PENN FOSTER EXAM 2026 COMPREHENSIVE
COURSE ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ Levels of Biological Organization.
Answer: atom, molecule, organelle, cell, tissue, organ, organ system,
organism
◉ How are organisms classified.
Answer: on the basis of their evolutionary/genetic relatedness
◉ What is the scientific method? What is it's importance in
biological sciences?.
Answer: Process used to validate observations while minimizing
observer bias
It's goal is for research to be conduced in a fair, unbiased and
repeatable manner. The best way to discover how and why the world
works
◉ What is matter?.
Answer: Anything that has mass and takes up space
,◉ What is an atom?.
Answer: smallest unit of matter that retains all the chemical
properties of an element. They combine to form molecules which
then form into a solid, gas or liquid
◉ What is the structure of an atom?.
Answer: Nucleus in the center that contains protons (positively
charged) and neutrons (no charge). The outermost region is called
an electron shell that contain the electrons (negatively charged)
◉ What is an ionic bond?.
Answer: A chemical bond that's formed when an atom transfers and
electron to another Atom
◉ What is a covalent bond?.
Answer: Results when 2 atoms share electrons in order to have a
completed outer shell
◉ What is a double covalent bond?.
Answer: Occurs when 2 atoms share 2 pairs of electroms
◉ In order to be an organic molecule it must contain what?.
,Answer: Carbon and hydrogen
◉ What are the main groups of organic molecules that build cells
and their parts?.
Answer: Carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, nucleic acid
◉ What are the properties of water?.
Answer: Its attraction to polar molecules.
High-specific heat.
High heat of vaporization.
The lower density of ice.
High polarity.
◉ Carbohydrates.
Answer: Broken down to glucose to provide energy.
◉ What are the different kinds of carbs?.
Answer: Glucose= monosaccharide that serves as blood sugar
Sucrose= disaccharide which is table sugar
Polysaccharides= include starch, which stores energy in plants
Glycogen= stores energy in animals
Cellulose= makes up the structure of plant cell walls
, ◉ Protein.
Answer: macromolecule that contains carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and
nitrogen; needed by the body for growth and repair
◉ Lipid.
Answer: Energy-rich organic compounds, such as fats, oils, and
waxes, that are made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
Serve as a long term energy source
◉ Nucleic acid.
Answer: macromolecule containing hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen,
carbon, and phosphorus
Form DNA which acts to store genetic information
◉ What is the cell theory?.
Answer: All living organisms are made up of cells
The cell is the smallest structural and functional unit of all living
organisms
All cells arise from pre-existing cells
◉ Ribosome.
Answer: Makes proteins
COURSE ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ Levels of Biological Organization.
Answer: atom, molecule, organelle, cell, tissue, organ, organ system,
organism
◉ How are organisms classified.
Answer: on the basis of their evolutionary/genetic relatedness
◉ What is the scientific method? What is it's importance in
biological sciences?.
Answer: Process used to validate observations while minimizing
observer bias
It's goal is for research to be conduced in a fair, unbiased and
repeatable manner. The best way to discover how and why the world
works
◉ What is matter?.
Answer: Anything that has mass and takes up space
,◉ What is an atom?.
Answer: smallest unit of matter that retains all the chemical
properties of an element. They combine to form molecules which
then form into a solid, gas or liquid
◉ What is the structure of an atom?.
Answer: Nucleus in the center that contains protons (positively
charged) and neutrons (no charge). The outermost region is called
an electron shell that contain the electrons (negatively charged)
◉ What is an ionic bond?.
Answer: A chemical bond that's formed when an atom transfers and
electron to another Atom
◉ What is a covalent bond?.
Answer: Results when 2 atoms share electrons in order to have a
completed outer shell
◉ What is a double covalent bond?.
Answer: Occurs when 2 atoms share 2 pairs of electroms
◉ In order to be an organic molecule it must contain what?.
,Answer: Carbon and hydrogen
◉ What are the main groups of organic molecules that build cells
and their parts?.
Answer: Carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, nucleic acid
◉ What are the properties of water?.
Answer: Its attraction to polar molecules.
High-specific heat.
High heat of vaporization.
The lower density of ice.
High polarity.
◉ Carbohydrates.
Answer: Broken down to glucose to provide energy.
◉ What are the different kinds of carbs?.
Answer: Glucose= monosaccharide that serves as blood sugar
Sucrose= disaccharide which is table sugar
Polysaccharides= include starch, which stores energy in plants
Glycogen= stores energy in animals
Cellulose= makes up the structure of plant cell walls
, ◉ Protein.
Answer: macromolecule that contains carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and
nitrogen; needed by the body for growth and repair
◉ Lipid.
Answer: Energy-rich organic compounds, such as fats, oils, and
waxes, that are made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
Serve as a long term energy source
◉ Nucleic acid.
Answer: macromolecule containing hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen,
carbon, and phosphorus
Form DNA which acts to store genetic information
◉ What is the cell theory?.
Answer: All living organisms are made up of cells
The cell is the smallest structural and functional unit of all living
organisms
All cells arise from pre-existing cells
◉ Ribosome.
Answer: Makes proteins
