Name: _________________________________ Date: _____/_____/_____

SBS22X – AP Biology H. Pao, Instructor

AP BIOLOGY FINAL EXAM

(SPRING 2016)

PART I: Multiple Choice (50 points) -- Suggested time: 30 minutes

Directions: 2 points each. Write the number of the correct answer on the line provided ON THE ANSWER SHEET (Last
page). No partial credit.

PART II: Extended Response (50 points) – Suggested time: 60 minutes

Directions: Write your answers on a separate piece of paper. Partial credit.

TOTAL EXAM TIME: 90 MINUTES

PART I: MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS (50 points total)

MARK ALL ANSWERS ON THE ANSWER SHEET ON THE LAST PAGE.

1. In an experiment on birds learning to sing, young male chicks were exposed only to the songs sung by another
species. Later, as they approached maturity, songs of their own species were played to them. When the birds
reached maturity, they were able to sing neither the typical song of their species nor the full song of the second
species. Which of the following accounts for this result?

A. Birds innately sing the song typical of their species.

B. Birds pass through a critical period early in life when learning their species-typical song is possible.
C. Birds can learn their typical song if they hear it at any time.
D. Birds must be able to practice their song in order to develop it.
E. Birds are capable of imitating any song that they hear.

2. The different species of finches on the Galapagos islands are believed to have arisen as a result of natural
selection acting on populations of finches that had experienced

A. convergent evolution D. geographic isolation

B. gene flow E. hybrid sterility
C. the bottleneck effect

3. The least effective means of controlling pest species such as rats or roaches over a long period of time is
generally to

A. limit food supplies

B. reduce the number of potential habitats
C. distribute pesticides throughout the habitat
D. introduce predators of the pest
E. introduce a disease which affects only the pest

4. Most cells that have been transformed into cancer cells have which of the following characteristics when
compared to normal, healthy cells?

A. Shorter cell cycle

B. More carefully regulated rates of cell division
C. Lower rates of mitosis
D. Higher rates of protein translation
E. Identical DNA

5. If organisms A, B, and C belong to the same order but to different families and if organisms D, E and F belong to
the same family but to different genera, which of the following pairs of organisms would be expected to show the
greatest degree of structural homology?

A. A & B B. A & C C. B & D D. C & F E. E & F

6. Which of the following statements regarding coenzymes is true?

A. They are essential for metabolic reactions in animals but not in plants.
B. They can facilitate metabolic reactions by combining with enzymes at their active site.
C. They are minerals that alter the pH of cells and thus increase the probability of chemical reactions.
D. They are synthesized in the rough endoplasmic reticulum of eukaryotic cells.
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E. They typically work best at temperatures below 37 C.

7. Which of the following terms refers to both the movement of a ribosome along a piece of mRNA and the
movement of a piece of one chromosome to another chromosome?

A. Transduction B. Transgenesis C. Transformation D. Translocation E. Transplantation

8. Which of the following hormones is directly responsible for the maintenance of the uterine lining during pregnancy
in mammals?

A. melatonin B. oxytocin C. progesterone D. prolactin E. Follicle-stimulating hormone

9. Which of the following provides the weakest evidence that mitochondria were once free-living prokaryotes?

A. Mitochondrial ribosomes resemble those of prokaryotes.

B. Mitochondria have DNA that is circular and does not have associated protein.
C. Enzyme pathways on mitochondrial membranes resemble those found on modern prokaryote
membranes.
D. Mitochondria reproduce by a process similar to binary fission.
E. Mitochondria and prokaryotes both are found in a variety of sizes.

10. Analysis of DNA sequences from two individuals of the same species results in a greater estimate of genetic
variability than does analysis of amino acid sequences from the same individuals because

A. different DNA sequences can code for the same amino acid
B. some amino acid variations cannot be detected by protein electrophoresis
C. DNA sequencing is a more reliable technique than protein electrophoresis
D. proteins are more easily damaged than is DNA
E. DNA is more heat-sensitive and therefore varies more

11. Which of the following best describes the cells that result from the process of meiosis in mammals?

A. They are diploid.

B. They can be used to repair injuries.
C. They are genetically different from the parent cell.
D. They are genetically identical to all the other cells in the body.
E. They are identical to each other.

12. The function of which of the following structures is NOT directly related to diffusion or active transport across its
membranes?

A. Aorta B. Small intestine C. Nephron tubule D. Capillary E. Alveolus

13. A part of the brain used in the transfer of information from one cerebral hemisphere to the other is the

A. medulla oblongata D. hypothalamus

B. corpus callosum E. pituitary
C. cerebellum

14. Fruits often ripen faster when placed in closed paper bags because of the effect of

A. cytokinin B. abscisic acid C. CO2 D. gibberellin E. ethylene

15. Simple diffusion and facilitated diffusion are related in that both

A. require protein carriers

B. depend on a concentration gradient
C. occur via contractions of cytoskeletal elements attached to membrane proteins
D. are endergonic processes and thus require the hydrolysis of ATP
E. occur in eukaryotic cells but not in prokaryotic cells
16. Which of the following statements about mitochondrial chemiosmosis is NOT true?

A. A proton gradient is established across the inner membrane of the mitochondrion.

B. The potential energy released from the mitochondrial proton gradient is used to produce ATP.
C. The mitochondrial proton gradient provides energy for muscle contraction.
D. Proteins embedded in the inner mitochondrial membrane play an important role in ATP synthesis.
E. Heat energy is required to establish the electron transport chain.

17. Which of the following processes is associated with some prokaryotic cells but not with eukaryotic cells?

A. Photosynthesis D. Nitrogen fixation

B. Aerobic respiration E. Endocytosis
C. Meiosis

18. Certain metabolic pathways are affected by the buildup of a product which interacts with an enzyme catalyzing
one of the initial steps of the pathway; this can be an example of

A. transcriptional regulation D. feedback inhibition

B. thermodynamic regulation E. posttranslational modification
C. translational regulation

19. All of the following statements about neurotransmitters are generally true EXCEPT:

A. They may cause depolarization or hyperpolarization of the postsynaptic membrane.

B. They are actively transported across the synaptic cleft.
C. They are released from membrane-bound packets called vesicles.
D. They may be enzymatically degraded at the postsynaptic membrane.
E. They bind to specific receptors on the postsynaptic membrane.

20. A customer observed that particular potted plant in a restaurant was bigger and greener than other plants in the
room. When asked, the owner said that he poured leftover club soda (carbonated water) into the plant’s pot every
day. Which of the following best explains how the club soda affected that plant’s growth?

A. The basic pH of the club soda caused the plant to grow rapidly.
B. The temperature of the club soda promoted faster growth.
C. Oxygen bubbles from the club soda oxygenated the soil.
D. The roots absorbed the CO2 necessary for photosynthesis.
E. The roots received more moisture, and the leaves were exposed to more CO2.

21. Which of the following is correct concerning a spherical cell?

A. As the diameter decreases, the surface area remains the same.

B. As the diameter decreases, the surface area increases.
C. As the diameter decreases, the surface-to-volume ratio increases.
D. As the diameter increases, the volume decreases.
E. The surface-to-volume ratio is independent of the diameter.

22. All of the following could reduce the yield of photosynthetic products EXCEPT

A. lower concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

B. increased photorespiration
C. reduced carbon dioxide concentrations in the air spaces of the leaf
D. increased frequency of stomatal openings
E. fewer Calvin cycle enzymes
 23. Coat color in mice is determined by genes at two loci. When black mice from a particular population mate, they
produce offspring in the following ratios: 9 black : 3 brown : 4 white. These results suggest that white coat color is
expressed as a result of

A. dominance D. a sex-linked trait

B. incomplete dominance E. epistasis
C. codominance

24. Which of the following can be diagnosed by examining a karyotype of an individual’s white blood cells?

A. Sickle cell anemia D. Cystic fibrosis

B. Alzheimer disease E. Duchenne muscular dystrophy
C. Down syndrome

25. In mammals, a decrease in body temperature results in which of the following responses?

A. Release of thyroxine decreases the rate of metabolism.

B. Blood vessels close to the surface of the skin constrict.
C. Increased secretion of epinephrine restricts the amount of sugar released into the circulatory system.
D. The adrenal glands increase the release of acetylcholine into the circulatory system.
E. Blood vessels in deep muscles constrict so that heat is conserved.

END OF PART I.

PART II: EXTENDED RESPONSE (50 points total) – Please write your answers on a separate piece of paper.

26. Organisms utilize a diversity of methods to obtain proper nutrition.

a. Some organisms digest food intracellularly, while others digest food extracellularly.
i: (5 points) Identify ONE nonvertebrate organism that digests food intracellularly and describe the
process.
ii: (5 points) Identify ONE nonvertebrate organism that digests food extracellularly and describe the
process.

b. (10 points) Describe TWO structural features of the human stomach and/or small intestine. For each, describe
how the structure relates to the function.

c. (10 points) Plants have a variety of mechanisms for obtaining nutrients. Describe TWO plant structures and
explain how each structure is utilized in nutrient uptake.

27. Homeostatic maintenance of optimal blood glucose levels has been intensively studied in vertebrate organisms.

a. (5 points) Pancreatic hormones regulate glucose levels. Identify TWO pancreatic hormones and describe the
effect of each hormone on blood glucose levels.

b. (10 points) For ONE of the hormones you identified in (a), identify ONE target cell and discuss the mechanism
by which the hormone can alter activity in that target cell. Include in your discussion a description of reception,
cellular transduction, and response.

c. (5 points) Compare the cell-signaling mechanisms of steroid hormones and protein hormones.

END OF PART II.

PART I ANSWER SHEET

Put an X through the letter of the correct answer. At first, start with a pencil so you can erase any mistakes. When
you are sure of your answers, go over the pencil mark using a pen or a marker.

Question Question
Number Number

1 A B C D E 14 A B C D E

2 A B C D E 15 A B C D E

3 A B C D E 16 A B C D E

4 A B C D E 17 A B C D E

5 A B C D E 18 A B C D E

6 A B C D E 19 A B C D E

7 A B C D E 20 A B C D E

8 A B C D E 21 A B C D E

9 A B C D E 22 A B C D E

10 A B C D E 23 A B C D E

11 A B C D E 24 A B C D E

12 A B C D E 25 A B C D E

13 A B C D E