®
AP Biology Practice Exam
SECTION I: Multiple Choice
DO NOT OPEN THIS BOOKLET UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD TO DO SO.
At a Glance Instructions
Section I of this exam contains 63 multiple-choice questions and 6 grid-in questions.
Total Time
1 hour, 30 minutes Indicate all of your answers to the Section I questions on the answer sheet. No credit will
Number of Questions be given for anything written in this exam booklet, but you may use the booklet for notes
69 or scratch work. When answering the multiple-choice items, write on the answer sheet the
Percent of Total Score letter corresponding to the answer you think is best. Give only one answer to each
50% question. For the grid-in items, write in the appropriate number, using decimals and other
Writing Instrument symbols as appropriate. Units are not required for grid-in items.
Pencil required
Electronic Device Use your time effectively, working as quickly as you can without losing accuracy. Do not
Four-function calculator spend too much time on any one question. Go on to other questions and come back to
allowed the ones you have not answered if you have time. It is not expected that everyone will
know the answers to all of the questions.
Your total score on Section I is based only on the number of questions answered correctly.
Points are not deducted for incorrect answers or unanswered questions.
Minimum 20% post-consumer waste
12 Biology
, BIOLOGY
SECTION I
Part A: 63 Multiple-Choice questions
Part B: 6 Grid-In Questions
Time------90 Minutes
Part A Directions: Each of the questions or incomplete statements below is followed by four suggested answers or
completions. Select the answer that is best in each case and enter the appropriate letter in the corresponding space on
the answer sheet. When you have completed part A, you should continue on to part B.
1. Membrane-bound organelles have been an 3. Simple cuboidal epithelial cells line the ducts of
important component in the evolution of complex, certain human exocrine glands. Various materials
multicellular organisms. Which of the following are transported into or out of the cells by
best summarizes an advantage of eukaryotic cells diffusion. (The formula for the surface area of a
having internal membranes? cube is 6 ¥ S 2, and the formula for the volume of
(A) Eukaryotic cells are able to reproduce faster a cube is S 3, where S = the length of a side of the
because of the presence of organelles. cube.)
(B) Some organelles, such as mitochondria and Which of the following cube-shaped cells would
chloroplasts, are similar to prokaryotic cells be most efficient in removing waste by diffusion?
in structure.
(C) Organelles isolate specific reactions, (A)
increasing metabolic efficiency.
(D) Compartmentalization leads to a higher
mutation rate in DNA, which leads to more
new species.
(B)
2. By discharging electric sparks into a laboratory
chamber atmosphere that consisted of water
vapor, hydrogen gas, methane, and ammonia,
Stanley Miller obtained data that showed that a
number of organic molecules, including many
amino acids, could be synthesized. Miller was
attempting to model early Earth conditions as (C)
understood in the 1950s. The results of Miller’s
experiments best support which of the following
hypotheses?
(A) The molecules essential to life today did not
exist at the time Earth was first formed.
(B) The molecules essential to life today could
not have been carried to the primordial
Earth by a comet or meteorite.
(C) The molecules essential to life today could (D)
have formed under early Earth conditions.
(D) The molecules essential to life today were
initially self-replicating proteins that were
synthesized approximately four billion
years ago.
GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE.
Biology 13
, 4. The area covered by tropical rain forest is reduced 6. When DNA replicates, each strand of the original
by millions of hectares per year due to agriculture DNA molecule is used as a template for the
and logging. Which of the following best synthesis of a second, complementary strand.
describes a likely result of tropical rain forest Which of the following figures most accurately
deforestation? illustrates enzyme-mediated synthesis of new
DNA at a replication fork?
(A) Populations of plants and animals will
decrease as more rain forest disappears, (A)
leading to a decrease in biodiversity.
(B) An increase of soil moisture will lead to a
rapid increase in new vegetation coverage.
(C) An increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide
will lead to higher levels of ultraviolet
radiation reaching the surface of Earth.
(D) More oxygen will be available to other
(B)
organisms as plant numbers decrease.
5. Which of the following statements best supports
the claim that organisms share fundamental
processes as a result of evolution?
(A) All organisms that are introduced into new
environments have the capacity to fill
(C)
vacant ecological roles.
(B) All organisms have the ability to utilize
oxygen to harness energy from the chemical
breakdown of organic compounds.
(C) All organisms share a genetic code organized
into triplet codons, making it possible for
one organism to express a gene from
another organism. (D)
(D) All organisms possess structures such as
chloroplasts and mitochondria within their
cells that reflect past symbiotic relationships
between prokaryotic precursors.
GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE.
14 Biology
, Questions 7-10 9. Which of the following best describes the
mechanism behind the change in beak size in
A biologist spent many years researching the rate the finch population?
of evolutionary change in the finch populations of a
(A) The formation of two new finch species from
group of islands. It was determined that the average
a single parent species
beak size (both length and mass) of finches in a
(B) A change in gene frequencies in the finch
certain population increased dramatically during an
population due to selective pressure from
intense drought between 1981 and 1987. During the
the environmental change
drought, there was a reduction in the number of plants (C) A new allele appearing in the finch
producing thin-walled seeds.
population as a result of mutation
(D) The achievement of dynamic equilibrium
7. Which of the following procedures was most in the finch population as a result of
likely followed to determine the change in beak
homeostasis
size?
(A) A few finches were trapped in 1981 and 10. The biologist discovered that from 1988 to 1993,
again in 1987, and their beak sizes were the average beak size declined to pre-1981 levels.
compared. The reversal in beak size from 1988 to 1993 was
(B) The beak size in fifteen finches was measured most likely related to which of the following
in 1987, and the beak size in the original events?
finches was determined by estimation.
(A) A loss of food supply for the finches
(C) The beak size in a large number of
(B) The end of the drought
finches was measured every year (C) An increase in drought conditions
from 1981 to 1987.
(D) An increase in predators consuming finches
(D) Finches were captured and bred in 1981, and
the beak size of the offspring was measured.
8. Which of the following statements might best
explain the increase in average beak size in the
finch population during the drought?
(A) Finches with bigger beaks are better able to
crack thick-walled seeds and produce more
surviving offspring.
(B) Finches with bigger beaks can attack and kill
finches with smaller beaks.
(C) Finches with bigger beaks possess more-
powerful flight muscles and are able to find
more food.
(D) Finches that crack large seeds develop larger
beaks over time.
GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE.
Biology 15
AP Biology Practice Exam
SECTION I: Multiple Choice
DO NOT OPEN THIS BOOKLET UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD TO DO SO.
At a Glance Instructions
Section I of this exam contains 63 multiple-choice questions and 6 grid-in questions.
Total Time
1 hour, 30 minutes Indicate all of your answers to the Section I questions on the answer sheet. No credit will
Number of Questions be given for anything written in this exam booklet, but you may use the booklet for notes
69 or scratch work. When answering the multiple-choice items, write on the answer sheet the
Percent of Total Score letter corresponding to the answer you think is best. Give only one answer to each
50% question. For the grid-in items, write in the appropriate number, using decimals and other
Writing Instrument symbols as appropriate. Units are not required for grid-in items.
Pencil required
Electronic Device Use your time effectively, working as quickly as you can without losing accuracy. Do not
Four-function calculator spend too much time on any one question. Go on to other questions and come back to
allowed the ones you have not answered if you have time. It is not expected that everyone will
know the answers to all of the questions.
Your total score on Section I is based only on the number of questions answered correctly.
Points are not deducted for incorrect answers or unanswered questions.
Minimum 20% post-consumer waste
12 Biology
, BIOLOGY
SECTION I
Part A: 63 Multiple-Choice questions
Part B: 6 Grid-In Questions
Time------90 Minutes
Part A Directions: Each of the questions or incomplete statements below is followed by four suggested answers or
completions. Select the answer that is best in each case and enter the appropriate letter in the corresponding space on
the answer sheet. When you have completed part A, you should continue on to part B.
1. Membrane-bound organelles have been an 3. Simple cuboidal epithelial cells line the ducts of
important component in the evolution of complex, certain human exocrine glands. Various materials
multicellular organisms. Which of the following are transported into or out of the cells by
best summarizes an advantage of eukaryotic cells diffusion. (The formula for the surface area of a
having internal membranes? cube is 6 ¥ S 2, and the formula for the volume of
(A) Eukaryotic cells are able to reproduce faster a cube is S 3, where S = the length of a side of the
because of the presence of organelles. cube.)
(B) Some organelles, such as mitochondria and Which of the following cube-shaped cells would
chloroplasts, are similar to prokaryotic cells be most efficient in removing waste by diffusion?
in structure.
(C) Organelles isolate specific reactions, (A)
increasing metabolic efficiency.
(D) Compartmentalization leads to a higher
mutation rate in DNA, which leads to more
new species.
(B)
2. By discharging electric sparks into a laboratory
chamber atmosphere that consisted of water
vapor, hydrogen gas, methane, and ammonia,
Stanley Miller obtained data that showed that a
number of organic molecules, including many
amino acids, could be synthesized. Miller was
attempting to model early Earth conditions as (C)
understood in the 1950s. The results of Miller’s
experiments best support which of the following
hypotheses?
(A) The molecules essential to life today did not
exist at the time Earth was first formed.
(B) The molecules essential to life today could
not have been carried to the primordial
Earth by a comet or meteorite.
(C) The molecules essential to life today could (D)
have formed under early Earth conditions.
(D) The molecules essential to life today were
initially self-replicating proteins that were
synthesized approximately four billion
years ago.
GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE.
Biology 13
, 4. The area covered by tropical rain forest is reduced 6. When DNA replicates, each strand of the original
by millions of hectares per year due to agriculture DNA molecule is used as a template for the
and logging. Which of the following best synthesis of a second, complementary strand.
describes a likely result of tropical rain forest Which of the following figures most accurately
deforestation? illustrates enzyme-mediated synthesis of new
DNA at a replication fork?
(A) Populations of plants and animals will
decrease as more rain forest disappears, (A)
leading to a decrease in biodiversity.
(B) An increase of soil moisture will lead to a
rapid increase in new vegetation coverage.
(C) An increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide
will lead to higher levels of ultraviolet
radiation reaching the surface of Earth.
(D) More oxygen will be available to other
(B)
organisms as plant numbers decrease.
5. Which of the following statements best supports
the claim that organisms share fundamental
processes as a result of evolution?
(A) All organisms that are introduced into new
environments have the capacity to fill
(C)
vacant ecological roles.
(B) All organisms have the ability to utilize
oxygen to harness energy from the chemical
breakdown of organic compounds.
(C) All organisms share a genetic code organized
into triplet codons, making it possible for
one organism to express a gene from
another organism. (D)
(D) All organisms possess structures such as
chloroplasts and mitochondria within their
cells that reflect past symbiotic relationships
between prokaryotic precursors.
GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE.
14 Biology
, Questions 7-10 9. Which of the following best describes the
mechanism behind the change in beak size in
A biologist spent many years researching the rate the finch population?
of evolutionary change in the finch populations of a
(A) The formation of two new finch species from
group of islands. It was determined that the average
a single parent species
beak size (both length and mass) of finches in a
(B) A change in gene frequencies in the finch
certain population increased dramatically during an
population due to selective pressure from
intense drought between 1981 and 1987. During the
the environmental change
drought, there was a reduction in the number of plants (C) A new allele appearing in the finch
producing thin-walled seeds.
population as a result of mutation
(D) The achievement of dynamic equilibrium
7. Which of the following procedures was most in the finch population as a result of
likely followed to determine the change in beak
homeostasis
size?
(A) A few finches were trapped in 1981 and 10. The biologist discovered that from 1988 to 1993,
again in 1987, and their beak sizes were the average beak size declined to pre-1981 levels.
compared. The reversal in beak size from 1988 to 1993 was
(B) The beak size in fifteen finches was measured most likely related to which of the following
in 1987, and the beak size in the original events?
finches was determined by estimation.
(A) A loss of food supply for the finches
(C) The beak size in a large number of
(B) The end of the drought
finches was measured every year (C) An increase in drought conditions
from 1981 to 1987.
(D) An increase in predators consuming finches
(D) Finches were captured and bred in 1981, and
the beak size of the offspring was measured.
8. Which of the following statements might best
explain the increase in average beak size in the
finch population during the drought?
(A) Finches with bigger beaks are better able to
crack thick-walled seeds and produce more
surviving offspring.
(B) Finches with bigger beaks can attack and kill
finches with smaller beaks.
(C) Finches with bigger beaks possess more-
powerful flight muscles and are able to find
more food.
(D) Finches that crack large seeds develop larger
beaks over time.
GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE.
Biology 15
