Q&A Hero

Q: Humans domesticated the rose from a wild ancestor with large, scented flowers. Why might fragrant chemicals in flowers be adaptive for wild roses? A) They attract herbivores. B) They repel seed dispersal agents. C) They attract pollinators. D) They prevent seed germination.

Q: Bermudagrass is a plant that is commonly used on golf courses. It has a fibrous root system, and its leaf veins are parallel. Because it is mowed on a regular basis in golf courses, it spreads via horizontal stems that root at the nodes, rather than by seed. It can live for many years. What is the best classification for bermudagrass on a golf course? A) It is a perennial monocot that reproduces asexually. B) It is an annual eudicot that reproduces asexually. C) It is a perennial eudicot that reproduces sexually. D) It is an annual monocot that reproduces sexually.

Q: Which of the following is an example of flowering plant/animal interdependence? I) Most angiosperms depend on insects, birds, or mammals for pollination. II) Most angiosperms depend on insects, birds, or mammals for seed dispersal. III) Most land animals depend on angiosperms for food. A) I only B) I and II C) III only D) I, II, and III

Q: Unlike angiosperms, gymnosperms like pines have single instead of double fertilization, but otherwise have an identical life cycle. What structure should have the greatest difference between angiosperms and gymnosperms? A) egg cell B) seedling C) seed D) leaf cell

Q: The diploid number for the tomato, a eudicot, is 24. One of its pollen grains has ________ chromosomes, and the nutritive tissue of the seed has ________ chromosomes. A) 12 12 B) 12 24 C) 24 24 D) 24 36

Q: Which of the following is the usual trigger for seed germination? A) water B) warm temperatures C) oxygen D) sunlight

Q: While on a hike, you notice that several burrs have become attached to your socks. You quickly pull them off. Inside the burr are several seeds. Burrs are produced by certain plants and frequently catch on animal fur (or people's clothing). After thinking about it, you decide that the burr is a type of ________ that is an adaptation for ________. A) leaf...protecting plants from herbivores B) fruit...seed dispersal C) cambium...seed protection D) pollen grain...successful pollination

Q: What typically has to happen before a fruit develops? I) flowering II) pollination III) double fertilization A) I only B) I and II C) II and III D) I, II, and III

Q: Which of the following is a multicellular mass that nourishes the embryo until it becomes a self-supporting seedling? A) the endosperm B) a seed coat C) a fruit D) a cotyledon

Q: The formation of a zygote and a cell with a triploid nucleus is unique to flowering plants. What is this process called? A) fertilization B) double fertilization C) germination D) pollination

Q: Which of the following describes the delivery of pollen to the stigma? A) fertilization B) double fertilization C) germination D) pollination

Q: A plant's diploid form is called the ________; the haploid form is called the ________. A) sporophyte... pollen B) sporophyte... gametophyte C) gametophyte... sporophyte D) gametophyte... fruit

Q: Which of the following contains the developing egg and cells that support it? A) endosperm B) ovule C) anther D) stigma

Q: The main parts of a flower are modified versions of which of the following? A) stems B) rhizomes C) internodes D) leaves

Q: The ________ enclose and protect the flower bud, while the ________ advertise the flower to insects and other pollinators. A) anthers... petals B) carpels... stigmata C) sepals... stamens D) sepals... petals

Q: In which structure do pollen grains develop? A) stamen B) sepal C) filament D) anther

Q: Which of the following is the part of a flower that contains the female reproductive structures? A) carpel B) stamen C) sepal D) petal

Q: Flowering plants reproduce through ________. A) asexual reproduction only B) sexual reproduction only C) asexual reproduction and sexual reproduction D) budding

Q: A homeowner uses a nail to hang a "Home Sweet Home" sign on the trunk of an oak tree. The sign is 2 meters above the ground. The tree grows in height at a rate of 10 cm per year. How high above the ground will the sign be in 15 years? A) 1.5 meters B) 2 meters C) 3.5 meters D) 152 meters

Q: Which of the following plant types complete their life cycle in 2 years? A) annuals only B) annuals and perennials C) biennials only D) perennials only

Q: Which of the following is responsible for the increase in girth (width) of trees? A) primary growth B) secondary growth C) growth in apical meristems D) an increase in the width of vessel elements

Q: A plant grows taller through ________, which involves cell division in the ________. A) primary growth... vascular cambium B) secondary growth... vascular cambium C) primary growth... apical meristem D) secondary growth... cork cambium

Q: A tree grows wider each year because of ________. I) apical meristem II) vascular cambium III) cork cambium A) I only B) II only C) II and III D) I, II, and III

Q: Which of the following is a function of parenchyma cells? I) food storage II) photosynthesis III) divide and develop to become other types of cells A) I B) II C) III D) I, II, and III

Q: Which of the following form tubes and are alive when mature? A) parenchyma cells B) collenchyma cells C) water-conducting cells D) food-conducting cells

Q: Which of the following form chains with overlapping ends to form a system of water-carrying tubes, and are dead when mature? A) collenchyma cells B) sclerenchyma cells C) water-conducting cells D) food-conducting cells

Q: Which of the following are the most abundant cell type found in most plants? A) parenchyma cells B) collenchyma cells C) sclerenchyma cells D) food-conducting cells

Q: Which of the following have thick secondary cell walls strengthened with lignin, and support plants like steel beams in a building? A) parenchyma cells B) collenchyma cells C) sclerenchyma cells D) water-conducting cells

Q: Which of the following cell types provide support in growing parts of a plant? A) parenchyma cells B) collenchyma cells C) sclerenchyma cells D) water-conducting cells

Q: Which of the following is the major component of most plant cell walls? A) chloroplasts B) lignin C) starch D) cellulose

Q: Which of the following is the main site of photosynthesis in a typical leaf? A) epidermis B) endodermis C) mesophyll D) xylem

Q: Which of the following do guard cells act to regulate? A) stomata B) cuticle C) epidermis D) root hairs

Q: The ________ is the selective barrier of a root that determines which substances pass between the cortex and vascular tissue. A) epidermis B) endodermis C) cuticle D) xylem

Q: Which of the following is the waxy coating secreted on leaves and most stems? A) cuticle B) lignin C) endodermis D) epidermis

Q: Which of the following describes the vascular system of a typical plant? I) It is made up of xylem and phloem. II) It provides support. III) It transports nutrients throughout the plant. A) I B) I and II C) I and III D) I, II, and III

Q: Which of the following describes the single layer of tightly packed cells that cover the entire root? A) xylem B) root hairs C) epidermis D) endodermis

Q: You trim two different houseplants. The first houseplant becomes bushier, but the pruning does not affect the growth of the second plant. A possible explanation is ________. A) you removed the axillary bud on the first plant but not the second B) the second plant forms tubers, but the first plant does not C) the first plant has compound leaves and the second plant has simple leaves D) you removed the terminal bud on the first plant but not the second

Q: Which of the following best describes the condition in which the terminal bud of many plants produces hormones that inhibit growth of axillary buds? A) biennial B) secondary growth C) apical dominance D) germination

Q: Which of the following best describes the primary function of typical leaves? A) anchoring B) photosynthesis C) shade D) storage of the sugars produced

Q: Which of the following is a stem modification for storage? A) tuber B) petiole C) internode D) runner

Q: Which of the following describes the sites of leaf attachment in a stem? A) joints B) nodes C) internodes D) cotyledons

Q: Which of the following constitute the shoot system of a plant? I) leaves II) stems III) roots A) I only B) I and II C) II and III D) I, II, and III

Q: Which of the following are the tiny projections found on roots that increase the surface area? A) root hairs B) cotyledons C) nodes D) mesophyll

Q: Which of the following is a function of roots? A) absorbs water only B) absorbs nutrients from the soil only C) stores food only D) stores food and absorbs water and nutrients from the soil

Q: Which of the following best characterizes the eudicots? A) flower parts in threes B) leaves with parallel veins C) an embryo with two seed leaves D) stems with scattered vascular bundles

Q: Which of the following best characterizes the monocots? A) embryo with one seed leaf, leaves with parallel veins, stems with vascular bundles scattered, and flower parts in threes B) embryo with one seed leaf, leaves with parallel veins, stems with a ring of vascular tissue, and flower parts in fives C) embryo with two seed leaves, leaf veins not parallel, stems with ring of vascular tissue, and flower parts in fives D) embryo with two seed leaves, leaf veins not parallel, stems with vascular bundles scattered, and flower parts in threes

Q: Most domesticated food crops come from which of the following plant groups? A) mosses B) gymnosperms C) ferns D) angiosperms

Q: Which of the following products used by humans sometimes comes from plants? A) fuel, only B) clothing, only C) food, only D) fuel, clothing, and food

Q: Please read the following paragraph and then answer the following questions. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease, is a fatal disorder characterized by muscle weakness. Stumbling when walking or difficulty with using a hand is a typical early symptom. Individuals with ALS lose the ability to consciously control movement, though cognitive and sensory functions generally remain unimpaired. There is currently no cure for ALS. In ALS, sensory input and integration are unaffected, and muscle cells still respond to neurotransmitters when they are present. Which structure would you recommend scientists to study to find a cure for ALS? A) sensory neurons B) interneurons C) motor neurons D) mechanoreceptors

Q: Please read the following paragraph and then answer the following questions. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease, is a fatal disorder characterized by muscle weakness. Stumbling when walking or difficulty with using a hand is a typical early symptom. Individuals with ALS lose the ability to consciously control movement, though cognitive and sensory functions generally remain unimpaired. There is currently no cure for ALS. Given the symptoms of ALS, what part of the nervous system is functioning abnormally? A) autonomic nervous system B) central nervous system C) motor system D) sympathetic division

Q: Please read the following paragraph and then answer the following questions. Huntington's disease is a genetic disorder in which a mutation causes the production of a protein, which damages cells in the brain. Symptoms typically begin with changes in personality, attention, and reasoning. Uncoordinated and uncontrolled movements develop, such that physical abilities become limited. Cognitive problems worsen into dementia. There is currently no cure for Huntington's disease. Scientists hypothesize that the abnormal protein stops vesicles from moving through the cytoskeleton. Predict the effect of this protein on the nervous system. A) Neurotransmitters cannot be released. B) Receptor potentials cannot occur. C) Cerebrospinal fluid leaks out of the brain. D) Action potentials become smaller.

Q: Please read the following paragraph and then answer the following questions. Huntington's disease is a genetic disorder in which a mutation causes the production of a protein, which damages cells in the brain. Symptoms typically begin with changes in personality, attention, and reasoning. Uncoordinated and uncontrolled movements develop, such that physical abilities become limited. Cognitive problems worsen into dementia. There is currently no cure for Huntington's disease. Given the symptoms of Huntington's disease, which structure in the brain is being damaged by the abnormal protein? A) cerebellum B) cerebrum C) hypothalamus D) brainstem

Q: Please read the following paragraph and then answer the following questions. The human eye is an incredible organ, capable of gathering light to focus on images near and far, in bright light or dim, and with quick adjustments between these extremes. However, eyes can develop problems, such as floaters, which are small particles that interfere with the transmission of light between the lens and the retina, and bloodshot eyes, which occur when irritants such as dust or smoke get in the eye. When light levels suddenly increase, our eyes adjust quickly by reducing the size of the ________. A) pupil B) retina C) iris D) cornea

Q: Please read the following paragraph and then answer the following questions. The human eye is an incredible organ, capable of gathering light to focus on images near and far, in bright light or dim, and with quick adjustments between these extremes. However, eyes can develop problems, such as floaters, which are small particles that interfere with the transmission of light between the lens and the retina, and bloodshot eyes, which occur when irritants such as dust or smoke get in the eye. If floaters are small particles that interfere with the transmission of light between the lens and the retina, they must be located in the ________. A) pupil B) cornea C) jellylike fluid of the eye D) blind spot

Q: Please read the following paragraph and then answer the following questions. The human eye is an incredible organ, capable of gathering light to focus on images near and far, in bright light or dim, and with quick adjustments between these extremes. However, eyes can develop problems, such as floaters, which are small particles that interfere with the transmission of light between the lens and the retina, and bloodshot eyes, which occur when irritants such as dust or smoke get in the eye. Eyes can become bloodshot when irritants in the eye trigger an increased blood flow to the connective tissue covering the eye. These swollen blood vessels are located on the ________. A) cornea B) sclera C) iris D) lens

Q: Examine the structure of a muscle cell in the accompanying figure. Which one of the following statements about muscle structure is TRUE? A) Each muscle cell has one nucleus. B) Each myofibril consists of many muscle cells. C) Each muscle cell has one sarcomere. D) A sarcomere contains thick and thin filaments.

Q: The figure below shows the structure of an arm bone. Which part of a bone contains stored fat? A) red bone marrow B) cartilage C) the ends D) yellow bone marrow

Q: The figure shows the human eye. Which part of the eye gives the eye its color? A) sclera B) iris C) pupil D) retina

Q: Examine the neurotransmitters in the synapse in the accompanying figure. What might happen to these neurotransmitters after step 4 is complete? The neurotransmitters ________. A) are transported back to the sending neuron B) are transported into the receiving neuron C) remain in the synaptic cleft D) trigger an action potential in the sending neuron

Q: Examine the figure below. Once an action potential is triggered, ________. A) the interior of the cell becomes positively charged relative to the outside B) the interior of the cell becomes negatively charged relative to the outside C) all ion channels close D) the cell soon reaches threshold

Q: In a species, what is required for a new sensory adaptation to evolve by natural selection? A) Individuals that needed this trait mutated a sensory receptor to create the new adaptation. B) Individuals that possessed this trait produced more offspring than those that did not possess the trait. C) Individuals that possessed this trait survived by chance, and passed on the trait to their offspring. D) Individuals immigrated to a new area, and brought the trait with them.

Q: A baseball player leaping for a baseball and a cricket jumping away from a frog are both using ________. I) sensory receptors II) the central nervous system III) a muscle system A) I only B) II only C) III only D) I, II, and III

Q: Would you expect motor units to vary in size? If so, which of these structures would probably have the largest ones? A) No; all motor units are the same size. B) Yes; a motor unit in the thigh to control leg movements would be the largest one. C) Yes; a motor unit that controls eye movements would be the largest one. D) Yes; a motor unit that controls hand movements would be the largest one.

Q: According to the sliding-filament model of muscle contraction, a sarcomere contracts when its ________. A) thick filaments slide across the ends of the sarcomere B) thin filaments slide across the ends of the sarcomere C) thin and thick filaments slide further away from each other D) thin and thick filaments slide past each other to get closer together

Q: A thick filament is made up of ________. A) actin B) myosin C) sarcomere D) actin and myosin

Q: Functionally, what is the muscle fiber's fundamental unit of contraction? A) thick filament B) thin filament C) myofibril D) sarcomere

Q: Muscles are connected to bones by ________. A) thick filaments B) ligaments C) tendons D) myofibrils

Q: Arthritis is a common result of aging, affecting persons' ability to ________. A) catch their breath after exercise B) move their joints C) heal broken bones D) produce red blood cells

Q: What best helps a broken bone heal? A) grafting new bone to the region B) exercising the area with the broken bone C) taking calcium supplements D) returning the broken bone parts back to their natural shape and then immobilizing the bone

Q: Which one of the following is used to combat osteoporosis? A) calcium and vitamin therapy B) anti-inflammatory medicines C) opiates D) splints or casts

Q: If you lay your forearm along the table, you can rotate it so that your hand changes from a palm-down to a palm-up position. This is possible because your radius and ulna join at a ________ joint. A) ball-and-socket B) hinge C) pivot D) twist

Q: Some adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have abnormally low activity of the neurotransmitter involved in pleasure, attention, memory, sleep, movement, and learning, which increases their risk of drug abuse. Which drug are they most likely to abuse? A) cocaine B) morphine C) codeine D) alcohol

Q: When you hear, the ________ vibrates. I) eardrum II) hammer III) stirrup A) I B) II C) III D) I, II, and III

Q: The organ of Corti is in the ________. A) outer ear B) inner ear C) middle ear D) eardrum

Q: A person whose eyeball is shorter than normal suffers from ________. A) farsightedness B) nearsightedness C) astigmatism D) cataracts

Q: A person who has blurred vision caused by a misshapen lens or cornea has ________. A) farsightedness B) nearsightedness C) astigmatism D) cataracts

Q: A person who cannot focus well on distant objects has ________. A) farsightedness B) nearsightedness C) astigmatism D) cataracts

Q: Which one of the following statements is TRUE? A) Cones are more sensitive to light than rods. B) Rods can distinguish color. C) There are three different types of cones in the human eye. D) The human retina is completely covered with photoreceptors.

Q: Thermoreceptors detect ________. A) motion B) sound C) pressure D) temperature

Q: Standing out in center field, the baseball player watches the hitter's bat strike the ball and then, slightly later, hears the sound of the impact. What types of sensory receptors did the player just use? A) thermoreceptors and chemoreceptors B) photoreceptors and mechanoreceptors C) chemoreceptors and pain receptors D) pain receptors and thermoreceptors