Life Science Questions to Review for the Kansas State Assessment Test

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Life Science Questions to Review for the Kansas State Assessment Test"

Julia Gregory
5 years ago
Views:

1 Life Science Questions to Review for the Kansas State Assessment Test Directions: Answer each of the following questions on a separate sheet of paper : understands cell functions involve specific chemical reactions. 1. Cell membranes regulate concentrations of compounds within the cell. Describe and distinguish between the mechanisms of active transport and passive transport. 2. Identify the reactants and the products in the photosynthesis reaction, as well as the reactants and the products in cellular respiration. How are these two reactions related? 3. Polymers are long chains of monomers. Identify which monomers make up the following polymers: polysaccharides, proteins, and nucleic acids 4. Cells store energy in the phosphate bonds of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Which best describes the type of energy stored in the bonds of an ATP molecule? A) nuclear energy B) chemical energy C) electrical energy D) mechanical energy 3.2.1: understands living organisms contain DNA or RNA as their genetic material, which provides the instructions that specify the characteristics of organisms. 5. Heredity information is contained in genes, located in the chromosomes of each cell. Each gene carries a single unit of information. An inherited trait of an individual can be determined by one or by many genes, and a single gene can influence more than one trait. Identify examples of the following inheritance patterns: complete dominance, incomplete dominance (intermediate inheritance), polygenic inheritance, and multiple alleles. Multiple Choice Questions: 6. During an investigation, tall pea plants were crossed with short pea plants. All of the offspring from this cross were tall. Which term best describes the tall trait for the pea plants? A) linked B) dominant C) recessive D) codominant 7. Variation in human skin color is influenced by multiple genes. This is an example of A) codominance. B) multiple alleles. C) polygenic inheritance. D) intermediate inheritance : understands hereditary information is contained in genes, located in the chromosomes of each cell. 8. DNA (or RNA) specifies the characteristics of most organisms. Describe the overall structure of the DNA molecule and briefly explain how the molecule is capable of storing information. 9. What are the individual strands of supercoiled DNA that are present during cell division? A) genes B) proteins C) nucleotides D) chromosomes

2 3.3.1: understands biological evolution, descent with modification, is a scientific explanation for the history of the diversification of organisms from common ancestors. 10. One body of evidence which supports biological evolution includes the presence of homologous structures. Give one example of homologous structures in mammals. 11. The fossil record also supports the biological evolution of life forms. Explain how we can tell the approximate age of fossils in regard to their placement in rock layers. 12. The frequency of heritable traits (gene pool) may change due to geological events. Name three geological events (bottleneck events) that may change the gene pool in a population. 13. Charles Darwin s observation that finches of different species on the Galápagos Islands have many similar physical characteristics supports the hypothesis that these finch species A) all eat the same type of food, B) originated from a common ancestor. C) acquired traits through use and disuse. D) have grown larger since Darwin s visit. 14. Which of the following biological processes can lead to variation within a species? A) The random assortment of chromosomes during meiosis B) Crossing-over between homologous chromosomes during meiosis. C) The random process by which a single egg and a single sperm fuse. D) All of the above lead to variation : understands biological evolution is used to explain the earth s present day biodiversity: the number, variety and variability of organisms. 15. Biologists use evolution theory to explain the earth s present day biodiversity-the number, variety, and variability of organisms. Describe the evidence of evolution, including the fossil record, homologous and vestigial structures, geographic distribution, similarities during development, and genetic similarities. 16. Discuss Darwin s ideas of natural selection and descent with modification. Multiple Choice Questions: 17. The process where organisms best adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce is called A) adaptation. B) classification. C) natural selection. D) artificial selection. 18. Which of the following is the best example of the process of natural selection? A) A tadpole develops into a frog. B) A dog s coat becomes thicker as winter approaches. C) A child develops a disease due to a genetic mutation. D) A population of polar bears develops thicker fur over many generations. 19. Which of the following represents a trait acquired through the process of natural selection? A) A Doberman pinscher with a clipped tail passes on this trait to its offspring. B) A kangaroo develops strong legs through constant jumping and passes on this trait to its offspring. C) A giraffes stretches its neck to reach leaves high in the trees and passes on this trait to its offspring. D) A population of green and red beetles living on leaves changes to a population of mostly green beetles in the presence of a bird predator.

3 3.3.4: understands organisms vary widely within and between populations. Variation allows for natural selection to occur. 20. Biologists recognize that the primary mechanisms of evolution are natural selection and genetic drift that lead to variation within and among species. Discuss the overall value of variation within a species in terms of species survival. 21. Describe the ultimate source(s) of new heritable traits. 22. Genetic drift is A) separation of a population. B) the movement of continents. C) the change of an organism s environment. D) a change in a population s gene pool due to chance : understands atoms and molecules on the earth cycle among the living and nonliving components of the biosphere. 23. The essential chemical elements for life circulate in the biosphere in characteristic paths known as biogeochemical cycles. Some examples of these cycles include the water cycle, nitrogen cycle, carbon cycle, and oxygen cycle. Diagram the water cycle, including evaporation, condensation, precipitation, runoff, transpiration, respiration and photosynthesis. 24. Describe the carbon and oxygen cycles and tell how they are interwoven. 25. Which of the following is a mechanism for removing carbon from the atmosphere? A) burning fossil fuels B) cellular respiration C) photosynthesis D) forest fires understands the distribution and abundance of organisms and populations in ecosystems are limited by the carrying capacity. 26. Populations do not live in isolation, organisms cooperate and compete in ecosystems. Give examples of how organisms interact to generate stable ecosystems. 27. A desert ecosystem gets two years of above average rainfall. As a result, there is more vegetation than normal. Which effect on the desert ecosystem is most likely? A) Carnivore populations will decrease as plants change the landscape. B) Some animal species will go extinct as the plants take up more space. C) Herbivore populations will increase in number with more plants available. D) Animal populations will remain constant as plant populations increase independently : understands the sun is the primary source of energy for life through the process of photosynthesis. 28. The sun is the primary source of energy for life through the process of photosynthesis. Explain how the energy from the sun is captured by plants and then transferred to molecules that serve as sources of energy for life processes. 29. Plants help sustain animal life in all but which one of the following ways? A) Plants produce hydrogen. B) Plants release oxygen. C) Plants reduce the amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide. D) Plants provide food for animals.

4 3.5.3: understands food molecules contain biochemical energy, which is then available for cellular respiration. 30. Food molecules contain energy that is made available to organisms by the process of cellular respiration. Identify how the energy is stored in food molecules, how it is released from food molecules, and what molecule it is stored in for later use by the cell. 31. Which organelle produces ATP in the cell? A) golgi bodies B) ribosomes C) mitochondria D) nucleus 3.6.1: understands animals have behavioral responses to internal changes and to external stimuli. 32. Animal behavior is a combination of genes (innate) or environment (learned). Identify a behavioral response for each of the following external stimulus; temperature change, predator, population pressure (too many individuals for available resources). 33. Which is the most learned and the least innate in male sparrows? A) singing patterns B) coloration of feathers C) location of food sources D) aggression during mating season 34. Ants remove dead ants from the anthill. If a live ant is painted with a chemical of a dead ant, other ants carry it out of the anthill even as it kicks and struggles. When the ant returns to the anthill, they carry it out again. Which of the following best describes this behavior? A) The chemical triggers a fixed action pattern. B) The ants have become imprinted on the chemical. C) The ants continue the behavior until they become habituated. D) The ants can learn only by trial and error : understands that homeostasis is the dynamic regulation and balance of an organisms internal environment to maintain conditions suitable for survival. 35. Organisms maintain homeostasis in different ways. Explain how human beings and dogs maintain their body temperature under high temperature conditions. 36. How does the transport of substances across cell membranes aid in maintaining homeostasis? 37. Why does heart rate increase during exercise? How does this action help maintain homeostasis? 38. In an attempt to maintain homeostasis, humans who increase the altitude at which they live will: A) develop larger lungs B) increase their heart rate C) develop iron deficiency D) produce more red blood cells 3.7.3: understands that living things change following a specific pattern of developmental stages called life cycles. 39. All living organisms go through different stages of development called a life cycle. Some life cycles include metamorphosis (ie. caterpillar to butterfly) or periods of dormancy (ie. spores of fungi). Describe a species of living organism that may have both a sexual and asexual stage in their life cycle.

5 40. Besides butterflies, what other type of organism undergoes metamorphosis during its life cycle? 41. The life cycle of a frog consists of: A) Egg-tadpole-adult frog B) Tadpole-adult frog- egg C) Tadpole-adult frog D) Adult frog - tadpole 4.2.1: understands geological time is used to understand the earth s past. 42. Describe how geological time is used to understand the earth s past. 43. Scientific evidence indicates that the concentration of oxygen in Earth s atmosphere increased dramatically approximately 2 billion years ago. Which event most closely coincides with this change in Earth s atmosphere? A) mammals appeared in land B) volcanic outgassing increased C) decay of organic matter increased D) photosynthetic organisms appeared 6.3.1: understands natural resources from the lithosphere and ecosystems are required to sustain human populations. 44. Explain how human activities can change the relative abundance of natural resources (atmospheric gases, fresh water, soil nutrients, forest products, fisheries, minerals, etc.). 45. Relate these changes to consequences, and explain the mechanisms that cause the consequences. 46. Large scale clear-cutting of forests near a heavily populated area would most likely result in a local increase in which atmospheric gas? A) Oxygen B) Sulfur dioxide C) Nitrogen D) Carbon dioxide 47. Which one of the substances listed below is a fossil fuel? A) uranium B) petroleum C) carbon dioxide D) granite 48. Nonrenewable resources are those that A) will never run out. B) take one or two decades to replace. C) have finite supplies. D) are contaminated by pollution. 49. Farming practices, such as tilling, have been shown to adversely affect A) the amount of fertilizer available. B) the number of rocks that can be weathered to produce soil. C) the quality and availability of soil for crops. D) the birds in the local area. 50. Which of the following may contaminate a communities fresh groundwater supply? A) carbon dioxide level in the atmosphere. B) landfill several miles away. C) acid rain. D) the plants growing in a nearby field.

A) nuclear energy B) X chemical energy C) electrical energy D) mechanical energy

A) nuclear energy B) X chemical energy C) electrical energy D) mechanical energy High School Science Flipchart Science S.HS.2 The student understands cell functions involve specific chemical reactions. Photosynthesis equation provided Can connect to chemistry indicators Low and Mid