Question 1

Which of the following represents a population?

Accepted Answer

the same species of birds that live in a tropical rainforest

Answer

the same species of birds that live all over the biosphere

Answer

organisms that swim

Answer

different species of birds that live in a tropical rainforest

Question 2

Not all energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next. In fact, only 10% of energy is available to the next trophic level. Where does the other 90% go?

Accepted Answer

The energy is lost as heat and other metabolic processes.

Answer

The energy is recycled through the ecosystem.

Answer

The energy is consumed by the producers.

Answer

The energy is used in reproduction.

Question 3

Which of the following is an example of an abiotic factor?

Accepted Answer

water salinity

Answer

producers

Answer

decomposers

Answer

consumers

Question 4

Which of the following describes how an abiotic factor can affect a biotic factor in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

The amount of sunlight available will determine how quickly a plant can grow.

Answer

A bee collects pollen from a plant.

Answer

The number of producers affects the number of consumers in an ecosystem.

Answer

The number of decomposers determines how many producers can survive in an ecosystem.

Question 5

Population distribution can be categorized in a number of ways and can affect population growth. Wolves living in Yellowstone live in family groups called packs. Which type of population distribution is this an example of?

Accepted Answer

clumped

Answer

random

Answer

urbanization

Answer

uniform

Question 6

If worldwide deforestation is not regulated, what could most likely result?

Accepted Answer

CO2 levels in the atmosphere could increase and contribute to global warming problems.

Answer

Acid rain could lower the pH of rivers and lakes to dangerous levels for aquatic life.

Answer

Future generations of humans could have an excess of wood and paper products.

Answer

Plants and animals could become better adapted to living in desert conditions.

Question 7

Which are two reasons that populations can decrease in size?

Accepted Answer

emigration and increased death rates

Answer

immigration and emigration

Answer

emigration and increased birth rates

Answer

immigration and increased birth rates

Question 8

What type of population growth is seen in the figure below?

Accepted Answer

exponential growth

Answer

logistic growth

Answer

tertiary growth

Answer

density dispersion growth

Question 9

According to the graph below, what is relationship between the moose and the wolves in Isle Royale National Park?

Accepted Answer

As the wolves increase, the moose decrease.

Answer

As the wolves decrease, the moose stay in equilibrium.

Answer

As the wolves increase, the moose increase.

Answer

As the wolves decrease, the moose decrease.

Question 10

A group of investors is hoping to develop a town in an undisturbed, 100 square mile area in central Louisiana. What is most likely to happen to the ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

The biodiversity within the area will decrease.

Answer

The number of consumers within the area will increase.

Answer

The biodiversity within the area will increase.

Question 11

Often, diseases are caused by parasites. What is the correct definition for a symbiotic relationship that is parasitic?

Accepted Answer

one organism benefits, the other organism is harmed

Answer

both organisms are harmed

Answer

both organisms benefit

Answer

one organism benefits, the other organism is unaffected

Question 12

Sea otters are important animals that live in the ocean. Which of the following is least likely to be a limiting factor that could affect their population?

Accepted Answer

fire

Answer

predation

Answer

competition for food

Answer

disease

Question 13

Nitrogen makes up 78% of the atmosphere but is unusable in this form. Which of the following organisms helps to convert this atmospheric nitrogen into a more usable form?

Accepted Answer

bacteria

Answer

producers

Answer

algae

Answer

decomposers

Question 14

Phosphorous is an important element that is necessary for life, especially in the construction of nucleic acids. Which of the following does phosphorous NOT cycle through?

Accepted Answer

the atmosphere

Answer

the rocks

Answer

the water

Answer

the soil

Question 15

The wolves of Yellowstone are incredibly important organisms that play a vital role even though they are low in number. Without them, the elk populations explode, the producer populations decrease, the beavers do not have wood to build their homes, and other organisms lose their habitats. It is for this reason that the wolves of Yellowstone are referred to as _____.

Accepted Answer

keystone species

Answer

biotic species

Answer

niche species

Answer

abiotic species

Question 16

Using the following image, which organism is the pioneer species?

Accepted Answer

lichens

Answer

shade-tolerant trees

Answer

bare rock

Answer

small annual plants

Question 17

Which letter represents commensalism?

Accepted Answer

C

Answer

D

Answer

A

Answer

B

Question 18

Which of the following sequences represents the levels of organization in ecology from smallest to largest?

Accepted Answer

organism ➜population ➜community ➜ecosystem ➜biosphere

Answer

ecosystem ➜community ➜biosphere ➜organism ➜population

Answer

population ➜organism ➜community ➜ecosystem ➜biosphere

Answer

biosphere ➜ecosystem ➜population ➜organism ➜community

Question 19

The number of individuals that an ecosystem can support is shown by a dashed line on the graph below. What term is used to describe this line?

Accepted Answer

carrying capacity

Answer

population growth

Answer

exponential growth

Answer

population distribution

Question 20

What is the function of autotrophs in the carbon cycle?

Accepted Answer

to use carbon dioxide to produce glucose

Answer

to feed on herbivores

Answer

to take in excess water

Answer

to use oxygen to produce glucose

Question 21

Two different populations of birds live in the same area and eat the same types of food. Which most likely describes the relationship between these two populations of birds?

Accepted Answer

competition

Answer

predator-prey

Answer

mutualism

Answer

parasitism

Question 22

What will most likely happen if the human population continues to grow at current rates?

Accepted Answer

There will be fewer natural resources available for future generations.

Answer

There will be an increase in the number of strong hurricanes.

Answer

There will be a decrease in water pollution.

Answer

There will be an increase in nitrogen levels in the atmosphere.

Question 23

Which environmental concern is most associated with burning fossil fuels?

Accepted Answer

global climate change

Answer

pollution of ocean waters

Answer

decrease in levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide

Question 24

The yucca plant releases a strong scent at night when the yucca moth is active. The yucca moth, attracted by the scent, gathers pollen from the yucca flower. The yucca moth then deposits her eggs and the pollen on another plant. This ensures that the plant will be cross-pollinated and that the yucca moth larvae have a steady food supply. Which relationship does this best illustrate?

Accepted Answer

mutualism

Answer

parasitism

Answer

commensalism

Answer

predation

Question 25

A farmer is struggling to control the population of a certain insect on his farm. After researching population control techniques, he discovers that a particular bird is a predator of this insect. The farmer purchases a number of these birds and releases them onto his farm. How might the farmer’s action most likely have a negative impact on the ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

The birds will consume beneficial insects, as well as the pest species.

Answer

The birds will pollinate native species, increasing genetic variation.

Answer

The birds will increase biodiversity of native plant species.

Answer

The birds will mate with native birds and create a new species.

Question 26

Which statement is an example of how carbon moves through a food chain as part of the carbon cycle?

Accepted Answer

Producers take in carbon dioxide, and consumers release it.

Answer

Producers release carbon into the soil, and consumers take it in from the soil.

Answer

Producers take in carbon from the soil, and they release it when they decompose.

Answer

Producers release carbon dioxide, and consumers take it in.

Question 27

Researchers in Israel's Negev desert have observed striped hyenas and gray wolves hunting together in certain areas. One hypothesis suggests that changing hunting behavior aids both species in obtaining better and more resources. In this hypothesis the hyenas benefit because the wolves chase and take down large animals, such as goats, that the hyenas usually cannot catch alone. The wolves benefit from hyenas using their jaw strength to crack open large bones of prey to access additional nutrients from bone marrow. Which table best identifies the ecological relationships among the gray wolf, hyena, and goats?

Accepted Answer

C

Answer

B

Answer

D

Answer

A

Question 28

The water cycle is shown in the image below. Which section of the image shows the addition of water to the atmosphere through transpiration?

Accepted Answer

D

Answer

C

Answer

B

Answer

A

Question 29

At least five major ice ages have occurred throughout Earth's history; the earliest was over 2 billion years ago. Which type of organisms would natural selection favor if Earth had another ice age?

Accepted Answer

organisms adapted for surviving cold temperatures

Answer

organisms that are predators

Answer

organisms that swim

Answer

organisms that carry out photosynthesis

Question 30

Mutations are essential to evolution. Every genetic feature in every organism was, initially, the result of a mutation. Which of the following statement (s) about mutations is true? Choose all lthat apply.

Accepted Answer

Mutations occur randomly.

Answer

Mutations are beneficial.

Answer

Mutations are harmful.

Question 31

Which of the following is required for natural selection?

Accepted Answer

There must be variation among the members of a population.

Answer

All individuals of a population must be identical.

Answer

There must be a small number of individuals in a population.

Answer

A population of individuals must be forced out of their natural habitat.

Question 32

Which of these would NOT be used by a biologist to determine the relationship between two organisms?

Accepted Answer

body size

Answer

fossil age

Answer

DNA

Answer

bone structure

Question 33

Bacteria often become resistant to harmful agents much more quickly than plants or animals. Which of the following best explains why this is so?

Accepted Answer

Bacteria reproduce through asexual reproduction, which allows them to reproduce more quickly than plants or animals.

Answer

Bacteria reproduce sexually, increasing the variation within their populations.

Answer

Bacteria reproduce asexually, so their offspring are not changed by mutations.

Answer

Bacteria have a protective covering that makes them instantly immune to harmful agents.

Question 34

Most of the moths in a pre-industrialized area were white. Industrialization caused an increase in air pollution. The pollution blackened the surface of rocks and tree trunks. About 100 years later, most of the moths in that area were black. This change in moth color is an example of what?

Accepted Answer

natural selection

Answer

genetic engineering

Answer

chemical resistance

Answer

speciation

Question 35

The wings of a bat and a bird share a similar function but have different structures, suggesting that they did not evolve from a common ancestor. What type of structures are the wings?

Accepted Answer

analogous structures

Answer

vestigial structures

Answer

homologous structures

Answer

fossilized structures

Question 36

Which of the following is a risk of overusing antibiotics?

Accepted Answer

Bacteria may become resistant to the antibiotics, causing them to be ineffective.

Answer

Antibiotics can cause other diseases to develop.

Answer

Antibiotics increase the rate of infection.

Answer

Bacteria can only be killed by antibiotics once.

Question 37

A particular bird species found in North America obtains most of its food energy by catching and eating insects. A mutation arises in this bird population that increases the length of its beak. Although many mutations are harmful, this mutation has increased the ability of the bird to catch and eat certain insects. Which of these is the most likely outcome of this mutation?

Accepted Answer

Individual birds with the mutation will be more likely to survive and reproduce than birds without the mutation.

Answer

Other bird species will be more likely to also develop longer beaks in order to compete.

Answer

Longer beaks will result in the birds eating other, more useful, food items.

Answer

The insects that are eaten by this bird are likely to become extinct.

Question 38

One of the major elements of natural selection is that all species have genetic:

Accepted Answer

variation

Answer

stability

Answer

abnormalities

Answer

mutations

Question 39

Gary sprays his sugarcane field with a highly effective pesticide called “Bug X 4.0.” For five years, the pesticide works well, effectively killing almost all the weevils trying to eat Farmer Gary’s crop.  However, during the 6th year, some of the crop takes a hit.  During the 7th year, he loses half of his crop, and during the 8th year, he loses almost the entire cane field to weevils, despite using twice the usual dose of Bug X 4.0.  What happened?

Accepted Answer

Some of the pesticide-resistant weevils survived and reproduced more pesticide-resistant weevils.

Answer

The sugarcane became used to the pesticide, rendering it ineffective.

Answer

A small population of weevils survived on other food sources and returned to the sugar cane field to feed.

Answer

Weevils over-populated because the Bug X 4.0 killed all of the predatory insects.

Question 40

In 1831, Charles Darwin visited the Galapagos Islands.  While observing the giant land tortoises that lived on these islands, Darwin noted that the shape of the tortoise shell varied depending on which island the tortoise lived.  Tortoises on one island had round shells, for example, whereas tortoises on a neighboring island had more flattened, saddle-shaped shells.  Which statement best summarizes Darwin’s explanation for these differences?

Accepted Answer

The particular shape of the shell was best suited for the island on which the tortoise was living.

Answer

The shape of the tortoise shell varied because the predators on the islands were different.

Answer

Random mutations caused the shape of the shells to fluctuate periodically.

Answer

Tortoises who used their shells in special ways caused the shells to become larger, rounder, or flatter.

Question 41

In the image below, arrows are pointing to the humerus bone of the lion, the human, and the bird. Comparing the bone structure can provide evidence to support which of the following conclusions?

Accepted Answer

Humans, lions, and birds evolved from a common ancestor.

Answer

The humerus bone evolved separately in many different lines of animals.

Answer

The size and position of various bones indicates how highly evolved an animal is.

Answer

Fossil evidence of bones provides the strongest evidence for evolution.

Question 42

Which of the following is not a principle of natural selection?

Accepted Answer

Evolution will occur as an organism gets older and learns more.

Answer

Organisms compete for limited resources.

Answer

In every population, adaptations allow some organisms to survive and reproduce better than others.

Answer

Most organisms produce more offspring than the resources of their environment can support.

Question 43

Ostriches have wings, but do not fly.  Humans have an appendix with no apparent function.  Whales contain bones for rear legs.  Each of these are examples of _____.

Accepted Answer

vestigial structures

Answer

natural selection

Answer

homologous structures

Answer

analogous structures

Question 44

Based on the cladogram shown below, which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

Species 2 and 3 are descendants of ancestor C.

Answer

Species 1 is a descendant of ancestor D.

Answer

Species 5 is a descendant of ancestor B.

Answer

Species 2, 3, and 4 are descendants of ancestor D.

Question 45

The theory of ________ is the leading evolutionary theory of the origin of eukaryotic cells from prokaryotic organisms. Evolutionists use evidence to support the claim that mitochondria in cells today are the descendants of aerobic prokaryotes that used oxygen to generate energy.

Accepted Answer

endosymbiosis

Answer

mutualism

Answer

ingestion

Answer

parasitism

Question 46

The table below provides data about the frequency of traits in a population over several generations in a stable habitat without selective pressures.
Which of the following traits described by the data in the table demonstrates the Hardy-Weinberg principle?

Accepted Answer

Trait C

Answer

Trait A

Answer

Trait B

Answer

Trait D

Question 47

The idea that species evolve at a slow, constant rate is called ______.

Accepted Answer

gradualism

Answer

adaptive radiation

Answer

convergence

Answer

punctuated equilibrium

Question 48

Scientists trying to determine evolutionary relationships among organisms sometimes search for clues by examining how each organism develops from a fertilized egg cell. What name is given to the scientific study of how organisms develop from a single cell into independent living creatures?

Accepted Answer

embryology

Answer

phylogeny

Answer

cytology

Answer

zoology

Question 49

Which theory of how evolution occurs would argue that all the oak species in Georgia appeared suddenly from one common ancestor, over a short period of time, due to some extreme environmental changes. Since that time, the oak trees have not changed much.

Accepted Answer

punctuated equilibrium

Answer

gradualism

Answer

macroevolution

Answer

microevolution

Question 50

Which statement best explains the role of natural selection in this process?

Accepted Answer

Random variation provided some bacteria in the population with a favorable adaptation that allowed some bacteria to survive the antibiotics and reproduce.

Answer

Natural selection resulted in the mutation of a bacterium into a virus.

Answer

The bacteria willfully mutated to prevent being killed by the antibiotic.

Answer

The antibiotic was unsuccessful at killing the bacteria and the bacteria mutated.

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