Sample Biology Test Questions
- Posted by Brian Stocker MA
- Date January 22, 2012
- Comments 9 comments
Biology Questions are common on these exams:
High School – BC Provincial,
Nursing Entrance – HESI, PAX RN, TEAS
Basic Biology Practice Questions
1. A _______ _______ is the sequence of developmental stages through which members of a given species must pass.
a. Life cycle
b. Life expectancy
c. Life sequence
d. None of the above
2. Life _________ are the ___________ and ___________ activities that all ________ systems must be able to carry out in order to maintain life.
a. Life sequences are the chemical and biological activities that all living systems must be able to carry out in order to maintain life.
b. Life expectancies are the biochemical and biophysical activities that all sentient systems must be able to carry out in order to maintain life.
c. Life cycles are the organic and inorganic activities that all living systems must be able to carry out in order to maintain life.
d. Life functions are the biochemical and biophysical activities that all living systems must be able to carry out in order to maintain life.
3. Nutrition is the sum total of activities through which a living organism obtains food; what are the three processes included in nutrition?
a. Ingestion, digestion, and absorption
b. Ingestion, diffusion, and assimilation
c. Ingestion, digestion, and assimilation
d. Incorporation, digestion, and assimilation
4. __________ is the taking in of food, __________ refers to the chemical changes that take place in the body, and ___________ involves the changing of certain nutrients into the protoplasm of cells.
a. Assimilation is the taking in of food, digestion refers to the chemical changes that take place in the body, and ingestion involves the changing of certain nutrients into the protoplasm of cells.
b. Ingestion is the taking in of food, digestion refers to the chemical changes that take place in the body, and assimilation involves the changing of certain nutrients into the protoplasm of cells.
c. Digestion is the taking in of food, ingestion refers to the chemical changes that take place in the body, and assimilation involves the changing of certain nutrients into the protoplasm of cells.
d. Ingestion is the taking in of food, digestion refers to the chemical changes that take place in the body, and diffusion involves the changing of certain nutrients into the protoplasm of cells.
5. The movement of molecules other than water from an area of ____ concentration to an area of _______ concentration is ________.
a. The movement of molecules other than water from an area of high concentration to an area of less concentration is diffusion.
b. The movement of molecules other than water from an area of less concentration to an area of high concentration is diffusion.
c. The movement of molecules other than water from an area of high concentration to an area of less concentration is osmosis.
d. The movement of molecules other than water from an area of lesser concentration to an area of less concentration is dispersal.
6. During _________, a solvent moves through a/an __________ membrane from an area with a_______ concentration of solvents to areas of ________ concentration.
a. During diffusion, a solvent moves through a semipermeable membrane from an area with a lesser concentration of solvents to areas of greater concentration.
b. During osmosis, a solvent moves through an impermeable membrane from an area with a lesser concentration of solvents to areas of greater concentration.
c. During osmosis, a solvent moves through a semipermeable membrane from an area with a greater concentration of solvents to areas of lesser concentration.
d. During osmosis, a solvent moves through a semipermeable membrane from an area with a lesser concentration of solvents to areas of greater concentration.
7. _________ and ________ are forms of _______ transport by which materials pass through plasma membranes.
a. Diffusion and osmosis are forms of active transport by which materials pass through plasma membranes.
b. Diffusion and osmosis are forms of passive transport by which materials pass through plasma membranes.
c. Dispersal and osmosis are forms of passive transport by which materials pass through plasma membranes.
d. Diffusion and synthesis are forms of active transport by which materials pass through plasma membranes.
8. The scientific discipline that studies the physiological aspects, structures, life cycles and division of cells is called __________.
a. The scientific discipline that studies the physiological aspects, structures, life cycles and division of cells is called physiology.
b. The scientific discipline that studies the physiological aspects, structures, life cycles and division of cells is called cell science.
c. The scientific discipline that studies the physiological aspects, structures, life cycles and division of cells is called biochemistry.
d. The scientific discipline that studies the physiological aspects, structures, life cycles and division of cells is called cell biology.
9. Which, if any, of the following statements about mitosis are correct?
a. Mitosis is the process of cell division by which identical daughter cells are produced.
b. Following mitosis, new cells contain less DNA than did the original cells.
c. During mitosis, the chromosome number is doubled.
d. A and C are correct.
10. Which, if any, of the following statements about meiosis are correct?
a. During meiosis, the number of chromosomes in the cell are halved.
b. Meiosis only occurs in eukaryotic cells.
c. Meiosis is the part of the life cycle that involves sexual reproduction.
d. All of these statements are correct.
Answer Key
1. A
A life cycle is the sequence of developmental stages through which members of a given species must pass.
2. D
Life functions are the biochemical and biophysical activities that all living systems must be able to carry out in order to maintain life.
3. A
The three processes included in nutrition are, ingestion, digestion, and absorption.
4. B
Ingestion is the taking in of food, digestion refers to the chemical changes that take place in the body, and assimilation involves the changing of certain nutrients into the protoplasm of cells.
5. A
The movement of molecules other than water from an area of high concentration to an area of less concentration is diffusion.
6. C
During osmosis, a solvent moves through a/an semipermeable membrane from an area with a greater concentration of solvents to areas of lesser concentration.
7. B
Diffusion and osmosis are forms of passive transport by which materials pass through plasma membranes.
8. D
The scientific discipline that studies the physiological aspects, structures, life cycles and division of cells is called cell biology.
9. D
A and C are correct.
a) Mitosis is the process of cell division by which identical daughter cells are produced.
c) During mitosis, the chromosome number is doubled.
10. D
All of these statements are correct.
Basic Concepts in Elementary Biology
Cell Structure and Function
Cells are the basic units of life. Two basic types – prokaryotic cells, that lack a nucleus and organelles, and eukaryotic cells that have a nucleus and organelles like mitochondria and ribosomes.
Genetics and Heredity
The study of how traits are passed from parents to offspring. Genetic information is carried by DNA. RNA helps in protein synthesis.
Evolution and Natural Selection
The process that species change over time is evolution. Organisms adapt to their environment by natural selection.
Ecology and Ecosystems
Ecology is the study of organisms interacting with each other and their environment. An ecosystem includes all living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components in an area.
Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration
Photosynthesis is the process that plants convert sunlight into chemical energy or glucose which is then converted into energy (ATP) by the plant, called cellular respiration.
Human Anatomy and Physiology
Human anatomy is the study of the body’s structure, while physiology is the study of how the body functions. Major systems include the circulatory, respiratory, and nervous systems. Anatomy and Physiology practice questions Anatomy and Physiology practice II
Microorganisms and Viruses
Bacteria, fungi, and protists are essential for decomposition and nitrogen fixation. Viruses are infectious agents that require a host cell to replicate.
Plant Biology
Roots, stems, and leaves allow plants to ingest nutrients perform photosynthesis. Plants reproduce through seeds, spores, or vegetative parts.
Biochemistry
The study of the chemical processes in living organisms. Important biomolecules are carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids.
Cell Division
Cells reproduce by Mitosis (two identical child cells), and meiosis, which produces four genetically diverse gametes (sex cells).
Date Published: Sunday, January 22nd, 2012
Date Modified: Saturday, July 6th, 2024
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9 Comments
how many marks does each question carry?
Usually 1 mark per question. A few tests will subtract a mark for a wrong answer, so watch out for that – but not too common.
Can someone explain why answers for 5 and 6 are from a lesser concentration to a higher??
I thought because solutions seek to be isotonic, that solutions would disperse to move *from* a high concentration *to* a lower one (and therefore be balanced on both sides of the membrane, or generally be evenly dispersed if not across a membrane)
If they’re moving from a lesser concentration to a higher (like the answer key says, twice) wouldn’t that be a form of active transport? and therefore not be diffusion/osmosis, which are both passive??
I know this is YEARS too late but basically during osmosis WATER moves from an area of high concentration of water to low concentration of WATER. Therefore, when there is a high concentration of WATER there is a low concentration of SOLUTES and when there is a low concentration of WATER there is a high concentration of SOLUTES. Those questions were asking about the solute concentration. Hope this makes sense and helps you and others with the same question!
Osmosis goes both ways to equalize – diffusion goes from greater to lesser
yes osmosis goes in both direction ,but net direction of water is from its lower water potential to its high
good point – could be interpreted either way — During prophase and metaphase of mitosis, each chromosome exists in the above state. For humans, this means that during prophase and metaphase of mitosis, a human will have 46 chromosomes, but 92 chromatids (again, remember that there are 92 chromatids because the original 46 chromosomes were duplicated during S phase of interphase)
Can u please upload more quiz
Thank you so much Brian, these tests have been so helpful!