Benchmark Assessment #4: Animal/Plant Systems & Ecology

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  • 1/20 Questions

    Which path best illustrates one way energy travels through a forest ecosystem consisting of mouse, owl, plant, snake, and sun?

    • Sun -> plant -> owl -> snake -> mouse
    • Sun -> plant -> mouse -> snake -> owl
    • Plant -> sun-> snake -> owl -> mouse
    • Mouse -> owl -> snake -> plant -> sun
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About This Quiz

Benchmark Assessment #4 explores fundamental concepts in biology and ecology, assessing knowledge on plant and animal systems, cellular structures, ecosystem dynamics, population growth, and physiological processes in plants.

Ecology Quizzes & Trivia

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  • 2. 

    Which energy pyramid accurately represents the transfer of energy in a desert food chain including cactus, hawk, insect, and snake?

    Correct Answer
    A.
    Explanation
    The correct answer is Pyramid 1. This pyramid shows the cactus at the base, representing the primary producers. The hawk is shown in the second level, representing the primary consumers. The insect is shown in the third level, representing the secondary consumers. Finally, the snake is shown at the top level, representing the tertiary consumer. This arrangement accurately represents the flow of energy in a desert food chain, with energy being transferred from the producers to the consumers at each level.

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  • 3. 

    Based on their taxonomic classification, which 2 organisms share the most recent common ancestor?

    • Squid and octopus (same class)

    • Lobster and eel (same kingdom)

    • Chimpanzee and gorilla (same family)

    • Iguana and mouse (same phylum)

    Correct Answer
    A. Chimpanzee and gorilla (same family)
    Explanation
    Chimpanzees and gorillas share the same family, which means they are more closely related to each other compared to the other pairs of organisms listed. Taxonomic classification is based on evolutionary relationships, and organisms that share a more recent common ancestor are grouped together at higher taxonomic levels. In this case, the family level indicates a more recent common ancestor compared to the class, kingdom, and phylum levels, making chimpanzees and gorillas the most closely related organisms among the given options.

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  • 4. 

    Which figure represents bone tissue?

    Correct Answer
    A.
  • 5. 

    The presence of what cellular structure distinguishes a plant cell from an animal cell?

    • Cell membrane

    • Chloroplast

    • Mitochondrion

    • Nucleus

    Correct Answer
    A. Chloroplast
    Explanation
    Chloroplast is the correct answer because it is a unique cellular structure found only in plant cells. It is responsible for the process of photosynthesis, which allows plants to convert sunlight into energy. Animal cells do not possess chloroplasts, making it a distinguishing feature of plant cells. The presence of chloroplasts enables plants to produce their own food, while animal cells rely on external sources for nutrition.

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  • 6. 

    What level of organization best describes a group of living organisms and their abiotic environment?

    • Community

    • Ecosystem

    • Niche

    • Population

    Correct Answer
    A. Ecosystem
    Explanation
    An ecosystem is the level of organization that best describes a group of living organisms and their abiotic environment. An ecosystem includes all the living organisms (such as plants, animals, and microorganisms) in a particular area, as well as the non-living components (such as air, water, soil, and sunlight) that interact with them. It encompasses the relationships and interactions between the biotic and abiotic factors within a specific habitat. Therefore, ecosystem is the correct answer as it represents the complete system of organisms and their environment.

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  • 7. 

    When a new volcanic island forms, the pioneer species is the first species to successfully inhabit the island. Which organism is the most likely candidate for a pioneer species?

    • A seagull hatched from an egg laid on the island

    • A palm tree grown from a coconut that washed onto shore

    • Lichen deposited on rocks by the wind

    • Insect larvae carried on a piece of driftwood

    Correct Answer
    A. Lichen deposited on rocks by the wind
    Explanation
    Lichen is the most likely candidate for a pioneer species because it is a hardy organism that can survive in harsh environments with minimal nutrients. Lichen can grow on rocks and other surfaces, and it can obtain nutrients from the air and rainwater. It does not require soil to grow, making it well-suited for colonizing a newly formed volcanic island where soil may not be present yet. The wind can carry lichen spores and deposit them on rocks, allowing them to establish and begin the process of primary succession on the island.

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  • 8. 

    Louise places 1 bacterium in a Petri dish at time 0. The population increases exponentially, doubling every hour, and there are no limiting factors. How many bacteria will be in the Petri dish after 6 hrs?

    • 6

    • 16

    • 32

    • 64

    Correct Answer
    A. 64
    Explanation
    The population of bacteria doubles every hour, meaning that after 1 hour there will be 2 bacteria, after 2 hours there will be 4 bacteria, and so on. Therefore, after 6 hours, the population will have doubled 6 times, resulting in a total of 64 bacteria in the Petri dish.

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  • 9. 

    In what kingdom would scientists classify a multicellular, nonmotile, autotrophic organism?

    • Animalia

    • Fungi

    • Plantae

    • Protista

    Correct Answer
    A. Plantae
    Explanation
    Scientists would classify a multicellular, nonmotile, autotrophic organism in the kingdom Plantae. This is because the characteristics mentioned - multicellular, nonmotile, and autotrophic - are all typical of plants. Plants are multicellular organisms that cannot move and are capable of producing their own food through photosynthesis. Therefore, the correct answer is Plantae.

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  • 10. 

    What is the correct sequence of events during photosynthesis?

    • Light absorption, photolysis, electron transport chain, Calvin cycle, chemiosmosis

    • Photolysis, light absorption, chemiosmosis, Calvin cycle, electron transport chain

    • Chemiosmosis, light absorption, electron transport chain, Calvin cycle, photolysis

    • Light absorption, electron transport chain, photolysis, chemiosmosis, Calvin cycle

    Correct Answer
    A. Light absorption, electron transport chain, photolysis, chemiosmosis, Calvin cycle
    Explanation
    During photosynthesis, the correct sequence of events is as follows: light absorption, electron transport chain, photolysis, chemiosmosis, and Calvin cycle. Light absorption is the first step, where light energy is absorbed by chlorophyll in the chloroplasts. This energy is then used in the electron transport chain, where electrons are passed along a series of molecules, creating a proton gradient. Photolysis is the process of splitting water molecules to release electrons, protons, and oxygen. Chemiosmosis uses the proton gradient to generate ATP, the energy currency of the cell. Finally, the Calvin cycle uses ATP and electrons to convert carbon dioxide into glucose, the final product of photosynthesis.

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  • 11. 

    These animals are all placed in the vertebrate class Amphibia and the order Anura. - wood frog, Rana sylvatica - bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana - western toad, Bufo boreas - spadefoot toad, Scaphiopus hammondi What is the most likely conclusion about the evolutionary relationship between or among these organisms?

    • The wood frog and bullfrog are better jumpers than the western toad and the spadefoot toad.

    • The wood frog and bullfrog share a more recent common ancestor than do the western toad and the spadefoot toad.

    • The western toad and the spadefoot toad share a more recent common ancestor than do the wood frog and the bullfrog.

    • The western toad and the spadefoot toad both evolved in western North America, while the wood frog and the bullfrog evolved in the tropics.

    Correct Answer
    A. The wood frog and bullfrog share a more recent common ancestor than do the western toad and the spadefoot toad.
    Explanation
    The most likely conclusion about the evolutionary relationship between these organisms is that the wood frog and bullfrog share a more recent common ancestor than the western toad and the spadefoot toad. This can be inferred from the fact that they are all placed in the same vertebrate class and order, indicating a closer evolutionary relationship between the wood frog and bullfrog.

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  • 12. 

    An oxpecker is a bird that usually feeds on parasites on a rhinoceros’s back. It occasionally picks scabs off the rhinoceros’s back and drinks blood from the wounds. Describe the relationship(s) between the oxpecker and the rhinoceros.

    • Mutualism only

    • Mutualism and predation

    • Mutualism and parasitism

    • Mutualism and commensalism

    Correct Answer
    A. Mutualism and parasitism
    Explanation
    The relationship between the oxpecker and the rhinoceros is mutualism because the oxpecker benefits by feeding on parasites on the rhinoceros's back, while the rhinoceros benefits from having the parasites removed. However, it is also parasitism because the oxpecker occasionally picks scabs off the rhinoceros's back and drinks blood from the wounds, which harms the rhinoceros.

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  • 13. 

    Which statement best describes a population at, or near, its carrying capacity?

    • The birth and death rates of the population are approximately the same.

    • The birthrate of the population is declining significantly.

    • The overall population is increasing exponentially.

    • The overall population is increasing logistically.

    Correct Answer
    A. The birth and death rates of the population are approximately the same.
    Explanation
    A population at or near its carrying capacity means that the environment has reached its maximum sustainable population size. In this scenario, the birth and death rates of the population are approximately the same. This balance between births and deaths helps to maintain the population at a stable level, as new individuals are born to replace those that die. This equilibrium is necessary to prevent overpopulation and resource depletion, ensuring the long-term survival of the population.

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  • 14. 

    Adam visits Redwood National Park and learns that redwook trees grow to heights of more than 100m. How do trees get water and nutrients from the soil to their tops?

    • Transpiration from the leaves pulls water upward.

    • Gravity continually pulls water and nutrients upward.

    • Xylem contract and push water and nutrients upward.

    • Trees use energy from ATP to push water and nutrients upward.

    Correct Answer
    A. Transpiration from the leaves pulls water upward.
    Explanation
    Transpiration is the process by which water evaporates from the leaves of a plant, creating a suction force that pulls water and nutrients upward through the xylem, which are specialized tissues in the plant. This process is driven by the cohesion and adhesion of water molecules, allowing them to form a continuous column from the roots to the leaves. As water evaporates from the leaves, it creates a negative pressure that draws water from the roots, up the stem, and to the top of the tree. Therefore, the correct answer is that transpiration from the leaves pulls water upward.

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  • 15. 

    Zooxanthellae are protists that live inside reef-building coral polyps and provide the corals nutrients. Corals protect Zooxanthellae and give them access to light for photosynthesis. When most of the Zooxanthellae inside corals die, the corals also die. Zooxanthellae living in closely related coral species may not be closely related, while Zooxanthellae living in distantly related corals may be more closely related. Which description of the relationship between Zooxanthellae and corals is accurate?

    • It is a chance relationship that occurs frequently only if both types of organisms exist close together.

    • It is a chance relationship that occurs frequently because Zooxanthellae are common on coral reefs.

    • It is a symbiotic relationship that most likely evolved on coral reefs in 1 geographic location.

    • It is a symbiotic relationship that most likely evolved on coral reefs in a number of geographic locations.

    Correct Answer
    A. It is a symbiotic relationship that most likely evolved on coral reefs in a number of geographic locations.
    Explanation
    The explanation for the correct answer is that the symbiotic relationship between Zooxanthellae and corals most likely evolved in multiple geographic locations on coral reefs. This is because corals in different locations can have different species of Zooxanthellae living inside them, and these species may not be closely related. Therefore, it is more likely that the relationship between Zooxanthellae and corals developed independently in different geographic locations rather than being a chance occurrence or limited to a single location.

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  • 16. 

    An entomologist identified a new species of beetle in a South American rain forest. The beetle has all the features of the darkling beetle family Tenebrionidae and closely resembles other darkling beetles of the genus Tenebrio. What should the entomologist do next?

    • Give the beetle new genus and family names.

    • Give the beetle a new species name not used in the genus Tenebrio.

    • Name the beetle after the species it is most similar to.

    • Discard the beetle because it is not found in existing taxonomy.

    Correct Answer
    A. Give the beetle a new species name not used in the genus Tenebrio.
    Explanation
    The entomologist should give the beetle a new species name not used in the genus Tenebrio because the beetle has all the features of the darkling beetle family Tenebrionidae and closely resembles other darkling beetles of the genus Tenebrio. By giving it a new species name, it distinguishes it from other species within the same genus and allows for proper classification and identification within the existing taxonomy.

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  • 17. 

    Alec studied an unknown microscopic organism and recorded this information: - It contains DNA. - It has a cell wall, but no nucleus. What is Alec most likely studying?

    • Bacterium

    • Fungus

    • Protist

    • Virus

    Correct Answer
    A. Bacterium
    Explanation
    Based on the information provided, Alec is most likely studying a bacterium. Bacteria are microscopic organisms that have DNA and a cell wall, but no nucleus. Fungi, protists, and viruses do not fit the description given by Alec.

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  • 18. 

    Renaldo grew algae in the presence of a poison that stops the light-independent reactions of photosynthesis. As a result, which molecules will the light-dependent reactions stop producing?

    • ADP and NADP+

    • ADP and NADPH

    • ATP and NADP+

    • ATP and NADPH

    Correct Answer
    A. ATP and NADPH
    Explanation
    When the light-independent reactions of photosynthesis are stopped, the light-dependent reactions will also be affected. The light-dependent reactions produce ATP and NADPH, which are used as energy and reducing power, respectively, in the light-independent reactions. Therefore, if the light-independent reactions are stopped, the light-dependent reactions will no longer produce ATP and NADPH.

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  • 19. 

    Approximately 10% of the energy absorbed by one trophic level is transferred to the next successive level. The same number of calories are available at the primary producer level of each of these food chains. Food Chain 1:   phytoplankton --> zooplankton --> smelt --> trout --> humans Food Chain 2:   phytoplankton --> smelt --> humans How much energy is available to humans in Food Chain 2 as compared to the energy available to humans in Food Chain 1?

    • 10 times less energy

    • 100 times less energy

    • 10 times more energy

    • 100 times more energy

    Correct Answer
    A. 100 times more energy
    Explanation
    In Food Chain 1, the energy transfer from one trophic level to the next is approximately 10%. Therefore, as the energy moves from phytoplankton to humans, there is a significant loss of energy. However, in Food Chain 2, there is only one intermediate trophic level (smelt) between phytoplankton and humans. This means that there is less energy loss during the transfer. As a result, humans in Food Chain 2 have 100 times more energy available compared to humans in Food Chain 1.

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  • 20. 

    As the result of an accident, a railroad worker received damage to the frontal lobe of his left brain. What effect would this type of injury most likely have on brain function?

    • A change in demeanor from well-balanced to impatient and obstinate

    • An inability to understand expressive or receptive language

    • An inability to see a whole picture, only seeing minute details

    • An extreme loss of both balance and memory

    Correct Answer
    A. A change in demeanor from well-balanced to impatient and obstinate
    Explanation
    Damage to the frontal lobe of the left brain can result in a change in demeanor from well-balanced to impatient and obstinate. The frontal lobe is responsible for various cognitive functions, including personality, decision-making, and emotional regulation. Damage to this area can lead to alterations in behavior and personality traits. In this case, the injury is most likely to affect the individual's ability to control their emotions and exhibit impatience and obstinacy.

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  • Current Version
  • Mar 19, 2023
    Quiz Edited by
    ProProfs Editorial Team
  • Apr 18, 2013
    Quiz Created by
    Awest
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