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Practice Test 70 - High School Biology

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

  1. In a eukaryotic cell, transcription makes mRNA from DNA. Where does transcription occur, and what happens to the DNA after the mRNA is made (high school level description)?
  2. Bone marrow makes new blood cells throughout life. A simple model is: stem cell (1) divides (2) produces daughter cells (3) some specialize. Which option correctly completes this model?
  3. A burn damages the surface cells of the skin. A student claims, "Skin repair is just cells moving in from the sides; division and differentiation are not needed." Which response best corrects the claim using a basic model of repair?
  4. In an ecosystem, secondary consumers contain about 120 kJ of energy. Assuming the 10% rule, about how much energy was available at the primary consumer level?
  5. A deer population in a suburban area has grown very large due to lack of predators. Overbrowsing is preventing forest seedlings from growing, reducing future forest regeneration. Two management strategies are proposed: Strategy A: Fence small areas of forest to exclude deer and protect seedlings. Strategy B: Reduce deer population size through controlled culling carried out by trained professionals. Which statement best evaluates these strategies in terms of addressing the root cause and feasibility?
  6. A combined matter-and-energy model for a forest is described below. Matter (carbon) arrows form a loop: Atmosphere (CO2_2) --photosynthesis--> Producers (trees) --feeding--> Consumers (deer) --death/waste--> Decomposers (soil) --decomposition--> Atmosphere (CO2_2) Energy arrows are one-way: Sun → Producers → Consumers → (heat leaves from each box) Which interpretation is most accurate?
  7. A coastal marsh experiences regular storms every few years. Even though storms temporarily flood the marsh and reduce bird nesting success, the marsh's plant communities and bird populations typically return to similar levels between storms. Over decades, the marsh remains predictable in its structure and function. This long-term pattern best illustrates:
  8. A plant cell uses glucose (C6H12O6) to help build a nucleic acid (such as DNA). Besides the C, H, and O atoms that can come from glucose, which additional element(s) must be obtained from the environment to build nucleic acids?
  9. A student observes a cell where the DNA is spread out (not in visible chromosomes), the nuclear envelope is intact, and the cell is copying its DNA to prepare for division. Which stage best describes what is happening?
  10. In humans, the digestive system includes multiple organs (such as the stomach and intestines) that work together to break down food and absorb nutrients. What level of biological organization is the digestive system?
  11. A small pond contains a population of fish. In mid-summer, a heat wave warms the water for several weeks. Students observe fish gasping near the surface and several fish die, even though there is still plenty of food (insects) and few predators. Which abiotic limiting factor most likely caused the fish population to decrease during the heat wave?
  12. Ten maple leaves from the same population were measured for leaf length (cm): 8.2, 9.0, 9.4, 10.1, 10.3, 10.7, 11.5, 11.9, 12.0, 12.6 What is the range of leaf length in this sample?
  13. A bird population has two beak-size phenotypes: small and large. Their frequencies were measured over 12 years. Year 1: 51% small, 49% large Year 4: 50% small, 50% large Year 8: 52% small, 48% large Year 12: 51% small, 49% large Which conclusion is best supported by this dataset?
  14. A student claims, "If all cells have the same DNA, then all cells should be able to do the same things." Which response best addresses this misconception using the idea of gene expression?
  15. A plant is grown in air containing CO2 where the carbon atoms are a special labeled type (so they can be tracked). After several weeks, the labeled carbon is found in cellulose in the plant's cell walls. Which explanation best describes how the labeled carbon ended up in cellulose?
  16. Claim: Carbon matter cycles through an ecosystem (carbon moves from the atmosphere into organisms and back to the atmosphere). A class collected the following evidence: 1) In a classroom terrarium, CO2_2 concentration decreased from 620 ppm to 480 ppm during 6 hours of daylight when plants were under a lamp. 2) In the same terrarium, CO2_2 concentration increased from 480 ppm to 610 ppm during 6 hours of darkness. 3) When dead leaves were placed in moist soil, CO2_2 levels above the soil rose over 3 days. 4) Most leaves in the terrarium were green. Which option identifies the evidence that is relevant and sufficient to support the claim?
  17. Which choice correctly identifies the source of the main reactants for cellular respiration in an animal? (Cellular respiration: glucose + O2 → CO2 + H2O + ATP)
  18. A wildlife researcher observes a wolf pack hunting elk. Two wolves chase the elk toward a narrow valley while three others wait ahead and rush in from the sides to block escape. The researcher notes that a pack hunt succeeds about 30% of the time, while a lone wolf hunting elk succeeds about 10% of the time. Which statement best explains the benefit of this cooperative behavior?
  19. A forest currently has a carrying capacity KK of 500 squirrels, limited mainly by the annual nut crop. A drought reduces the nut crop by 40% for several years. Assuming squirrel resource needs stay the same and nuts remain the limiting resource, what is the new carrying capacity?
  20. Which option best adds a reinforcing feedback loop to a habitat-destruction model (an effect that makes the original problem worse), leading to further biodiversity loss?

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