BIOD 331: Module 2 Exam Portage Learning Questions and
Answers 2026
BIOD 331: Module 2 (Neoplasia, Proliferation, and Differentiation).
1. The term "Neoplasia" literally translates to:
A) Cell death
B) New growth
C) Cell swelling
D) Tissue repair
Answer: B
Rationale: Neoplasia refers to an abnormal mass of tissue where growth exceeds and is
uncoordinated with that of normal tissues.
2. Which process describes cells becoming increasingly specialized with each
mitotic division?
A) Proliferation
B) Differentiation
C) Metastasis
D) Angiogenesis
Answer: B
Rationale: Differentiation is the process by which a stem cell transforms into a specific
cell type, such as a muscle or nerve cell.
3. "Proliferation" refers specifically to:
A) The specialization of cells.
B) The programmed death of cells.
C) The process of increasing cell numbers through mitotic division.
D) The spread of cells to distant organs.
Answer: C
Rationale: Proliferation is how tissues replace old cells or grow new ones by dividing.
4. Which type of cell is "pluripotent" and has the capacity for self-renewal?
A) Epithelial cell
B) Neuron
C) Stem cell
D) Muscle cell
Answer: C
,Rationale: Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that can divide to produce more stem
cells or specialized daughter cells.
5. A tumor that is well-differentiated, slow-growing, and encapsulated is likely:
A) Malignant
B) Benign
C) Metastatic
D) Anaplastic
Answer: B
Rationale: Benign tumors stay localized and closely resemble the tissue they originated
from.
6. Which term describes a lack of cell differentiation, often seen in high-grade
tumors?
A) Hyperplasia
B) Anaplasia
C) Dysplasia
D) Metaplasia
Answer: B
Rationale: Anaplasia is a hallmark of malignancy; cells become "primitive" and lose their
specialized features.
7. Unlike benign tumors, malignant tumors have the ability to:
A) Grow by expansion.
B) Remain encapsulated.
C) Metastasize to distant sites.
D) Mature into specialized cells.
Answer: C
Rationale: Metastasis is the spread of cancer cells from the primary site to secondary
sites in the body.
8. In the TNM Staging System, the "N" stands for:
A) Number of tumors
B) Necrosis
C) Regional lymph node involvement
D) Neoplasia grade
Answer: C
Rationale: TNM evaluates Tumor size (T), Node involvement (N), and Metastasis (M).
9. A tumor that ends in the suffix "-sarcoma" (e.g., Osteosarcoma) originates
from:
, A) Epithelial tissue
B) Connective or mesenchymal tissue
C) Glandular tissue
D) Nerve tissue
Answer: B
Rationale: Sarcomas are malignant tumors of connective tissues (bone, cartilage, fat,
muscle).
10. Malignant tumors of epithelial origin are called:
A) Sarcomas
B) Lipomas
C) Carcinomas
D) Adenomas
Answer: C
Rationale: Carcinomas are the most common type of cancer, arising from the skin or
lining of internal organs.
11. "Angiogenesis" is the process by which a tumor:
A) Moves through the basement membrane.
B) Develops its own blood supply.
C) Undergoes apoptosis.
D) Reverts to a stem cell state.
Answer: B
Rationale: Tumors secrete growth factors to create new blood vessels to provide
oxygen and nutrients for rapid growth.
12. Which of the following is a hallmark of cancer cells regarding the "Cell
Cycle"?
A) They spend more time in the G0 (resting) phase.
B) They ignore "stop" signals and checkpoints.
C) they only divide once.
D) They require high levels of oxygen to divide.
Answer: B
Rationale: Cancer cells lose "contact inhibition" and continue to divide even when
crowded or damaged.
13. "Proto-oncogenes" are normal genes that:
A) Cause cancer immediately.
B) Suppress tumor growth.
C) Code for proteins that regulate normal cell growth and division.
Answers 2026
BIOD 331: Module 2 (Neoplasia, Proliferation, and Differentiation).
1. The term "Neoplasia" literally translates to:
A) Cell death
B) New growth
C) Cell swelling
D) Tissue repair
Answer: B
Rationale: Neoplasia refers to an abnormal mass of tissue where growth exceeds and is
uncoordinated with that of normal tissues.
2. Which process describes cells becoming increasingly specialized with each
mitotic division?
A) Proliferation
B) Differentiation
C) Metastasis
D) Angiogenesis
Answer: B
Rationale: Differentiation is the process by which a stem cell transforms into a specific
cell type, such as a muscle or nerve cell.
3. "Proliferation" refers specifically to:
A) The specialization of cells.
B) The programmed death of cells.
C) The process of increasing cell numbers through mitotic division.
D) The spread of cells to distant organs.
Answer: C
Rationale: Proliferation is how tissues replace old cells or grow new ones by dividing.
4. Which type of cell is "pluripotent" and has the capacity for self-renewal?
A) Epithelial cell
B) Neuron
C) Stem cell
D) Muscle cell
Answer: C
,Rationale: Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that can divide to produce more stem
cells or specialized daughter cells.
5. A tumor that is well-differentiated, slow-growing, and encapsulated is likely:
A) Malignant
B) Benign
C) Metastatic
D) Anaplastic
Answer: B
Rationale: Benign tumors stay localized and closely resemble the tissue they originated
from.
6. Which term describes a lack of cell differentiation, often seen in high-grade
tumors?
A) Hyperplasia
B) Anaplasia
C) Dysplasia
D) Metaplasia
Answer: B
Rationale: Anaplasia is a hallmark of malignancy; cells become "primitive" and lose their
specialized features.
7. Unlike benign tumors, malignant tumors have the ability to:
A) Grow by expansion.
B) Remain encapsulated.
C) Metastasize to distant sites.
D) Mature into specialized cells.
Answer: C
Rationale: Metastasis is the spread of cancer cells from the primary site to secondary
sites in the body.
8. In the TNM Staging System, the "N" stands for:
A) Number of tumors
B) Necrosis
C) Regional lymph node involvement
D) Neoplasia grade
Answer: C
Rationale: TNM evaluates Tumor size (T), Node involvement (N), and Metastasis (M).
9. A tumor that ends in the suffix "-sarcoma" (e.g., Osteosarcoma) originates
from:
, A) Epithelial tissue
B) Connective or mesenchymal tissue
C) Glandular tissue
D) Nerve tissue
Answer: B
Rationale: Sarcomas are malignant tumors of connective tissues (bone, cartilage, fat,
muscle).
10. Malignant tumors of epithelial origin are called:
A) Sarcomas
B) Lipomas
C) Carcinomas
D) Adenomas
Answer: C
Rationale: Carcinomas are the most common type of cancer, arising from the skin or
lining of internal organs.
11. "Angiogenesis" is the process by which a tumor:
A) Moves through the basement membrane.
B) Develops its own blood supply.
C) Undergoes apoptosis.
D) Reverts to a stem cell state.
Answer: B
Rationale: Tumors secrete growth factors to create new blood vessels to provide
oxygen and nutrients for rapid growth.
12. Which of the following is a hallmark of cancer cells regarding the "Cell
Cycle"?
A) They spend more time in the G0 (resting) phase.
B) They ignore "stop" signals and checkpoints.
C) they only divide once.
D) They require high levels of oxygen to divide.
Answer: B
Rationale: Cancer cells lose "contact inhibition" and continue to divide even when
crowded or damaged.
13. "Proto-oncogenes" are normal genes that:
A) Cause cancer immediately.
B) Suppress tumor growth.
C) Code for proteins that regulate normal cell growth and division.
