BIO 109 - EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
If a light switch is moved from the "off" to the "on" position, then the light will go on.
This statement
A) is the result of deductive reasoning.
B) is a conclusion.
C) can be tested.
D) can be falsified.
E) All of the choices are correct. - ANSWER-E) All of the choices are correct.
The scientific method is an idealized, but not entirely accurate, description of
science.
A) True
B) False - ANSWER-A) True
A scientist performs a controlled experiment. This means that
A) the experiment is repeated many times to ensure that the results are accurate.
B) the experiment proceeds at a slow pace to guarantee that the scientist can
carefully observe all reactions and process all experimental data.
C) the experiment consisted of an experimental group and a control group that were
compared.
D) two experiments are conducted, one differing from the other by two or more
variables.
E) the experiment consisted of a control group that was carefully chosen to be the
opposite of the treatment group which was chosen at random. - ANSWER-C) the
experiment consisted of an experimental group and a control group that were
compared.
A control group should differ from an experimental group
A) in many ways because different people are in each group, and everyone is
different.
B) in nothing. The two groups should identical.
C) because experimental groups are correct and control groups are incorrect.
D) because experimental groups are incorrect and control groups are correct.
E) in only one factor or variable. - ANSWER-E) in only one factor or variable.
What is the difference between science and technology?
A) Science is something you study, technology something you use.
B) Science and technology are both things you use, but science is used in college
and technology is used everywhere else.
C) Science and technology are interdependent.
D) Technology focuses on understanding natural phenomena, and science applies
that knowledge for specific purposes.
E) Science focuses on understanding natural phenomena, and technology applies
that knowledge for specific purposes. - ANSWER-E) Science focuses on
understanding natural phenomena, and technology applies that knowledge for
specific purposes.
,Scientific theories are ideas that require more testing before they can be taken
seriously.
A) True
B) False - ANSWER-B) False
A question will be a valid subject of scientific study if
A) it is a question about ethics.
B) the answer to the question addressed is unknown.
C) it is proposed by well known and respected scientist.
D) it is testable.
E) it is untestable. - ANSWER-D) it is testable.
A hypothesis is tested 3 times. It passes the first 2 tests but fails the third test.
Biologist A says the hypothesis should be revised or rejected because it is not
correct in its correct form. Biologist B says the hypothesis is supported by 2 out of 3
tests, so it is probably correct. Who is right?
A) Biologist A only
B) Biologist B only
C) Both are right
D) Both are wrong - ANSWER-A) Biologist A only
On a visit to the beach, you notice that the sun sets as the tide rises. Does the
setting of the sun cause the tide to rise? Your friend says yes because the gravity of
the sun causes the tides. Your friend's answer is an example of
A) a solid conclusion based on careful observation.
B) the consequences of spending too much time in the sun.
C) the careful application of logic to a scientific question.
D) an untestable hypothesis.
E) confusing correlation with causation. - ANSWER-E) confusing correlation with
causation.
Members of the Kingdom Fungi
A) include the mushrooms.
B) include the algae.
C) decompose the remains of dead organisms and absorb nutrients from the
leftovers.
D) include the mushrooms, and decompose the remains of dead organisms and
absorb nutrients from the leftovers.
E) us photosynthesis to produce their own food. - ANSWER-D) include the
mushrooms, and decompose the remains of dead organisms and absorb nutrients
from the leftovers.
Darwin proposed that the mechanism responsible for evolution is
A) descent with modification.
B) natural selection.
C) the inheritance of acquired characteristics.
D) the overpopulation of organisms because populations can produce more offspring
than the environment can support.
E) the origin of species. - ANSWER-B) natural selection.
, Which one of the following statements is not consistent with Darwin's mechanism of
natural selection?
A) Individuals in a population exhibit variations, some of which are heritable.
B) Individual organisms exhibit genetic change during their life spans to better fit
their environment.
C) Factors in the environment result in some organisms with better reproductive
success than others.
D) Natural selection is based in part on the overproduction of offspring.
E) Natural selection can lead to the appearance of new species. - ANSWER-B)
Individual organisms exhibit genetic change during their life spans to better fit their
environment.
Science is
A) a collection of facts.
B) the testing of hypotheses using inductive reasoning.
C) the testing of hypotheses using deductive reasoning.
D) an approach to understanding natural phenomena in the world.
E) a collection of theories. - ANSWER-D) an approach to understanding natural
phenomena in the world.
Consider the following statement: "If all vertebrates have backbones, and turtles are
vertebrates, then turtles have backbones." This statement is an example of
A) a hypothesis.
B) discovery science logic.
C) rationalization.
D) deductive reasoning.
E) inductive reasoning. - ANSWER-D) deductive reasoning.
You notice that over the past month, many students have started wearing a new
style of school sweatshirt. You think to yourself, maybe the bookstore recently
started selling this new sweatshirt style. This is
A) an example of an experimental question.
B) a type of observation.
C) an example of a hypothesis.
D) an experiment.
E) a type of control. - ANSWER-C) an example of a hypothesis.
A scientific theories is considered to be better if
A) it is an ad hoc theory.
B) it is based on the correlation of 2 independent variables.
C) it is supported by multiple independent lines of evidences.
D) it is accepted by most experts in the relevant field of science.
E) was proposed by a famous scientists and/or if it a very old idea suggest hundreds
or even thousands of years ago. - ANSWER-C) it is supported by multiple
independent lines of evidences.
A fair test
A) must be a carefully planned experiment.
B) should provide evidence based a new kind of data.
ANSWERS
If a light switch is moved from the "off" to the "on" position, then the light will go on.
This statement
A) is the result of deductive reasoning.
B) is a conclusion.
C) can be tested.
D) can be falsified.
E) All of the choices are correct. - ANSWER-E) All of the choices are correct.
The scientific method is an idealized, but not entirely accurate, description of
science.
A) True
B) False - ANSWER-A) True
A scientist performs a controlled experiment. This means that
A) the experiment is repeated many times to ensure that the results are accurate.
B) the experiment proceeds at a slow pace to guarantee that the scientist can
carefully observe all reactions and process all experimental data.
C) the experiment consisted of an experimental group and a control group that were
compared.
D) two experiments are conducted, one differing from the other by two or more
variables.
E) the experiment consisted of a control group that was carefully chosen to be the
opposite of the treatment group which was chosen at random. - ANSWER-C) the
experiment consisted of an experimental group and a control group that were
compared.
A control group should differ from an experimental group
A) in many ways because different people are in each group, and everyone is
different.
B) in nothing. The two groups should identical.
C) because experimental groups are correct and control groups are incorrect.
D) because experimental groups are incorrect and control groups are correct.
E) in only one factor or variable. - ANSWER-E) in only one factor or variable.
What is the difference between science and technology?
A) Science is something you study, technology something you use.
B) Science and technology are both things you use, but science is used in college
and technology is used everywhere else.
C) Science and technology are interdependent.
D) Technology focuses on understanding natural phenomena, and science applies
that knowledge for specific purposes.
E) Science focuses on understanding natural phenomena, and technology applies
that knowledge for specific purposes. - ANSWER-E) Science focuses on
understanding natural phenomena, and technology applies that knowledge for
specific purposes.
,Scientific theories are ideas that require more testing before they can be taken
seriously.
A) True
B) False - ANSWER-B) False
A question will be a valid subject of scientific study if
A) it is a question about ethics.
B) the answer to the question addressed is unknown.
C) it is proposed by well known and respected scientist.
D) it is testable.
E) it is untestable. - ANSWER-D) it is testable.
A hypothesis is tested 3 times. It passes the first 2 tests but fails the third test.
Biologist A says the hypothesis should be revised or rejected because it is not
correct in its correct form. Biologist B says the hypothesis is supported by 2 out of 3
tests, so it is probably correct. Who is right?
A) Biologist A only
B) Biologist B only
C) Both are right
D) Both are wrong - ANSWER-A) Biologist A only
On a visit to the beach, you notice that the sun sets as the tide rises. Does the
setting of the sun cause the tide to rise? Your friend says yes because the gravity of
the sun causes the tides. Your friend's answer is an example of
A) a solid conclusion based on careful observation.
B) the consequences of spending too much time in the sun.
C) the careful application of logic to a scientific question.
D) an untestable hypothesis.
E) confusing correlation with causation. - ANSWER-E) confusing correlation with
causation.
Members of the Kingdom Fungi
A) include the mushrooms.
B) include the algae.
C) decompose the remains of dead organisms and absorb nutrients from the
leftovers.
D) include the mushrooms, and decompose the remains of dead organisms and
absorb nutrients from the leftovers.
E) us photosynthesis to produce their own food. - ANSWER-D) include the
mushrooms, and decompose the remains of dead organisms and absorb nutrients
from the leftovers.
Darwin proposed that the mechanism responsible for evolution is
A) descent with modification.
B) natural selection.
C) the inheritance of acquired characteristics.
D) the overpopulation of organisms because populations can produce more offspring
than the environment can support.
E) the origin of species. - ANSWER-B) natural selection.
, Which one of the following statements is not consistent with Darwin's mechanism of
natural selection?
A) Individuals in a population exhibit variations, some of which are heritable.
B) Individual organisms exhibit genetic change during their life spans to better fit
their environment.
C) Factors in the environment result in some organisms with better reproductive
success than others.
D) Natural selection is based in part on the overproduction of offspring.
E) Natural selection can lead to the appearance of new species. - ANSWER-B)
Individual organisms exhibit genetic change during their life spans to better fit their
environment.
Science is
A) a collection of facts.
B) the testing of hypotheses using inductive reasoning.
C) the testing of hypotheses using deductive reasoning.
D) an approach to understanding natural phenomena in the world.
E) a collection of theories. - ANSWER-D) an approach to understanding natural
phenomena in the world.
Consider the following statement: "If all vertebrates have backbones, and turtles are
vertebrates, then turtles have backbones." This statement is an example of
A) a hypothesis.
B) discovery science logic.
C) rationalization.
D) deductive reasoning.
E) inductive reasoning. - ANSWER-D) deductive reasoning.
You notice that over the past month, many students have started wearing a new
style of school sweatshirt. You think to yourself, maybe the bookstore recently
started selling this new sweatshirt style. This is
A) an example of an experimental question.
B) a type of observation.
C) an example of a hypothesis.
D) an experiment.
E) a type of control. - ANSWER-C) an example of a hypothesis.
A scientific theories is considered to be better if
A) it is an ad hoc theory.
B) it is based on the correlation of 2 independent variables.
C) it is supported by multiple independent lines of evidences.
D) it is accepted by most experts in the relevant field of science.
E) was proposed by a famous scientists and/or if it a very old idea suggest hundreds
or even thousands of years ago. - ANSWER-C) it is supported by multiple
independent lines of evidences.
A fair test
A) must be a carefully planned experiment.
B) should provide evidence based a new kind of data.
