Q&A Hero

Q: Which of these biomes are maintained by fire? A) temperate broadleaf forests and chaparral B) chaparral and savannas C) deserts and chaparral D) savanna and temperate grasslands

Q: What is one important difference between savannas and temperate grasslands? A) Savannas only rarely experience fires. B) Temperate grasslands are mostly treeless. C) Savannas are inhabited by grazing mammals. D) Temperate grasslands have nutrient-poor soil.

Q: ________ are the dominant herbivores of savanna ecosystems. A) Antelopes B) Zebras C) Buffalo D) Insects

Q: Long, snowy winters as well as evergreen trees such as pine and fir are found in ________. A) chaparral B) temperate broadleaf forests C) coniferous forests D) temperate grasslands

Q: The Sahara Desert and the Negev Desert belong to the same ________. A) community B) savanna ecosystem C) biome D) temperate grassland

Q: Water-storing plants and deeply rooted shrubs are plants that characterize ________. A) tropical forests B) chaparral C) deserts D) savanna

Q: Which of the following can moderate climate by absorbing heat when the air is warm and releasing heat when the air is cold? A) clouds B) glaciers C) mountains D) oceans

Q: Temperate zones ________. A) have the coolest climates on Earth B) have milder climates than the tropics C) are relatively dry D) are concentrated in the polar regions

Q: What name is given to the seafloor? A) pelagic realm B) intertidal zone C) benthic realm D) aphotic zone

Q: In what part of the ocean are phytoplankton found? A) pelagic realm B) intertidal zone C) benthic realm D) aphotic zone

Q: What name is given to the open ocean? A) pelagic realm B) intertidal zone C) benthic realm D) photic zone

Q: What name is given to the region where sea meets land? A) pelagic realm B) intertidal zone C) benthic realm D) aphotic zone

Q: Which of these biomes is one of the most biologically productive of all biomes? A) open oceans B) estuaries C) temperate grasslands D) coniferous forests

Q: What are estuaries? A) types of freshwater biomes B) areas near the start of a river C) regions where ocean meets land D) transition areas between a river and the ocean

Q: Wetlands ________. A) are important in improving water quality B) include rivers, streams, ponds, and lakes C) are bodies of swiftly flowing water D) are found in the intertidal zone

Q: In an aquatic ecosystem, what name is given to the region where photosynthesis can occur? A) pelagic zone B) aphotic zone C) benthic realm D) photic zone

Q: Which of the following is a behavioral response to environmental variability? A) migrating to a different location B) acclimation C) endothermy D) "flagging" by trees

Q: What term applies to the physical and physiological changes experienced by astronauts who spend months in space? A) acclimation B) adaptation C) camouflaging D) flagging

Q: Which nutrients often limit the distribution and abundance of photosynthetic organisms? A) water and oxygen B) nitrogen and phosphorus C) carbon dioxide and nitrogen D) water and carbon dioxide

Q: Aquatic organisms ________. A) have a waxy coating to prevent water loss B) may experience problems with water balance C) typically have a plentiful supply of nitrogen D) never find light to be in short supply

Q: Which of the following organisms are NOT ultimately dependent on sunlight for energy? A) species that live in hydrothermal vent habitats B) migratory bird species C) marine species that live in the aphotic zone D) trees that have experienced "flagging"

Q: What level of ecology is concerned with both the biotic and abiotic aspects of an environment? A) community B) organism C) ecosystem D) population

Q: Which of these is a community? A) all of the Staphylococcus aureus (a species of bacteria living on your skin B) all of the organisms living in your home C) all of the people living in your neighborhood D) all of the nut grass (considered a weed) in your backyard

Q: What is a population? A) a group of organisms living in a particular geographic area B) a group of organisms of the same species living in a particular geographic area C) a community as well as all the abiotic factors in a particular geographic area D) all of the organisms of a species existing at a particular time

Q: What level of ecology is concerned with groups of individuals of different species? A) community B) organism C) ecosystem D) population

Q: What level of ecology is concerned with groups of individuals of the same species? A) community B) organism C) ecosystem D) population

Q: What level of ecology is concerned with the adaptations of individuals? A) community B) organismal C) ecosystem D) population

Q: If you study how two species of finches compete for food, you are trying to answer a question about ________. A) community ecology B) population ecology C) organismal ecology D) ecosystems ecology

Q: Which of the following is abiotic? A) a protist B) a plant C) a fungus D) a rock

Q: Ecology is the study of ________. A) life B) human effects on the environment C) interactions between humans and other species D) interactions between organisms and their environments

Q: Suppose that a group of climate scientists claims that they can predict future impacts of global climate change with 98% accuracy. Why should you be skeptical of this claim? A) They do not have reliable methods to measure this change. B) Their predictions are based on incomplete information about species diversity and interactions of living organisms with each other and with their environments. C) They should be focusing their predictions based only on climate change in the polar regions where the greatest effects of climate change are experienced. D) They have not accounted for abiotic factors that affect global climate change in their predictions.

Q: Read the following scenario to answer the following questions.Birds are a widespread group of animals with approximately 10,000 different species found throughout the world today. Because they are relatively easy to find and so visually appealing, they have been studied more thoroughly than many other groups of animals. They are also valuable biological indicators because many species live in different habitats during different times of the year and cover long migration routes. According to the World Conservation Union, extinction threatens over 1,200 bird species today, and at least 179 are critically endangered. Some of the most endangered species include the Tahiti monarch, with only 10 pairs remaining, and the Bali starling, with only 12 wild individuals left. In Hawaii, the last captive po'ouli died in 2005, and the last two known to be alive in the wild have not been seen since 20032004. Common birds are also disappearing. In North America, red-winged blackbird populations declined by at least 1 percent each year between 1980 and 1999. These examples can serve as a warning. Habitat loss through destruction, degradation, and fragmentation are serious problems that affect 86 percent of threatened birds and are exacerbated by unsustainable forestry practices and intensifying agriculture. All of this shows that conservation of habitats is critical if many of the world's bird species are going to be saved from extinction in the near future.Approximately what percent of bird species are threatened with extinction today?A) 5%B) 12%C) 25%D) 45%

Q: Read the following scenario to answer the following questions.Birds are a widespread group of animals with approximately 10,000 different species found throughout the world today. Because they are relatively easy to find and so visually appealing, they have been studied more thoroughly than many other groups of animals. They are also valuable biological indicators because many species live in different habitats during different times of the year and cover long migration routes. According to the World Conservation Union, extinction threatens over 1,200 bird species today, and at least 179 are critically endangered. Some of the most endangered species include the Tahiti monarch, with only 10 pairs remaining, and the Bali starling, with only 12 wild individuals left. In Hawaii, the last captive po'ouli died in 2005, and the last two known to be alive in the wild have not been seen since 2003 2004. Common birds are also disappearing. In North America, red-winged blackbird populations declined by at least 1 percent each year between 1980 and 1999. These examples can serve as a warning. Habitat loss through destruction, degradation, and fragmentation are serious problems that affect 86 percent of threatened birds and are exacerbated by unsustainable forestry practices and intensifying agriculture. All of this shows that conservation of habitats is critical if many of the world's bird species are going to be saved from extinction in the near future.What is the greatest threat to birds today?A) pollutionB) poachingC) habitat lossD) the illegal pet trade

Q: Read the following scenario to answer the following questions. Birds are a widespread group of animals with approximately 10,000 different species found throughout the world today. Because they are relatively easy to find and so visually appealing, they have been studied more thoroughly than many other groups of animals. They are also valuable biological indicators because many species live in different habitats during different times of the year and cover long migration routes. According to the World Conservation Union, extinction threatens over 1,200 bird species today, and at least 179 are critically endangered. Some of the most endangered species include the Tahiti monarch, with only 10 pairs remaining, and the Bali starling, with only 12 wild individuals left. In Hawaii, the last captive po'ouli died in 2005, and the last two known to be alive in the wild have not been seen since 20032004. Common birds are also disappearing. In North America, red-winged blackbird populations declined by at least 1 percent each year between 1980 and 1999. These examples can serve as a warning. Habitat loss through destruction, degradation, and fragmentation are serious problems that affect 86 percent of threatened birds and are exacerbated by unsustainable forestry practices and intensifying agriculture. All of this shows that conservation of habitats is critical if many of the world's bird species are going to be saved from extinction in the near future. What is a feature of birds that makes them valuable as biological indicators? A) Many migrate long distances. B) Many are brightly colored. C) There are over 10,000 different species of birds. D) Birdwatching is a popular hobby.

Q: According to this evolutionary tree, how would you characterize a new anthropoid specimen discovered and estimated to be approximately 42 million years old? A) one that could be a New World monkey or an Old World monkey B) one that is likely a species of lemur C) one that is likely a species of tarsier D) one that evolved from a new ancestral primate

Q: According to this evolutionary tree, approximately how many years ago did humans and orangutans share a common ancestor? A) 1 million years ago B) 7 million years ago C) 12 million years ago D) 20 million years ago

Q: Insects, such as the grasshopper shown below, have ________. A) eight legs B) a two-part body: head and abdomen C) a three-part body: head, thorax, and abdomen D) no wings

Q: The segmented body of the worm below suggests that it is a(n) ________. A) annelid B) arthropod C) snake D) roundworm

Q: The figure below shows a simple worm. Bilateral symmetry and a highly branched gastrovascular cavity all suggest that the worm is a(n) ________. A) annelid B) mollusk C) chordate D) flatworm

Q: What type of symmetry does this organism exhibit? A) asymmetrical B) binomial C) radial D) bilateral

Q: Flatworms are similar to cnidarians in that both ________. A) are chordates B) have true tissues C) lack a gastrovascular cavity D) exhibit bilateral symmetry

Q: All organisms with bilateral symmetry also have ________. A) hard skeletons B) bilateral adults C) sense organs D) an anterior head

Q: According to the figure, which organism group demonstrates the most advanced body plan in reference to presence of tissue and symmetry? A) sponges B) cnidarians C) ancestral protists D) arthropods

Q: Annelids are most closely related to ________. A) chordates B) arthropods C) molluscs D) echinoderms

Q: The process of biological evolution often allows humans to survive consistent environmental stresses that occur across multiple generations. As humans colonized Earth's diverse environments, they encountered hot, dry areas and decided to settle. What trait likely offered an advantage in this environment? A) the ability to produce sweat to cool their bodies B) the ability to shiver to create body heat C) the ability to squint eyes to block out bright light D) the ability to dig deep holes to find groundwater

Q: Which of the following is one way in which scientists can test hypotheses about events that occurred in the distant past? A) by dissecting current animal specimens B) by analyzing fossils recovered from the Earth C) by visiting local libraries to research the events D) by interviewing current scientists and researchers

Q: Where did humans first appear? A) South America B) Africa C) Asia D) Europe

Q: The first hominid to spread beyond Africa was ________. A) "Lucy" B) Australopithecus afarensis C) Homo erectus D) Homo neanderthalensis

Q: Which of these human characteristics is hypothesized to have evolved first? A) enlarged brain B) erect posture C) language D) loss of body hair

Q: Which anthropoids are most closely related to humans? A) orangutans B) chimpanzees C) gorillas D) gibbons

Q: How do New World monkeys differ from Old World monkeys? A) New World monkeys have a prehensile tail. B) New World monkeys have enhanced depth perception. C) Old World monkeys are arboreal. D) Old World monkeys have claws.

Q: At a natural history museum, you see a skeleton with the following characteristics: four long, slender finger bones and a smaller opposable thumb bone, and larger feet with long toes. In what type of environment would you expect this organism to have lived? A) one that lacks vegetation B) one that is very cold C) one that is very dry D) one that is heavily forested

Q: While on an archaeology expedition, you unearth a skeleton with the following characteristics: four long, slender finger bones and a smaller opposable thumb bone, long arm bones, fingernails, and eye sockets close together on a skull. What type of organism do you suspect you may have found? A) an anthropoid B) a tarsier C) a crustacean D) a marsupial

Q: The platypus is a ________. A) bird B) marsupial C) eutherian D) monotreme

Q: The lancelet is a(n) ________. A) annelid B) flatworm C) chordate D) tunicate

Q: All chordates have ________. A) a dorsal, hollow nerve cord and a notochord B) a postanal tail and a single opening for the mouth and anus C) a cranium and vertebrae D) pharyngeal slits and a cranium

Q: ________ are the mammalian group that lays eggs. A) Eutherians B) Tunicates C) Monotremes D) Marsupials

Q: A feature unique to mammals includes ________. A) the presence of hair B) extended parental care of the young C) being endotherms D) having no egg-laying members

Q: Almost every element of bird anatomy is modified for what? A) laying eggs B) eating seeds C) enhancement of flight D) singing unique songs

Q: A characteristic that is shared by snakes and birds is ________. A) being ectothermic B) the presence of only a single ovary in females C) the amniotic egg D) being endothermic

Q: A feature that freed reptiles from dependence on water for reproduction is ________. A) parental care of eggs B) ectothermy C) metamorphosis D) the amniotic egg

Q: What does the term "tetrapod" mean? A) egg-laying B) living on land C) living a double life D) having four feet

Q: Which group of fishes includes a lineage that migrated out of fresh water and adapted to life on land? A) ray-finned fishes B) jawless fishes C) lobe-finned fishes D) cartilaginous fishes

Q: Swim bladders ________. A) contain the gills B) are required for fish to exchange gases with the surrounding water C) are present in both bony and cartilaginous fishes D) help bony fish maintain buoyancy

Q: Rays are a type of ________. A) tunicate B) cartilaginous fish C) jawless fish D) bony fish

Q: Among vertebrates, the unique feature of lampreys and hagfish is the ________. A) presence of a cartilaginous skeleton B) absence of a backbone C) absence of jaws D) absence of a postanal tail

Q: A(n) ________ is an example of a chordate that is not a vertebrate. A) lancelet B) echinoderm C) bird D) fish

Q: Which of the following is a characteristic of all chordates? A) They all have vertebral columns. B) They all exhibit radial symmetry. C) They all have a notochord sometime during their life cycle. D) They all have an exoskeleton sometime during their life cycle.

Q: Unique features of vertebrates include the presence of a(n) ________. A) endoskeleton B) notochord C) skull and a backbone D) pharyngeal slit

Q: You discover an organism that has scaly skin and is aquatic but returns to the land to reproduce. What else would you expect to find in this organism? A) asexual reproduction B) amniotic egg C) a water vascular system D) radial symmetry

Q: You encounter an insect with small eyes, long sensory antennae, and a long mouthpart shaped like a sword. What can you conclude about the environment in which it lives? A) The environment is dark and has many plants. B) The environment is wet and has many other insects. C) The environment is hot and has many primates. D) The environment is cool and has many reptiles.

Q: You are given the task of confirming the categorization of a newly discovered animal that has been tagged as a species of annelid. What evidence would convince you that it is indeed an annelid and not a roundworm or flatworm? A) an incomplete digestive tract B) a highly branched gastrovascular cavity C) parasitic feeding habits D) body segmentation

Q: What characteristic is unique to echinoderms? A) a lack of segmentation B) a water vascular system C) radial symmetry D) larvae with bilateral symmetry

Q: ________ are the most diverse group of arthropods. A) Insects B) Millipedes C) Arachnids D) Crustaceans

Q: Nearly all ________ are aquatic. A) crustaceans B) arachnids C) flatworms D) roundworms

Q: The arthropod skeleton is composed of ________. A) cellulose B) peptidoglycan C) chitin D) glycogen

Q: A characteristic of arthropods that has allowed for their great success is the presence of ________. A) bilateral symmetry B) an endoskeleton C) a brain D) specialized segments

Q: There are more species of ________ than of any other type of animal. A) nematodes B) molluscs C) arthropods D) chordates

Q: Which animals have a cylindrical body that is tapered at both ends? A) platyhelminthes B) cnidarians C) annelids D) roundworms

Q: A(n) ________ is an example of a mollusc that does not have a shell. A) octopus B) snail C) spider D) oyster