Water is capable of dissolving many substances that organisms need to carry out life functions. Which of the properties of water listed below is responsible for its ability to dissolve important nutrients like ionic salt compounds?
- A. adhesion
- B. cohesion
- C. high specific heat
- D. high polarity
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The property of water that is responsible for its ability to dissolve important nutrients like ionic salt compounds is its high polarity. Water is a polar molecule with a positive and negative end, which allows it to attract and surround individual ions from salt compounds, causing them to dissociate and dissolve in water. This property makes water an excellent solvent for various substances necessary for life functions. Adhesion refers to the ability of water molecules to stick to other substances, cohesion is the attraction between water molecules themselves, and high specific heat is the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of water. While these properties are important characteristics of water, they are not directly responsible for its ability to dissolve ionic salt compounds.
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Which of the following is the region of the brain that controls and regulates autonomic functions such as respiration, digestion, and heart rate?
- A. cerebellum
- B. medulla oblongata
- C. temporal lobe
- D. cerebral cortex
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The medulla oblongata is the correct answer. It is the region of the brain located at the base of the brainstem responsible for regulating autonomic functions such as respiration, digestion, and heart rate. These functions are essential for maintaining life. The cerebellum (Option A), temporal lobe (Option C), and cerebral cortex (Option D) do not control these autonomic functions. The cerebellum is mainly involved in coordination and balance, the temporal lobe is associated with memory and hearing, and the cerebral cortex is responsible for higher brain functions like thinking and decision-making.
Which of the following sets of valves is primarily responsible for preventing blood flow from major blood vessels to the heart?
- A. atrioventricular valves
- B. semilunar valves
- C. tricuspid valves
- D. bicuspid valves
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: semilunar valves. Semilunar valves are primarily responsible for preventing blood flow from major blood vessels to the heart. These valves are located at the base of the aorta and the pulmonary artery, ensuring blood flows in one direction only by closing when the ventricles relax to prevent blood from flowing back into the heart. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect. Atrioventricular valves (choice A) include the tricuspid and bicuspid valves, which prevent backflow between the atria and ventricles, not major blood vessels. Tricuspid valves (choice C) and bicuspid valves (choice D) are specific types of atrioventricular valves located between the atria and ventricles, not at the base of major blood vessels.
Which of the following choices would contain the code for making a protein?
- A. mRNA
- B. tRNA
- C. rRNA
- D. DNA polymerase
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: mRNA (messenger RNA). mRNA contains the genetic code or instructions for making a protein. During protein synthesis, mRNA carries the genetic information from DNA in the cell nucleus to the ribosomes, where proteins are synthesized. The sequence of nucleotides in mRNA corresponds to the sequence of amino acids that will be used to build the protein. Choice B, tRNA (transfer RNA), is involved in carrying amino acids to the ribosome during protein synthesis but does not contain the code for making a protein. Choice C, rRNA (ribosomal RNA), is a component of ribosomes where protein synthesis occurs but does not contain the specific code for making a protein. Choice D, DNA polymerase, is an enzyme involved in DNA replication, not in directly coding for protein synthesis.
Which of the following describes how atomic radius varies across the periodic table?
- A. Atomic radius increases from top to bottom and left to right on the periodic table.
- B. Atomic radius increases from top to bottom and right to left on the periodic table.
- C. Atomic radius increases from top to bottom and toward the halogens on the periodic table.
- D. Atomic radius increases from top to bottom and toward the noble gases on the periodic table.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Atomic radius tends to increase from top to bottom and left to right on the periodic table. This is because as you move down a group (top to bottom), new energy levels are added, increasing the distance of the outer electrons from the nucleus and thus increasing the size of the atom. On the other hand, as you move from left to right across a period, the number of protons and electrons increases, leading to a stronger nuclear charge that attracts the electrons closer to the nucleus, resulting in smaller atomic radii. Choice B is incorrect as atomic radius does not increase from right to left. Choices C and D are incorrect as they incorrectly associate the trend with specific groups of elements (halogens and noble gases) rather than the general trend observed on the periodic table.
Two mice are both heterozygous for two traits: white fur (Ww) and short fur (Ss). Their offspring are most likely to have which of the following genotypes for these traits?
- A. wwss
- B. WWSS
- C. WwSs
- D. WWSs
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: When two mice that are heterozygous for white fur (Ww) and short fur (Ss) mate, they can produce offspring with different combinations of the two traits. The Punnett square for this cross shows that the most likely genotype for the offspring is WwSs. In this case, each offspring receives one allele for white fur (W) and one for short fur (S) from each parent, resulting in a heterozygous genotype for both traits. Choice A (wwss) is incorrect as it represents a homozygous recessive genotype for both traits. Choice B (WWSS) is also incorrect as it represents a homozygous dominant genotype for both traits. Choice D (WWSs) is incorrect as it represents a genotype where one trait is homozygous dominant (W) and the other is heterozygous (S), which is not the most likely outcome based on the given parental genotypes.