AP Biology : Understanding Carbohydrates
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Biology
All AP Biology Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #21 : Understanding Carbohydrates
Which of the following is defined as a polysaccharide energy source stored by animals?
None of these
Glycogen
Cellulose
Starch
Glycogen
Glycogen is a polysaccharide used as energy storage in animals. Glycogen is a polymer made up of glucose units and undergoes hydrolysis to release glucose when demand for sugar increases.
Example Question #21 : Macromolecules
Which of the following is a major component found in the walls that enclose plant cells?
Starch
Chitin
Glycogen
Cellulose
Cellulose
The polysaccharide cellulose is a major component of plant cell walls. Similar to starch, cellulose is made up of glucose though the linkages in the polymers are different.
Example Question #51 : Ap Biology
Which of the following is a component of starch, cellulose, and glycogen?
Amino acids
Protein
Lipids
Glucose
Glucose
Starch, cellulose and glycogen are all made up of units of glucose; however, their overall structures and configurations differ.
Example Question #21 : Understanding Carbohydrates
Which of the following is true of amino acids, but not of carbohydrates?
The presence of nitrogen atoms
The presence of hydrogen atoms
The presence of oxygen atoms
They are linked together by covalent bonds through dehydration synthesis
The presence of carbon atoms
The presence of nitrogen atoms
Amino acids get the first half of their names from the presence of an amine group 
Example Question #21 : Understanding Carbohydrates
Which of the following molecules is unique to arthropods and some types of fungi?
Cellulose
Chitin
Glycogen
Starch
Chitin
Arthropods use the polysaccharide chitin to build their exoskeletons. Certain types of fungi also use chitin instead of cellulose for building their cell walls.
Example Question #53 : Ap Biology
Arthropods use which of the following carbohydrates to construct their exoskeletons?
Cellulose
Starch
Chitin
Glycogen
Chitin
Chitin is a structural polysaccharide used by arthropods to build their exoskeletons. Chitin is also found in fungi as well. Cellulose is the structural component found in the cell walls of plants.
Example Question #51 : Biochemical Concepts
Which of the following is an example of a polysaccharide?
Wax
Hemoglobin
DNA
Chitin
Chitin
Chitin is a type of polysaccharide that is present in the exoskeletons of arthropods, and is the primary substance of the cell wall of fungi. In general, polysaccharides are chains of simple sugars. Another example of a polysaccharide is starch. Waxes are types of lipids. Hemoglobin is a protein, which is made of amino acids. DNA is a nucleic acid, which is a polymer of nucleotides.
Example Question #51 : Ap Biology
Which of the following are true of glycogen?
I. Glucagon stimulates its breakdown
II. It is a polysaccharide of fructose
III. It is found in plant cell walls
III only
II only
I, II, and III
I only
I and II
I only
The pancreas secretes glucagon to stimulate the breakdown of glycogen; insulin is secreted to stimulate its assembly in liver and muscle. Glycogen is, in fact, a polysaccharide. However, it is made up of glucose not fructose. Finally, plant cell walls contain cellulose. While similar to glycogen, cellulose is made of beta glucose linkages instead of alpha glucose linkages, causing cellulose to be a more linear polysaccharide while glycogen contains curving branches.
Example Question #54 : Ap Biology
Which of the following best describes the form that sugar is stored as in the human body?
None of these
DNA
Protein
Cellulose
Glycogen
Glycogen
Glucose is collectively stored in chains called glycogen. Glycogen can be broken down via glycogenolysis into individual glucose monomers, which the body can catabolize and convert to energy—ATP.
Example Question #61 : Biochemical Concepts
Which of the following is a monosaccharide?
Glucose
Sucrose
Starch
Maltose
Glucose
Glucose is a monosaccharide, consisting of one 6-carbon ring. Sucrose and maltose are disaccharides, and starch is a polysaccharide chain of glucose units.
Certified Tutor
Certified Tutor
All AP Biology Resources
