High School Biology : Cell Biology

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for High School Biology

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Example Questions

Example Question #13 : Cell Respiration

Which process of aerobic respiration does not use substrate-level phosphorylation in order to make ATP?

Possible Answers:

Glycolysis

All options use substrate-level phosphorylation

The citric acid cycle

The electron transport chain

Correct answer:

The electron transport chain

Explanation:

The electron transport chain is used to pump protons into the intermembrane space. This establishes a proton gradient, allowing protons to be pumped through ATP synthase in order to create ATP. This method of ATP production is called oxidative phosphorylation.

The other two metabolic processes, glycolysis and the citric acid cycle, use substrate-level phosphorylation to generate ATP. Substrate-level phosphorylation uses enzymes to create ATP from ADP, while oxidative phosphorylation uses the proton gradient to drive ATP synthase.

Example Question #14 : Cell Respiration

Where does oxygen, the final electron acceptor, accept the electrons?

Possible Answers:

During the TCA cycle

In glycolysis

During pyruvate decarboxylation

During the citric acid cycle

In the electron transport chain

Correct answer:

In the electron transport chain

Explanation:

NADH and FADH2 are produced during glycolysis and the citric acid cycle. Electrons from these molecules are donated to proteins of the electron transport chain. The electrons interact with the proteins, helping them push protons into the intermembrane space. This accumulation of protons is what powers ATP synthesis via oxidative phosphorylation. When the electron reaches the final protein of the electron transport chain, it binds with oxygen to produce water.

Pyruvate decarboxylation convert pyruvate to acetyl CoA before the citric acid cycle. The TCA cycle is another name for the citric acid cycle.

Example Question #121 : Cell Biology

What is the primary function of the electron transport chain?

Possible Answers:

To give oxygen the final electrons and create water

To directly make ATP

To bring phosphates across the membrane

All of these are functions of the electron transport chain

To shift protons into the intermembrane space

Correct answer:

To shift protons into the intermembrane space

Explanation:

The electron transport chain is primarily used to send protons across the membrane into the intermembrane space. This create a proton-motive force, which will drive ATP synthase in the final step of cellular respiration to create ATP from ADP and a phosphate group. This final process is known as oxidative phosphorylation.

The electron is passed through proteins in the electron transport chain. With each subsequent protein, more electrons are transferred to the intermembrane space of the mitochondrion. Though oxygen is the final electron acceptor, generating water from oxygen is not the primary function of the electron transport chain.

Example Question #1 : Understanding The Electron Transport Chain

The electron transport chain is responsible for generating the proton gradient that powers the production of ATP. To where do the proteins of the electron transport chain pump these protons?

Possible Answers:

The cytosol

The intermembrane space

The mitochondrial matrix

The outer mitochondrial membrane

Correct answer:

The intermembrane space

Explanation:

As electrons move down the electron transport chain, protein pumps are provided the energy to pump protons into the intermembrane space of the mitochondrion.

The result is a high concentration of protons in the intermembrane space and a low concentration in the mitochondrial matrix. The difference in concentration and charge balance results in an electrochemical gradient, pulling protons into the mitochondrial matrix. ATP synthase is able to use this pulling force to activate enzymatic activity and generate ATP.

Example Question #2 : Understanding The Electron Transport Chain

Which of the following is not critical in ATP formation through aerobic respiration?

Possible Answers:

Double membrane

ATP synthase

Proton gradient

Electron carriers

Lactic acid

Correct answer:

Lactic acid

Explanation:

This question primarily tests your knowledge of the Electron Transport Chain, which is responsible for the majority of ATP synthesis. The Electron Transport Chain relies on the delivery of electrons from electron carriers. ATP is formed through the movement of protons down their gradient through a ATP synthase protein. The formation of the proton gradient is accomplished via a double membrane in the mitochondria. Lactic Acid is not present in aerobic respiration, instead it is a derivative of fermentation. 

Example Question #5 : Understanding The Electron Transport Chain

Which of the following is the final electron accepter of the electron transport chain?

Possible Answers:

NADH

Oxygen

Hydrogen

ATP

Correct answer:

Oxygen

Explanation:

Molecular oxygen——is the final electron accepter in cellular respiration and acts as an oxidizing agent. 

Example Question #1 : Photosynthesis

Which of the following is a product of photosynthesis?

Possible Answers:

Carbon dioxide

Water

Nitrogen

Hydrogen

Oxygen

Correct answer:

Oxygen

Explanation:

Photosynthesis is the biological process by which plants convert sunlight energy into chemical energy. The main product is the simple sugar glucose. The bonds in glucose can be broken and used for energy by the plants. The formula for photosynthesis is:

The reactants are carbon dioxide, water, and light energy. The products are glucose and oxygen.

Example Question #1 : Understanding Light Reactions

In the given chemical process, what does  represent?

Possible Answers:

Carbon hydroxide

Chlorophyll

Carbonated water

Carbohydrate

Correct answer:

Carbohydrate

Explanation:

Carbohydrates are formed from carbon chains with a single oxygen group (either an aldehyde or a ketone). Carbohydrates have the general empirical formula . This formula can be used to designate a nonspecific carbohydrate molecule.

The process described is the conversion of light energy to chemical energy through photosynthesis. Chlorophyll serves as a functional pigment in this process, but is not involved in the net reaction. Carbonated water is formed from dissolved carbon dioxide in water, and is actually a solution of the two compounds. Carbon hydroxide is a misnomer, and does not refer to a real compound.

Example Question #1 : Photosynthesis

During the light-dependent reaction, the electron in __________ is __________ before the electron in  _________.

Possible Answers:

photosystem II. . . excited. . . photosystem I

photosystem II. . . oxidized. . . photosystem III

photosystem I. . . excited. . . photosystem II

photosystem I. . . removed. . . photosystem III

Correct answer:

photosystem II. . . excited. . . photosystem I

Explanation:

Contrary to their assigned numbers, the electron in photosystem II is excited before the electron in photosystem I. Their numbers are a reflection of the order in which they were discovered. 

Example Question #1 : Photosynthesis

Which of the following does not show a simplified version of the photosynthesis reaction?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

There are several ways that the photosynthesis reaction is often written. A common form shows carbon dioxide and water combining, with the help of energy from the sun, to produce sugar and oxygen.

Often the reaction will be simplified to remove the coefficients of the molecules, or the reaction will be written in words instead of chemical symbols. NADP is converted to NADPH during photosynthesis, but may or may not be included in the reaction.

The incorrect reaction in the answer choices reverses the carbon dioxide and oxygen. Remember that the reaction must contain carbon on both sides of the equation in order to be balanced; carbon dioxide cannot be on the same side as glucose. The overall purpose of photosynthesis is to convert carbon, in the form of carbon dioxide from the air, into usable sugar. In terms of a reaction equation, this means that carbon dioxide is a reactant on the left side and sugar is a product on the right side.

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