CAST Life science 1

Scientists are studying how water clarity affects the number of fish species in a large lake. They focus on two areas in the lake, one containing clear water and the other containing cloudy water resulting from human activities surrounding a portion of the lake. The number of fish species in each area is shown in the graph. A student claims that clear water sustains a larger number of fish species compared to cloudy water. Which evidence best supports the student’s claim?

• At depths between 10 to 20 meters, the number of fish species decreases in cloudy water.

• At all depths, the number of fish species is higher in the clear water compared to the cloudy water.

• As depth increases, the number of fish species in clear water decreases faster than the number in cloudy water.

• As depth increases from 40 to 60 meters, the number of fish species remains constant for both clear and cloudy water.

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2.) Group behavior in some animal species can increase the likelihood of survival for

individuals. Generally, group behavior benefits all members of the group; however, a

particular behavior may increase the risk for some individuals in the group. Select two behaviors that are most likely to reduce the likelihood of survival for the individual but that will increase survival of the group.

• A wolf joins a pack of wolves to hunt for prey.

• A honey bee defends the hive containing a queen.

• A fish swims in a school which confuses a predator.

• A ground squirrel makes a loud call alerting the group to the presence of a hawk.

• A wildebeest joins a group of other wildebeests to avoid attacks by a predator in open areas.

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3.) During cellular respiration, energy is (a)   when chemical bonds of molecules are broken, and new (b)   are formed.

• Transferred
• Molecules
• Created
• Destroyed
• Atoms
• organelles

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4.) A researcher is investigating population growth of an organism under two different sets of environmental conditions. The following data are collected. Which statement best explains the difference in growth between the two populations?

• A) Environment 1 is warmer than environment 2. This leads to a higher metabolic rate in the organisms in environment 1.

• B) There is a competitor in environment 2 that is not present in environment 1. This lowers the carrying capacity of environment 2.

• C) Environment 2 contains smaller organisms than environment 1. This means fewer organisms can fit into environment 2.

• D) The organisms in environment 1 reproduce at a younger age. This causes the population in environment 1 to grow faster than that of environment 2.

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​ 5 A.)The California condor is an endangered species. Lead poisoning, small pieces of trash,  and habitat loss are some of the factors that threaten the stability of the condor population.  In 1987, a captive-breeding program was established to help in the recovery of the condor  population. The reintroduction of captive-bred condors to the wild began in 1992. Scientists created a simulation to study ways to help increase the condor population in the  wild. The simulation was based on these criteria: the availability of food sources  the abundance of potential nesting sites the reliability of air movements that allow extended soaring flight 

The table provides data obtained from the simulation and from records from the U.S. Fish  and Wildlife Service (USFWS).  If the average rate of population growth remains constant, there will be (a)   California condors in the wild by the year 2020. This number represents an approximate (b)   % increase in the condor population in the wild compared to the year 2016.

• 300
• 372
• 33

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5 b.)Which parameter could the scientists add to the simulation to best help improve it?

• the presence of potential predators

• the cost to raise condors in captivity

• the incubation period of the eggs in a nest

• the age of the oldest condor living in captivity

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6.) Photosynthesis and cellular respiration are both important processes in the carbon cycle.

Students are modeling these two processes in order to better understand the carbon

cycle. The students are spending some class time gathering information in a table before

generating their models.

Complete the table by selecting the process each listed feature is most directly associated

with.

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7.)The graph shows the effect of light intensity on the rate of photosynthesis of plants at a  constant temperature at two different carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations. Effect of CO2 Concentration and Light Intensity on the Rate of Photosynthesis

Based on the graph, the rate of photosynthesis between points X and Y depends mostly on the

• CO2 concentration because at point Y there is a greater CO2 concentration than at point X.

• CO2 concentration because the maximum rate of photosynthesis occurs when the CO2 concentration is greater than what it is at point Y.

• light intensity because the rate of photosynthesis decreases as the light intensity increases.

• light intensity because the rate of photosynthesis is greater at point Y compared to point X regardless of the CO2 concentration.

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8.) Human blood type is a trait that is determined by multiple alleles. The ABO blood group

has three alleles: I^A, I^B, and i. Alleles I^A and I^B are co-dominant to each other, while allele i is recessive to alleles I^A and I^B. The genotypes and phenotypes of the ABO blood group are summarized in this table. Based on this information, select the probabilities that correctly complete the statements.

A child born to a mother with type AB blood and a father who is heterozygous for type A

blood has a​ ​ ​ (a)   ​ ​ ​ ​​ j​ n chance of having type A blood. The

probability that a child born to the couple is homozygous for type A blood is​ ​ ​ (b)  

• 50%
• 0%
• 25%
• 100%

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9.)A student was investigating the differences between cell types in the human body and  observed that some proteins are only expressed in specific types of cells. 

Based on this observation, the student made the following incorrect claim: In humans, cells  of each different type only contain chromosomes with the genes that are needed by that  cell type.

Which question about mitosis would most likely cause the student to revise this claim?

• Do sister chromatids segregate equally to each daughter cell?

• Do homologous chromosomes align on the metaphase plate?

• Do daughter cells contain the chromosomes in the nucleus?

• Do genes move from one chromosome to another?

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