Biology Pre-Assessment

Atoms are ordered into various structures that make up living organisms. How do atoms react chemically?

The valence electrons of an atom determine its chemical reactivity. Calcium has two valence electrons while chlorine has seven. What are the charges on calcium ions and chloride (an ion of chlorine)?

Covalent bonds help form the structures of life. Which of the following statements about covalent bonds is correct?

Carbohydrates are the main energy source for living organisms. Which of the following organisms are able to make their own carbs?

Scientists have strict rules about how to gather data. One such rule involves the units used to report that data. What system do scientists use the world over?

Atoms and ions of the same element can have very different chemical reactivities. What kind of charge would an atom have?

Lipids can store energy, serve to insulate and absorb shocks, and form most of the cell membrane. What characteristic of phospholipids in the cell membrane help them create a phospholipid bilayer?

Ionic bonds play important roles in our physiology. Which of the following statements about ionic bonds is correct?

The four macromolecules are the keys to life as we know it, but only three of them form polymers. Which of the following statements properly pairs the macromolecules that form polymers with their subunits?

Protein means “first importance” — this is because proteins perform so many different functions in living organisms. Proteins have some similarities with carbohydrates, but some important differences too. What element do proteins have that carbohydrates lack?

The cell cycle shows the process a cell usually goes through as it grows and divides. What part of the cell cycle do most cells spend most of their time in?

Cell division is a complicated process, but there are only two main steps: mitosis and cytokinesis. What are the differences between mitosis and cytokinesis?

All living things can perform cellular respiration. What is the purpose of cellular respiration?

The Cell Theory helps us understand important ideas about what cells are and what they can do. Which of the following choices correctly states parts of the cell theory?

Cells are the fundamental unit of life. What structure serves to separate the internal environment from the external environment of the cell, regulates what enters and leaves the cell, and provides sensitivity to the environment?

Perhaps the single most important job of a cell is the production of proteins. What structure stores the information on how to make the proteins and what structure actually assembles the proteins?

Out of all the cells in the world, there are actually only two categories. What is the main difference between prokaryotes and eukaryotes?

Cells work hard getting the necessary substances in and out of their cell membranes. Which of the following statements correctly describes how cells transport substances across their membranes?

In the experiments done by Gregor Mendel, he determined that sweet pea plants have purple or white flowers, and purple is the dominant trait. If a plant that is homozygous dominant for purple flowers is crossed with a plant that is homozygous recessive for white flowers, what prediction can we make about their offspring?

If the inheritance of a single gene represented by the letter A follows a simple dominant/recessive pattern, which of these is true?

Making proteins is perhaps the single most important thing cells do. How are proteins made in a cell?

Almost every cell in your body requires its own copy of your genetic code. What is DNA replication?

Cell division is an important process in all organisms, but not all cell division is the same. What is the goal of meiosis in animals?

DNA is a popular subject on science shows, but how is it structured? Choose the best description of DNA.

It can sometimes be difficult to tell if something is alive, but scientists have listed the characteristics that all life shares. Which of these is not a criterion that a biologist would use to determine if something is alive?

Organisms have levels of organization. Which list shows the correct levels of organization for an animal, from smallest to largest level?

When studying the human body, it helps to divide it into different planes for reference. In the figure, which plane is represented by the letter “a”?

Using anatomical terms to describe the location of one structure as it compares to another structure is a key part of how scientists talk about the body. Which statement describing the orientation of structures is correct?

One of the characteristics of life is homeostasis. Which is the best definition of homeostasis?

The body maintains homeostasis using self-regulating control systems, often referred to as loops. Which of these is an example of a positive feedback loop in the body?

The prefix “hypo-” shows up in many medical terms, like hypodermic needle or hypothermia. What does this prefix mean?

The calf muscle in the leg is called the gastrocnemius.  What does “gastro-” refer to in medicine?

Organ systems all have different roles to play in our bodies. Which is the best description of the purpose of the cardiovascular system?

Organs that work together to perform a specific function in the body are grouped together in organ systems. Which of these is an incorrect pairing of an organ with its organ system?