Summarized Exam Coverage
Basic chemistry (atoms, molecules, water, pH, buffers); biological macromolecules
(carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids); cell structure and function (prokaryotic vs.
eukaryotic, organelles, membrane transport); energy and metabolism (ATP, enzymes,
photosynthesis, cellular respiration); cell division (mitosis, meiosis); DNA structure, replication,
transcription, translation; Mendelian genetics and inheritance patterns; evolution by natural
selection; classification and taxonomy; plant structure and reproduction; animal tissues and organ
systems; homeostasis; ecology (populations, communities, ecosystems).
1. A patient’s blood pH is 7.25 due to diabetic ketoacidosis. Which buffer system acts most
rapidly to restore pH toward normal?
A) Bicarbonate-carbonic acid system
B) Phosphate buffer system
C) Protein buffer system
D) Hemoglobin buffer system
Bicarbonate is the primary extracellular buffer; it quickly neutralizes excess hydrogen ions from
ketones.
2. A child cannot break down lactose because the enzyme lactase is nonfunctional. This enzyme
is a type of which macromolecule?
A) Protein
B) Carbohydrate
C) Lipid
D) Nucleic acid
Enzymes are catalytic proteins; lactase hydrolyzes lactose into glucose and galactose.
3. A cell is placed in a solution and swells until it bursts. The external solution was most likely:
A) Hypotonic
B) Hypertonic
C) Isotonic
D) Saturated
Water moves into the cell by osmosis when the outside solution has a lower solute concentration
than the cell’s cytoplasm.
4. A plant is kept in darkness for several days. Which process will stop first?
A) Photosynthesis
B) Cellular respiration
,C) Transpiration
D) Protein synthesis
Photosynthesis requires light; respiration continues using stored organic molecules.
5. A mother has type A blood and the father has type B blood. Their child has type O blood.
What are the parents’ genotypes?
A) AO and BO
B) AA and BB
C) AO and BB
D) AA and BO
Type O requires two O alleles; each parent must carry one O allele (AO and BO).
6. A patient’s mitochondria are unable to produce ATP efficiently. Which molecule’s levels
would most directly decrease inside the cell?
A) Adenosine triphosphate
B) Glucose
C) Oxygen
D) Carbon dioxide
Mitochondria generate most cellular ATP via oxidative phosphorylation; dysfunction lowers ATP
directly.
7. A diet high in saturated fats increases risk for heart disease. Saturated fats differ from
unsaturated fats in that they:
A) Have no double bonds between carbons
B) Contain glycerol
C) Are liquid at room temperature
D) Are made of amino acids
Saturated fats have all single carbon-carbon bonds, making them solid at room temperature and
more atherogenic.
8. A doctor explains that a virus has infected a patient by injecting its genetic material into
human cells. The viral genome is made of:
A) Either DNA or RNA, never both
B) DNA only
C) RNA only
D) Proteins and carbohydrates
Viruses contain either DNA or RNA as genetic material, never both; they rely on host machinery
to replicate.
,9. After a meal, blood glucose rises. Which hormone signals cells to take up glucose and store it
as glycogen?
A) Insulin
B) Glucagon
C) Cortisol
D) Epinephrine
Insulin is released in response to hyperglycemia; it promotes glucose uptake and glycogenesis in
liver and muscle.
10. A forensic scientist finds a white powder that tests positive for nitrogen but negative for
starch. This powder is most likely a:
A) Protein
B) Lipid
C) Polysaccharide
D) Sugar
Proteins contain nitrogen (from amino groups); starch is a carbohydrate without nitrogen.
11. A patient has a genetic disorder that prevents ribosomes from binding to the endoplasmic
reticulum. Which type of protein synthesis would be most impaired?
A) Secreted proteins
B) Cytosolic enzymes
C) DNA polymerase
D) Ribosomal proteins
Ribosomes on rough ER synthesize proteins destined for secretion or membranes; free ribosomes
make cytosolic proteins.
12. A student observes a cell with a nucleus, mitochondria, and a cell wall made of cellulose.
This cell is most likely from:
A) A plant
B) An animal
C) A bacterium
D) A fungus
Plants have cell walls of cellulose, a nucleus, and membrane-bound organelles; fungi have chitin
walls; bacteria lack nuclei.
13. A researcher adds a chemical that blocks the electron transport chain in mitochondria. What
immediate effect occurs?
A) ATP production stops
B) Glycolysis stops
, C) Oxygen consumption increases
D) CO₂ production doubles
Electron transport chain produces most ATP; blockage halts oxidative phosphorylation, though
glycolysis continues briefly.
14. A pregnant woman is advised to take folic acid to prevent neural tube defects. Folic acid is
important for which process?
A) DNA synthesis
B) ATP production
C) Lipid digestion
D) Muscle contraction
Folate is needed for nucleotide synthesis; rapid cell division in the embryo requires adequate
DNA replication.
15. A drop of iodine turns blue-black when added to a solution. This indicates the presence of:
A) Starch
B) Glucose
C) Protein
D) Lipid
Iodine (Lugol’s solution) forms a blue-black complex with starch; it does not react with simple
sugars.
16. A cell is observed under a microscope and has no nucleus but does have a cell wall and
ribosomes. This cell is most likely a:
A) Bacterium
B) Human red blood cell
C) Plant root cell
D) Fungal hypha
Bacteria are prokaryotes with no nucleus but contain ribosomes and a cell wall (peptidoglycan).
17. During a marathon, a runner’s muscles begin to ache due to lactate buildup. This occurs
because of:
A) Anaerobic respiration in muscles
B) Aerobic respiration in mitochondria
C) Increased fat oxidation
D) Protein breakdown
When oxygen is limited, pyruvate is converted to lactate via fermentation, regenerating NAD⁺ for
glycolysis to continue.
Basic chemistry (atoms, molecules, water, pH, buffers); biological macromolecules
(carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids); cell structure and function (prokaryotic vs.
eukaryotic, organelles, membrane transport); energy and metabolism (ATP, enzymes,
photosynthesis, cellular respiration); cell division (mitosis, meiosis); DNA structure, replication,
transcription, translation; Mendelian genetics and inheritance patterns; evolution by natural
selection; classification and taxonomy; plant structure and reproduction; animal tissues and organ
systems; homeostasis; ecology (populations, communities, ecosystems).
1. A patient’s blood pH is 7.25 due to diabetic ketoacidosis. Which buffer system acts most
rapidly to restore pH toward normal?
A) Bicarbonate-carbonic acid system
B) Phosphate buffer system
C) Protein buffer system
D) Hemoglobin buffer system
Bicarbonate is the primary extracellular buffer; it quickly neutralizes excess hydrogen ions from
ketones.
2. A child cannot break down lactose because the enzyme lactase is nonfunctional. This enzyme
is a type of which macromolecule?
A) Protein
B) Carbohydrate
C) Lipid
D) Nucleic acid
Enzymes are catalytic proteins; lactase hydrolyzes lactose into glucose and galactose.
3. A cell is placed in a solution and swells until it bursts. The external solution was most likely:
A) Hypotonic
B) Hypertonic
C) Isotonic
D) Saturated
Water moves into the cell by osmosis when the outside solution has a lower solute concentration
than the cell’s cytoplasm.
4. A plant is kept in darkness for several days. Which process will stop first?
A) Photosynthesis
B) Cellular respiration
,C) Transpiration
D) Protein synthesis
Photosynthesis requires light; respiration continues using stored organic molecules.
5. A mother has type A blood and the father has type B blood. Their child has type O blood.
What are the parents’ genotypes?
A) AO and BO
B) AA and BB
C) AO and BB
D) AA and BO
Type O requires two O alleles; each parent must carry one O allele (AO and BO).
6. A patient’s mitochondria are unable to produce ATP efficiently. Which molecule’s levels
would most directly decrease inside the cell?
A) Adenosine triphosphate
B) Glucose
C) Oxygen
D) Carbon dioxide
Mitochondria generate most cellular ATP via oxidative phosphorylation; dysfunction lowers ATP
directly.
7. A diet high in saturated fats increases risk for heart disease. Saturated fats differ from
unsaturated fats in that they:
A) Have no double bonds between carbons
B) Contain glycerol
C) Are liquid at room temperature
D) Are made of amino acids
Saturated fats have all single carbon-carbon bonds, making them solid at room temperature and
more atherogenic.
8. A doctor explains that a virus has infected a patient by injecting its genetic material into
human cells. The viral genome is made of:
A) Either DNA or RNA, never both
B) DNA only
C) RNA only
D) Proteins and carbohydrates
Viruses contain either DNA or RNA as genetic material, never both; they rely on host machinery
to replicate.
,9. After a meal, blood glucose rises. Which hormone signals cells to take up glucose and store it
as glycogen?
A) Insulin
B) Glucagon
C) Cortisol
D) Epinephrine
Insulin is released in response to hyperglycemia; it promotes glucose uptake and glycogenesis in
liver and muscle.
10. A forensic scientist finds a white powder that tests positive for nitrogen but negative for
starch. This powder is most likely a:
A) Protein
B) Lipid
C) Polysaccharide
D) Sugar
Proteins contain nitrogen (from amino groups); starch is a carbohydrate without nitrogen.
11. A patient has a genetic disorder that prevents ribosomes from binding to the endoplasmic
reticulum. Which type of protein synthesis would be most impaired?
A) Secreted proteins
B) Cytosolic enzymes
C) DNA polymerase
D) Ribosomal proteins
Ribosomes on rough ER synthesize proteins destined for secretion or membranes; free ribosomes
make cytosolic proteins.
12. A student observes a cell with a nucleus, mitochondria, and a cell wall made of cellulose.
This cell is most likely from:
A) A plant
B) An animal
C) A bacterium
D) A fungus
Plants have cell walls of cellulose, a nucleus, and membrane-bound organelles; fungi have chitin
walls; bacteria lack nuclei.
13. A researcher adds a chemical that blocks the electron transport chain in mitochondria. What
immediate effect occurs?
A) ATP production stops
B) Glycolysis stops
, C) Oxygen consumption increases
D) CO₂ production doubles
Electron transport chain produces most ATP; blockage halts oxidative phosphorylation, though
glycolysis continues briefly.
14. A pregnant woman is advised to take folic acid to prevent neural tube defects. Folic acid is
important for which process?
A) DNA synthesis
B) ATP production
C) Lipid digestion
D) Muscle contraction
Folate is needed for nucleotide synthesis; rapid cell division in the embryo requires adequate
DNA replication.
15. A drop of iodine turns blue-black when added to a solution. This indicates the presence of:
A) Starch
B) Glucose
C) Protein
D) Lipid
Iodine (Lugol’s solution) forms a blue-black complex with starch; it does not react with simple
sugars.
16. A cell is observed under a microscope and has no nucleus but does have a cell wall and
ribosomes. This cell is most likely a:
A) Bacterium
B) Human red blood cell
C) Plant root cell
D) Fungal hypha
Bacteria are prokaryotes with no nucleus but contain ribosomes and a cell wall (peptidoglycan).
17. During a marathon, a runner’s muscles begin to ache due to lactate buildup. This occurs
because of:
A) Anaerobic respiration in muscles
B) Aerobic respiration in mitochondria
C) Increased fat oxidation
D) Protein breakdown
When oxygen is limited, pyruvate is converted to lactate via fermentation, regenerating NAD⁺ for
glycolysis to continue.
