BIO 101 Lab Exam #1 Study Guide | Questions &
Correct Answers with Detailed Rationales | New 2026–
2027 Update
1. The purpose of a microscope is?
A. To distinguish fine detail which our eyes alone cannot perceive
B. To magnify only large objects
C. To replace the need for scientific observation
D. To measure temperature changes
Correct Answer: A
Expert Rationale: Microscopes allow observation of detail beyond the resolution
of the human eye.
2. What type of microscope do we use in Bio101 lab?
A. Compound microscope
B. Scanning electron microscope
C. Transmission electron microscope
D. Dissecting microscope
Correct Answer: A
Expert Rationale: The Bio101 lab uses a compound microscope.
3. What can we use a microscope to study?
A. Cells
B. Planets
,C. Weather patterns
D. Rock formations
Correct Answer: A
Expert Rationale: Microscopes are used to study cells and microscopic structures.
4. What is the highest magnification lens on the compound microscope used?
A. 100x
B. 40x
C. 10x
D. 4x
Correct Answer: A
Expert Rationale: The highest objective lens used is 100x.
5. Describe how to calculate the total magnification of a specimen.
A. Take the power of the objective and multiply by the power of the eyepiece
(usually x10)
B. Add the objective and eyepiece powers
C. Divide the objective power by the eyepiece power
D. Subtract the eyepiece power from the objective power
Correct Answer: A
Expert Rationale: Total magnification equals objective magnification × eyepiece
magnification.
6. If the sample is too thick on a microscope slide, what will we see?
A. Too thick to see cells
,B. Perfectly clear cells
C. Only cell walls
D. Only nuclei
Correct Answer: A
Expert Rationale: Thick samples prevent light from clearly resolving cell
structures.
7. What are the six steps of the scientific method?
A. Observation, Form a Question, Hypothesis, Conduct Experiment, Analyze Data,
Draw Conclusion
B. Hypothesis, Observation, Conclusion, Experiment, Question, Data
C. Question, Conclusion, Hypothesis, Observation, Experiment, Data
D. Experiment, Data, Observation, Question, Hypothesis, Conclusion
Correct Answer: A
Expert Rationale: The scientific method follows observation, question, hypothesis,
experiment, analysis, and conclusion.
8. What is the difference between a hypothesis and a prediction?
A. Hypothesis is a testable, informed guess
B. Prediction is a testable, informed guess
C. Hypothesis is never testable
D. Prediction is always proven true
Correct Answer: A
Expert Rationale: A hypothesis is a testable, informed explanation.
, 9. What is meant by a null hypothesis?
A. Hypothesis that proposes no statistical significance occurs
B. Hypothesis that is always accepted
C. Hypothesis that cannot be tested
D. Hypothesis that proves a theory
Correct Answer: A
Expert Rationale: A null hypothesis states there is no significant effect or
relationship.
10. Independent variable
A. A variable whose variation does not depend on that of another
B. A variable whose variation depends on that of another
C. A constant variable
D. A control variable
Correct Answer: A
Expert Rationale: The independent variable is manipulated and does not depend
on another variable.
11. Dependent variable
A. A variable whose variation depends on that of another
B. A variable whose variation does not depend on another
C. A fixed variable
D. A controlled variable
Correct Answer: A
Correct Answers with Detailed Rationales | New 2026–
2027 Update
1. The purpose of a microscope is?
A. To distinguish fine detail which our eyes alone cannot perceive
B. To magnify only large objects
C. To replace the need for scientific observation
D. To measure temperature changes
Correct Answer: A
Expert Rationale: Microscopes allow observation of detail beyond the resolution
of the human eye.
2. What type of microscope do we use in Bio101 lab?
A. Compound microscope
B. Scanning electron microscope
C. Transmission electron microscope
D. Dissecting microscope
Correct Answer: A
Expert Rationale: The Bio101 lab uses a compound microscope.
3. What can we use a microscope to study?
A. Cells
B. Planets
,C. Weather patterns
D. Rock formations
Correct Answer: A
Expert Rationale: Microscopes are used to study cells and microscopic structures.
4. What is the highest magnification lens on the compound microscope used?
A. 100x
B. 40x
C. 10x
D. 4x
Correct Answer: A
Expert Rationale: The highest objective lens used is 100x.
5. Describe how to calculate the total magnification of a specimen.
A. Take the power of the objective and multiply by the power of the eyepiece
(usually x10)
B. Add the objective and eyepiece powers
C. Divide the objective power by the eyepiece power
D. Subtract the eyepiece power from the objective power
Correct Answer: A
Expert Rationale: Total magnification equals objective magnification × eyepiece
magnification.
6. If the sample is too thick on a microscope slide, what will we see?
A. Too thick to see cells
,B. Perfectly clear cells
C. Only cell walls
D. Only nuclei
Correct Answer: A
Expert Rationale: Thick samples prevent light from clearly resolving cell
structures.
7. What are the six steps of the scientific method?
A. Observation, Form a Question, Hypothesis, Conduct Experiment, Analyze Data,
Draw Conclusion
B. Hypothesis, Observation, Conclusion, Experiment, Question, Data
C. Question, Conclusion, Hypothesis, Observation, Experiment, Data
D. Experiment, Data, Observation, Question, Hypothesis, Conclusion
Correct Answer: A
Expert Rationale: The scientific method follows observation, question, hypothesis,
experiment, analysis, and conclusion.
8. What is the difference between a hypothesis and a prediction?
A. Hypothesis is a testable, informed guess
B. Prediction is a testable, informed guess
C. Hypothesis is never testable
D. Prediction is always proven true
Correct Answer: A
Expert Rationale: A hypothesis is a testable, informed explanation.
, 9. What is meant by a null hypothesis?
A. Hypothesis that proposes no statistical significance occurs
B. Hypothesis that is always accepted
C. Hypothesis that cannot be tested
D. Hypothesis that proves a theory
Correct Answer: A
Expert Rationale: A null hypothesis states there is no significant effect or
relationship.
10. Independent variable
A. A variable whose variation does not depend on that of another
B. A variable whose variation depends on that of another
C. A constant variable
D. A control variable
Correct Answer: A
Expert Rationale: The independent variable is manipulated and does not depend
on another variable.
11. Dependent variable
A. A variable whose variation depends on that of another
B. A variable whose variation does not depend on another
C. A fixed variable
D. A controlled variable
Correct Answer: A
