STAAR Biology Review Questions

When the skin comes in contact with an irritant, receptors in the skin send signals to the spinal cord. The signal is then sent to the brain for processing, and the individual begins to scratch the affected area.

Which two systems are most likely interacting when a person experiences itching caused by a skin irritant.

• A. Circulatory & Excretory

• B. Integumentary & nervous

• C. Digestive & muscular

• D. Respiratory & lymphatic

During the cell cycle, proteins called cyclins bind to enzymes that send signals for the cell to progress through stages of cell replication. At the end of this cycle, the cyclins degrade to prevent further signaling for the cell to divide.

Uncontrolled productions of cyclins will most likely result in -

• F. the formation of tumors

• G. the immediate death of the cell

• H. the transfer of cyclins to other cells

• J. Formation of haploid cells

An illustration of how a particular DNA mutation will most likely affect the polypeptide produced is shown.

What type of mutation is illustrated?

• A. Insertion

• B. Translocation

• C. Substitution

• D. Deletion

Farmers spray pesticides on their plants to protect the plants from being eaten by insects. Some individual insects have a genetic mutation that makes them resistant to the toxins in the pesticides.

Which statement best describes how only a few resistant individuals resulted in the pesticide becoming ineffective?

• F. The resistant insects change the toxin on the plants, making it safe for others.

• G. The resistant insects grow larger and eat less of the plants

• H. The resistant insects eat the contaminated surface and leave the rest for others.

• J. The resistant insects are able to survive to reproduce and create a population that is also

  resistant.

Which property is shared by the cells of all living things?

• F. The cells contain DNA composed of adenine, thymine, guanine, and cytosine.

• G. The cells are surrounded by a phospholipid bilayer and a cell wall made of cellulose.

• H. The cells have chromosomes that are located inside a membrane-bound nucleus.

• J. The cells rely on mitochondria to carry out aerobic cellular respiration.

Overfishing is causing the decline of fish populations, such as Eastern Atlantic bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean. Eastern Atlantic bluefin tuna are caught faster than they can reproduce.

Which statement describes the most likely effect that overfishing will have on this ecosystem?

• F. Overfishing makes the ecosystem more stable by increasing competition for limited

  resources.

• G. Overfishing decreases the stability of the ecosystem by disrupting food chains.

• H. Overfishing has no effect on ecosystem’s stability because it affects one species out of

  many.

• J. Overfishing increases ecosystem stability by allowing prey populations to overproduce.

Which statements best compare the function of an ATP molecule to a DNA molecule?

• F. ATP carries and transmits the genetic information of organisms.

  DNA serves as a biological catalyst that speeds up the rate of chemical reactions.

• G. ATP provides energy for chemical reactions in the cell.

  DNA carries and transmits the genetic information of organisms.

• H. ATP serves as a biological catalyst that speeds up the rate of chemical reactions.

  DNA acts as a structural sugar in the cell walls of plants.

• J. ATP acts as a structural sugar in the cell walls of plants.

  DNA provides energy for chemical reactions in the cell.

The Mexican long-nosed bat roosts in Big Bend National Park in West Texas. The bat feeds on nectar and pollen and hovers while it feeds. Additionally, its tongue can extend up to eight centimeters. The features of Mexican long-nosed bats are evidence of natural selection because the

features are adaptations that —

• A. lead to an increase in predation by other species of animals

• B. show that most DNA mutations are necessary and advantageous but do not increase

  survival or reproductive success

• C. help individuals outcompete other individuals for food resources to increase survival and

  reproductive success

• D. are the result of intentional breeding

Which statement describes the process of osmosis in an animal cell?

• F. Sugar molecules move across the plasma membrane until the cell has enough energy to

  grow in size and divide.

• G. Water molecules move across the plasma membrane until solute concentrations are equal

  on both sides of the membrane.

• H. Ions move across the plasma membrane until the inside of the cell has a higher

  concentration of positive charges.

• J. Enzymes move across the plasma membrane until the cell has completed metabolism.

Sand dunes along the coast are formed of bare sand. Eventually, grasses take root on the dunes. Over time, larger plants such as shrubs and trees are able to grow at the edge of the sand dune ecosystem.

This gradual change in plant communities of a sand dune ecosystem can result in —

• A. reduced symbiotic relationships between producers and bacteria

• B. reduced energy absorption by consumers

• C. greater erosion rates

• D. greater species diversity