WGU C190 Intro to Biology | Western
Governors University | Academic Year
2026/2027
Section 1: Living Organisms — Characteristics & Classification (Questions 1–20)
1. Which of the following best defines a living organism according to the
characteristics of life?
A. Any entity that contains DNA
B. An entity that exhibits organization, energy use, homeostasis, growth,
reproduction, and evolutionary adaptation
C. Any carbon-based molecule
D. A structure that responds to stimuli but cannot reproduce
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Living organisms must satisfy multiple criteria simultaneously:
hierarchical organization, energy and raw material use, response to stimuli and
homeostasis, growth and reproduction, and participation in an evolving
population. A virus contains DNA but lacks independent metabolism and
reproduction, so it is not considered alive by most biological definitions. Carbon-
based molecules alone do not constitute life.
2. Which level of biological organization is immediately above "cell"?
A. Organ
B. Molecule
C. Tissue
D. Organism
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The hierarchical levels of organization proceed: atom → molecule
→ organelle → cell → tissue → organ → organ system → organism. Cells with
similar structure and function aggregate to form tissues, making tissue the correct
level immediately above cell.
,3. (SATA) Select ALL that apply. Which of the following are characteristics
shared by all living organisms?
A. Ability to reproduce
B. Presence of a nervous system
C. Use of energy and raw materials
D. Maintenance of internal stability (homeostasis)
E. Ability to photosynthesize
F. Evolutionary adaptation over generations
Correct Answers: A, C, D, F
Rationale: All living organisms reproduce, use energy, maintain homeostasis,
and evolve as populations. However, not all organisms have a nervous system
(e.g., bacteria, plants) nor can all photosynthesize (e.g., animals, fungi). These are
specialized adaptations, not universal characteristics.
4. A scientist discovers an organism that is unicellular, lacks a nucleus, and has a
cell wall. To which domain does this organism most likely belong?
A. Eukarya
B. Archaea
C. Plantae
D. Animalia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Organisms lacking a membrane-bound nucleus are prokaryotes,
which belong to either Bacteria or Archaea. The presence of a cell wall, combined
with a unicellular, prokaryotic structure, is consistent with Archaea (and also
Bacteria). Plantae and Animalia are eukaryotic kingdoms within Eukarya. Domain
is the broadest taxonomic rank; the question asks for domain, and Archaea is a
prokaryotic domain.
5. Which of the following correctly lists taxonomic ranks from broadest to most
specific?
,A. Species → Genus → Family → Order → Class → Phylum → Kingdom → Domain
B. Domain → Kingdom → Phylum → Class → Order → Family → Genus → Species
C. Kingdom → Domain → Class → Order → Family → Genus → Species
D. Domain → Phylum → Kingdom → Class → Order → Family → Genus → Species
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The standard taxonomic hierarchy from broadest to most specific
is: Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species. A helpful
mnemonic is "Dear King Philip Came Over For Good Soup."
6. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of life?
A. Homeostasis
B. Heredity
C. Crystallization
D. Metabolism
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Crystallization is a physical process that minerals undergo; it does
not involve energy use, homeostasis, heredity, or evolutionary adaptation.
Homeostasis, heredity, and metabolism are all fundamental characteristics of
living organisms.
7. A population of birds on an island has individuals with varying beak sizes.
After a drought, only birds with large beaks survive because they can crack hard
seeds. Over generations, the average beak size increases. This is an example of:
A. Artificial selection
B. Natural selection
C. Genetic drift
D. Gene flow
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Natural selection occurs when environmental pressures favor
certain heritable traits, leading to changes in allele frequencies in a population
, over generations. Artificial selection involves human intervention. Genetic drift is
random change, and gene flow involves migration.
8. (SATA) Select ALL that apply. Which of the following are properties of water
that make it essential for life?
A. High specific heat
B. Low polarity
C. Universal solvent capability
D. Cohesion and adhesion
E. Expansion upon freezing
Correct Answers: A, C, D, E
Rationale: Water's high specific heat stabilizes temperature, its polarity
makes it a universal solvent, cohesion and adhesion enable capillary action in
plants, and expansion upon freezing allows ice to float, insulating aquatic
habitats. Water is highly polar, not low polarity, so B is incorrect.
9. Which of the following is the smallest unit of matter that retains the
properties of an element?
A. Molecule
B. Atom
C. Proton
D. Cell
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: An atom is the smallest unit of matter that retains the chemical
properties of an element. Molecules are composed of two or more atoms.
Protons are subatomic particles. Cells are the smallest unit of life, not matter.
10. A covalent bond is formed when:
A. Electrons are transferred from one atom to another
B. Electrons are shared between atoms
Governors University | Academic Year
2026/2027
Section 1: Living Organisms — Characteristics & Classification (Questions 1–20)
1. Which of the following best defines a living organism according to the
characteristics of life?
A. Any entity that contains DNA
B. An entity that exhibits organization, energy use, homeostasis, growth,
reproduction, and evolutionary adaptation
C. Any carbon-based molecule
D. A structure that responds to stimuli but cannot reproduce
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Living organisms must satisfy multiple criteria simultaneously:
hierarchical organization, energy and raw material use, response to stimuli and
homeostasis, growth and reproduction, and participation in an evolving
population. A virus contains DNA but lacks independent metabolism and
reproduction, so it is not considered alive by most biological definitions. Carbon-
based molecules alone do not constitute life.
2. Which level of biological organization is immediately above "cell"?
A. Organ
B. Molecule
C. Tissue
D. Organism
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The hierarchical levels of organization proceed: atom → molecule
→ organelle → cell → tissue → organ → organ system → organism. Cells with
similar structure and function aggregate to form tissues, making tissue the correct
level immediately above cell.
,3. (SATA) Select ALL that apply. Which of the following are characteristics
shared by all living organisms?
A. Ability to reproduce
B. Presence of a nervous system
C. Use of energy and raw materials
D. Maintenance of internal stability (homeostasis)
E. Ability to photosynthesize
F. Evolutionary adaptation over generations
Correct Answers: A, C, D, F
Rationale: All living organisms reproduce, use energy, maintain homeostasis,
and evolve as populations. However, not all organisms have a nervous system
(e.g., bacteria, plants) nor can all photosynthesize (e.g., animals, fungi). These are
specialized adaptations, not universal characteristics.
4. A scientist discovers an organism that is unicellular, lacks a nucleus, and has a
cell wall. To which domain does this organism most likely belong?
A. Eukarya
B. Archaea
C. Plantae
D. Animalia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Organisms lacking a membrane-bound nucleus are prokaryotes,
which belong to either Bacteria or Archaea. The presence of a cell wall, combined
with a unicellular, prokaryotic structure, is consistent with Archaea (and also
Bacteria). Plantae and Animalia are eukaryotic kingdoms within Eukarya. Domain
is the broadest taxonomic rank; the question asks for domain, and Archaea is a
prokaryotic domain.
5. Which of the following correctly lists taxonomic ranks from broadest to most
specific?
,A. Species → Genus → Family → Order → Class → Phylum → Kingdom → Domain
B. Domain → Kingdom → Phylum → Class → Order → Family → Genus → Species
C. Kingdom → Domain → Class → Order → Family → Genus → Species
D. Domain → Phylum → Kingdom → Class → Order → Family → Genus → Species
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The standard taxonomic hierarchy from broadest to most specific
is: Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species. A helpful
mnemonic is "Dear King Philip Came Over For Good Soup."
6. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of life?
A. Homeostasis
B. Heredity
C. Crystallization
D. Metabolism
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Crystallization is a physical process that minerals undergo; it does
not involve energy use, homeostasis, heredity, or evolutionary adaptation.
Homeostasis, heredity, and metabolism are all fundamental characteristics of
living organisms.
7. A population of birds on an island has individuals with varying beak sizes.
After a drought, only birds with large beaks survive because they can crack hard
seeds. Over generations, the average beak size increases. This is an example of:
A. Artificial selection
B. Natural selection
C. Genetic drift
D. Gene flow
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Natural selection occurs when environmental pressures favor
certain heritable traits, leading to changes in allele frequencies in a population
, over generations. Artificial selection involves human intervention. Genetic drift is
random change, and gene flow involves migration.
8. (SATA) Select ALL that apply. Which of the following are properties of water
that make it essential for life?
A. High specific heat
B. Low polarity
C. Universal solvent capability
D. Cohesion and adhesion
E. Expansion upon freezing
Correct Answers: A, C, D, E
Rationale: Water's high specific heat stabilizes temperature, its polarity
makes it a universal solvent, cohesion and adhesion enable capillary action in
plants, and expansion upon freezing allows ice to float, insulating aquatic
habitats. Water is highly polar, not low polarity, so B is incorrect.
9. Which of the following is the smallest unit of matter that retains the
properties of an element?
A. Molecule
B. Atom
C. Proton
D. Cell
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: An atom is the smallest unit of matter that retains the chemical
properties of an element. Molecules are composed of two or more atoms.
Protons are subatomic particles. Cells are the smallest unit of life, not matter.
10. A covalent bond is formed when:
A. Electrons are transferred from one atom to another
B. Electrons are shared between atoms
