BIO 260 FINAL UBC EXAM BANK: COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS |
2026/2027 UPDATE COMPLETE QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
1. Which of the following best defines metabolism?
A. The breakdown of complex molecules into simple ones only
B. The building of complex molecules from simple ones only
C. All the chemical reactions in the body, including both breakdown and
building of molecules
D. The process of nutrient ingestion and egestion
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Metabolism encompasses all chemical reactions in the body,
including catabolism (breakdown) and anabolism (building), not just
one or the other.
2. In the context of seed germination, what is the primary role of the
GA:ABA ratio?
A. It determines the rate of photosynthesis in the seedling
B. It determines seed germination, as ABA counteracts the effects of
GAs
C. It regulates the root-to-shoot ratio
D. It controls the synthesis of chlorophyll
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The ratio of Gibberellin (GA) to Abscisic acid (ABA) is the key
determinant for seed germination. ABA acts as an antagonist to GAs,
limiting nutrient release and promoting dormancy.
3. Under stressed conditions, how does Abscisic acid (ABA) affect seed
physiology?
,A. It promotes the synthesis and release of α-amylase
B. It inhibits the synthesis and release of α-amylase, leading to seed
dormancy
C. It increases the rate of cell division in the embryo
D. It enhances the uptake of water to break dormancy
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: During stress, ABA inhibits the synthesis and release of α-
amylase, which prevents the breakdown of starch into nutrients,
thereby maintaining seed dormancy.
4. Which adaptation is characteristic of carnivorous animals for
ingesting nutrients?
A. Flat teeth for grinding and scraping
B. High surface area filters for capturing tiny food items
C. Sharp teeth for biting and cutting
D. A long digestive tract for fermenting cellulose
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Carnivores are bulk feeders that possess sharp teeth
specifically adapted for biting and cutting meat.
5. Herbivores typically possess which type of dental adaptation for
nutrient ingestion?
A. Sharp, pointed teeth for tearing flesh
B. Flat teeth for grinding and scraping
C. Beak-like structures for filter feeding
D. Venomous fangs for immobilizing prey
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Herbivores are bulk feeders that require flat teeth to grind
and scrape plant material, which is tougher to digest than meat.
,6. What defines a suspension feeder?
A. An animal that eats large chunks of food at once
B. An animal with high surface area filters that capture tiny food items
C. An animal that sucks fluids from other organisms
D. An animal that consumes decaying organic matter
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Suspension feeders are adapted with high surface area filters
to capture tiny food items suspended in water or air.
7. How are amino acids (A.A) taken up from the intestinal lumen into
the intestinal cell?
A. By simple diffusion
B. By secondary active transport
C. By osmosis
D. By phagocytosis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Amino acids are taken up from the lumen into the intestinal
cell via secondary active transport, which relies on the Na+/K+ pump to
maintain a sodium gradient.
8. What is the mechanism by which amino acids move from the
intestinal cell into the blood?
A. Active transport against their concentration gradient
B. In favour of their concentration gradient
C. Through endocytosis
D. Via the Na+/K+ pump directly
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Once inside the intestinal cell, amino acids move into the
blood down their concentration gradient, which is a passive process.
, 9. How are action potentials conducted across long distances in a
neuron?
A. They travel as a single continuous wave without interruption
B. They spread in waves of depolarization, triggering action potentials in
nearby regions of the membrane
C. They are carried by neurotransmitters across the synaptic cleft
D. They rely on the physical movement of ions along the axon
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Action potentials propagate by spreading waves of
depolarization that trigger new action potentials in adjacent regions of
the membrane, allowing for long-distance conduction.
10. Which of the following is an example of a bulk feeder?
A. A blue whale
B. A cow
C. A mosquito
D. A clam
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Cows are herbivorous bulk feeders, consuming large
quantities of plant material at once. (Note: Cows are herbivores, but the
question asks for an example of a bulk feeder, which includes both
carnivores and herbivores).
11. Which of the following correctly describes the role of the Na+/K+
pump in amino acid uptake?
A. It directly transports amino acids into the cell
B. It pumps Na+ out of the cell to maintain a gradient for secondary
active transport
C. It pumps K+ out of the cell to facilitate diffusion
D. It synthesizes amino acids within the cell
2026/2027 UPDATE COMPLETE QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
1. Which of the following best defines metabolism?
A. The breakdown of complex molecules into simple ones only
B. The building of complex molecules from simple ones only
C. All the chemical reactions in the body, including both breakdown and
building of molecules
D. The process of nutrient ingestion and egestion
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Metabolism encompasses all chemical reactions in the body,
including catabolism (breakdown) and anabolism (building), not just
one or the other.
2. In the context of seed germination, what is the primary role of the
GA:ABA ratio?
A. It determines the rate of photosynthesis in the seedling
B. It determines seed germination, as ABA counteracts the effects of
GAs
C. It regulates the root-to-shoot ratio
D. It controls the synthesis of chlorophyll
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The ratio of Gibberellin (GA) to Abscisic acid (ABA) is the key
determinant for seed germination. ABA acts as an antagonist to GAs,
limiting nutrient release and promoting dormancy.
3. Under stressed conditions, how does Abscisic acid (ABA) affect seed
physiology?
,A. It promotes the synthesis and release of α-amylase
B. It inhibits the synthesis and release of α-amylase, leading to seed
dormancy
C. It increases the rate of cell division in the embryo
D. It enhances the uptake of water to break dormancy
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: During stress, ABA inhibits the synthesis and release of α-
amylase, which prevents the breakdown of starch into nutrients,
thereby maintaining seed dormancy.
4. Which adaptation is characteristic of carnivorous animals for
ingesting nutrients?
A. Flat teeth for grinding and scraping
B. High surface area filters for capturing tiny food items
C. Sharp teeth for biting and cutting
D. A long digestive tract for fermenting cellulose
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Carnivores are bulk feeders that possess sharp teeth
specifically adapted for biting and cutting meat.
5. Herbivores typically possess which type of dental adaptation for
nutrient ingestion?
A. Sharp, pointed teeth for tearing flesh
B. Flat teeth for grinding and scraping
C. Beak-like structures for filter feeding
D. Venomous fangs for immobilizing prey
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Herbivores are bulk feeders that require flat teeth to grind
and scrape plant material, which is tougher to digest than meat.
,6. What defines a suspension feeder?
A. An animal that eats large chunks of food at once
B. An animal with high surface area filters that capture tiny food items
C. An animal that sucks fluids from other organisms
D. An animal that consumes decaying organic matter
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Suspension feeders are adapted with high surface area filters
to capture tiny food items suspended in water or air.
7. How are amino acids (A.A) taken up from the intestinal lumen into
the intestinal cell?
A. By simple diffusion
B. By secondary active transport
C. By osmosis
D. By phagocytosis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Amino acids are taken up from the lumen into the intestinal
cell via secondary active transport, which relies on the Na+/K+ pump to
maintain a sodium gradient.
8. What is the mechanism by which amino acids move from the
intestinal cell into the blood?
A. Active transport against their concentration gradient
B. In favour of their concentration gradient
C. Through endocytosis
D. Via the Na+/K+ pump directly
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Once inside the intestinal cell, amino acids move into the
blood down their concentration gradient, which is a passive process.
, 9. How are action potentials conducted across long distances in a
neuron?
A. They travel as a single continuous wave without interruption
B. They spread in waves of depolarization, triggering action potentials in
nearby regions of the membrane
C. They are carried by neurotransmitters across the synaptic cleft
D. They rely on the physical movement of ions along the axon
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Action potentials propagate by spreading waves of
depolarization that trigger new action potentials in adjacent regions of
the membrane, allowing for long-distance conduction.
10. Which of the following is an example of a bulk feeder?
A. A blue whale
B. A cow
C. A mosquito
D. A clam
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Cows are herbivorous bulk feeders, consuming large
quantities of plant material at once. (Note: Cows are herbivores, but the
question asks for an example of a bulk feeder, which includes both
carnivores and herbivores).
11. Which of the following correctly describes the role of the Na+/K+
pump in amino acid uptake?
A. It directly transports amino acids into the cell
B. It pumps Na+ out of the cell to maintain a gradient for secondary
active transport
C. It pumps K+ out of the cell to facilitate diffusion
D. It synthesizes amino acids within the cell
