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UPC Practice Entry Tests

Test: Biology 1

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This is a photograph of an organelle found in living cells. Use it to help answer questions 1, 2 and 3. (From Essential Cell Biology, Alberts B et al (2009) 3rd edition; Garland Science, NY & London. Photo by Daniel S Friend.)
1.	What is the name of this organelle?

	Chloroplast
	Endoplasmic reticulum
	Mitochondrion
	Ribosome
	Golgi apparatus
Chloroplast - Wrong. There are some similarities between chloroplasts and mitochondria, like a double outer membrane, but the internal membranes are arranged very differently. Endoplasmic reticulum - Wrong. Endoplasmic reticulum forms a network of flattened tubules throughout the cell and is often attached to ribosomes when it is called rough endoplasmic reticulum. Ribosome - Wrong. A ribosome is not an organelle but a large molecule of RNA and protein. See the following link for more help https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zxm3jty/revision/1

2.	What is the function of this organelle?

	Anaerobic respiration
	Aerobic respiration
	Protein release from cell
	Photosynthesis
	Protein synthesis
Anaerobic respiration - Wrong. Anaerobic respiration, without oxygen, occurs in the cytoplasm of the cell not in the mitochondria. Protein release from cell - Wrong. Ribosomes are responsible for protein synthesis and Golgi for preparing it for export from the cell. Photosynthesis - Wrong. Chloroplasts undertake photosynthesis.

3.	Which one of the following substances is produced when this organelle is functioning.

	Oxygen
	Carbon dioxide
	Glucose
	Starch
	Glycogen
Oxygen - Wrong. Oxygen is a product of photosynthesis. Glucose - Wrong. Glucose is made in chloroplasts during photosynthesis. Starch - Wrong. Starch is made from glucose molecules in chloroplasts and other plants cells.

4.	Figure 2 is a photograph of cell division taking place in the tip of a plant root. A group of cells undergoing division - photo taken by Islam El-Konaissi, UPCSE student 2007/08, of his cell preparation. Why is a root tip a good place to see this type of cell division?

	No light is present
	Plant roots only grow downwards
	It is an area of active growth
	Plants often store food reserves in roots
	Increased surface area
No light is present - Wrong. Light does not directly affect cell division. Plant roots only grow downwards - Wrong. Plants do have mechanisms that ensure roots grow downwards, but again, nothing to do with cell division. Plants often store food reserves in roots - Wrong. They may increase cell numbers to store food but this division will be not as frequent as a root tip.

5.	The cell marked I on the diagram has 24 chromosomes. How many chromosomes are present in the cell marked II?

	6
	12
	24
	48
	36
6 - Wrong. This cell would not have sufficient chromosomes to function 12 - Wrong. This cell would have half the normal chromosome number but is not a cell involved in gamete formation. 48 - Wrong. This would be extra chromosomes, over the usual number.

6.	During the production of gametes the number of chromosomes is halved. What name is given to this type of cell division?

	Somatic
	Meiosis
	Reproductive
	Mitosis
	Vegetative
Somatic - Wrong. Somatic cell division is mitosis. Reproductive - Wrong. Although involved in reproduction this is not the name given to meiosis. Mitosis - Wrong. This is normal cell division, not part of gamete production the chromosome number will remain the same.

7.	What is the correct equation for photosynthesis?

	C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂+ 6H₂O
	6CO₂ + 6H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂
	C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 12H₂O
	6CO₂ + 6H₂O → C₅H₁₀O₅ + 6O₂
	C₆H₁₂O₆ → 2C₃H₆O₃
C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O - Wrong. This is the correct equation for respiration not photosynthesis. C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 12H₂O - Wrong. The equation does not balance; there are too many water molecules. 6CO₂ + 6H₂O → C₅H₁₀O₅ + 6O₂ - Wrong. The equation does not balance. Also, the sugar is a five carbon pentose like ribose.

8.	This genetics diagram is for questions 8 and 9. The diagram shows a genetics experiment involving breeding flies which vary in their body colour. B for Black body is dominant to the allele b which is for white body. Which two insects are homozygous?

	I and II
	IV and V
	III and VI
	V and VI
	III and IV
I and II - Wrong. These are both heterozygous. IV and V - Wrong. Homozygous means that only one variety of an allele is present. These are both heterozygous. V and VI - Wrong. VI is homozygous but fly V is heterozygous.

9.	What is the ratio of body colour in the offspring?

	3 black: 1 white
	1 black : 2 grey : 1 white
	1 black : 3 white
	All black
	2 black : 1 grey : 1 white
1 black : 2 grey : 1 white- Wrong. B is dominant to b so it is shown even when there is only the single allele present. 1 black : 3 white - Wrong. There is only one bb white fly. All black - Wrong. bb is a white fly as no dominant B allele is present

10.	In genetics what term is given to the appearance of an organism?

	Genotype
	Genome
	Gene pool
	Phenotype
	Polymorphism
Genotype - Wrong. This is the genes present. Genome - Wrong. This is the complete genetic make-up of the organism. Gene pool - Wrong. This is the genes present in the whole population.

11.	The figure shows the bones and muscles of the upper and lower arm. Study it and answer questions 11, 12 and 13. What is the name of the bone labelled I?

	Femur
	Humerus
	Radius
	Ulna
	Fibula
Femur - Wrong. This is the bone in the thigh. Radius - Wrong. This is one of the bones of the lower arm. Ulna - Wrong. This is the other bone of the lower arm.

12.	What is the type of muscle labelled II?

	Cardiac
	Smooth
	Striated
	Involuntary
	Autonomic
Cardiac - Wrong. This is the muscle found in the heart. Smooth - Wrong. This is also called involuntary muscle over which you have no conscious control. Involuntary - Wrong. This is smooth muscle. For help see the following link - https://www.biologyonline.com/dictionary/involuntary-muscle

13.	What type of joint is present at III, the elbow?

	Hinge
	Ball and socket
	Sliding
	Fixed
	Pivot
Ball and socket - Wrong. This type of joint allows rotation. Sliding - Wrong. This type of joint usually allows movement of bones across one another giving a wide range of movement. Fixed - Wrong. This type of joint does not allow any movement.

14.	What is the name given to the tissue that transmits water and dissolved minerals from the root of a plant up towards the leaves?

	Phloem
	Xylem
	Parenchyma
	Cambium
	Sclerenchyma
Phloem - Wrong. Phloem conducts material from leaves to other parts of the plant for example sucrose. Parenchyma - Wrong. Parenchyma is a general cell making up the contents of the stem sometimes referred to as packing cells. Cambium - Wrong. Cambium cells divide to produce xylem and phloem.

15.	What tissues can provide significant support to hold up the stem of a plant?

	Phloem
	Xylem
	Parenchyma
	Cambium
	Dermal
Phloem - Wrong. Phloem conducts material from leaves to other parts of the plant. Parenchyma - Wrong. Parenchyma is a general cell making up the contents of the stem. Cambium - Wrong. Cambium cells divide to produce xylem and phloem in a stem.

16.	What is the process of water movement through a plant?

	Guttation
	Replication
	Transpiration
	Germination
	Translocation
Guttation - Wrong. This is the loss of water as droplets from leaves in some plants. Replication - Wrong. This term is used to mean producing copies of a DNA molecule. Germination - Wrong. This is the term used to describe the development of a seed into a plant.

17.	If a plant is described as xerophytic, what conditions will it live and grow in?

	Salty soils
	Wet soils
	Cold climates
	Dry conditions
	High humidity
Salty soils - Wrong. Halophytes grow well in salty conditions. Wet soils - Wrong. Cold climates - Wrong. For additional help see https://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-plant-adaptations-in-different-environments.html

18.	What name is given to the type of cell that carries oxygen in blood?

	Lymphocyte
	Leucocyte
	Erythrocyte
	Phagocyte
	Platelet
Lymphocyte - Wrong. This is a type of white blood cell. Leucocyte - Wrong. This is the name given to all types of white blood cell. Phagocyte - Wrong. This is a type of white blood cell that engulfs and destroys bacteria. For additional help see https://www.britannica.com/science/blood-biochemistry/Red-blood-cells-erythrocytes

19.	What is the red pigment present in cells that carry oxygen?

	Haemoglobin
	Pepsin
	Adrenalin
	Immunoglobin
	Iron
Pepsin - Wrong. This is the enzyme produced in the stomach to digest protein. Adrenalin - Wrong. This is a hormone that prepares the body for action. Immunoglobin - Wrong. This is a protein produced by white blood cells to destroy bacteria.

20.	Which of the following, found in animals, is NOT a protein?

	Hair or fur
	Nails or claws
	Haemoglobin
	Glycogen
	Insulin
Hair or fur - Wrong. These are made of the protein keratin. Nails or claws - Wrong. These are made of the protein keratin. Haemoglobin - Wrong. This is the protein found in red blood cells.

21.	The diagram shows the outline of a human body with various glands marked. Use it to answer questions 21 and 22. Outline of a human body showing various endocrine glands Which gland produces the hormone insulin?

	I
	II
	III
	IV
	II and III
I - Wrong. This is the thyroid gland that produces thyroid hormone that controls metabolic rate. III - Wrong. This is the adrenal gland that produces adrenalin. IV - Wrong. The ovary produces oestrogen and other female hormones.

22.	What is the target tissue of the hormone insulin?

	Kidney
	Stomach
	Liver
	Pituitary gland
	Hypothalamus
Kidney - Wrong. The kidney does respond to other hormones that control water loss. Stomach - Wrong. Some stomach secretions are stimulated by other hormones during eating. Pituitary gland - Wrong. This gland produces many hormones some of which control other glands.

23.	What is phototropism?

	Growth of a plant towards light
	The light stage of photosynthesis
	An animals response to sunrise
	A bees ability to fly towards flowers
	Turning of one plant around another
The light stage of photosynthesis - Wrong. It is called the light stage or the light dependent stage An animal's response to sun rise - Wrong. Animals do show activity linked to sun rise and sun set but phototropism is growth, not a general daily response. A bee's ability to fly towards flowers - Wrong. Bees can navigate accurately but phototropism is growth rather than movement.

24.	What name is given to the flat teeth found towards the back of an animals mouth and which are used for grinding food?

	Incisors
	Molars
	Canines
	Premolars
	Wisdom teeth
A. Incisors - Wrong. These are cutting teeth at the front of the mouth C. Canines - Wrong. These are sharp teeth used to grip, kill or cut food. D. Premolars - Wrong. These are in front of molars and are used to chew or cut food rather than grind it.

25.	What is the approximate pH of the stomach of a mammal?

	1-2
	4-5
	7-8
	12-14
	3-4
4-5 - Wrong. This is acidic but the stomach secretes hydrochloric acid which is a strong acid and will have a lower pH. 7-8 - Wrong. This would be near the pH of the small intestine. 12-14 - Wrong. Strong alkali pHs are not found in the stomach of animals.

26.	What does the term absorption mean?

	The breakdown of protein into amino acids
	The production of pancreatic enzymes
	The uptake of digested food into the blood
	The transport of amino acids in the lymphatic system
	The hydrolysis of polymers
The breakdown of protein into amino acids - Wrong. This would be digestion. The production of pancreatic enzymes - Wrong. This would be secretion. The transport of amino acids in the lymphatic system - Wrong. It is fats that are absorbed and transported in the lymphatic system.

27.	Why were the Galapagos Islands important to Charles Darwin as he developed the theory of evolution?

	It was home to many species protected by European explorers
	The islands are close to other chains of islands
	There were differences between giant tortoises on different small islands
	The same species were present as ones found on mainland Chile
	Organisms there showed similarities to others seen before
It was home to many species protected by European explorers - Wrong. Early explorers generally did not protect species, indeed on the Galapagos tortoises were regarded as a good source of food. The islands are close to other chains of islands - Wrong. The Galapagos are isolated. The same species were present as ones found on mainland Chile - Wrong. Although some species are similar, the islands had their own distinct population of species.

28.	To what phylum do birds belong?

	Arthropoda
	Mollusca
	Chordata
	Reptilia
	Cnidaria
Arthropoda - Wrong. These are animals with a hard outer exoskeleton such as insects. Mollusca - Wrong. These are animals with shells such as snails. Reptilia - Wrong. This is a class within the Phylum Chordata.

29.	When an organism is given a proper formal name like Homo sapiens for human beings, what do the two words tell you about the classification group?

	Homo is the class and sapiens the genus
	Homo is the order and sapiens the species
	Homo is the species and sapiens the genus
	Homo is the genus and sapiens the species
	Homo is the kingdom and sapiens the phylum
Homo is the class and sapiens the genus - Wrong. The formal name of an organism is always the genus and species. Homo is the order and sapiens the species - Wrong. The formal name of an organism is always the genus and species. Homo is the species and sapiens the genus - Wrong. The formal name of an organism is always the genus and species.

30.	What gas is a major cause of global warming?

	Argon
	Nitrogen
	Carbon dioxide
	Sulphur dioxide
	Water vapour
Argon - Wrong. A naturally occurring gas. Nitrogen - Wrong. A naturally occurring gas making up most of the atmosphere.. Sulphur dioxide - Wrong. The main issue with increasing sulphur dioxide concentration is production of acid rain in heavily polluted areas.