,BIOD101/BIOD 101 Final Exam | Essential Biology I with Lab |
Portage Learning | Q & A | 2026/2027 Edition (PDF)
1. Which of the following is a characteristic of all living organisms?
A) The ability to photosynthesize
B) The presence of a nucleus
C) The ability to respond to stimuli
D) The ability to move from place to place
Correct Answer: The ability to respond to stimuli.
Rationale: All living organisms share several characteristics, including the ability to respond to
environmental stimuli, grow and develop, maintain homeostasis, reproduce, and process energy.
Photosynthesis is limited to autotrophs, a nucleus is absent in prokaryotes, and movement is not
universal among all life forms.
2. What is the primary function of the cell wall in a bacterial cell?
A) To store genetic material
B) To provide structural support and protection against osmotic pressure
C) To regulate the passage of substances into and out of the cell
D) To produce energy through cellular respiration
Correct Answer: To provide structural support and protection against osmotic pressure.
Rationale: The bacterial cell wall is a rigid structure composed of peptidoglycan that provides shape and
protects the cell from environmental stressors, particularly osmotic pressure. The cell membrane
regulates passage of substances, and energy production is the function of the cell's metabolic processes,
not the cell wall itself.
3. A researcher is studying the effect of a new fertilizer on plant growth. In this experiment, the height of
the plants is the:
A) Independent variable
,B) Dependent variable
C) Control variable
D) Constant variable
Correct Answer: Dependent variable.
Rationale: The dependent variable is the factor that is measured or observed in response to changes in
the independent variable. In this experiment, plant height is the outcome being measured to see if it is
affected by the type of fertilizer used.
4. According to the scientific method, what is the correct order of steps after making an observation?
A) Draw a conclusion, formulate a hypothesis, conduct an experiment
B) Formulate a hypothesis, conduct an experiment, analyze data, draw a conclusion
C) Conduct an experiment, analyze data, formulate a hypothesis, draw a conclusion
D) Analyze data, draw a conclusion, formulate a hypothesis, conduct an experiment
Correct Answer: Formulate a hypothesis, conduct an experiment, analyze data, draw a conclusion.
Rationale: The scientific method follows a logical sequence: observation, question, hypothesis,
prediction, experiment, data analysis, and conclusion. After making an observation and asking a
question, the next step is to formulate a testable hypothesis.
5. Matter can exist in which of the following states?
A) Solid and liquid only
B) Liquid and gas only
C) Solid, liquid, and gas
D) Solid, liquid, gas, and plasma
Correct Answer: Solid, liquid, gas, and plasma.
, Rationale: The four fundamental states of matter are solid, liquid, gas, and plasma. While the first three
are most common in everyday biology, plasma is also a recognized state of matter.
6. Which subatomic particle has a negative charge and orbits the nucleus of an atom?
A) Proton
B) Neutron
C) Electron
D) Nucleus
Correct Answer: Electron.
Rationale: Electrons are negatively charged subatomic particles that orbit the nucleus of an atom.
Protons carry a positive charge, and neutrons are neutral.
7. Which type of chemical bond involves the sharing of electron pairs between atoms?
A) Ionic bond
B) Covalent bond
C) Hydrogen bond
D) Van der Waals interaction
Correct Answer: Covalent bond.
Rationale: A covalent bond is formed when two atoms share one or more pairs of electrons. Ionic bonds
involve the transfer of electrons, while hydrogen bonds are weak attractions between polar molecules.
8. A water molecule is polar because:
A) It has a linear shape
B) The oxygen atom is more electronegative than the hydrogen atoms
C) It contains non-polar covalent bonds
D) It has no net charge
Portage Learning | Q & A | 2026/2027 Edition (PDF)
1. Which of the following is a characteristic of all living organisms?
A) The ability to photosynthesize
B) The presence of a nucleus
C) The ability to respond to stimuli
D) The ability to move from place to place
Correct Answer: The ability to respond to stimuli.
Rationale: All living organisms share several characteristics, including the ability to respond to
environmental stimuli, grow and develop, maintain homeostasis, reproduce, and process energy.
Photosynthesis is limited to autotrophs, a nucleus is absent in prokaryotes, and movement is not
universal among all life forms.
2. What is the primary function of the cell wall in a bacterial cell?
A) To store genetic material
B) To provide structural support and protection against osmotic pressure
C) To regulate the passage of substances into and out of the cell
D) To produce energy through cellular respiration
Correct Answer: To provide structural support and protection against osmotic pressure.
Rationale: The bacterial cell wall is a rigid structure composed of peptidoglycan that provides shape and
protects the cell from environmental stressors, particularly osmotic pressure. The cell membrane
regulates passage of substances, and energy production is the function of the cell's metabolic processes,
not the cell wall itself.
3. A researcher is studying the effect of a new fertilizer on plant growth. In this experiment, the height of
the plants is the:
A) Independent variable
,B) Dependent variable
C) Control variable
D) Constant variable
Correct Answer: Dependent variable.
Rationale: The dependent variable is the factor that is measured or observed in response to changes in
the independent variable. In this experiment, plant height is the outcome being measured to see if it is
affected by the type of fertilizer used.
4. According to the scientific method, what is the correct order of steps after making an observation?
A) Draw a conclusion, formulate a hypothesis, conduct an experiment
B) Formulate a hypothesis, conduct an experiment, analyze data, draw a conclusion
C) Conduct an experiment, analyze data, formulate a hypothesis, draw a conclusion
D) Analyze data, draw a conclusion, formulate a hypothesis, conduct an experiment
Correct Answer: Formulate a hypothesis, conduct an experiment, analyze data, draw a conclusion.
Rationale: The scientific method follows a logical sequence: observation, question, hypothesis,
prediction, experiment, data analysis, and conclusion. After making an observation and asking a
question, the next step is to formulate a testable hypothesis.
5. Matter can exist in which of the following states?
A) Solid and liquid only
B) Liquid and gas only
C) Solid, liquid, and gas
D) Solid, liquid, gas, and plasma
Correct Answer: Solid, liquid, gas, and plasma.
, Rationale: The four fundamental states of matter are solid, liquid, gas, and plasma. While the first three
are most common in everyday biology, plasma is also a recognized state of matter.
6. Which subatomic particle has a negative charge and orbits the nucleus of an atom?
A) Proton
B) Neutron
C) Electron
D) Nucleus
Correct Answer: Electron.
Rationale: Electrons are negatively charged subatomic particles that orbit the nucleus of an atom.
Protons carry a positive charge, and neutrons are neutral.
7. Which type of chemical bond involves the sharing of electron pairs between atoms?
A) Ionic bond
B) Covalent bond
C) Hydrogen bond
D) Van der Waals interaction
Correct Answer: Covalent bond.
Rationale: A covalent bond is formed when two atoms share one or more pairs of electrons. Ionic bonds
involve the transfer of electrons, while hydrogen bonds are weak attractions between polar molecules.
8. A water molecule is polar because:
A) It has a linear shape
B) The oxygen atom is more electronegative than the hydrogen atoms
C) It contains non-polar covalent bonds
D) It has no net charge
