Name _____________________________ Date _______________

Essay Test: Cellular Energy

Chapters 8 – 10
Complete the answers to the best of your ability. You may discuss these questions with your
classmates and with me, but not with any other science teachers. You may research the answers
in the textbook and on the Internet. However, in the end, your answer must be wholly your own. It
must be written in your own words. You cannot copy or paraphrase from any source. EVERY
STUDENT MUST CRAFT HIS OR HER OWN ANSWER AND MUST HAVE A COMPLETELY
UNIQUELY WORDED ANSWER FOR EACH QUESTION. I will hold you to a very strict standard
on this — any suspicion of plagiarism will cause each student involved to LOSE FULL CREDIT.
This exam MUST be TYPED at 1.5 SPACING. It is due Tuesday, November 30, 2010 at 5:00pm.
You may hand in the document in hard copy during the school day on Tuesday or e-mail it to me
in either Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat PDF format on Tuesday. No other software is
acceptable; Microsoft Works is not acceptable.
Concise answers — short and to the point — are appreciated. More words do not make your
answer more right.

1. Amylase is the enzyme that breaks down starch to sugars (glucose and maltose) in
humans (and in many other organisms). Students studied this reaction in a lab activity
by mixing amylase and starch in a test tube.
a.) The students found that the reaction rate increased as the test tube was heated from
0°C to 37°C. Explain why this occurs. (2)
b.) But the students then found that the reaction rate decreased as the test tube was
heated from 40°C to 90°C, Explain why this occurs. (2)
c.) And finally students found that the reaction ceased when the test tube was heated to
100°C, Explain why this occurs. (1)
d.) Give an example of specific data that students could measure in this experiment to
determine the rate of amylase activity. Suggest a way that this variable could be
measured. (1)

2. The oxidation of wood (fire) and the oxidation of glucose (respiration) are basically the
same exergonic reaction. However the amount of heat released by fire would destroy a
cell. Explain how a cell manages to harvest the energy stored in glucose and still
maintain internal temperatures conducive to life. (5)

3. To efficiently manage metabolism, cells need to precisely coordinate and regulate a

complex web of chemical reactions.
a.) Explain why cells need to efficiently manage metabolic pathways and why it is an
evolutionary advantage to do so. (3)
b.) Feedback inhibition is a common regulatory mechanism. Describe what feedback
inhibition is and explain why it is an efficient system for regulating biochemical
pathways. (2)

4. ATP is the “energy currency” of the cell.

a.) Explain why ATP functions well in this role. (2)
b.) Explain why ATP is only good for short-term energy storage. (2)
c.) Explain what a cell uses for longer term energy storage and explain why. (2)

5. Acetyl-CoA is a key molecule in both oxidative cellular respiration and the synthesis of
fat (and other large molecules). Explain how the cell can regulate its metabolism if the
same molecule is used in both energy production and biosynthesis? (5)
6. Scientists consider glycolysis to be one of the earliest biochemical processes to evolve
in the first living cells. Describe the evidence that supports this. (5)

7. It is often said that the enzyme ATP synthase works like a water wheel turbine. Explain
the details of this analogy — what flows, what turns, and what work is done? (5)
 Name _____________________________ Date _______________
8. Why do we breathe in oxygen and why do we die when we can’t? (5)

9. In 2005, 29 children died in the Philippines from cyanide poisoning by eating

improperly prepared cassava desserts sold at a local fair. In 1945, Adolph Hitler
committed suicide by ingesting cyanide salts. Explain how cyanide functions as a
metabolic poison. Be specific! (5)

10. In biological systems, structure and function are related and membranes are
important structural features of cells.
a). Describe the specific role of membrane structure in the synthesis of ATP in either
cellular respiration or photosynthesis. (3)
b.) Describe the structure of a mitochondria and a chloroplast. Explain in detail how the
structure of these organelles is important to their functions.(3)

11. Compare the overall process of cellular respiration and photosynthesis with regard to
their redox reactions. Be specific.(6)

12. Sunlight can be called “the ultimate fuel source for all
communities on Earth”.
a.) What type of energy is sunlight? (1)
b.) What is wavelength, λ, a measure of? What are the units?
(1)
c.) What colors of light does the chlorophyll a pigment
absorb? What colors of light does chlorophyll b absorb and
reflect? What colors of light do the carotenoids absorb and
reflect? (2)
d.) Why do plants look green? (1)
e.) Describe the significance of the graph at the right.

13.What happens when a chlorophyll molecule absorbs a photon of light? Compare

isolated chlorophyll with chlorophyll in a chloroplast. What is fluorescence? (4)

14.Compare/contrast PSI and PSII. How are they similar? different? (4)

15. What is the limitation of C3 plants in hot, dry areas? What is photorespiration? For
both a C3 and a C4 plant, trace the path of a carbon dioxide molecule from the point at
which it enters a plant to its incorporation into a glucose molecule. Include leaf anatomy
and biochemical pathways in your discussion of each type of plant. (6)

16.The rate of photosynthesis may very with changes that occur in environmental
temperature, wavelength of light, and light intensity. Using a photosynthetic organism of
your choice, choose only ONE of the three variables (temperature, wavelength of light, or
light intensity) and for this variable
a. Design a scientific experiment to determine the effect of the variable on the rate of
photosynthesis for the organism; (2)
 Name _____________________________ Date _______________
b. Explain how you would measure the rate of photosynthesis in your experiment;
c. Describe the results you would expect. Explain why you would expect those results.
(2)