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SCIENCE FLASHCARD QUESTION (8)

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1. Choose the set of words that best completes the following sentences:
In the fertilizer growth experiment, the type of fertilizer used functions as the _____ variable.

In the fertilizer growth experiment, the growth rate of the plants functions as the _____ variable.

Plant Fertilizer Experiment

Type of fertilizer Test plant Initial height Height after 2 weeks Height after 4 weeks Height after 6 weeks

sodium nitrate plant #A 10 cm 20 cm 25 cm 30 cm

ammonium sulfate plant #B 9 cm 14 cm 19 cm 24 cm

animal byproducts plant #C 12 cm 18 cm 22 cm 24 cm

plant byproducts plant #D 6 cm 13 cm 16 cm 22 cm

A. constant; independent

B. dependent; constant

C. dependent; independent

D. independent; dependent

2. Rebecca wants to react oxygen (O2) with a hydrocarbon (a molecule consisting of hydrogen and carbons). She knows that a
reaction between oxygen (O2) and a hydrocarbon will produce carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O).

Rebecca wants to know how much water will be produced by reacting 5.0 grams of her hydrocarbon with oxygen. Which of the
following is most important for Rebecca to include in her investigation design, given her research question?

Chemical Equations

The law of conservation of mass states that matter cannot be created or destroyed. During the course of a reaction, the amount of
an element present does not change. This means that for a chemical equation to be balanced, the total number of atoms of each
element has to be the same on both sides of the equation.

In a balanced chemical equation, the coefficients represent the relative number of molecules of reactants and products that are
respectively used and produced during the course of the reaction. The ratios can be used to determine which reactant will be used
up first.

In the majority of chemical reactions, the reaction will continue until one reactant runs out. Once one reactant is used up, the
reaction will stop. This limiting reactant controls how much product can be produced because it limits how long the reaction can
continue.

A. Rebecca should include a beaker in her investigation to catch water produced during the reaction.

B. Rebecca should include a microscope in her investigation to observe the molecules forming products during the reaction.

C. Rebecca should include a stir rod in her investigation to mix up the reactants.

D. Rebecca should include a triple beam balance in her investigation to confirm that the mass of the reactants equals the mass of
the products.
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3. If a trait is an autosomal trait, it is not dependent on gender. This means males and females inherit and display the given trait at an
equal frequency.

If a trait is a sex-linked trait, it is dependent on gender. This means that males and females express the given trait in unequal
frequencies.

Based on the pedigree chart, what type of trait is shown?

Pedigree Chart – Tongue Rolling

The pedigree chart represents the tongue rolling trait. “Affected” in this case means that the person is able to roll his or her tongue.

A. A sex-linked dominant trait is shown.

B. A sex-linked recessive trait is shown.

C. An autosomal dominant trait is shown.

D. An autosomal recessive trait is shown.

4. Marci found a brown rabbit in her backyard. She knows that brown fur allele (B) is dominant over white fur allele (b) for this type of
rabbit, but she does not know if the rabbit has two dominant brown fur alleles or one dominant brown fur allele and one recessive
white fur allele.

Which of the following best describes what Marci should do to identify the genotype of the rabbit she found?

Mendelian Genetics

Every living organism carries genetic instructions that affect its physical characteristics. For example, the genetic instructions of a
dog differ from the genetic instructions of a cat. The genetic instructions are carried on genes in each organism’s DNA, which is
passed from parent to offspring during reproduction. The particular set of genes that an organism carries is referred to as the
organism’s genotype. The outward expression of the organism’s genotype is called the phenotype.

In basic Mendelian genetics, an organism’s genotype and phenotype for specific traits depend on the two alleles received from its
parents. Alleles are different forms of a particular gene. Recall that for each gene, a diploid organism will receive one allele from
each parent for a total of two copies of the gene. If one or both of the received alleles are dominant, the phenotype will show that
dominant trait. Only when both alleles are recessive will the phenotype show the recessive trait.

For example, when crossing true-breeding violet-flowered pea plants with true-breeding white-flowered pea plants, all of the
offspring were violet-flowered, even though they all had one allele for violet and one allele for white. Rather than both alleles
contributing to a phenotype, the dominant allele was expressed exclusively. The recessive allele was transmitted but remained
unexpressed. The recessive trait is only expressed by offspring that have two copies of the recessive allele, and these offspring
breed true when self-crossed.

Correspondence Between Genotype and Phenotype for Flower Color in Pea Plants

Homozygous Heterozygous Homozygous

genotype VV Vv vv

phenotype violet violet white

Source: https://openoregon.pressbooks.pub/mhccbiology102/chapter/12-3-phenotypes-and-genotypes/

A. She should cross the rabbit she found with a rabbit of genotype bb𝑏𝑏.

B. She should cross the rabbit she found with a rabbit of genotype Bb

C. She should cross the rabbit she found with a rabbit of genotype BB
D. She should cross the rabbit she found with her black pet rabbit.
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5. Which of the following could be considered an independent variable in this experiment?

Ant Activity Levels and Temperature

Three scientists investigated the effects of various temperatures on the above-ground activity of ants. They first monitored activity
and identified the ants' temperature tolerance in the laboratory by determining the minimum and maximum temperatures at which
the ants were at all active (10∘C and 50∘C, respectively). They used special tracking equipment to determine the average walking
speed of the ants, which was considered to determine the “normal activity level.” Other factors, such as humidity, light, and terrain,
were kept constant. The results of the scientists’ investigation are summarized in the table below:

Temperature Range (℃) Change in Activity Level

10−20 activity level greatly reduced

20−30 activity level somewhat reduced

30−40 activity level normal

40−50 activity level greatly reduced

A. the above-ground humidity

B. the above-ground temperature

C. the activity level of the ants

D. the average walking speed of the ants

6. Which of the following statements is NOT supported by the passage?

Foodborne Illnesses Caused by Bacteria

Foodborne illness occurs when a person develops an infection after consuming contaminated food. There are several factors that
contribute to the symptoms and severity of food poisoning. People with a weakened immune system, as well as the very old or very
young, are most vulnerable to foodborne illness.

Foodborne illness is often caused by eating food contaminated with bacteria. E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria are three types of
bacteria that commonly cause foodborne illness. While the American food supply is among the safest in the world, the Federal
government estimates that there are about 48 million cases of foodborne illness each year, or approximately 1 in every 6
Americans. Of these 48 million cases, approximately 128,000 people are hospitalized and 3,000 people die each year.

Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria normally live in the intestines of people and animals. Most E. coli are harmless and actually are
an important part of a healthy human intestinal tract. However, some E. coli are pathogenic, causing diarrhea or more serious
conditions, such as anemia or kidney failure. The types of E. coli that cause illness can be transmitted through contaminated water
or food, or through contact with animals or people.

Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened
immune systems. Healthy people infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in more severe illnesses if the bacteria enter the patient’s bloodstream.

Listeria is a harmful bacterium that can be found in refrigerated, ready-to-eat foods like meat, poultry, seafood, and dairy. It may
also be found in produce harvested from soil that is contaminated with Listeria. Listeria is unusual because it can grow at
refrigerator temperatures. Most other foodborne bacteria do not grow well at such low temperatures. But since Listeria can survive
at low temperatures, even foods that are properly refrigerated may contain harmful bacteria. People who eat foods contaminated
with Listeria may develop listeriosis, an illness which causes symptoms such as fever, headache and vomiting. For most people,
listeriosis is not a serious illness. However, pregnant women and their unborn children are very susceptible to a more serious form
of the illness. Among pregnant women who develop listeriosis, 22% of their unborn children will not survive.

Source: https://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodborneIllnessContaminants/Bacteria/ucm20081848.htm

A. More than 100,000 Americans each year are hospitalized due to foodborne illnesses.

B. People with weakened immune systems have an increased risk of developing foodborne illness.

C. Proper heating of food helps to reduce the risk of foodborne illness.

D. Refrigeration of foods helps to reduce risk of foodborne illness.

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7. Suppose a scientist finds a wild butterfly population in which all of the butterflies have eight legs instead of six. Why might the
scientist want to study these butterflies?

Phylogenetic Trees and Cladograms

A phylogenetic tree or evolutionary tree is a branching diagram or "tree" showing the inferred evolutionary relationships among
various biological species. These relationships are based upon similarities and differences in their physical or genetic characteristics.
The species joined together in the tree are implied to have descended from a common ancestor, the original species from which the
newer species adapted or evolved. Originally, scientists only grouped species by physical appearance. With advances in modern
science techniques, genetic similarities and differences are now included in phylogenetic trees.

Phylogenic trees are difficult to create, as they often list physical and genetic characteristics that have changed over time. Additionally,
the branches on phylogenetic trees have to be drawn to scale, since the length of the branches represents time. A longer branch
represents that the evolutionary change took place over a longer period of time than a shorter branch.

Because phylogenetic trees are so difficult to create, scientists often use cladograms (Figure A) to show relationships instead. It is
similar to an evolutionary tree, but it does not mention specific traits nor do the lengths of the branches matter. A cladogram uses lines
that branch off in different directions ending at a clade, a group of organisms with a last common ancestor.

There are many shapes of cladograms but they all have lines that branch off from other lines. The lines can be traced back to where
they branch off. These branching off points represent a hypothetical ancestor which can be inferred to exhibit the traits shared among
the terminal species that come after. This hypothetical ancestor might provide clues about the order of evolution of various features and
adaptations. Any adaptation or characteristic of a species that is not exhibited in the common ancestor is call a derived character.

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phylogenetic_tree and

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cladogram
Image Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tuatara_cladogram.svg

A. The scientist would not want to study these butterflies, because it would not provide any scientific value.

B. The scientist would not want to study these butterflies, because they differ from typical butterfly populations.

C. The two additional legs may be a derived character that may help these butterflies survive.

D. The two additional legs probably do not mean anything, but the scientist would still write a report on them.
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8. Blood calcium levels in humans are controlled by negative feedback.

Choose the set of words that best completes the following statement:

When blood calcium levels decrease in the human body, specialized cells sense this and release a hormone called parathyroid
hormone (PTH). The PTH most likely _____ the amount of calcium being absorbed into the bloodstream through the intestines and
kidneys, which _____ the calcium concentration in the blood.

Negative Feedback Maintains Homeostasis

Animal organs and organ systems constantly adjust to internal and external changes through a process called homeostasis (“steady
state”). Homeostasis means to maintain dynamic equilibrium in the body. It is dynamic, because it is constantly adjusting to the
changes that the body’s systems encounter. It is equilibrium, because body functions are kept within specific ranges.

The goal of homeostasis is the maintenance of equilibrium around a point or value called a set point. While there are normal
fluctuations from the set point, the body’s systems will usually attempt to go back to this point. For instance, if the body becomes too
warm, adjustments are made to cool the animal.

When a change occurs in an animal’s environment, an adjustment must be made. The receptor senses the change in the environment,
then sends a signal to the control center (in most cases, the brain) which in turn generates a response that is signaled to an effector.
The effector is a muscle (that contracts or relaxes) or a gland that secretes. Homeostasis is maintained by negative feedback loops.
Positive feedback loops actually push the organism further out of homeostasis, but may be necessary for life to occur. Homeostasis is
controlled by the nervous and endocrine system of mammals.

Any homeostatic process that changes the direction of the stimulus is a negative feedback loop. It may either increase or decrease the
stimulus, but the stimulus is not allowed to continue as it did before the receptor sensed it. In other words, if a level is too high, the body
does something to bring it down, and conversely, if a level is too low, the body does something to make it go up.

Source: http://cnx.org/contents/[email protected]

A. decreases; lowers

B. decreases; raises

C. increases; lowers

D. increases; raises

9. James hypothesizes that many different types of crust exist on the Earth’s surface.
How might James design an investigation to test this hypothesis?

The Layers of the Earth

The Earth is made up of four distinct and unique layers: crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core. The crust of the Earth is the
outermost layer and is made of solid rock. The mantle is beneath the crust and is made of very hot, dense rock. At 1800 miles thick,
the mantle of the earth is the largest of Earth’s four layers. Because it is so thick, it has a large variation in temperature. The outermost
portion of the mantle (the part that is closest to the crust) has a temperature of 500 to 900 degrees Celsius. The interior of the mantle
(the part closest to the outer core) reaches more than 4000 degrees Celsius. At this temperature, some of the rocks melt, creating a
semi-molten rock called magma.

Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/Earth_poster.svg/350px-Earth_poster.svg.png

A. James could collect, analyze, and compare crust samples from the Earth to mantle samples taken from inside of the Earth.

B. James could collect, analyze, and compare crust samples from the ocean floor to samples taken from land areas across the Earth.

C. James could collect and analyze crust samples from the Earth and compare them to crust samples collected from the moon.

D. James could collect and analyze crust samples from the ocean floor and compare them to crust samples collected from the moon.
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10. Cheyanne is making a volcano for a science fair project. To make the volcano erupt, Cheyanne mixes baking soda and vinegar.

Cheyanne wants to determine if the baking soda and vinegar reaction is endothermic or exothermic. Which of the
following best describes what Cheyanne should include in her investigation design to answer her research question?

Endothermic and Exothermic Reactions

Enthalpy is the measure of internal energy within a system. It is represented by the variable H. While total enthalpy cannot be
measured, the change in enthalpy of a system can be measured. This is represented by the symbol ΔH, where Δ represents change.

The energy change in a chemical reaction can be determined by monitoring the heat flow. If heat flows into a system from its
surroundings during the course of the reaction, the reaction is said to be endothermic. In an endothermic reaction, ΔH is a positive
value and the enthalpy of the system is said to have increased. If heat flows out of a system to its surroundings during the course of the
reaction, the reaction is said to be exothermic. In an exothermic reaction, ΔH is a negative value and the enthalpy of the system is said
to have decreased.

There are two general shapes of potential energy diagrams based on whether a reaction is endothermic or exothermic. If energy is
released during the reaction, then it is called an exothermic reaction and the potential energy of the products will be less than the
potential energy of the reactants (Graph A). If energy is absorbed during the reaction, then it is called an endothermic reaction and the
potential energy of the products will be greater than the potential energy of the reactants (Graph B).

A. Cheyanne should include a microscope in her design so she can see the individual atoms during the reaction process.

B. Cheyanne should include a stir rod in her design so she can continuously stir the reactants throughout the reaction process.

C. Cheyanne should include a thermometer in her design so she can compare the temperature of vinegar before and after the
reaction.

D. Cheyanne should include a triple beam balance in her design so she can measure the total mass of reactants and total mass of
products.
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11. Based on the passage, what can be inferred about how the ecological effects of acid rain impact humans?

Effects of Acid Rain on Fish and Wildlife

The ecological effects of acid rain are most clearly seen in aquatic environments, such as streams, lakes, and marshes where it can be
harmful to fish and other wildlife. As it flows through the soil, acidic rainwater can leach aluminum from soil clay particles and then flow
into streams and lakes. The more acid that is introduced into the ecosystem, the more aluminum is released.

Some types of plants and animals are able to tolerate acidic waters and moderate amounts of aluminum. Others, however, are acid-
sensitive and will be lost as the pH declines. Generally, the young of most species are more sensitive to environmental conditions than
adults. At pH 5, most fish eggs cannot hatch. At lower pH levels, some adult fish die. Some acidic lakes have no fish. Even if a species
of fish or animal can tolerate moderately acidic water, the animals or plants it eats might not. For example, frogs have a
critical pH around 4, but the mayflies they eat are more sensitive and may not survive pH below 5.5.

Source: https://www.epa.gov/acidrain/effects-acid-rain

This diagram illustrates the pH level at which key organisms may be lost as their environment becomes more acidic. Not all fish,
shellfish, or the insects that they eat can tolerate the same amount of acid.

A. Long-term exposure to toxic substances such as aluminum from eating fish can adversely affect human health.

B. Substantial declines in fish populations as a result of low pH can make water recreation activities such as fishing impossible.

C. Too few frogs to control mosquito populations can lead to more severe outbreaks of mosquito-borne diseases.

D. All of the above

12. Which of the following could be considered an independent variable in this experiment?

Strawberries and Yeast Experiment

An experiment was conducted where three freshly picked strawberries of the same size were each placed into three separate plastic bags.
A teaspoon of active yeast was added to bag #1. A tablespoon of the same type of active yeast was added to bag #2. No yeast was added
to bag #3. All three bags were placed in the same dark location. After 5 days, the following observations were made:

1. The strawberry in bag #3 was still mainly intact.

2. The strawberry in bag #2 was the most broken down.
3. Bag #1 and bag #2 were both slightly inflated.
A. the amount of decomposition observed in in the strawberries
B. the amount of yeast added to the bags
C. the number of days the strawberries were left in the bags
D. the type of yeast added to the bags
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13. A scientist wants to know if human somatic cells and germ cells divide at the same rate. She plans on culturing cells in the
laboratory under controlled conditions and recording division rates over time.

Which of the following best describes what she should consider in designing her scientific investigation?

Mitosis and Meiosis

Mitosis and meiosis are both forms of nuclear division in eukaryotic cells. Mitosis is a single nuclear division of a non-germ cell
(somatic cell) that results in two nuclei partitioned into two new cells. The nuclei resulting from a mitotic division are genetically identical
to the original nucleus, with the same number of sets of chromosomes. In most plants and all animal species, it is typically diploid cells
that undergo mitosis to form new diploid cells. Diploid cells contain two sets of chromosomes, or two of each type of chromosome.

In contrast, meiosis consists of two nuclear divisions of germ cells resulting in four nuclei that are partitioned into four new haploid
cells. The nuclei resulting from meiosis are not genetically identical and they contain only one chromosome set instead of two.

Source: http://cnx.org/contents/[email protected]

A. She should consider using canine germ cells in her study as a comparison group.

B. She should consider using multiple replications in her study, so that the results are more reliable.

C. She should consider observing cell division rates for only one generation.

D. She should consider only using one somatic cell and one germ cell in her study, so she can maximize her time to work on other
projects.

14. What is the most likely reason that the marble reached a higher distance above ground in test #4 than in all of the other tests?

Marble on a String Experiment

A marble is tied to a string and taped to the underside of a table so it can

swing freely. The marble is pulled back to Point A, 36 cm above the
ground, and then released. On the first swing, the marble passes points B
and C. It continues to point D, at which point the marble pauses before
starting to swing back towards its starting point. Students measure and
record the height of the marble at position D, where it pauses before
swinging back. The students repeat the test five times. Their data is shown
in the table.

Test # Distance Above Ground at Point D

1 32 cm

2 31 cm

3 32 cm

4 35 cm

5 32 cm

A. The student who released the marble may have pushed the marble toward point D, rather than simply releasing it.

B. The student who released the marble may have released it from a height lower than 36 cm.

C. The student who released the marble may have released it too soon.

D. The student who released the marble may have waited too long to release the marble.
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15. Carla has a hydrangea plant that produces pink flowers, but she would like to have blue flowers instead. She sampled the pH of the
soil at the base of her plant, and found that the pH was 7.2. She decided to mix in a fertilizer containing ammonium sulfate to lower the
pH of the soil. After several weeks, the plant began to bloom, but the blooms were still pink. She sampled the pH of the soil once again,
and found that the pH was now 6.9.

Which of the following describes what Carla could improve her chances of having blue blooms on her hydrangea plant?

I. Add less ammonium sulfate fertilizer to the soil beneath her hydrangea.
II. Add more ammonium sulfate fertilizer to the soil beneath her hydrangea.
III. Use a different fertilizer that would increase the pH of the soil beneath her hydrangea.
IV. Add a source of aluminum ions to the soil beneath her hydrangea.

Hydrangeas and Soil pH

In some species of hydrangea, flowers can be blue, red, pink, light purple, or dark purple. In the H. macrophylla and H. serrata cultivars,
specifically, flower color is affected by the availability of aluminum ions.

Aluminum ion availability is tied to soil acidity, or soil pH. An acidic soil (pH below 7) will have available aluminum ions. These ions can be
absorbed by the plant, producing flowers that are blue and purple. An alkaline soil (pH above 7), however, will tie up aluminum ions. Plants
in alkaline soil are unable to absorb aluminum ions, resulting in pink and red flowers.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrangea#Colours_and_soil_acidity

A. I only

B. I and IV

C. II and IV

D. III only

16. Choose the phrase that best completes the following sentence:

In Molly’s set of tests, _____ functions as an independent variable.

Newton’s Second Law of Motion – Pulley Experiment

Molly set up an experiment in which a cart weighing 55 kilograms was attached to a pulley. She then applied a different force on the cart in
each of the four tests. The results can be found in the table. She hypothesized that her data would be consistent with Newton’s Second
Law of Motion, which is represented by the following equation:

f=ma

F is the force applied to an object, m is mass of the object, and a is the acceleration of the object.

Test #1 Test #2 Test #3 Test #4

Force Applied (N) 40 30 60 50

Acceleration (ms2) 8.0 6.0 12.0 10.0

A. Newton’s 2nd Law of Motion

B. the acceleration of the cart

C. the force applied to the cart

D. the mass of the cart

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17. Which of the following best describes how flooding assists in the migration of species?

Understanding Floods

In many natural systems, floods play an important role in maintaining key ecosystem functions and biodiversity. They link the river with the
land surrounding it, recharge groundwater systems, fill wetlands, increase the connectivity between aquatic habitats, and move both
sediment and nutrients around the landscape, and into the marine environment. For many species, floods trigger breeding events,
migration, and dispersal. These natural systems are resilient to the effects of all but the largest floods.

Areas that have been highly modified by human activity tend to suffer more deleterious effects from flooding. Floods tend to further degrade
already degraded systems. Removal of vegetation in and around rivers, increased channel size, dams, levee bank, and catchment clearing
all work to degrade the hill-slopes, rivers and floodplains, and increase the erosion and transfer of both sediment and nutrients.

While cycling of sediments and nutrients is essential to a healthy system, too much sediment and nutrient entering a waterway has negative
impacts on downstream water quality. Other negative effects include loss of habitat, dispersal of weed species, the release of pollutants,
lower fish production, loss of wetlands function, and loss of recreational areas.

Many of our coastal resources, including fish and other forms of marine production, are dependent on the nutrients supplied from the land
during floods. The negative effects of floodwaters on coastal marine environments are mainly due to the introduction of excess sediment
and nutrients, and pollutants such as chemicals, heavy metals and debris. These can degrade aquatic habitats, lower water quality, reduce
coastal production, and contaminate coastal food resources.

Source: http://www.chiefscientist.qld.gov.au/publications/understanding-floods/flood-consequences

A. Floods “increase the connectivity between aquatic habitats.”

B. Floods “move both sediment and nutrients around the landscape.”

C. Floods “recharge groundwater systems.”

D. Floods “tend to further degrade already degraded systems.”

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18. Choose the word that best completes the following sentence:

A(n) _____ is an organism that breaks down organic wastes and dead organisms: returning the chemical elements back to the soil, air, or
water.

Trophic Levels
Food Chain

All organisms require a source of both energy and nutrients.

Many organisms feed on the tissues of other organisms, either
living or dead, to obtain the energy and nutrients they require.
These organisms are referred to as consumers, or heterotrophs.
Other organisms, referred to as producers, or autotrophs, are
able to make their own food, using sunlight or inorganic
chemicals as a source of energy and carbon dioxide as a source of
carbon. Plants are producers that use the process of
photosynthesis to capture sunlight energy and convert it to
chemical energy that is stored as sugars in the plant.

Communities of living organisms have a trophic structure, or

pattern of feeding relationships, made up of various trophic
levels. The organisms that feed on producers are referred to as
primary consumers. Other organisms, called secondary
consumers, feed on the primary consumers, and so
on. Decomposers make up another important trophic level of
consumers. A decomposer is an organism that feeds on the dead
tissues and waste products of other organisms. Fungi, worms,
bacteria and insects are examples of decomposers. Decomposers
are important recyclers in an ecosystem because they break down
wastes and dead tissues of plants and animals, allowing the
nutrients to be returned to the ecosystem.

A food chain is a simplified representation of the feeding

relationships between the various trophic levels in an ecosystem.
Arrows show how energy moves through the various trophic
levels. For example, in the food chain shown here, the
grasshopper gets energy by eating the grass and the bird gets
energy by eating the grasshopper. The fox gets energy by eating
the bird.

Of course, relationships among organisms in an ecosystem are

more complex than a food chain depicts, because organisms eat
more than one type of food. A food web, which is a complex
network of interconnecting food chains, is a more realistic
representation of the feeding relationships in an ecosystem.

A. autotroph

B. consumer

C. decomposer

D. heterotroph
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19. Which of the following statements does NOT describe a part of the process that causes an earthquake to occur?

Earthquakes

The earth has four major layers: the inner core, outer core, mantle, and crust. The crust and the top of the mantle make up a thin skin on
the surface of our planet. But this skin is not all in one piece – it is made up of many pieces like a puzzle covering the surface of the earth.
Not only that, but these puzzle pieces keep slowly moving around, sliding past one another and bumping into each other. We call these
puzzle pieces tectonic plates, and the edges of the plates are called the plate boundaries. The plate boundaries are made up of many
faults, and most of the earthquakes around the world occur on these faults. Since the edges of the plates are rough, they get stuck while
the rest of the plate keeps moving. Finally, when the plate has moved far enough, the edges unstick on one of the faults and there is an
earthquake.

While the edges of faults are stuck together, and the rest of the block is moving, the energy that would normally cause the blocks to slide
past one another is being stored up. When the force of the moving blocks finally overcomes the friction of the jagged edges of the fault and
it unsticks, all that stored up energy is released. The energy radiates outward from the fault in all directions in the form of seismic waves like
ripples on a pond. The seismic waves shake the earth as they move through it, and when the waves reach the earth’s surface, they shake
the ground and anything on it, like our houses and us!

Source: https://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/kids/eqscience.php

A. Edges of the fault stick together.

B. Friction builds up on plate boundaries.

C. Plates move past each other.

D. Seismic waves shake the Earth.

20. What are greenhouse gases (GHGs)?

What Is a Greenhouse Gas? Source: https://opentextbc.ca/geology/chapter/19-1-what-makes-the-climate-change/

Throughout this chapter, we’ll be talking about the role of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in controlling the climate, so it’s important to
understand what greenhouse gases are and how they work. As you know, the dominant gases of the atmosphere are nitrogen (as N2) and
oxygen (as O2). These gas molecules have only two atoms each and are not GHGs. Some of the other important gases of the atmosphere
are water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), and methane (CH4). All of these have more than two atoms, and they are GHGs.

All molecules vibrate at various frequencies and in various ways, and some of those vibrations take place at frequencies within the range of
the infrared (IR) radiation that is emitted by Earth’s surface. Gases with two atoms, such as O2, can only vibrate by stretching (back and
forth), and those vibrations are much faster than the IR radiation. Gases with three or more atoms (such as CO2) vibrate by stretching as
well, but they can also vibrate in other ways, such as by bending. Those vibrations are slower and match IR radiation frequencies.

When IR radiation interacts with CO2 or with one of the other GHGs, the molecular vibrations are enhanced because there is a match
between the wavelength of the light and the vibrational frequency of the molecule. This makes the molecule vibrate more vigorously,
heating the surrounding air in the process. These molecules also emit IR radiation in all directions, some of which reaches Earth’s surface
and causes the greenhouse effect.

Source: https://opentextbc.ca/geology/wp-content/uploads/sites/110/2016/07/co2-vibrations-2-163x300.png

A. the dominant gases of the atmosphere

B. infrared (IR) radiation waves

C. molecules in the ocean that contribute to ocean acidification and coral bleaching
D. molecules in the atmosphere that produce heat through vibrations that are enhanced by infrared radiation
13 | P a g e ( F R E E F O R A L L )

21. Which quote from the passage supports the idea that speciation is generally incidental (likely to happen as a result of some
event occurring)?

Hybrid Incompatibility

Speciation is the evolutionary process by which a biological population evolves to become two or more distinct species. These different
species usually cannot reproduce with one another due to intrinsic reproductive barriers. If two species cannot successfully reproduce,
they are said to have hybrid incompatibility.

So what causes speciation? In many cases, speciation occurs as populations adapt to different environments. Sometimes these
adaptations cause the species to become reproductively incompatible. Two of the main reproductive barriers are hybrid sterility
and hybrid lethality. Hybrid sterility means that two species are genetically incapable of producing an offspring. Hybrid lethality, on
the other hand, means that two species are able to create an embryo, but the embryo will not fully develop into a viable offspring.

A. “ . . . populations adapt to different environments.”

B. “ . . . species usually cannot reproduce with one another due to intrinsic reproductive barriers.”

C. “ . . . the embryo will not fully develop into a viable offspring.”

D. “ . . . the main reproductive barriers are hybrid sterility and hybrid lethality.”

22. According to the passage, which blood glucose level would most likely trigger a release of glucagon from the pancreas?
Homeostatic Regulation of Blood Glucose

Homeostasis refers to an organism’s ability to maintain a nearly constant internal environment within a narrow range that supports life.
Examples of homeostasis in humans and other mammals include regulation of: body temperature, blood pH, and concentrations of ions
and glucose in the blood. These homeostatic mechanisms actively maintain a stable internal environment even while there are changes
constantly taking place in the organism’s external environment.

One example of homeostasis in humans involves regulation of the blood glucose concentration. After a meal, glucose levels in the blood
may rise above the normal set point of about 90 milligrams per 100 milliliters of blood plasma. Beta cells within the pancreas detect the rise
in blood glucose and respond by secreting insulin into the bloodstream. The insulin acts as a signal to certain cells, mainly liver, fat, and
muscle cells, to increase uptake of glucose. The increased uptake of glucose from the blood lowers the blood glucose level back to the
normal set point. The glucose that has been taken up by cells will be used for energy or converted to glycogen, a storage polysaccharide.

If the level of blood glucose drops too low, such as between meals, pancreatic alpha cells are stimulated to secrete glucagon into the blood.
Glucagon is a hormone that signals cells in the liver to convert glycogen to glucose, which is released back into the bloodstream to return
the blood glucose level to the normal set point.

A. 80 milligrams per 100 milliliters

B. 90 milligrams per 100 milliliters

C. 100 milligrams per 100 milliliters

D. 110 milligrams per 100 milliliters

23. Which of the following conclusions is supported by both of the passages?

Energy Transfer within Ecosystems

All living organisms (plants and animals) must eat some type of food for survival. Plants make their own food through a process called
photosynthesis. Using the energy from the sun, water and carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and nutrients, plants chemically make their
own food. Since plants make or produce their own food, they are called producers.

Organisms that do not create their own food are called consumers. Consumers must either eat plants, eat other animals, or both. Animals
that eat only plants are called herbivores. Animals that eat both plants and other animals are called omnivores. Animals that eat only
other animals are called carnivores. Some animals eat only dead or decaying materials and are called decomposers.

Source: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/documents/foodchainsandfoodwebs.pdf

Food Chains and Food Webs

Food chains show the relationships between producers, consumers, and decomposers, showing who eats whom with arrows. The arrows
show the movement of energy through the food chain. For example, in the food chain shown here, the small fish (silverside) gets its energy
by eating the plankton and the large fish (bluefish) gets its energy by eating the small fish. Finally, bacteria eat the fish after it dies, getting
energy from the large fish. The bacteria also return nutrients back to the environment for use by the phytoplankton.
14 | P a g e ( F R E E F O R A L L )

Thus, the food chain becomes a complete circle. Animals may eat more than one type of food. They may eat many different types of plants
or many different animals. This makes everything more complicated and the food chain becomes a food web.

A food web is made up of interconnected food chains. Most communities include various populations of producer organisms which are
eaten by any number of consumer populations. The green crab, for example, is a consumer as well as a decomposer. The crab will eat
dead things or living things if it can catch them. A secondary consumer may also eat any number of primary consumers or producers.

In a food web, nutrients are recycled in the end by decomposers. Animals like shrimp and crabs can break the materials down to detritus.
Then bacteria reduce the detritus to nutrients. Decomposers work at every level, setting free nutrients that form an essential part of the total
food web.

In a food chain, energy is lost in each step of the chain in two forms: first by the organism producing heat and doing work, and second, by
the food that is not completely digested or absorbed. Therefore, the food web depends on a constant supply of energy from producers and
nutrients that are recycled by the decomposition of organisms.

As food is passed along the food chain, only about 10% of the energy is transferred to the next level. For example, 10% of the energy
phytoplankton received from the sun can be used by zooplankton at the next level. From one level to the next about 90% of the energy
used by the previous level is lost. This means that there has to be a lot more organisms at the lower levels than at the upper levels. The
number of organisms at each level can be represented with a pyramid shape and is called a food pyramid.

Source: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/documents/foodchainsandfoodwebs.pdf

A. Decomposers serve as the base of food chains, providing the initial energy source for all other organisms.

B. Food chains are used only when studying marine organisms and have no application in other biological communities.

C. For an ecosystem to thrive, it is necessary to have producers, consumers, and decomposers.

D. Organisms in a food chain or food web can serve only one single role, such as a consumer, a producer, or a decomposer.
15 | P a g e ( F R E E F O R A L L )

24. If the grasshoppers were eliminated from the ecosystem, how would the other organisms in the ecosystem most likely be affected?

I. The number of birds would increase.

II. The number of foxes would increase.
III. The number of birds would decrease.
IV. The number of foxes would decrease.

Trophic Levels

All organisms require a source of both energy and nutrients. Many organisms Food Chain
feed on the tissues of other organisms, either living or dead, to obtain the
energy and nutrients they require. These organisms are referred to
as consumers, or heterotrophs. Other organisms, referred to as producers, or
autotrophs, are able to make their own food, using sunlight or inorganic
chemicals as a source of energy and carbon dioxide as a source of carbon.
Plants are producers that use the process of photosynthesis to capture sunlight
energy and convert it to chemical energy that is stored as sugars in the plant.

Communities of living organisms have a trophic structure, or pattern of

feeding relationships, made up of various trophic levels. The organisms that
feed on producers are referred to as primary consumers. Other organisms,
called secondary consumers, feed on the primary consumers, and so
on. Decomposers make up another important trophic level of consumers. A
decomposer is an organism that feeds on the dead tissues and waste products
of other organisms. Fungi, worms, bacteria and insects are examples of
decomposers. Decomposers are important recyclers in an ecosystem because
they break down wastes and dead tissues of plants and animals, allowing the
nutrients to be returned to the ecosystem.

A food chain is a simplified representation of the feeding relationships

between the various trophic levels in an ecosystem. Arrows show how energy
moves through the various trophic levels. For example, in the food chain
shown here, the grasshopper gets energy by eating the grass and the bird gets
energy by eating the grasshopper. The fox gets energy by eating the bird.

Of course, relationships among organisms in an ecosystem are more complex

than a food chain depicts, because organisms eat more than one type of food.
A food web, which is a complex network of interconnecting food chains, is a
more realistic representation of the feeding relationships in an ecosystem.

A. I and II

B. I and IV

C. III only

D. III and IV

25. Based on the passage, which of the following best describes the natural function of stem cells?
Stem Cells

Stem cells are cells with the potential to develop into many different types of cells in the body. They serve as a repair system for the body.
There are two main types of stem cells: embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. Embryonic stems cells are pluripotent meaning they
can give rise to all of the cell types that make up the body. Adult stem cells and cord blood stem cells are considered multipotent.
Multipotent cells can develop into more than one cell type, but are more limited than pluripotent cells.

Stem cells are different from other cells in the body in three ways:

• They can divide and renew themselves over a long time.

• They are unspecialized, so they cannot do specific functions in the body.
• They have the potential to become specialized cells, such as muscle cells, blood cells, and brain cells.

Doctors and scientists are excited about stem cells because they could help in many different areas of health and medical research.
Studying stem cells may help explain how serious conditions such as birth defects and cancer come about. Stem cells may one day be
used to make cells and tissues for therapy of many diseases, including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, spinal cord injury, heart
disease, diabetes, and arthritis.

Source: https://medlineplus.gov/stemcells.html https://stemcell.ny.gov/faqs/what-difference-between-totipotent-pluripotent-and-multipotent

A. Stem cells allow the human body to cure itself of most terminal or degenerative diseases.

B. Stem cells attack cellular threats much as antibodies target pathogens.

C. Stem cells have no natural function but are only used in medical research.

D. Stem cells repair the body by replenishing damaged tissues.

16 | P a g e ( F R E E F O R A L L )

26. Based on the passage, which of the following conclusions can be reached about the predator-prey relationship?

Alaskan Marine Food Web

A food chain is simply "who eats what." A food

web weaves together many food chains to form
a complicated network of feeding relationships
among different plants and animals. Many
animals eat more than one thing, and each link
in each chain is important and integral to the
entire system.

Pictured here is an example of a marine food

web in Alaska. Notice that this food web
illustrates the relationships between producers
(plants that make their own food using
chlorophyll and the sun's energy) and
consumers (animals that eat producers and other
animals). It also shows the relationship between
predators (animals that hunt and eat other
animals) and prey (the animals which are
hunted).

Source: https://alaska.usgs.gov/science/biology/seabirds_foragefish/marinehabitat/index.php

A. Consumers are always predators, never prey.

B. Predator/prey relationships exist even at the microscopic level.

C. Producer/consumer and predator/prey are mutually exclusive relationships.

D. Sunlight and air are prey to producers such as phytoplankton.

27. When energy is released during a chemical reaction, it can often be felt in the form of heat. A scientist claims that the reaction
shown in graph B will give off heat during the reaction.

Determine which piece of evidence from the diagram best supports or refutes the scientist’s claim:

Potential Energy Diagram Shapes and Reaction Types

There are two general shapes of potential energy diagrams based on whether a reaction is endothermic or exothermic. If energy is
absorbed during the reaction, then it is called an endothermic reaction and the potential energy of the products will be greater than the
potential energy of the reactants. If energy is released during the reaction, then it is called an exothermic reaction and the potential energy
of the products will be less than the potential energy of the reactants. An example of each of these types of reactions are shown in graph A
and graph B.

A. The reaction will give off heat because the potential energy of the products is higher than the potential energy of the reactants.

B. The reaction will give off heat because the potential energy of the products is lower than the potential energy of the reactants.

C. The reaction will not give off heat because the potential energy of the products is higher than the potential energy of the reactants.

D. The reaction will not give off heat because the potential energy of the products is lower than the potential energy of the reactants.
17 | P a g e ( F R E E F O R A L L )

28. If this reaction in graph B occurred in a person’s hand, would it feel cold or hot?

Potential Energy Diagram Shapes and Reaction Types

There are two general shapes of potential energy diagrams based on whether a reaction is endothermic or exothermic. If energy is
absorbed during the reaction, then it is called an endothermic reaction and the potential energy of the products will be greater than the
potential energy of the reactants. If energy is released during the reaction, then it is called an exothermic reaction and the potential
energy of the products will be less than the potential energy of the reactants. An example of each of these types of reactions are shown
in graph A and graph B.

A. It would feel cold because the reaction would absorb energy from the person’s hand.

B. It would feel cold because the reaction would release energy to the person’s hand.

C. It would feel hot because the reaction would absorb energy from the person’s hand.

D. It would feel hot because the reaction would release energy to the person’s hand.

29. In which of the following countries would you expect to find the most earthquakes and volcanic activity?

Ring of Fire

The Ring of Fire is an area that surrounds much of the Pacific Ocean, where lithospheric plates are rubbing against and over one another in
a process known as plate tectonics. Places where lithospheric plates are moving toward one another (called convergent plate boundaries),
can create volcanoes when material from the oceanic plate is subducted under the continental plate, melts due to the increased
temperature and pressure, and rises to the surface in the form of magma. Convergent plate boundaries can also create oceanic trenches,
which are long depressions in the sea floor. These trenches make up some of the deepest areas of the ocean, with the Marianas Trench
being the deepest of all.

Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/52/Pacific_Ring_of_Fire.svg

A. Australia

B. Brazil

C. China

D. Mexico
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30. Which of the following is most likely the reason that the finches developed beaks of different sizes?

Darwin’s Finches

During the survey voyage of HMS Beagle, Darwin was unaware of the significance of the birds of the Galápagos. . . . Nonetheless,
these birds were to play an important part in the inception of Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection.

On the Galápagos Islands and afterward, Darwin thought in terms of 'centres of creation' and rejected ideas concerning the
transmutation of species. From Henslow's teaching, he was interested in the geographical distribution of species, particularl links
between species on oceanic islands and on nearby continents. On Chatham Island, he recorded that a mockingbird was similar to
those he had seen in Chile, and after finding a different one on Charles Island he carefully noted where mockingbirds had been caught.
In contrast, he paid little attention to the finches. When examining his specimens on the way to Tahiti, Darwin noted that all of the
mockingbirds on Charles Island were of one species, those from Albemarle of another, and those from James and Chatham Islands of
a third. As they sailed home about nine months later, this, together with other facts, including what he had heard about Galápagos
tortoises, made him wonder about the stability of species.

Following his return from the voyage, Darwin presented the finches to the Zoological Society of London on 4 January 1837, along with
other mammal and bird specimens that he had collected. The bird specimens, including the finches, were given to John Gould, the
famous English ornithologist, for identification. Gould set aside his paying work and at the next meeting, on 10 January, reported that
the birds from the Galápagos Islands that Darwin had thought were blackbirds, 'gross-beaks' and finches were actually 'a series of
ground Finches which are so peculiar [as to form] an entirely new group, containing 12 species.' This story made the newspapers.

Darwin had been in Cambridge at that time. In early March, he met Gould again and for the first time got a full report on the findings,
including the point that his Galápagos 'wren' was another closely allied species of finch. The mockingbirds that Darwin had labeled by
island were separate species rather than just varieties. Gould found more species than Darwin had expected, and concluded that 25 of
the 26 land birds were new and distinct forms, found nowhere else in the world but closely allied to those found on the South American
continent. Darwin now saw that, if the finch species were confined to individual islands, like the mockingbirds, this would help to
account for the number of species on the islands, and he sought information from others on the expedition. Specimens had also been
collected by Captain Robert FitzRoy, FitzRoy’s steward Harry Fuller and Darwin's servant Covington, who had labeled them by the
island. From these, Darwin tried to reconstruct the locations from where he had collected his own specimens. The conclusions
supported his idea of the transmutation of species.

Charles Darwin wrote about the Galapagos finches in his book, The Voyage of the Beagle. Following is an excerpt from that book:

“The remaining land-birds form a most singular group of finches, related to each other in the structure of their beaks, short tails, form of
body and plumage: there are thirteen species, which Mr. Gould has divided into four subgroups. All these species are peculiar to this
archipelago; and so is the whole group, with the exception of one species of the sub-group Cactornis, lately brought from Bow Island, in
the Low Archipelago. Of Cactornis, the two species may be often seen climbing about the flowers of the great cactus-trees; but all the
other species of this group of finches, mingled together in flocks, feed on the dry and sterile ground of the lower districts. . . . The most
curious fact is the perfect gradation in the size of the beaks in the different species of Geospiza, from one as large as that of a hawfinch
to that of a chaffinch, and . . . even to that of a warbler. The largest beak in the genus Geospiza is [the Geospiza magnirostris], and the
smallest [is Geospiza parvula]; but instead of there being only one intermediate species, with a beak of the size shown in [Geospiza
fortis], there are no less than six species with insensibly graduated beaks. The beak of the sub-group Certhidea, is shown in Fig. 4. The
beak of Cactornis is somewhat like that of a starling, and that of the fourth subgroup, Camarhynchus, is slightly parrot-shaped. Seeing
this gradation and diversity of structure in one small, intimately related group of birds, one might really fancy that from an original
paucity of birds in this archipelago, one species had been taken and modified for different ends.”

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darwin%27s_finches

A. for attracting a mate

B. or eating different foods

C. for cleaning feathers

D. None of the above

31. The passage states that the removal of vegetation around rivers contributes to increased soil erosion and sediment and nutrient
transfer. Read the following statements:

I. Plant roots hold soil in place.

II. Plants increase the rate of flooding because water flows past them freely.
III.Plants store nutrients that bind additional nutrients within the local system.
IV. Plants absorb additional water during floods.

Which of the following explain(s) how this might occur?

Understanding Floods

In many natural systems, floods play an important role in maintaining key ecosystem functions and biodiversity. They link the river with the
land surrounding it, recharge groundwater systems, fill wetlands, increase the connectivity between aquatic habitats, and move both
sediment and nutrients around the landscape, and into the marine environment. For many species, floods trigger breeding events,
migration, and dispersal. These natural systems are resilient to the effects of all but the largest floods.

The environmental benefits of flooding can also help the economy through things such as increased fish production, recharge of
groundwater resources, and maintenance of recreational environments.
19 | P a g e ( F R E E F O R A L L )

Areas that have been highly modified by human activity tend to suffer more deleterious effects from flooding. Floods tend to further degrade
already degraded systems. Removal of vegetation in and around rivers, increased channel size, dams, levee bank, and catchment clearing
all work to degrade the hill-slopes, rivers and floodplains, and increase the erosion and transfer of both sediment and nutrients.

While cycling of sediments and nutrients is essential to a healthy system, too much sediment and nutrient entering a waterway has negative
impacts on downstream water quality. Other negative effects include loss of habitat, dispersal of weed species, the release of pollutants,
lower fish production, loss of wetlands function, and loss of recreational areas.

Many of our coastal resources, including fish and other forms of marine production, are dependent on the nutrients supplied from the land
during floods. The negative effects of floodwaters on coastal marine environments are mainly due to the introduction of excess sediment
and nutrients, and pollutants such as chemicals, heavy metals and debris. These can degrade aquatic habitats, lower water quality, reduce
coastal production, and contaminate coastal food resources.

Source: http://www.chiefscientist.qld.gov.au/publications/understanding-floods/flood-consequences

A. I and III

B. IV only

C. I and II

D. II and IV

32. Which of the following conclusions is supported by the passage?

Homeostatic Regulation of Blood Glucose

Homeostasis refers to an organism’s ability to maintain a nearly constant internal environment within a narrow range that supports
life. Examples of homeostasis in humans and other mammals include regulation of: body temperature, blood pH, and concentration of
glucose in the blood. These homeostatic mechanisms actively maintain a stable internal environment, even when changes occur in the
organism’s external environment.

One example of homeostasis in humans involves regulation of the blood glucose concentration, also known as blood sugar. After a meal,
glucose levels in the blood may rise above the normal set point of about 90 milligrams per 100 milliliters of blood plasma. Beta cells within
the pancreas detect the rise in blood glucose and respond by secreting insulin into the bloodstream. The insulin acts as a signal to certain
cells to increase uptake of glucose. The increased uptake of glucose from the blood lowers the blood glucose level back to the normal set
point. The glucose that has been taken up by cells will be used for energy or converted to glycogen, a storage polysaccharide.

If the level of blood glucose drops too low, such as between meals, pancreatic alpha cells are stimulated to secrete glucagon into the blood.
Glucagon is a hormone that signals cells in the liver to convert glycogen to glucose. Glucose is then released back into the bloodstream to
return the blood glucose level to the normal set point.

A. A person whose alpha cells do not function would be unable to produce glycogen.

B. A person whose alpha cells do not function would be unable to produce insulin.

C. A person whose beta cells do not function would be expected to have a higher-than-normal blood glucose level.

D. A person whose beta cells do not function would be expected to have a higher-than-normal glycogen level.

33. Which of the following statements about Mimulus guttatus is best supported by the passage?

Ecological Adaptation

Ecological adaptation is an evolutionary process where, over generations, a species changes to survive in its environment. One
example of ecological adaptation has been seen in a population of yellow monkey flowers, Mimulus guttatus, in California. This specific
population of the yellow monkey flower recently evolved tolerance to soil contaminants from nearby copper mines.

While this ecological adaptation is beneficial for this specific M. guttatus population, an incidental effect has also been observed. When
this population of M. guttatus crosses with some off-mine populations of M. guttatus, hybrid lethality occurs, causing potential offspring
to be aborted in the embryonic stage.

Source: Presgraves DC (2013) Hitchhiking to Speciation. PLoS Biol 11(2): e1001498.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.1001498

A. Copper mine soil contaminants led to extinction of Mimulus guttatus.

B. Copper mine soil contaminants prevented Mimulus guttatus offspring from developing past embryonic stage.

C. Ecological adaptation resulted in successful cross-breeding between different populations of Mimulus guttatus.

D. Ecological adaptation resulted in tolerance of Mimulus guttatus to soil contaminants.

20 | P a g e ( F R E E F O R A L L )

34. Read the following statements:

• Humanity may run out of usable metals.

• The cost of metals may increase.
• Nothing will happen; it is not necessary to recycle metals.
Which could happen if metal recycling efforts do NOT increase?

Mining

Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth. Mining is required to obtain any material that
cannot be grown through agricultural processes or created artificially in a laboratory or factory. Ores recovered by mining include metals,
coal, oil shale, gemstones, limestone, chalk, potash, gravel, and clay. Mining in a wider sense includes extraction of any non-renewable
resource such as petroleum, natural gas, or even water.

Mining of stones and metal has been a human activity since pre-historic times. Modern mining processes involve prospecting for ore
bodies, analysis of the profit potential of a proposed mine, extraction of the desired materials, and final reclamation of the land after the
mine is closed.

Mining operations usually create a negative environmental impact, both during the mining activity and after the mine has closed. Hence,
most of the world's nations have passed regulations to decrease the impact. Work safety has long been a concern as well, and modern
practices have significantly improved safety in mines.

Levels of metals recycling are generally low. Unless future end-of-life recycling rates are stepped up, some rare metals may become
unavailable for use in a variety of consumer products. Due to the low recycling rates, some landfills now contain higher concentrations of
metal than mines themselves.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mining

A. I only

B. III only

C. I and II

D. II and III
21 | P a g e ( F R E E F O R A L L )

35. Which of the following best describes the relationship between carbon-1212 and carbon-1414?

Carbon-14 Dating

Dr. Jonnes, an expert archeologist, was giving a presentation about his most recent dig site in Egypt. He showed pictures of mummies,
seed samples, and papyrus scrolls and said they were between four and five thousand years old.

As Levi listened to the presentation, he wondered how Dr. Jonnes knew for sure how old the samples were. He decided to ask his
chemistry professor since they had recently had a lesson about how carbon makes up all living things.

Levi and his professor then had the following conversation:

Levi: “Professor, how did Dr. Jonnes know that the artifacts were between four and five thousand years old?”

Professor: “That is a great question! They use a process called carbon-14 dating.”

Levi: “Oh - we’ve learned about carbon in this class! Is it the same thing?”

Professor:"It's very similar. The carbon we have talked about is carbon-12. It has an atomic number of six and a mass number of 12.
Remember that an element’s atomic number tells the number of protons in one atom and the number of protons is equal to the number of
electrons. An element’s mass number tells the sum of the protons and neutrons. Carbon-14 has the same atomic number, but a different
mass number. In carbon-14, the mass number is 14 instead of 12.”

Levi: "How does carbon-14 dating work?”

Professor:"Well, as we learned in our recent lesson, all living things are made of carbon. What we didn’t discuss is that there are different
types of carbon. Almost all of the carbon that makes up living organisms is carbon-12, but there is also a very tiny amount amount of
carbon-14. As long as a plant or animal is alive, it will have a fairly constant amount of carbon-14. This is because even though carbon-14
slowly decays over time, the living organism will also ingest more carbon-14 at about the same rate. Plants absorb carbon-14 during
photosynthesis and animals absorb carbon-14 when they eat plants.”

Levi: “But what happens when plants, animals, and people die?”

Professor:“When living organisms die, they stop ingesting more carbon-14. Every 5,730 years, the amount of carbon-14 is cut in half as it
slowly decays. Scientists can then measure the amount of carbon-14 left in an organism and use the half-life to approximate when it died.”

Levi: “Ah, so that’s how Dr. Jonnes came up with that date! Thanks, Professor!”

A. isoelectronic – they are different elements or compounds with the same number of electrons

B. isomer – they are the same compound but the atoms are arranged differently

C. isomorphic – they are identical in form

D. isotopes – they are different forms of the same element

36. In developing nations, many people do not get enough folate in their diets. Some nations now require that flour be fortified with
folate. Which of the following would be an expected outcome of requiring folate to be added to flour?
Folate

Folate is a B-vitamin that is naturally present in many foods. A form of folate, called folic acid, is used in dietary supplements and fortified
foods. Humans need folate to make DNA and other genetic material. Folate is also needed for the body’s cells to divide.

The recommended amount of folate varies, depending on age and life stage. Average daily recommended amounts are listed in the table in
micrograms (mcg) of dietary folate equivalents (DFEs). All women and teen girls who could become pregnant should consume 400 mcg of
folic acid daily from supplements, fortified foods, or both in addition to the folate they get naturally from foods.

Folate is naturally present in many foods and food companies sometimes add folic acid to other foods, including bread, cereal, and pasta.
The best way to get enough folate is to eat a variety of foods, including vegetables, fruits, nuts, beans, grains, and grain-based foods like
flour. Only small amounts of folate are found in most animal foods like meats, poultry, seafood, eggs, and dairy products.

Folic acid is available in multivitamins and prenatal vitamins. It is also available in B-complex dietary supplements and supplements
containing only folic acid.

Most people in the United States get enough folate, but some people get barely enough. Getting too little folate can result in megaloblastic
anemia, which causes weakness, fatigue, trouble concentrating, irritability, headache, heart palpitations, and shortness of breath. Folate
deficiency can also cause open sores on the tongue and inside the mouth as well as changes in the color of the skin, hair, or fingernails.

Women who don’t get enough folate are at risk of having babies with neural tube defects, such as spina bifida. Folate deficiency can also
increase the likelihood of having a premature or low-birth-weight baby.
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Average Daily Recommended Amount of Folate

Source: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Folate-Consumer/

A. The number of people with megaloblastic anemia will increase.

B. Fewer babies will be born with neural tube defects.

C. Healthcare costs will increase.

D. More babies will be born prematurely .

37. Based on the map, which of the following US locations would most likely have an earthquake?

Earthquakes

Source: https://earthquake.usgs.gov/hazards/learn/images/2014hazmap-induced-lg.gif

A. Boston

B. Nashville

C. Phoenix

D. Seattle
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38. Nearly 25% of the US’s post-earthquake assistance came in the form of debt relief. How would debt relief assist Haiti to recover
from the earthquake?

US Post-Earthquake Assistance to Haiti

Source: https://www.state.gov/p/wha/ci/ha/hsc/rpt/248516.htm

A. Forgiving Haiti’s debts frees up more of the Haitian government’s resources to deal with other problems.

B. Debt relief allows individual Haitians to spend more on personal goods, pumping money into the Haitian economy.

C. Forgiving current debts allows Haiti to borrow more money to pay to rebuild its infrastructure.

D. Haiti’s national debt was the primary cause of the earthquake in the first place.

39. Which of the following best represents the median number of deaths from Varicella in the United States from 1997 through 2003?
Number of Deaths from Varicella in the United States, 1997–2003

Year Number of Cases Number of Deaths

1997 98,727 99
1998 82,455 81
1999 46,016 48
2000 27,382 44
2001 22,536 26
2002 22,841 32
2003 20,948 16
Source: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/appendices/e/reported-cases.pdf

A. 32

B. 44

C. 48

D. 49
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40. Under which set of conditions would sweat evaporation be most effective as a way to homeostatically regulate core body
temperature?

Thermoregulation in Humans

As in other mammals, thermoregulation is an important aspect of human homeostasis. Most body heat is generated in the deep organs,
especially the liver, brain, and heart, and in contraction of skeletal muscles. Humans have been able to adapt to a great diversity of
climates, including hot humid and hot arid. High temperatures pose serious stresses for the human body, placing it in great danger of injury
or even death. For example, one of the most common reactions to hot temperatures is heat exhaustion, which is an illness that may result
from exposure to high temperatures. Symptoms include dizziness, fainting, or a rapid heartbeat.

For humans, adaptation to varying climatic conditions includes both physiological mechanisms and behavioral mechanisms. The
physiological control of the body’s core temperature takes place primarily through the hypothalamus, the region of the brain that assumes
the role as the body’s “thermostat.” This organ possesses control mechanisms as well as key temperature sensors, which are connected to
nerve cells called thermoreceptors. Thermoreceptors come in two subcategories; ones that respond to cold temperatures and ones that
respond to warm temperatures. Scattered throughout the body in both peripheral and central nervous systems, these nerve cells are
sensitive to changes in temperature and provide information to the hypothalamus through the process of negative feedback to help
maintain a constant core body temperature.

There are four avenues of heat loss: convection, conduction, radiation, and evaporation. If skin temperature is greater than that of the
surroundings, the body can lose heat by radiation and conduction. But, if the temperature of the surroundings is greater than that of the
skin, the body actually gains heat by radiation and conduction. In such conditions, the only way the body can rid itself of heat is by
evaporation. So, when the surrounding temperature is higher than the skin temperature, anything that prevents adequate evaporation will
cause the internal body temperature to rise. During intense physical activity, evaporation becomes the main avenue of heat loss. Humidity
affects thermoregulation by limiting sweat evaporation and thus heat loss.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermoregulation

A. a cold, dry climate

B. a cold, humid climate

C. a hot, dry climate

D. a hot, humid climate