Posted: September 5th, 2022

NS 103 FINAL EXAM
Name:_____________________________________________________________
GENERAL PROCEDURES
1. This examination is open book
2. Read each problem completely before starting to answer it. Note the point values
assigned to each problem and budget your time accordingly.
3. CLEARLY circle the correct answer. There is only one correct answer for each; no credit will
be given if more than one answer is selected
1. In plants, chloroplasts convert the energy of sunlight into
A) the energy of motion
B) carbon dioxide and water
C) kinetic energy
D) oxygen
E) the potential energy of chemical bonds
2. Which is the main energy source for producers in an ecosystem?
A) kinetic energy
B) light energy
C) thermal energy
D) chemical energy
E) ATP
3. When the blood glucose level is high, the pancreas secretes insulin and hence the blood
glucose level declines. When the blood glucose level is low, the pancreas secretes
glucagon and the blood glucose level increases. Such regulation of the blood glucose
level is called
A) catalytic feedback
B) negative feedback
C) positive feedback
D) bioinformatic regulation
E) protein-protein interactions
4. In describing chemical compositions, each element is unique and different from others
in chemical properties. Why?
A) Each element has a unique atomic mass.
B) Each element has a unique atomic weight.
C) Each element has different radioactive properties.
D) Each element has a unique number of neutrons in its nucleus.
E) Each element has a unique number of protons in its nucleus.
5. I need help writing my essay – research paper refer to the periodic table above. Oxygen has an atomic number of 8 and a mass
number of 16. Thus, what is the atomic mass of an oxygen atom?
A) exactly 8 grams
B) exactly 8 daltons
C) approximately 16 grams
D) 24 amu (atomic mass units)
E) approximately 16 daltons
6. Which of the statements below describes a covalent bond?
A) electrons are removed from one atom and transferred to another atom so that the
two atoms become oppositely charged.
B) protons and neutrons are shared by two atoms so as to satisfy the requirements of
both atoms.
C) outer-shell electrons of one atom are transferred to fill the inner electron shell of
another atom.
D) outer-shell electrons of two atoms are shared so as to satisfactorily fill the outer
electron shells of both atoms.
E) an electron occupies a hybrid orbital located between the nuclei of two atoms.
7. When there is an unequal sharing of electrons between atoms, what is the type of bond
that forms?
A) a nonpolar covalent bond
B) a hydrogen bond
C) an ionic bond
D) a polar covalent bond
E) a hydrophobic interaction
8. What is chemical equilibrium?
A) Forward and reverse reactions have stopped so that the concentration of the
reactants equals the concentration of the products.
B) Forward and reverse reactions continue with no effect on the concentrations of the
reactants and products.
C) Concentrations of products are higher than the concentrations of the reactants.
D) Reactions stop only when all reactants have been converted to products.
E) There are equal concentrations of reactants and products, and the reactions have
stopped.
9. Scientists are trying to synthesize a new artificial compound to mimic the effects of a
known hormone that influences sexual behavior. Which of the following compounds is
most likely to mimic the effects of the hormone?
A) a compound with the same number of carbon atoms as the hormone
B) a compound with the same molecular mass (measured in daltons) as the hormone
C) a compound with the same number of orbital electrons as the hormone
D) a compound with the same three-dimensional shape as part of the hormone
E) a compound with the same number of hydrogen and nitrogen atoms as the hormone
10. Water has high specific heat. This is primarily due to:
A) small size of the water molecules.
B) high specific heat of oxygen and hydrogen atoms.
C) fact that water is a poor heat conductor.
D) absorption and release of heat when hydrogen bonds break and form.
E) higher density of liquid water than solid water (ice).
11. Because of human-driven increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, there is
more CO2 dissolving into the ocean, the pH decreases and the ocean becomes more
acidic. How does this affect marine organisms?
A) Acidification would increase dissolved carbonate concentrations and promote faster
growth of corals and shell-building animals.
B) Acidification would decrease dissolved carbonate concentrations and promote faster
growth of corals and shell-building animals.
C) Acidification would increase dissolved carbonate concentrations and hinder growth of
corals and shell-building animals.
D) Acidification would increase dissolved bicarbonate concentrations, and cause
increased calcification of corals and shellfish.
E) Acidification would decrease dissolved carbonate concentrations and hinder growth
of corals and shell-building animals.
12. For water to evaporate, what type of bond must be broken?
A) ionic bonds
B) both hydrogen bonds and ionic bonds
C) polar covalent bonds
D) both polar covalent bonds and hydrogen bonds
E) hydrogen bonds
13. Why does water molecule have a partial negative charge?
A) the oxygen atom acquires an additional electron.
B) the oxygen atom forms hybrid orbitals that distribute electrons unequally around the
oxygen nucleus.
C) the oxygen atom has two pairs of electrons in its valence shell that are not
neutralized by hydrogen atoms.
D) the electrons shared between the oxygen and hydrogen atoms spend more time
around the oxygen atom nucleus than around the hydrogen atom nucleus.
E) one of the hydrogen atoms donates an electron to the oxygen atom.
14. In all organic molecules, what is the common element that is present?
A) hydrogen.
B) oxygen.
C) nitrogen.
D) carbon.
E) phosphorus.
15. To complete its valence shell, how many electron pairs does carbon share?
A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4
E) 8
16. Which of the following properties describes cis-trans isomers?
A) They have the same chemical properties.
B) They have an asymmetric carbon that makes them mirror images.
C) They have variations in arrangement around a double bond.
D) They have different molecular formulas.
E) Their atoms and bonds are arranged in different sequences.
17. I need help writing my essay – research paper refer to the picture below.
What are the functional group(s) that is (are) present in all amino acids?
A) A and B
B) B and D
C) C and D
D) D only
E) C only
18. To observe the movements of condensed chromosomes during cell division, what would
you use?
A) scanning electron microscopy
B) light microscopy
C) transmission electron microscopy
D) confocal fluorescence microscopy
E) super-resolution fluorescence microscopy
19. Prokaryotes are classified as belonging to two different domains. What are the
domains?
A) Bacteria and Eukarya
B) Archaea and Protista
C) Bacteria and Archaea
D) Bacteria and Protista
E) Bacteria and Fungi
20. We can observe large numbers of ribosomes that are present in cells. These are
specialized in producing which of the following molecules?
A) lipids
B) glycogen
C) nucleic acids
D) cellulose
E) proteins
21. Which of the following is primarily involved in the synthesis of oils, phospholipids, and
steroids?
A) ribosome
B) lysosome
C) mitochondrion
D) smooth endoplasmic reticulum
E) contractile vacuole
22. How does protein secretion work in prokaryotic cells?
A) Prokaryotes are unlikely to be able to secrete proteins because they lack an
endomembrane system.
B) The mechanism of protein secretion in prokaryotes is probably the same as that in
eukaryotes.
C) Prokaryotes contain large pores in their plasma membrane that permit the
movement of proteins out of the cell.
D) In prokaryotes, the ribosomes that are used for the synthesis of secreted proteins are
located outside of the cell.
E) Proteins that are secreted by prokaryotes are synthesized on ribosomes that are
bound to the cytoplasmic surface of the plasma membrane.
23. What is the primary site of ATP synthesis in eukaryotic cells?
A) lysosome
B) vacuole
C) Golgi apparatus
D) mitochondrion
E) peroxisome
24. Which organelle or structure do Thylakoids, DNA, and ribosomes are found in?
A) vacuoles.
B) nuclei.
C) mitochondria.
D) lysosomes.
E) chloroplasts.
25. Which of the following statements describes the cytoskeleton?
A) The dynamic aspect of cytoskeletal function is made possible by the assembly and
disassembly of a large variety of proteins into complex aggregates.
B) Microfilaments are structurally rigid and resist compression, whereas microtubules
resist tension (stretching).
C) Chemicals that block the assembly of the cytoskeleton would cause little effect on the
cell’s response to external signals and stimuli.
D) Movement of cilia and flagella is the result of motor proteins causing microtubules to
move relative to each other.
E) Transport vesicles among the membranes of the endomembrane system produce the
cytoskeleton.
26. What is the correct pathway of a newly synthesized protein prior to being secreted by a
cell?
A) ER →Golgi →vesicles that fuse with plasma membrane
B) Golgi →ER →lysosome
C) nucleus →ER →Golgi
D) ER → Golgi → nucleus
E) ER →lysosomes →vesicles that fuse with plasma membrane
27. The major structural components of the cell membrane are?
A) phospholipids and cellulose
B) nucleic acids and proteins
C) proteins and cellulose
D) phospholipids and proteins
E) glycoproteins and cholesterol
28. What is the function of cholesterol in the plasma membranes?
A) enables the animal to add hydrogen atoms to unsaturated phospholipids.
B) enables the animal to remove hydrogen atoms from saturated phospholipids.
C) enables the membrane to stay fluid more easily when cell temperature drops.
D) makes the membrane less flexible, allowing it to sustain greater pressure from within
the cell.
E) makes the animal more susceptible to circulatory disorders.
29. What is the characteristic of an integral membrane protein?
A) amphipathic, with at least one hydrophobic region.
B) hydrophobic.
C) hydrophilic.
D) completely covered with phospholipids.
E) exposed on only one surface of the membrane.
30. What allows lipids and proteins free to move laterally in membranes?
A) There are only weak hydrophobic interactions in the interior of the membrane.
B) Lipids and proteins repulse each other in the membrane.
C) Hydrophilic portions of the lipids are in the interior of the membrane.
D) The interior of the membrane is filled with liquid water.
E) Molecules such as cellulose can pull them in various directions.
31. The process that describes how white blood cells engulf bacteria is?
A) exocytosis
B) pinocytosis
C) phagocytosis
D) osmosis
E) receptor-mediated exocytosis
32. In receptor-mediated endocytosis, receptor molecules initially project to the outside of
the cell. Where do they end up after endocytosis?
A) on the outside of vesicles
B) on the inside surface of the cell membrane
C) on the outer surface of the nucleus
D) on the inside surface of the vesicle
E) on the ER
33. You are recently hired by a pharmaceutical company and have been working on a team
that is designing a new drug. For this drug to work, it must enter the cytoplasm of
specific target cells. Which of the following would be a factor that determines whether
the molecule selectively enters the target cells?
A) blood or tissue type of the patient
B) hydrophobicity of the drug molecule
C) lack of charge on the drug molecule
D) lipid composition of the target cells’ plasma membrane
E) similarity of the drug molecule to other molecules transported by the target cells
34. The first law of thermodynamics is?
A) The entropy of the universe is constant.
B) The entropy of the universe is decreasing.
C) Energy cannot be created or destroyed.
D) Kinetic energy is stored energy that results from the specific arrangement of matter.
E) Energy cannot be transferred or transformed.
35. Whenever energy is transformed, there is always an increase in the
A) free energy of the system.
B) free energy of the universe.
C) entropy of the system.
D) enthalpy of the universe.
E) entropy of the universe.
36. What is an example of potential rather than kinetic energy?
A) the muscle contractions of a person mowing grass
B) a molecule of glucose
C) light flashes emitted by a firefly
D) the flight of an insect foraging for food
E) water rushing over Niagara Falls
37. Which of the following correctly describes metabolism in its entirety in all organisms?
A) Metabolism consists of all the energy transformation reactions in an organism.
B) Metabolism depends on an organism’s adequate hydration.
C) Metabolism uses all of an organism’s resources.
D) Metabolism depends on a constant supply of energy from food.
E) Metabolism manages the increase of entropy in an organism.
38. What best describes the mathematical expression for the change in free energy of a
system, ΔG =ΔH – TΔS?
A) ΔS is the change in enthalpy, a measure of randomness.
B) ΔH is the change in entropy, the energy available to do work.
C) T is the temperature in degrees Celsius.
D) ΔG is the change in free energy.
39. When there is a positive ΔG, the chemical reaction is?
A) endothermic.
B) endergonic.
C) enthalpic.
D) spontaneous.
E) exothermic.
40. How does enzymes work?
A) Nonprotein cofactors alter the substrate specificity of enzymes.
B) Enzyme function is increased if the 3-D structure or conformation of an enzyme is
altered.
C) Enzyme function is independent of physical and chemical environmental factors such
as pH and temperature.
D) Enzymes increase the rate of chemical reaction by providing activation energy to the
substrate.
E) Enzymes increase the rate of chemical reaction by lowering activation energy
barriers.
41. The oxidation process of organic compounds by molecular oxygen to produce CO₂ and
water release free energy. Why?
A) The covalent bonds in organic molecules and molecular oxygen have more kinetic
energy than the covalent bonds in water and carbon dioxide.
B) The electrons have a higher potential energy when associated with water and CO₂
than they do in organic compounds.
C) The oxidation of organic compounds can be used to make ATP.
D) Electrons are being moved from atoms that have a lower affinity for electrons (such
as Carbon) to atoms with a higher affinity for electrons (such as Oxygen).
E) The covalent bond in O₂ is unstable and easily broken by electrons from organic
molecules.
42. Which of the following statements describes NAD⁺?
A) In the absence of NAD⁺, glycolysis can still function.
B) NAD⁺ has more chemical energy than NADH.
C) NAD⁺ is oxidized by the action of hydrogenases.
D) NAD⁺ can donate electrons for use in oxidative phosphorylation.
E) NAD⁺ is reduced to NADH during glycolysis, pyruvate oxidation, and the citric acid
cycle.
43. Which of the following stages of cellular respiration is Carbon dioxide (CO₂) released?
A) glycolysis and the oxidation of pyruvate to acetyl CoA
B) oxidative phosphorylation and fermentation
C) the citric acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation
D) oxidation of pyruvate to acetyl CoA and the citric acid cycle
E) fermentation and glycolysis
44. In chemiosmotic phosphorylation, what is the most direct source of energy that is used
to convert ADP + Pi to ATP?
A) energy released as electrons flow through the electron transport system
B) energy released from substrate-level phosphorylation
C) energy released from movement of protons through ATP synthase, down the
electrochemical gradient
D) energy released from movement of protons through ATP synthase, against the
electrochemical gradient
E) No external source of energy is required because the reaction is exergonic.
45. Yeast cells can obtain energy by fermentation. The byproducts are?
A) ATP, NADH, and pyruvate.
B) ATP, CO₂, and lactate.
C) ATP, CO₂, and ethanol (ethyl alcohol).
D) ATP, pyruvate, and oxygen.
E) ATP, pyruvate, and acetyl CoA.
46. Which of the following are products of the light reactions of photosynthesis that are
utilized in the Calvin cycle?
A) CO₂ and glucose
B) ATP and NADPH
C) ADP, Pi, and NADP⁺
D) electrons and H⁺
E) H₂O and O₂
47. Which of the following is Photosynthesis not responsible for?
A) oxygen in the atmosphere.
B) the ozone layer.
C) most of the organic carbon on Earth’s surface.
D) fossil fuels.
E) atmospheric CO₂.
48. Which of the events listed below occurs in the light reactions of photosynthesis?
A) Light is absorbed and funneled to reaction-center chlorophyll a.
B) NADPH is reduced to NADP⁺.
C) Carbon dioxide is incorporated into PGA.
D) ATP is phosphorylated to yield ADP.
E) NADP is produced.
49. In mitochondria, chemiosmosis translocates protons from the matrix into the
intermembrane space, whereas in chloroplasts, chemiosmosis translocates protons
from
A) the stroma to the photosystem II.
B) the matrix to the stroma.
C) the intermembrane space to the matrix.
D) the stroma to the thylakoid space.
E) the thylakoid space to the stroma.
50. What is the relationships between the light reactions and the Calvin cycle?
A) The light reactions provide ATP and NADPH to the carbon fixation step of the Calvin
cycle, and the cycle provides water and electrons to the light reactions.
B) The light reactions provide ATP and NADPH to the Calvin cycle, and the cycle returns
ADP, Pi, and NADP⁺ to the light reactions.
C) The light reactions supply the Calvin cycle with CO₂ to produce sugars, and the Calvin
cycle supplies the light reactions with sugars to produce ATP.
D) The light reactions provide the Calvin cycle with oxygen for electron flow, and the
Calvin cycle provides the light reactions with water to split.
E) There is no relationship between the light reactions and the Calvin cycle.

Order | Check Discount