All High School Biology Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #3 : Photosynthesis
Which of the following does not show a simplified version of the photosynthesis reaction?
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.
Example Question #4 : Photosynthesis
Which of the following statements about the Calvin cycle is false?
The Calvin cycle is the second set of reactions in photosynthesis
The Calvin cycle occurs within the stroma of the chloroplast
The Calvin cycle binds carbon atoms from carbon dioxide sources into organic compounds
The Calvin cycle releases oxygen as a byproduct
The Calvin cycle releases oxygen as a byproduct
The Calvin cycle is the second set of biochemical reactions in photosynthesis and follows the light reactions. The light reactions function to use photons and water to generate NADPH, oxygen, and water. The NADPH can then be used to power the Calvin cycle, which uses the energy stored in ATP and NADPH during light reactions to generate organic molecules for energy. The light reactions take place in the chloroplasts, but the Calvin cycle takes place in the stroma and is not dependent on light. The final result of the Calvin cycle is to use energy to bind reactant carbon dioxide to produce glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate (G3P), a three-carbon sugar. G3P is then used to build sucrose, starch, and cellulose for energy storage and metabolism.
Example Question #4 : Photosynthesis
What is the function of rubisco during the Calvin cycle?
It catalyzes the carboxylation of RuBP
It regenerates RuBP
It carries the prepared glucose to surrounding cells
It produces G3P molecules
It captures photons and uses them to generate ATP
It catalyzes the carboxylation of RuBP
Rubisco is an enzyme that helps add carbon dioxide to RuBP molecules. This in turn forms an unstable inermediate compound, which immediately breaks into two 3-PGA molecules.
Example Question #2 : Understanding The Calvin Cycle
Some plants can fix carbon through an alternative pathway called the C4 pathway. What is the key advantage of the C4 pathway?
Production of more RuBP to fuel the Calvin cycle
It provides a feedback mechanism to split more water during the light reaction
Fixing carbon with less water loss compared to C3 plants
The combination of both C3 and C4 pathways allows the plant to grow faster
Fixing carbon with less water loss compared to C3 plants
The key characteristic of the C4 pathway is that is produces oxaloacetate and four-carbon sugars from carbon dioxide, compared to the Calvin cycle of most plants, which generates glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate and three-carbon sugars.
The C4 pathway fixes carbon dioxide into four-carbon compounds, thus the name. Pores on the plant called stomata regulate how much carbon dioxide, oxygen, and water enter and leave the plant and are usually partially closed during the hottest part of the day to conserve water. This yields a low carbon dioxide level and high oxygen level, which inhibits carbon fixation by the Calvin cycle. Plants that use the C4 pathway have an enzyme that can efficiently fix carbon to four-carbon compounds when the carbon dioxide level is low. The four-carbon compounds are then transported to other cells, where carbon dioxide is released and can enter the Calvin cycle.
Plants that use the C4 pathway are better adapted to hot and dry conditions, as they can fix carbon with less loss of water. Examples of C4 plants are corn and crabgrass.
Example Question #1 : Understanding The Calvin Cycle
In the chemical reaction of photosynthesis, photoautotrophs combine carbon dioxide and water to produce sugar and which of the following?
Oxygen
Ethyl alcohol
ATP
Methane
Oxygen
Sugar (glucose) and oxygen are the two products of photosynthesis. Methane is a gas consisting of carbon and hydrogen. ATP is the energy produced in the organelle mitochondria. Ethyl alcohol is the active substance in beer and wine that causes intoxication if too much is consumed.
Example Question #5 : Photosynthesis
Which of the following is an example of an anabolic pathway?
Photosynthesis
Glycolysis
Fatty acid decarboxylation
All of these
Citric acid cycle
Photosynthesis
An anabolic pathway is a pathway in which smaller molecules are combined to form larger ones. This type of pathway usually requires energy to complete the combinations required. Photosynthesis is an example of this, because it combines carbon dioxide molecules to form glucose. The rest of the listed processes are catabolic pathways.
Example Question #3 : Photosynthesis
Some plants can fix carbon through an alternative pathway called the C4 pathway. What is the key advantage of the C4 pathway?
It provides a feedback mechanism to split more water during the light reaction
The combination of both C3 and C4 pathways allows the plant to grow faster
Production of more RuBP to fuel the Calvin cycle
Fixing carbon with less water loss compared to C3 plants
Fixing carbon with less water loss compared to C3 plants
The key characteristic of the C4 pathway is that is produces oxaloacetate and four-carbon sugars from carbon dioxide, compared to the Calvin cycle of most plants, which generates glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate and three-carbon sugars.
The C4 pathway fixes carbon dioxide into four-carbon compounds, thus the name. Pores on the plant called stomata regulate how much carbon dioxide, oxygen, and water enter and leave the plant and are usually partially closed during the hottest part of the day to conserve water. This yields a low carbon dioxide level and high oxygen level, which inhibits carbon fixation by the Calvin cycle. Plants that use the C4 pathway have an enzyme that can efficiently fix carbon to four-carbon compounds when the carbon dioxide level is low. The four-carbon compounds are then transported to other cells, where carbon dioxide is released and can enter the Calvin cycle.
Plants that use the C4 pathway are better adapted to hot and dry conditions, as they can fix carbon with less loss of water. Examples of C4 plants are corn and crabgrass.
Example Question #1 : Transport And Signaling
What type of transport involves the cell engulfing matter from the outside environment?
Diffusion
Pinocytosis
Phagocytosis
Exocytosis
Phagocytosis
Phagocytosis is the event of a cell engulfing particular matter from outside the cell and bringing it into the cell. Macrophages are the most prominent phagocytic cells, and help to eliminate pathogens and bacteria through phagocytosis.
Pinocytosis allows extracellular fluid to enter the cell, using invaginations on the cell membrane to create vesicles. Exocytosis involves vesicles leaving the cell, not entering. Diffusion is the passive transport of substances across the membrane and does not involve vesicles.
Example Question #1 : Understanding Endocytosis And Exocytosis
Which of the following normally gets exocytosed from a cell?
Hormones
DNA
RNA
Cytoplasmic constituents
Integral membrane proteins
Hormones
Exocytosis is a process by which the cell packages content and secretes it from the cell in a vesicle. Hormones, which act on cells far away from where they are produced, will travel out of the cell to reach their target tissues and organs. Vesicles of hormones will fuse with the membrane of the cell and release the hormone into the blood for transport.
DNA, RNA, and cytoplasmic constituents do not leave the cell and would not be exocytosed. Integral membrane proteins are placed in the membrane via vesicle fusion, but are not exocytosed in the process.
Example Question #3 : Understanding Endocytosis And Exocytosis
Particle A is observed to be brought into the cell through endocytosis. This means that the destination of particle A is most likely ___________.
the cytosol because it is being transported via a vesicle
one of the membrane-bound organelles because vesicles aren’t involved
one of the membrane-bound organelles because it is being transported via a vesicle
the cytosol because vesicles aren’t involved
one of the membrane-bound organelles because it is being transported via a vesicle
There are two topologically different structures inside the cell: the lumen and the cytosol. Lumen consists of the inside of the organelles and the inside of vesicles. Cytosol consists of the fluid that surrounds the organelles.
The questions states that particle A undergoes endocytosis. In endocytosis particles from outside of the cell are brought to the inside of the cell by vesicles that bud off from the cell membrane. These vesicles deliver the particles to the target organelle. The vesicles fuse with the organelle’s membrane and the particles are released into the lumen of the organelle. These particles never make contact with the cytosol side of the cell; therefore, the best answer is that particle A is destined for one of the membrane-bound organelles because it is being transported via a vesicle. This mechanism is also relevant for exocytosis. Secretory vesicles carry contents from inside the cell to the outside, without letting the contents touch the cytosol.