UT Austin BIO 311C Exam 1 (pdf) | 2026/2027 | Introductory Biology I
Q&A | Biology
1. Which of the following best defines the emergent properties of life?
A) Properties that are present at the molecular level only
B) New properties that arise with each step upward in the hierarchy of life,
from the combination of simpler components
C) Properties that are the same at all levels of biological organization
D) Properties that are unique to prokaryotic organisms
Correct Answer: New properties that arise with each step upward in the
hierarchy of life, from the combination of simpler components
Rationale: Emergent properties are novel characteristics that appear at
higher levels of biological organization that are not present at the lower
levels. For example, a single nucleotide does not have the ability to replicate,
but a DNA molecule does when its components are arranged in a specific
structure.
2. The biological hierarchy organizes life from the simplest to the most
complex. Which of the following is the correct order from smallest to largest?
A) Atom → Molecule → Cell → Organelle → Tissue → Organ → Organ System →
Organism
B) Atom → Molecule → Organelle → Cell → Tissue → Organ → Organ System →
Organism
C) Molecule → Atom → Organelle → Cell → Tissue → Organism → Organ
System
D) Atom → Cell → Molecule → Tissue → Organ → Organelle → Organ System →
Organism
Correct Answer: Atom → Molecule → Organelle → Cell → Tissue → Organ →
Organ System → Organism
Rationale: The biological hierarchy progresses from atoms, which form
molecules, which combine to form organelles, which make up cells. Cells
form tissues, organs, organ systems, and finally organisms.
,3. A model system is an organism or cell type used for experiments because
it is:
A) A representative organism that is easy to grow, manipulate, and study
B) A rare organism that is difficult to maintain in the lab
C) Only used to study complex human diseases
D) Always a prokaryote
Correct Answer: A representative organism that is easy to grow, manipulate,
and study
Rationale: Model systems are selected organisms that are easy to grow,
manipulate, and study in a laboratory setting, allowing researchers to
uncover general principles of life.
4. Which of the following is an example of a model organism?
A) *E. coli*
B) *Arabidopsis*
C) Yeast
D) All of the above
Correct Answer: All of the above
Rationale: *E. coli* is a prokaryotic model system, *Arabidopsis* is a plant
model system, and yeast is a fungal model system.
5. Reductionism is an approach to studying biology that involves:
A) Analyzing the interactions among all parts of a system
B) Breaking down complex systems into simpler, more manageable
components
C) Studying an organism in its natural environment
D) Observing the whole organism without examining its parts
Correct Answer: Breaking down complex systems into simpler, more
manageable components
,Rationale: Reductionism is the approach of breaking down complex biological
systems into their simpler constituent parts to study them in detail.
6. The three domains of life are:
A) Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya
B) Prokaryotes, Eukaryotes, and Viruses
C) Animalia, Plantae, and Fungi
D) Monera, Protista, and Animalia
Correct Answer: Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya
Rationale: The three domains of life are Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya.
Bacteria and Archaea are prokaryotic, while Eukarya includes organisms with
membrane-bound nuclei and organelles.
7. Which of the following kingdoms belongs to the domain Eukarya?
A) Bacteria
B) Archaea
C) Fungi
D) Monera
Correct Answer: Fungi
Rationale: The domain Eukarya includes the kingdoms Protista, Fungi,
Plantae, and Animalia. Bacteria and Archaea are separate domains.
8. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of all living organisms?
A) Response to environmental stimuli
B) Reproduction
C) Adaptation and evolution
D) Photosynthesis
Correct Answer: Photosynthesis
, Rationale: While many organisms perform photosynthesis, it is not a
characteristic of all living organisms. All living organisms, however, exhibit
properties such as response to stimuli, reproduction, and adaptation.
9. A living organism's ability to maintain a stable internal environment is
known as:
A) Metabolism
B) Homeostasis
C) Reproduction
D) Growth
Correct Answer: Homeostasis
Rationale: Homeostasis is the maintenance of a relatively stable internal
environment despite changes in external conditions.
10. In the hierarchy of biological organization, a group of individuals of the
same species living in the same area is called a:
A) Community
B) Ecosystem
C) Population
D) Organism
Correct Answer: Population
Rationale: A population consists of all the individuals of a single species
living in a particular geographic area.
11. Which of the following is a community?
A) All the organisms living in a specific area
B) All the members of a single species in a specific area
C) All the living and non-living elements in a specific area
D) A single organism and its environment
Q&A | Biology
1. Which of the following best defines the emergent properties of life?
A) Properties that are present at the molecular level only
B) New properties that arise with each step upward in the hierarchy of life,
from the combination of simpler components
C) Properties that are the same at all levels of biological organization
D) Properties that are unique to prokaryotic organisms
Correct Answer: New properties that arise with each step upward in the
hierarchy of life, from the combination of simpler components
Rationale: Emergent properties are novel characteristics that appear at
higher levels of biological organization that are not present at the lower
levels. For example, a single nucleotide does not have the ability to replicate,
but a DNA molecule does when its components are arranged in a specific
structure.
2. The biological hierarchy organizes life from the simplest to the most
complex. Which of the following is the correct order from smallest to largest?
A) Atom → Molecule → Cell → Organelle → Tissue → Organ → Organ System →
Organism
B) Atom → Molecule → Organelle → Cell → Tissue → Organ → Organ System →
Organism
C) Molecule → Atom → Organelle → Cell → Tissue → Organism → Organ
System
D) Atom → Cell → Molecule → Tissue → Organ → Organelle → Organ System →
Organism
Correct Answer: Atom → Molecule → Organelle → Cell → Tissue → Organ →
Organ System → Organism
Rationale: The biological hierarchy progresses from atoms, which form
molecules, which combine to form organelles, which make up cells. Cells
form tissues, organs, organ systems, and finally organisms.
,3. A model system is an organism or cell type used for experiments because
it is:
A) A representative organism that is easy to grow, manipulate, and study
B) A rare organism that is difficult to maintain in the lab
C) Only used to study complex human diseases
D) Always a prokaryote
Correct Answer: A representative organism that is easy to grow, manipulate,
and study
Rationale: Model systems are selected organisms that are easy to grow,
manipulate, and study in a laboratory setting, allowing researchers to
uncover general principles of life.
4. Which of the following is an example of a model organism?
A) *E. coli*
B) *Arabidopsis*
C) Yeast
D) All of the above
Correct Answer: All of the above
Rationale: *E. coli* is a prokaryotic model system, *Arabidopsis* is a plant
model system, and yeast is a fungal model system.
5. Reductionism is an approach to studying biology that involves:
A) Analyzing the interactions among all parts of a system
B) Breaking down complex systems into simpler, more manageable
components
C) Studying an organism in its natural environment
D) Observing the whole organism without examining its parts
Correct Answer: Breaking down complex systems into simpler, more
manageable components
,Rationale: Reductionism is the approach of breaking down complex biological
systems into their simpler constituent parts to study them in detail.
6. The three domains of life are:
A) Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya
B) Prokaryotes, Eukaryotes, and Viruses
C) Animalia, Plantae, and Fungi
D) Monera, Protista, and Animalia
Correct Answer: Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya
Rationale: The three domains of life are Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya.
Bacteria and Archaea are prokaryotic, while Eukarya includes organisms with
membrane-bound nuclei and organelles.
7. Which of the following kingdoms belongs to the domain Eukarya?
A) Bacteria
B) Archaea
C) Fungi
D) Monera
Correct Answer: Fungi
Rationale: The domain Eukarya includes the kingdoms Protista, Fungi,
Plantae, and Animalia. Bacteria and Archaea are separate domains.
8. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of all living organisms?
A) Response to environmental stimuli
B) Reproduction
C) Adaptation and evolution
D) Photosynthesis
Correct Answer: Photosynthesis
, Rationale: While many organisms perform photosynthesis, it is not a
characteristic of all living organisms. All living organisms, however, exhibit
properties such as response to stimuli, reproduction, and adaptation.
9. A living organism's ability to maintain a stable internal environment is
known as:
A) Metabolism
B) Homeostasis
C) Reproduction
D) Growth
Correct Answer: Homeostasis
Rationale: Homeostasis is the maintenance of a relatively stable internal
environment despite changes in external conditions.
10. In the hierarchy of biological organization, a group of individuals of the
same species living in the same area is called a:
A) Community
B) Ecosystem
C) Population
D) Organism
Correct Answer: Population
Rationale: A population consists of all the individuals of a single species
living in a particular geographic area.
11. Which of the following is a community?
A) All the organisms living in a specific area
B) All the members of a single species in a specific area
C) All the living and non-living elements in a specific area
D) A single organism and its environment
