MCAT SCIENCEWORKBOOK

BIOLOGY
QUESTIONSAND PASSAGES............................................................. 5
.............................................................................. 139
SOLUTIONS

PHYSICS
QUESTIONSAND PASSAGES......................................................... 223
..............................................................................353
SOLUTIONS

GENERAL CHEMISTRY
QUESTIONSAND PASSAGES.........................................................431

ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
QUESTIONS AND PASSAGES......................................................... 639
.............................................................................. 731
SOLUTIONS

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MCAT SCIENCE
BIOLOGY
Chapter MCAT Biological Sciences Review Corresponding MCAT Science Workbook
Number MCAT Bioloqy Chapter Title Passage Numbers
Molecular Biology
Microbiology
Generalized Eukaryotic Cells
Genetics and Evolution
Nervous and Endocrine Systems
Circulatory, Lymphatic, and Immune Systems
Digestive and Excretory Systems
Muscle and Skeletal Systems
Respiratory and Skin Systems
Reproductive Systems and Development

PHYSICS
Chapter MCAT Physical Sciences Review Corresponding MCAT Science Workbook
Number MCAT Physics Chapter Title Passage Numbers
Kinematics
Mechanics i
Mechanics I I
Mechanics III
Fluids and Elasticity of Solids
Electrostatics
Electricity and Magnetism
Oscillations and Waves
Sound
Light and Geometrical Optics

GENERAL CHEMISTRY
Chapter MCAT Physical Sciences Review Corresponding MCAT Science Workbook
Number MCAT General Chemistry Chapter Title Passage Numbers
Atomic Structure
Periodic Trends and Bonding
Phases
Gases
Solutions
Kinetics
Equilibrium
Acids and Bases
Thermodynamics
Redox and Electrochemistry

ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
Chapter MCAT Bioloaica! Sciences Review corresponding MCAT Science Workbook
Number MCAT Organic Chemistry Chapter Gtle Passage Numbers
Structure and Bonding
Substitution and Elimination Reactions
Electrophilic Addition Reactions
Nucleophilic Addition/Cycloaddition Reactions
Lab Techniques and Spectroscopy
Biologically-ImportantOrganic Chemistry
 PERIODIC TABLE OF THE ELEMENTS

MCAT SCIENCE
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MCAT BIOLOGY
Passage 1 (Questions 1-9)
Graph III Graph IV

Many membrane transport processes are not driven

directly by the hydrolysis of ATP. Instead, they are coupled
to the flow of an ion down its electrochemical gradient. For
example, glucose is transported into some animal cells by the ÑÑÑÑÑÑÑ IÑÑÑÑÑÃ
simultaneous entry of Na+. Sodium ions and glucose bind to
a specific transport protein and enter together. A protein time
JC
- time -
x

responsible for the concerted movement of two such species

is called a symport. An antiport carries two species in opposite
directions. The rate and extent of glucose transport depends
on the Na+ gradient across the plasma membrane. Sodium
ions entering the cell in the company of glucose are pumped
out again by the Na+/K+ATPase pump,

A group of researchers wished to gain information about

a type of bacteria that was known to take in glucose across its
cell membrane by use of a sodium-glucose cotransport
time -
x

mechanism. The researchers conducted two experiments in Figure 2 Glucose, Na*, and ATP concentrations in
which bacterial cells were placed in glucose-containing media medium
that differed with respect to relative ion concentration and
ATP content. Glycolysis was inhibited in the cells during
these experiments.
1. Within animal cells, the transport of Na+outof the cell
Experiment 1: by the Na+/K+ATPase pump involves:
Bacterial cells with relatively low intracellular sodium A. symport.
concentration were placed in a glucose-rich medium that had B. antiport.
a relatively high sodium concentration but no ATP. At C. facilitated diffusion.
regular time intervals, the medium was analyzed for glucose D. active transport.
concentration and sodium concentration. See Figure 1.

2. The results of Experiments 1 and 2 suggest that the cells

take up glucose:
A. in exchange for ATP, as long as extracellular
sodium concentration remains constant.
B. in exchange for sodium, as long as ATP
concentration is zero.
C. together with sodium, as long as a favorable sodium
time -
x
time -
x
concentration gradient is maintained.
D. together with sodium, as long as extracellular ATP
concentration is increasing.
Figure 1 Glucose and Na+ concentrations in medium
(no ATP in medium)
3. On the basis of Experiments 1 and 2, a researcher
hypothesized that all of the cells under study ultimately
depend on energy to operate the sodium-glucose
Experiment 2: cotransport mechanism. Is this hypothesis reasonable?
Bacterial cells with relatively low intracellular sodium A. No; Figure 1 indicates that glucose can cross the
concentration were placed in a glucose-rich medium that had cell membrane indefinitely in the absence of
a relatively high sodium concentration and that was also rich exogenous energy.
in ATP. At regular time intervals, the medium was analyzed B. No; Figure 2 indicates that extracellular glucose
for glucose, sodium, and ATP concentration. See Figure 2. and ATP concentrations are independent.
If radiolabeled ATP is used in this experiment, the majority C. Yes; Figure 1 indicates that a sodium gradient
of the radiolabel at the end of the experiment is found as ADP drives glucose transport, and Figure 2 indicates
inside the cells. that ATP maintains the sodium gradient.
D. Yes; Figures 1 and 2 indicate that glucose crosses
the cell membrane in exchange for phosphate.

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4. The results of Experiments 1 and 2 indicate that ATP 6. A student postulated that the glucose transport protein
promotes the cellular uptake of glucose by serving as a must be located exclusively on the outer surface of the
source of: cell membrane. Is this hypothesis necessarily true?

A. enzymes. A. Yes; transport proteins only occur on the outer

B. metabolic energy. surface of membranes.
C, inorganic phosphate. B. Yes; the hydrophobic tails of the lipid bilayer
D. carbohydrate. repel protein molecules.
C. No; transport proteins are located exclusively on
the inner surface of the lipid bilayer.
5. If, in Experiment 1. ATP had been added to the medium D. No; transport proteins may span the entire width
at time x, which of the following would represent the of the lipid bilayer.
appearance of Graphs I and II?

7. According to Figure 1, as sodium concentration in the

medium approaches the same concentration found in

L b
Graph I Graph I1 the cells, glucose concentration in the medium would:

A. remain at its original level, because sodium

c o n c e n t r a t i o n d o e s not a f f e c t glucose
concentration.
I B. increase, because less glucose is transported into
time - x
time - the bacterial cells.
C. level off, because a sodium gradient is not available
to drive cotransport.
D. approach zero, because glucose and sodium are

L Graph I transported together.

8. In Figure 1, if the initial Na+ concentration in the

medium were doubled, which graph below would best
ÑÑÑÑà depict the glucose concentration in the medium?
time -
x x
time -

time
x
. tune
x
-
x
time - x
time -
1 Graph I

time - time
x
-
x
time - x
time -
9. Based on the information in the passage, the first step
in the transport of sodium and glucose into a cell is:
A. binding of specific secreted proteins to sodium in
the surrounding medium.
B. direct hydrolysis of ATP in the cytoplasm by the
sodium-glucose cotransporter.
C. direct hydrolysis of ATP on the extracellular
surface by the sodium-glucose cotransporter.
D. binding of specific proteins in the membrane to
sodium and glucose in the surrounding medium.
Passage 2 (Questions 1-7)
Protein synthesis occurs either on free ribosomes o r
ribosomes bound to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER).
According to the signal hypothesis, it is the growing
polypeptide that cues the ribosomes to remain free or attach
to the ER. Proteins targetted to the ER, Golgi, lysosomes,
plasma membrane, or to be secreted contain a signal peptide
of 15 or more continuous amino acids. These N-terminus
signal peptides are responsible for the co-translational
insertion of the growing polypeptide into the membrane of
the ER. After the leading end of the protein is inserted into
the ER lumen, the signal peptide is cleaved by an enzyme.
Proteins destined for the secretory pathway are packaged
into vesicles that pinch off from the membrane of the ER and
fuse with the cis face of the Golgi apparatus. Often the
packaging of a protein into a transport vesicle requires the
presence of a region on the protein that is recognized by a
receptor in the Golgi membrane. This receptor-protein
complex will localize to a vesicle and target the vesicle to its
destination.
One of the best-characterized pathways of vesicular
transport involves proteins destined to become lysosomal
enzymes. These proteins carry a unique mannose-6-phosphate
(M6P) marker that is recognized by the specific M6P receptor
in the membrane of the Golgi apparatus. M6P receptors bind
proteins and sequester them along one region of the Golgi
membrane, facilitating their packaging into vesicles. Once
the vesicle has budded from the Golgi apparatus, it travels to
the lysosome, where it fuses with the lysosomal membrane.
The M6P receptor releases its bound protein when it
encounters the acidic pH of the interior of the lysosome. T h e
acidity of the lysosome also activates lysosomal enzymes.
1. Proteins that are to be secreted pass through what series
of organelles?
A. ER Ñ Golgi Ñ lysosomes Ñ plasma membrane
B. ER 4 Golgi -+ secretory vesicles
C. cytoplasm -+ Golgi 4 ER Ñ .secretory vesicles
D. ER Ñ secretory vesicles Ñ lysosomes
2. Where in the cell would the M6P receptor be transcribed?
A. In the nucleus
B. In the cytoplasm
C. In the rough ER
D. In the Golgi
3. The transport of proteins to the lysosomes requires Passage 3 (Questions 1- 6 )
which of the following?
The circulation of a fetus differs from that of a newborn
A. Acidic pH in the ER
infant in several important aspects.
B. Vesicle movement from the rough ER to the Golgi
C. Endocytosis First, unlike an infant's anatomy, fetal anatomy does not
D. Inhibition of signal peptidase provide direct contact between the fetus and the external
environment. The lungs of the fetus are collapsed and fluid-
filled, and do not function in respiration. Fetal respiration,
4. Which of the following enzymes would be expected to
nutritional and excretory functions are all performed by the
function well within an acidic environment?
placenta, which is essentially composed of interwoven fetal
and maternal capillaries. Maternal blood, however, does not
A. Signal peptidase
normally mix with fetal blood.
B. Trypsin
C. Pepsin Second, both sides of the fetal heart supply blood to the
D. Pancreatic lipase systemic circulation; hence, they work largely in parallel,
rather than in series as in an infant. While the lungs are fluid-
5. Which of the following processes would be disrupted in filled, the pulmonary vascular resistance is higher than the-
a cell that failed to label proteins with the M6P marker? systemic vascular resistance. Shunts between the left and
right atria and between the great arteries permit most of the
A. Intracellular digestion of macromolecules blood to bypass the lungs.
B. Protein synthesis
C. Oxidative phosphorylation Third, the fetus exists in hypoxic conditions relative to
D. Golgi formation those that exist after birth. To reach the fetal blood, oxygen
must diffuse through the placenta from the maternal blood
which has already oxygenated a substantial portion of .
6. If a protein that is destined to become a lysosomal maternal body tissue. The blood that perfuses the fetus is
enzyme were synthesized without a signal peptide, in about 67% saturated with oxygen. In the normal person, this
which of the following cellular regions would it is the approximate saturation of mixed venous blood returning
ultimately reside? to the lungs to be oxygenated. Blood that leaves the lungs of
the normal adult is about 95% to 98% saturated with oxygen.
A. The cytosol The lowest oxygen saturation of blood in the fetal circulation
B. The cell surface occurs in blood in the lower inferior vena cava. In the fetal
C. The mitochondria lamb, which furnishes a good model for the study of human
D. The peroxisomes fetal circulation, oxygen saturation of blood in the lower
inferior vena cava is 26%. Blood in the superior vena cava,
which comes mostly from the head, is only 3 1% saturated in
7. The ER lumen corresponds most closely to which of the the human fetus,
following compartments?
The fetus has two adaptations for surviving relative
A. The interior of the nucleus hypoxia: its cellular enzymes can function at low oxygen
B. The cytoplasm tensions, and fetal hemoglobin can deliver oxygen to the
C. The extracellular environment tissues despite low levels of oxygen saturation. These special
D. The intermembrane space in mitochondria properties are lost within a few days after birth, when normal
respiratory activities begin.
<

The brain of the human fetus is large relative to the rest

of the body, and its supply of oxygen is very important. The
fetal brain is perfused with highly-saturated blood from the
left ventricle. The output of the right ventricle, which is less
saturated, supplies the limbs and internal organs of the fetus.
1. At the placenta, C O should normally:
A. diffuse from the fetal side to the maternal side.
B. diffuse from the maternal side to the fetal side.
C. be of equal concentration on both the maternal and
fetal sides.
D. be of higher concentration on the maternal side
with no net diffusion between the maternal and
fetal sides.
5. Blood delivered to the fetus has a lower oxygen
concentration than does blood leaving the adult lung
because, before it reaches the placenta, maternal blood:
A. mixes with f e t a l blood of lower oxygen
concentration.
B. releases oxygen to the mother's own tissues.
C. gives up nutrients to the fetal circulation.
D. must pass through the right atrium and ventricle.

2. Some children persist in forming fetal hemoglobin for 6. Which of the following chambers of the fetal heart
months or even years after birth. Such children would supply blood to the systemic circulatory system?
likely:
A. Right atrium and right ventricle
A. be able to withstand environments having low B. Right atrium and left atrium
oxygen content. C. Left ventricle and right ventricle
B. be able to shunt blood from the right to the left side D. Left ventricle and right atrium
of the heart.
C. be unable to survive in the absence of an artificial
oxygen supply.
D. be unable to bear children.

3. A newborn infant is able to survive the loss of fetal

hemoglobin within a few days after birth because the
infant's:

A. blood continues to bypass the fluid-filled lungs.

B. circulatory system is independent of the mother's.
C. lungs have direct contact with oxygen in the
environment.
D. digestive and excretory systems become active.

4. In a pregnant woman with healthy lungs but impaired

circulation, her fetus may be at risk of suffering birth
defects because:

A. the placenta will show increased material perfusion.

3. the fetus cannot tolerate any compromising of the
blood supply to its internal organs.
C. the maternal alveoli may be deficient in oxygen
partial pressure.
D. fetal oxygen supply depends on maternal
circulation.
Passage 4 (Questions1-6)
The selective permeability of cell membranes plays an
important role in regulating the intracellular environment.
Ions can be transported across cell membranes by passive,
active, or facilitated processes.
Ionophores are small hydrophobic molecules that dissolve
in the lipid bilayer and increase its ion permeability. Most
are synthesized by microorganisms, presumably as biological
weapons, and some have been used as antibiotics. They have
been widely employed by cell biologists to increase membrane
permeability to specific ions in studies on synthetic bilayers,
cells, and cell organelles.
It is known that ionophores may be substance-specific.
That is, a given ionophore may promote cell membrane
permeability to one substance, but not to another.
An investigator sought to learn more about the charac-
teristics of a particular ionophore termed lonophore A.
Experiment 1:
Cells with relatively high internal calcium concentration
and low internal magnesium concentration were placed in an
aqueous medium of relatively low calcium concentration and
high magnesium concentration.
After several seconds had elapsed, the cells' internal ion
concentrations were evaluated, and it was found that internal
concentrations of calcium and magnesium had remained the
same.
Experiment 2 :
Experiment 2 was identical to Experiment 1 except that
the cell medium was infused, also, with Ionophore A.
The cells' internal ion concentrations were evaluated,
and it was found that the internal concentration of calcium
had remained the same but that the internal concentration of
magnesium had increased subs tantially.
1. Across which of the following cell types would the
inward diffusion of water be most pronounced under
normal conditions?
A. Epithelial cells of the stomach
B. Epithelial cells of the large intestine
C. Endothelial cells of the alveolar capillaries
D. Cornified cells of the skin
2. If, in Experiment 1, the cells were placed in a hypotonic
medium, and if the cells were permeable to water and
magnesium, then the cells would most likely have:
A. increased in calcium concentration to compensate
for a deficit in positive charge.
B. decreased in calcium concentration by intake of
water.
C. decreased in size by losing both calcium and
magnesium ions.
D. decreased in size by losing water passively along
a concentration gradient.
3. A graduate student suggested that a neuron at resting
potential might be induced to undergo an action potential
by exposure to a sodium-specific ionophore. Is this a
reasonable hypothesis?
A. Yes, the ionophore would excite a threshold
reaction i n the neuron's Schwann cells.
B. Yes, an action potential occurs when threshold
depolarization causes voltage-gated channels to
open.
C. No, an action potential requires a reduced
permeability to sodium ions.
D. No, an action potential is triggered by active
transport of sodium along the myelin sheath.
4. If, in either Experiment 1or Experiment 2, the cells had
decreased their internal concentration of magnesium, it
would indicate that they had undergone a process in
which:
A. ATP had been converted to ADP.
B. Ca2+entered the cell.
C. carbohydrates had been synthesized.
D. ~ o l t a g e ~ g a t eion
d channels had opened.
 5. The results of Experiments 1 and 2 would most justify
the researcher's conclusion that: Questions 1 through 1 1 are NOT based on a
descriptive passage.
A. Ionophore A would not be a useful antibiotic.
B. Ionophore A is specific to positively-charged ions,
since it altered sodium permeability but not 1. All of the following are key processes in the production
magnesium permeability. of energy in the mitochondrion EXCEPT:
C. ionophores facilitate movement only in accordance
with existing concentration gradients. A. glycolysis.
D. in order to be effective, ionophores require the B. the citric acid cycle.
active assistance of the cell's sodium-potassium C. electron transport.
D. oxidative phosphorylation.
pump.

6. If a given cell were persistently engaged in active 2. When it is time to breed, salmon travel from saltwater,
transport, its cytoplasm would most likely be rich in: in which they are hypotonic, to freshwater, in which
they are hypertonic. They maintain solute balance by
A. smooth endoplasmic reticulum. reversing their osmoregulatory machinery when moving
B. lysosomes. between the two environments. Failure to reverse this
C. centrioles. machinery when moving to their breeding grounds would
D. mitochondria. most likely result in:

A. death, as cells became too concentrated to carry

out normal metabolism.
B. death, as cells underwent lysis due to water influx.
C. improved metabolic activity, a s enzyme
concentrations increased.
D. no change, because movement from a hypertonic
to a hypotonic medium does not present osmotic
challenges.

3. A hormone is discovered that rapidly accumulates inside

renal cells in the absence of endocytosis when
administered to mice intravenously. The hormone is
most likely a:

A. polypeptide.
B. steroid.
C. second messenger.
D. neurotransmitter.

4. The ratio of guanine-cytosine (G-C) pairs to adenine-

thymine (A-T) pairs is useful in laboratory manipulation
of double-stranded DNA. If a segment of DNA has a
low G-C : A-T ratio, it would be reasonable to assume
that this segment would:

A. contain more guanine than cytosine.

B. contain more adenine than thymine.
C. require more energy to separate the two DNA
strands than would a comparable segment of DNA
having a high G-C : A-T ratio.
D. require less energy to separate the two DNA strands
than would a comparable segment of DNA having
a high G-C : A-T ratio.

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5. What organelle would be most closely associated with
exocytosis of newly synthesized secretory protein?
A. Lysosomes
B. Golgi apparatus
C. Perbxisomes
D. Ribosomes
6. It is known that the developing frog embryo requires
greater protein production than the adult organism. If
cells from a developing frog embryo and from a mature
frog were examined, would the investigator find the
greater rate of translation in cells of the embryo or of
the adult?
A. Embryo, because a developing organism requires
a higher rate of translation than does an adult
B. Embryo, because ribosomal production is not yet
under regulatory control by DNA
C. Adult, because ribosomal productio.n is more
efficient in a mature organism
D. Adult, because a mature organism has more
complex metabolic requirements
7. Colchicine is a compound which interferes with the
formation of microtubules. Which of the following
would be affected LEAST by the administration of
colchicine?
A. Mitotic spindles
B. Flagellae
C . Organelle movement
D. Amoeboid motility of cells
8. Clathrin, a substance that aggregates on the cytoplasmic
side of cell membranes, is responsible for the
coordinated pinching off of membrane in receptor-
mediated endocytosis. A lipid-soluble toxin that
inactivates clathrin would be associated with:
A. reduced delivery of polypeptide hormones to
endosomes.
3. increased secretion of hormone into t.he
extracellular fluid.
C. increased protein production on the rough
endoplasmic reticulum.
D. an increase in ATP consumption.
9. In Kartagener's syndrome, defective dynein is produced
causing a paralysis of microtubule-based movement of
flagellae and cilia. One could expect to find all of the
following outcomes EXCEPT:
A. male infertility.
B. ectopic pregnancy in women.
C. chronic lung infections.
D. failure to ovulate in women.
10. If erythrocytes are placed into a hypertonic solution,
they will:
A. hemolyze.
B. remain the same.
C . swell up.
D. shrivel.
11. A codon is a segment of an mRNA molecule that codes
for one amino acid in a polypeptide chain formed
during protein synthesis. Which of the following
correctly describes the chain of events that occurs in
the synthesis of a polypeptide?
A. Specific RNA codons cause amino acids to line up
in a specific order; tRNA anticodons attach to
mRNA codons; rRNA codons cause protein
molecules to cleave into specific amino acids.
B. DNA generates mRNA in the nucleus; mRNA
moves to the cytoplasm and attaches to a tRNA
anticodon; an operon regulates the sequence of
events that causes amino acids to line up in their
appropriate order.
C. DNA generates tRNA; the tRNA anticodon attaches
to the mRNA codon in the cytoplasm; tRNA is
carried by mRNA to the ribosomes, causing amino
acids to join together in a specific order.
D. DNA generates mRNA; mRNA moves to the
ribosomes, where a tRNA anticodon binds to an
mRNA codon, causing amino acids to join together
in their appropriate order.