Virginia Life Science SOL Review

The discovery that chromosomes are involved in inheritance was made possible by the invention of the —

• computer
• microgram scale
• mercury thermometer
• microscope

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS3-1

A biology class in Virginia conducted a survey of the plant species found on their school grounds. They found several plants that they didn’t recognize. What resources would be most helpful to the class in identifying the plants and determining if they were introduced as exotic species?

• Virginia native plant checklists and plant identification keys
• Biology textbooks and the encyclopedia
• Virginia newspapers and science journals
• Fossil records and historical society publications

In 1869, DNA was discovered within the nuclei of cells. By the 1940s, scientists knew that chromosomes were made of both DNA and protein but did not know which was the genetic material of cells. In the 1950s, scientists demonstrated that DNA is the material responsible for heredity. In 1953, using information collected by other scientists, an American biologist and an English physicist built a three- dimensional model of DNA. These discoveries best illustrate the importance of —

• independent research
• recent improvements in the scientific method
• collaborative efforts amoung scientists
• replication of results

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS3-1

What is the total magnification used to view these onion cells through this microscope setup?

• 400
• 50
• 40
• 10

 A student researching a new discovery about the activity of mitochondria could find the most current and reliable information in a —

• cell biology textbook
• newspaper
• popular news magazine
• scientific journal

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS1-7

NGSS.HS-LS2-5

As part of their training, biologists learn the history of developments in their field of interest. Which best explains the importance of this education?

• It gives biologists an understanding of their field so they can expand on earlier knowledge.
• It provides background information since most conclusions from before 1950 have been disproven.
• It allows scientists to rule out models that have already been tested.
• t narrows their field of research because most important discoveries in biology have already been made.

An important feature of modern classification systems is that they —

• can incorporate new scientific discoveries
• can predict the discovery of new species
• group organisms that live in the same habitat
• apply only to organisms that are alive today

An organism that causes infections in plants and animals, but cannot be seen with a light microscope similar to that used in a high school biology course, is most likely a —

• protozoan
• bacterium
• fungus
• virus

Which of the following methods would provide the most accurate information for students collecting data about local attitudes concerning the use of alternative fuels for automobiles? 

• listen to speeches given by politicians
• track prices at nearby gas stations
• study newspaper articles
• take an opinion poll of drivers

Richard was observing black swallowtail butterflies in the field. Which one of these is an observation he made about a black swallowtail butterfly?

• The black swallowtail laid its eggs on a parsley plant.
• The black swallowtail is closely related to the spicebush swallowtail
• The black swallowtail likes to fly more than anything else.
• The black swallowtail belongs to the class Insecta.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-4