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Biology Quiz - Midterm Practice

Total questions: 105

Worksheet time: 9hrs 45mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which of the following is NOT a goal of science?

a)

to investigate and understand the natural world

b)

to explain events in the natural world

c)

to use data to support a particular point of view/opinion

d)

to use derived explanations to make useful predictions

2.

All living things maintain a balance within their cells and with the environment through the process of:

a)

irritability

b)

metabolism

c)

stimulus

d)

homeostasis

3.

Biology is the study of

a)

living things

b)

the land, water, and air on Earth.

c)

animals and plants only.

d)

the environment.

4.

Which is NOT a unit of measurement in the International System of Units, or SI (metric system)?

a)

meter

b)

ounce

c)

liter

d)

gram

5.

Which organelle converts the chemical energy stored in food into compounds that are more convenient for the cell to use?

a)

chloroplast

b)

Golgi apparatus

c)

endoplasmic reticulum

d)

mitochondrion

6.

Which organelle makes proteins using coded instructions that come from the nucleus?

a)

Golgi apparatus

b)

mitochondrion

c)

vacuole

d)

ribosome

7.

The main function of the cell wall is to

a)

support and protect the cell.

b)

store DNA.

c)

direct the activities of the cell.

d)

help the cell move.

8.

Under a microscope, a student observes a specimen containing a cell wall, nucleus, central vacuole, and chloroplasts. Which of the following could the specimen being observed belong to?

a)

oak tree leaf

b)

human

c)

bacteria

d)

cat hair

9.

Which of the following is a function of the cell membrane?

a)

breaks down lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins from foods

b)

stores water, salt, proteins, and carbohydrates

c)

regulates which materials enter and leave the cell

d)

keeps the cell wall in place

10.

If available, the body will always digest which macromolecule for energy first?

a)

lipids

b)

proteins

c)

enzymes

d)

Carbohydrates

11.

The class of macromolecule that would most likely be involved in contracting muscles would be

a)

lipids

b)

proteins

c)

enzymes

d)

carbohydrates

12.

Animals store most of their excess energy reserves as _______ because

a)

glucose; it is easy to break down.

b)

fat; they store twice as much energy per gram.

c)

protein; it is a compact source of energy in their bodies.

d)

carbohydrates; they store twice as much energy per gram of glucose.

13.

In a hypotonic solution, water will move ____ the cell, causing the cell to ____.

a)

Into; shrivel

b)

Into; lyse/swell

c)

Out of; lyse/swell

d)

Out of; shrivel

14.

This process occurs when the cell uses energy to bring something in from outside the cell.

a)

Endocytosis

b)

Exocytosis

c)

Osmosis

d)

Diffusion

15.

Which of the following types of cellular transport does not require extra energy?

a)

Endocytosis

b)

Exocytosis

c)

Molecular Pumps

d)

Facilitated Diffusion

16.

If an animal cell were placed in a solution of salt water taken from the ocean, what would happen to the cell?

a)

the cell would swell because the water solution is hypotonic.

b)

the cell would swell because the water solution is hypertonic.

c)

the cell would shrivel because the water solution is hypotonic.

d)

the cell would shrivel because the water solution is hypertonic.

17.

Which of the following best describes an isotonic solution?

a)

there is more solute outside the cell than inside the cell.

b)

there is less solute outside the cell than inside the cell.

c)

the concentration is equal on both sides of the membrane.

d)

none of the above.

18.

A climax community is reached

a)

at the beginning of succession.

b)

in the middle of succession.

c)

at the end of succession.

d)

when an ecosystem is destroyed.

19.

In a food web, insect eating birds would be classified as:

a)

carnivores.

b)

decomposers.

c)

herbivores.

d)

omnivores.

20.

Organisms that use energy from the sun to make their own food are called

a)

detritivores.

b)

consumers.

c)

omnivores.

d)

producers.

21.

The algae at the beginning of the food chain in water would be:

a)

consumers.

b)

decomposers.

c)

producers.

d)

heterotrophs.

22.

Which of the following organisms does NOT require sunlight to live?

a)

chemosynthetic bacteria

b)

algae

c)

trees

d)

photosynthetic bacteria

23.

Fish, their predators, and the water, sunlight, and plants that they rely on would be considered a(n).

a)

abiotic factor

b)

population

c)

community

d)

ecosystem

24.

A group of coyotes living around Rhode Island would be considered a(n).

a)

abiotic factor

b)

population

c)

community

d)

ecosystem

25.

In general, which trophic level has the LEAST energy available to it?

a)

producer/autotroph

b)

primary consumer

c)

secondary consumer

d)

tertiary consumer

26.

What animals eat both plants and animals?

a)

herbivores

b)

omnivores

c)

heterotrophs

d)

autotrophs

27.

The figure above shows a trophic pyramid for an ecosystem. What happens to the amount of energy in the pyramid as it moves up through the different levels?

a)

energy increases by 10% each level

b)

energy decreases by 90% each level

c)

energy decreases by 10% each level

d)

energy increases by 90% each level

28.

In food chains, the flow of energy is ALWAYS ________.

a)

one-way

b)

reversible

c)

two-way

d)

uncontrolled

29.

Only 10 percent of the energy stored in an organism can be passed on to the next trophic level. Of the remaining energy, some is used for the organism's life processes, and the rest is:

a)

used in reproduction.

b)

stored as body tissue.

c)

stored as fat.

d)

eliminated as heat.

30.

Carbon cycles through the biosphere in all of the following processes EXCEPT

a)

photosynthesis.

b)

transpiration.

c)

respiration/breathing.

d)

decomposition.

31.

Why do the movements of energy and nutrients in living systems differ?

a)

Energy flows in one direction, and nutrients recycle.

b)

Energy is limited in the biosphere, and nutrients are always available.

c)

Nutrients flow in one direction, and energy recycles.

d)

Energy forms chemical compounds, and nutrients are lost as heat

32.

Which is a biotic factor that affects the size of a population in a specific ecosystem?

a)

number and kinds of predators in the ecosystem

b)

type of soil in the ecosystem

c)

average temperature of the ecosystem

d)

concentration of oxygen in the ecosystem

33.

Several species of warblers can live in the same spruce tree ONLY because they

a)

have different habitats within the tree.

b)

eat different foods within the tree.

c)

occupy different niches within the tree.

d)

can find different temperatures within the tree.

34.

The symbiotic relationship between a flower and the insect that feeds on its nectar is an example of:

a)

mutualism because the flower provides the insect with food, and the insect pollinates the flower.

b)

parasitism because the insect lives off the nectar from the flower.

c)

commensalism because the insect doesn't harm the flower, and the flower doesn't benefit from the relationship.

d)

predation because the insect feeds on the flower.

35.

What is one difference between primary and secondary succession?

a)

Primary succession is slow, and secondary succession is rapid.

b)
c)
36.

What is one difference between primary and secondary succession?

a)

a. Primary succession is slow, and secondary succession is rapid.

b)

b. Secondary succession begins on soil, and primary succession begins on newly exposed surfaces, like lava rock.

c)

c. Primary succession modifies the environment, and secondary succession does not.

d)

d. Secondary succession begins with lichens, and primary succession begins with trees.

37.

What is the original source of almost all the energy in most ecosystems?

a)

a. carbohydrates

b)

b. sunlight

c)

c. water

d)

d. carbon

38.

What can cause a population to grow?

a)

a. The birth rate becomes higher than the death rate.

b)

b. The birth rate stays the same, and the death rate increases.

c)

c. The birth rate becomes lower than the death rate.

d)

d. The birthrate and the death rate remain the same.

39.

When individuals in a population reproduce at a constant rate, it produces a growth pattern called:

a)

a. logistic growth.

b)

b. growth density.

c)

c. demographic growth.

d)

d. exponential growth.

40.

Which are two ways a population can decrease in size?

a)

a. immigration and emigration

b)

b. increased death rate and immigration

c)

c. decreased birth rate and emigration

d)

d. emigration and increased birth rate

41.

Organisms that obtain nutrients by breaking down dead and decaying plants and animals are called:

a)

a. decomposers.

b)

b. omnivores.

c)

c. autotrophs.

d)

d. producers.

42.

If a population grows larger than the carrying capacity of the environment, then

a)

a. the birth rate may rise.

b)

b. the death rate may rise.

c)

c. population will grow faster.

d)

d. carrying capacity will change.

43.

What is the term for part of Earth where all living things, like plants and animals, exist?

a)

a. biosphere

b)

b. ecosystem

c)

c. population

d)

d. environment

44.

What distinguishes a niche from a habitat?

a)

a. A habitat is the physical location where an organism lives, while a niche is the organism's role or job in that place.

b)

b. A niche is the physical location where an organism lives, while a habitat is the organism's role or job in that place.

c)

c. Both habitat and niche refer to the physical location where an organism lives, with no difference.

d)

d. Both habitat and niche refer to the organism's role or job in a specific place, with no difference.

45.

What pattern of growth is shown by humans on Earth, whose population is growing out of control?

a)

a. exponential

b)

b. logistic

c)

c. carrying capacity

d)

d. population crash

46.

Each of the following is a density-dependent limiting factor EXCEPT

a)

a. competition.

b)

b. unusual weather.

c)

c. crowding.

d)

d. disease.

47.

Barnacles hitch a ride on a whale through nutrient rich waters. The whale is unaffected. This is an example of:

a)

a. commensalism

b)

b. mutualism

c)

c. parasitism

d)

d. predation

48.

A volcano erupts and covers the entire island it is on with lava. Once it eventually hardens, primary succession begins to occur. Which of the following lists the correct order in which plant growth would occur?

a)

a. shrubs → plants → coconut trees → sea grasses

b)

b. volcanic rock → lichen → mosses → grasses → coconut trees

c)

c. volcanic rock → shrubs → coconut trees → sea grasses

d)

d. volcanic rock → sea grasses → coconut trees → shrubs

49.

A logger clears a forest and the forest re-grows over many subsequent years. Which type of succession represents the regrowth of this forest?

a)

a. primary succession

b)

b. secondary succession

c)

c.pioneer species

d)

d. climax community

50.

Which of the following is a density-independent factor?

a)

a. earthquake

b)

b. disease

c)

c. predation

d)

d. parasitism

51.

Tapeworms feed off their host organism. This makes them a __________.

a)

a. competitor

b)

b. predator

c)

c. host

d)

d. Parasite

52.

An insect gathers pollen and nectar for food, but at the same time is aiding in the plant's reproduction by spreading pollen to other flowers it visits. What does this relationship demonstrate?

a)

predation

b)

commensalism

c)

mutualism

d)

parasitism

53.

All the interconnected feeding relationships in an ecosystem make up a food:

a)

interaction

b)

chain

c)

network

d)

web

54.

Nitrogen fixation is carried out primarily by

a)

a. humans.

b)

b. plants.

c)

c. bacteria in the soil.

d)

d. consumers.

55.

Each of the following is an abiotic factor in the environment EXCEPT

a)

a. plant life.

b)

b. soil type.

c)

c. rainfall.

d)

d. temperature

56.

What is a common characteristic of pioneer species?

a)

a. They are large mammals that dominate ecosystems.

b)

b. They are the final stage in ecological succession.

c)

c. They are typically the first to colonize newly formed or disturbed habitats.

d)

d. They require stable and mature environments to thrive.

57.

An interaction in which one organism captures and feeds on another organism is called

a)

a. competition.

b)

b. symbiosis.

c)

c. mutualism.

d)

d. predation.

58.

The series of predictable changes that occur in a community over time is called

a)

a. population growth.

b)

b. ecological succession.

c)

c. planting trees.

d)

d. climate change.

59.

The variety of species in an area is a measure of

a)

a. population

b)

b. biodiversity

c)

c. niche

d)

d. autotroph

60.

What dispersal pattern describes individuals spaced irregularly throughout their habitat?

a)

Clumped dispersal

b)

Random dispersal

c)

Uniform dispersal

d)

Seasonal dispersal

61.

The movement of organisms into a given area from another area is called

a)

a. immigration.

b)

b. emigration.

c)

c. population shift.

d)

d. carrying capacity.

62.

Which of the following describes the largest number of individuals that an environment can support?

a)

a. carrying capacity.

b)

b. immigration.

c)

c. emigration.

d)

d. exponential growth.

63.

The arrows in a food chain or web represent what?

a)

they point to the organism being eaten

b)

it shows the flow of sunlight

c)

they show the direction of energy flow between organisms

d)

they represent the movement of water

64.

The graph above right shows:

a)

exponential growth

b)

logistic growth

c)

biodiversity

d)

carrying capacity

65.

Which of the following best defines a keystone species?

a)

A species that is abundant in an ecosystem and dominates the food chain.

b)

A species that plays a critical role in maintaining the structure and functioning of an ecosystem.

c)

A species that is at the top of the food chain and has no natural predators.

d)

A species that is rare and has little impact on the surrounding environment

66.

What does the dotted line in the graph represent?

a)

The population increased at a constant rate.

b)

The population increased rapidly and then leveled off.

c)

The population increased at an exponential rate.

d)

Ecosystems are able to support any number of species.

67.



Which of the following describes the largest number of individuals that an environment can support? 

    


a)

carrying capacity

b)

immigration

c)

emigration

d)

exponential growth

68.

The movement of organisms into a given area from another area is called 


a)

carrying capacity

b)

population drift

c)

emigration

d)

immigration

69.

What dispersal pattern describes individuals spaced irregularly throughout their habitat?


a)

clumped

b)

random

c)

uniform

d)

seasonal

70.

 The variety of species in an area is a measure of 


a)

population

b)

niche

c)

autotroph

d)

biodiversity

71.

The series of predictable changes that occur in a community over time is called

     

a)

population growth

b)

ecological succession

c)

planting trees

d)

climate change

72.

An interaction in which one organism captures and feeds on another organism is called 


a)

competition

b)

symbiosis

c)

predation

d)

mutualism

73.

 What is a common characteristic of pioneer species?


a)

they are large mammals that dominate ecosystems

b)

they are the final stage in ecological succession

c)

they are typically the first to colonize newly formed or disturbed habitats

d)

they require stable and mature environments to thrive

74.

What distinguishes a niche from a habitat?

a)

A habitat is the physical location where an organism lives, while a niche is the organism's role or job in that place.

b)

A niche is the physical location where an organism lives, while a habitat is the organism's role or job in that place.

c)

Both habitat and niche refer to the physical location where an organism lives, with no difference.

d)

Both habitat and niche refer to the organism's role or job in a specific place, with no difference.

75.

controlled experiment allows the scientist to isolate and test 


a)

a conclusion

b)

a mass of information 

c)

several variables

d)

a single variable

76.

Scientific hypotheses must be proposed in a way that:


a)

ensures that an experiment will be valid. 

b)

enables them to be proved valid. 

c)

enables them to be tested. 

d)

doesn't contradict previous hypotheses.

77.

 What is 5 kilometers equivalent to in meters?


a)

50 meters

b)

500 meters 

c)

5,000 meters 

d)

50,000 meters

78.

A scientific theory

a)

  1. is always true

b)
  1. is the opening statement of an experiment

c)
  1. may be revised or replaced as new evidence emerges

d)
  1. is a problem to be solved

79.

All of the following are characteristics of all living things EXCEPT 


a)

growth. 

b)

reproduction. 

c)

movement of the whole organism. 

d)

use of energy.

80.

When designing an experiment, scientists will test a relationship between a “cause” and an “effect”. The “effect”, also represented by what the scientist measures and records, is known as the:

a)
  1. constant

b)
  1. dependent variable

c)
  1. control group

d)
  1. independent variable

81.

The basic unit of mass in the International System of Units, or SI, is the 


a)

meter

b)

ounce

c)

liter

d)

gram

82.

Which of the following descriptions about the organization of an ecosystem is correct?


a)

Individuals make up populations, which make up species, and together they make up communities. 

b)

Communities make up species, which make up populations, and together they form individuals. 

c)

Populations make up individuals, which make up communities, and together they form species. 

d)

Species make up individuals, which make up communities, and together they form populations.

83.

Which of the lab tools measures liquids most accurately?

a)

beaker

b)

Erlenmeyer flask

c)

graduated cylinder

d)

test tube

84.

In an experiment, all variables are held constant except for one. Then, experimental results are compared to that one variable. What type of experiment is this? 


a)

a variable experiment 

b)

a multifactor experiment 

c)

a controlled experiment 

d)

a hypothetical experiment

85.

Cells fall into two broad categories, depending on whether they 


a)

have a cell wall. 

b)

contain genetic material. 

c)

have a nucleus. 

d)

contain chloroplasts.

86.

 Eukaryotes usually contain 


a)

a nucleus. 

b)

specialized organelles. 

c)

genetic material. 

d)

all of the above.

87.

Which statement is a fundamental principle of cell theory? 


a)

All cells have a plasma membrane. 

b)

Eukaryotic cells are larger than prokaryotic cells. 

c)

Living organisms are composed of cells. 

d)

The genetic material in cells is DNA.

88.

The nucleolus is responsible for making 


a)

fats

b)

ribosomes

c)

DNA

d)

cell membrane

89.

Which statement is true about bacteria cells? 


a)

The cells are very large. 

b)

The cells have no nucleus. 

c)

They are eukaryotes. 

d)

They have organelles.

90.

Plant cells have a large central vacuole to store 


a)

water 

b)

waste products 

c)

DNA 

d)

chlorophyll

91.

The invention of the microscope allowed for scientists to study 


a)

ecosystems 

b)

cells 

c)

macromolecules 

d)

heterotrophs

92.

The thin, flexible barrier around a cell is called the 


a)

cell membrane. 

b)

cell wall. 

c)

cell envelope. 

d)

cytoplasm.

93.

Which cell structure contains the cell's genetic material and controls many of the cell's activities?

     


a)

organelle 

b)

nucleus 

c)

cell envelope 

d)

cytoplasm

94.

Which of the following statements best describes metabolism? 


a)

the process of breaking down food for energy

b)

the storage of energy 

c)

the ability to move rapidly

d)

the production of new individuals through reproduction

95.

Proteins are made of monomers called 


a)

amino acids 

b)

monosaccharides 

c)

nucleotides 

d)

protein chunks

96.

What is the primary macromolecule of the plasma membrane?

a)
  1. carbohydrates

b)
  1. lipids

c)
  1. proteins

d)
  1. nucleic acids

97.

Which organelle digests foreign substances and worn out cell parts?

     

a)

cell Membrane 

b)

flagella 

c)

lysosomes    

d)

mitochondria   

98.

 Which organelle acts as a whipping propeller, moving a cell through its environment?

     

a)

cell membrane   

b)

mitochondria 

c)

lysosomes

d)

flagella

99.

Which set of elements is most abundantly found in living organisms?


a)

Sodium, Potassium, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Carbon, Hydrogen 

b)

Sulfur, Phosphorus, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Carbon, Helium 

c)

Silicon, Phosphorus, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Carbon, Hydrogen 

d)

Sulfur, Phosphorus, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Carbon, Hydrogen

100.

Which principle of cell theory best supports the idea that new cells will replace damaged cells in a scraped knee?

a)
  1. all living things are made of one or more cells.

b)
  1. cells are the basic unit of life.

c)
  1. all cells come from other cells.

d)
  1. the nucleus of cells in animals reproduces when exposed to air.

101.

 Life can exist under frozen surfaces in polar seas because…

a)

water is less dense as a solid.  

b)

water has a high surface tension.

c)

water is a terrific solvent.

d)

water has a high specific heat.

102.

 When placed in water, oil does not dissolve and stays separate.  This means oil is   ____  and ___   .

a)

hydrophilic and polar   

b)

hydrophobic and polar

c)

hydrophilic and nonpolar  

d)

hydrophobic and nonpolar

103.

Which of the following is not likely to be a limiting factor on the sea otter population?

    

a)

disease 

b)

competition 

c)

drought 

d)

predation

104.

Arrow A is pointing to

a)

evaporation

b)

precipitation

c)

transpiration

d)

runoff

105.

#6 is pointing to:

a)

nucleus

b)

nucleolus

c)

ribosome

d)

lysosome