June 2013 Living Environment Regents Exam

Fish absorb oxygen through the gills, earthworms absorb oxygen through the skin, amebas take in oxygen through the cell membranes, and cows inhale oxygen through the nasal passages into their lungs. This statement demonstrates that living things

• rely on similar or the same processes, but accomplish them in different ways

• rely on different processes and accomplish them in different ways

• rely on different processes, but perform them in the same or related ways

• have no relationship to one another, and are all independent individuals

In New York State, small farms that were abandoned many years ago have become hardwood forests. This is an example of

• local deforestation

• biotechnology

• ecological succession

• habitat loss

Goats have been genetically modified to produce an anticlotting protein in their milk. The protein is extracted from the milk and given to people who have inherited a disorder that causes their bodies to produce blood clots, which can be fatal. A benefit of the technology used to produce this protein is that it

• can be used to overcome the effects of a harmful mutation

• can provide people with a new kind of nutrient-rich milk

• will result in healthier goats with more nutritious milk for their offspring

• will reduce blood clots in other farm animals that are modified in this way

The fossil record of ancient life forms provides scientific evidence of

• direct harvesting

• selective breeding

• gene manipulation

• evolutionary changes

The processes of deletion, insertion, and substitution can alter genes in a skin cell. The altered genes will most likely be passed on to

• sperm cells

• egg cells

• every cell that develops from that skin cell

• only a few of the cells that develop from that skin cell

Before starch can enter a cell, it must be

• absorbed by simple sugars

• diffused into simple sugars

• digested to form simple sugar

• actively transported by simple sugars

In a cell, protein synthesis is the primary function of

• ribosomes

• mitochondria

• chloroplasts

• vacuoles

In a multicellular organism, organs carry out a variety of life functions. In a single-celled organism, these functions are performed by

• tissues

• organelles

• organ systems

• organs

Chlorophyll gives plants their green color. Chlorophyll is produced only when plants are exposed to light, so plants kept in darkness have no chlorophyll and appear white. The best explanation for this is that

• chlorophyll is not needed by green plants at night

• darkness mutates the chlorophyll genes, causing them to produce a white color

• light is required for chlorophyll genes to be expressed

• genetic information in cells is not influenced by the outside environment

In order for the human body to maintain homeostasis, the breakdown of glucose to release energy must be followed by the

• production of oxygen

• division of the cell

• removal of wastes

• production of receptor molecules