Biology Exam study guide 2020/2021:
Types of questions: MCQ, Matching, True or False, Fill in the blanks, and Short
Answer. Time: 90 minutes
Any cheating will result in a grade of ZERO!
Chapter 1 (The science of Biology): lessons 1, 2, and 3.
Standard: HS-LS4-1: Communicate scientific information that common ancestry and biological evolution
are supported by multiple lines of empirical evidence.
HS-SEP-1.c: Ask questions that arise from examining models or theory to clarify relationships. HS-SEP-4.a: Analyse
data using tools, technology, and/or models in order to make valid and reliable scientific claims or determine an optimal
design solution
1. Describe the goals of science.
a. One goal of science is to provide natural and testable explanations for events in the
natural world. Science also aims to use explanations supported by data to
understand patterns in nature and to make useful predictions about natural
events. Discuss that science rarely “proves” anything because as we continue to
gather more evidence, our understanding of the world continues to improve.
2. Explain the procedures that are at the core of scientific methodology.
a. Make an observation that describes a problem,
b. Create a hypothesis
c. Test the hypothesis
d. Draw conclusions and refine the hypothesis.
3. Define what a scientific theory is
a. In science, the word theory applies to a tested highly reliable scientific explanation of
events in the natural world that unifies many repeated observations and
incorporates durable, well-supported hypotheses that enable scientists to make
accurate predictions.
4. Describe how attitudes and experiences generate new ideas.
a. It does have such an effect on generating many new ideas like curiosity, creativity,
open-mindedness, and skepticism, and that is because attitudes are a reflection of
your personality, your way of experiencing things. Therefore, that all results in new
ideas.
5. Explain why peer review is important.
a. It helps ensure that papers published in scientific journals answer meaningful
research questions and draw accurate conclusions based on professionally executed
experimentation.
6. Explain the relationship between science and society.
a. Scientific data helps provide answers to questions that affect everyday lives. Society
can limit the application of scientific ideas, especially if new scientific ideas conflict with
, prevailing cultural beliefs. For example, it used to be legal to smoke cigarettes in public
places. Scientific studies proved second-hand smoke was dangerous, and
people started to see cigarettes differently. Eventually, laws changed, banning
cigarettes from most public indoor areas.
7. List practices common to both science and engineering.
a. Asking questions and defining problems
b. Developing and using models
c. Planning and carrying out investigations
d. Analyzing and interpreting data
e. Using mathematics and computational thinking
f. Constructing explanations and designing solutions
g. Engaging in argument from evidence
h. Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information
8. Identify characteristics of all living things.
a. They are made up of cells.
b. They reproduce.
c. They are based on a universal genetic code. They grow and develop.
d. They respond to the environment.
e. They maintain an internal balance.
f. They change over time.
9. Describe crosscutting concepts of biology.
a. Cause and Effect: Mechanism and Explanation
b. Systems and System Models
c. Stability and Change
d. Patterns
e. Scale, Proportion, and Quantity
f. Energy and Matter: Flows, Cycles, and Conservation
g. Structure and Function
10.Explain how fields of biology differ in their approaches.
a. Molecular Biology: is the field of biology that studies the composition, structure, and
interactions of cellular molecules
b. Biotechnology: technology that utilizes biological systems,
c. Global Ecology: the science of the Earth ecosystem
d. Entomology: is the study of insects
11. Explain the importance of the metric system.
a. The slightest errors in measurement decrease the ability for scientific information to
be accurate and reliable, using the metric system often involves conversions
between metric units, which are all factors of 10.
Types of questions: MCQ, Matching, True or False, Fill in the blanks, and Short
Answer. Time: 90 minutes
Any cheating will result in a grade of ZERO!
Chapter 1 (The science of Biology): lessons 1, 2, and 3.
Standard: HS-LS4-1: Communicate scientific information that common ancestry and biological evolution
are supported by multiple lines of empirical evidence.
HS-SEP-1.c: Ask questions that arise from examining models or theory to clarify relationships. HS-SEP-4.a: Analyse
data using tools, technology, and/or models in order to make valid and reliable scientific claims or determine an optimal
design solution
1. Describe the goals of science.
a. One goal of science is to provide natural and testable explanations for events in the
natural world. Science also aims to use explanations supported by data to
understand patterns in nature and to make useful predictions about natural
events. Discuss that science rarely “proves” anything because as we continue to
gather more evidence, our understanding of the world continues to improve.
2. Explain the procedures that are at the core of scientific methodology.
a. Make an observation that describes a problem,
b. Create a hypothesis
c. Test the hypothesis
d. Draw conclusions and refine the hypothesis.
3. Define what a scientific theory is
a. In science, the word theory applies to a tested highly reliable scientific explanation of
events in the natural world that unifies many repeated observations and
incorporates durable, well-supported hypotheses that enable scientists to make
accurate predictions.
4. Describe how attitudes and experiences generate new ideas.
a. It does have such an effect on generating many new ideas like curiosity, creativity,
open-mindedness, and skepticism, and that is because attitudes are a reflection of
your personality, your way of experiencing things. Therefore, that all results in new
ideas.
5. Explain why peer review is important.
a. It helps ensure that papers published in scientific journals answer meaningful
research questions and draw accurate conclusions based on professionally executed
experimentation.
6. Explain the relationship between science and society.
a. Scientific data helps provide answers to questions that affect everyday lives. Society
can limit the application of scientific ideas, especially if new scientific ideas conflict with
, prevailing cultural beliefs. For example, it used to be legal to smoke cigarettes in public
places. Scientific studies proved second-hand smoke was dangerous, and
people started to see cigarettes differently. Eventually, laws changed, banning
cigarettes from most public indoor areas.
7. List practices common to both science and engineering.
a. Asking questions and defining problems
b. Developing and using models
c. Planning and carrying out investigations
d. Analyzing and interpreting data
e. Using mathematics and computational thinking
f. Constructing explanations and designing solutions
g. Engaging in argument from evidence
h. Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information
8. Identify characteristics of all living things.
a. They are made up of cells.
b. They reproduce.
c. They are based on a universal genetic code. They grow and develop.
d. They respond to the environment.
e. They maintain an internal balance.
f. They change over time.
9. Describe crosscutting concepts of biology.
a. Cause and Effect: Mechanism and Explanation
b. Systems and System Models
c. Stability and Change
d. Patterns
e. Scale, Proportion, and Quantity
f. Energy and Matter: Flows, Cycles, and Conservation
g. Structure and Function
10.Explain how fields of biology differ in their approaches.
a. Molecular Biology: is the field of biology that studies the composition, structure, and
interactions of cellular molecules
b. Biotechnology: technology that utilizes biological systems,
c. Global Ecology: the science of the Earth ecosystem
d. Entomology: is the study of insects
11. Explain the importance of the metric system.
a. The slightest errors in measurement decrease the ability for scientific information to
be accurate and reliable, using the metric system often involves conversions
between metric units, which are all factors of 10.
