Chapter 1 The Foundations of Biochemistry
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Cellular foundations
Pages: 2-4 Difficulty: 1 Ans: C
In a bacterial cell, the DNA is in the:
A) cell envelope.
B) cell membrane.
C) nucleoid.
D) nucleus.
E) ribosomes.
2. Cellular foundations
Page: 3 Difficulty: 1 Ans: E
A major change occurring in the evolution of eukaryotes from prokaryotes was the
development of:
A) DNA.
B) photosynthetic capability.
C) plasma membranes.
D) ribosomes.
E) the nucleus.
,3. Cellular foundations
Page: 3 Difficulty: 1 Ans: B
In eukaryotes, the nucleus is enclosed by a double membrane called the:
A) cell membrane.
B) nuclear envelope.
C) nucleolus.
D) nucleoplasm.
E) nucleosome.
4. Cellular foundations
Page: 4 Difficulty: 1 Ans: C
The dimensions of living cells are limited, on the lower end by the minimum number of
biomolecules necessary for function, and on the upper end by the rate of diffusion of
solutes such as oxygen. Except for highly elongated cells, they usually have lengths and
diameters in the range of:
A) 0.1 m to 10 m.
B) 0.3 m to 30 m.
C) 0.3 m to 100 m.
D) 1 m to 100 m.
E) 1 m to 300 m.
5. Cellular foundations
, Page: 4 Difficulty: 2 Ans: B
Which group of single-celled micro-organisms has many members found growing in
extreme environments?
A) bacteria.
B) archaea.
C) eukaryotes.
D) heterotrophs.
E) none of the above.
6. Cellular foundations
Page: 5 Difficulty: 2 Ans: B
The bacterium E. coli requires simple organic molecules for growth and energy—it is
therefore a:
F) chemoautotroph.
G) chemoheterotroph.
H) lithotroph.
I) photoautotroph.
J) photoheterotroph.
7. Cellular foundations
Page: 6-8 Difficulty: 2 Ans: B
Which one of the following has the cellular components arranged in order of increasing
size?
A) Amino acid < protein < mitochondrion < ribosome
B) Amino acid < protein < ribosome < mitochondrion
, C) Amino acid < ribosome < protein < mitochondrion
D) Protein < amino acid < mitochondrion < ribosome
E) Protein < ribosome < mitochondrion < amino acid
8. Cellular foundations
Page: 10 Difficulty: 2 Ans: A
The three-dimensional structure of macromolecules is formed and maintained primarily
through noncovalent interactions. Which one of the following is not considered a
noncovalent interaction?
A) carbon-carbon bonds
B) hydrogen bonds
C) hydrophobic interactions
D) ionic interactions
E) van der Waals interactions
9. Chemical foundations
Page: 11 Difficulty: 2 Ans: E
Which one of the following is not among the four most abundant elements in living
organisms?
A) Carbon
B) Hydrogen
C) Nitrogen
D) Oxygen
E) Phosphorus
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Cellular foundations
Pages: 2-4 Difficulty: 1 Ans: C
In a bacterial cell, the DNA is in the:
A) cell envelope.
B) cell membrane.
C) nucleoid.
D) nucleus.
E) ribosomes.
2. Cellular foundations
Page: 3 Difficulty: 1 Ans: E
A major change occurring in the evolution of eukaryotes from prokaryotes was the
development of:
A) DNA.
B) photosynthetic capability.
C) plasma membranes.
D) ribosomes.
E) the nucleus.
,3. Cellular foundations
Page: 3 Difficulty: 1 Ans: B
In eukaryotes, the nucleus is enclosed by a double membrane called the:
A) cell membrane.
B) nuclear envelope.
C) nucleolus.
D) nucleoplasm.
E) nucleosome.
4. Cellular foundations
Page: 4 Difficulty: 1 Ans: C
The dimensions of living cells are limited, on the lower end by the minimum number of
biomolecules necessary for function, and on the upper end by the rate of diffusion of
solutes such as oxygen. Except for highly elongated cells, they usually have lengths and
diameters in the range of:
A) 0.1 m to 10 m.
B) 0.3 m to 30 m.
C) 0.3 m to 100 m.
D) 1 m to 100 m.
E) 1 m to 300 m.
5. Cellular foundations
, Page: 4 Difficulty: 2 Ans: B
Which group of single-celled micro-organisms has many members found growing in
extreme environments?
A) bacteria.
B) archaea.
C) eukaryotes.
D) heterotrophs.
E) none of the above.
6. Cellular foundations
Page: 5 Difficulty: 2 Ans: B
The bacterium E. coli requires simple organic molecules for growth and energy—it is
therefore a:
F) chemoautotroph.
G) chemoheterotroph.
H) lithotroph.
I) photoautotroph.
J) photoheterotroph.
7. Cellular foundations
Page: 6-8 Difficulty: 2 Ans: B
Which one of the following has the cellular components arranged in order of increasing
size?
A) Amino acid < protein < mitochondrion < ribosome
B) Amino acid < protein < ribosome < mitochondrion
, C) Amino acid < ribosome < protein < mitochondrion
D) Protein < amino acid < mitochondrion < ribosome
E) Protein < ribosome < mitochondrion < amino acid
8. Cellular foundations
Page: 10 Difficulty: 2 Ans: A
The three-dimensional structure of macromolecules is formed and maintained primarily
through noncovalent interactions. Which one of the following is not considered a
noncovalent interaction?
A) carbon-carbon bonds
B) hydrogen bonds
C) hydrophobic interactions
D) ionic interactions
E) van der Waals interactions
9. Chemical foundations
Page: 11 Difficulty: 2 Ans: E
Which one of the following is not among the four most abundant elements in living
organisms?
A) Carbon
B) Hydrogen
C) Nitrogen
D) Oxygen
E) Phosphorus
