Practice Test 97 - 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 cell is seen with two groups of chromosomes at opposite ends of the cell. The chromosomes are starting to uncoil, and new nuclear envelopes are forming around each group. Which stage is being described?
2. A diagram model of climate change includes branching pathways from warming. Which option best matches a correct branching cause-effect model that ends with biodiversity impacts?
3. During synthesis in cells, small molecules are used to build larger macromolecules. Which statement best describes what "synthesis" means in terms of atoms?
4. A wetland was drained decades ago for agriculture, causing increased downstream flooding and loss of amphibian habitat. A restoration plan would plug drainage ditches, replant native wetland vegetation, and allow seasonal flooding to return. Which outcome best supports the claim that this restoration is effective and scientifically sound?
5. A class compared species richness between two stream sections by counting the number of different macroinvertebrate species found. Section A: 11 species Section B: 7 species How much greater is the species richness in Section A than in Section B?
6. A fruit begins to ripen and releases a gas that causes nearby fruit to ripen faster. As more fruit ripens, even more of the gas is released, speeding up ripening until the fruit is fully ripe. Which type of feedback does this illustrate?
7. A DNA template strand segment is ATGC. During transcription, RNA nucleotides pair with the template (using U instead of T) and RNA polymerase links them into mRNA. What mRNA sequence is produced from this template segment?
8. In dogs, curly tail (R) is dominant over straight tail (r). Two heterozygous dogs are crossed: $Rr \times Rr$. What is the probability that an offspring will have genotype RR?
9. A mined hillside was restored by adding topsoil and planting native grasses (restoration began in Year 0). Scientists measured soil nitrogen (N) and plant species richness. Time: Year 0, 1, 3, 7, 12 Soil N (mg/kg): 120, 210, 340, 480, 520 Plant species richness (# species): 3, 9, 18, 27, 29 Reference (nearby undisturbed hillside): Soil N 540 mg/kg; richness 31 species Which assessment is best supported by the evidence at Year 12?
10. In a finch population, beak size is heritable and varies: some finches have small beaks and some have larger, deeper beaks. A drought reduces the number of small soft seeds, leaving mostly large, tough seeds. During the drought, more large-beaked finches survive and produce offspring than small-beaked finches. After several generations, the average beak size in the population increases. Which statement best describes the mechanism of natural selection in this scenario?
11. In a fish population, a gene has two alleles: $H$ (high-salinity tolerance) and $h$ (low-salinity tolerance). A drought begins after Year 4, increasing average salinity. Allele frequencies were measured each year. Year 1: $H$ = 0.48 Year 2: $H$ = 0.50 Year 3: $H$ = 0.49 Year 4: $H$ = 0.50 Year 5: $H$ = 0.58 Year 6: $H$ = 0.67 Year 7: $H$ = 0.74 Which interpretation best matches the pattern?
12. A biologist tracked two color morphs of a lizard (light and dark) on an island. A volcanic eruption in Year 6 darkened the ground. Year 1: light 78%, dark 22% Year 3: light 76%, dark 24% Year 5: light 77%, dark 23% Year 7: light 52%, dark 48% Year 9: light 31%, dark 69% Year 11: light 18%, dark 82% Which conclusion is most consistent with these data?
13. In a meadow with many flowering plant species, there are several pollinators (bees, butterflies, flies, and beetles). In a nearby area with mostly one flowering plant species, pollination depends mainly on one bee species. If the bee species declines due to pesticide exposure, what is the most likely effect on plant reproduction in the two areas?
14. A researcher counts the number of spots on 50 ladybugs. Results: Spots → Number of ladybugs - 0: 5 - 2: 9 - 4: 15 - 6: 14 - 8: 6 - 10: 1 Which statement best describes the variation in number of spots?
15. In a simplified tissue model, a stem cell divides and produces two daughter cells. Over time, the tissue stays able to repair itself after minor damage. Which outcome best explains this long-term repair ability?
16. In a honeybee hive, some workers collect nectar, others feed larvae, and when a bear disturbs the hive, many workers sting the intruder. Stinging can kill the individual bee, but it may drive the bear away. Which statement best explains how this is cooperative behavior?
17. Two species of desert plants on different continents look very similar and both have thick, water-storing stems. However, their internal structures and DNA show they are not closely related. Which statement best describes this situation in terms of evidence for evolution?
18. In a forest, oak trees use sunlight to make sugars from CO$_2$ and water. Deer eat oak leaves, and wolves eat deer. Which statement best distinguishes producers from consumers based on how they obtain energy and matter?
19. In a certain species, each parent makes gametes with half the usual chromosome number. When two gametes fuse, the offspring has a full chromosome set and a unique combination of traits. Which statement is correct?
20. During digestion, muscles in the digestive tract move food along, and this activity changes depending on signals from the body. How do the nervous and digestive systems interact to help move food through the digestive tract?

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