AP Biology : AP Biology

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Biology

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Example Questions

Example Question #21 : Understanding Carbohydrates

Which of the following is a monosaccharide?

Possible Answers:

Glucose

Maltose

Sucrose

Starch

Correct answer:

Glucose

Explanation:

Glucose is a monosaccharide, consisting of one 6-carbon ring.  Sucrose and maltose are disaccharides, and starch is a polysaccharide chain of glucose units.

Example Question #31 : Macromolecules

The polymer chitin is made up of what carbohydrate momoner?

Possible Answers:

Glucopyranose

N-Acetylglucosamine

N-Acetylneuraminic acid

Fructose

Glucose

Correct answer:

N-Acetylglucosamine

Explanation:

Chitin is a polymer that makes up the cell wall of fungal cells as well as the exoskeleton of arthropods. It itself is made up of N-Acetylglucosamine

Example Question #32 : Macromolecules

Which of the following is a polysaccharide stored in plants?

Possible Answers:

glucose

starch

glycogen

lipids

Correct answer:

starch

Explanation:

Starch is a polysaccharide stored in plants.  Glycogen is a polymer of glucose in animals stored in the liver and muscle cells.  Lipids are molecules made mostly of carbon and hydrogen that store energy.

Example Question #31 : Macromolecules

Which of the following is a monosaccharide?

Possible Answers:

Fructose

Maltose

Lactase

Sucrose

Lactose

Correct answer:

Fructose

Explanation:

Sucrose is made up of a glucose molecule and a fructose molecule. Knowing this gives a hint to the correct answer. Maltose is made up of two glucose molecules. Many glucose molecules joined together make up starch. Lactose is the sugar found in milk, and is made up on a glucose and a galactose molecule. Thus, all of the other sugars listed are disaccharides. Lactase is an enzyme, as shown by the "-ase" ending. 

Example Question #31 : Macromolecules

Monomers of sugars form disaccharides and polysaccharides via what type of bonding?

Possible Answers:

Ester linkage

Hydrogen bond

Phosphodiester bond

Peptide bond

Glycosidic linkage

Correct answer:

Glycosidic linkage

Explanation:

A phosphodiester bond occurs in DNA and RNA between nucleotides to form nucleic acids. Ester linkage occurs in fats and lipids between a carboxyl group and the carbon chain. A peptide bond occurs between two amino acids to form a peptide bond. Hydrogen bonding is the interaction of a hydrogen of one molecule with either a oxygen, nitrogen, or fluorine of another molecule.

Example Question #32 : Macromolecules

A maltose molecule can be broken down into two molecules of glucose via what reaction?

Possible Answers:

Condensation

Hydrolysis

Polymerization

Hydration

Dehydration

Correct answer:

Hydrolysis

Explanation:

Maltose is a disaccharide and glucose is a monosaccharide so the question is asking what will break the disaccharide into its respected monosaccharide. Hydrolysis is the addition of a water molecule to break the glycosidic linkage of a sugar. Dehydration reaction is a type of condensation reaction that will ultimately join two monosaccharides together via the removal of a water molecule. Polymerization is a general term with regards of monomers forming polymers through a reaction. Hydration reactions are the addition of a water molecule but do not necessarily break any bonds but are used form an alcohol.

Example Question #1 : Cellular Biology

Which of the following cellular structures is not seen in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes?

Possible Answers:

A cell wall

DNA

Ribosomes

Mitochondria

Correct answer:

Mitochondria

Explanation:

Prokaryotes do have organelles, but not complex, membrane-bound organelles. As a result, the membrane-bound mitochondria would not be seen in prokaryotes. Remember that plants are eukaryotes, and have cell walls just like prokaryotes. In addition, prokaryotes have ribosomes as well as DNA.

Example Question #1 : Understanding Eukaryotic And Prokaryotic Differences

Prokaryotes, but not eukaryotes, lack which of the following structures?

Possible Answers:

Flagella

Ribosomes

DNA

Mitochondria

Correct answer:

Mitochondria

Explanation:

Prokaryotes do not have membrane-bound organelles, such as mitochondria or an endoplasmic reticulum.

Flagella are hair-like structures that allow the cell to move, and are present in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Although prokaryotes don't have multiple chromosomes like eukaryotes, they do still have DNA in the form of a cyclic chromosome. Ribosomes are not bound by a membrane, and are essential to the process of translation, which creates proteins in the cell. Prokaryotes and eukaryotes possess ribosomes in order to form functional proteins.

Example Question #1 : Cellular Biology

Where does the electron transport chain occur in prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells, respectively?

Possible Answers:

The chloroplasts; the mitochondria

The mitochondria; the cellular membrane

The chloroplasts; the cellular membrane

The mitochondria; the mitochondria

The cellular membrane; the mitochondria

Correct answer:

The cellular membrane; the mitochondria

Explanation:

Prokaryotes, such as bacteria, do not contain membrane-bound organelles such as the nucleus, mitochondria, and chloroplasts that we might find in a eukaryotic cell. Since we know the electron transport chain (ETC) is important in providing cellular energy, prokaryotes must still perform some form of this process. The complexes of the ETC are found in the actual cellular membrane that separates the cell from the environment in prokaryotes, while they are found in the inner mitochondrial membrane in eukaryotes. Eukaryotes are then able to generate a proton gradient between the two mitochondrial membranes within the intermembrane space, while prokaryotes can generate a gradient between the cell membrane and cell wall.

Example Question #1 : Understanding Eukaryotic And Prokaryotic Differences

Prokaryotes and eukaryotes are defined by a series of differences. Which of the following structures is found in one class of cell, but not the other?

Possible Answers:

Cell wall

Plasma membrane

Ribosomes

Mitochondria

Correct answer:

Mitochondria

Explanation:

Prokaryotes do not have membrane-bound organelles, so they would not have mitochondria.

Cell walls and plasma membranes are found in both bacteria (prokaryotes) and plants (eukaryotes). Ribosomes are not bound by a membrane, and are mainly composed of rRNA; they are used for protein synthesis in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes.

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