UMN BIOL 1009 MIDTERM 1 GIBSON TEST BANK 2026/2027 | UNIVERSITY OF
MINNESOTA | COMPLETE BIOLOGY EXAM REVIEW | HIGH-YIELD PRACTICE
QUESTIONS | CORRECT & VERIFIED ANSWERS| ULTIMATE EXAM PREP
1. Describe why mitochondria can be visualized using a light microscope
compared to ribosomes or microtubules.
Mitochondria are located near the cell membrane, making them easier
to see.
Mitochondria are larger and have distinct structures that allow them
to be seen under a light microscope, unlike ribosomes and
microtubules which are too small.
Mitochondria are more abundant in cells than ribosomes and
microtubules.
Mitochondria are made of proteins, making them easier to visualize
than ribosomes.
2. If a scientist were to study the transport mechanisms of molecules in a cell,
which organelle's structure would be most relevant to their research if they
focus on single-membrane systems?
Chloroplasts
Nucleus
Endoplasmic reticulum
Mitochondria
3. If a plant cell's ability to produce cellulose is impaired, what structural aspect
of the cell would be most directly affected?
The integrity of the plant cell wall
The function of microfilaments
The arrangement of microtubules
, The overall shape of the cell
4. The order of chemical bonds from easiest to hardest to break is
van der Waals interactions, hydrogen bonds, ionic bonds, covalent
bonds
covalent bonds, ionic bonds, hydrogen bonds, van der Waals
interactions
covalent bonds, ionic bonds, van der Waals interactions, hydrogen
bonds
ionic bonds, covalent bonds, hydrogen bonds, van der Waals
interactions
5. Which of the following statements is consistent with the second law of
thermodynamics?
heat can be converted into work
energy and matter tend to become disperse in the environment
energy can be created by thermonuclear reactions
heat can naturally flow from cool to a warm reservoir
6. Describe why animal cells do not contain chloroplasts or cell walls.
Animal cells have cell walls for protection and chloroplasts for
photosynthesis.
Animal cells contain chloroplasts for energy production and cell walls
for structure.
Animal cells do not contain chloroplasts or cell walls because they
obtain energy through consumption rather than photosynthesis and
require flexibility for movement.
, Animal cells are similar to plant cells in structure and function.
7. The lowest energy mechanism by which a carbon atom may complete its
valence shell is to
form 4 covalent bonds with other atoms
form 2 covalent bonds with other atoms
transfer the 4 electrons in its valence shell to other atoms or transfer 4
electrons from other atoms to its valence shell
transfer the 2 electrons in its valence shell to other atoms or transfer 2
electrons from other atoms to its valence shell
8. Describe the significance of hydrocarbons in biological systems.
Hydrocarbons serve as the backbone for many biological
molecules and are important for energy storage.
Hydrocarbons are primarily involved in protein synthesis.
Hydrocarbons are the main components of cell membranes.
Hydrocarbons are essential for DNA replication.
9. Which of the following is generally a true statement regarding equilibrium?
Options A and C are both true.
Living cells and organisms are open systems that do not reach
equilibrium.
Reactions in closed systems never reach equilibrium.
A fully functioning metabolic pathway will reach equilibrium.
10. The carbon atom is tetravalent: this means that
carbon has a total of 4 electrons
, carbon-carbon and carbon-hydrogen bonds are polar, allowing 4
water molecules to be hydrogen bonded by each carbon atom
a carbon atom completes its valence shell by forming 4 covalent
bonds
carbon readily forms ionic bond
the first electron shell of carbon holds 4 electrons
11. The sucrose-H+ cotransporter is able to transport sucrose molecules up their
concentration gradient, into cells, because ...
transporting a negatively charged sucrose molecule is offset by
simultaneously transporting a positively charged H+
of the energy gained by simultaneously transporting an H+ down its
electrochemical gradient
ATP induces conformational changes in the sucrose-H+ cotransporter
protein
all of these answers are correct
12. Describe the significance of the tertiary structure in proteins.
The tertiary structure is only important in enzymes.
The tertiary structure determines the protein's overall shape and
function.
The tertiary structure is irrelevant to protein function.
The tertiary structure is the same as the primary structure.
13. If a mutation alters the amino acid sequence of a protein, how might this
affect its quaternary structure?
It would have no effect on the quaternary structure.
MINNESOTA | COMPLETE BIOLOGY EXAM REVIEW | HIGH-YIELD PRACTICE
QUESTIONS | CORRECT & VERIFIED ANSWERS| ULTIMATE EXAM PREP
1. Describe why mitochondria can be visualized using a light microscope
compared to ribosomes or microtubules.
Mitochondria are located near the cell membrane, making them easier
to see.
Mitochondria are larger and have distinct structures that allow them
to be seen under a light microscope, unlike ribosomes and
microtubules which are too small.
Mitochondria are more abundant in cells than ribosomes and
microtubules.
Mitochondria are made of proteins, making them easier to visualize
than ribosomes.
2. If a scientist were to study the transport mechanisms of molecules in a cell,
which organelle's structure would be most relevant to their research if they
focus on single-membrane systems?
Chloroplasts
Nucleus
Endoplasmic reticulum
Mitochondria
3. If a plant cell's ability to produce cellulose is impaired, what structural aspect
of the cell would be most directly affected?
The integrity of the plant cell wall
The function of microfilaments
The arrangement of microtubules
, The overall shape of the cell
4. The order of chemical bonds from easiest to hardest to break is
van der Waals interactions, hydrogen bonds, ionic bonds, covalent
bonds
covalent bonds, ionic bonds, hydrogen bonds, van der Waals
interactions
covalent bonds, ionic bonds, van der Waals interactions, hydrogen
bonds
ionic bonds, covalent bonds, hydrogen bonds, van der Waals
interactions
5. Which of the following statements is consistent with the second law of
thermodynamics?
heat can be converted into work
energy and matter tend to become disperse in the environment
energy can be created by thermonuclear reactions
heat can naturally flow from cool to a warm reservoir
6. Describe why animal cells do not contain chloroplasts or cell walls.
Animal cells have cell walls for protection and chloroplasts for
photosynthesis.
Animal cells contain chloroplasts for energy production and cell walls
for structure.
Animal cells do not contain chloroplasts or cell walls because they
obtain energy through consumption rather than photosynthesis and
require flexibility for movement.
, Animal cells are similar to plant cells in structure and function.
7. The lowest energy mechanism by which a carbon atom may complete its
valence shell is to
form 4 covalent bonds with other atoms
form 2 covalent bonds with other atoms
transfer the 4 electrons in its valence shell to other atoms or transfer 4
electrons from other atoms to its valence shell
transfer the 2 electrons in its valence shell to other atoms or transfer 2
electrons from other atoms to its valence shell
8. Describe the significance of hydrocarbons in biological systems.
Hydrocarbons serve as the backbone for many biological
molecules and are important for energy storage.
Hydrocarbons are primarily involved in protein synthesis.
Hydrocarbons are the main components of cell membranes.
Hydrocarbons are essential for DNA replication.
9. Which of the following is generally a true statement regarding equilibrium?
Options A and C are both true.
Living cells and organisms are open systems that do not reach
equilibrium.
Reactions in closed systems never reach equilibrium.
A fully functioning metabolic pathway will reach equilibrium.
10. The carbon atom is tetravalent: this means that
carbon has a total of 4 electrons
, carbon-carbon and carbon-hydrogen bonds are polar, allowing 4
water molecules to be hydrogen bonded by each carbon atom
a carbon atom completes its valence shell by forming 4 covalent
bonds
carbon readily forms ionic bond
the first electron shell of carbon holds 4 electrons
11. The sucrose-H+ cotransporter is able to transport sucrose molecules up their
concentration gradient, into cells, because ...
transporting a negatively charged sucrose molecule is offset by
simultaneously transporting a positively charged H+
of the energy gained by simultaneously transporting an H+ down its
electrochemical gradient
ATP induces conformational changes in the sucrose-H+ cotransporter
protein
all of these answers are correct
12. Describe the significance of the tertiary structure in proteins.
The tertiary structure is only important in enzymes.
The tertiary structure determines the protein's overall shape and
function.
The tertiary structure is irrelevant to protein function.
The tertiary structure is the same as the primary structure.
13. If a mutation alters the amino acid sequence of a protein, how might this
affect its quaternary structure?
It would have no effect on the quaternary structure.
