ACT Science : Biology

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ACT Science

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Example Questions

Example Question #591 : Biology

Three doctors are discussing the most optimal way to approach cancer treatment. While they all acknowledge that cancer is uncontrolled cell proliferation, they have different opinions on whether chemotherapy is the best treatment method. Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with cytotoxic antienoplastic drugs. These drugs are used to kill fast-growing cancerous cells. All three doctors agree that chemotherapy has many associated side effects.

 

Doctor 1

While the drugs used for chemotherapy can be very strong, they need to be. Cancer, by its very definition, is made up of cells growing at a faster than normal rate. This means the treatment needs to be aggressive. The slower the effects of treatment, the more time the cancer has to spread; therefore, while the chemotherapy can also kill some healthy noncancerous cells in the process, it is still the best option. 

 

Doctor 2 

Chemotherapy does much more harm than good. Chemotherapy might temporarily destroy the cancer, but it does not cure the cancer. In addition, killing the cancerous cells means poisoning the body with chemicals and toxins. Instead, we should be addressing the reasons cancer exists in the first place, treating it at that step. Cancer is due to toxins in the body, industrial pollutions, and drugs. Avoiding sugar, exercising, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle—free of toxins, processed food, and other containments—is the best approach.

 

Doctor 3

Chemotherapy is effective in the sense that it kills the cancer cells. The downfall is that chemotherapy also kills the healthy cells in the process; therefore, we should be looking at way to decrease the amount of chemotherapy needed, so that we are only introducing the minimum amount of toxins into the body. Insulin Potentiating Therapy is a type of chemotherapy in which lower doses of chemotherapy are used because they are combined with insulin. Cancer cells have more insulin receptors than non-cancerous cells; therefore, cancer cells will have a biased absorption of such insulin-based chemotherapy when compared with noncancerous cells. In other words, piggybacking chemotherapy onto insulin allows cancer cells to absorb more of the chemotherapy, meaning less chemotherapy is needed and fewer noncancerous cells absorb the chemotherapy.

Which doctor's viewpoint on chemo treatment might one say is a good compromise between the other two doctors' viewpoints on chemo treatment? 

Possible Answers:

Doctor 3

Doctor 1

All three doctors' have similar viewpoints on chemotherapy.

All three doctors discuss very opposite viewpoints on chemotherapy that cannot be reconciled. 

Doctor 2

Correct answer:

Doctor 3

Explanation:

Doctor 3 discusses a treatment approach that still uses chemotherapy but accounts for the fact that chemotherapy has harmful side effects.

Example Question #592 : Biology

Three doctors are discussing the most optimal way to approach cancer treatment. While they all acknowledge that cancer is uncontrolled cell proliferation, they have different opinions on whether chemotherapy is the best treatment method. Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with cytotoxic antienoplastic drugs. These drugs are used to kill fast-growing cancerous cells. All three doctors agree that chemotherapy has many associated side effects.

 

Doctor 1

While the drugs used for chemotherapy can be very strong, they need to be. Cancer, by its very definition, is made up of cells growing at a faster than normal rate. This means the treatment needs to be aggressive. The slower the effects of treatment, the more time the cancer has to spread; therefore, while the chemotherapy can also kill some healthy noncancerous cells in the process, it is still the best option. 

 

Doctor 2 

Chemotherapy does much more harm than good. Chemotherapy might temporarily destroy the cancer, but it does not cure the cancer. In addition, killing the cancerous cells means poisoning the body with chemicals and toxins. Instead, we should be addressing the reasons cancer exists in the first place, treating it at that step. Cancer is due to toxins in the body, industrial pollutions, and drugs. Avoiding sugar, exercising, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle—free of toxins, processed food, and other containments—is the best approach.

 

Doctor 3

Chemotherapy is effective in the sense that it kills the cancer cells. The downfall is that chemotherapy also kills the healthy cells in the process; therefore, we should be looking at way to decrease the amount of chemotherapy needed, so that we are only introducing the minimum amount of toxins into the body. Insulin Potentiating Therapy is a type of chemotherapy in which lower doses of chemotherapy are used because they are combined with insulin. Cancer cells have more insulin receptors than non-cancerous cells; therefore, cancer cells will have a biased absorption of such insulin-based chemotherapy when compared with noncancerous cells. In other words, piggybacking chemotherapy onto insulin allows cancer cells to absorb more of the chemotherapy, meaning less chemotherapy is needed and fewer noncancerous cells absorb the chemotherapy.

What tips does Doctor 2 give in regards to preventative care? 

Possible Answers:

Get annual mammograms and annual prostate exams starting at an early age

Avoiding sugar, exercising, and maintaining healthy lifestyles free of toxins, processed food, and other containments

Submit bloodwork every few years to check for early stage cancer

Take lots of multivitamins and get plenty of sleep

Provide lower doses of chemotherapy when paired with insulin 

Correct answer:

Avoiding sugar, exercising, and maintaining healthy lifestyles free of toxins, processed food, and other containments

Explanation:

Refer back to the passage, paragraph three, sentence six—"Avoiding sugar, exercising, and maintaining healthy lifestyles free of toxins, processed food, and other containments is the best approach."

Example Question #593 : Biology

Three doctors are discussing the most optimal way to approach cancer treatment. While they all acknowledge that cancer is uncontrolled cell proliferation, they have different opinions on whether chemotherapy is the best treatment method. Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with cytotoxic antienoplastic drugs. These drugs are used to kill fast-growing cancerous cells. All three doctors agree that chemotherapy has many associated side effects.

 

Doctor 1

While the drugs used for chemotherapy can be very strong, they need to be. Cancer, by its very definition, is made up of cells growing at a faster than normal rate. This means the treatment needs to be aggressive. The slower the effects of treatment, the more time the cancer has to spread; therefore, while the chemotherapy can also kill some healthy noncancerous cells in the process, it is still the best option. 

 

Doctor 2 

Chemotherapy does much more harm than good. Chemotherapy might temporarily destroy the cancer, but it does not cure the cancer. In addition, killing the cancerous cells means poisoning the body with chemicals and toxins. Instead, we should be addressing the reasons cancer exists in the first place, treating it at that step. Cancer is due to toxins in the body, industrial pollutions, and drugs. Avoiding sugar, exercising, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle—free of toxins, processed food, and other containments—is the best approach.

 

Doctor 3

Chemotherapy is effective in the sense that it kills the cancer cells. The downfall is that chemotherapy also kills the healthy cells in the process; therefore, we should be looking at way to decrease the amount of chemotherapy needed, so that we are only introducing the minimum amount of toxins into the body. Insulin Potentiating Therapy is a type of chemotherapy in which lower doses of chemotherapy are used because they are combined with insulin. Cancer cells have more insulin receptors than non-cancerous cells; therefore, cancer cells will have a biased absorption of such insulin-based chemotherapy when compared with noncancerous cells. In other words, piggybacking chemotherapy onto insulin allows cancer cells to absorb more of the chemotherapy, meaning less chemotherapy is needed and fewer noncancerous cells absorb the chemotherapy.

According to this passage, chemotherapy is best described as __________.

Possible Answers:

the treatment of cancer with toxins and poisons 

the treatment of cancer with cytotoxic antienoplastic drugs

the treatment of cancer with insulin-based drug treatment 

the treatment of cancer with cell-killing drugs

a dangerous and deadly treatment method

Correct answer:

the treatment of cancer with cytotoxic antienoplastic drugs

Explanation:

Refer back to the passage for the exact defintion, which can be found in the first paragraph, sentence three—"Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with cytotoxic antienoplastic drugs." 

Example Question #592 : Act Science

In the 17th century, scientists were just beginning to understand the circulatory system of the heart. The two following viewpoints are the two most popular theories of the day.

Scientist I The heart pumps blood through arteries and veins but the two systems are separate. They are similar, just as the senses of smell and taste are when observing food, but ultimately they are two separate systems which perform separate functions. Hot blood flows from the heart, through the arteries, and to the organs which consume the blood much as a human would consume nourishment to survive. Venous blood originates in the liver and follows the veins to the organs where it is similarly consumed.

Scientist II The arteries and veins are two parts of one system. Blood flows from the heart, around the body, and back into the heart through the veins like two sets of one way streets. The idea of two systems, each pumping blood to the organs is unreasonable. If the heart can pump 6 oz of blood per minute, then the liver would have to produce 540 pounds of blood per day. A simple measurement of a human’s weight shows how unlikely that solution is. The single circulatory system is far superior as it explains the function of the heart, the arteries, and the veins clearly.

How would Scientist I respond to Scientist II's claims that a human's weight disproves the theory that a liver pumps blood?

Possible Answers:

When the liver pumps blood, it is tiring, so there would be a comparable amount of sweat released at the same time.

The temperature of the blood would make it feel lighter in the human body.

The weight of blood cannot be accurately measured by modern tools.

The organs consume the blood at the same rate as which it is being produced, therefore no change in weight would be noticed.

Correct answer:

The organs consume the blood at the same rate as which it is being produced, therefore no change in weight would be noticed.

Explanation:

Scientist I believes that blood is consumed by the organs. If the blood is consumed at the same rate as which it is produced, there would be no noticeable change.

Example Question #591 : Biology

In the 17th century, scientists were just beginning to understand the circulatory system of the heart. The two following viewpoints are the two most popular theories of the day.

Scientist I The heart pumps blood through arteries and veins but the two systems are separate. They are similar, just as the senses of smell and taste are when observing food, but ultimately they are two separate systems which perform separate functions. Hot blood flows from the heart, through the arteries, and to the organs which consume the blood much as a human would consume nourishment to survive. Venous blood originates in the liver and follows the veins to the organs where it is similarly consumed.

Scientist II The arteries and veins are two parts of one system. Blood flows from the heart, around the body, and back into the heart through the veins like two sets of one way streets. The idea of two systems, each pumping blood to the organs is unreasonable. If the heart can pump 6 oz of blood per minute, then the liver would have to produce 540 pounds of blood per day. A simple measurement of a human’s weight shows how unlikely that solution is. The single circulatory system is far superior as it explains the function of the heart, the arteries, and the veins clearly.

Scientists I & II agree on which of the following points?

Possible Answers:

The heart pumps hot blood and the liver cools it down.

Blood travels through the arteries and the veins.

Blood is consumed by organs.

Human beings with heart conditions have a tendency to gain weight.

Correct answer:

Blood travels through the arteries and the veins.

Explanation:

Both scientists state clearly that blood travels through the arteries and veins. They disagree, however, on the purpose of the arteries and veins.

Example Question #594 : Act Science

In the 17th century, scientists were just beginning to understand the circulatory system of the heart. The two following viewpoints are the two most popular theories of the day.

Scientist I The heart pumps blood through arteries and veins but the two systems are separate. They are similar, just as the senses of smell and taste are when observing food, but ultimately they are two separate systems which perform separate functions. Hot blood flows from the heart, through the arteries, and to the organs which consume the blood much as a human would consume nourishment to survive. Venous blood originates in the liver and follows the veins to the organs where it is similarly consumed.

Scientist II The arteries and veins are two parts of one system. Blood flows from the heart, around the body, and back into the heart through the veins like two sets of one way streets. The idea of two systems, each pumping blood to the organs is unreasonable. If the heart can pump 6 oz of blood per minute, then the liver would have to produce 540 pounds of blood per day. A simple measurement of a human’s weight shows how unlikely that solution is. The single circulatory system is far superior as it explains the function of the heart, the arteries, and the veins clearly.

Why does Scientist I compare the arteries and veins to smell and taste?

Possible Answers:

To illustrate another example of systems that are linked but are not the same.

Because blood has a very distinct odor and taste.

The senses of taste and smell are the strongest.

A person with liver issues will produce blood that tastes and smells different.

Correct answer:

To illustrate another example of systems that are linked but are not the same.

Explanation:

The scientist is trying to make a comparison that the reader will already have experience with, as he is suggesting that the two systems are similar and yet different.

Example Question #593 : Biology

In the 17th century, scientists were just beginning to understand the circulatory system of the heart. The two following viewpoints are the two most popular theories of the day.

Scientist I The heart pumps blood through arteries and veins but the two systems are separate. They are similar, just as the senses of smell and taste are when observing food, but ultimately they are two separate systems which perform separate functions. Hot blood flows from the heart, through the arteries, and to the organs which consume the blood much as a human would consume nourishment to survive. Venous blood originates in the liver and follows the veins to the organs where it is similarly consumed.

Scientist II The arteries and veins are two parts of one system. Blood flows from the heart, around the body, and back into the heart through the veins like two sets of one way streets. The idea of two systems, each pumping blood to the organs is unreasonable. If the heart can pump 6 oz of blood per minute, then the liver would have to produce 540 pounds of blood per day. A simple measurement of a human’s weight shows how unlikely that solution is. The single circulatory system is far superior as it explains the function of the heart, the arteries, and the veins clearly.

William Harvey performed an experiment by putting his arm in a tourniquet, effectively shutting off the flow of blood to and from his arm, and watching what happened. He realized that the side of his arms with the arteries became very pale whereas the side with the veins became dark red and swollen. Which theory does this best support?

Possible Answers:

Scientist II, because it shows blood flows in one direction.

Scientist I, because it shows that the organs in the top side of the arm had already consumed the blood.

Neither Scientist, because it is irrelevant.

Both Scientist I & II, because it shows that blood flows through the body.

Correct answer:

Scientist II, because it shows blood flows in one direction.

Explanation:

Scientist II argues that blood flows in one direction. With the tourniquet, no new blood was arriving to the arm whcih is why one side was pale. Because the tourniquet was also stopping the blood from leaving the arm, the side with the veins became red and swollen.

Example Question #594 : Biology

In the 17th century, scientists were just beginning to understand the circulatory system of the heart. The two following viewpoints are the two most popular theories of the day.

Scientist I The heart pumps blood through arteries and veins but the two systems are separate. They are similar, just as the senses of smell and taste are when observing food, but ultimately they are two separate systems which perform separate functions. Hot blood flows from the heart, through the arteries, and to the organs which consume the blood much as a human would consume nourishment to survive. Venous blood originates in the liver and follows the veins to the organs where it is similarly consumed.

Scientist II The arteries and veins are two parts of one system. Blood flows from the heart, around the body, and back into the heart through the veins like two sets of one way streets. The idea of two systems, each pumping blood to the organs is unreasonable. If the heart can pump 6 oz of blood per minute, then the liver would have to produce 540 pounds of blood per day. A simple measurement of a human’s weight shows how unlikely that solution is. The single circulatory system is far superior as it explains the function of the heart, the arteries, and the veins clearly.

Blood that comes out of an artery and blood that comes out of a vein are different colors. How might Scientist I explain this?

Possible Answers:

The blood in the veins is thicker due to dehydration.

While it may look different, the blood will taste and smell the same.

Liver blood and heart blood provide different nutrients in their blood.

The color is irrelevant as all blood is the same in the body.

Correct answer:

Liver blood and heart blood provide different nutrients in their blood.

Explanation:

Scientist I believes that the two systems are separate and perform different functions. He would argue that due to the different natures of the bloods, it makes sense that they would look different as well.

Example Question #597 : Act Science

In the 17th century, scientists were just beginning to understand the circulatory system of the heart. The two following viewpoints are the two most popular theories of the day.

Scientist I The heart pumps blood through arteries and veins but the two systems are separate. They are similar, just as the senses of smell and taste are when observing food, but ultimately they are two separate systems which perform separate functions. Hot blood flows from the heart, through the arteries, and to the organs which consume the blood much as a human would consume nourishment to survive. Venous blood originates in the liver and follows the veins to the organs where it is similarly consumed.

Scientist II The arteries and veins are two parts of one system. Blood flows from the heart, around the body, and back into the heart through the veins like two sets of one way streets. The idea of two systems, each pumping blood to the organs is unreasonable. If the heart can pump 6 oz of blood per minute, then the liver would have to produce 540 pounds of blood per day. A simple measurement of a human’s weight shows how unlikely that solution is. The single circulatory system is far superior as it explains the function of the heart, the arteries, and the veins clearly.

How would Scientist II describe the function of the liver in the circulatory system? 

Possible Answers:

The liver provides venous blood to the organs, which they consume.

The liver filters impurities out of the blood.

It has no function in the circulatory system.

The liver regulates the body's weight.

Correct answer:

It has no function in the circulatory system.

Explanation:

Scientist II believes that the heart, and the heart alone, is the key organ of the circulatory system. The liver is not a part of it.

Example Question #598 : Act Science

In the 17th century, scientists were just beginning to understand the circulatory system of the heart. The two following viewpoints are the two most popular theories of the day.

Scientist I The heart pumps blood through arteries and veins but the two systems are separate. They are similar, just as the senses of smell and taste are when observing food, but ultimately they are two separate systems which perform separate functions. Hot blood flows from the heart, through the arteries, and to the organs which consume the blood much as a human would consume nourishment to survive. Venous blood originates in the liver and follows the veins to the organs where it is similarly consumed.

Scientist II The arteries and veins are two parts of one system. Blood flows from the heart, around the body, and back into the heart through the veins like two sets of one way streets. The idea of two systems, each pumping blood to the organs is unreasonable. If the heart can pump 6 oz of blood per minute, then the liver would have to produce 540 pounds of blood per day. A simple measurement of a human’s weight shows how unlikely that solution is. The single circulatory system is far superior as it explains the function of the heart, the arteries, and the veins clearly.

Why does Scientist II reference the amount of blood produced by the heart?

Possible Answers:

To show that the heart is a very weak organ.

To show that the heart is the less important organ in the circulatory system.

To show that Scientist I is correct about the different types of blood.

To show how much the liver would have to create to satisfy Scientist I's theory.

Correct answer:

To show how much the liver would have to create to satisfy Scientist I's theory.

Explanation:

Scientist I's entire case is built on blood coming from two sources. Scientist II argues that in order to satisfy Scientist I's theory, a certain amount of blood would have to be created daily. Since the heart doesn't pump enough, then the rest must come from the liver.

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