STAAR REVIEW 11.28.22

The overgrowth of algae poses a major problem for coral reefs. Intensive fishing is one factor that contributes to algae overgrowth because it does one of the following?

• Allows more sunlight to be available to algae

• Inhibits the spread of pathogens in algae colonies

• Increases the competition between different algae species

• Reduces the number of organisms that feed on algae

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 Parrotfish are herbivores that are found in coral reefs. To escape predation, a parrotfish will graze with a rabbitfish, which has venomous spines at the end of its pelvic fins. The rabbitfish does not benefit from this relationship. Which type of relationship do the parrotfish and the rabbitfish have in the coral-reef environment?

• Mutualistic

• Commensal

• Predator–prey

• Parasitic

Methanogens, thermophiles, and halophiles are some of the most primitive life-forms found on Earth and thrive in very harsh environments.

These unicellular, prokaryotic organisms most likely belong to which of the following kingdoms?

• Fungi

• Eubacteria

• Protista

• Archaebacteria

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A student sets up a compost bin outdoors. Inside the bin microorganisms convert the student’s vegetable and paper scraps into rich fertilizer. Which of the following best describes the role that these microorganisms play in natural habitats?

•  The microorganisms help balance the numbers of producers and consumers.

• The microorganisms help keep nutrients cycling through the ecosystem.

• The microorganisms turn solar energy into sugars

• The microorganisms function as autotrophs.

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Which statement best describes how a virus replicates?

• A virus divides into two identical virus particles before infecting the host cell.

• A virus enters a host cell and uses the materials from the host cell to produce new virus particles.

• Multiple virus particles fuse and form a large particle that breaks apart, releasing new virus particles.

• Multiple virus particles break down in component parts, which then reassemble into new copies of the virus.

Answer explanation

Viruses cannot replicate on their own. They enter host cells. Once inside, they use the materials and metabolic pathways from the host cells and incorporate the viral RNA or DNA into the host cells to replicate new virus particles.

Biting flies can transmit diseases and cause loss of blood for animals in nature. Horses have developed behaviors to repel biting flies such as ear twitching, head tossing, leg stomping, and tail swishing. Which statement best describes the interaction between body systems that allows horses to repel biting flies?

• The nervous system senses the biting flies and sends a signal to the muscular system to move.

• The circulatory system senses the biting flies and sends a signal to the nervous system to move.

• The muscular system senses the biting flies and sends a signal to the integumentary system to move.

• The integumentary system senses the biting flies and sends a signal to the circulatory system to move

Answer explanation

The nervous and muscular systems in horses help the animal repel biting flies by ear twitching, head tossing, leg stomping, and tail swishing. This response is a result of the nervous system sensing the biting flies and sending a signal to the muscular system of the animal.

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In a Central Texas grassland, the producers incorporate 12,000 kJ of energy from the sun into their tissues. About how much energy would be incorporated into the tissues of herbivores?

• 12,000 kJ

• 1,200 kJ

• 10,800 kJ

• 1,080 kJ

Answer explanation

Twelve thousand kilojoules (kJ) of energy from the sun is incorporated into the tissues of the producers.

Only 10 percent, or 1,200 kJ, of energy is incorporated into the tissues of herbivores when they consume

producers.

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White clovers, Trifolium repens, are plants that are native to Europe and Central Asia and are able to produce the poison cyanide within their cells. Skunk cabbage, Symplocarpus foetidus, is a plant that is native to eastern North America and can produce a chemical that makes it have a strong, foul odor and bitter taste. The chemicals produced by both the white clovers and skunk cabbages are adaptations that allow them to —

• attract more pollinators

• survive a long-term drought

• protect against herbivores

• grow better in colder habitats

Answer explanation

The chemicals produced by both the white clovers and skunk cabbages are adaptations that deter animals from eating them, and thus increase their chances of survival.

When a stem cell divides, it produces two daughter cells. One daughter cell will remain a stem cell, while the other daughter cell will differentiate into a specialized cell. Which factor will most directly determine what type of specialized cell will be produced?

• The size of the cell

• The length of the cell cycle

• The number of chromosomes that are replicated

• The genes that are expressed

Answer explanation

The genes that are expressed are directly responsible for the function of a cell.

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Blue flying fish live in the upper layers of the ocean. Blue flying fish have enlarged pectoral fins that enable them to glide for 400 meters above the ocean surface and appear to fly. Which statement best describes how natural selection led to enlarged pectoral fins in blue flying fish?

• Fish were able to glide out of the ocean and into other bodies of water to mate with other species.

• Fish were able to live both on land and in the water as a result of their larger pectoral fins.

• Fish with enlarged pectoral fins were able to glide out of the ocean to escape predators, increasing their fitness

• Fish changed their DNA to express enlarged pectoral fins, changing the allele frequency of the population.

Answer explanation

Natural selection led to enlarged pectoral fins in blue flying fish, allowing the fish to escape predators to survive and reproduce.

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