BSC 1010C Exam 1 Study Guide 2027 |
200+ Practice Questions & Correct
Answers | Detailed Rationales | Complete
Biology Exam Prep
1. What is the definition of biology?
A) The study of chemicals
B) *The scientific study of life and living organisms
C) The study of matter and energy
D) The study of the universe
Answer: B
Rationale: Biology is the branch of science that focuses on living organisms and their interactions.
2. Which of the following is a specific field of biology?
A) Physics
B) *Microbiology
C) Chemistry
D) Astronomy
Answer: B
Rationale: Microbiology is the study of microorganisms, a specific field within biology.
3. Which of the following is a sub-discipline of biology?
A) Geology
B) *Genetics
C) Meteorology
,D) Economics
Answer: B
Rationale: Genetics is the study of heredity and variation, a sub-discipline of biology.
4. Which of the following is one of the 5 unifying themes of biology?
A) *Organization
B) Gravity
C) Magnetism
D) Photosynthesis
Answer: A
Rationale: The five unifying themes are organization, information, energy and matter, interactions, and
evolution.
5. Which of the following is a key trait of a living organism?
A) Ability to fly
B) *Order
C) Ability to speak
D) Ability to photosynthesize
Answer: B
Rationale: Living organisms exhibit order, sensitivity, reproduction, adaptation, growth and
development, regulation, and energy processing.
6. Why aren't viruses considered to be living organisms?
A) They contain DNA
B) *They cannot reproduce on their own
C) They are too small
D) They do not evolve
Answer: B
,Rationale: Viruses require a host cell to replicate, lacking the machinery for independent reproduction.
7. Which of the following is one of the 3 domains of organisms?
A) *Bacteria
B) Fungi
C) Plantae
D) Animalia
Answer: A
Rationale: The three domains are Eukarya, Archaea, and Bacteria.
8. Which of the following is the correct order of the 8 taxonomic levels?
A) Domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species
B) *Domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species
C) Species, genus, family, order, class, phylum, kingdom, domain
D) Kingdom, domain, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species
Answer: B
Rationale: The taxonomic hierarchy from broadest to most specific is Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class,
Order, Family, Genus, Species.
9. What is a binomial name?
A) A three-word name
B) *A two-word name denoting the specific species of an organism (genus and specific epithet)
C) A name for a family
D) A name for a domain
Answer: B
Rationale: Binomial nomenclature uses genus and species (e.g., Homo sapiens).
, 10. What is evolution?
A) A sudden change in an organism
B) *Small changes that occur in a species over time allowing them to better fit their environment
C) The creation of new species instantly
D) The extinction of a species
Answer: B
Rationale: Evolution is the gradual change in inherited traits of a population over generations.
11. What is natural selection?
A) Random survival of individuals
B) *The way that some mutations allow organisms to produce more offspring than others
C) Artificial breeding of organisms
D) The extinction of a species
Answer: B
Rationale: Natural selection is the differential survival and reproduction of individuals with advantageous
traits.
12. Which of the following is one of Darwin's main observations?
A) *Individuals in a population vary their traits and many of these traits are heritable
B) All organisms are identical
C) Species do not change over time
D) Organisms do not compete for resources
Answer: A
Rationale: Darwin observed variation, heritability, overproduction of offspring, and adaptation to
environment.
13. What is the scientific method?
A) A random guess
200+ Practice Questions & Correct
Answers | Detailed Rationales | Complete
Biology Exam Prep
1. What is the definition of biology?
A) The study of chemicals
B) *The scientific study of life and living organisms
C) The study of matter and energy
D) The study of the universe
Answer: B
Rationale: Biology is the branch of science that focuses on living organisms and their interactions.
2. Which of the following is a specific field of biology?
A) Physics
B) *Microbiology
C) Chemistry
D) Astronomy
Answer: B
Rationale: Microbiology is the study of microorganisms, a specific field within biology.
3. Which of the following is a sub-discipline of biology?
A) Geology
B) *Genetics
C) Meteorology
,D) Economics
Answer: B
Rationale: Genetics is the study of heredity and variation, a sub-discipline of biology.
4. Which of the following is one of the 5 unifying themes of biology?
A) *Organization
B) Gravity
C) Magnetism
D) Photosynthesis
Answer: A
Rationale: The five unifying themes are organization, information, energy and matter, interactions, and
evolution.
5. Which of the following is a key trait of a living organism?
A) Ability to fly
B) *Order
C) Ability to speak
D) Ability to photosynthesize
Answer: B
Rationale: Living organisms exhibit order, sensitivity, reproduction, adaptation, growth and
development, regulation, and energy processing.
6. Why aren't viruses considered to be living organisms?
A) They contain DNA
B) *They cannot reproduce on their own
C) They are too small
D) They do not evolve
Answer: B
,Rationale: Viruses require a host cell to replicate, lacking the machinery for independent reproduction.
7. Which of the following is one of the 3 domains of organisms?
A) *Bacteria
B) Fungi
C) Plantae
D) Animalia
Answer: A
Rationale: The three domains are Eukarya, Archaea, and Bacteria.
8. Which of the following is the correct order of the 8 taxonomic levels?
A) Domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species
B) *Domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species
C) Species, genus, family, order, class, phylum, kingdom, domain
D) Kingdom, domain, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species
Answer: B
Rationale: The taxonomic hierarchy from broadest to most specific is Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class,
Order, Family, Genus, Species.
9. What is a binomial name?
A) A three-word name
B) *A two-word name denoting the specific species of an organism (genus and specific epithet)
C) A name for a family
D) A name for a domain
Answer: B
Rationale: Binomial nomenclature uses genus and species (e.g., Homo sapiens).
, 10. What is evolution?
A) A sudden change in an organism
B) *Small changes that occur in a species over time allowing them to better fit their environment
C) The creation of new species instantly
D) The extinction of a species
Answer: B
Rationale: Evolution is the gradual change in inherited traits of a population over generations.
11. What is natural selection?
A) Random survival of individuals
B) *The way that some mutations allow organisms to produce more offspring than others
C) Artificial breeding of organisms
D) The extinction of a species
Answer: B
Rationale: Natural selection is the differential survival and reproduction of individuals with advantageous
traits.
12. Which of the following is one of Darwin's main observations?
A) *Individuals in a population vary their traits and many of these traits are heritable
B) All organisms are identical
C) Species do not change over time
D) Organisms do not compete for resources
Answer: A
Rationale: Darwin observed variation, heritability, overproduction of offspring, and adaptation to
environment.
13. What is the scientific method?
A) A random guess
