Practice Test 82 - High School Biology

19 of the 20 questions below are in this test; the other one can't be scored yet. Answer them in any order, then submit to see your score and every explanation.

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1. A class investigates a trait where allele $A$ is dominant to allele $a$. Two heterozygous parents have 100 offspring. Which observed outcome would best support the prediction from a Punnett square for $Aa \times Aa$?
2. A student says, "Muscle cells must have muscle DNA, and nerve cells must have nerve DNA." Which response is most accurate?
3. During meiosis, homologous chromosomes separate so that each gamete receives one chromosome from each pair. Why does this contribute to genetic diversity?
4. Which statement best demonstrates the idea of conservation of matter in an ecosystem?
5. Scientists have found a series of whale fossils in rock layers of increasing age. Older fossils show a mammal with four legs adapted for walking on land; younger fossils show animals with smaller hind limbs and more paddle-like forelimbs; the youngest fossils are fully aquatic whales. Modern whales also have small hip bones that are not used for walking. Which option correctly identifies two types of evidence for evolution shown in this description?
6. A mutation in a hemoglobin gene is described as a single-base substitution that changes one amino acid in the hemoglobin protein (a simplified version of the sickle cell example). Why can changing just one amino acid sometimes have a big effect on protein function?
7. A population of rabbits has heritable variation in fur thickness. In a cold, snowy region, thicker fur helps rabbits stay warm and survive winter. In a hot desert region, thick fur can cause overheating and reduce survival. Which statement best describes how natural selection relates to adaptation in these two environments?
8. After heavy spring rains, fertilizer from nearby farms washes into a lake. Within weeks, the lake turns green with a thick algal bloom. Soon after, many fish are found dead near the shoreline. What is the most likely cause of the fish die-off?
9. Three prairie plots were sampled for plant species richness after a chemical spill. Plot X was sampled 1 year after the spill, Plot Y 5 years after, and Plot Z 15 years after. A nearby undisturbed prairie was also sampled. Which conclusion is best supported by these comparisons?
10. An energy pyramid follows the 10% rule. Producers have 50,000 kJ. What percentage of the producers' energy reaches the secondary consumer level?
11. Which sequence correctly shows the basic organization from DNA to a visible chromosome during cell division?
12. After eating a meal, blood glucose rises above normal. The body responds by releasing insulin, causing cells to take up glucose so blood glucose falls back toward normal. Classify this feedback mechanism.
13. In pea plants, tall stems (T) are dominant over short stems (t). Two tall plants are crossed and produce 80 offspring: 62 tall and 18 short. Which inheritance pattern and parent genotypes are best supported by this evidence?
14. A grassland produces 12,000 kg of grass per month that a herd of antelope can eat. Each antelope needs about 200 kg of grass per month. What is the carrying capacity (K) of the grassland for antelope (ignore other limiting factors)?
15. Which option correctly compares the outcomes of mitosis and meiosis in humans (starting from one diploid cell with 46 chromosomes)?
16. On a chain of islands, most bird species are unique to individual islands, but their closest relatives are birds found on the nearby mainland. This pattern is best described as which type of evidence for evolution, and why does it support evolution?
17. A student is given four terms: (1) skeletal muscle cell, (2) skeletal muscle tissue, (3) arm muscle (like the biceps), (4) muscular system. Which choice correctly orders them from smallest to largest?
18. Two students make claims about reactants and products: Student 1: "$O_2$ is a product of photosynthesis and a reactant of respiration." Student 2: "$CO_2$ is a reactant of photosynthesis and a product of respiration." Based on the overall equations, which option is correct?
19. Complete the overall photosynthesis equation: $6CO_2 + 6H_2O +$ light energy $\rightarrow$ ________ + $6O_2$
20. A fish population increases rapidly, then the curve flattens and stays nearly constant at about 500 fish for several years (x-axis = time; y-axis = population size). What does the leveling off most likely indicate?

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