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Biology 1 Midterm Study Guide (Grade 9)

Total questions: 32

Worksheet time: 16mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Define Biology.

a)

Study of the living world

b)

Study of nonliving matter only

c)

Study of celestial bodies

d)

Study of chemical reactions only

2.

Define manipulated variable (independent variable).

a)

What the scientist changes

b)

What is measured as the outcome

c)

A variable kept constant for comparison

d)

The variable that results from chance

3.

Define responding variable (dependent variable).

a)

What is measured as the outcome

b)

What the scientist changes

c)

A factor kept the same across groups

d)

The control setup with no treatment

4.

Define control in an experiment.

a)

A setup without the independent variable used to compare results

b)

The measured outcome of an experiment

c)

The variable the scientist changes

d)

Random error that affects results

5.

You give one plant fertilizer and compare how tall it grows to a plant that has not been fertilized. In this scenario, identify the manipulated variable.

a)

Fertilizer

b)

Height of the plant

c)

Plant without fertilizer

d)

Amount of sunlight

6.

You give one plant fertilizer and compare how tall it grows to a plant that has not been fertilized. In this scenario, identify the responding variable.

a)

Height of the plant

b)

Fertilizer

c)

Plant without fertilizer

d)

Type of soil

7.

You give one plant fertilizer and compare how tall it grows to a plant that has not been fertilized. In this scenario, identify the control.

a)

Plant without fertilizer

b)

Plant with fertilizer

c)

Amount of water

d)

Plant height

8.

Define biotic factor and give an example.

a)

A living factor such as plants or animals

b)

A nonliving factor such as sunlight

c)

A measurement of population size

d)

A laboratory control group

9.

Define abiotic factor and give an example.

a)

A nonliving factor such as temperature, sunlight, or water

b)

A living factor such as a predator

c)

A decomposer that recycles nutrients

d)

A behavioral response to a stimulus

10.

Define homeostasis.

a)

The process of maintaining a stable internal environment

b)

The rapid change of internal conditions

c)

The transfer of energy between trophic levels

d)

The interaction between predators and prey

11.

Give an example of a stimulus and explain how an organism would respond.

a)

Light causes pupils to constrict

b)

Cold causes sweating

c)

Food odor causes plants to photosynthesize less

d)

Noise causes heart rate to stop

12.

Explain an example of how any organism might maintain homeostasis.

a)

Humans sweat when too hot to bring body temperature back toward 98.6∘98.6^\circ Fahrenheit

b)

Humans shiver to raise body temperature above 120∘120^\circ Fahrenheit

c)

Humans breathe faster to decrease oxygen levels in blood

d)

Humans stop drinking water to maintain hydration

13.

List the levels of organization in order of complexity from largest to smallest.

a)

Biosphere, biome, ecosystem, community, population, species

b)

Species, population, community, ecosystem, biome, biosphere

c)

Biome, community, population, species, biosphere, ecosystem

d)

Ecosystem, biosphere, biome, community, species, population

14.

Where does most of the energy on Earth come from?

a)

The Sun

b)

Earth’s core

c)

The Moon

d)

Ocean tides

15.

Define autotroph/producer and give an example.

a)

An organism that produces its own food, such as a plant

b)

An organism that consumes other organisms, such as a wolf

c)

A decomposer that breaks down matter, such as fungi

d)

A predator that hunts prey, such as a fox

16.

Define heterotroph/consumer and give an example.

a)

An organism that consumes living things, such as a carnivore

b)

An organism that makes its own food, such as a plant

c)

A rock or mineral that affects organisms

d)

A molecule that stores genetic information

17.

Briefly describe the job of a decomposer.

a)

Breaks down organic matter

b)

Produces its own food from sunlight

c)

Hunts and eats prey

d)

Competes for mates

18.

In the food web diagram, identify a primary consumer.

a)

Grasshopper

b)

Fox

c)

Snake

d)

Owl

19.

In the food web diagram, identify a secondary consumer.

a)

Frog

b)

Grasshopper

c)

Rabbit

d)

Plant

20.

In the food web diagram, identify a tertiary consumer.

a)

Fox

b)

Squirrel

c)

Rabbit

d)

Grass

21.

In the food web diagram, identify the quaternary consumer.

a)

Owl

b)

Mouse

c)

Frog

d)

Snake

22.

If a disease killed many grasshoppers in this food web, predict what would happen.

a)

The frog population may decrease

b)

Plant biomass would immediately vanish

c)

Snake populations must increase uncontrollably

d)

Foxes would switch to eating grass only

23.

What percentage of energy transfers to each level in a food chain or food web?

a)

10%

b)

50%

c)

25%

d)

100%

24.

If the bottom level is 50005000 , what would each level be up to the 4th level, using typical energy transfer?

a)

5000→500→50→55000 \rightarrow 500 \rightarrow 50 \rightarrow 5

b)

5000→2500→1250→6255000 \rightarrow 2500 \rightarrow 1250 \rightarrow 625

c)

5000→1000→100→105000 \rightarrow 1000 \rightarrow 100 \rightarrow 10

d)

5000→750→75→7.55000 \rightarrow 750 \rightarrow 75 \rightarrow 7.5

25.

What are some reasons a population may increase? Select all that apply.

a)

Immigration

b)

Abundant food, space, or resources

c)

Fewer predators

d)

Emigration

e)

Increased disease

26.

Define invasive species.

a)

A non-native species that causes ecological problems

b)

A native species with a large population

c)

A predator that hunts in packs

d)

Any species with a short lifespan

27.

What is carrying capacity, and when does it occur in the rainbow trout population graph? Select all that apply.

a)

The maximum number of individuals an environment can support

b)

The point where the graph levels off

c)

The first point where the population is zero

d)

The steepest increasing part of the curve

28.

Define limiting factors.

a)

Factors that decrease the growth of a population

b)

Factors that guarantee exponential growth

c)

Any random change with no effect on population size

d)

Only abiotic factors that never involve organisms

29.

Which of the following are examples of limiting factors? Select all that apply.

a)

Predation

b)

Emigration (exit the area)

c)

Competition

d)

Natural disaster

e)

Increased human activity

30.

Describe the predator-prey relationship.

a)

If predator numbers increase, prey numbers tend to decrease, and vice versa

b)

If predator numbers increase, prey numbers always increase

c)

Predators and prey never affect each other’s populations

d)

Predators only eat producers

31.

What is a keystone species? Select the correct definition and example(s).

a)

A species that the ecosystem depends on

b)

Sea otter on the Pacific Coast

c)

Yellowstone gray wolf

d)

A species with the largest body size in the ecosystem

32.

Explain trophic cascade. Choose the best description with an example.

a)

A dramatic ecosystem change following the removal of a keystone species; e.g., removing gray wolves led to more elk and fewer plants

b)

A gradual climate shift due to ocean currents; e.g., El Niño warming waters

c)

A seasonal migration of predators following prey; e.g., wolves tracking elk each winter

d)

A simple food chain with one predator and one prey with no wider effects