AP Biology : AP Biology

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Biology

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Example Questions

Example Question #4 : Draw And Interpret Phylogenetic Trees

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According to the character table above, which of the following would define a clade?

Possible Answers:

Sea urchin, jellyfish

Fish, sea urchin, scorpion

Scorpion, sea urchin

Fish, sea urchin

Lion, fish, sea urchin

Correct answer:

Lion, fish, sea urchin

Explanation:

A clade is defined by a organisms that possess a shared derived trait. In other words, we need to find a set of organisms in the table that includes all organisms with a certain listed trait, while excluding any that lack that specific trait. The lion, fish, and sea urchin are the only clade listed. They are all triploblastic, segmented deuterostomes, and none of the other species share those characteristics. The trait of being a deuterostome is the shared derived trait that defines this clade.

Sea urchin, jellyfish: The jellyfish is the outgroup of the tree presented in the table, as it does not have any of the listed traits. Its last common ancestor with the sea urchin is also its last common ancestor with all of the other species, so a clade with the jellyfish must include all 5 species in the table.

Fish, sea urchin, scorpion: All share segmentation and three tissue layers, which the jellyfish does not have. However, the lion also has segmentation and three tissue layers, so it must be included to form a clade.

Fish, sea urchin: Both are deuterostomes with segmentation and three tissue layers, but the lion is also a deuterostome, so it must be part of the clade.

Scorpion, sea urchin: They both have segmentation and three tissue layers, but so do the lion and the fish, so they must also be part of the clade.

Example Question #1 : Use The Taxonomic Classification System

Which of the following would not be considered an organism?

Possible Answers:

A fungus

A prion

A bacterium

A plant

An archaebacterium

Correct answer:

A prion

Explanation:

Prions are simply proteins, typically in a misfolded shape. They are simply molecules that can cause disease by inducing other proteins to misfold.

The qualifications for life include growth or reproduction, nutrient absorption, and composition of cells. Prions fit none of these criteria. Bacteria, archaea, fungi, and plants are all major classes of living organisms.

Example Question #2 : Use The Taxonomic Classification System

Which of the following is classified as eukaryotic?

Possible Answers:

Prokaryotes

Archaea

Bacteria

Protista

Correct answer:

Protista

Explanation:

All species can be defined as either prokaryotes or eukaryotes. Prokaryotes are always single-celled and have no membrane-bound organelles. All bacteria and archaea are prokaryotes. Eukaryotes can be unicellular or multicellular and have membrane-bound organelles, including a nucleus. Protista is a sub-category of eukaryotes that are unicellular.

Example Question #3 : Use The Taxonomic Classification System

What type of microorganism is composed only of a protein capsule encasing genetic material?

Possible Answers:

Bacteria

Fungus

Virus

Helminth

Protozoa

Correct answer:

Virus

Explanation:

A virus is the smallest of the microorganisms, consisting genetic material and a protein coat. The virus takes over the host's cellular functions to reproduce, and carries no organelles of its own.

Bacteria prokaryotic cells, while fungi are eukaryotic cells. Protozoa are a sub-classification within the protista kingdom and are unicellular eukaryotes. Helminth are parasitic worms composed of eukaryotic cells.

Example Question #2 : Use The Taxonomic Classification System

Which of the following is not considered to be living?

Possible Answers:

Cyanobacteria

Fungi

Viruses

Halophiles

Obligate anaerobes

Correct answer:

Viruses

Explanation:

Viruses are not considered to be living organisms because they do not meet many of the criteria for "life", as defined by biologists. Viruses are incapable of energy metabolism, growth, response to stimuli, and independent reproduction. Viruses are simply a core of genetic material surrounded by a coat of protien, and require a living host to multiply. 

All other answer options are specific examples of living organisms. Obligate anaerobes are a classification of bacteria that require minimal levels or lack of oxygen to survive. Fungi are a kingdom of organisms in the domain Eukarya. Cyanobacteria are a phylum of bacteria that obtain energy through photosynthesis. Halophiles are organisms that best survive in high salt concentrations.

Example Question #5 : Use The Taxonomic Classification System

The probability a diagnostic test will return a positive test result when the organism or condition is present is known as the __________ of the diagnostic test.

Possible Answers:

predictive value

accuracy

sensitivity

false positive rate

specificity

Correct answer:

sensitivity

Explanation:

All diagnostic tests have the chance probability of not detecting the condition. Thus, the percentage of samples for which the test is accurate with a positive result is the sensitivity of the test.

Example Question #6 : Use The Taxonomic Classification System

Bdelloid rotifers are microscopic freshwater organisms whose females develop from unfertilized eggs. Which of the following best describes this form of reproduction?

Possible Answers:

Parthenogenesis

Binary fission

Sexual reproduction

None of the choices

Gynogenesis

Correct answer:

Parthenogenesis

Explanation:

Parthenogenesis is a type of asexual reproduction that can be found in plants, fish, birds, reptiles, and several others. This type of reproduction does not require fertilization to form an embryo, rather the embryo develops from an unfertilized egg. 

An advantage of this system is that it does not require energy to search for a compatible mate, and allows the species to continue if organisms are isolated from one another. A disadvantage is the lack of genetic diversity, which does not help the species as much in the long term. 

Example Question #7 : Use The Taxonomic Classification System

General nomenclature classifies humans by the name homo sapiens. This means that homo belongs to which level of classification?

Possible Answers:

Species

Family

Kingdom

Order

Genus

Correct answer:

Genus

Explanation:

The order of classification from top to bottom is: kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species. Binomial nomenclature includes the two most specific classifications of an organism. Homo therefore falls into the genus level of classification.

Example Question #8 : Use The Taxonomic Classification System

A characteristic present in a clade, but not its ancestors, is a __________.

Possible Answers:

polyphyletic character

convergent character

paraphyletic character

shared derived character

shared ancestral character

Correct answer:

shared derived character

Explanation:

The characteristic is found among all members of the clade, which makes it shared. It is not present among the ancestors of the clade, but was derived from the last common ancestor and is unique to that clade. These attributes make the trait a shared derived character.

An example of a shared derived character is hair in mammals: all mammals have hair, but no ancestors of mammals (that are not mammals themselves) had hair.

An example of a shared ancestral character is backbones in mammals: all mammals have backbones, and so do other vertebrates. There was a common ancestor between mammals and other vertebrates that had a backbone; however, when comparing all vertebrates to invertebrates, a backbone becomes a shared derived character, as backbones are unique to vertebrates.

Example Question #6 : Use The Taxonomic Classification System

What is a clade?

Possible Answers:

All of the descendants of a common ancestor, but not the ancestor itself

An ancestor and a specific subset of its descendants

The set of descendants from a common ancestor that have become extinct

An ancestor and all of its descendants

An ancestor and none of its descendants

Correct answer:

An ancestor and all of its descendants

Explanation:

A clade is a group of related species all descending from a common ancestor, including that ancestor. They have at least one shared derived trait unique to the clade and differentiating them from all other clades. Clades can be nested within each other: the mammalian clade is part of the vertebrate clade, which is part of the animal clade.

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