Practice Test 44 - High School Biology

20 questions. Answer them in any order, then submit to see your score and every explanation.

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1. A lake food web includes phytoplankton (producers), insect larvae (primary consumers), perch (secondary consumers), and herons (tertiary consumers). If 4,000 kJ is available at the perch level, approximately how much energy would be available to herons using the 10% rule?
2. A dominant/recessive trait is studied in mice: black fur (B) is dominant to brown fur (b). A black mouse crossed with a brown mouse produces 12 offspring: 6 black and 6 brown. Which conclusion is best supported?
3. Two different mutations occur in the coding region of the same gene: Mutation 1: substitution of one base Mutation 2: deletion of one base Which statement best distinguishes their typical effects on the protein?
4. Which option correctly identifies one example of sexual reproduction and one example of asexual reproduction?
5. The balanced photosynthesis equation shows specific numbers of molecules: $6CO_2 + 6H_2O + \text{light energy} \rightarrow C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6O_2.$ According to this equation, how many molecules of carbon dioxide are needed to make 1 molecule of glucose?
6. A single genotype can produce a range of phenotypes across different environments. This range is sometimes called a reaction norm. Which situation best illustrates a reaction norm?
7. A school of small fish swims in a tight, synchronized group when a larger predator approaches. Compared with a solitary fish, what is the main survival advantage of schooling in this situation?
8. Which statement best describes how sexual reproduction increases genetic variation from one generation to the next? Context: Meiosis produces gametes, and fertilization combines gametes.
9. A student compares two ways organisms reproduce. In one method, two parents produce gametes by meiosis, and the gametes fuse during fertilization to form offspring with new combinations of genes. In the other method, one parent produces offspring by mitosis (or binary fission), and the offspring are genetically identical to the parent (clones). Which choice correctly matches each method to its key outcome?
10. A river downstream of a factory has elevated levels of a toxic metal in sediments. Two cleanup proposals are discussed: Proposal 1: Install improved filtration at the factory to stop metal discharge and monitor water quality monthly. Proposal 2: Dredge (remove) contaminated sediments from the riverbed but make no changes at the factory. Which evaluation is most scientifically sound?
11. In pea plants, purple flowers (P) are dominant over white flowers (p). Two heterozygous plants are crossed: $Pp \times Pp$. What is the probability that an offspring will have white flowers?
12. Which statement best compares the advantages and disadvantages of sexual vs asexual reproduction in changing environments?
13. An invasive aquatic plant is spreading in a river and crowding out native species. Managers consider three control methods: (1) applying herbicide to the river, (2) manually removing plants with volunteer crews, and (3) introducing an insect that feeds on the invasive plant. Which evaluation is most scientifically sound?
14. During transcription (DNA RNA), a gene in the nucleus is copied into messenger RNA (mRNA). The DNA double helix opens in the gene region, one DNA strand acts as a template, RNA nucleotides base-pair with it (A pairs with U in RNA), and RNA polymerase links the RNA nucleotides into a single strand that later separates from the DNA. Which choice best describes what RNA polymerase does during transcription?
15. After eating a meal, nutrients from digested food must reach cells throughout the body. How do the digestive and circulatory systems interact to accomplish this?​
16. A hydra can reproduce by budding, where a small hydra grows on the parent and then breaks off. Which statement about the offspring from budding is correct?
17. A student gets a small cut on their finger. The area becomes red and slightly swollen over the next hour. Which model best represents how the immune and circulatory systems interact to respond to the injury?
18. In a model, the Photosynthesis box has inputs CO2, H2O, and light energy, and outputs glucose and O2. Which output is identified as the main storage form of captured energy?
19. A bird population has two beak shapes: narrow and wide. During a year when only hard seeds are available, birds with wide beaks have a 70% chance of surviving to reproduce, while birds with narrow beaks have a 35% chance. Which prediction best matches natural selection based on these probabilities?
20. A runner feels warmer during exercise. How is this related to energy changes during cellular respiration in muscle cells?

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