MCAT AAMC Practice Exam 2
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1. Based on the data from D.
Table 1, what effects do This is a Biochemistry question that falls under the content cat-
acid and chloride have on egory "Principles of chemical thermodynamics and kinetics." The
the enzymatic activity of answer to this question is D. Activity increased at lower pH, which
laccases? corresponds to a higher acidity of the solution, while introduction
A. Both acid and chloride of chloride lowered activity dramatically. It is a Data-based and
decrease the activity. Statistical Reasoning question because you must use data to explain
B. Both acid and chloride the relationship between activity and either acidity or chloride ion
increase the activity. concentration.
C. Acid decreases the ac-
tivity, whereas chloride in-
creases the activity.
D. Acid increases the ac-
tivity, whereas chloride de-
creases the activity.
2. The concentration of en- A.
zyme for each experiment This is a Biochemistry question that falls under the content category
was 5.0 μM. What is kcat for "Principles of chemical thermodynamics and kinetics." The answer
the reaction at pH 4.5 with to this question is A. The fact that the rate of product formation did
NO chloride added when not vary over time for the first 5 minutes implies that the enzyme was
Compound 3 is the sub- saturated with substrate. Under these conditions, kcat = Vmax/[E] =
strate? (125 nM/s)/5.0 μM = 2.5 × 10-2 s-1. It is a Scientific Reasoning and
A. 2.5 × 10^-2 s-1 Problem Solving question because you must determine and then
B. 1.3 × 10^2 s-1 use a scientific formula to solve a problem.
C. 5.3 × 10^3 s-1
D. 7.0 × 10^5 s-1
, MCAT AAMC Practice Exam 2
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_9ssva0
3. Absorption of ultraviolet B.
light by organic molecules This is an Organic Chemistry question that falls under the content
always results in what category "How light and sound interact with matter." The answer
process? to this question is B. The absorption of ultraviolet light by organic
A. Bond breaking molecules always results in electronic excitation. Bond breaking can
B. Excitation of bound elec- subsequently result, as can ionization or bond vibration, but none
trons of these processes are guaranteed to result from the absorption
C. Vibration of atoms in po- of ultraviolet light. It is a Knowledge of Scientific Concepts and
lar bonds Principles question because you must recognize a correct scientific
D. Ejection of bound elec- principle.
trons
4. The half-life of a radioac- D.
tive material is: This is a Physics question that falls under the content category
A. half the time it takes for "Atoms, nuclear decay, electronic structure, and atomic chemical
all of the radioactive nu- behavior." The answer to this question is D because the half-life of a
clei to decay into radioac- radioactive material is defined as the time it takes for half of all the
tive nuclei. radioactive nuclei to decay into their daughter nuclei, which may or
B. half the time it takes for may not also be radioactive. It is a Knowledge of Scientific Concepts
all of the radioactive nuclei and Principles question because the question requires recognizing
to decay into their daugh- correct scientific principles and related definitions.
ter nuclei.
C. the time it takes for half
of all the radioactive nu-
clei to decay into radioac-
tive nuclei.
D. the time it takes for half
of all the radioactive nuclei
to decay into their daugh-
ter nuclei.
5.
, MCAT AAMC Practice Exam 2
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A person is sitting on a D.
chair as shown. Why must This is a Physics question that falls under the content category
the person either lean for- "Translational motion, forces, work, energy, and equilibrium in living
ward or slide their feet un- systems." The answer to this question is D because as the person
der the chair in order to is attempting to stand, the only support comes from the feet on
stand up? the ground. The person is in equilibrium only when the center of
A. To increase the force re- mass is directly above their feet. Otherwise, if the person did not
quired to stand up lean forward or slide the feet under the chair, the person would fall
B. To use the friction with backward due to the large torque created by the combination of the
the ground weight of the body (applied at the person's center of mass) and the
C. To reduce the energy re- distance along the horizontal between the center of mass and the
quired to stand up support point. It is a Knowledge of Scientific Concepts and Principles
D. To keep the body in equi- question because the question requires identifying examples of
librium while rising observations that illustrate scientific principles.
6. What is the net charge of C.
sT-loop at pH 7.2? This is an Organic Chemistry question that falls under the content
A. -2 category "Structure, function, and reactivity of biologically-relevant
B. -1 molecules." The answer to this question is C because at pH 7.2,
C. 0 the N-terminus will be positively charged and the C-terminus will
D. +1 be negatively charged. In addition, the lysine side chain will carry
one positive charge and the glutamic acid side chain will carry one
negative charge. It is a Scientific Reasoning and Problem Solving
question because you must calculate a value based on the scientific
principle of amino acid charge to solve the problem.
7.
, MCAT AAMC Practice Exam 2
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_9ssva0
In designing the experi- C.
ment, the researchers used This is a Biochemistry question that falls under the content category
which type of 32P labeled "Principles of chemical thermodynamics and kinetics." The answer
ATP? to this question is C because the phosphoryl transfer from kinas-
A. α32P-ATP es comes from the γ-phosphate of ATP. Therefore, the experiment
B. β32P-ATP should require γ32P-ATP. It is a Reasoning about the Design and
C. γ32P-ATP Execution of Research question because you must determine the
D. δ32P-ATP correct way of conducting an experiment to test the desired hypoth-
esis.
8. When used in place D.
of spHM, which peptide This is a Biochemistry question that falls under the content catego-
would be most likely to ry "Structure, function, and reactivity of biologically-relevant mole-
achieve the same experi- cules." The answer to this question is D because the phosphorylated
mental results? threonine would most likely be mimicked by glutamic acid in terms
A. FLGFAY of size and charge. It is a Reasoning about the Design and Execu-
B. FLGFQY tion of Research question because you must reason about how a
C. FLGFGY change in the experiment design would affect the outcome of the
D. FLGFEY experiment.
"This experiment was repeated in the presence of a synthetic pep-
tide that mimics the HM domain (sHM) of Ser/Thr kinases with the
amino acid sequence FLGFTY."
9. Based on the information A.
in the passage, PDK1 cat- This is an Organic Chemistry question that falls under the content
alyzes the addition of phos- category "Structure, function, and reactivity of biologically-relevant
phate to what functional molecules." The answer to this question is A because reactions in-
group? volving either Ser or Thr would involve the hydroxyl group in the side
A. Hydroxyl chain of these amino acids. It is a Knowledge of Scientific Concepts
B. Amine and Principles question because you must recall that both Ser and
Thr contain hydroxyl groups in their side chains.
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_9ssva0
1. Based on the data from D.
Table 1, what effects do This is a Biochemistry question that falls under the content cat-
acid and chloride have on egory "Principles of chemical thermodynamics and kinetics." The
the enzymatic activity of answer to this question is D. Activity increased at lower pH, which
laccases? corresponds to a higher acidity of the solution, while introduction
A. Both acid and chloride of chloride lowered activity dramatically. It is a Data-based and
decrease the activity. Statistical Reasoning question because you must use data to explain
B. Both acid and chloride the relationship between activity and either acidity or chloride ion
increase the activity. concentration.
C. Acid decreases the ac-
tivity, whereas chloride in-
creases the activity.
D. Acid increases the ac-
tivity, whereas chloride de-
creases the activity.
2. The concentration of en- A.
zyme for each experiment This is a Biochemistry question that falls under the content category
was 5.0 μM. What is kcat for "Principles of chemical thermodynamics and kinetics." The answer
the reaction at pH 4.5 with to this question is A. The fact that the rate of product formation did
NO chloride added when not vary over time for the first 5 minutes implies that the enzyme was
Compound 3 is the sub- saturated with substrate. Under these conditions, kcat = Vmax/[E] =
strate? (125 nM/s)/5.0 μM = 2.5 × 10-2 s-1. It is a Scientific Reasoning and
A. 2.5 × 10^-2 s-1 Problem Solving question because you must determine and then
B. 1.3 × 10^2 s-1 use a scientific formula to solve a problem.
C. 5.3 × 10^3 s-1
D. 7.0 × 10^5 s-1
, MCAT AAMC Practice Exam 2
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_9ssva0
3. Absorption of ultraviolet B.
light by organic molecules This is an Organic Chemistry question that falls under the content
always results in what category "How light and sound interact with matter." The answer
process? to this question is B. The absorption of ultraviolet light by organic
A. Bond breaking molecules always results in electronic excitation. Bond breaking can
B. Excitation of bound elec- subsequently result, as can ionization or bond vibration, but none
trons of these processes are guaranteed to result from the absorption
C. Vibration of atoms in po- of ultraviolet light. It is a Knowledge of Scientific Concepts and
lar bonds Principles question because you must recognize a correct scientific
D. Ejection of bound elec- principle.
trons
4. The half-life of a radioac- D.
tive material is: This is a Physics question that falls under the content category
A. half the time it takes for "Atoms, nuclear decay, electronic structure, and atomic chemical
all of the radioactive nu- behavior." The answer to this question is D because the half-life of a
clei to decay into radioac- radioactive material is defined as the time it takes for half of all the
tive nuclei. radioactive nuclei to decay into their daughter nuclei, which may or
B. half the time it takes for may not also be radioactive. It is a Knowledge of Scientific Concepts
all of the radioactive nuclei and Principles question because the question requires recognizing
to decay into their daugh- correct scientific principles and related definitions.
ter nuclei.
C. the time it takes for half
of all the radioactive nu-
clei to decay into radioac-
tive nuclei.
D. the time it takes for half
of all the radioactive nuclei
to decay into their daugh-
ter nuclei.
5.
, MCAT AAMC Practice Exam 2
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_9ssva0
A person is sitting on a D.
chair as shown. Why must This is a Physics question that falls under the content category
the person either lean for- "Translational motion, forces, work, energy, and equilibrium in living
ward or slide their feet un- systems." The answer to this question is D because as the person
der the chair in order to is attempting to stand, the only support comes from the feet on
stand up? the ground. The person is in equilibrium only when the center of
A. To increase the force re- mass is directly above their feet. Otherwise, if the person did not
quired to stand up lean forward or slide the feet under the chair, the person would fall
B. To use the friction with backward due to the large torque created by the combination of the
the ground weight of the body (applied at the person's center of mass) and the
C. To reduce the energy re- distance along the horizontal between the center of mass and the
quired to stand up support point. It is a Knowledge of Scientific Concepts and Principles
D. To keep the body in equi- question because the question requires identifying examples of
librium while rising observations that illustrate scientific principles.
6. What is the net charge of C.
sT-loop at pH 7.2? This is an Organic Chemistry question that falls under the content
A. -2 category "Structure, function, and reactivity of biologically-relevant
B. -1 molecules." The answer to this question is C because at pH 7.2,
C. 0 the N-terminus will be positively charged and the C-terminus will
D. +1 be negatively charged. In addition, the lysine side chain will carry
one positive charge and the glutamic acid side chain will carry one
negative charge. It is a Scientific Reasoning and Problem Solving
question because you must calculate a value based on the scientific
principle of amino acid charge to solve the problem.
7.
, MCAT AAMC Practice Exam 2
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_9ssva0
In designing the experi- C.
ment, the researchers used This is a Biochemistry question that falls under the content category
which type of 32P labeled "Principles of chemical thermodynamics and kinetics." The answer
ATP? to this question is C because the phosphoryl transfer from kinas-
A. α32P-ATP es comes from the γ-phosphate of ATP. Therefore, the experiment
B. β32P-ATP should require γ32P-ATP. It is a Reasoning about the Design and
C. γ32P-ATP Execution of Research question because you must determine the
D. δ32P-ATP correct way of conducting an experiment to test the desired hypoth-
esis.
8. When used in place D.
of spHM, which peptide This is a Biochemistry question that falls under the content catego-
would be most likely to ry "Structure, function, and reactivity of biologically-relevant mole-
achieve the same experi- cules." The answer to this question is D because the phosphorylated
mental results? threonine would most likely be mimicked by glutamic acid in terms
A. FLGFAY of size and charge. It is a Reasoning about the Design and Execu-
B. FLGFQY tion of Research question because you must reason about how a
C. FLGFGY change in the experiment design would affect the outcome of the
D. FLGFEY experiment.
"This experiment was repeated in the presence of a synthetic pep-
tide that mimics the HM domain (sHM) of Ser/Thr kinases with the
amino acid sequence FLGFTY."
9. Based on the information A.
in the passage, PDK1 cat- This is an Organic Chemistry question that falls under the content
alyzes the addition of phos- category "Structure, function, and reactivity of biologically-relevant
phate to what functional molecules." The answer to this question is A because reactions in-
group? volving either Ser or Thr would involve the hydroxyl group in the side
A. Hydroxyl chain of these amino acids. It is a Knowledge of Scientific Concepts
B. Amine and Principles question because you must recall that both Ser and
Thr contain hydroxyl groups in their side chains.
