Biology STAAR Practice Test

A prokaryotic cell and a eukaryotic cell are shown.

Which characteristic best distinguishes these cells as either prokaryotic or eukaryotic?

• The organization of the genetic material

• The location of the cytoplasm

• The role of the cell membrane

• The function of the flagella

Tags

112.34.c.4.A

A diagram of removing glucose from the blood by a fat cell is shown.

Which statement best describes the role of insulin and glucose-transport proteins in this process?

• They stimulate a response from white blood cells during glucose entry into the cell.

• They keep the plasma membrane flexible when glucose is removed from the blood.

• They help to maintain stable glucose levels both inside and outside the cell.

• They utilize the excess energy the cell produces to create more glucose.

Tags

112.34.c.4.B

The graph shows the oxygen consumed by an athlete during different stages of training.

Based on the graph, which process is occurring between minute 5 and minute 10.

• Nuclei are building amino acids for energy storage.

• Ribosomes are building carbohydrates to increase energy output.

• Chloroplasts are using energy to produce oxygen.

• Mitochondria are using oxygen to produce ATP.

Tags

112.34.c.4.B

A Venn diagram comparing viruses to bacteria is shown. Which traits apply to each section of the diagram?

Move the answers to the correct boxes.

a

b

c

d

replicate independently

contain genetic material

have active metabolism

utilize a capsid structure

Tags

112.34.c.4.C

A table comparing the characteristics of four samples is shown.

Which sample most likely contains viruses?

• Sample 1

• Sample 2

• Sample 3

• Sample 4

Tags

112.34.c.4.C

A diagram of a process that occurs during one of the stages of the cell cycle is shown.

Which answer choice best identifies the process illustrated and the stage of the cell cycle in which it occurs?

• Process: replication

  Stage: interphase

• Process: crossing over

  Stage: metaphase

• Process: protein synthesis

  Stage: prophase

• Process: cytokinesis

  Stage: anaphase

Tags

112.34.c.5.A

Which answer choice best compares the events that occur during different stages of the cell cycle?

• 
• 
• 
• 

Tags

112.34.c.5.A

Scientists determined the total mass of DNA from a sample of animal cells. The masses of equal numbers of cells were taken during three different stages of the cell cycle. Stage I contains cells massed during G1 of the cell cycle.

Which statement best describes the cells during Stage II?

• The cells have replicated their DNA, but have not completed mitosis and cytokinesis.

• The cells have completed mitosis and cytokinesis without replicating their DNA.

• The cells have replicated their DNA and completed mitosis and cytokinesis.

• The cells have temporarily exited the cell cycle without replicating their DNA.

Tags

112.34.c.5.A

The diagram shows a process that occurs during the development of an organism.

Which statement explains how the different cell types in the image are formed?

• Each cell type uses its own unique replication process.

• Each cell type expresses different genes at different times.

• Each cell type contains a different pair of the original DNA.

• Each cell type has different enzymes to replicate genetic material.

Tags

112.34.c.5.B

Normal cells have a contact inhibition feedback mechanism that prevents the cells from replicating when other cells are touched. A diagram of cells with contact inhibition and cells without contact inhibition is shown.

Which statement best describes what will happen to the cells in an organism that lack contact inhibition.

• The cells will continue to grow, causing a tumor in the body.

• The cells will replicate normally, replacing body cells that die.

• The cells will replicate until the food supply for each cell is used, causing each cell to die.

• The cells will stop replicating once one layer is produced, as other body cells crowd them out.

Tags

112.34.c.5.C