BIOLOGY I EXAM #1 2026 ACTUAL QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS.
5 steps of scientific method - (ANSWER)1. observation
2. question
3. hypothesis
4. experiment
5. conclusion
observation - (ANSWER)act of viewing the world around us
question - (ANSWER)made based off of an observation
hypothesis - (ANSWER)a tentative explanation for an observation
controlled experiment - (ANSWER)- test several groups
- introduce a single variable per treatment
- keep conditions as similar as possible from one group to the next
conclusion - (ANSWER)supports/refutes hypothesis
- more experimentation needed if refuted
prediction - (ANSWER)a guess of what might happen based on observation-- the outcome you would
observe if your hypothesis was supported
theory - (ANSWER)a sound explanation of the world supported through continued observation and
experiments over a long period of time
,BIOLOGY I EXAM #1 2026 ACTUAL QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS.
3 components of a controlled experiment - (ANSWER)1. variable
2. test group
3. control group
variable - (ANSWER)feature of an experiment that is changed from one treatment to the next
test group - (ANSWER)exposed to variable in an experiment
control group - (ANSWER)not exposed to the variable in an experiment
importance of test group & control group - (ANSWER)they allow researchers to determine whether the
variable in an experiment has an effect
independent variable - (ANSWER)manipulation performed on the test group
(ex. hours of tutoring)
which axis is the independent variable found on a graph? - (ANSWER)x-axis
dependent variable - (ANSWER)effect that is being measured
(ex. test score)
which axis is the dependent variable found on a graph? - (ANSWER)y-axis
theory of evolution - (ANSWER)set of hypotheses that provide a powerful explanation for both biological
observations & the diversity of life
, BIOLOGY I EXAM #1 2026 ACTUAL QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS.
why do we learn that the theory of evolution is the single most important theory in all of biology? -
(ANSWER)there's lots of evidence from asking/testing good scientific questions
(ex. anatomy, fossil record, biogeography, molecular biology)
7 ways living organisms are different from non-living organisms - (ANSWER)1. organization - complex
organization
2. response - ability to change in response to the environment
3. reproduction - ability to reproduce
4. evolution - capacity to evolve
5. metabolism - chemical rxns that sustain life
6. homeostasis - maintenance of stable internal environment
7. growth - regulated growth/cell division
1st law of thermodynamics - (ANSWER)energy can neither be created nor destroyed; it can only be
transformed from one form into another
how does the 1st law of thermodynamics apply to living organisms? - (ANSWER)- living organisms
transform energy from sunlight --> chemical energy
- cells convert energy by expending it & giving off heat as a by product
2nd law of thermodynamics - (ANSWER)the amount of entropy in the universe is constantly increasing
entropy - (ANSWER)amount of disorder in a system
disorder - (ANSWER)# of states that a system can take on
SOLUTIONS.
5 steps of scientific method - (ANSWER)1. observation
2. question
3. hypothesis
4. experiment
5. conclusion
observation - (ANSWER)act of viewing the world around us
question - (ANSWER)made based off of an observation
hypothesis - (ANSWER)a tentative explanation for an observation
controlled experiment - (ANSWER)- test several groups
- introduce a single variable per treatment
- keep conditions as similar as possible from one group to the next
conclusion - (ANSWER)supports/refutes hypothesis
- more experimentation needed if refuted
prediction - (ANSWER)a guess of what might happen based on observation-- the outcome you would
observe if your hypothesis was supported
theory - (ANSWER)a sound explanation of the world supported through continued observation and
experiments over a long period of time
,BIOLOGY I EXAM #1 2026 ACTUAL QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS.
3 components of a controlled experiment - (ANSWER)1. variable
2. test group
3. control group
variable - (ANSWER)feature of an experiment that is changed from one treatment to the next
test group - (ANSWER)exposed to variable in an experiment
control group - (ANSWER)not exposed to the variable in an experiment
importance of test group & control group - (ANSWER)they allow researchers to determine whether the
variable in an experiment has an effect
independent variable - (ANSWER)manipulation performed on the test group
(ex. hours of tutoring)
which axis is the independent variable found on a graph? - (ANSWER)x-axis
dependent variable - (ANSWER)effect that is being measured
(ex. test score)
which axis is the dependent variable found on a graph? - (ANSWER)y-axis
theory of evolution - (ANSWER)set of hypotheses that provide a powerful explanation for both biological
observations & the diversity of life
, BIOLOGY I EXAM #1 2026 ACTUAL QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS.
why do we learn that the theory of evolution is the single most important theory in all of biology? -
(ANSWER)there's lots of evidence from asking/testing good scientific questions
(ex. anatomy, fossil record, biogeography, molecular biology)
7 ways living organisms are different from non-living organisms - (ANSWER)1. organization - complex
organization
2. response - ability to change in response to the environment
3. reproduction - ability to reproduce
4. evolution - capacity to evolve
5. metabolism - chemical rxns that sustain life
6. homeostasis - maintenance of stable internal environment
7. growth - regulated growth/cell division
1st law of thermodynamics - (ANSWER)energy can neither be created nor destroyed; it can only be
transformed from one form into another
how does the 1st law of thermodynamics apply to living organisms? - (ANSWER)- living organisms
transform energy from sunlight --> chemical energy
- cells convert energy by expending it & giving off heat as a by product
2nd law of thermodynamics - (ANSWER)the amount of entropy in the universe is constantly increasing
entropy - (ANSWER)amount of disorder in a system
disorder - (ANSWER)# of states that a system can take on
