DC Biology Exam 1

Both walnut and Ginkgo trees lose their leaves in the fall when day length starts decreasing. Based on these observations, one may conclude that many tree species will lose their leaves in the fall in response to decreasing day length. This statement is an example of

• deductive reasoning.

• an experiment.

• inductive reasoning.

• a theory.

Ginkgo trees are known to lose their leaves at a certain time each year throughout the United States. Based on this information, Ginkgo trees in China must behave the same way. These statements are an example of

• deductive reasoning.

• an experiment.

• inductive reasoning.

• a theory.

An alien from another planet landed on earth. He is fascinated by cars and is determined to figure out how they work. He decides to disassemble one of them and examine each part independently. He removes one of the tires and proceeds to learn all he can about the tire. He then removes one of the headlights and proceeds to learn all he can about the headlight. What type of approach is this alien taking to learn about the car?

• Reductionism

• Deductive reasoning

• Inductive reasoning

• Emergent properties

Dr. Calvo was trying to determine the cause of a mysterious epidemic affecting fish in the gulf of New Mexico. His proposal that the deaths were caused by an organism called a protist is considered

• an experiment.

• a hypothesis.

• a conclusion.

• a theory.

• a data set.

The term that Darwin used to describe the concept that organisms with superior strength, behavior, or other attributes are more likely to survive and pass their traits to the next generation than those that are not so well endowed is called

• biological diversity.

• geometric progression.

• natural selection.

• group behavior.

• survival of modifications.

Structures that have similar functions but different evolutionary origins are said to be

• homologous.

• analogous.

• inherited.

• uniform.

• evolved.

If you were to design a long-term research study to determine why there are no human births in Lapland during the months of August, September, and October, you would need to also examine a comparison population of humans in which births took place every month. The primary reason for including a comparison population within the design of this experiment would be to

• accumulate more facts that could be reported to other scientists.

• test the effects of more than one variable at the same time.

• prove that there are no births in Lapland during August, September, and October.

• act as a control that would ensure that the results obtained are due to a difference in only one variable.

Osmometer cells in the brain sense an increase in the salt concentration of plasma. This information is sent to the hypothalamus, which notifies the pituitary gland to release the hormone ADH. ADH causes the kidney to save water, which lowers the salt concentration of the plasma. What characteristic of life does this overall pathway represent?

• Cellular organization

• Sensitivity

• Energy utilization

• Evolutionary adaptation

• Homeostasis

Phil is conducting a seed germination experiment to test the hypothesis that light is necessary for lettuce seed germination. He places three groups of lettuce seeds in a 34° Celsius incubator with adequate moisture. One set of seeds is placed in a dark area with no light source, a second set is placed under artificial light, and a third set is placed in direct sunlight. Based on this experimental design, which variable was the control?

• Seeds in the dark

• Type of light

• Germination rate

• Temperature

• Moisture

Phil is conducting a seed germination experiment to test the hypothesis that light is necessary for lettuce seed germination. He places three groups of lettuce seeds in a 34° Celsius incubator with adequate moisture. One set of seeds is placed in a dark area with no light source, a second set is placed under artificial light, and a third set is placed in direct sunlight. Based on this experimental design, which variable was the dependent variable?

• Seeds in the dark

• Type of light

• Germination rate

• Temperature

• Moisture