GED Science Study Guide
GED Science Study Guide
QUESTIONS
1. Any hurricane that is category 3 or higher is considered a major hurricane. Assuming the trends in the table are consistent, what is the probability that
the next hurricane that hits the state of Connecticut is a major hurricane?
Hurricane Direct Hits on the Mainland US Coastline and for Individual States by Saffir/Simpson Category 1851-2015
The table, updated from Jarrell et al. (2001), shows the number of hurricanes affecting the United States and individual states, i.e., direct hits. The table
shows that on the average, close to seven hurricanes every four years (~1.75 per year) strike the United States, while about three major hurricanes cross
the US coast every five years (0.60 per year).
Categories
State 1 2 3 4 5 All Major
Alabama 12 5 6 0 0 23 6
Connecticut 4 3 3 0 0 10 3
Delaware 2 0 0 0 0 2 0
Florida 44 33 29 6 2 114 37
Georgia 12 5 2 1 0 20 3
Louisiana 19 15 15 4 1 54 20
Maine 5 1 0 0 0 6 0
Maryland 1 1 0 0 0 2 0
Massachusetts 5 2 3 0 0 10 3
Mississippi 2 5 8 0 1 16 9
New Hampshire 1 1 0 0 0 2 0
New Jersey 2 0 0 0 0 2 0
New York 6 1 5 0 0 12 5
North Carloina 24 14 11 1 0 50 13
Pennslyvania 1 0 0 0 0 1 0
Rhode Island 3 2 4 0 0 9 4
South Carolina 19 6 4 2 0 31 6
Texas 25 19 12 7 0 63 19
Virginia 9 2 1 0 0 12 1
Total 196 115 103 21 4 439 129
Source: http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/E19.html
A. 10%
B. 25%
C. 30%
D. 70%
2. It takes a specific type of yeast cell approximately 12 minutes to go through the M phase of the cell cycle.
If Sarah wants to observe three full cell cycles of this yeast cell, which of the following best describes the timeframe she should consider when designing her investigation?
The cell cycle is an orderly sequence of events carried out through a series of
precisely timed and carefully regulated stages. In eukaryotes, organisms whose cells
have DNA housed within a nucleus, the cell cycle consists of a long preparatory
period called interphase followed by the mitotic phase (or M phase).
Interphase, the period of the cell cycle during which the cell is not dividing, has
three sub-phases: G1, S, and G2. G1 involves cell growth and protein synthesis,
the SS phase involves DNA replication and the replication of the centrosome,
and G2 involves further growth and protein synthesis. Many cells in a fully-
developed multicellular organism are typically in one of the three sub-phases of
interphase, as interphase is approximately 90%of the cell cycle.
After the three sub-phases of interphase, cells undergo mitosis – the division of the
cell nucleus into two new fully functional nuclei. Mitosis is usually accompanied by
cytokinesis, during which the cytoplasmic components of the daughter cells are
separated either by an actin ring (animal cells) or by cell plate formation (plant
cells). Cytokinesis divides the cytoplasm and cell body into two new daughter cells.
Checkpoints control the cell’s passage through the cell cycle. There are three major
checkpoints in the cell cycle: one near the end of G1, a second at
the G2 – M transition, and the third during mitosis.
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A. Sarah should plan for her full experiment to take approximately 12 minutes.
B. Sarah should plan for her full experiment to take approximately 36 minutes.
C. Sarah should plan for her full experiment to take approximately 120 minutes.
D. Sarah should plan for her full experiment to take approximately 360 minutes.
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3. It takes a certain eukaryotic cell approximately 10 hours to go through interphase of the cell cycle.
If Rashid wants to observe six full cell cycles of this cell, which of the following best describes the timeframe he should consider when designing his investigation?
The cell cycle is an orderly sequence of events carried out through a series of
precisely timed and carefully regulated stages. In eukaryotes, organisms whose cells
have DNA housed within a nucleus, the cell cycle consists of a long preparatory
period called interphase followed by the mitotic phase (or M phase).
Interphase, the period of the cell cycle during which the cell is not dividing, has
three sub-phases: G1, S, and G2. G1 involves cell growth and protein synthesis,
the SS phase involves DNA replication and the replication of the centrosome,
and G2 involves further growth and protein synthesis. Many cells in a fully-
developed multicellular organism are typically in one of the three sub-phases of
interphase, as interphase is approximately 90%of the cell cycle.
After the three sub-phases of interphase, cells undergo mitosis – the division of the
cell nucleus into two new fully functional nuclei. Mitosis is usually accompanied by
cytokinesis, during which the cytoplasmic components of the daughter cells are
separated either by an actin ring (animal cells) or by cell plate formation (plant
cells). Cytokinesis divides the cytoplasm and cell body into two new daughter cells.
Checkpoints control the cell’s passage through the cell cycle. There are three major
checkpoints in the cell cycle: one near the end of G1, a second at
the G2 – M transition, and the third during mitosis.
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A. Rashid should plan for his full experiment to take approximately 10 hours.
B. Rashid should plan for his full experiment to take approximately 60 hours.
C. Rashid should plan for his full experiment to take approximately 67 hours.
D. Rashid should plan for his full experiment to take approximately 600 hours.
When fertilization occurs between two true-breeding parents that differ in only one characteristic, the process is called a monohybrid cross, and the resulting offspring are monohybrids. Mendel performed
seven monohybrid crosses involving contrasting traits for each characteristic. On the basis of his results in F1 and F2 generations, Mendel postulated that each parent in the monohybrid cross contributed
one of two paired unit factors to each offspring, and every possible combination of unit factors was equally likely. To demonstrate a monohybrid cross, consider the case of true-breeding pea plants with
yellow versus green pea seeds. The dominant seed color is yellow; therefore, the parental genotypes were YY for the plants with yellow seeds and yy for the plants with green seeds, respectively.
A Punnett square, devised by the British geneticist Reginald Punnett, can be drawn that applies the rules of probability to predict the possible outcomes of a genetic cross or mating and their expected
frequencies. To prepare a Punnett square, all possible combinations of the parental alleles are listed along the top (for one parent) and side (for the other parent) of a grid, representing their meiotic
segregation into haploid gametes. Then the combinations of egg and sperm are made in the boxes in the table to show which alleles are combining. Each box then represents the diploid genotype of a
zygote, or fertilized egg, that could result from this mating.
Because each possibility is equally likely, genotypic ratios can be determined from a Punnett square. If the pattern of inheritance (dominant or recessive) is known, the phenotypic ratios can be inferred as
well. For a monohybrid cross of two true-breeding parents, each parent contributes one type of allele. In this case, only one genotype is possible. All offspring are Yy and have yellow seeds.
Source: cnx.org
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D. to predict the possible outcomes of a genetic cross and their expected frequencies
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5. What relationship exists between temperature and heat based on the data collected during this experiment?
Unknown Heating Curve
6. A chemistry class is balancing chemical equations. Three students balance the equation:
____ P4+ ____ O2→ ____P2O5. They all obtain different results.
Who is correct?
7. Which of the following conclusions about coral reefs is supported by the passage?
How Can Coral Reefs Be Protected?
NOAA’s coral reef conservation efforts are carried out primarily through its Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP). Under this program, NOAA works with scientific, private, government, and
nongovernmental organizations to achieve the goals of the United States’ Coral Reef Task Force (CRTF).
Using high-resolution satellite imagery and Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) technology, NOAA has made detailed digital maps of reefs in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the eight main
Hawaiian Islands and the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Satellite technology is also used to detect harmful algal blooms that can smother reefs and to monitor elevated sea surface temperatures,
which can cause coral bleaching.
NOAA also monitors reefs using the Coral Reef Early Warning System (CREWS). This system consists of buoys deployed at reef sites that measure air temperature, wind speed and direction,
barometric pressure, sea temperature, salinity, and tide levels. Every hour, these data are transmitted to scientists to help them understand conditions that may cause bleaching of coral reefs. In
addition to the monitoring work conducted by satellites and buoys, NOAA conducts research, assessment, and restoration projects of coral reefs in marine reserves and among deep-sea coral banks.
NOAA is also working to remove tons of marine debris from the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and restore damaged reefs.
Monitoring, research, and restoration all are essential to safeguard coral reefs. However, to ultimately protect coral reefs, legal mechanisms may be necessary. One legal mechanism involves the
establishment of marine protected areas (MPAs). Because MPAs have the added force of law behind them, a protected marine enclosure—such as a coral reef system—may stand a better chance of
survival.
Source: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/tutorial_corals/coral11_protecting.html
A. Coral reefs are hardy structures that can survive extreme marine conditions.
B. Coral reefs can only be saved through legal mechanisms such as marine protected areas (MPAs).
D. Coral reefs must undergo periodic bleaching in order to reproduce and expand.
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8. Which of the following statements best describes why many crossbreed hybrids are infertile or sterile?
Savannah Cats
Adaptive breeding, also known as selective breeding, is when humans purposefully breed animals to produce a desired trait or quality. Adaptive breeding is often seen in the exotic pet industry, where
animals with specific traits or qualities can be very valuable.
One such selective breed is the Savannah cat. The Savannah cat is a crossbreed hybrid animal because it is produced by crossing a domestic cat and a serval, a medium-sized, large-eared wild
African cat much like a leopard. The unusual cross became popular among breeders at the end of the 1990s, and in 2001 The International Cat Association (TICA) accepted it as a new registered
breed. In May 2012, TICA accepted it as a championship breed.
Savannah cats are produced by crossbreeding servals and domestic cats, and each generation of Savannahs is designated with a filial number. For example, the cats produced directly from a
serval/domestic cat cross are the first filial generation (F1), and they are 50% serval.
F1 generation Savannahs are very difficult to produce, due to the significant differences in gestation periods and chromosome numbers between the serval and a domestic cat. Pregnancies are often
absorbed or aborted, or kittens are born prematurely. Also, servals can be very picky in choosing mates, and often will not mate with a domestic cat.
Once an F1 generation Savannah cat is produced, it is then backcrossed to another serval, which produces a Savannah cat that is even more than 50% serval (F2). This is also a difficult process
because of differences in gestation periods and chromosome numbers between the two species. Because of this, like many other animal hybrids, many of the offspring are infertile.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savannah_cat
A. Hybrid animals often cannot reproduce because they are too small.
B. Hybrid animals often cannot reproduce because they do not have the sexual organs necessary for reproduction.
C. Hybrid animals often cannot reproduce because they do not have a desire to reproduce.
D. Hybrid animals often cannot reproduce because the difference in chromosome counts between the two species disrupts meiosis.
9. Which of the following states had the highest melanoma incidence rate in 2014?
Melanoma Death Rates
Source: https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/statistics/state.htm
A. Florida (FL)
B. Idaho (ID
C. Illinois (IL)
D. Mississippi (MS)
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10. Which of the following could be considered a dependent variable in this experiment?
Three scientists investigated the effects of various temperatures on the above-ground activity of ants. They first monitored activity and identified the ants' temperature tolerance in the laboratory by
determining the minimum and maximum temperatures at which the ants were at all active (10∘C and 50∘C, respectively). They used special tracking equipment to determine the average walking
speed of the ants, which was considered to determine the “normal activity level.” Other factors, such as humidity, light, and terrain, were kept constant. The results of the scientists’ investigation are
summarized in the table below:
An experiment was being conducted to determine the density of an object. A glass marble weighing 40 g was dropped into a beaker that contained water filled up to the 150 mL line. After it was
dropped into the beaker, the water level rose to the 170 mL line. Use the amount of water displaced to determine the volume of the glass marble.
𝑚
d=
𝑉
where the mass, m, is measured in grams, and the volume, V, is measured in milliliters.
𝑔
A. 0.5
𝑚𝐿
𝑔
B. 2.0
𝑚𝐿
𝑔
C. 4.0
𝑚𝐿
𝑔
D. 20.0
𝑚𝐿
12. Is there a point during the trip during which the Jacobson’s instantaneous speed is equal to their average?
Instantaneous speed differs from average speed in that instantaneous speed is the speed an object is traveling at any one instant in time, whereas average speed is the speed averaged over an
interval of time, represented by the following formulas:
𝛥𝑑 𝑑2−𝑑1
average speed= =
𝛥𝑡 𝑡2−𝑡1
or
𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑑
average speed=
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑑
The graph represents the distance driven by the Jacobson family during the first day of their summer road trip.
A. No. It is not possible for instantaneous speed to ever be equal to average speed
B. No. While it is possible for instantaneous speed to be equal to average speed, this does not occur for the Jacobson family during this trip.
C. Yes. The Jacobson family’s instantaneous speed is equal to their average speed the entire trip.
D. Yes. There is at least one time interval where the Jacobson family’s instantaneous speed is equal to their average speed.
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13. If the trends observed in the table are consistent, what is the approximate probability that the next hurricane to hit the mainland United States will be a major hurricane?
Hurricane Direct Hits on the Mainland US Coastline and for Individual States by Saffir/Simpson Category 1851-2015
The table, updated from Jarrell et al. (2001), shows the number of hurricanes affecting the United States and individual states, i.e., direct hits. The table
shows that on the average, close to seven hurricanes every four years (~1.75 per year) strike the United States, while about three major hurricanes cross
the US coast every five years (0.60 per year).
Categories
State 1 2 3 4 5 All Major
Alabama 12 5 6 0 0 23 6
Connecticut 4 3 3 0 0 10 3
Delaware 2 0 0 0 0 2 0
Florida 44 33 29 6 2 114 37
Georgia 12 5 2 1 0 20 3
Louisiana 19 15 15 4 1 54 20
Maine 5 1 0 0 0 6 0
Maryland 1 1 0 0 0 2 0
Massachusetts 5 2 3 0 0 10 3
Mississippi 2 5 8 0 1 16 9
New Hampshire 1 1 0 0 0 2 0
New Jersey 2 0 0 0 0 2 0
New York 6 1 5 0 0 12 5
North Carloina 24 14 11 1 0 50 13
Pennslyvania 1 0 0 0 0 1 0
Rhode Island 3 2 4 0 0 9 4
South Carolina 19 6 4 2 0 31 6
Texas 25 19 12 7 0 63 19
Virginia 9 2 1 0 0 12 1
Total 196 115 103 21 4 439 129
Source: http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/E19.html
A. 23.5%
B. 29.4%
C. 70.6%
D. 79.8%
14. An additional experiment is being conducted to investigate the rates of male and female hatchlings at a higher incubation temperature of 22∘C.
Develop a hypothesis about how this higher incubation temperature will affect gender distribution in hatchlings by choosing the phrase that best completes the statement:
Temperature-dependent sex determination is a type of environmental sex determination in which the temperatures experienced during embryonic/larval development determine the gender of the
offspring. It is only observed in reptiles and teleost fish. The thermosensitive, or temperature-sensitive, period is the period during development when sex is irreversibly determined. The TSP typically
spans the middle third of incubation with the endpoints defined by embryonic stage.
A tuatara is a lizard-like reptile endemic to New Zealand. The sex of a tuatara hatchling depends on the temperature of the egg. In an experiment, 25 tuatara eggs were incubated at each of four
different temperatures to examine how temperature affects gender determination in these reptiles. Data from the experiment are shown in the table below.
Number of Males 0 4 12 20
Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperature-dependent_sex_determination
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuatara
A group of researchers wanted to examine whether eating breakfast would result in higher exam scores for college students. 900 college students were given an exam at 10:00am during a geology
class. Each student who took the exam was asked to indicate whether they had eaten breakfast that morning before class. 654 students reported that they had eaten some kind of food that morning,
while 246 students reported that they had not had anything to eat that day. The graph shows the exam scores the students earned and whether or not they had eaten breakfast that morning.
16. Based on the passage, which of the following conclusions can be reached about the predator-prey relationship?
A food chain is simply "who eats what." A food web weaves together
many food chains to form a complicated network of feeding relationships
among different plants and animals. Many animals eat more than one
thing, and each link in each chain is important and integral to the entire
system.
Source: https://alaska.usgs.gov/science/biology/seabirds_foragefish/marinehabitat/index.php
17. What is the most likely reason that the marble reached a higher distance above ground in test #4 than in all of the other tests?
A marble is tied to a string and taped to the underside of a table so it can swing freely. The marble is pulled back
to Point A, 36 cm above the ground, and then released. On the first swing, the marble passes points B and C. It
continues to point D, at which point the marble pauses before starting to swing back towards its starting point.
Students measure and record the height of the marble at position D, where it pauses before swinging back. The
students repeat the test five times. Their data is shown in the table.
1 32 cm
2 31 cm
3 32 cm
4 35 cm
5 32 cm
A. The student who released the marble may have pushed the marble toward point D, rather than simply releasing it.
B. The student who released the marble may have released it from a height lower than 36 cm.
C. The student who released the marble may have released it too soon.
D. The student who released the marble may have waited too long to release the marble.
18. James hypothesizes that many different types of crust exist on the Earth’s surface.
The Earth is made up of four distinct and unique layers: crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core. The crust of the Earth is the outermost layer and is made of solid rock. The mantle is beneath the
crust and is made of very hot, dense rock. At 1800miles thick, the mantle of the earth is the largest of Earth’s four layers. Because it is so thick, it has a large variation in temperature. The outermost
portion of the mantle (the part that is closest to the crust) has a temperature of 500 to 900 degrees Celsius. The interior of the mantle (the part closest to the outer core) reaches more
than 4000 degrees Celsius. At this temperature, some of the rocks melt, creating a semi-molten rock called magma.
Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/Earth_poster.svg/350px-Earth_poster.svg.png
A. James could collect, analyze, and compare crust samples from the Earth to mantle samples taken from inside of the Earth.
B. James could collect, analyze, and compare crust samples from the ocean floor to samples taken from land areas across the Earth.
C. James could collect and analyze crust samples from the Earth and compare them to crust samples collected from the moon.
D. James could collect and analyze crust samples from the ocean floor and compare them to crust samples collected from the moon.
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19. In which of the following countries would you expect to find the most earthquakes and volcanic activity?
Ring of Fire
The Ring of Fire is an area that surrounds much of the Pacific Ocean, where lithospheric plates are rubbing against and over one another in a process known as plate tectonics. Places where
lithospheric plates are moving toward one another (called convergent plate boundaries), can create volcanoes when material from the oceanic plate is subducted under the continental plate, melts
due to the increased temperature and pressure, and rises to the surface in the form of magma. Convergent plate boundaries can also create oceanic trenches, which are long depressions in the sea
floor. These trenches make up some of the deepest areas of the ocean, with the Marianas Trench being the deepest of all.
Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/52/Pacific_Ring_of_Fire.svg
A. Australia
B. Brazil
C. China
D. Mexico
20. Marci found a brown rabbit in her backyard. She knows that brown fur allele (B) is dominant over white fur allele (b) for this type of rabbit, but she does not know if the rabbit has two
dominant brown fur alleles or one dominant brown fur allele and one recessive white fur allele.
Which of the following best describes what Marci should do to identify the genotype of the rabbit she found?
Mendelian Genetics
Every living organism carries genetic instructions that affect its physical characteristics. For example, the genetic instructions of a dog differ from the genetic instructions of a cat. The genetic
instructions are carried on genes in each organism’s DNA, which is passed from parent to offspring during reproduction. The particular set of genes that an organism carries is referred to as the
organism’s genotype. The outward expression of the organism’s genotype is called the phenotype.
In basic Mendelian genetics, an organism’s genotype and phenotype for specific traits depend on the two alleles received from its parents. Alleles are different forms of a particular gene. Recall that
for each gene, a diploid organism will receive one allele from each parent for a total of two copies of the gene. If one or both of the received alleles are dominant, the phenotype will show that
dominant trait. Only when both alleles are recessive will the phenotype show the recessive trait.
For example, when crossing true-breeding violet-flowered pea plants with true-breeding white-flowered pea plants, all of the offspring were violet-flowered, even though they all had one allele for violet
and one allele for white. Rather than both alleles contributing to a phenotype, the dominant allele was expressed exclusively. The recessive allele was transmitted but remained unexpressed. The
recessive trait is only expressed by offspring that have two copies of the recessive allele, and these offspring breed true when self-crossed.
Correspondence Between Genotype and Phenotype for Flower Color in Pea Plants
genotype VV Vv vv
Source: https://openoregon.pressbooks.pub/mhccbiology102/chapter/12-3-phenotypes-and-genotypes/
A. She should cross the rabbit she found with a rabbit of genotype bb.
B. She should cross the rabbit she found with a rabbit of genotype Bb
C. She should cross the rabbit she found with a rabbit of genotype BB
D. She should cross the rabbit she found with her black pet rabbit.
10 | P a g e f r e e f o r a l l
Homeostasis refers to an organism’s ability to maintain a nearly constant internal environment within a narrow range that supports life. Examples of homeostasis in humans and other mammals
include regulation of: body temperature, blood pH, and concentration of glucose in the blood. These homeostatic mechanisms actively maintain a stable internal environment, even when changes
occur in the organism’s external environment.
One example of homeostasis in humans involves regulation of the blood glucose concentration, also known as blood sugar. After a meal, glucose levels in the blood may rise above the normal set
point of about 90 milligrams per 100 milliliters of blood plasma. Beta cells within the pancreas detect the rise in blood glucose and respond by secreting insulin into the bloodstream. The insulin acts as
a signal to certain cells to increase uptake of glucose. The increased uptake of glucose from the blood lowers the blood glucose level back to the normal set point. The glucose that has been taken up
by cells will be used for energy or converted to glycogen, a storage polysaccharide.
If the level of blood glucose drops too low, such as between meals, pancreatic alpha cells are stimulated to secrete glucagon into the blood. Glucagon is a hormone that signals cells in the liver to
convert glycogen to glucose. Glucose is then released back into the bloodstream to return the blood glucose level to the normal set point.
A. A person whose alpha cells do not function would be unable to produce glycogen.
B. A person whose alpha cells do not function would be unable to produce insulin.
C. A person whose beta cells do not function would be expected to have a higher-than-normal blood glucose level.
D. A person whose beta cells do not function would be expected to have a higher-than-normal glycogen level.
22. Which of the following could be considered an independent variable in this experiment?
Three scientists investigated the effects of various temperatures on the above-ground activity of ants. They first monitored activity and identified the ants' temperature tolerance in the laboratory by
determining the minimum and maximum temperatures at which the ants were at all active (10∘C and 50∘C, respectively). They used special tracking equipment to determine the average walking
speed of the ants, which was considered to determine the “normal activity level.” Other factors, such as humidity, light, and terrain, were kept constant. The results of the scientists’ investigation are
summarized in the table below:
23. If Hawa wants to observe nine full cell cycles of this cell, which of the following best describes the timeframe she should consider when designing her investigation?
The cell cycle is an orderly sequence of events carried out through a series of
precisely timed and carefully regulated stages. In eukaryotes, organisms whose cells
have DNA housed within a nucleus, the cell cycle consists of a long preparatory
period called interphase followed by the mitotic phase (or M phase).
Interphase, the period of the cell cycle during which the cell is not dividing, has
three sub-phases: G1, S, and G2. G1 involves cell growth and protein synthesis,
the SS phase involves DNA replication and the replication of the centrosome,
and G2G2 involves further growth and protein synthesis. Many cells in a fully-
developed multicellular organism are typically in one of the three sub-phases of
interphase, as interphase is approximately 90% of the cell cycle.
After the three sub-phases of interphase, cells undergo mitosis – the division of the
cell nucleus into two new fully functional nuclei. Mitosis is usually accompanied by
cytokinesis, during which the cytoplasmic components of the daughter cells are
separated either by an actin ring (animal cells) or by cell plate formation (plant
cells). Cytokinesis divides the cytoplasm and cell body into two new daughter cells.
Checkpoints control the cell’s passage through the cell cycle. There are three major
checkpoints in the cell cycle: one near the end of G1, a second at
the G2 – M transition, and the third during mitosis.
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A. Hawa should plan for her full experiment to take approximately 7 hours.
B. Hawa should plan for her full experiment to take approximately 63hours.
C. Hawa should plan for her full experiment to take approximately 70 hours.
D. Hawa should plan for her full experiment to take approximately 79hours.
24. Based on the passage, which of the following is the most likely explanation for why mercury exposure from seafood can pose such a serious threat to humans?
Mercury is a highly toxic element that is found both naturally and as an introduced contaminant in the environment. Although its potential for toxicity in highly contaminated areas such as Minamata
Bay, Japan, in the 1950's and 1960's, is well documented, research has shown that mercury can be a threat to the health of people and wildlife in many environments that are not obviously polluted.
The risk is determined by the likelihood of exposure, the form of mercury present (some forms are more toxic than others), and the geochemical and ecological factors that influence how mercury
moves and changes form in the environment.
The toxic effects of mercury depend on its chemical form and the route of exposure. Methylmercury [CH3Hg] is the most toxic form. It affects the immune system, alters genetic and enzyme systems,
and damages the nervous system, including coordination and the senses of touch, taste, and sight. Methylmercury is particularly damaging to developing embryos, which are five to ten times more
sensitive than adults. Exposure to methylmercury is usually by ingestion, and it is absorbed more readily and excreted more slowly than other forms of mercury.
People are exposed to methylmercury almost entirely by eating contaminated fish and wildlife that are at the top of aquatic food chains. The National Research Council, in its 2000 report on the
toxicological effects of methylmercury, pointed out that the population at highest risk is the offspring of women who consume large amounts of fish and seafood. The report went on to estimate that
more than 60,000 children are born each year at risk for adverse neurodevelopmental effects due to in utero exposure to methylmercury. In its 1997 Mercury Study Report to Congress, the US
Environmental Protection Agency concluded that mercury also may pose a risk to some adults and wildlife populations that consume large amounts of fish that is contaminated by mercury.
In several areas of the United States, concentrations of mercury in fish and wildlife are high enough to be a risk to wildlife. It is difficult to prove cause and effect in field studies, however, because
other factors that may contribute to the biological effect under study (for example, reproductive success) are often impossible to control. Scientists have discovered toxic effects in the field at
concentrations of mercury that are toxic in the lab, and controlled lab studies have found toxic effects at concentrations that are common in certain environments. In studies in Wisconsin, reductions in
loon chick production has been found in lakes where mercury concentrations in eggs exceed concentrations that are toxic in laboratory studies. At dietary mercury concentrations that are typical of
parts of the Everglades, the behavior of juvenile great egrets can be affected. Studies with mallards, great egrets, and other aquatic birds have shown that protective enzymes are less effective
following exposure to mercury. Analyses of such biochemical indicators indicate that mercury is adversely affecting diving ducks from the San Francisco Bay, herons and egrets from the Carson
River, Nevada, and heron embryos from colonies along the Mississippi River. Finally, other contaminants also affect the toxicity of mercury. Methylmercury can be more harmful to bird embryos when
selenium, another potentially toxic element, is present in the diet.
The exact mechanisms by which mercury enters the food chain remain largely unknown and may vary among ecosystems. Certain bacteria play an important early role. Bacteria that process sulfate
(SO4) in the environment take up mercury in its inorganic form and convert it to methylmercury through metabolic processes. The conversion of inorganic mercury to methylmercury is important
because its toxicity is greater and because organisms require considerably longer to eliminate methylmercury. These methylmercury-containing bacteria may be consumed by the next higher level in
the food chain, or the bacteria may excrete the methylmercury to the water where it can quickly adsorb to plankton, which are also consumed by the next level in the food chain. Because animals
accumulate methylmercury faster than they eliminate it, animals consume higher concentrations of mercury at each successive level of the food chain. Small environmental concentrations of
methylmercury can thus readily accumulate to potentially harmful concentrations in fish, fish-eating wildlife and people. Even at very low atmospheric deposition rates in locations remote from point
sources, mercury biomagnification can result in toxic effects in consumers at the top of these aquatic food chains.
Source: https://www2.usgs.gov/themes/factsheet/146-00/
A. Because mercury takes a long time to be eliminated from the body, it accumulates at increasingly higher concentrations at higher levels in the food chain; some of the seafood that humans
consume contains dangerously high concentrations of mercury.
B. Most seafood contains a specific kind of bacteria that converts mercury into the form that is most toxic for humans.
C. Aquatic organisms are the only organisms that store mercury; therefore, seafood is the only food source that could potentially expose humans to its toxic effects.
D. None of these explanations is correct; seafood poses no greater threat of mercury exposure than any other plant or animal.
12 | P a g e f r e e f o r a l l
Throughout this chapter, we’ll be talking about the role of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in controlling the climate, so it’s important to understand what greenhouse gases are and how they work. As you
know, the dominant gases of the atmosphere are nitrogen (as N2) and oxygen (as O2). These gas molecules have only two atoms each and are not GHGs. Some of the other important gases of the
atmosphere are water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), and methane (CH4). All of these have more than two atoms, and they are GHGs.
All molecules vibrate at various frequencies and in various ways, and some of those vibrations take place at frequencies within the range of the infrared (IR) radiation that is emitted by Earth’s surface.
Gases with two atoms, such as O2, can only vibrate by stretching (back and forth), and those vibrations are much faster than the IR radiation. Gases with three or more atoms (such as CO2) vibrate
by stretching as well, but they can also vibrate in other ways, such as by bending. Those vibrations are slower and match IR radiation frequencies.
When IR radiation interacts with CO2 or with one of the other GHGs, the molecular vibrations are enhanced because there is a match between the wavelength of the light and the vibrational frequency
of the molecule. This makes the molecule vibrate more vigorously, heating the surrounding air in the process. These molecules also emit IR radiation in all directions, some of which reaches Earth’s
surface and causes the greenhouse effect.
Source: https://opentextbc.ca/geology/chapter/19-1-what-makes-the-climate-change/
Source: https://opentextbc.ca/geology/wp-content/uploads/sites/110/2016/07/co2-vibrations-2-163x300.png
A. gases exert control over the climate by fluctuating air temperature at random
B. gases interact with IR radiation and produce heat, energy, and more radiation
C. IR radiation from the sun bounces off of GHGs in the atmosphere, never reaching the Earth
D. gases in the atmosphere stretching and bending
26. A scientist found a cell and is unsure if it is a neuron or a neuroglia. In his investigation, Which of the following best describes what the scientist should look for to determine the type of
cell?
Although the nervous system is very complex, there are only two main types of cells in nerve tissue. The actual nerve cell is the neuron. It is the "conducting" cell that transmits impulses and the
structural unit of the nervous system. The other type of cell is the neuroglia, or glial, cell. The word "neuroglia" means "nerve glue." These cells are nonconductive and provide a support system for the
neurons. They are a special type of "connective tissue" for the nervous system.
Neurons, or nerve cells, carry out the functions of the nervous system by conducting nerve impulses. They are highly specialized and amitotic. This means that if a neuron is destroyed, it cannot be
replaced because neurons do not go through mitosis. The image shown here illustrates the structure of a typical neuron.
In many ways, the cell body is similar to other types of cells. It has a nucleus with at least one nucleolus and contains many of the typical cytoplasmic organelles. It lacks centrioles, however. Because
centrioles function in cell division, the fact that neurons lack these organelles is consistent with the amitotic nature of the cell.
Neuroglia cells do not conduct nerve impulses, but instead, they support, nourish, and protect the neurons. They are far more numerous than neurons and, unlike neurons, are capable of mitosis.
Each neuron has three basic parts: cell body (soma), one or more dendrites, and a single axon.
Source: https://training.seer.cancer.gov/anatomy/nervous/tissue.html
A. He should look for evidence of a nucleus within the cell to determine if it is a neuron or a neuroglia.
B. He should look for evidence of cell damage to determine if it is a neuron or a neuroglia.
C. He should look for evidence of meiosis within the cell to determine if it is a neuron or a neuroglia.
D. He should look for evidence of mitosis within the cell to determine if it is a neuron or a neuroglia.
13 | P a g e f r e e f o r a l l
27. For his doctoral dissertation, Nigel is researching how various physical stimuli affect mitosis rates in human somatic cells.
Which of the following best describes what Nigel should consider when designing his experiment?
Although the nervous system is very complex, there are only two main types of cells in nerve tissue. The actual nerve cell is the neuron. It is the "conducting" cell that transmits impulses and the
structural unit of the nervous system. The other type of cell is the neuroglia, or glial, cell. The word "neuroglia" means "nerve glue." These cells are nonconductive and provide a support system for the
neurons. They are a special type of "connective tissue" for the nervous system.
Neurons, or nerve cells, carry out the functions of the nervous system by conducting nerve impulses. They are highly specialized and amitotic. This means that if a neuron is destroyed, it cannot be
replaced because neurons do not go through mitosis. The image shown here illustrates the structure of a typical neuron.
In many ways, the cell body is similar to other types of cells. It has a nucleus with at least one nucleolus and contains many of the typical cytoplasmic organelles. It lacks centrioles, however. Because
centrioles function in cell division, the fact that neurons lack these organelles is consistent with the amitotic nature of the cell.
Neuroglia cells do not conduct nerve impulses, but instead, they support, nourish, and protect the neurons. They are far more numerous than neurons and, unlike neurons, are capable of mitosis.
Each neuron has three basic parts: cell body (soma), one or more dendrites, and a single axon.
Source: https://training.seer.cancer.gov/anatomy/nervous/tissue.html
A. Nigel should consider using neuroglia in his study, because they undergo mitosis to become neurons.
B. Nigel should consider using neurons in his study, because they are the most adaptable cells in the human body.
C. Nigel should consider not using neuroglia in his study, as they do not undergo the process of mitosis.
D. Nigel should consider not using neurons in his study, as they do not undergo the process of mitosis.
28. Although wolf packs once roamed from the Arctic tundra to Mexico, loss of habitat and extermination programs led to their demise throughout most of the United States by early in the
1900s. In 1973, the US Fish and Wildlife Service listed the northern Rocky Mountain wolf (Canis lupus) as an endangered species and designated Greater Yellowstone as one of three recovery
areas. From 1995 to 1997, 41 wild wolves from Canada and northwest Montana were released in Yellowstone National Park.
Wolves consume a wide variety of prey, large and small. They efficiently hunt large prey that other predators cannot usually kill. In Yellowstone, 90% of their winter prey is elk; 10–15% of their
summer prey is deer. They also kill bison.
Source: https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/wolves.htm
Which is the best hypothesis regarding the likely effect of reintroducing wolves to the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem?
An ecological cascade effect is a series of secondary extinctions that is triggered by the primary extinction of a key species in an ecosystem. Secondary extinctions are likely to occur when the
threatened species are: dependent on a few specific food sources, mutualistic (dependent on the key species in some way), or forced to coexist with an invasive species that is introduced to the
ecosystem. Species introductions to a foreign ecosystem can often devastate entire communities, and even entire ecosystems. These exotic species monopolize the ecosystem's resources, and
since they have no natural predators to decrease their growth, they are able to increase indefinitely.
However, the principal cause of cascade effects is the loss of top predators as the key species. As a result of this loss, a dramatic increase (ecological release) of prey species occurs. The prey is
then able to overexploit its own food resources, until the population numbers decrease in abundance, which can lead to extinction. When the prey's food resources disappear, they starve and may go
extinct as well. If the prey species is herbivorous, then their initial release and exploitation of the plants may result in a loss of plant biodiversity in the area. If other organisms in the ecosystem also
depend upon these plants as food resources, then these species may go extinct as well. An example of the cascade effect caused by the loss of a top predator is apparent in tropical forests. When
hunters cause local extinctions of top predators, the predators' prey population numbers increase, causing an overexploitation of a food resource and a cascade effect of species loss.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cascade_effect_(ecology)
A. Reintroduction of wolves in Yellowstone will result in an increase in the deer population within the park.
B. Reintroduction of wolves in Yellowstone will result in an increase in the elk population within the park.
C. Reintroduction of wolves in Yellowstone will result in an increase in plant biodiversity within the park.
D. Reintroduction of wolves in Yellowstone will result in the extinction of bison within the park.
14 | P a g e f r e e f o r a l l
29. Carla has a hydrangea plant that produces pink flowers, but she would like to have blue flowers instead. She sampled the pH of the soil at the base of her plant, and found that the pH was
7.2. She decided to mix in a fertilizer containing ammonium sulfate to lower the pH of the soil. After several weeks, the plant began to bloom, but the blooms were still pink. She sampled the pH of
the soil once again, and found that the pH was now 6.9.
Which of the following describes what Carla could improve her chances of having blue blooms on her hydrangea plant?
I. Add less ammonium sulfate fertilizer to the soil beneath her hydrangea.
II. Add more ammonium sulfate fertilizer to the soil beneath her hydrangea.
III. Use a different fertilizer that would increase the pH of the soil beneath her hydrangea.
IV. Add a source of aluminum ions to the soil beneath her hydrangea.
In some species of hydrangea, flowers can be blue, red, pink, light purple, or dark purple. In the H. macrophylla and H. serrata cultivars, specifically, flower color is affected by the availability of
aluminum ions.
Aluminum ion availability is tied to soil acidity, or soil pH. An acidic soil (pH below 7) will have available aluminum ions. These ions can be absorbed by the plant, producing flowers that are blue and
purple. An alkaline soil (pH above 7), however, will tie up aluminum ions. Plants in alkaline soil are unable to absorb aluminum ions, resulting in pink and red flowers.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrangea#Colours_and_soil_acidity
A. I only
B. I and IV
C. II and IV
D. III only
30. Which of the following best describes the hypothesis being investigated by NASA scientist Antti Pulkkinen about cause of mass strandings of cetaceans?
A long-standing mystery among marine biologists is why otherwise healthy whales, dolphins, and porpoises — collectively known as cetaceans — end up getting stranded along coastal areas
worldwide. Could severe solar storms, which affect Earth’s magnetic fields, be confusing their internal compasses and causing them to lose their way?
Although some have suggested this and other theories, no one has previously initiated a thorough study to determine whether a relationship exists. NASA heliophysicist Antti Pulkkinen has teamed
with the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, or BOEM, and the International Fund for Animal Welfare, or IFAW, to determine whether a link exists.
Strandings occur around the world, involving as few as three to as many as several hundred animals per event. Although a global phenomenon, such strandings tend to happen more often in New
Zealand, Australia, and Cape Cod, Massachusetts, said Katie Moore, the director of IFAW’s global Animal Rescue Program. “These locations share some key characteristics, such as the geography,
gently sloping beaches, and fine-grained sediment, which we think all play some role in these events,” she said.
Another possibility is that these animals’ internal compasses are somehow skewed by humans’ use of multi-beam echo sounders and other sonar-type equipment used to map the seafloor or locate
potential fishing sites. “However, these human-made influences do not explain most of the strandings,” said Pulkkinen, an expert in space weather and its effect on Earth. “Theories as to the cause
include magnetic anomalies and meteorological events, such as extreme tides during a new moon and coastal storms, which are thought to disorient the animals. It has been speculated that due to
the possible magnetic-field sensing used by these animals to navigate, magnetic anomalies could be at least partially responsible.”
Indeed, magnetic anomalies caused when the sun’s corona ejects gigantic bubbles of charged particles out into the solar system can cause problems for Earth-orbiting satellites and power grids when
they slam into Earth’s protective magnetosphere. It’s possible they could affect animals, as well, Pulkkinen said.
“The type of data that Antti has accumulated, together with the extensive stranding data at our disposal, will allow us to undertake the first rigorous analysis to test possible links between cetacean
mass strandings and space-weather phenomena,” said Desray Reeb, a BOEM marine biologist. With funding from BOEM and NASA’s Science Innovation Fund, Pulkkinen and his collaborators are
carrying out a massive data-mining operation. The team will analyze NASA’s large space-weather databases, including field recordings and space observations, and stranding data gathered by
BOEM and IFAW.
“We estimate that records on the order of hundreds of cetacean mass strandings will be available for study, thus making our analyses statistically significant,” Pulkkinen said. “We therefore expect that
we will be able to reliably test the hypothesis…”
“The results of this study will be informative for researchers, stranding network organizers, resource agencies and regulatory agencies,” Reeb said. “If we understand the relationship between the two,
we may be able to use observations of solar storms as an early warning for potential strandings to occur,” added Moore. “This would allow stranding responders in global hotspots, and really around
the world, to be better prepared to respond, thus having the opportunity to save more animals.”
Source: https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2017/nasa-scientist-studies-whether-solar-storms-cause-animal-beachings
A. Mass strandings of cetaceans are caused by disruptions to the Earth’s magnetic field during severe solar storms.
B. Mass strandings of cetaceans are caused by extreme tides that occur during a new moon or coastal storm.
C. Mass strandings of cetaceans are caused by humans’ use of multi-beam echo sounders and other sonar-type equipment.
D. Mass strandings of cetaceans are more common in New Zealand, Australia, and Cape Cod, Massachusetts, due to the geography of the beaches in those locations.
31. Which of the following is most likely to be a consequence of changing atmospheric gases?
On Earth, human activities are changing the natural greenhouse. Over the last century the burning of fossil fuels like coal and oil has increased the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2)(CO2).
This happens because the coal or oil burning process combines carbon with oxygen in the air to make CO2CO2. To a lesser extent, the clearing of land for agriculture, industry, and other human activities
has increased concentrations of greenhouse gases.
The consequences of changing the natural atmospheric greenhouse are difficult to predict, but certain effects seem likely:
• On average, Earth will become warmer. Some regions may welcome warmer temperatures, but others may not.
• Warmer conditions will probably lead to more evaporation and precipitation overall, but individual regions will vary, some becoming wetter and others drier.
• A stronger greenhouse effect will warm the oceans and partially melt glaciers and other ice, increasing sea level. Ocean water also will expand if it warms, contributing further to sea level rise.
• Meanwhile, some crops and other plants may respond favorably to increased atmospheric CO2CO2, growing more vigorously and using water more efficiently. At the same time, higher
temperatures and shifting climate patterns may change the areas where crops grow best and affect the makeup of natural plant communities.
Source: https://climate.nasa.gov/causes/
A. decrease in El Niño
Foodborne illness occurs when a person develops an infection after consuming contaminated food. There are several factors that contribute to the symptoms and severity of food poisoning. People
with a weakened immune system, as well as the very old or very young, are most vulnerable to foodborne illness.
Foodborne illness is often caused by eating food contaminated with bacteria. E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria are three types of bacteria that commonly cause foodborne illness. While the American
food supply is among the safest in the world, the Federal government estimates that there are about 48 million cases of foodborne illness each year, or approximately 1 in every 6 Americans. Of these
48 million cases, approximately 128,000 people are hospitalized and 3,000 people die each year.
Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria normally live in the intestines of people and animals. Most E. coli are harmless and actually are an important part of a healthy human intestinal tract. However,
some E. coli are pathogenic, causing diarrhea or more serious conditions, such as anemia or kidney failure. The types of E. coli that cause illness can be transmitted through contaminated water or
food, or through contact with animals or people.
Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy people infected with Salmonella often
experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in more severe illnesses if the bacteria enter the patient’s bloodstream.
Listeria is a harmful bacterium that can be found in refrigerated, ready-to-eat foods like meat, poultry, seafood, and dairy. It may also be found in produce harvested from soil that is contaminated with
Listeria. Listeria is unusual because it can grow at refrigerator temperatures. Most other foodborne bacteria do not grow well at such low temperatures. But since Listeria can survive at low
temperatures, even foods that are properly refrigerated may contain harmful bacteria. People who eat foods contaminated with Listeria may develop listeriosis, an illness which causes symptoms such
as fever, headache and vomiting. For most people, listeriosis is not a serious illness. However, pregnant women and their unborn children are very susceptible to a more serious form of the illness.
Among pregnant women who develop listeriosis, 22% of their unborn children will not survive.
Source: https://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodborneIllnessContaminants/Bacteria/ucm20081848.htm
A. More than 100,000 Americans each year are hospitalized due to foodborne illnesses.
B. People with weakened immune systems have an increased risk of developing foodborne illness.
C. Proper heating of food helps to reduce the risk of foodborne illness.
D. Refrigeration of foods helps to reduce risk of foodborne illness.
33. Many people believe that consuming caffeine gives them more energy. Jaden wants to know if this is true, so she has set up an experiment to test whether caffeine will make a person run
faster.
Jaden asked ten friends to participate in her experiment. She asked everyone to drink only water and not eat any food the morning of the experiment. She had everyone meet at the park at 8:00 am.
She fed all ten people the same food for breakfast and gave five people 12 ounces of orange juice to drink, and the other five people 12 ounces of coffee with sugar to drink. After 30 minutes, she had
each person run 100 meters, and she recorded the time it took each person to complete the run.
Which of the following changes to her experimental design is the best way to improve the reliability of her data?
A. All ten participants should run the 100 meters before and after consuming caffeine, to compare the time it takes them to run with or without caffeine.
B. Jaden should have the participants run only 50 meters, rather than 100 meters.
C. Jaden should wait for a full hour after the participants eat breakfast, rather than only 30 minutes, before they begin to run.
D. The five participants who drink coffee should be given coffee with no added sugar, instead of coffee with sugar.
Source: http://cnx.org/contents/6d441cae-bb54-4555-b500-00b6f9a9dc00@1
To make two daughter cells, the contents of the nucleus and the cytoplasm must be divided. The mitotic phase is a multistep process during which the duplicated chromosomes are aligned,
separated, and moved to opposite poles of the cell, and then the cell is divided into two new identical daughter cells. The first portion of the mitotic phase, mitosis, is composed of five stages, which
accomplish nuclear division. The second portion of the mitotic phase, called cytokinesis, is the physical separation of the cytoplasmic components into two daughter cells.
Mitosis is divided into a series of phases—prophase, prometaphase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase—that result in the division of the cell nucleus.
During prophase, the “first phase,” several events must occur to provide access to the chromosomes in the nucleus. The nuclear envelope starts to break into small vesicles, and the Golgi apparatus
and endoplasmic reticulum fragment and disperse to the periphery of the cell. The nucleolus disappears. The centrosomes begin to move to opposite poles of the cell. The microtubules that form the
basis of the mitotic spindle extend between the centrosomes, pushing them farther apart as the microtubule fibers lengthen. The sister chromatids begin to coil more tightly and become visible under a
light microscope.
During prometaphase, many processes that were begun in prophase continue to advance and culminate in the formation of a connection between the chromosomes and cytoskeleton. The remnants
of the nuclear envelope disappear. The mitotic spindle continues to develop as more microtubules assemble and stretch across the length of the former nuclear area. Chromosomes become more
condensed and visually discrete. Each sister chromatid attaches to spindle microtubules at the centromere via a protein complex called the kinetochore.
During metaphase, all of the chromosomes are aligned in a plane called the metaphase plate, or the equatorial plane, midway between the two poles of the cell. The sister chromatids are still tightly
attached to each other. At this time, the chromosomes are maximally condensed.
During anaphase, the sister chromatids at the equatorial plane are split apart at the centromere. Each chromatid, now called a chromosome, is pulled rapidly toward the centrosome to which its
microtubule was attached. The cell becomes visibly elongated as the non-kinetochore microtubules slide against each other at the metaphase plate where they overlap.
During telophase, all of the events that set up the duplicated chromosomes for mitosis during the first three phases are reversed. The chromosomes reach the opposite poles and begin to
decondense (unravel). The mitotic spindles are broken down into monomers that will be used to assemble cytoskeleton components for each daughter cell. Nuclear envelopes form around
chromosomes.
Cytokinesis is the second part of the mitotic phase during which cell division is completed by the physical separation of the cytoplasmic components into two daughter cells. Although the stages of
mitosis are similar for most eukaryotes, the process of cytokinesis is quite different for eukaryotes that have cell walls, such as plant cells.
In cells such as animal cells that lack cell walls, cytokinesis begins following the onset of anaphase. A contractile ring composed of actin filaments forms just inside the plasma membrane at the former
metaphase plate. The actin filaments pull the equator of the cell inward, forming a fissure. This fissure, or “crack,” is called the cleavage furrow. The furrow deepens as the actin ring contracts, and
eventually the membrane and cell are cleaved in two
16 | P a g e f r e e f o r a l l
In plant cells, a cleavage furrow is not possible because of the rigid cell walls surrounding the plasma membrane. A new cell wall must form between the daughter cells. During interphase, the Golgi
apparatus accumulates enzymes, structural proteins, and glucose molecules prior to breaking up into vesicles and dispersing throughout the dividing cell. During telophase, these Golgi vesicles move
on microtubules to collect at the metaphase plate. There, the vesicles fuse from the center toward the cell walls; this structure is called a cell plate. As more vesicles fuse, the cell plate enlarges until it
merges with the cell wall at the periphery of the cell. Enzymes use the glucose that has accumulated between the membrane layers to build a new cell wall of cellulose. The Golgi membranes become
the plasma membrane on either side of the new cell wall.
35. The table lists some common acids and their corresponding pH values.
If one of the listed acids is chosen at random, what is the probability that it will be a weak acid?
The presence of hydrogen ions is what gives acids their acidic properties. If an acid has a very high concentration of hydrogen ions in solution, the acid is said to be a strong acid. The pH scale is
used to describe the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution. The following table shows the relationship between the strength of an acid and its pH value.
pH Range Description
7.0 neutral
A. 25%
B. 30%
C. 50%
D. 60%
36. The average pH level of these five samples is 7.28. Is using the average appropriate in this scenario?
It is summer time and the lifeguards at the local swimming pool want to make sure all the chemicals in the pool are appropriately balanced. To be considered safe, a pool should have a pH level
anywhere from 7.0 to 7.6.
The pool’s pH level is tested at five different times throughout the day. The results are shown in the table.
9:00 AM 6.8
11:30 AM 7.6
12:45 PM 7.8
2:20 PM 7.2
4:45 PM 7.0
A. No. The average is not an appropriate measure, because it does not show that some samples are outside of the “safe” range.
B. No. The average is not an appropriate measure, because none of the samples actually have a pH of 7.28.
C. Yes. The average is an appropriate measure, because it gives an overall picture of the pH on that day.
D. Yes. The average is an appropriate measure, because it shows that the water is safe the entire day.
17 | P a g e f r e e f o r a l l
37. Nurse Becky at Victoria Elementary School found lice on seven of the children she sampled. She looked at their class schedules and noticed that all seven of them were in Mr. Hank’s
morning mathematics class.
Lice Outbreak
Lice are tiny insects that live on humans and feed on their blood. As they feed on humans’ blood, they get larger but they harm the human on which they are living. This makes lice a parasite – it feeds
off of a host and ultimately harms the host in the process.
Lice cannot fly or jump, but they can spread easily from one person to another when personal items are shared. Lice are often found in schools, where many students work closely together and share
personal items.
A. Nurse Becky should automatically assume all the students in Mr. Hank’s morning mathematics class have lice and send them all home without checking.
B. Nurse Becky should check all the students in Mr. Hank’s morning mathematics class to determine if any of them have lice.
C. Nurse Becky should check every single first grade student, because she heard from a friend that first graders typically have lice more than any other grade level.
D. Nurse Becky should check every single student at the school to determine if any students have lice.
38. Of the approximate 4848 million people in the United States who contract a foodborne illness in any given year, what is the probability they will be hospitalized?
Foodborne illness is often caused by eating food contaminated with bacteria. E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria are three types of bacteria that commonly cause foodborne illness. While the American
food supply is among the safest in the world, the Federal government estimates that there are about 48 million cases of foodborne illness each year. This estimate is equal to about 1 in 6 Americans
becoming sick from consuming food contaminated with bacteria. This results in an estimated 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths each year.
Foodborne illness occurs when a person develops an infection after consuming contaminated food. There are several factors that contribute to the symptoms and severity of food poisoning. People
with a weakened immune system, as well as the very old or very young are most vulnerable to foodborne illness.
Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria normally live in the intestines of people and animals. Most E. coli are harmless and actually are an important part of a healthy human intestinal tract. However,
some E. coli are pathogenic, causing diarrhea or more serious conditions, such as anemia or kidney failure. The types of E. coli that cause illness can be transmitted through contaminated water or
food, or through contact with animals or people.
Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy people infected with Salmonella often
experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in more severe illnesses if the bacteria enter the patient’s bloodstream.
Listeria is a harmful bacterium that can be found in refrigerated, ready-to-eat foods like meat, poultry, seafood, and dairy. It may also be found in produce harvested from soil that is contaminated with
Listeria. Listeria is unusual because it can grow at refrigerator temperatures. Most other foodborne bacteria do not grow well at such low temperatures. But since Listeria can survive at low
temperatures, even foods that are properly refrigerated may contain harmful bacteria. People who eat foods contaminated with Listeria may develop listeriosis, an illness which causes symptoms such
as fever, headache, and vomiting. For most people, listeriosis is not a serious illness. However, pregnant women and their unborn children are very susceptible to a more serious form of the illness.
Among pregnant women who develop listeriosis, 22%22% of their unborn children will not survive.
Source: https://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodborneIllnessContaminants/Bacteria/ucm20081848.htm
A. 0.20%
B. 0.24%
C. 0.27%
D. 0.29%
39. If a celestial body is chosen at random from the table, what is the probability that an object located on that body would weigh less than that same object does on Earth?
Although the terms mass and weight are often used interchangeably, they are not the same. Mass is the measure of how much matter is present in an object. Weight takes into account the effect
that the force of gravity has on an object. The relationship between weight and mass is represented in the following equation:
w=mg
w is the weight of an object in newtons (1 N=1 kg⋅ms2), m is the mass of an object in grams, and 𝑔 is the gravitational force acting on the object in meters per second squared.
On Earth, g≈9.81ms2, but on other celestial bodies, this gravitational constant has different values.
The table provided shows the gravitational constants of Earth and other celestial bodies in our solar system.
Mercury 3.59𝑚𝑠 2
Venus 8.87𝑚𝑠 2
Earth 9.81𝑚𝑠 2
Mars 3.77𝑚𝑠 2
Jupiter 25.95𝑚𝑠 2
Sun 273.13𝑚𝑠 2
Moon 1.62𝑚𝑠 2
A. 27
B. 37
C. 47
D. 57
18 | P a g e f r e e f o r a l l
Transverse Waves
A. line A
B. line B
C. line C
D. line D