chemoheterotrophs that used abiotically made organic compounds.
E. photoautotrophs (such as the cyanobacteria) that used water as a
source of
electrons and protons.
20.
Based on our current understanding of the origin of the cell, in the following list of major
metabolic pathways, which one most probably was the first to evolve?
A. glycolysis
B. aerobic respiration
C. fermentation
D. O2-producing photosynthesis
E. Non-O2-producing photosynthesis
21.
Based on our current understanding of the origin of the cell, which of the following is the
correct sequence of events in the origin major metabolic pathways in Cell?
1. Formation of Glycolysis
2. Chemiosmosis phosphorylation (ATP formation via ATPase)
3. Electron transport chain
A. 1, 2, and 3.
B. 1, 3, and 2.
C. 2, 3, and 1.
D. 3, 1, and 2.
E. 3, 2, and 1.
22.
Which of the following statements is TRUE for chemoautotrophs?
A. They obtain their energy from sunlight and their carbon compound skeletons from
ingesting organic compounds.
B. They oxidize inorganic compounds to obtain energy and their carbon compound
skeletons from ingesting organic compounds.
C. They oxidize inorganic compounds to obtain energy to drive their own synthesis of
their carbon compound skeletons.
D. They obtain their energy from sunlight to drive the synthesis of their own carbon
compound skeletons.
E. They obtain their energy from oxidizing organic compounds and their carbon
compound skeletons from ingesting organic compounds.
23.
All of the following are statements about the ways prokaryotic cells differ from eukaryotic
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cells EXCEPT:
A. The prokaryotic genome (DNA) has a unique organization.
B. Prokaryotes have a relatively simple organization of their cytoplasm.
C. Prokaryotes have a cell wall with unique components.
D. Prokaryotes lack membrane specialization.
E. Prokaryotes are typically much smaller than eukaryotes.
24.
What were the earliest bacteria like?
A. aerobic heterotrophs
B. anaerobic heterotrophs
C. photoautotrophs
D. chemoautotrophs
E. all evolved independently at the same time.
25.
The archaebacteria __________.
A. are believed to be more closely related to eukaryotes than to eubacteria.
B. have cell walls that lack petidoglycan.
C. are found in severe habitats, similar in some ways to conditions on early earth.
D. would be placed into their own Domain.
E. all of the above are correct.
26.
Which term describes bacteria that always live without oxygen ?
A. facultative aerobes
B. aestivating bacteria
C. cyanobacteria
D. facultative anaerobes
E. obligate anaerobes
27.
In an aerobic prokaryotic cell, the molecules of the respiratory chain (electron transport
chain) are located in the ________.
A. cytosol
B. cristae
C. cell wall
D. plasma membrane
E. mitochondrial matrix.
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28.
Proton pumps of bacteria probably functioned first for ______ .
A. pH regulation.
B. ATP synthesis.
C. photosynthesis.
D. reduction of O2.
E. protection from ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
29.
Some flagellated bacteria will move away from toxic substances. This phenomenon is
termed negative ______.
A. gliding.
B. phototaxis
C. chemotaxis.
D. magnetotaxis.
E. toxoplasmosis.
30.
In what ways are ALL protists alike?
A. They are all unicellular.
B. They are all photosynthetic.
C. They are all marine.
D. They are all nonparasitic.
E. They are all eukaryotic.
31.
According to the endosymbiotic hypothesis, chloroplasts are likely the descendants of
______ .
A. aerobic, heterotrophic prokaryotes.
B. photosynthetic prokaryotes.
C. photoautotrophic eukaryotes
D. Either A or B.
E. All were involved, but in different groups of protists.
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32.
According to the endosymbiotic theory, the ancestors of mitochondria were probably
______ .
A. aerobic eukaryotes.
B. anaerobic bacteria.
C. cyanobacteria.
D. aerobic bacteria.
E. chloroplasts.
33.
The endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus are very similar among the groups of
alga-like protists, but chloroplasts among the groups differ significantly in genetic
composition. What do these facts imply about the evolution of the endomembrane
organelle system of eukaryotic cells?
A. The Golgi apparatus evolved before the endomembrane system.
B. Endomembrane systems evolved from symbiotic prokaryotes.
C. Endomembrane systems evolved before chloroplasts.
D. Endomembrane systems evolved after chloroplasts.
E. Chloroplasts evolved before the endoplasmic reticulum.
34.
The proposed eight kingdom system puts the Brown algae into the Chromista, based on
evidence that _____ .
A. the photosynthetic pigments differ from the green and red algae.
B. they form very large multicellular kelps.
C. the unique origin of their chloroplast.
D. they lack mitochondria.
E. All of the above reasons.
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BioSci 131 Midterm 1
Name ______________________
Please Print
Define / Identify the terms: Please Print in the space provided.
(3 pts. each)
35.
Conserved trait or gene
36.
Photoheterotrophic bacteria
37.
Transformation
38.
Archezoa
39.
Natural theology
40.
How do scientists use the terms Theory and Law? Will Darwin’s theory ever be
considered a Law of Biology?
(4 pts.)
Why do many taxonomists favor creating the new taxon “Domain” above the Kingdom
taxon? (2 pts.)
Which groups would be involved and what evidence supports this change?(2 pts.)
41.
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42.
List 4 traits that a eukaryote cell has, and a prokaryote cell lacks. ( 2 pts.)
A.
B.
C.
D.
43.
List 5 items of evidence that support Lynn Margulis’ theory for the endosymbiotic origin of
the eukaryotes.
(5 pts.)
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
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