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Quiz Session - Attempts With Random Questions

College Biology Exam Questions

Page 1 of 100

1.

Choose the correct words to fill in the blanks.

He was never able to _______ that everyone _______ him had been invited to the dance.

  • accept; except

  • accept; accept

  • except; accept

  • except; except

Correct answer: accept; except

He was never able to accept that everyone except him had been invited to the dance.

The word accept is a verb that means to receive. The word except can be either a preposition or a verb, meaning to exclude.

2.

Which option best describes the term boiling?

  • The point at which liquid changes to vapor

  • The point at which vapor changes to gas or liquid

  • The point at which liquid changes to solid

  • The point at which solid changes to liquid

Correct answer: The point at which liquid changes to vapor

Boiling is the point at which liquid changes to vapor.

Condensation is the point at which vapor changes to gas or liquid. Freezing is the point at which liquid changes to a solid. Melting is the point at which solid changes to liquid.

3.

If John can make 1 sandwich in 4 minutes, how many complete sandwiches can he make in 47 minutes?

  • 11 sandwiches

  • 12 sandwiches

  • 10 sandwiches

  • 9 sandwiches

Correct answer: 11 sandwiches

Divide.
Using a unit conversion fraction, we can see
47 minutes × 1 sandwich/4 minutes = 11.75 sandwiches.

Round down.
Since we are only counting complete sandwiches, the extra 0.75 doesn't contribute to the final total. Therefore, John makes 11 sandwiches.

4.

Which of the following directional terms refers to the front of the body?

  • Anterior

  • Posterior

  • Superior

  • Inferior

Correct answer: Anterior

Anterior refers to the front of the body, while posterior refers to the back.

5.

The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, where 0 is more ______ and 14 is more ______.

  • acidic, basic

  • basic, neutral

  • basic, acidic

  • acidic, neutral

Correct answer: acidic, basic

The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, where 0 is more acidic and 14 is more basic. The pH scale of 0 to 14, ranges from acidic to neutral to basic.

6.

A group of researchers seeks to determine the relationship between air quality in the vicinity of a manufacturing plant and rates of asthma in surrounding residents compared to rates of asthma in a similar population where the air is not affected by the manufacturing plant. Air quality, in this study, would be considered the:

  • Independent variable

  • Dependent variable

  • Response variable

  • Confounding variable

Correct answer: Independent variable

The independent variable is the variable that is changed in an experiment in order to produce a result. In this example, the difference in air quality between the two populations is the independent variable. 

The dependent variable is the result of an experiment that is predicted to change when the independent variable is changed. In this example, the asthma rate is the dependent variable. Extraneous variables are undesirable variables that can influence the outcome of an experiment. The term response variable is synonymous with dependent variable. A confounding variable is an unmeasured third variable that influences the cause and effect in a causality relationship. In this example, an unexpected and sustained change in the normal wind patterns for the area surrounding the manufacturing plant could serve as a confounding variable.

7.

Find the value of x by solving the following proportion.

21:7 = 33:x

  • 11

  • 19

  • 9

  • 22

Correct answer: 11

Rewrite the proportion as a fraction

21/7 = 33/x

Simplify 21/7 to 3

3 = 33/x

Multiply both sides by x

3x = 33

Divide both sides by 3

x = 33/3

Simplify 33/3 to 11

x = 11

8.

Energy that exists due to the position or structure of matter is referred to as:

  • Potential energy

  • Kinetic energy

  • Chemical energy

  • Mechanical energy

Correct answer: Potential energy

Potential energy is energy that matter possesses by virtue of its position or structure. A book resting on a shelf possesses potential energy because the act of placing it on the shelf required energy to overcome the force of gravity. 

Chemical energy is a form of potential energy held in the bonds between atoms of a molecule. Kinetic energy is the energy of an object that is in motion and is a function of mass and velocity. A book falling from a shelf possesses kinetic energy of motion, which is a function of its mass and velocity (calculated as one half of its mass times the square of its velocity). Mechanical energy is the sum of potential energy and kinetic energy.

9.

Given that 4 centimeters = 1.5748 inches, how many centimeters are in one foot?

  • 30.48 cm

  • 18.90 cm

  • 35.25 cm

  • 14.72 cm

Correct answer: 30.48 cm

Use unit conversion fractions

1 foot × 12 inches/1 foot × 4 centimeters/1.5748 inches = 30.48 centimeters (cm).

10.

Alice is installing carpet in 5 rooms. If each room requires 550 square feet of carpet, how much total carpet is needed?

  • 2750 ft2

  • 2500 ft2

  • 3300 ft2

  • 2570 ft2

Correct answer: 2750 ft2

We can use a unit conversion fraction. 550 square feet (ft2)/ 1 room × 5 rooms = 550×5 = 2750 ft2.

11.

Which body system distributes blood and lymph throughout the body?

  • Cardiovascular system

  • Endocrine system

  • Respiratory system

  • Immune system

Correct answer: Cardiovascular system

The cardiovascular (circulatory) system is responsible for the movement of blood and lymph around the body. This allows for nutrient distribution, waste removal, communication, and protection. The cardiovascular system includes the heart, arteries, veins, plasma, lymph, lymphocytes, leukocytes, hemoglobin, and capillaries.

There are two well-integrated circulatory systems: closed circulatory system and open circulatory system.

  • The closed circulatory system is a double-loop system consisting of thick-walled arteries that transport blood away from the heart, thinner-walled veins that transport blood to the heart, and capillaries made of a single layer of endothelium that form a network that connect arteries to veins in tissues. The pulmonary loop carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs and returns oxygenated blood to the left atrium. The systemic loop carries oxygenated blood from the left ventricle to the body, returning deoxygenated blood to the right atrium.
  • The open circulatory (lymphatic) system circulates and filters interstitial fluid between cells and eventually drains into the cardiovascular (circulatory) system. Its capillaries drain interstitial fluid that fills in the spaces between the cells and filter it through a system of lymph nodes that are enriched in lymphocytes and provide surveillance by the immune system. Lymph (essentially plasma with the red blood cells removed) eventually drains into large veins leading back to the heart. Leukocytes and lymphocytes are enriched in lymph nodes, where they monitor and respond to foreign molecules that enter the system.

12.

One mile is 5280 feet. If Eric drove 33,000 feet, how many miles did he drive?

  • 6.25 mi

  • 6.5 mi

  • 5.3 mi

  • 5.75 mi

Correct answer: 6.25 mi

Use a unit conversion fraction:
33000 feet × 1 mile/5280 feet = 33000/5280 = 6.25 miles.

13.

During which mitosis phase do chromosomes lie along the midline of a cell?

  • Metaphase

  • Anaphase

  • Telophase

  • Prophase

Correct answer: Metaphase

Metaphase is the mitosis phase during which chromosomes lie along the midline of a cell. Metaphase is the second phase of mitosis, during which the following actions occur:

  • Chromosomes lie along the midline of the cell
  • Some spindle fibers attach to kinetochores
  • Fibers of aster attach to the plasma membrane

Mitosis is a four-stage process that creates two identical cells from one original cell.

  1. Prophase is the first and longest stage of mitosis. In this stage, the chromosomes become visible and the centrioles separate and move to opposite poles of the cell.
  2. Metaphase is the second stage of mitosis. In this stage, the chromosomes line up across the center of the cell and become connected to the spindle fiber at their centromere.
  3. Anaphase is the third stage of mitosis. In this stage, the sister chromatids separate into individual chromosomes and are pulled apart.
  4. Telophase is the fourth and last stage of mitosis. During this stage, the chromosomes gather at opposite ends of the cell and lose their distinct rod-like shapes. Two new nuclear membranes then form around each of the two regions of DNA and the spindle fibers disappear.

14.

Identify the type of sentence.

I don’t like sweet peas; I don’t like spinach.

  • Compound

  • Simple

  • Complex

  • Compound-complex

Correct answer: Compound

The given sentence is a compound sentence, as it contains two independent clauses. Compound sentences are comprised of two independent clauses joined by either a semicolon (;) or a comma + coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, for, so, yet, nor). Short sentences, like this one, could be written without the comma: I don't like sweet peas and I don't like spinach. They do, however, require either a semicolon or a coordinating conjunction.

A simple sentence only has one independent clause and no dependent clauses. A complex sentence contains one independent clause and one dependent clause for two total clauses. A compound-complex sentence contains two independent clauses and one dependent clause for three clauses total.

15.

The atomic number that is used to arrange atoms on the periodic table represents the number of which of the following?

  • Protons

  • Neutrons

  • Electrons

  • Isotopes

Correct answer: Protons

The atomic number that is used to arrange atoms on the periodic table represents the number of protons in the atom.

The atomic mass is the number on the periodic table that is shown in decimal form and it represents the element’s abundance isotopes. The number of neutrons can be figured by using the atomic mass number. The number of electrons is not presented on the periodic table.

16.

A box has a volume of 792 in3. If two sides are 8 in and 9 in, what is the length of the third side?

  • 11 in 

  • 10 in

  • 12 in

  • 13 in

Correct answer: 11 in

If the three sides of a box have lengths a, b, and c, then the volume is a⋅b⋅c. In this case, 792 = 8⋅9⋅c, so the third side c = 792/72 = 11 inches.

17.

In a double-blind experiment, which of the following is true?

  • Neither the participants nor the experimenter knows the details of the experiment

  • The participants know the details of the experiment, but the experimenter does not

  • The experimenter knows the details of the experiment, but the participants do not

  • Both the participants and the experimenter know the details of the experiment

Correct answer: Neither the participants nor the experimenter knows the details of the experiment

Double-blind experiments are designed to eliminate bias by ensuring that neither the participants nor the experimenter know the details of the experiment.

18.

Identify the subject of the following sentence. 

The kids’ grandmother wanted you to know that they, the children, are always well cared for at her home.

  • grandmother

  • kids

  • the children

  • you

Correct answer: grandmother

Grandmother is the subject of this sentence.

Kids' is a possessive here, meaning it is a modifier (adjective). The children is the subject of the relative clause beginning with that. You is the object of the verb wanted.

19.

John is shipping widgets in a box that is 12 inches high, 14 inches long, and 8 inches wide. If each widget has a volume of 2 in3, how many widgets will fit in a box? 

  • 672 widgets

  • 1344 widgets

  • 864 widgets

  • 972 widgets

Correct answer: 672 widgets

Find the volume of the box.
The volume of a box is Length × Width × Height. In this case, that means that the volume of the box is 12 × 14 × 8 = 1344 inches cubed (in3). 

Divide by the volume of the widget.
Since each widget takes 2 in3, divide the volume by 2, giving 1344/2 = 672 widgets.

20.

A finger contains three bones known as which of the following?

  • Phalanges

  • Carpals

  • Metacarpals

  • Metatarsals

Correct answer: Phalanges

A finger contains three bones, which are known as phalanges. The phalanges also form the toes.

The carpals and metacarpals form the hand. The tarsals and the metatarsals form the foot.

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