200 Practice Questions, Correct Answers &
Detailed Rationales | Comprehensive Biology
Review & Complete Exam Prep
1. The formation of a covalent bond between two molecules by the loss of water is called:
A) Hydrolysis
B) Dehydration synthesis (or condensation reaction)
C) Oxidation
D) Reduction
Answer B: Dehydration synthesis (or condensation reaction)
Rationale: Dehydration synthesis forms covalent bonds by removing water.
2. An organism eating another organism for energy/nutrients is called a:
A) Autotroph
B) Consumer/heterotroph
C) Decomposer
D) Producer
Answer B: Consumer/heterotroph
Rationale: Consumers/heterotrophs obtain energy by eating other organisms.
3. An organism that extracts energy & nutrients from the nonliving environment is called a:
A) Primary producer/autotroph
B) Consumer/heterotroph
C) Decomposer
D) Omnivore
Answer A: Primary producer/autotroph
Rationale: Autotrophs extract energy from nonliving sources.
4. The atomic number of an element is the number of:
A) Neutrons in the nucleus
,B) Protons in the nucleus
C) Electrons in the outer shell
D) Nucleons
Answer B: Protons in the nucleus
Rationale: Atomic number equals the number of protons.
5. In a covalent bond, atoms:
A) Transfer electrons
B) Share electrons
C) Attract ions
D) Form hydrogen bonds
Answer B: Share electrons
Rationale: Covalent bonds share electrons.
6. In living cells, a process by which cells break polymers down into monomers with the addition
of water is:
A) Dehydration synthesis
B) Hydrolysis
C) Condensation
D) Oxidation
Answer B: Hydrolysis
Rationale: Hydrolysis breaks polymers into monomers by adding water.
7. The primary building block of proteins is:
A) Monosaccharide
B) Amino acid
C) Fatty acid
D) Nucleotide
Answer B: Amino acid
Rationale: Amino acids are the monomers of proteins.
8. Cohesion is a property of water in which water molecules tend to stick together.
A) True
B) False
,Answer A: True
Rationale: Cohesion is the attraction between like molecules.
9. A carbohydrate polymer limited to two monomer units is called a:
A) Monosaccharide
B) Disaccharide
C) Polysaccharide
D) Oligosaccharide
Answer B: Disaccharide
Rationale: Disaccharides consist of two monosaccharides.
10. Which of the following is smaller than an organelle?
A) Cell
B) Tissue
C) Molecule
D) Organ
Answer C: Molecule
Rationale: Molecules are smaller than organelles.
11. Plants extract minerals from soil, so they are considered:
A) Heterotrophs
B) Autotrophs
C) Consumers
D) Decomposers
Answer B: Autotrophs
Rationale: Plants are autotrophs that produce their own food.
12. The correct order of organization is:
A) Atom, molecule, organelle, cell, tissue, organ
B) Cell, atom, molecule, tissue, organ, organelle
C) Molecule, atom, cell, organelle, tissue, organ
D) Organ, tissue, cell, organelle, molecule, atom
Answer A: Atom, molecule, organelle, cell, tissue, organ
Rationale: This is the correct hierarchical order of biological organization.
, 13. The three domains of life are:
A) Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya
B) Animalia, Plantae, Fungi
C) Protista, Fungi, Plantae
D) Bacteria, Plantae, Animalia
Answer A: Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya
Rationale: The three domains are Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya.
14. Oxygen has an atomic number of 8. An uncharged oxygen atom has how many electrons in its
outer shell?
A) 2
B) 6
C) *8*
D) 16
Answer B: 6
Rationale: Oxygen has 6 valence electrons (2 in first shell, 6 in second).
15. The weak bond between water molecules is called a:
A) Covalent bond
B) Ionic bond
C) Hydrogen bond
D) Peptide bond
Answer C: Hydrogen bond
Rationale: Hydrogen bonds form between polar water molecules.
16. Can a theory be proven wrong?
A) Yes, a new observation could disprove it
B) No, theories are permanent
C) Only if it is a law
D) Only with government approval
Answer A: Yes, a new observation could disprove it
Rationale: Scientific theories can be disproven by new evidence.
17. The type of bond with complete transfer of electrons is:
A) Covalent