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NMAT REVIEW 2018 a. the DNA of the viral genome is less stable than ot her viral
GENERAL BIOLOGY MODULE B
1. Cell, the basic unit of life can be divided into two groups,
prokaryotic and eukaryotic, based on fundamental
differences in their organization and size. As a cell increa ses
in size,
a. its volume increases more rapidly than its surface area.
b. its surface area increases more rapidly than its volume
c. its volume increases at the same rate as its surface area.
d. the relationship between the rate of increase in its
volume and that of its surface area cannot be determined
2. Bacteria are the oldest and most abundant organisms on
earth. The maintenance of life depends on them, since they
play a vital role both in productivity and cycling the
substances essential
essential to all other life forms.
forms. The only
only
organism capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen is bacteria.
Which of the following statements is FALSE?
a. bacteria are always single-celled
b. all bacteria reproduce asexually by binary fission
c. certain bacteria are capable of living in an environment
containing H2 and O2
d. bacteria are much less diverse metabolically than
eukaryotes and hence survive only in very limited range of
habitats under very special circumstances
3. By what means do bacterial cells acquire new DNA?
a. by conjugation, the mating of two cells of the same
bacterial species
b. by transduction, the injection of viral DNA into bacterial
cells
c. by transformation, the uptake of DNA from the
environment
d. all of the above
4. How do various types of bacteria move?
a. by the use of flagella, composed of a filament, hook, and
motor
b. by means of pili, which help cells twitch or glide along a
surface
c. by using gas vesicles to regulate buoyancy in water
bodies
d. all of the above
5. During viral infection, attachment is usually specific to a
particular cell type because
a. the virus is attracted to the appropriate host cells by
proteins secreted into the extracellular fluid.
b. the virus recognizes and binds to specific molecules in
the cytoplasm of the host cell.
c. the virus recognizes and binds to specific molecules on
the surface of the host cell.
d. the virus releases specific proteins that make holes in the
membrane large enough for the virus to enter.
6. HIV, a retrovirus, has a high mutation rate because
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genomes.
b. the viral enzyme reverse transcriptase has a high
likelihood of making replication errors.
c. the viral genome is altered every time it is incorporated
into the host genome.
d. antibodies produced by the host cell mutate the viral
genome when infection occurs.
7. Which of the following is most likely to occur when cells
from the root tips of  Allium cepa  are
  are placed in a solution
with higher concentration of water molecules than that of
the cells?
a. Hemolysis
b. Plasmolysis
c. The cells will become turgid.
d. The cells will become flaccid.
For items 8 and 9, refer to this experimental set- up
Two solutions of the different salt concentrations
(X and Y) are enclosed in bags made of a differentially
membrane. Both are immersed in a 0.5% salt solution.
8. Water molecules will move from
a. X to Z and Z to Y c. Z to both X and Y
b. Z to X and Y to Z d. X and Y to Z
9. After enough time has elapsed, the salt concentration in
Z will be
a. the same as X and Y
b. greater than X and less than Y
c. greater than Y and less than X
d. greater than either Y or X
10. A contractile vacuole is an organelle that pumps excess
water out of many freshwater protozoan cells. A freshwater
protozoan was placed in solution A and observed to form
contractile vacuoles at a rate of 11 per minute. The same
protozoan was then placed in solution B and observed to
form contractile vacuoles at a rate of 4 per minute. Based
on this information, which of the following statements is
correct?
a. Solution A is hypertonic to solution B.
b. Solutions A and B are isotonic.
c. Solution B is hypertonic to solution A.
d. Solutions A and B are isotonic to the protozoan cell.
11. Animals which practice external fertilization ensues
success by
a. providing for a few large eggs that are ea sily reached by
sperms
b. neutralizing unfavorable environmental conditions
c. discharging a large numbers of gametes
d. timing activities under the cover of darkness
12. Ribosomes found in the rough endoplasmic reticulum
produce proteins which are to be secreted outside the cell.
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Before leaving the cell, the proteins undergo modification b. Central Vacuole: increase cell surface area and storage
and packaging. What is the next organelle to which the c. Cytoskeleton: cell motion and internal organization
proteins could be transported? d. Lysosome: extracellular digestion
a. Centrosomes or MTOC
b. Nuclear Membrane 19. Casein, the protein found in milk, is broken down
c. Smooth endoplasmic reticulum initially by a process known as:
d. Golgi apparatus a. Glycolysis c. Transamination
b. Beta-oxidation d. Pentose phosphate pathway
13. Which of the following would you not expect to be
associated with a plasma membrane? 20. Compared to its energy content at rest, a vertebrate
a. Deoxyribonucleic acid c. Cholesterol muscle that has just undergone heavy exercise would have:
b. Phospholipids d. Glycoprotein a. more ATP and more ADP
b. less ATP and more ADP
 Answer questions 14 -16 based on the diagram below of a c. more ATP and less ADP
biochemical pathway. Arrows represent reactions catalyzed d. less ATP and less ADP
by the indicated enzyme. Letters represent chemical
compounds consumed or produced during the reactions. 21. When compared to a lung cell, a muscle cell would
possess:
a. more mitochondria
b. more rough endoplasmic reticulum
c. less mitochondria
d. less rough endoplasmic reticulum

22. Which of the following processes results to the complete

14. If the action of enzyme 1 is blocked with an inhibitor, oxidation of the substrate to ATP + CO2 + H2O?
a. Glycolysis c. Fermentation
which of the following statements is NOT true about the
b. Aerobic respiration d. Anaerobic respiration
effect on the pathway?
a. Compound A will accumulate to a high level.
b. Compound B will accumulate to a high level. 23. Oxidative metabolism is carried out ____ of
mitochondria.
c. Compound D will not be produced.
a. in the intermembrane space
d. Compound E will not be produced.
b. on the surface of the inner membrane
c. in the inside of the outer membrane
15. If the action of enzyme 5 is blocked with an inhibitor,
which of the following statements is TRUE about the effect d. in the matrix
on the pathway?
24. The fact that large numbers of mitochondria are
a. Compound A will accumulate to a high level.
b. Compound B will accumulate to a high level. observed in the tubule cells of nephrons suggests that the
nephron is involved in the process of:
c. Compound D will accumulate to a high level.
a. Passive transport c. Diffusion
d. Compound E will not be produced.
b. Active transport d. Osmosis
16. If enzyme 3 can process compound C three times faster
25. Cells, serving different functions, have varying organelle
than enzyme 4 can process compound C, which of the
following statements is TRUE? composition. One cell may have a greater number of a
specific organelle compared to the other. You would expect
a. Compound C will accumulate three times as much as
a cell with reduced amount of ribosomes to
compound E.
b. Compound C will be consumed three times faster than a. not perform photosynthesis.
b. secrete little amount of material.
compound B.
c. Compound D will be consumed three times faster than c. move passively.
d. synthesize little amount of proteins.
compound E.
d. Compound D will accumulate three times as much as
26. When a cell secretes a signaling molecule that binds to
compound E.
receptors on its own cell surface or neighboring cells of the
17. A drug called Brefeldin A blocks transport from the same cell type, this is called ____________ signaling.
endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus. If a cell that a. direct intercellular
b. contact-dependent
typically secretes enzyme X is treated with Brefeldin A, what
c. autocrine
effect will be observed on the secretion of enzyme X?
a. There will be no effect on secretion. d. paracrine
b. Secretion of enzyme X will increase.
c. Secretion of enzyme X will decrease.
 A scientist was studying differential gene expression in a
d. Enzyme X will accumulate in the plasma membrane.
variety of tissues from the same organism. He investigated
18. The cell is composed of different organelles with its
corresponding functions. Which of the following is not a eight different genes. The following chart describes which
correct association? genes are turned on and producing their respective proteins
in each of the different tissue types.
a. Nucleolus: assembly of ribosomes
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c. Metaphase: Chromosomes are now arranged in the
equatorial plate.
d. Telophase II: There are now two daughter haploid cells.
40. What is the function of villi of a mammal?
a. The villi help in the efficient absorption of mea t.
b. The villi protect the lining of the gastrointestinal tract
from acidic chemicals.
c. The villi are microscopic structures found in the stomach
for better digestion.
d. The villi increase the absorptive surface area of the
intestinal epithelium
48. Flordeliza and her lover, Roman, carved their initials on
the trunk of a Macopa tree at a height of 3 m. After 30
years, Flordeliza came back to bury Roman’s ashes under
the foot of the tree. She noticed that their initials were still
at the same height, even though the tree has grown. What
could be the possible explanation?
a. the tree trunk shows primary growth.
b. the tree trunk shows primary apical growth of the plant,
but apical elongation should not occur in that part of the
tree.
c. trees lack apical meristems and so do not get taller.
d. Flordeliza is in a state of grief and is hallucinating.

41. Most vertebrates are made up of bones and have a bony
endoskeleton. Which of the following vertebrates does not
have bony endoskeleton?
a. Shark c. Salamander
b. Milk Fish d. King Cobra
42. Which of the following characteristics made some avian
organisms capable of flight?
a. They have large air-filled pneumatic cavities
b. They have two large-flight muscles, the pectoralis and
supraoracoideus.
c. They have skeleton consisting of hollow lightweight
bones.
d. All of the following are adaptations for flight.
43. Fungal cells differ from animal cells in that fungal cells
a. lack ribosomes, though these are present in animal cells
b. lack mitochondria, though these occur in animal cells
c. have cell walls, whereas a nimal cells lack rigid walls
d. lack cell walls, whereas animal cells possess walls
49. Which of the following statements best describes the
chemical composition of biomembranes?
a. Biomembranes are bilayers of proteins with associated
lipids and carbohydrates
b. Biomembranes are composed of two layers —one layer of
phospholipids and one layer of proteins
c. Biomembranes are bilayers of phospholipids with
associated proteins and carbohydrates
d. Biomembranes are composed of equal numbers of
phospholipids, proteins, and carbohydrates
50. When using microscopes, the resolution refers to
a. the ratio between the size of the image produced by the
microscope and the actual size of the object
b. the degree to which a particular structure looks different
from other structures around it
c. the ability to observe certain dyes
d. the ability to observe two adjacent objects as being
distinct from each other

44. Symbiotic relationships occur in different interacting

species in wildlife. An example is the lichen, organisms
formed by a symbiotic relationship between algae or
canobacterium and a fungus. Which of the following is false
regarding lichens?
a. Lichens erode rock surfaces and harbor bits of organic
matter in their crusty bodies.
b. Lichens may be found on rocks, trees or soil.
c. Lichen can live in harsh conditions such as the tundra
without many nutrients.
d. All of the above are true.

45. Which of the following phylum includes organisms

whose cells are not organized into tissues?
a. Porifera c. Platyhelminthes
b. Cnidaria d. Nematoda

46. In some amphibians, the adult retains certain larval

characteristics, which is known as
a. metamorphosis c. parthenogenesis
b. paedomorphosis d. hermaphrodism

47. Which of the following is the ocean zone that remains

in perpetual darkness and is dominated by organisms with
bioluminescence?
a. Abyssal c. Neritic
b. Littoral d. Pelagic

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