1. 1 Which observation could lead to the conclusion that an object is nonliving? (1) It passes on hereditary information only through asexual reproduction. (2) It carries out synthesis. (3) It cannot perform metabolic processes. (4) It is composed of a cell, but does not have tissues.   1   2   3   4   Hint Half-n-half Clue   2. 2 Decomposers are necessary in a food chain because they (1) manufacture food by photosynthesis (2) return nutrients to the ecosystem (3) absorb energy from the Sun (4) produce organic nutrients   1   2   3   4   Half-n-half Clue   3. 3 In early spring, many wildflowers begin to grow, produce flowers, and release seeds. The leaves of the wildflowers make food before the leaves of the trees in the area begin to develop. The early growth pattern of the wildflowers would likely result in (1) decreased competition for sunlight between the trees and the wildflowers (2) decreased competition for suitable temperature between the trees and the wildflowers (3) increased competition for space between the trees and the wildflowers (4) increased competition for oxygen between the trees and the wildflowers   1   2   3   4   Half-n-half Clue   4. 4 Which sequence best represents increasing complexity? (1) tissues → cells → organelles → organs (2) cells → organelles → organs → organism (3) organelles → cells → tissues → organs (4) organism → cells → tissues → organelles   1   2   3   4   Half-n-half Clue   5. 5 The diagram below represents two processes that occur in organisms. A characteristic represented by X is common to both of these processes. A characteristic that the two processes have in common is that each process (1) uses ATP (3) uses oxygen (2) requires enzymes (4) moves molecules   1   2   3   4   Half-n-half Clue   6. 6 The molecules represented in the diagram below can interact to cause a biochemical process to occur. Molecule A and molecule B most likely represent (1) a nerve signal and a gene (2) a receptor and a hormone (3) a chromosome and an antigen (4) a starch and an amino acid   1   2   3   4   Half-n-half Clue   7. 7 The cytoplasm in a single-celled organism and the circulatory system in a human both (1) break down molecules into smaller components (2) release energy to be used by the organism (3) transport substances throughout the organism (4) distribute blood to all of the parts of the organism   1   2   3   4   Half-n-half Clue   8. 8 A hydrangea plant has blue flowers when grown in acidic soil, but has pink flowers when grown in basic soil. A clone of the pink-flowered plant is grown in acidic soil and produces blue flowers. This change in flower color is most likely due to (1) sexual reproduction in the plants, resulting in variation (2) asexual reproduction in the plants, resulting in variation (3) genes being expressed in different ways due to environmental conditions (4) a gene mutation that occurred after the clone was produced   1   2   3   4   Half-n-half Clue   9. 9 The diagram below represents a microscopic structure observed during mitosis. The region indicated by letter A is known as (1) an enzyme (3) a gene (2) a gamete (4) an amino acid   1   2   3   4   Half-n-half Clue   10. 10 A significant difference between the effects of the genetic information passed on from asexually reproducing parents to their offspring and sexually reproducing parents to their offspring is the (1) degree of modification of the size of chromosomes (2) types of DNA subunits (3) number of chromosomes in the body cells of the offspring (4) amount of variation between the parents and the offspring   1   2   3   4   Half-n-half Clue   11. 11 A normal sequence of DNA bases in a single human skin cell is CATGGC. If this sequence replicates in this cell and becomes GATGGC, this alteration will most likely be passed to (1) every cell that develops from it (2) all human body cells (3) offspring of the human (4) all skin cells of this person   1   2   3   4   Half-n-half Clue   12. 12 Beta cells in the pancreas and human skin cells both contain the insulin gene. The beta cells can make insulin; however, skin cells cannot. Which process is responsible for this gene being expressed in one cell type and not in another cell type? (1) mitosis (3) differentiation (2) replication (4) meiosis   1   2   3   4   Half-n-half Clue   13. 13 Information in segments of human DNA can be expressed by a bacterial cell as a result of (1) sexual reproduction (3) genetic variability (2) random mutation (4) genetic engineering   1   2   3   4   Half-n-half Clue   14. 14 The photograph below shows a recently discovered all-black penguin chick and several typical blackand-white chicks. The appearance of this penguin chick with all black feathers might (1) increase the types of foods penguins can eat (2) decrease the diversity of the penguin population (3) decrease the number of variations present in the black penguin population (4) result in an increase in black penguins over time if the trait provides a reproductive advantage   1   2   3   4   Half-n-half Clue   15. 15 Natural selection and its evolutionary consequences provide a scientific explanation for (1) the fossil record of ancient life-forms (2) predictions about the rate of global warming (3) the amount of precipitation in a rain forest (4) the amount of soil used to grow certain crops   1   2   3   4   Half-n-half Clue