Biology Practice Exams

1. All of the following organisms exhibit A. linkage

bilateral symmetry EXCEPT B. independent assortment
(A) hydra C. crossing over
D. nondisjunction
(B) mollusks
E. mutation
(C) arthropods
(D) earthworms 7. The graph shows the changes in free
(E) fish energy before, during, and after a
biochemical reaction.
2. In mammalian cells, the first sign of
prophase is the
(A) appearance of chromosomes
(B) separation of chromatids
(C) disappearance of the nuclear
membrane
(D) replication of chromosomes
(E) crossing over of homologous
chromosomes
Which describes the effect of a catalytic
3. Mitosis occurs in all of the following types of enzyme on this reaction?
cells EXCEPT A. Energy decreases at point 1.
(A) epidermal cells B. Energy increases at point 1.
(B) hair cells C. Energy decreases at point 2.
(C) red blood cells D. Energy increases at point 2.
E. Energy decreases at point 3.
(D) pancreatic cells
(E) kidney cells 8. A cell that receives more than the normal
number of chromosomes can be called all of
4. In non-placental mammals, the embryo the following EXCEPT
obtains its food from the (A) ovary A. aneuploid
(B) uterus B. gametic
(C) oviduct C. monosomic
(D) yolk sac D. polyploid
(E) allantois E. trisomatic

5. According to the heterotroph hypothesis,
which event had to occur before oxygen
filled the atmosphere?
(A) Heterotrophs had to remove carbon
dioxide from the air.
(B) Autotrophs, which make their own food,
had to evolve.
(C) Heterotrophs had to evolve.
(D) Autotrophs had to convert atmospheric
nitrogen to nitrate.
(E) Heterotrophs had to carry out their
metabolic activity in the presence of
oxygen.
6. The phenomenon depicted in the diagram is
known as
9. People with an A-positive blood type may
safely donate blood to those with which
blood type?
A. A negative
B. B positive
C. O negative
D. AB positive
E. AB negative
10. An allele that codes for all actin molecules
to be synthesized in linear chains would
result in
A. immovable muscles
B. smooth muscle tissue
C. normal sarcomere structure
D. degeneration of muscle tissue
E. muscle tendons that cannot attach
11. A horse has 64 chromosomes, while a zebra
has 46. In rare cases, it is possible to cause
these two species to hybridize, creating
offspring that are
A. fertile, with 46 chromosomes
B. fertile, with 55 chromosomes
C. sterile, with 46 chromosomes
D. sterile, with 55 chromosomes
E. sterile, with 64 chromosomes
 Biology Practice Exams
12. A genetic mutation that adds a nucleotide
to a protein-coding sequence of DNA
creates an early stop codon. How will this
influence the resulting protein?
A. The primary structure of the protein will
be unaffected.
B. The secondary structure of the protein
will be unchanged.
C. The protein will not be translated at all.
D. The protein will be complete but
function abnormally.
E. The protein will be synthesized normally
up to the mutation.
13. What are the three structural components
of a nucleotide?
A. A carboxyl, a sugar, and a phosphate
B. A phosphate, an amino acid, and a
carboxyl
C. An amino acid, a carboxyl, and a
phosphate
D. A sugar, a phosphate, and a nitrogenous
base
E. A nitrogenous base, an amino acid, and a
sugar
14. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a
retrovirus that integrates its own DNA into a
host cell's genome using
A. DNA polymerase
B. helicase
C. primase
D. ligase
E. reverse transcriptase
B. It consists of 18% adenine and 18%
cytosine.
C. It consists of 32% cytosine and 18%
thymine.
D. It consists of 32% adenine and 18%
cytosine.
E. It consists of 32% thymine and 18%
adenine.
18. During mitosis, a checkpoint ensures that
all chromosomal kinetochore proteins,
present at the centromere of each sister
chromatid, are attached to spindle fibers.
Kinetochore proteins that are unattached
produce a signal that prevents mitosis from
proceeding to the next stage. This
checkpoint occurs at the transition from
A. anaphase to telophase
B. prophase to metaphase
C. metaphase to telophase
D. prophase to anaphase
E. metaphase to anaphase
19. 18. A female chimpanzee recently gave
birth to an infant while in captivity. Because
the paternity of the infant is unclear,
scientists tested the DNA from two male
chimpanzees, along with the female and
infant. The resulting electrophoresis gel is
shown.

15. Which can affect the primary structure of a

protein?
I. Genetic mutation
II. Increase in temperature
III. Decrease in pH
A. I only
B. I and II
C. I and III
D. II and III
E. I, II, and III Which labeled DNA fragment is largest?
A. 1
16. Which type of bond is broken by the B. 2
helicase enzyme? C. 3
I. Covalent bonds D. 4
II. Hydrogen bonds E. 5
III. Ionic bonds
A. I only 20. A female chimpanzee recently gave birth to
B. II only an infant while in captivity. Because the
C. III only paternity of the infant is unclear, scientists
D. I and II
tested the DNA from two male
E. I, II, and III
chimpanzees, along with the female and
17. A sample of DNA is sequenced and is found infant. The resulting electrophoresis gel is
to consist of 32% guanine. Which shown.
conclusion can be drawn about the
composition of the DNA sample?
A. It consists of 18% cytosine and 18%
thymine.
 Biology Practice Exams
23. All of the following statements are true
EXCEPT:
(A) Thyroxine increases the rate of
metabolism.
(B) Insulin decreases storage of glycogen.
(C) Vasopressin stimulates water
reabsorption in the kidney.
(D) Epinephrine increases blood sugar
levels and heart rate.
(E) Growth hormone stimulates muscle
growth.

21. Whic
24. Hemoglobin is a molecule that binds to both
h fragments must the infant have received
02 and CO2. There is an allosteric
from its father?
relationship between the concentrations of
A. 1 and 2
B. 2 and 5 02 and CO2. Hemoglobin's affinity for O2,
C. 3 and 4 (A) decreases as blood pH decreases
D. 3 and 5 (B) increases as concentration increases
E. 4 and 5 (C) increases in exercising muscle tissue
20. A female chimpanzee recently gave (D) decreases as CO2 concentration
birth to an infant while in captivity. Because decreases
the paternity of the infant is unclear, (E) increases as HCO3 increases
scientists tested the DNA from two male
chimpanzees, along with the female and 25. Which structure in an earthworm has a
infant. The resulting electrophoresis gel is function similar to that of the alveoli of a
shown. human?
(A) Malphigian tubules
(B) Nephridia
(C) Chitinous exoskeleton
(D) Gills
(E) Skin

26. Which of the following extra-embryonic

membranes stores waste
products?
(A) chorion
(B) amnion
(C) allantois
Based on the gel electrophoresis result, (D) yolk sac
what can be concluded? (E) eggshell
I. Male 1 could possibly be the parent.
II. Male 1 can be ruled out as the parent.
27. An organism that is more complex than a
III. Male 2 could possibly be the parent.
IV. Male 2 can be ruled out as the parent. platyhelminthe but more primitive than an
A. II only arthropod is most likely to be
B. I and III (A) an annelid
C. I and IV (B) an echinoderm
D. II and III (C) a chordate
E. II and IV (D) a sponge
(E) a coelenterate
22. The moist skin of earthworms, the lenticels
of plants, and the spiracles of grasshoppers
28. Which of the following does NOT take place
are all associated with the process of
in the
(A) excretion
small intestine?
(B) respiration
(A) Pancreatic lipase breaks down fats to
(C) circulation
fatty acids and glycerol.
(D) digestion
(B) Pepsin breaks down proteins to amino
(E) reproduction
acids.
 Biology Practice Exams
(C) Pancreatic amylase breaks down 32. CAM plants keep their stomates closed
carbohydrates into simple sugars. during the daytime to reduce excess water
(D) Bile emulsifies fats into smaller fat loss. They can do this because they
particles. (A) can fix CO2 into sugars in the
(E) Digested food is absorbed by capillaries mesophyll cells.
in the villi. (B) can use photosystems I and II at night
(C) modify rubisco so it does not bind with
29. In animal cells, which of the following oxygen
represents the most likely pathway that a (D) can incorporate CO2 into organic acids
secretory protein takes as it is synthesized at night
in a cell? (E) have lenticels instead of stomates
(A) Plasma membrane-Golgi apparatus-
ribosome-rough ER-secretory vesicle 33. Which of the following is NOT directly
(B) Plasma membrane - Golgi apparatus associated with photosystem II?
ribosome secretory vesicle-rough (A) P680
ER (B) harvesting light energy by chlorophyll
(C) Ribosome - Golgi apparatus-rough ER (C) release of oxygen
- secretory vesicle-plasma membrane (D) splitting of water
(D) Plasma membrane - Golgi apparatus- (E) production of NADPH
ribosome secretory vesicle-rough ER
(E) Ribosome - rough ER - Golgi
apparatus - secretory vesicle-plasma 34. All of the following structures or
membrane mechanisms have contributed to the ability
of plants to make the transition from water
30. This graph shows the rate of to land EXCEPT:
photosynthesis for two plants under A. a cuticle
experimental conditions. B. a vascular system
C. seasonal dormancy
D. wind pollination
E. flagellated sperm

35. Which of the following reactions occurs in

the forward direction during the Krebs cycle
but in the reverse direction during
fermentation?
A. pyruvate acetyl CoA
B. pyruvate lactate
C. pyruvate ethanol
D. NAD+ + H+ + 2e- NADH
From this graph, what is the best conclusion
E. ADP + Pi ATP
about the mechanism of photosynthesis in
the two plants?
36. A typical virus, without modification by
(A) A is a C-3 plant, and B is a C-4 plant.
mutation, can usually infect
(B) A is a C-4 plant, and B is a C-3 plant.
A. any cell in a wide variety of species
(C) A is a CAM plant, and B is a C-4 plant.
B. any cell, but only in a single species
(D) A and B are both CAM plants.
C. only specific kinds of cells in a single
(E) There is not enough information to
species or in closely related species.
determine.
D. only cells with protein coats
E. only bacteriophages
31. How many turns of the Calvin cycle are
required to produce one molecule of
37. Which of the following is found within the
glucose?
unfertilized, mature embryo sac of a
(A) 1
flowering plant?
(B) 2
A. the egg
(C) 3
B. the microspore mother cell
(D) 6
C. the endosperm
(E) 12
D. the fruit
E. the seed
 Biology Practice Exams
A. Light absorption occurs in the thylakoid
38. All of the following are necessary for a DNA membranes.
virus to complete a lytic cycle EXCEPT: B. Oxygen is generated during photolysis.
A. chromosomes of the host cell C. CO2 concentrates inside the thylakoid.
B. replication enzymes of the host cell D. ATP is generated as protons move from
C. ribosomes of the host cell inside the thylakoid to the stroma.
D. amino acids of the host cell E. Glucose is produced in the stroma.
E. nucleotides of the host cell
45. The amount of energy lost during the
39. All of the following are associated with transfer of energy from one trophic level of
microtubules EXCEPT: a pyramid of energy to the next higher
A. centrioles trophic level is, on average, about
B. basal bodies A. 90%
C. muscle contraction B. 75%
D. separation of chromosomes into C. 60%
chromatids D. 50%
E. motion of flagella E. 25%

40. In the biogeochemical cycle for carbon, 46. The structure of the seed and seedling that
carbon passes from inorganic to organic stores food for the embryo and seedling is
form through the process of called the
A. ammonification A. apical meristem
B. cellular respiration B. plumule
C. decay C. hypocotyl
D. photosynthesis D. cotyledon
E. transpiration E. coleoptile

41. Cellular activities that occur during the G1,

G2, and M checkpoints control whether or 47. Which of the following processes convert
not subsequent phases of the cell cycle will NADH to NAD+?
be completed. These checkpoint activities A. glycolysis and Krebs cycle
do not control cell division in B. glycolysis and alcohol fermentation
A. fetal cells C. Krebs cycle and oxidative
B. liver cells phosphorylation
C. cancer cells D. Krebs cycle and alcohol fermentation
D. nerve cells E. alcohol fermentation, lactic acid
E. embryonic stem cells fermentation, and oxidative
phosphorylation
42. A researcher is observing a cell through a
microscope. She determines that it is plant 48. Assuming there is no crossing over and that
cell because she observes a R and T assort independently, which of the
A. mitochondrion following would be true for sperm of the
B. lysosome individual with the genotype RrTt?
C. centriole A. all RrTt
D. central vacuole B. 14RRTT + 1/2RrTt + 14rrtt
E. nucleus C. 12Rr + 12Tt
D. 12RT + 12rt
43. Which of the following would most likely E. 14RT + 14Rt + 14rT + 14rt
provide examples of meiotic cell divisions?
A. cross section of muscle tissue 49. Various organisms recycle dead organisms,
B. cross section of an anther fallen branches and leaves, or other organic
C. longitudinal section of a shoot tip material. All of the following groups contain
D. endosperm of a dormant seed organisms that recycle these kinds of
E. cross section of a leaf materials EXCEPT:
A. detritivores
44. All of the following occur during B. scavengers
photosynthesis EXCEPT: C. cyanobacteria
D. bacteria
 Biology Practice Exams
E. fungi
50. Which of the following is a complete
description of the nuclei in a pollen tube?
A. one sperm nucleus, only
B. one tube nucleus, only
C. two tube nuclei, only
D. two sperm nuclei, only
E. two sperm nuclei and one tube nucleus
51. All of the following processes generate ATP
from ADP EXCEPT:
A. oxidative phosphorylation
B. glycolysis
C. Krebs cycle
D. Calvin cycle
E. cyclic photophosphorylation
52. In tall trees, most water and solutes move
through the vascular system of a plant by
A. diffusion
B. osmosis
C. bulk flow
D. active transport
E. passive transport
B. anterior pituitary
C. ovary
D. testis
E. thyroid
57. All of the following are true about crossing
over EXCEPT:
A. Crossing over occurs during meiosis.
B. Crossing over contributes to genetic
variation among the daughter cells.
C. Crossing over results in nondisjunction.
D. Crossing over occurs during prophase I.
E. Crossing over provides for the exchange
of DNA between nonsister chromatids.
58. The figure that follows illustrates
chromosome 3 for humans, chimpanzees,
gorillas, and orangutans (left to right).
Boxes 1 and 4 outline banding patterns that
are Nearly identical for all four species, but
differences between species occur in boxes
2 and 3.

53. Which of the following processes requires

oxygen?
A. glycolysis
B. oxidative phosphorylation
C. Krebs cycle
D. alcohol fermentation
E. lactic acid fermentation

54. High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is a

sweetener derived from corn starch and
often added to soft drinks. Which of the
following reactions would most likely be
involved in the production of HFCS? (n >
100 and denotes a polymer)
What is the most likely explanation for the
A. (glucose)npolysaccharide
differences in boxes 2 and 3?
B. glucose fructose + glucose
A. chromosomal deletion
C. glucose fructose
B. chromosomal addition
D. starch (fructose)n
C. chromosomal translocation
E. fructose glucose
D. chromosomal inversion
E. chromosomal nondisjunction
55. The plant cells responsible for increases in
the girth, or diameter, of roots and shoots
59. All of the following are proteins EXCEPT:
are locatedin the
A. hemoglobin
A. apical meristem
B. actin
B. vascular cambium
C. immunoglobulin
C. endodermis
D. chitin
D. secondary xylem
E. myosin
E. primary phloem
60. Which of the following has a dominant
56. Which one structure among the following
haploid generation in its life cycle?
influences the activities of the others?
A. ferns
A. adrenal cortex
 Biology Practice Exams
B. mosses
C. club mosses
D. conifers
E. angiosperms
61. Assuming there is no crossing over and that
A and B are linked genes, which of the
following could be true for sperm of the
individual with the genotype AaBb?
A. all AaBb
B. 14AABB+ 12AaBb + 14aabb
C. 12Aa + 12Bb
D. 12AB+ 12ab
E. 14AB+ 14Ab + 14aB + 14ab
62. Which of the following best explains why
oogenesis in humans produces only one
viable ovum and three polar bodies rather
than four viable ova?
A. It is a mechanism for reducing the
genetic material to one-half of that
contained in the primary oocyte.
B. It is a mechanism for reducing the
genetic material to one-fourth of that
contained in the primary oocyte.
C. The polar bodies help nourish the one
viable ovum.
D. The polar bodies form the yolk.
E. One viable ovum contains most of the
cytoplasm, organelles, and resources
that would otherwise be divided among
four ova.
63. Ethylene and cell apoptosis in plants is
associated with which of the following?
A. cytokinesis
B. bolting
C. leaf abscission
D. photosynthesis
E. germination
64. The chemical colchicine prevents the
assembly of microtubules by binding to
tubulin protein subunits. Which of the
following processes would be most impaired
by the application of colchicine?
A. mitosis
B. protein synthesis
C. DNA replication
D. active transport
E. chemiosmosis
65. The antibiotic penicillin is an enzyme
inhibitor that prevents the cross-linking of
peptides in peptidoglycan. Why does
penicillin stop the growth of certain bacteria
but has no effect on the growth of plant or
animal cells?
A. Peptide links are not formed in plant and
animal cells.
B. Only bacteria require peptidoglycan for
cell growth.
C. Plant and animal cells are resistant to
penicillin.
D. Penicillin comes from a fungus that does
not cause disease in plants and animals.
E. Plant and animal cells use a different
metabolic pathway to manufacture
peptidoglycan than that used by
bacteria
66. In a C4photosynthesis plant, what happens
to CO2 when it enters mesophyll cells in the
leaf?
A. It is fixed by rubisco, and the product is
used to make glucose.
B. It is fixed by rubisco, and the product is
transported to bundle sheath cells.
C. It is fixed by rubisco, and the product is
stored in the cytosol.
D. It is fixed by PEP carboxylase, and the
product is stored in the vacuole.
E. It is fixed by PEP carboxylase, and the
product is transported to bundle sheath
cells