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GSU BIOL 1104 Final Exam Version 1
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES
(Questions cover evolution, biodiversity, ecology, plants, animals, and physiology)
- Which of the following is a requirement for natural selection to occur? A. Acquired traits B. Heritable variation C. Random mating D. Equal survival for all individuals Natural selection requires variation in traits that are heritable and affect fitness.
- The theory of evolution explains: A. How humans evolved from monkeys B. Why individuals adapt during their lifetime
C. How populations change over time D. That all organisms evolve at the same rate Evolution occurs at the population level over generations, not within individual lifetimes.
- Which of the following best defines a species? A. Group with similar traits B. Group that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring C. Group in the same habitat D. Organisms that share a common ancestor The biological species concept defines species based on reproductive isolation.
- Which structure allows plants to perform gas exchange? A. Phloem B. Xylem C. Stomata D. Cuticle Stomata are pores in leaves that allow for gas exchange of CO₂ and O₂.
- Which plant tissue transports water from roots to leaves? A. Phloem B. Xylem C. Cambium
C. Reproduction D. Support Root hairs enhance absorption by increasing surface area in soil contact.
- Which of the following contributes most to biodiversity? A. Migration B. Speciation C. Mutation D. Extinction Speciation increases the number of different species.
- Which type of natural selection favors intermediate phenotypes? A. Disruptive selection B. Stabilizing selection C. Directional selection D. Artificial selection Stabilizing selection reduces variation and favors the average phenotype.
- Which evidence supports the theory of evolution? A. Moon phases B. Fossil records and homologous structures C. Earth’s magnetic field
D. Seasonal changes Fossils and anatomical similarities show common ancestry.
- Which of the following is a density-dependent factor affecting populations? A. Flood B. Disease C. Earthquake D. Wildfire Density-dependent factors like disease increase with population density.
- A population reaches carrying capacity when: A. Resources are unlimited B. There are no predators C. Birth and death rates are equal D. Immigration increases Carrying capacity is when population stabilizes due to limited resources.
- In the carbon cycle, plants primarily absorb carbon in what form? A. Glucose B. Carbon dioxide C. Methane
A. Mollusca B. Arthropoda C. Annelida D. Echinodermata Arthropods include insects, arachnids, and crustaceans with exoskeletons.
- Which animal group has a water vascular system? A. Arthropods B. Mollusks C. Echinoderms D. Cnidarians Echinoderms like starfish use a water vascular system for movement.
- Which is a characteristic of all chordates? A. Exoskeleton B. Notochord C. Open circulatory system D. Segmentation The notochord is a defining structure of chordates.
- Which structure helps fish maintain buoyancy? A. Gills B. Swim bladder C. Liver
D. Lateral line The swim bladder controls buoyancy in bony fish.
- Mammals are different from reptiles because they: A. Lay eggs B. Produce milk C. Have scales D. Are cold-blooded Mammals have mammary glands to produce milk.
- Birds are most closely related to which group? A. Amphibians B. Mammals C. Reptiles D. Fish Birds evolved from reptilian ancestors (specifically theropod dinosaurs).
- Which body system is responsible for transport of nutrients and oxygen? A. Respiratory B. Circulatory C. Digestive D. Excretory The circulatory system delivers nutrients and oxygen to cells.
D. Cortisol Insulin helps lower blood glucose levels.
- Which structure in the brain controls basic life functions? A. Cerebrum B. Brainstem C. Cerebellum D. Corpus callosum The brainstem regulates heartbeat, breathing, and reflexes.
- Which type of muscle is found in the walls of the intestines? A. Skeletal B. Smooth C. Cardiac D. Voluntary Smooth muscle lines internal organs and is involuntary.
- What is the function of the alveoli in the lungs? A. Trap dust B. Moisten air C. Gas exchange D. Pump air Alveoli are where oxygen enters and CO₂ leaves the blood.
- Which digestive organ absorbs most nutrients? A. Stomach B. Small intestine C. Large intestine D. Pancreas The small intestine has villi that absorb nutrients efficiently.
- Which system defends the body against pathogens? A. Nervous B. Circulatory C. Immune D. Endocrine The immune system detects and destroys harmful organisms.
- Vaccines work by stimulating the: A. Nervous system B. Immune system C. Digestive system D. Endocrine system Vaccines prepare the immune system to fight specific pathogens.
- What is an example of passive immunity? A. Antibodies passed from mother to baby B. A flu vaccine C. Getting sick from a virus
C. Gametes D. Diploid zygotes Meiosis produces haploid gametes (sperm and eggs).
- Which process increases genetic diversity in meiosis? A. Mitosis B. Crossing over C. Binary fission D. Cytokinesis Crossing over swaps genetic material between homologous chromosomes.
- What is the genotype of a heterozygous individual? A. AA B. Aa C. aa D. A Heterozygous means having two different alleles.
- If both parents are heterozygous for a trait, what is the chance their child will be homozygous recessive? A. 0% B. 25% C. 50%
D. 75%
Aa × Aa gives a 25% chance of aa offspring.
- A mutation in DNA can lead to: A. Increased fitness only B. A change in protein function C. No effects D. Always cancer Mutations may alter proteins, affecting function positively or negatively.
- Which organelle produces energy for the cell? A. Ribosome B. Mitochondrion C. Nucleus D. Lysosome Mitochondria generate ATP through cellular respiration.
- Which organelle is responsible for photosynthesis? A. Mitochondrion B. Vacuole C. Chloroplast D. Ribosome Chloroplasts in plant cells convert light into chemical energy.
- What is the basic unit of life? A. Atom
- Which of the following best describes an ecosystem? A. A group of the same species B. All abiotic factors only C. A community plus its environment D. One population and its predators An ecosystem includes living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components.
- What process do autotrophs use to make food? A. Respiration B. Fermentation C. Photosynthesis D. Digestion Autotrophs convert light energy into chemical energy via photosynthesis.
- In ecological succession, which species is the first to colonize barren environments? A. Trees B. Shrubs C. Lichens D. Ferns Lichens are pioneer species that break down rock and begin soil formation.
- The role an organism plays in its environment is called its: A. Habitat B. Environment C. Niche D. Community A niche includes all interactions an organism has within its ecosystem.
- Which of the following would increase genetic variation in a population? A. Asexual reproduction B. Sexual reproduction C. Cloning D. Mitosis Sexual reproduction shuffles genes and increases diversity.
- A food web is more realistic than a food chain because it: A. Shows abiotic factors B. Includes producers only C. Shows multiple feeding relationships D. Includes only herbivores Food webs reflect the complexity of actual ecosystems.
- In meiosis, when do homologous chromosomes separate? A. Telophase II B. Anaphase I
D. Neutralism Parasitism benefits the parasite at the host’s expense.
- Which organelle assembles proteins? A. Lysosome B. Ribosome C. Golgi body D. Mitochondrion Ribosomes synthesize proteins by translating mRNA.
- In a food pyramid, why does energy decrease at each trophic level? A. Energy is destroyed B. Organisms gain energy C. Energy is lost as heat D. Energy flows backward Energy is lost as heat due to metabolism and inefficiencies.
- Which molecule is used directly as energy in cells? A. DNA B. ATP C. Glucose D. Enzyme ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is the cell’s usable energy currency.
- Which plant hormone causes cells to elongate, especially in shoots? A. Cytokinin B. Auxin C. Gibberellin D. Abscisic acid Auxins promote stem elongation and directional growth.
- In a population, the Hardy-Weinberg principle states that allele frequencies remain constant if: A. Evolution occurs B. There’s natural selection C. No mutation, migration, or selection occurs D. The population is small The Hardy-Weinberg principle assumes no evolution to maintain equilibrium.
- Which type of reproduction leads to offspring identical to the parent? A. Sexual reproduction B. Asexual reproduction C. Fertilization D. Recombination Asexual reproduction does not involve genetic mixing, so offspring are clones.
