BIOD 101 Final Exam (2026/2027) – Portage Learning | Verified Q&A
Questions 1–250
Section 1: The Scientific Method & Chemistry of Life (Questions 1–50)
1. Which of the following is NOT one of the seven characteristics shared by all living organisms?
A) Reproduction
B) Movement
C) Growth and development
D) Response to stimuli
Answer B: Movement
Rationale: Not all living organisms move (e.g., plants), but all share characteristics like reproduction,
growth, and response to stimuli.
2. The basic unit of life is the:
A) Atom
B) Cell
C) Tissue
D) Organ
Answer B: Cell
Rationale: The cell is the smallest structural and functional unit of life.
3. Matter can exist in which of the following states?
A) Solid, liquid, and gas
B) Solid and liquid only
C) Liquid and gas only
D) Solid and gas only
Answer A: Solid, liquid, and gas
Rationale: Matter exists in three primary physical states: solid, liquid, and gas.
,4. An essential element is one that:
A) Is required for life and cannot be synthesized by the organism
B) Is found only in living organisms
C) Is present in large quantities in the environment
D) Is not found in living organisms
Answer A: Is required for life and cannot be synthesized by the organism
Rationale: Essential elements must be obtained from the diet or environment.
5. A cation is an ion with a:
A) Positive charge
B) Negative charge
C) Neutral charge
D) Variable charge
Answer A: Positive charge
Rationale: Cations are positively charged ions formed by losing electrons.
6. An anion is an ion with a:
A) Positive charge
B) Negative charge
C) Neutral charge
D) Variable charge
Answer B: Negative charge
Rationale: Anions are negatively charged ions formed by gaining electrons.
7. The four most abundant elements in living organisms are:
A) Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen
B) Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen
C) Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and sulfur
D) Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and phosphorus
Answer B: Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen
Rationale: These four elements make up approximately 96% of living matter.
,8. A covalent bond involves:
A) The sharing of electron pairs between atoms
B) The transfer of electrons from one atom to another
C) The attraction between opposite charges
D) The formation of ions
Answer A: The sharing of electron pairs between atoms
Rationale: Covalent bonds form when atoms share electrons to achieve stability.
9. An ionic bond involves:
A) The sharing of electron pairs
B) The transfer of electrons from one atom to another
C) The sharing of protons
D) The attraction between water molecules
Answer B: The transfer of electrons from one atom to another
Rationale: Ionic bonds form between oppositely charged ions.
10. Hydrogen bonds are:
A) Weak bonds between a hydrogen atom and an electronegative atom
B) Strong bonds between two hydrogen atoms
C) Bonds that share electrons equally
D) Bonds that transfer electrons
Answer A: Weak bonds between a hydrogen atom and an electronegative atom
Rationale: Hydrogen bonds are weak but important for biological structures.
11. Water is a polar molecule because:
A) It has an uneven distribution of charge
B) It has no charge
C) It is a gas at room temperature
D) It is composed of nonpolar bonds
Answer A: It has an uneven distribution of charge
Rationale: Oxygen is more electronegative than hydrogen, creating a partial negative charge on oxygen and
partial positive charges on hydrogen.
, 12. Which property of water allows it to resist changes in temperature?
j j j j j j j j j j j
A) High specific heat
j j j
B) Low specific heat
j j j
C) High surface tension
j j j
D) Low surface tension
j j j
Answer A: High specific heat j j j j
Rationale: Water's high specific heat buffers temperature changes in organisms and environments.
j j j j j j j j j j j
13. The pH scale measures:
j j j j
A) The concentration of hydrogen ions (H⁺)
j j j j j j
B) The concentration of oxygen
j j j j
C) The temperature of a solution
j j j j j
D) The concentration of water
j j j j
Answer A: The concentration of hydrogen ions (H⁺)
j j j j j j j
Rationale: pH is the negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration.
j j j j j j j j j j
14. A solution with a pH of 3 is:
j j j j j j j j
A) Acidic
j
B) Basic
j
C) Neutral
j
D) Both acidic and basic
j j j j
Answer A: Acidic j j
Rationale: pH values below 7 are acidic; pH 3 is highly acidic.
j j j j j j j j j j j
15. A solution with a pH of 10 is:
j j j j j j j j
A) Acidic
j
B) Basic
j
C) Neutral
j
D) Both acidic and basic
j j j j
Answer B: Basic j j
Rationale: pH values above 7 are basic (alkaline); pH 10 is moderately basic.
j j j j j j j j j j j j
Questions 1–250
Section 1: The Scientific Method & Chemistry of Life (Questions 1–50)
1. Which of the following is NOT one of the seven characteristics shared by all living organisms?
A) Reproduction
B) Movement
C) Growth and development
D) Response to stimuli
Answer B: Movement
Rationale: Not all living organisms move (e.g., plants), but all share characteristics like reproduction,
growth, and response to stimuli.
2. The basic unit of life is the:
A) Atom
B) Cell
C) Tissue
D) Organ
Answer B: Cell
Rationale: The cell is the smallest structural and functional unit of life.
3. Matter can exist in which of the following states?
A) Solid, liquid, and gas
B) Solid and liquid only
C) Liquid and gas only
D) Solid and gas only
Answer A: Solid, liquid, and gas
Rationale: Matter exists in three primary physical states: solid, liquid, and gas.
,4. An essential element is one that:
A) Is required for life and cannot be synthesized by the organism
B) Is found only in living organisms
C) Is present in large quantities in the environment
D) Is not found in living organisms
Answer A: Is required for life and cannot be synthesized by the organism
Rationale: Essential elements must be obtained from the diet or environment.
5. A cation is an ion with a:
A) Positive charge
B) Negative charge
C) Neutral charge
D) Variable charge
Answer A: Positive charge
Rationale: Cations are positively charged ions formed by losing electrons.
6. An anion is an ion with a:
A) Positive charge
B) Negative charge
C) Neutral charge
D) Variable charge
Answer B: Negative charge
Rationale: Anions are negatively charged ions formed by gaining electrons.
7. The four most abundant elements in living organisms are:
A) Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen
B) Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen
C) Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and sulfur
D) Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and phosphorus
Answer B: Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen
Rationale: These four elements make up approximately 96% of living matter.
,8. A covalent bond involves:
A) The sharing of electron pairs between atoms
B) The transfer of electrons from one atom to another
C) The attraction between opposite charges
D) The formation of ions
Answer A: The sharing of electron pairs between atoms
Rationale: Covalent bonds form when atoms share electrons to achieve stability.
9. An ionic bond involves:
A) The sharing of electron pairs
B) The transfer of electrons from one atom to another
C) The sharing of protons
D) The attraction between water molecules
Answer B: The transfer of electrons from one atom to another
Rationale: Ionic bonds form between oppositely charged ions.
10. Hydrogen bonds are:
A) Weak bonds between a hydrogen atom and an electronegative atom
B) Strong bonds between two hydrogen atoms
C) Bonds that share electrons equally
D) Bonds that transfer electrons
Answer A: Weak bonds between a hydrogen atom and an electronegative atom
Rationale: Hydrogen bonds are weak but important for biological structures.
11. Water is a polar molecule because:
A) It has an uneven distribution of charge
B) It has no charge
C) It is a gas at room temperature
D) It is composed of nonpolar bonds
Answer A: It has an uneven distribution of charge
Rationale: Oxygen is more electronegative than hydrogen, creating a partial negative charge on oxygen and
partial positive charges on hydrogen.
, 12. Which property of water allows it to resist changes in temperature?
j j j j j j j j j j j
A) High specific heat
j j j
B) Low specific heat
j j j
C) High surface tension
j j j
D) Low surface tension
j j j
Answer A: High specific heat j j j j
Rationale: Water's high specific heat buffers temperature changes in organisms and environments.
j j j j j j j j j j j
13. The pH scale measures:
j j j j
A) The concentration of hydrogen ions (H⁺)
j j j j j j
B) The concentration of oxygen
j j j j
C) The temperature of a solution
j j j j j
D) The concentration of water
j j j j
Answer A: The concentration of hydrogen ions (H⁺)
j j j j j j j
Rationale: pH is the negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration.
j j j j j j j j j j
14. A solution with a pH of 3 is:
j j j j j j j j
A) Acidic
j
B) Basic
j
C) Neutral
j
D) Both acidic and basic
j j j j
Answer A: Acidic j j
Rationale: pH values below 7 are acidic; pH 3 is highly acidic.
j j j j j j j j j j j
15. A solution with a pH of 10 is:
j j j j j j j j
A) Acidic
j
B) Basic
j
C) Neutral
j
D) Both acidic and basic
j j j j
Answer B: Basic j j
Rationale: pH values above 7 are basic (alkaline); pH 10 is moderately basic.
j j j j j j j j j j j j
