Biology Trivia Questions for Students

A certain species of land snail exists as either a cream color or a solid brown color. Intermediate individuals are relatively rare. Which of the following terms best describes this?

• Adisruptive selection
• Bartificial selection
• Cdirectional selection
• Dstabilizing selection

Hawkmoths are insects that are similar in appearance and behavior to hummingbirds. Which of the following is LEAST valid?

• AThese organisms have analogous structures.
• BThese organisms are examples of convergent evolution.
• CThese organisms are genetically related to each other.
• DThese organisms were subjected to similar environmental conditions.

To ensure that hatchling sea turtles orient to the sea rather than inland, which of the following is the most environmentally sound practice around sea turtle nest sites?

• AMinimizing artificial lighting in the area
• BScattering preferred turtle foods between the nests and the sea
• CDigging troughs in the sand from the nests to the sea
• DBuilding low fences on the sand dunes

Which of the following reactions occurs in the forward direction during glycolysis but in the reverse direction during fermentation?

• Apyruvate → lactate
• Bpyruvate → ethanol
• CNAD+ + H+ + 2e- → NADH
• DADP + P → ATP

This process leads to the net production of two pyruvate, two ATP, and two NADH.

• AChemiosmosis
• BGlycolysis
• CCalvin cycle
• DFermentation

Which of the following pieces of evidence most strongly supports the common origin of all life on Earth?

• AAll organisms show heritable variation.
• BAll organisms use essentially the same genetic code.
• CAll organisms reproduce.
• DAll organisms require energy.

Villi and microvilli are present in the small intestine and aid in reabsorption by

• Aincreasing the surface area of the small intestine
• Bmaking the small intestine more hydrophilic
• Cmaking the small intestine more hydrophobic
• Ddecreasing the surface area of the small intestine

All of the following support the endosymbiotic theory that ancestors of mitochondria and chloroplasts were once independent, free-living prokaryotes EXCEPT:

• AMitochondria and chloroplasts function independently from the eukaryotic host cell.
• BMitochondria and chloroplasts have ribosomes that more closely resemble those of bacteria than of eukaryotic cells.
• CMitochondria, chloroplasts, and bacteria have a single, circular chromosome without histones or proteins.
• DMitochondria and chloroplasts divide independently of the eukaryotic host cell by a process similar to binary fission.

Crossing-over during meiosis permits scientists to determine

• Athe distance between genes on a chromosome
• Bthe rate of mutations
• Cthe chance for variation in zygotes
• Dwhich traits are dominant or recessive

Warning coloration adopted by animals that possess a chemical defense mechanism.

• AAposomatic coloration
• BDeceptive markings
• CCryptic coloration
• DBatesian mimicry

Each of the following has a better chance of influencing gene frequencies in small populations than in large populations, but which one most consistently requires a small population as a precondition for its occurrence?

• AGenetic drift
• BMutation
• CNon-random mating
• DNatural selection

Natural selection is based on all of the following except

• Agenetic variation exists within populations.
• Bindividuals adapt to their environments and, thereby, evolve.
• Cthe best-adapted individuals tend to leave the most offspring.
• Dindividuals who survive longer tend to leave more offspring than those who die young.

Which of the following pairs of structures is least likely to represent homology?

• AThe wings of a bat and the arms of a human
• BThe hemoglobin of a baboon and that of a gorilla
• CThe wings of a bird and those of an insect
• DThe mitochondria of a plant and those of an animal

All of the following statements are true EXCEPT

• Aepinephrine increases blood sugar levels and heart rate
• Binsulin decreases storage of glycogen
• Cthyroxine increases the rate of metabolism
• Dvasopressin stimulates water reabsorption in the kidney

What is the best explanation for the fact that tuna, sharks, and dolphins all have a similar streamlined appearance?

• AThey all sustained the same set of mutations.
• BThey all share a recent common ancestor.
• CThey acquire a streamlined body type to survive in their particular environment.
• DThe streamlined body has a selective advantage in that environment.

Which of the following is the source of oxygen produced during photosynthesis?

• AH2O2
• BCO
• CH2O
• DCO2

Homologous structures are often cited as evidence for the process of natural selection. All of the following are examples of homologous structures EXCEPT

• Athe flippers of a whale and the arms of a man
• Bthe wings of a bird and the wings of a bat
• Cthe forelegs of an insect and the forelimbs of a dog
• Dthe pectoral fins of a porpoise and the flippers of a seal

All of the following are examples of events that can prevent interspecific breeding EXCEPT

• Athe potential mates experience behavioral isolation
• Bthe potential mates have different courtship rituals
• Cthe potential mates have similar breeding seasons
• Dthe potential mates experience geographic isolation

A new plant was discovered and determined to have an unusually low number of stomata on the undersides of its leaves. For what environment would this plant most likely be best adapted?

• AHumid and sunny
• BHot and dry
• CCold and rainy
• DHot and humid

In chick embryos, the extraembryonic membrane that provides nourishment to the fetus is the

• Aplacenta
• Begg yolk
• Cchorion
• Damnion

Of the following anatomical structures, which is homologous to the wing of a bird?

• ADorsal fin of a shark
• BFlipper of a cetacean
• CHindlimb of a kangaroo
• DWing of a butterfly

Which of the following is the correct characteristic of arteries?

• AThey contain valves that prevent backflow.
• BThey always carry oxygenated blood.
• CThey carry blood away from the heart.
• DThey are thin-walled blood vessels.

All of the following are modes of asexual reproduction EXCEPT

• Ameiosis
• Bfission
• Csporulation
• Dbudding

Viral transduction is the process by which viruses carry bacterial DNA from one bacterial cell to another. In what way does this process play a role in bacterial evolution?

• ABy increasing genetic variation of the bacteria
• BBy directly creating new species of bacteria
• CBy making the bacterial cell more resistant to predators
• DBy selecting for viruses better able to infect bacteria

The major difference between cartilage and bone is that cartilage

• Ais composed of collagen and salts
• Bis a part of the skeletal system
• Clacks blood vessels and nerves
• Dsecretes a matrix

DNA sequences in many human genes are very similar to the corresponding sequences in chimpanzees. Which statement gives the most likely explanation of this fact?

• AHumans and chimpanzees evolved from a distant common ancestor about 4 billion years ago.
• BChimpanzees evolved from humans millions of years ago.
• CHumans evolved from chimpanzees millions of year ago.
• DHumans and chimpanzees evolved from a recent common ancestor—about 6 million years ago.

The relatives of a group of pelicans from the same species that separated from each other because of an unsuccessful migration are reunited 150 years later and find that they are unable to produce offspring. This is an example of

• Agene flow.
• Bsympatric speciation.
• Callopatric speciation.
• Dgenetic drift.

Which of the following is known to be involved in the photoperiodic flowering response of angiosperms?

• AAuxin
• BGibberellins
• CCytochrome
• DPhytochrome

A cell is placed into a hypertonic environment and its cytoplasm shrivels up. This demonstrates the principle of

• Aplasmolysis.
• Bfacilitated diffusion.
• Cdiffusion.
• Dactive transport.

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of bacteria?

• APlasma membrane consisting of lipids and proteins
• BMembrane-bound cellular organelles
• CCircular double-stranded DNA
• DRibosomes that synthesize polypeptides

Which of the following statements is correct about the DNA content of a particular diploid cell just prior to mitosis if the DNA content of the same diploid cell in G1 is X?

• AThe DNA content of the cell in metaphase I is 0.5X
• BThe DNA content of the cell in metaphase I is 4X.
• CThe DNA content of the cell in metaphase I is 2X.
• DThe DNA content of the cell in metaphase I is X.

The pH of two lakes is measured. Lake A has a pH of 8.0; Lake B has a pH of 6.0. Which of the following statements is correct about these lakes?

• AThe hydrogen ion concentration of Lake B is 104 M.
• BThe pH of both lakes will decrease in response to acid rain.
• CLake B is 100 times more alkaline than Lake A.
• DLake B is alkaline.

Some strains of viruses can change normal mammalian cells into cancer cells in vitro. This transformation of the mammalian cell is usually associated with the

• Aformation of a pilus between the mammalian cell and the virus
• Bconversion of the host's genome into the viral DNA
• Cincorporation of the viral genome into the mammalian cell's nuclear DNA
• Drelease of spores into the mammalian cell

Which of these is the smallest unit that natural selection can change?

• Aan individual's genotype
• Ba population's gene frequency
• Ca species' gene frequency
• Dan individual's genome

Which of these is a statement that Darwin would have rejected?

• AIndividuals can acquire new characteristics as they respond to new environments or situations.
• BThe smallest entity that can evolve is an individual organism.
• CEnvironmental change plays a role in evolution.
• DInherited variation in a population is a necessary precondition for natural selection to operate.

A change in a neuron membrane potential from +50 millivolts to -70 millivolts is considered

• Aan action potential
• Bdepolarization
• Chyperpolarization
• Drepolarization

In most ecosystems, net primary productivity is important because it represents the

• Abiomass of all producers
• Btotal solar energy converted to chemical energy by producers
• Cenergy available to heterotrophs
• Denergy available to producers

Oligomycin is an antibiotic that blocks proton channels in the cristae of mitochondria by binding to ATP synthase. Which of the following would be the first expected response after the application of oligomycin to cells?

• AH+ would increase outside mitochondria.
• BWater production would increase.
• CH+ would increase in the matrix (inside mitochondrial inner membrane).
• DH+ would increase inside the intermembrane space (the compartment between inner and outer membranes).

Which of the following statements is NOT correct about ancient Earth?

• AThe first cells formed about 3? billion years ago, according to the fossil record.
• BEarth was formed about 4? billion years ago.
• CThe presence of free oxygen facilitated the rapid formation of organic molecules.
• DAmino acid synthesis could have been stimulated by volcanic eruption.

Fossil evidence indicates that horses have gradually increased in size over geologic time. Which of the following terms best describes this?

• Astabilizing selection
• Bdisruptive selection
• Cartificial selection
• Ddirectional selection

The tandem back-and-forth evolution of closely related species, which is exemplified by predator-prey relationships.

• ADivergent evolution
• BCoevolution
• CConvergent evolution
• DParallel evolution

Destruction of all beta cells in the pancreas will cause which of the following to occur?

• AGlucagon secretion will stop and digestive enzymes will be secreted.
• BInsulin secretion will stop and blood glucose levels will increase.
• CGlucagon secretion will stop and blood glucose levels will decrease.
• DGlucagon secretion will stop and blood glucose levels will increase.

Which of the following theories is based on the notion that mitochondria and chloroplasts evolved from prokaryotic cells?

• ATaxonomic model
• BEndosymbiotic model
• CFluid mosaic model
• DRespiration feedback model

A reaction that includes energy as one of its reactants is called a(n)

• Ahydrolysis reaction.
• Bendergonic reaction.
• Cexergonic reaction.
• Dredox reaction.

Which of the following statements about cellular respiration is correct?

• AATP is formed because an endergonic reaction is coupled with an exergonic reaction.
• BThe final electron acceptor of the electron transport chain is NAD+.
• CMost CO2 produced during cellular respiration is released from glycolysis.
• DProtons are pumped through ATP synthase by active transport.

Viruses are considered an exception to the cell theory because they

• Amove about via their tails
• Bhave evolved from ancestral protists
• Care not independent organisms
• Dhave only a few genes

The Krebs cycle in humans occurs in the

• Aintermembrane space
• Bmitochondrial matrix
• Couter mitochondrial membrane
• Dinner mitochondrial membrane

Hemoglobin is a molecule that binds to both O2 and CO2. There is an allosteric relationship between the concentrations of O2 and CO2. Hemoglobin's affinity for O2

• Aincreases in exercising muscle tissue
• Bdecreases as blood pH decreases
• Cdecreases as CO2 concentration decreases
• Dincreases as H+ concentration increases

In the inherited disorder called Pompe disease, glycogen breakdown in the cytosol occurs normally and blood glucose levels are normal, yet glycogen accumulates in lysosomes. This suggests a malfunction with

• Aenzymes in the lysosomes
• Bmembrane transport during exocytosis
• Cmembrane transport during endocytosis
• Denzymes in the mitochondria

All viruses contain at least these two principal components:

• ADNA and cell membrane
• BDNA and proteins
• CRNA and cell wall
• Dnucleic acid and a capsid