AP Biology Midterm Exam (Answered)
180 Questions and Correct Answers,
100% Correct. Updated Fall 2024/2025.
Which of the following best describes what causes water molecules to exhibit properties such as
cohesive and adhesive behavior?
Water molecules are polar, having partially positive and partially negative ends.
Which statement correctly compares the pH of water to that of other substances?
The pH of water is neutral; it is higher than the pH of acids and lower than the pH of bases.
The slight negative charge at one end of one water molecule is attracted to the slight positive charge of
another water molecule. What is this attraction called?
A hydrogen bond
Which of the following best explains how water is able to dissolve ionic substances?
The positive and negative charges of the water molecule pull on the negative and positive ends of the
ionic molecule to break them apart.
During winter's freezing temperatures, some plants can remove water from their cells to reduce the
amount of water that will freeze inside them. Why would plants need to do this?
The expansion of excess water as it turns to ice inside the cells would break the cells apart.
differs from that of other substances?
The density of water depends on its temperature, unlike other substances.
Carbon atoms are able to
bond with other carbon atoms to form long chains
What is true of carbon atoms?
They can form up to four covalent bonds.
Carbon atoms can form
four single covalent bonds
Why should farmers plant crops that improve the levels of nitrogen in the soil during the winter?
These crops have root nodules that contain bacteria.
,Bacteria in the soil convert ammonia into a form that can be reabsorbed by a plant. Which geochemical
cycle does this sequence describe?
Nitrogen cycle
Why are bacteria an essential part of the nitrogen cycle?
Bacteria are responsible for fixing nitrogen into usable forms for other organisms.
Carbohydrates are polymers composed of linked monosaccharides. Which of the following is a true
statement about polymers?
Proteins, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids are all polymers.
What process links monomers of carbohydrates?
Spontaneous glycosidic links
What are the functional units of a monosaccharide?
Carbonyl and hydroxyl groups
Suppose you have an unknown chemical reaction involving carbohydrates. What is one way to test
whether the reaction is dehydration synthesis or hydrolysis reaction?
Determine whether water is formed.
Which of the following correctly lists the functions lipids serve in the body?
Energy storage, cell structure, signaling
One of the properties of cellulose is that it is not soluble in water. What would happen if cellulose was
water-soluble?
Cell walls of plants would no longer maintain their rigid form.
Why is the sequence of nucleotides important to the properties of a nucleic acid?
It retains and transmits important biological information.
Why is the sequence of amino acids important to the properties of a protein and determination of the
protein produced?
It determines how the biochemical folds into a three-dimensional structure.
Why is the sequence of monosaccharides important to the properties of a carbohydrate?
It stores energy and provides structural support for cells.
How do components of a DNA molecule influence its physical properties?
, Deoxyribose and phosphate, linked by phosphodiester bonds, form repeating units to make up the
backbone of DNA.
How do RNA's subcomponents affect its properties?
Base pairing occurs within an RNA molecule to give RNA the three-dimensional shape needed for specific
functions.
What is the relationship between the sequence of DNA's subcomponents and the properties of DNA?
The nitrogenous base sequence along a segment of DNA determines the amino acid sequence that will
be produced.
Which of the following organelles contributes to cell functions by processing proteins?
Golgi Apparatus
Which of the following organelles helps to carry out the light-dependent reactions?
Chloroplast
Which of the following organelles is responsible for detoxifying poisons in a cell?
Smooth endoplasmic reticulum
Which of the following best describes how ribosomes will interact with other organelles within a cell?
They will synthesize proteins that can become components or other organelles.
In the unicellular organism Euglena, the greatest concentration of mitochondria is found surrounding
basal bodies. Which of the following best explains this phenomenon?
The basal body is part of the organism's flagella, which use large amounts of ATP.
Through electron microscopy, scientists have observed the fusion of lysosomes with vacuoles. Which of
the following statements best explains this observation?
The fusion allows enzymes contained in the lysosomes to digest the contents of the vacuoles.
Which of the following best compares the role of structural features in producing energy and in using
energy in a cell?
Electron transport takes place in the thylakoid membrane during photosynthesis and in the inner
mitochondrial membrane during cellular respiration.
Which of the following best describes the activities that occur within the chloroplast of a cell?
Chlorophyll contained in the thylakoids captures sunlight to be used in photosynthesis.
Which of the following best compares the structural features involved in obtaining energy and in using
energy in a cell?
The thylakoid membrane absorbs solar energy, and glycolysis occurs in the cytosol.
180 Questions and Correct Answers,
100% Correct. Updated Fall 2024/2025.
Which of the following best describes what causes water molecules to exhibit properties such as
cohesive and adhesive behavior?
Water molecules are polar, having partially positive and partially negative ends.
Which statement correctly compares the pH of water to that of other substances?
The pH of water is neutral; it is higher than the pH of acids and lower than the pH of bases.
The slight negative charge at one end of one water molecule is attracted to the slight positive charge of
another water molecule. What is this attraction called?
A hydrogen bond
Which of the following best explains how water is able to dissolve ionic substances?
The positive and negative charges of the water molecule pull on the negative and positive ends of the
ionic molecule to break them apart.
During winter's freezing temperatures, some plants can remove water from their cells to reduce the
amount of water that will freeze inside them. Why would plants need to do this?
The expansion of excess water as it turns to ice inside the cells would break the cells apart.
differs from that of other substances?
The density of water depends on its temperature, unlike other substances.
Carbon atoms are able to
bond with other carbon atoms to form long chains
What is true of carbon atoms?
They can form up to four covalent bonds.
Carbon atoms can form
four single covalent bonds
Why should farmers plant crops that improve the levels of nitrogen in the soil during the winter?
These crops have root nodules that contain bacteria.
,Bacteria in the soil convert ammonia into a form that can be reabsorbed by a plant. Which geochemical
cycle does this sequence describe?
Nitrogen cycle
Why are bacteria an essential part of the nitrogen cycle?
Bacteria are responsible for fixing nitrogen into usable forms for other organisms.
Carbohydrates are polymers composed of linked monosaccharides. Which of the following is a true
statement about polymers?
Proteins, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids are all polymers.
What process links monomers of carbohydrates?
Spontaneous glycosidic links
What are the functional units of a monosaccharide?
Carbonyl and hydroxyl groups
Suppose you have an unknown chemical reaction involving carbohydrates. What is one way to test
whether the reaction is dehydration synthesis or hydrolysis reaction?
Determine whether water is formed.
Which of the following correctly lists the functions lipids serve in the body?
Energy storage, cell structure, signaling
One of the properties of cellulose is that it is not soluble in water. What would happen if cellulose was
water-soluble?
Cell walls of plants would no longer maintain their rigid form.
Why is the sequence of nucleotides important to the properties of a nucleic acid?
It retains and transmits important biological information.
Why is the sequence of amino acids important to the properties of a protein and determination of the
protein produced?
It determines how the biochemical folds into a three-dimensional structure.
Why is the sequence of monosaccharides important to the properties of a carbohydrate?
It stores energy and provides structural support for cells.
How do components of a DNA molecule influence its physical properties?
, Deoxyribose and phosphate, linked by phosphodiester bonds, form repeating units to make up the
backbone of DNA.
How do RNA's subcomponents affect its properties?
Base pairing occurs within an RNA molecule to give RNA the three-dimensional shape needed for specific
functions.
What is the relationship between the sequence of DNA's subcomponents and the properties of DNA?
The nitrogenous base sequence along a segment of DNA determines the amino acid sequence that will
be produced.
Which of the following organelles contributes to cell functions by processing proteins?
Golgi Apparatus
Which of the following organelles helps to carry out the light-dependent reactions?
Chloroplast
Which of the following organelles is responsible for detoxifying poisons in a cell?
Smooth endoplasmic reticulum
Which of the following best describes how ribosomes will interact with other organelles within a cell?
They will synthesize proteins that can become components or other organelles.
In the unicellular organism Euglena, the greatest concentration of mitochondria is found surrounding
basal bodies. Which of the following best explains this phenomenon?
The basal body is part of the organism's flagella, which use large amounts of ATP.
Through electron microscopy, scientists have observed the fusion of lysosomes with vacuoles. Which of
the following statements best explains this observation?
The fusion allows enzymes contained in the lysosomes to digest the contents of the vacuoles.
Which of the following best compares the role of structural features in producing energy and in using
energy in a cell?
Electron transport takes place in the thylakoid membrane during photosynthesis and in the inner
mitochondrial membrane during cellular respiration.
Which of the following best describes the activities that occur within the chloroplast of a cell?
Chlorophyll contained in the thylakoids captures sunlight to be used in photosynthesis.
Which of the following best compares the structural features involved in obtaining energy and in using
energy in a cell?
The thylakoid membrane absorbs solar energy, and glycolysis occurs in the cytosol.
