Divisions of Life and Viruses

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GRE Subject Test: Biology › Divisions of Life and Viruses

Questions 1 - 10
1

Some organisms, such as green plants, are capable of obtaining energy directly from photosynthesis. These organisms are termed __________.

autotrophs

homotrophs

primary consumers

herbivores

heterotrophs

Explanation

Autotrophs are organisms that produce complex organic compounds from substances present in the surroundings. These organisms may do this through the use of energy from light or from inorganic chemical reactions.

In contrast, heterotrophs require organic input in order to generate biological compounds and are unable to use light or inorganic materials for energy.

2

Some organisms, such as green plants, are capable of obtaining energy directly from photosynthesis. These organisms are termed __________.

autotrophs

homotrophs

primary consumers

herbivores

heterotrophs

Explanation

Autotrophs are organisms that produce complex organic compounds from substances present in the surroundings. These organisms may do this through the use of energy from light or from inorganic chemical reactions.

In contrast, heterotrophs require organic input in order to generate biological compounds and are unable to use light or inorganic materials for energy.

3

Some organisms, such as green plants, are capable of obtaining energy directly from photosynthesis. These organisms are termed __________.

autotrophs

homotrophs

primary consumers

herbivores

heterotrophs

Explanation

Autotrophs are organisms that produce complex organic compounds from substances present in the surroundings. These organisms may do this through the use of energy from light or from inorganic chemical reactions.

In contrast, heterotrophs require organic input in order to generate biological compounds and are unable to use light or inorganic materials for energy.

4

Which of the following is not true of protists?

All protists are unicellular by definition

Protists are diverse in part due to endosymbiosis, a process by which small, unicellular organisms are engulfed by larger unicellular organisms and eventually evolve to become organelles

A "protist" is broadly recognized as a eukaryote that is not an animal, fungus, or plant

Malaria, red algae, green algae, and dinoflagellates are all examples of protists

Explanation

All of these answers are true, except the statement that protists are definitionally unicellular. Protists are an incredibly diverse group of organisms that are difficult to classify because of the vast differences that exist between protist species; it is easier to classify protists based on what they are not, rather than what they are. Multicellular protists include species of seaweeds called kelp. Though kelp resemble plants, they are actually multicellular groups of protists that lack true stems, roots or leaves (though kelp often have structures resembling these plant structures).

Endosymbiosis is an intriguing theory that seeks to explain the presence of complex structures such as mitochondria and chloroplasts inside of plant and animal cells. Mitochondria's similarities to free-living proteobacteria, and chloroplasts' similarities to free-living cyanobacteria suggest that at one point these structures were organisms that became engulfed by larger cells. According to the theory of endosymbiosis, mitochondria and chloroplasts lived inside their hosts in a symbiotic relationship, eventually evolving to lose their capacity to live independently and becoming organelles that support their host cell.

5

Which of the following is not true of protists?

All protists are unicellular by definition

Protists are diverse in part due to endosymbiosis, a process by which small, unicellular organisms are engulfed by larger unicellular organisms and eventually evolve to become organelles

A "protist" is broadly recognized as a eukaryote that is not an animal, fungus, or plant

Malaria, red algae, green algae, and dinoflagellates are all examples of protists

Explanation

All of these answers are true, except the statement that protists are definitionally unicellular. Protists are an incredibly diverse group of organisms that are difficult to classify because of the vast differences that exist between protist species; it is easier to classify protists based on what they are not, rather than what they are. Multicellular protists include species of seaweeds called kelp. Though kelp resemble plants, they are actually multicellular groups of protists that lack true stems, roots or leaves (though kelp often have structures resembling these plant structures).

Endosymbiosis is an intriguing theory that seeks to explain the presence of complex structures such as mitochondria and chloroplasts inside of plant and animal cells. Mitochondria's similarities to free-living proteobacteria, and chloroplasts' similarities to free-living cyanobacteria suggest that at one point these structures were organisms that became engulfed by larger cells. According to the theory of endosymbiosis, mitochondria and chloroplasts lived inside their hosts in a symbiotic relationship, eventually evolving to lose their capacity to live independently and becoming organelles that support their host cell.

6

Which of the following is not true of protists?

All protists are unicellular by definition

Protists are diverse in part due to endosymbiosis, a process by which small, unicellular organisms are engulfed by larger unicellular organisms and eventually evolve to become organelles

A "protist" is broadly recognized as a eukaryote that is not an animal, fungus, or plant

Malaria, red algae, green algae, and dinoflagellates are all examples of protists

Explanation

All of these answers are true, except the statement that protists are definitionally unicellular. Protists are an incredibly diverse group of organisms that are difficult to classify because of the vast differences that exist between protist species; it is easier to classify protists based on what they are not, rather than what they are. Multicellular protists include species of seaweeds called kelp. Though kelp resemble plants, they are actually multicellular groups of protists that lack true stems, roots or leaves (though kelp often have structures resembling these plant structures).

Endosymbiosis is an intriguing theory that seeks to explain the presence of complex structures such as mitochondria and chloroplasts inside of plant and animal cells. Mitochondria's similarities to free-living proteobacteria, and chloroplasts' similarities to free-living cyanobacteria suggest that at one point these structures were organisms that became engulfed by larger cells. According to the theory of endosymbiosis, mitochondria and chloroplasts lived inside their hosts in a symbiotic relationship, eventually evolving to lose their capacity to live independently and becoming organelles that support their host cell.

7

Which type of bacteria is referred to as "rod-shaped?"

Bacilli

Cocci

Spirilla

Vibrios

Spirochetes

Explanation

There are three principal forms of bacteria. Spherical bacteria are termed cocci. Rod-shaped bacteria are called bacilli. Spiral bacteria are rigid (spirilla), flexible (spirochetes), or curved (vibrios).

8

Which type of bacteria is referred to as "rod-shaped?"

Bacilli

Cocci

Spirilla

Vibrios

Spirochetes

Explanation

There are three principal forms of bacteria. Spherical bacteria are termed cocci. Rod-shaped bacteria are called bacilli. Spiral bacteria are rigid (spirilla), flexible (spirochetes), or curved (vibrios).

9

Which type of bacteria is referred to as "rod-shaped?"

Bacilli

Cocci

Spirilla

Vibrios

Spirochetes

Explanation

There are three principal forms of bacteria. Spherical bacteria are termed cocci. Rod-shaped bacteria are called bacilli. Spiral bacteria are rigid (spirilla), flexible (spirochetes), or curved (vibrios).

10

Which of the following compounds is incorporated into the fungal cell wall?

Chitin

Cellulose

Peptidoglycan

Phospholipids

Explanation

Fungi, bacteria, and plants all use cell walls to protect cells and maintain cell structure. The composition of the cell wall varies between kingdoms. Fungi use chitin as the primary component of cell wall structure. Plants use cellulose and bacteria use peptidoglycan.

All cells use phospholipids to construct the cell membrane, which is located interior to the cell wall.

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