MULTIPLE CHOICE. Choose the one alternative that best completes the statement or answers the question.
1) All of the organisms living in a particular ecosystem are collectively known as a(n)
A) population. B) biological community.
C) family. D) order.
Answer: B
2) Many properties of living things involve the transfer and transformation of energy and matter. For example,
plant chloroplasts convert energy from sunlight to which of the following forms of energy or matter?
A) kinetic energy
B) the energy of motion
C) chemical energy
D) oxygen
E) carbon dioxide and water
Answer: C
3) The primary source of energy for producers in an ecosystem is
A) kinetic energy. B) chemical energy. C) light energy. D) thermal energy.
Answer: C
4) All the living things on Earth along with all the places where life exists are collectively described by which of
the following terms?
A) a population B) the biosphere
C) a biological community D) an ecosystem
Answer: B
5) All the living organisms in a particular area along with all the nonliving aspects of the environment with which
organisms interact are collectively described by which of the following terms?
A) a population B) an ecosystem
C) the biosphere D) a biological community
Answer: B
6) All the individuals of a particular species living within the bounds of a specified area are collectively described
by which of the following terms?
A) a biological community B) a biosphere
C) a biological system D) a population
Answer: D
7) Which of the following types of cells lack(s) a nucleus?
A) plant B) fungi C) archaea D) animal
Answer: C
8) Investigating the molecular structure of DNA in order to understand the chemical basis of inheritance is an
example of which approach utilized in the study of biology?
A) emergent properties B) deductive reasoning
C) systems biology D) reductionism
Answer: D
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9) Which of the following correctly describes the forms by which energy flows through an ecosystem from entry to
exit?
A) heat ? chemical ? heat B) chemical ? heat ? light
C) light ? heat ? chemical D) light ? chemical ? heat
Answer: D
10) Approximately what proportion of the carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) released by burning fossil fuels remains in the
atmosphere, contributing to the trapping of heat close to Earth's surface?
A) 90% B) 50% C) less than 1% D) 5%
Answer: B
11) Which of the following terms describes membrane- enclosed components of cells that carry out specialized
functions?
A) organelles B) cells C) organs D) tissues
Answer: A
12) Which of the following represents the correct hierarchy of biological organization from large scale to smaller
scale?
A) biosphere ? communities ? populations ? ecosystems ? organisms
B) biosphere ? ecosystems ? populations? communities ? organisms
C) communities ? populations ? organisms ? ecosystems ? biosphere
D) biosphere ? ecosystems ? communities ? populations ? organisms
E) ecosystems ? biosphere ? communities ? populations ? organisms
Answer: D
13) Living things are divided into three different domains. Which of these domains are classified as prokaryotes?
A) Bacteria and Fungi B) Bacteria and Archaea
C) Archaea and Eukarya D) Bacteria and Eukarya
Answer: B
14) A single- celled organism isolated from a deep- sea, hot thermal vent was found to have a cell wall but lacked a
nucleus. This organism is most likely a member of which of the following domains?
A) Eukarya B) Animalia C) Plantae D) Fungi E) Archaea
Answer: E
15) Strong evidence in support of the common ancestry of all life comes from which of the following observations
about living things?
A) the ability of plants to convert light energy to chemical energy
B) the fact that decomposers include both bacteria and fungi
C) the existence of a nearly universal genetic code
D) the universal use of protein catalysts by all cells
Answer: C
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16) Charles Darwin proposed that "descent with modification" resulted when organisms of a particular species
become adapted to their environment because they possess which of the following characteristics?
A) nonheritable traits that enhance their survival and reproductive success in the local environment
B) nonheritable traits that enhance survival and decrease their reproductive success in the local environment
C) heritable traits that enhance their survival and reproductive success in the local environment
D) heritable traits that enhance their survival and decrease their reproductive success in the local
environment
Answer: C
17) Which of the following statements describes an individual that is likely to be the most successful in an
1) All of the organisms living in a particular ecosystem are collectively known as a(n)
A) population. B) biological community.
C) family. D) order.
Answer: B
2) Many properties of living things involve the transfer and transformation of energy and matter. For example,
plant chloroplasts convert energy from sunlight to which of the following forms of energy or matter?
A) kinetic energy
B) the energy of motion
C) chemical energy
D) oxygen
E) carbon dioxide and water
Answer: C
3) The primary source of energy for producers in an ecosystem is
A) kinetic energy. B) chemical energy. C) light energy. D) thermal energy.
Answer: C
4) All the living things on Earth along with all the places where life exists are collectively described by which of
the following terms?
A) a population B) the biosphere
C) a biological community D) an ecosystem
Answer: B
5) All the living organisms in a particular area along with all the nonliving aspects of the environment with which
organisms interact are collectively described by which of the following terms?
A) a population B) an ecosystem
C) the biosphere D) a biological community
Answer: B
6) All the individuals of a particular species living within the bounds of a specified area are collectively described
by which of the following terms?
A) a biological community B) a biosphere
C) a biological system D) a population
Answer: D
7) Which of the following types of cells lack(s) a nucleus?
A) plant B) fungi C) archaea D) animal
Answer: C
8) Investigating the molecular structure of DNA in order to understand the chemical basis of inheritance is an
example of which approach utilized in the study of biology?
A) emergent properties B) deductive reasoning
C) systems biology D) reductionism
Answer: D
1
9) Which of the following correctly describes the forms by which energy flows through an ecosystem from entry to
exit?
A) heat ? chemical ? heat B) chemical ? heat ? light
C) light ? heat ? chemical D) light ? chemical ? heat
Answer: D
10) Approximately what proportion of the carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) released by burning fossil fuels remains in the
atmosphere, contributing to the trapping of heat close to Earth's surface?
A) 90% B) 50% C) less than 1% D) 5%
Answer: B
11) Which of the following terms describes membrane- enclosed components of cells that carry out specialized
functions?
A) organelles B) cells C) organs D) tissues
Answer: A
12) Which of the following represents the correct hierarchy of biological organization from large scale to smaller
scale?
A) biosphere ? communities ? populations ? ecosystems ? organisms
B) biosphere ? ecosystems ? populations? communities ? organisms
C) communities ? populations ? organisms ? ecosystems ? biosphere
D) biosphere ? ecosystems ? communities ? populations ? organisms
E) ecosystems ? biosphere ? communities ? populations ? organisms
Answer: D
13) Living things are divided into three different domains. Which of these domains are classified as prokaryotes?
A) Bacteria and Fungi B) Bacteria and Archaea
C) Archaea and Eukarya D) Bacteria and Eukarya
Answer: B
14) A single- celled organism isolated from a deep- sea, hot thermal vent was found to have a cell wall but lacked a
nucleus. This organism is most likely a member of which of the following domains?
A) Eukarya B) Animalia C) Plantae D) Fungi E) Archaea
Answer: E
15) Strong evidence in support of the common ancestry of all life comes from which of the following observations
about living things?
A) the ability of plants to convert light energy to chemical energy
B) the fact that decomposers include both bacteria and fungi
C) the existence of a nearly universal genetic code
D) the universal use of protein catalysts by all cells
Answer: C
2
16) Charles Darwin proposed that "descent with modification" resulted when organisms of a particular species
become adapted to their environment because they possess which of the following characteristics?
A) nonheritable traits that enhance their survival and reproductive success in the local environment
B) nonheritable traits that enhance survival and decrease their reproductive success in the local environment
C) heritable traits that enhance their survival and reproductive success in the local environment
D) heritable traits that enhance their survival and decrease their reproductive success in the local
environment
Answer: C
17) Which of the following statements describes an individual that is likely to be the most successful in an