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Practice Test 71 - High School Biology

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

  1. A population of mammals has several alleles for a gene affecting digestion. One allele allows adults to digest milk (lactose tolerance). Which statement best connects mutation to this kind of genetic variation in a population?
  2. Which event occurs during interphase (before mitosis begins)?
  3. A coral reef with many coral species is hit by a strong storm that breaks corals and stirs up sediment. A nearby reef has become algae-dominated and has very few coral species left. Five years later, which outcome best shows how biodiversity affects resilience and recovery?
  4. A student says, "If the environment changes, a species will adapt right away because it needs to." Which response best corrects this statement using natural selection?
  5. A pond has 8,000 L of water with an average dissolved oxygen concentration of 8 mg/L. That means the pond contains 8,000×8=64,0008{,}000 \times 8 = 64{,}000 mg of dissolved oxygen available each day (assume it is replenished daily). Each fish needs about 20 mg of oxygen per day. Using K=total oxygen per dayoxygen needed per fish per dayK = \frac{\text{total oxygen per day}}{\text{oxygen needed per fish per day}}, what is the carrying capacity (K) for fish based on oxygen?
  6. A class discusses what happens to the atoms in a dead squirrel's body. Which statement best matches conservation of matter in ecosystems?
  7. Claim: Carbon moves through a food web (from producers to consumers) as matter is transferred. Evidence: 1) After rabbits eat clover for several weeks, carbon is detected in rabbit muscle tissue. 2) After hawks eat rabbits for several weeks, carbon is detected in hawk muscle tissue. 3) CO2_2 in a sealed jar with only plants decreases in bright light. 4) Hawks have sharp beaks. Which evidence is most relevant to the specific claim that carbon moves from producers to consumers through feeding relationships?
  8. A student's body temperature rises above its usual level after running outside on a hot day. Sensors detect the change, and the body activates responses that help cool the body until temperature moves back toward the usual level. In this scenario, what is the set point?​
  9. A simplified diagram description says: "Two sugar-phosphate backbones form the outside of a twisted ladder. Bases project inward and pair to connect the strands." What overall shape does this describe?
  10. Which statement about genes and chromosomes is most accurate?
  11. In a forest food chain, producers store 12,000 kcal of energy in biomass. Primary consumers obtain about 1,200 kcal. Which is the best explanation for why the other ~10,800 kcal is not transferred to primary consumers?
  12. Why is cellular respiration considered an energy-releasing (exergonic) process for cells?
  13. A child has blue eyes (bb). Using a simple model where B is dominant for brown eyes and b is recessive for blue eyes, what must be true about the alleles the child inherited from the parents?
  14. Emperor penguins gather in large groups during Antarctic winter storms and press close together, with individuals rotating from the cold outside to the warmer center. Compared with standing alone, what is the main benefit of this group behavior?
  15. The lining of the small intestine is replaced every few days because many of its cells are worn away during digestion. Which model best explains how the intestine maintains a functional lining?
  16. Two small islands have the same species of lizard. On Island A, insects (food) are abundant, but freshwater pools dry up for most of the summer. On Island B, freshwater is available year-round, but insect numbers drop sharply during summer droughts. In both places, lizard numbers remain low during summer. Which statement best identifies the limiting factor on each island during summer?
  17. A simple food chain is: algae → zooplankton → small fish → large fish. Algae make their own food using sunlight, CO2_2, and water. Which option correctly identifies the consumer types in this chain?
  18. Claim: Carbon cycles through photosynthesis, feeding, and decomposition. A student tries to choose evidence that is relevant (addresses the claim) and sufficient (enough to support it). The student has these evidence options: 1) CO2_2 decreases in a jar with plants in light. 2) CO2_2 increases in a jar with a cricket (animal) in the dark. 3) Dead leaves in soil lead to increased CO2_2 release and increased soil nitrates over time. 4) Plants have roots that grow toward water. Which choice best identifies the relevant and sufficient evidence set?
  19. A class compares two student models of photosynthesis and cellular respiration. Model 1: CO2 + H2O → photosynthesis → glucose + O2 → cellular respiration → CO2 + H2O (repeat). Model 2: Sun → photosynthesis → glucose + O2 → cellular respiration → CO2 + H2O → photosynthesis, and an arrow labeled "heat" leaving from respiration. Which statement best evaluates the models for showing matter cycling and energy flow?
  20. A student sorts reproduction descriptions into two groups. Group X: involves meiosis producing gametes and fertilization restoring the diploid chromosome number. Group Y: involves mitosis (or binary fission) and produces genetically identical offspring. Which pairing is correct?

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