Biology E/M Sample

Test 1

Directions: Each question or incomplete statement is followed by five

possible answers or completions. For both Biology-E and Biology-M, select
the one choice that is the best answer and fill in the corresponding space on
the answer sheet.

1. Sexually reproducing organisms show greater variation than asexually

reproducing ones because
(A) they exhibit fewer mutations
(B) they exhibit a greater mutation rate
(C) asexually reproducing organisms do not have internal membranes
(D) their alleles recombine
(E) they are larger

2. Several species of rhododendron are growing in the same area. All of

the plants are capable of hybridization, but none ever do because some
of the plants produce pollen in early June while others produce pollen
in late June. This best describes an evolutionary process known as
(A) survival of the fittest
(B) overpopulation
(C) reproductive isolation
(D) artificial selection
(E) stabilizing selection

3. All of the following contribute to variation in a population EXCEPT

(A) mutation
(B) isolation
 (C) sexual reproduction
(D) conjugation
(E) genetic drift

4. Oxygen released by plants comes from

(A) air
(B) carbon dioxide
(C) glucose
(D) chlorophyll
(E) water

5. All of the following are mammals EXCEPT

(A) tiger
(B) ape
(C) kangaroo
(D) blue jay
(E) duck-billed platypus

6. Which of the following is a density-independent factor?

(A) Disease
(B) Famine
(C) Floods
(D) Predation
(E) Increase in toxins in the environment

7. A gene pool in a population of jackrabbits in a field remained constant

for many generations. The most probable reason for this stable gene
pool is that
(A) no migration occurred in a large population with random mating and
no mutations
(B) no migration occurred in a small population with random mating and
no mutations
(C) no migration occurred in a large population with nonrandom mating
 and no mutations
(D) there was much migration into and out of the large population, but
mating was random and there were few mutations
(E) the population was small with no mutations, no migrations, and
nonrandom mating

8. All of the following about plasma membrane structure and function are
correct EXCEPT
(A) all plasma membranes have the identical composition and structure
(B) diffusion of gases across a membrane require that the membrane be
moist
(C) facilitated diffusion is an example of passive transport
(D) proteins serve as membrane channels
(E) plasma membranes contain receptors that are specific for the
molecules they uptake

9. Which of the following exhibits internal fertilization, external

development of the embryo, few eggs, and much parenting?
(A) Mammals
(B) Amphibians
(C) Reptiles
(D) Birds
(E) Fish

10. A solution with a pH of 5 is times more acidic than a

solution with a pH of 7.
(A) 1/10
(B) 1/100
(C) 10
(D) 100
(E) 1,000

11. Vitamins are essential for normal cell function. They are important
because they
 (A) function as an energy source
(B) are hormones
(C) directly assist in the normal conduction of impulses
(D) resist pH changes
(E) enable enzymes to function normally

12. Tendons connect to ; ligaments connect

to .
(A) bone to bone; bone to muscle
(B) bone to muscle; bone to bone
(C) bone to bone; muscle to muscle
(D) muscle to muscle; bone to bone
(E) ligaments to bone; tendons to bones

13. Food chains never consist of more than 4 or 5 trophic levels. The
reason for this is
(A) energy is lost along the food chain
(B) there are fewer primary consumers in the world than secondary
consumers
(C) producers are always shown on the bottom of any food chain
(D) pioneer organisms compete with consumers
(E) all of the above are correct

14. Here is a sketch. All of the following processes produce this molecule
EXCEPT the

(A) Calvin cycle

 (B) Krebs cycle
(C) electron transport chain
(D) light-dependent reactions
(E) glycolysis

15. A black animal is crossed with a white animal and all the offspring are
black. Which pattern of inheritance is most likely at work?
(A) Law of dominance
(B) Law of segregation
(C) Incomplete dominance
(D) Codominance
(E) Sex-linked inheritance

16. According to the best scientific evidence about evolution, species

descended from a common ancestor
(A) slowly and gradually by the accumulation of many small changes
(B) rapidly through divergent evolution alone
(C) rapidly through mutation alone
(D) in spurts of relatively rapid changes
(E) because they needed to adapt to a changing environment or they
would die

17. A black hen is crossed with a white rooster, and only gray offspring
result. If two of these gray offspring are mated, what is the chance of
hatching a white offspring?
(A) 0%
(B) 25%
(C) 50%
(D) 75%
(E) 100%

18. Farmers have successfully bred Brussels sprouts, broccoli, kale, and
cauliflower from the mustard plant. This demonstrates
(A) convergent evolution
 (B) coevolution
(C) adaptive radiation
(D) natural selection
(E) artificial selection

Directions: Each set of lettered choices below refers to the numbered

questions or statements immediately following it. Select the one lettered
choice that best answers each question and fill in the corresponding space on
the answer sheet. A choice may be used once, more than once, or not at all in
each set.

Questions 19–21

(A) Imprinting
(B) Classical conditioning
(C) Fixed action pattern
(D) Altruism
(E) Operant conditioning

19. Geese hatchlings follow the first thing they see

20. Innate, highly stereotypical behavior, which, once begun, is continued to

completion no matter how useless

21. Trial and error learning

22. Scientists believe that the giraffe originally had a short neck that has
grown longer over time. The most likely explanation of this is which of
the following?
I. Natural selection
II. Adaptive radiation
III. Divergent evolution
(A) I only
(B) I and II only
 (C) I and III only
(D) II and III only
(E) I, II, and III

23. Which of the following are most closely related?

I. Acer rubrum
II. Acer sucre
III. Pseudotriton rubrum
(A) I and II
(B) II and III
(C) I and III
(D) All are closely related.
(E) It cannot be determined using only scientific names.

Questions 24–26
Refer to this drawing of the eye.

24. Identify the structure that changes to allow different amounts of light to
enter the eye

25. Identify the structure that absorbs light and sends nerve impulses to the
brain
 26. Identify the retina

Questions 27–29
Five beakers are used in an experiment about osmosis. Each beaker contains 50
mL of a sucrose solution of varying concentrations: 0.2 M, 0.4 M, 0.6 M, 0.8 M,
or 1.0 M. Pieces of fresh potato (each 10.0 g in mass) are cut up, weighed, and
placed into the beakers. After 12 hours, the potatoes are carefully removed from
each beaker and weighed again. See the data in the table below.

Concentration of Mass of Potato at Mass of Potato

Beaker
Sucrose Solution Time Zero After 12 Hours
1 1.0 M 10.0 g 8.2 g
2 0.8 M 10.0 g 9.4 g
3 0.6 M 10.0 g 9.8 g
4 0.4 M 10.0 g 11.5 g
5 0.2 M 10.0 g 13.6 g

27. In this experiment

(A) water flowed into the potato only
(B) water flowed out of the potato only
(C) sucrose flowed into the potato only
(D) sucrose flowed both into and out of the potato
(E) water flowed both into and out of the potato

28. Given the results of this experiment, what is the molarity

(concentration) within the potato cells?
(A) Less than 0.2 M
(B) Less than 0.4 M but greater than 0.2 M
(C) Less than 0.6 M but greater than 0.4 M
(D) Less than 0.8 M but greater than 0.6 M
(E) Greater than 0.8 M

29. The results of this experiment give support to the theory that
 (A) water diffuses down a gradient
(B) water can be actively transported against a gradient
(C) solutes will diffuse from high concentration to low concentration
(D) living cells respond in different ways to the same conditions
(E) potato cells respond differently from other living cells

Questions 30–32
Refer to the pedigree below that shows inheritance of blood types. (Males are
squares; females are circles.)

30. What is correct about the inheritance of blood types?

(A) A is dominant over B
(B) B is dominant over A
(C) O is dominant over A only
(D) O is dominant over both A and B
(E) O is recessive

31. The genotype of person #2 is

(A) AO
(B) AA
(C) BO
(D) BB
(E) AB

32. If couple #6 and #7 had another child, what is the chance the blood type
would be O?
 (A) 0%
(B) 25%
(C) 50%
(D) 75%
(E) 100%

Questions 33–35
Refer to this diagram of the human heart.

33. The vessel that sends blood to the entire body

34. The chamber that receives blood from the body

35. The artery that carries deoxygenated blood

Questions 36–39
Refer to this graph of an impulse passing across a neuron.
 36. The impulse is passing

37. The sodium-potassium pump is responsible for pumping ions across the
membrane

38. A steep gradient of sodium and potassium ions exists at the axon
membrane

39. An impulse cannot pass

Questions 40–43

A study of a small farm in Michigan was carried out in 2004. A variety of

organisms were found to live there, including meadow voles, grasshoppers,
spiders, birds, and mice. The farmer retired and moved away, leaving the land to
grow wild.

40. The meadow voles, grasshoppers, spiders, mice, and other organisms,
along with the soil, minerals, and water make up a(n)
(A) ecosystem
(B) population
(C) community
(D) food chain
(E) desert biome

41. The study of the farm revealed the population size of the different
species of animals during the summer months of June, July, and August.
The results are recorded in the table below.
 Numbers of Organisms
Species of Animals June July August
Spiders 850 300 550
Grasshoppers 1,800 4,600 4,000
Mice 275 225 250
Birds 95 80 90

Which is correct about the data collected from June through August?
(A) Only the spider population changed to any extent.
(B) The population of mice increased as the summer went on.
(C) The population of grasshoppers remained fairly constant.
(D) The population of birds remained fairly constant.
(E) Both the population of spiders and mice remained constant.

42. What will most likely occur if the farm is sold and the fields are
allowed to grow wild?
(A) The plants will change, but the animals will stay the same.
(B) The animals will change, but the plants will stay the same.
(C) Neither the plants nor the animals will change because the climate
will not change.
(D) Both the animals and plants will change.
(E) All the animals will slowly die out because they will not be adapted
to the new environment.

43. Although several different species of birds inhabit the farm, competition
between these birds rarely occurs. The best explanation for this lack of
competition is that these birds
(A) share food with each other
(B) have a limited supply of food
(C) live in different ecological niches
(D) are closely related
(E) have experienced mutations in their DNA that prevent them from
competing
 44. Humans eat corn and other vegetables. Humans also eat beef from cattle
that were corn fed. In those cases, cattle and humans occupy which of
the following trophic levels?
(A) Producer and primary consumer
(B) Primary consumer and secondary consumer
(C) Secondary consumer and tertiary consumer
(D) Tertairy consumer and quaternary consumer
(E) Both are primary consumers

Questions 45–47

(A) Tundra
(B) Marine biome
(C) Desert
(D) Temperate deciduous forest
(E) Tropical rain forest

45. Only 4 percent of the land surface but accounts for 20 percent of Earth’s
food production

46. Provides most of Earth’s food and oxygen

47. Consists of trees that drop their leaves in winter

Questions 48–51

Refer to this diagram of a flower.

 48. Site where the pollen germinates

49. Site of sperm production

50. Becomes the fruit

51. Becomes the seed

Questions 52–54
The table shows a series of four fruit fly experiments breeding normal and
vestigial wing flies. The flies in each cross could be either homozygous or
heterozygous for wing trait.

Parents Offspring
Cross Female Male Normal Wing Vestigial Wing
1 Normal wing Vestigial wing 95 0
2 Vestigial wing Normal wing 105 0
3 Normal wing Normal wing 76 23
4 Normal wing Vestigial wing 56 51

52. The trait for vestigial wings is most likely

(A) Autosomal dominant
(B) Autosomal recessive
(C) Sex-linked dominant
(D) Sex-linked recessive
(E) It cannot be determined

53. What is the most likely genotype of the female normal wing in cross 4?
(A) Nn
(B) NN
(C) nn
(D) X−X
(E) X−X−
 54. What is the most likely genotype of the male normal wing in cross 3?
(A) NN
(B) Nn
(C) nn
(D) X−X
(E) X−X−

55. Which is true about the karyotype below?

(A) It shows a normal female.

(B) It shows a normal male.
(C) It shows a person who suffers from Down syndrome.
(D) It shows a person who suffers from a gene mutation.
(E) It shows a person who suffers from a condition that results from
nondisjunction.

Questions 56–58
Refer to this sketch of prokaryotic DNA as it commonly undergoes replication
and transcription simultaneously.
56. If 1 is thymine, then A must be
(A) guanine
(B) cytosine
(C) thymine
(D) adenine
(E) uracil

57. If 4 is adenine, then D must be

(A) guanine
(B) cytosine
(C) thymine
(D) adenine
(E) uracil

58. In what way would the process shown be different in a eukaryotic cell?
(A) Eukaryotic cells do not carry out transcription.
(B) Eukaryotic cells do not carry out replication.
(C) Eukaryotic cells do not carry out both transcription and replication.
(D) Eukaryotic cells carry out both processes, but they do not occur at
the same time.
(E) Eukaryotic cells carry out both these processes in the Golgi body.
 59. A fungus infection affected nearly all the oak trees in a particular forest
so that the coloration of the bark turned almost black. Scientists
studying the diseased trees discovered that a moth population that
inhabited the forest changed from being light brown to being almost
black. Which of the following would best explain that color change of
the moth population?
(A) The moths developed darker wings to blend in with the trees.
(B) The fungus infected the moths as well as the oak trees.
(C) The almost black moths within the population were the only ones to
survive once the trees darkened because of the fungus infection.
(D) The moths were the first to change color, which caused the trees to
darken.
(E) The fungus caused mutations to occur in the moths as well as in the
oak trees.

60. According to scientific evidence, the age of Earth is closest to

(A) 400 years old
(B) 4,000 years old
(C) 400,000 years old
(D) 4,000,000 years old
(E) 4 billion years old

If you are taking the Biology-E test, continue with questions 61–80.
If you are taking the Biology-M test, go to question 81 now.

Biology-E Section
If you are taking the Biology-E test, continue with questions 61–80. Be sure
to begin this section of the test by filling in circle 61 on your answer sheet.

61. All of the following are true of organisms classified in the domain
Archaea EXCEPT
(A) one example is E. coli, the organism that lives in the human gut
 (B) they can thrive in environments with very high temperatures
(C) they can thrive in environments with high salt concentrations
(D) they have no internal membranes
(E) their DNA can contain introns

62. Factors that influence population density include which of the

following?
I. Predation
II. Interspecies competition
III. Intraspecies competition
(A) I only
(B) II only
(C) I and III only
(D) II and III only
(E) I, II, and III

63. The human population today can best be described as

(A) declining
(B) growing linearly
(C) growing exponentially
(D) at the carrying capacity
(E) fluctuating seasonally

64. All of the following are true of K-strategists EXCEPT

(A) intensive parenting
(B) reproduce only once or twice
(C) example: humans
(D) large young
(E) slow maturation

65. Lamprey eels attach to the skin of certain trout and absorb nutrients
from the body of the trout. Which symbols best represent this
relationship?
(A) (+/+)
 (B) (+/0)
(C) (+/−)
(D) (−/+)
(E) (−/0)

Questions 66–67
When two species of paramecium, P. caudatum and P. aurelia, are grown in
separate culture dishes, each population grows rapidly and then levels off at the
carrying capacity for its environment. When they are combined in one culture dish,
P. aurelia survives, but P. caudatum does not.

66. This is most likely because

(A) P. caudatum suffers a mutation that prevents its survival
(B) P. caudatum was attacked by a pathogenic virus or bacteria
(C) P. aurelia must have evolved into a superior organism
(D) The two populations are competing with each other, and P. aurelia
can outcompete P. caudatum
(E) P. aurelia is a predator, and P. caudatum is its prey

67. Which of the following statements is true about the two populations of
paramecium grown in culture together?
(A) They share a niche.
(B) This is an example of commensalism.
(C) The two populations do not interact.
(D) This is an example of divergent evolution.
(E) This is an example of primary ecological succession.

Questions 68–69
This graph shows the effects of large-scale deforestation on rainfall in the
Amazon rain forest.
 68. Deforestation will ultimately
(A) cause precipitation to decrease about 25%
(B) cause precipitation to decrease about 50%
(C) cause precipitation to increase about 25%
(D) cause precipitation to increase about 50%
(E) cause precipitation to increase at first and then decrease in future
years

69. What is the most likely explanation for the change in precipitation as a
result of the deforestation of a vast area like the Amazon basin?
(A) Runoff increases and greatly reduces transpiration and the formation
of clouds.
(B) Local temperatures rise due to the reduction of the cooling process
of transpiration.
(C) The length of the rainy season will increase.
(D) The climate in other parts of the world will be altered.
(E) Although they know it occurs, scientists do not understand this
phenomenon.

Questions 70–72
Refer to this sketch that shows early embryonic development.
 70. The structure at C is
(A) endoderm and will give rise to the nervous system
(B) mesoderm and will give rise to the coelom
(C) ectoderm and will give rise to the nervous system
(D) ectoderm and will give rise to the gut
(E) endoderm and will give rise to the gut

71. The function of the structure at A is to

(A) give rise to blood and bones
(B) provide a cavity for organ systems
(C) give rise to muscle
(D) give rise to the viscera
(E) provide an end stage to cleavage

72. This embryo could NOT develop into a(n)

(A) sea star
(B) flatworm
(C) lobster
(D) snake
(E) earthworm

Questions 73–74
Nitrogen fertilizer has been applied yearly since 1850 to an experimental farm in
the United States. These three graphs show the data collected over 100 years until
1950.
73. Which statement most accurately describes the information shown on
these graphs?
(A) There were the fewest number of species of plants in 1850.
(B) There was the least biomass in 1850.
(C) There was a decline in diversity over 100 years.
(D) In 1875, there were more species of plant but less biomass than in
1850.
(E) The number of species of plants and the biomass increased from
1850 to 1950.

74. What is the most likely cause of the change over 100 years?
(A) There was less air pollution and therefore more sunlight in 1850.
(B) Global warming occurred.
(C) Natural ecological succession occurred.
(D) Global warming was responsible for a decrease in biomass.
(E) Plants that could utilize nitrogen most efficiently had the selective
advantage.
 75. What type of organism helps green plants absorb nitrogen from the soil?
(A) Lichens
(B) Other plants
(C) Fungi
(D) Bacteria
(E) Viruses

Questions 76–78
This sketch shows the flow of energy through principal trophic levels in an
ecosystem.

76. Which level has the greatest biomass?

(A) A
(B) B
(C) C
(D) D
(E) It cannot be determined.

77. Which level has the fewest numbers of organisms?

(A) A
(B) B
 (C) C
(D) D
(E) It cannot be determined.

78. Which organisms most likely occupy level D?

(A) Bacteria
(B) Snakes
(C) Bats
(D) Cows
(E) Humans

Questions 79–80
The total amount of energy converted into products of photosynthesis is known as
gross primary productivity. Much of this energy is used by the plant to maintain
itself. The remaining energy is called net primary productivity, and it provides all
the energy for all the food chains in the world.

79. Which factor contributes LEAST to net productivity?

(A) Light
(B) Respiration rates
(C) Temperature
(D) Rainfall
(E) Transpiration rates

80. Which terrestrial region would have the highest net productivity?
(A) Desert
(B) Tropical rain forest
(C) Taiga
(D) Tundra
(E) Sandy beach
Biology-M Section
If you are taking the Biology-M test, continue with questions 81–100. Be sure
to begin this section of the test by filling in circle 81 on your answer sheet.

81. Convert 65.0 nm to µm.

(A) 650.
(B) 6,500.
(C) 65,000.
(D) 0.065
(E) 0.65

82. Glucose + fructose →

(A) maltose
(B) lactose
(C) sucrose
(D) galactose
(E) dextrose

83. Which of the following levels of protein structure directly determines

how a particular enzyme will function?
(A) Primary
(B) Secondary
(C) Tertiary
(D) Quaternary
(E) It varies with the protein.

84. Here is a sketch of a plant cell placed into a solution. Which of the
following is correct?
 (A) The solution is hypotonic to the cell, and the cell will swell and
burst.
(B) The solution is hypotonic to the cell, and the cell will become turgid.
(C) The solution is hypertonic to the cell, but nothing will happen to the
cell.
(D) The solution is hypertonic to the cell, and the cell will shrink.
(E) The solution is hypertonic to the cell, and the cell will swell.

85. If a solution has a pH of 2, then it has moles of H+ ions per

liter.
(A) 0.2
(B) 0.02
(C) 2.0
(D) 0.1
(E) 0.01

86. Which of the following does NOT require ATP?

(A) Facilitated diffusion
(B) Activation of the contractile vacuole
(C) Sodium-potassium pump
(D) Receptor-mediated endocytosis
(E) Pinocytosis

87. All of the following are correct about microscopes EXCEPT

(A) resolving power is the same thing as magnification
(B) total magnification is determined by multiplying the magnification of
the ocular lens by the magnification of the objective lens
(C) an electron microscope requires a vacuum column
 (D) living tissue cannot generally be studied in an electron microscope
(E) the scanning electron microscope is best used to study the surfaces
of cells

88. This molecule would NOT be a component of

(A) maltase
(B) hemoglobin
(C) glycogen
(D) insulin
(E) a plasma membrane

89. All of the following are correct about telomeres EXCEPT

(A) they are created by the enzyme telomerase
(B) they protect the ends of chromosomes
(C) the more divisions a cell undergoes, the shorter the telomeres
(D) they consist of nonsense nucleotide sequences
(E) they assist in the synthesis of proteins

90. All of the following are correct about RNA processing EXCEPT
(A) it occurs in the nucleus
(B) it occurs after transcription
(C) it occurs before translation
(D) introns are added
(E) noncoding regions are removed from the RNA

Questions 91–93
Refer to the terms below.
(A) Thymine
(B) Deoxyribose
(C) Ribose
 (D) Uracil
(E) Guanine

91. Sugar found in RNA but not in DNA

92. Nitrogenous base found in RNA but not in DNA

93. Nitrogenous base that occurs with the same frequency as cytosine

94. All of the following statements related to gel electrophoresis are

correct EXCEPT:
(A) restriction enzymes cut DNA at particular recognition sequences
(B) restriction enzymes are extracted from bacteria
(C) the farther a piece of DNA runs, the larger it is
(D) EcoRI is an example of a restriction enzyme
(E) restriction enzymes are necessary in order to insert a gene into a
plasmid

95. Here is a fragment of DNA that has been cut at certain points and will
be run through a gel. In which order will the DNA fragments run,
beginning at the wells?

(A) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
(B) 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
(C) 5, 2, 4, 1, 3
(D) 5, 2, 3, 1, 4
(E) 3, 1, 4, 2, 5

96. Here is a sketch of the field of view under a light microscope at 100×
magnification. The diameter of the field is 400 nm. What is the
approximate length of the cell in the field?
 (A) 20 nm
(B) 40 nm
(C) 60 nm
(D) 80 nm
(E) 100 nm

97. Two brothers were under medical treatment for infertility. Microscopic
examination of their semen shows that although the sperm looked
normal, they did not move properly. The brothers also suffered with
chronic bronchitis. The doctors studying the cases decided that both
men had a problem with one particular cell organelle. Which one?
(A) Endoplasmic reticulum
(B) Golgi body
(C) Ribosomes
(D) Microtubules
(E) Mitochondria

98. Given the concept that cells are modified for their particular function,
which cell organelle would be unusually plentiful in white blood cells?
(A) Lysosomes
(B) Golgi bodies
(C) Ribosomes
(D) Mitochondria
(E) Endoplasmic reticulum

99. This bar graph shows the relative concentrations of different ions in
pond water and in the cytoplasm of the algae Chlamydomonous. Which
 statement best describes what this graph indicates?

(A) Chlamydomonous belongs to the kingdom Protista.

(B) The pond water is hypertonic to the Chlamydomonous cells.
(C) Only Mg+ and Cl− are absorbed by active transport.
(D) The Chlamydomonous has contractile vacuoles that pump out
excess water.
(E) Chlamydomonous cells can regulate what materials they
exchange with their surroundings.

100. Which cell organelle in Chlamydomonous is LEAST involved in

transport in single-celled organisms living in pond water?
(A) Mitochondria
(B) Chloroplast
(C) Plasma membrane
(D) Contractile vacuole
(E) Nucleus