AP BIOLOGY ENZYME AND
PHOTOSYNTHESIS TERMS EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS
Carotenoids - ANSWER-Hydrocarbons that are various shades of yellow and orange
because they absorb violet and blue-green light
Photosystem - ANSWER-Composed of a protein complex called a reaction-center
complex surrounded by several light-harvesting complexes
Reaction-center Complex - ANSWER-Includes a special pair of chlorophyll a
molecules
Light-harvesting Complex - ANSWER-Consists of various pigment molecules bound
to proteins
Primary Electron Receptor - ANSWER-A molecule capable of accepting electrons
and becoming reduced
PSII and PSI - ANSWER-Photosystems that cooperate in the light reactions of
photosynthesis
Linear Electron Flow - ANSWER-A flow of electrons through the photosystems and
other molecular components built into the thylakoid membrane
Cyclic Electron Flow - ANSWER-Uses photosystem I but not photosystem II: the
alternate path that photo excited electrons take
G3P - ANSWER-The carbohydrate produced directly from the calvin cycle
Rubisco - ANSWER-The Calvin cycle enzyme that adds CO2 to ribulose
biphosphate
Reduction - ANSWER-Gaining of electrons
C3 Plants - ANSWER-In this plant, the initial fixation of carbon occurs via rubisco. . .
Have their name because the first organic product of carbon fixation is 3-
phosphoglycerate
Photorespiration - ANSWER-A process that occurs in the light and consumes O2
while producing CO2
C4 Plants - ANSWER-Preface the Calvin cycle with an alternate mode of carbon
fixation that forms a four-carbon compound as its first product
PHOTOSYNTHESIS TERMS EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS
Carotenoids - ANSWER-Hydrocarbons that are various shades of yellow and orange
because they absorb violet and blue-green light
Photosystem - ANSWER-Composed of a protein complex called a reaction-center
complex surrounded by several light-harvesting complexes
Reaction-center Complex - ANSWER-Includes a special pair of chlorophyll a
molecules
Light-harvesting Complex - ANSWER-Consists of various pigment molecules bound
to proteins
Primary Electron Receptor - ANSWER-A molecule capable of accepting electrons
and becoming reduced
PSII and PSI - ANSWER-Photosystems that cooperate in the light reactions of
photosynthesis
Linear Electron Flow - ANSWER-A flow of electrons through the photosystems and
other molecular components built into the thylakoid membrane
Cyclic Electron Flow - ANSWER-Uses photosystem I but not photosystem II: the
alternate path that photo excited electrons take
G3P - ANSWER-The carbohydrate produced directly from the calvin cycle
Rubisco - ANSWER-The Calvin cycle enzyme that adds CO2 to ribulose
biphosphate
Reduction - ANSWER-Gaining of electrons
C3 Plants - ANSWER-In this plant, the initial fixation of carbon occurs via rubisco. . .
Have their name because the first organic product of carbon fixation is 3-
phosphoglycerate
Photorespiration - ANSWER-A process that occurs in the light and consumes O2
while producing CO2
C4 Plants - ANSWER-Preface the Calvin cycle with an alternate mode of carbon
fixation that forms a four-carbon compound as its first product
