EOC Biology Practice Test #4

Last Updated on April 2, 2025

EOC Biology Practice Test #4: The test provides challenging questions that require students to apply their knowledge and critical thinking skills to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate complex biological concepts and processes.

Students will encounter various question types, such as single-selection, multiple-selection, and analysis of data and diagrams, to help them become more comfortable with different test-taking situations.

To simulate the actual testing environment, EOC Biology Practice Test #4 is designed to be completed within a specific time frame, i.e., one hour. This encourages students to develop effective time management strategies and build confidence in their test-taking abilities.

EOC Biology Practice Test #4

Practice Test #4

145

EOC Biology Practice Test #4

EOC Biology Practice Test #4
Total Items: 40
Time Limit: 60 minutes
Score: You can find your test score as a percentage at the end of the test!

Carbon Dioxide is important in our atmosphere because it is required for photosynthesis and traps some heat, keeping the Earth warm. However, human produced carbon dioxide is a problem because it

A. leads to higher global temperatures.

B. disrupts the natural cycling of other greenhouse gases.

C. add too much carbon dioxide to the oceans.

D. causes uncontrolled photosynthesis.

An unknown plant species has stomata, xylem, and phloem. It reproduces sexually and has male pollen cones and female seed cones. Which of the following is the most logical conclusion about the classification of this plant?

A. It is a gymnosperm, and belongs to the division Coniferophyta.

B. It is a nonvascular plant, and belongs to the division Bryophyta.

C. It is a seedless vascular plant, and belongs to the division Psilophyta.

D. It is an angiosperm, and belongs to the division Anthophyta

Which of the following correctly compares two of the divisions of the plant kingdom?

A. Gymnosperms and angiosperms both reproduce sexually, but gymnosperms produce flowers or fruit, and angiosperms produce pollen cones and seed cones.

B. Nonvascular plants lack xylem and phloem and reproduce asexually, while angiosperms have xylem and phloem and reproduce sexually.

C. Seedless vascular plants and gymnosperms both reproduce asexually, but seedless vascular plants contain xylem, and gymnosperms contain xylem and phloem.

D. Seedless vascular plants and nonvascular plants both contain xylem and phloem, but seedless vascular plants reproduce asexually, and nonvascular plants reproduce sexually.

Which of the following best describes a characteristic that distinguishes Fungi from other kingdoms?

A. Fungi are able to reproduce both sexually and asexually.

B. Fungi are eukaryotes with complex organ systems.

C. Fungi are multicellular and break down dead plant and animal matter.

D. Fungi have cell walls and specialized tissues.

In which of the following ways are the fungus-‐like protists similar to the heterotrophic protists?

A. They both are commonly found living in dry environments.

B. They both can use photosynthesis if adequate sunlight is available.

C. They both have the ability to move around using flagella or cilia as adults.

D. They both need to gather food from their environment

What similarities are there between the ways Archaea and Bacteria react to difficult environmental conditions?

A. They both create a capsule around the cell or add cellulose to their cell walls for protection

B. They both develop flagella to swim away or change their cell membranes for protection

C. They both form endospores for protection or develop cilia or flagella to swim away.

D. They both make their own toxins or switch to photosynthesis as alternate sources of food.

Which of the following provides the best argument for separating Archaea and Bacteria into their own domains instead of leaving them together in the single kingdom, Monera?

A. Genetic analyses showed that Archaea are much more ancient than Bacteria

B. It was discovered that they make their membranes differently and copy their DNA differently.

C. Phylogenetic studies showed they have evolved different ways of storing their DNA in their nuclei.

D. The kingdom was getting much too large as new species were discovered.

In which of the domains would it be easiest to determine the phylogenetic relationships among organisms?

A. The Animalia are easiest because they are large enough that their morphological characteristics are clearly visible.

B. The Archaea are easiest because they are the most ancient and have the greatest amount of genetic variation among them.

C. The Bacteria are easiest because they have the smallest amounts of DNA which can be sequenced quickly.

D. The Eukaryotes are easiest because they tend not to share genetic material with each other except when they are reproducing sexually

Due to human encroachment, the range of the Florida panther has been reduced to a very small area in South Florida. Predict the long-‐term effect of this isolation on the conditions required for natural selection.

A. It would boost the panthers' population by limiting their reproductive territory and would eventually decrease the populations of their prey animals.

B. It would increase the panthers' ability to hunt successfully and would eventually lead to an increase in their numbers.

C. It would limit the panthers' variety of food sources and they would all eventually become extinct due to starvation.

D. It would reduce the panthers' capacity for inherited variation and would leave them vulnerable to disease and genetic abnormalities.

Suppose a family of black wolves migrates across a land bridge to a region supporting a large population of gray wolves. A few generations later, the population consists entirely of wolves with black and gray markings. Which of the following best describes the mechanism that caused this change in the population of the wolves in the region?

A. Genetic mutations naturally occurred in the black and gray wolf populations, resulting in both groups simultaneously developing black and gray coat markings.

B. The flow of black wolf genes across the land bridge added to the gray wolf population's gene pool, increasing the frequency of the genes for black fur in the population.

C. The gray wolves selected other gray wolves over black wolves as mates, causing a limit to the gray wolf gene pool that resulted in genetic drift.

D. The wolves with gray coats had to compete for resources with the successful black wolves, so they adapted their coats to mimic the black wolves.

Water frogs that live on Greek islands in the Mediterranean were separated from mainland water frogs when salt-‐water levels rose to form the islands, allowing differences in the isolated populations to develop. Suppose one large group of frogs on the mainland uses a low-‐pitched call to attract mates while otherwise identical frogs on a nearby island use a high-‐pitched call. A boat carries a few high-‐pitched frogs in its cargo to the mainland. Which of the following answer choices best predicts the outcome of this event?

A. The frogs from the islands are quickly eliminated by natural selection because they sound different than the mainland frogs.

B. The frogs from the islands introduce new genes to the mainland gene pool, causing a change of pitch in the mainland frog population.

C. The mainland frogs learn to make high-‐pitched calls and pass on this adaptation in their genes to future generations.

D. The mainland frogs respond to competition with the new frogs by genetically mutating their offspring to produce high-‐pitched calls.

A group of well-‐separated islands in the Pacific Ocean has a population of hibiscus plants that produce either orange or white flowers. On one of the islands, most of the hibiscus plants were killed a few years ago by a volcanic lava flow. Why is there a greater percentage of orange hibiscus plants on this island than on the other islands?

A. Cross pollination across the islands without the lava flow caused the percentage of orange flowers to dramatically change on these islands over time.

B. The hibiscus plants on the island that had the lava flow suffered from a higher mutation rate than plants on other islands, causing a difference in the populations.

C. The limited population size after the lava flow resulted in a limited gene pool, causing genetic drift in future generations of hibiscus plants on this island

D. Orange flowering hibiscus plants were better adapted to survive lava flows, so white hibiscus were naturally selected out of the population on the island.

The following table compares a human protein with the protein of other organisms. Each numbered column is a different amino acid position in the protein. If an organism's amino acid is the same as the human molecule, then a dash (-‐) is shown. Otherwise, an abbreviation for the organism's amino acid at that location is given. Based on the information in the table, what conclusion can be made about the relationship of humans to the other organisms?

Note: <<< Indicates a sequence of amino acids preceding the sequence shown here.

A. Humans and chickens cannot be traced to a common ancestor.

B. Humans and dogfish are the most closely related organisms

C. Humans and pigs are related to a common ancestor

D. Humans are not related to any of the other organisms.

Paleontologists have compared modern human skeletons to fossils of hominids from two to five million years ago, before the appearance of modern humans. They found certain features, like the shape of their hips and the way the spine supported the body, was similar to the modern human skeletal structure. Which of the following best describes why the discoveries of the hominid fossils are important for understanding modern human evolution?

A. They are evidence of transitional species that show how modern humans evolved from ape-‐ like ancestors

B. They are important for understanding how modern human pelvic bones are necessary for upright walking.

C. They provide evidence that modern humans and chimpanzees are not related by a common ancestor.

D. They show that modern humans had to compete with other upright bipedal hominids for food and resources.

Based on the illustration above, what do the similarities between human and chimpanzee hands and feet suggest about the two different organisms?

A. Chimpanzees and humans both have hands and feet adapted for walking upright, showing they have identical DNA.

B. Chimpanzees and humans both have similar hands for grasping, proving they make and use complex tools.

C. Humans and chimpanzees both developed five digits on their hands and feet, suggesting they have a common ancestor.

D. Humans and chimpanzees both have thumbs, proving they eat similar foods like meat, nuts, and vegetation.

How is the scientific theory of evolution supported by the comparison of the skulls and skeletons of modern humans and extinct hominids?

A. By making the hip, spine, and skull comparisons, the age of different hominid specimens can be determined.

B. Comparison of skull and skeletons provides evidence that humans and different hominid species interacted.

C. Similarity in skull shapes, hands, and hips between extinct hominids and humans supports a common ancestry.

D. Skull and skeleton comparisons can explain why hominids were inferior and became extinct while humans evolved.

The activities that take place to meet human needs can often be harmful to ecosystems. By developing sustainable practices, however, we can help protect our environment. Which of the following changes would be most helpful in reaching sustainability? A. Building more water treatment facilities

A. Building more water treatment facilities

B. Planting trees to replace those that are cut down by logging

C. Tilling soil to improve soil fertility and increase crop production

D. Using natural gas for fuel instead of burning petroleum

The choices that humans make every day affect the environment. Sometimes, our lifestyles can harm the environment rather than protect it. Which of the following would be most helpful in protecting the environment and achieving sustainability?

A. Buying paper products made from harvested trees

B. Buying fewer mass produced products

C. Using natural gas as a fuel source instead of petroleum

D. Using solar power to generate electricity

Many times people visit the doctor requesting antibiotics to treat colds and viral infections. How is the doctor justified in offering the patient treatment options that do not include antibiotics for these cases?

A. Antibiotics can weaken the immune system when used for colds and viruses, whereas other medications are not so hard on the immune system during these types of illnesses

B. Colds and viruses should be first treated with viral therapies and then when the body begins to recover, antibiotics can be used. Otherwise, the use of antibiotics is not effective at all

C. If a doctor provides an antibiotic to treat colds and viruses, any bacteria in the patient's body will be killed, but a few will survive. Those few survivors may become resistant to antibiotics needed for real bacterial illnesses.

D. Side effects from antibiotics are severe when used for colds and viruses. Any use of antibiotics for colds and viruses will only make the patient more ill and ultimately make the patient's recovery time longer.

Which of the following explains why people need to get a flu shot each year?

A. Antibodies for the flu virus only last for one year.

B. The flu virus eventually breaks down the vaccine.

C. The flu virus is constantly mutating and changing.

D. There are not enough antibodies in the vaccine to kill the entire virus.

Which of the following would be the best way to detect whether someone was infected with a virus, like HIV?

A. Check for an inflammatory response in the body.

B. Check for the presence of antibodies in the blood.

C. Check for the presence of histamines in the body.

D. Check for the presence of white bloo

Which of the following correctly explains how crossing over benefits organisms that reproduce sexually?

A. It allows for fewer mutations in offspring.

B. It allows for adjustments in a population's sex ratio.

C. It increases genetic variation in offspring

D. It increases the number of chromosomes in offspring.

Normally, the temperature inside the scrotum is slightly lower than normal body temperature. What do you predict would happen if the temperature inside the scrotum were a few degrees higher than normal body temperature instead?

A. Sperm would not be able to travel through the vas deferens.

B. Sperm would be stored in the epididymis rather than in the testes.

C. Sperm would not be able to develop properly.

D. The rate of sperm production would increase.

Which of the following correctly compares the functions of the vas deferens and the fallopian tubes?

A. Sperm leaves the body through the vas deferens, and eggs leave the body through the fallopian tubes.

B. Sperm travels through the vas deferens, and eggs travel through the fallopian tubes.

C. The vas deferens produces sperm, and the fallopian tubes produce eggs.

D. The vas deferens stores sperm, and the fallopian tubes store eggs.

Which event happens earliest during pregnancy?

A. The embryo's organs begin to function

B. The embryo stores nutrients and minerals

C. The embryo's cartilage begins to become bone.

D. The embryo reaches approximately fifteen inches in length.

A doctor examines a patient who has high blood pressure and atherosclerosis in the coronary artery. What medical condition connected to blood flow is most likely to affect this patient in the future?

A. The patient may develop headaches and confusion due to cancer in the brain caused by years of low levels of oxygen supplied to the brain.

B. The patient may develop stiff joints and chest pains from the high blood pressure applied to the muscle and joint tissues of the body.

C. The patient may show signs of confusion, weakness, and partial paralysis due to high blood pressure when the plaque dislodges and blocks blood flow to the brain.

D. The patient may suffer a heart attack because of the reduction in blood flow to the heart muscles due to severe plaque build-‐up in the coronary artery.

Illnesses can often lead to fever and dehydration. How might these symptoms affect a person’s cardiovascular system?

A. Fever and dehydration increase body temperature and fluids, which decrease a person’s heart rate and respiration

B. Fever and dehydration increases body temperature and decreases the amount of fluids, which increase a person’s heart rate and respiration

C. Fever and dehydration increase body temperature and decrease in the amount of fluids, which decrease the viscosity of the blood

D. Fever and dehydration increases body temperature and fluids, which increase the viscosity of the blood.

Which of the brain regions marked on the diagram below is the frontal lobe?

Which of the following best describes the characteristics that differentiate animals from the organisms of other kingdoms?

A. Animals have complex organ systems and reproduce sexually.

B. Animals have prokaryotic cells and are multicellular.

C. Animals have external digestion and are vertebrates.

D. Animals have rigid cell walls and specialized tissues.

The structure of the leaf best supports the process of

A. water absorption for transpiration

B. gas exchange for photosynthesis

C. energy absorption for cellular reproduction

D. water absorption for cellular respiration

Terrestrial plants have a waxy covering produced by the dermal tissues called the cuticle. If this waxy covering was overproduced so that the stomata became clogged, what would happen to the plant?

A. Glucose produced during photosynthesis would be prevented from reaching the rest of the plant, and energy production by cellular respiration would stop.

B. Sunlight would not be able to reach the plant's ground tissue cells through the thick dermal tissue, and the plant's ability to perform photosynthesis would be damaged.

C. The plant would not be able to absorb water and oxygen from the air, and the plant would dry out, limiting most cell functions.

D. The plant would not be able to exchange oxygen for carbon dioxide, and the plant's ability to perform photosynthesis would be limited.

If a plant's leaves developed so that its vascular tissue only contained xylem, how would this affect the rest of the plant's physiological processes?

A. Since most parts of the plant contain chloroplasts, the plant's cells would function as usual without a need for glucose from the leaves.

B. The carbon dioxide required for photosynthesis would not be absorbed and transported to the leaf cells, and photosynthesis would stop.

C. The glucose produced during photosynthesis in the leaf cells would not be able to reach the rest of the plant, and the cellular respiration in the plant's other cells would not function.

D. The plant's ground tissues would still be able to transport the water and nutrients from the roots to the rest of the plant, and so other processes like photosynthesis would continue as usual.

Two different populations of birds live in the same area and eat the same types of food. Which most likely describes the relationship between these two populations of birds?

A. competition

B. mutualism

C. parasitism

D. predator-prey

What is the function of autotrophs in the carbon cycle?

A. to use oxygen to produce glucose

B .to take in excess water

C. to use carbon dioxide to produce glucose

D. to feed on herbivores

Before mitosis begins, which happens before the nucleus starts dividing?

A. The cytoplasm separates

B. The DNA replicates.

C. The sister chromatids separate.

D. The homologous chromosomes cross over.

During strenuous exercise, body temperature increases. The body responds to the increase in temperature by sweating, which helps to reduce the body temperature. Which is demonstrated in this situation?

A excretion

B metabolism

C homeostasis

D synthesis

What process best explains how a nerve cell and a muscle cell can both develop from the same fertilized egg?

A. differentiation

B. natural selection

C. selective breeding

D. genetic engineering

What will most likely be the result if all of the mitochondria are removed from a plant cell?

A. It will be unable to carry out respiration.

B. It will lose water through osmosis

C. It will break down the ribosomes in the cell.

D. It will be unable to photosynthesize.

Which deals with the transmission of inherited traits from one generation to another?

A. anatomy

B. genetics

C. ecology

D. forensics

A bird-watcher records the movement of migrating birds. In which part of the scientific process is the bird-watcher participating?

A. controlling variables

B. experimenting

C. observing

D. hypothesizing

Your score is

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