HS Biology STAAR Practice Quizzes

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

• insertion

• translocation

• substitution

• deletion

Answer explanation

The original strand has a GTA coding for His. The mutated strand has a GGA which codes for Pro instead. The T got switched for a G, so this is a substitution.

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NGSS.MS-LS3-1

The DEFENSES of 2 flightless birds that live in different habitats are shown. How do the wings of the Gentoo penguin and the legs of the ostrich provide an advantage in their habitat?

• Allows them to find prey

• Allows them to escape from predators

• Allows them to control body temperature

• Allows them to be camouflaged in their environments

Answer explanation

You can narrow down the answer choices to either "finding prey" or "escaping predators." Note that the question says the birds need DEFENSES and are FLIGHTLESS. Defenses are used to escape predators, not to hunt.

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NGSS.MS-LS4-4

Photosynthesis takes in ​ (a)   and spits out ​ (b)   . Cellular respiration takes in ​ (c)  

• light energy

• chemical energy

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NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS1-7

Overfishing is when fish are caught faster than they can reproduce, causing the decline of fish populations. Overfishing ​ (a)   the stability of the ecosystem by ​ (b)   .

• increases

• disrupting food chains

• decreases

• increasing competition for limited resources

• allowing prey populations to overproduce

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NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Reorder the following species from oldest to youngest.

• house cat

• wolf

• horse

• turtle

• tiger

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Reorder the following traits from oldest to youngest.

• retractable claws

• four limbs

• hair

• vertebral column

• sharp teeth

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Based on the cladogram, the ancestral species most likely had...

• a vertebral column

• a vertebral column and hair

• sharp teeth and retractable claws

• ability to purr

Answer explanation

Ancestral = oldest species that gives rise to the rest of the species. The ancestral species would lie to the far left, where only the vertebral column is.

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NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Eukaryotic cells have ​ (a)   and DNA in the ​ (b)   . Prokaryotic cells have ​ (c)   and DNA in the ​ (d)   .

• membrane-bound nuclei or organelles

• nucleus

• NO membrane-bound nuclei or organelles

• cytoplasm

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NGSS.MS-LS1-2

For an enzyme to be able to catalyze a reaction, the active site must -

• cause the enzyme to be destroyed in the reaction

• increase the activation energy level

• be occupied by an inhibitor

• have a complementary shape to the substrate

Snowshoe hares change coat color during the year. In the summer, when there is no snow on the ground, their coat is brown. In the winter when there is snow, their coat is white. Which describes the genetic basis for seasonal changes in coat color?

• The snow causes mutations in the genes

• The genes are regulated by hormone signals that are altered by changes in the environment

• Sunlight causes cancer cells to develop

• The genes are deleted during the summer

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NGSS.MS-LS1-5