BIO 156 INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY
REVIEW 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
SOLUTIONS TESTED QUESTIONS.
■ independent variable. Answer: manipulation performed on the test
group
(ex. hours of tutoring)
■ which axis is the independent variable found on a graph? Answer:
x-axis
■ dependent variable. Answer: effect that is being measured
(ex. test score)
■ which axis is the dependent variable found on a graph? Answer: y-
axis
■ theory of evolution. Answer: set of hypotheses that provide a
powerful explanation for both biological observations & the diversity
of life
■ why do we learn that the theory of evolution is the single most
important theory in all of biology? Answer: there's lots of evidence
from asking/testing good scientific questions
(ex. anatomy, fossil record, biogeography, molecular biology)
,■ 7 ways living organisms are different from non-living organisms.
Answer: 1. organization - complex organization
2. response - ability to change in response to the environment
3. reproduction - ability to reproduce
4. evolution - capacity to evolve
5. metabolism - chemical rxns that sustain life
6. homeostasis - maintenance of stable internal environment
7. growth - regulated growth/cell division
■ 1st law of thermodynamics. Answer: energy can neither be created
nor destroyed; it can only be transformed from one form into another
■ how does the 1st law of thermodynamics apply to living organisms?
Answer: - living organisms transform energy from sunlight -->
chemical energy
- cells convert energy by expending it & giving off heat as a by
product
■ 2nd law of thermodynamics. Answer: the amount of entropy in the
universe is constantly increasing
■ entropy. Answer: amount of disorder in a system
■ disorder. Answer: # of states that a system can take on
, ■ how does temperature affect entropy? Answer: higher temp -->
molecules move faster --> more entropy
■ how does the 2nd law of thermodynamics apply to living
organisms? Answer: - living organisms are highly organized (takes a
lot of energy to maintain organization)
- cell is highly organized
- cells give off energy as heat --> movement of molecules in
surrounding environment increases --> entropy of entire system
increases
■ does a dog or bucket of water have more entropy? Answer: bucket
of water - less organized, more disorder
■ how did the scientific method demonstrate that living organisms
come from other living organisms? Answer: belief of spontaneous
generation --> refuted by Redi's experiment (maggots appearing on
rotting meat) & Pasteur's experiment (microbes in sterilized broth)
■ covalent bond. Answer: chemical bond resulting from atoms
sharing a pair of electrons
- strongest bond
(ex. H2, methane, ammonia, water)
■ nonpolar covalent bond. Answer: a covalent bond in which the
electrons are shared equally by the two atoms
(ex. hydrogen gas (H2))
REVIEW 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
SOLUTIONS TESTED QUESTIONS.
■ independent variable. Answer: manipulation performed on the test
group
(ex. hours of tutoring)
■ which axis is the independent variable found on a graph? Answer:
x-axis
■ dependent variable. Answer: effect that is being measured
(ex. test score)
■ which axis is the dependent variable found on a graph? Answer: y-
axis
■ theory of evolution. Answer: set of hypotheses that provide a
powerful explanation for both biological observations & the diversity
of life
■ why do we learn that the theory of evolution is the single most
important theory in all of biology? Answer: there's lots of evidence
from asking/testing good scientific questions
(ex. anatomy, fossil record, biogeography, molecular biology)
,■ 7 ways living organisms are different from non-living organisms.
Answer: 1. organization - complex organization
2. response - ability to change in response to the environment
3. reproduction - ability to reproduce
4. evolution - capacity to evolve
5. metabolism - chemical rxns that sustain life
6. homeostasis - maintenance of stable internal environment
7. growth - regulated growth/cell division
■ 1st law of thermodynamics. Answer: energy can neither be created
nor destroyed; it can only be transformed from one form into another
■ how does the 1st law of thermodynamics apply to living organisms?
Answer: - living organisms transform energy from sunlight -->
chemical energy
- cells convert energy by expending it & giving off heat as a by
product
■ 2nd law of thermodynamics. Answer: the amount of entropy in the
universe is constantly increasing
■ entropy. Answer: amount of disorder in a system
■ disorder. Answer: # of states that a system can take on
, ■ how does temperature affect entropy? Answer: higher temp -->
molecules move faster --> more entropy
■ how does the 2nd law of thermodynamics apply to living
organisms? Answer: - living organisms are highly organized (takes a
lot of energy to maintain organization)
- cell is highly organized
- cells give off energy as heat --> movement of molecules in
surrounding environment increases --> entropy of entire system
increases
■ does a dog or bucket of water have more entropy? Answer: bucket
of water - less organized, more disorder
■ how did the scientific method demonstrate that living organisms
come from other living organisms? Answer: belief of spontaneous
generation --> refuted by Redi's experiment (maggots appearing on
rotting meat) & Pasteur's experiment (microbes in sterilized broth)
■ covalent bond. Answer: chemical bond resulting from atoms
sharing a pair of electrons
- strongest bond
(ex. H2, methane, ammonia, water)
■ nonpolar covalent bond. Answer: a covalent bond in which the
electrons are shared equally by the two atoms
(ex. hydrogen gas (H2))
