Name: ___________________________________________________
Biology End of Course Exam Review
Directions: Work through the following practice packet of problems to prepare you for the NJ Biology End of
Course Exam on May 20th and 21st. Place all answers on the provided Scantron
Due Dates: May 9th – Scientific Process, Matter and Energy, Interdependence
20 points = multiple choice completion, 10 points = constructed response effort and accuracy
Scientific Process
1. A student conducted an original, well-designed experiment, carefully following proper scientific
procedure. For the conclusions to become generally accepted, the experiment must
a. Contain several experimental
c. Be repeated to verify the reliability
variables
of the data
b. Support the original hypothesis
d. Be conducted by a scientist
2. Which of the steps listed below would be first in a scientific investigation?
a. Perform the experiment
d. Define the problem to be
b. Analyze the experimental data
investigated
c. Formulate a hypothesis
3. A new drug for the treatment of asthma is tested on 100 people. The people are evenly distributed
into two groups. One group is given the drug and the other group is given a glucose pill. The
group that is given the glucose pill serves as the
a. Control group
c. Experimental group
b. Limiting factor
d. Indicator group
4. A scientist determines the number of calories in one ounce each of protein, carbohydrate, and fat.
The results are shown in the table below
Compound Tested
# of Calories Produced
Protein
147
Fat
271
Carbohydrate
152
Which statement represents a valid conclusion based on the data?
a. An ounce of fat contains about twice as many calories as an ounce of protein
b. Protein is a better energy food than carbohydrate
c. Carbohydrates, fats, and proteins all yield approximately the same number of calories per unit
of weight
d. Proteins and carbohydrates provide the most calories per ounce.
5. In the late 1800s Christian Eijkman studied a disease called beriberi, which is caused by a vitamin
deficiency. A disease similar to beriberi occurred in chickens that were fed polished rice, which is
rice that has had the bran layer removed. Chickens that ate the unpolished rice did not get the
disease. Eijkman convinced officials of a prison experiencing an outbreak of the disease to start
feeing the prisoners unpolished rice. The rate of beriberi decreased dramatically. Which procedure
would best convince other scientists who questioned his results?
a. Feed prisoners chickens that ate only unpolished rice
b. Provide the same number of prisoners with polished rice as with unpolished rice
c. Study other types of animals that had a disease similar to beriberi
d. Compare chickens that are polished rice to prisoners who ate polished rice
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6. An ecologist performed a study to determine how the rate of photosynthetic activity in a lake
changed from month to month. The results of the study are show in the graph below.
What conclusion is best supported by the evidence?
a. Photosynthetic organisms were dormant during the months of April through August
b. The rate of photosynthesis increased from June through December
c. The rate of photosynthesis was greatest during the months of May through July
d. Photosynthetic organisms experienced die-off during the months of January through June.
7. The graph represents the relationships between an organism’s oxygen consumption and body
mass.
Which statement is supported by the information shown in the graph?
a.
b.
c.
d.
The oxygen consumption of an organism is one-half its body mass
The oxygen consumption of an organisms is not related to its body mass
As the body mass of an organism increases, oxygen consumption decreases
As the body mass of an organisms decreases, oxygen consumption decreases
8. A researcher is studying the damage that predators cause to the wings of butterflies. Which tools
are best to use to determine the percentage of butterflies with damaged wings?
a. Triple beam balance and microscope
b. Hand lens and triple beam balance
c. Catch net and hand lens
d. Microscope and graduated cylinder
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9. Generic drugs are copies that are the same as brand-name drugs in dosage, safety, strength,
quality and performance. Many people prefer generic drugs because they cost much less thant heir
brand-name counterparts. Which best explains why pharmaceutical companies are able to sell
generic drugs at a much lower cost than the brand-name drugs?
a. Generic drugs do not have the initial costs of production and advertising
b. Generic drugs do not have the approval of all government agency
c. Generic drug do not have to be tested on humans
d. Generic drugs do not have to be packaged in childproof container
10. The student performed an investigation of the relationship between heart rate and blood
pressure. The data collected is shown in the table below.
The student concluded that resting heart rate affects the resting blood pressure. Which statement
supports the student’s conclusions?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Subjects Q and S have the same resting blood pressure
Subjects Q and R are different ages
Subjects R and T have different resting blood pressure
Subjects S and T are the same gender
11. An inventor has an idea for a pest control product for farms. The inventor proceeds to build and
market the product. Which test to engineer design process das the inventor neglected to do?
a. Identify a need
b. Define the problem
c. Narrow the research
d. Verify the results
12. A researcher presented the results from an experiment on the effectiveness of a new type of
eyedrop. The eyedrops were designed to prevent contact lenses from drying out and irritating the
eyes. The researcher tested the eyedrops over a two year period using subjects who wore various
types of contact lenses from drying out. Before manufacturing the new eye drops, the researcher
must verify that his results are free of bias by
a. Extending his research for three more years
b. Investing similar products and their results
c. Testing a larger population of subjects using different brands
d. Having an independent research company perform the same investigation
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Matter and Energy
13. Decomposition and decay of organic matter are accomplished by the action of
a. Green plants
c. Viruses and algae
b. Bacteria and fungi
d. Scavengers
14. Which statement about the pyramid of energy shown below is correct?
4
3
2
1
a.
b.
c.
d.
The amount of energy needed to sustain the pyramid enters at level 4
The total amount of energy decreases with each successive feeding level from 4 to 1
The amount of energy is identical in each level of the pyramid
The total amount of energy at level 4 is less than the total amount of energy at level 2
15. Organisms that eat goats obtain less energy from the goats than the goats obtain from the plants
they eat. This is because goats
a. Pass on most of the energy to their offspring
b. Convert solar energy to food energy
c. Store all of their energy in milk
d. Use energy for their own metabolism
16. Which of the following most accurately describes how matter cycles through an ecosystem?
a. Materials are cycled between living organisms only
b. Materials are cycled between heterotrophic organisms only
c. Materials are cycled between the living and nonliving components of an ecosystem
d. Materials are cycled between autotrophic organisms only
17. Analysis of a sample taken from a pond showed variety in both number and type of organisms
present. The data collected are shown in the table below.
Type of organism
Number present
Bass
Two
Frogs
Forty
Phytoplankton
Thousands
Insect larvae
hundreds
If the frogs feed on insect larvae, what is the role of the frogs in this pond ecosystem?
a. herbivore
c. parasite
b. consumer
d. host
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18. In order to be self-sustaining, an ecosystem must contain
a. A large number of organisms
b. A warm, moist environment
c. A constant source of energy
d. Organisms that occupy all niches
19. DDT is an insecticide that accumulates in the fatty tissues of animals and is transferred through
food chains. Which organism in a food chain is most likely to accumulate the highest
concentration of DDT?
a. A rabbit (herbivore)
c. Field mouse (consumer)
b. Corn (producer)
d. Owl (predator)
20. Plants help maintain the quality of the atmosphere by
a. Storing carbon dioxide
b. Opening holes in the ozone layer
c. Causing global warming
d. Storing oxygen
21. A forest community is made up of thousands of species of organisms and can exist practically
unchanged for hundreds of years. This stability is due to the
a. Diversity of organisms present
b. Abundance of insects that feed on plants
c. Changes in the climate of the area
d. Lack of decomposers in the forest
Base your answers to question 22 through 24 on the following food chain.
Grass grasshopper spider  toad snake
22. Which organism in this food chain can transform light energy into chemical bond energy?
a. Spiders
c. Grasses
b. Aphids
d. Snakes
23. Which population will most likely contain the smallest number of organisms?
a. Spiders
c. Grass
b. Aphids
d. Snakes
24. If the spraying of insecticide killed many of the grasshoppers off, what would most likely happen
to the number of toads this ecosystem could support?
a. It would increase since there would be more spiders to eat
b. It would decrease because there would be fewer spiders to eat
c. It would stay the same because the grass would not be killed by insecticide
d. It would stay the same because the toads
e. eat only spiders
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25. An energy pyramid is show right : Which best
explains why a pyramid is used to represent energy
flow within an ecosystem?
a. Available energy increases when moving up a
energy pyramid
b. Available energy decreases when moving up a
energy pyramid
c. The side of the organisms decreases when
moving up an energy pyramid
d. The population size of the organisms
increases when moving up the energy
pyramid
26. What would most likely result if nitrogen-fixing
bacteria in an area were destroyed?
a. Vegetation in the area would grow at a faster rate
b. Vegetation in the area would grow at a slower rate
c. Vegetation in the area would not be affected
d. Vegetation in the area would find other nutrient sources
27. An aquatic food chain is shown: What would most likely result if a waterborne bacteria caused
death of most of the minor population?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Decrease in both algae and zooplankton population
Increase in both zooplankton and perk population
Increase in both perk and hawk population
Decrease in both perch and hawk population
28. The diagram shows a relationship between photosynthesis and cellular respiration: which
statement best describes the interdependence of photosynthesis and cellular respiration?
a. The products of photosynthesis are carbon dioxide and water to be used in cellular
respiration
b. The reactants of photosynthesis are the products of cellular respiration
c. The reactants of photosynthesis are sugar and oxygen to be used in cellular respiration
d. The products of photosynthesis are the same as the products of cellular respiration
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Interdependence
29. When two different species live in the same area and use the same limited resources, which of the
following will occur?
a. Competition
c. Parasitism
b. Succession
d. Industrialization
30. In the biosphere, what are some of the major abiotic factors that determine the distribution and
types of plant communities?
a. Temperature, sunlight, and rainfall
b. Humidity, location, and humans
c. Soil type, soil bacteria, and soil water
d. Insects, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen in the air
31. An earthworm lives and reproduces in the soil. Through its feeding, excretion, and tunneling
activities, the worm adds nutrients and allows air to enter the soil. Together, these statements
describe the earthworms
a. Habitat
c. Niche
b. Nutrition
d. Environment
32. Crocodiles often allow small birds called ibises to enter their mouths and pick bits of food from
between their teeth. Both the crocodiles and the ibises benefit. This symbiotic relationship is
known as
a. Parasitism
c. Mutualism
b. Predation
d. Commensalism
33. A characteristic shared by both predators and parasites is that they
a. Feed on decomposing plant material
b. Capture and kill animals for food
c. Live inside their hosts
d. Attack a living food source
34. When a stable forest community is destroyed by fire, the community usually is
a. Not restored
b. Restored in a series of successive changes
c. Restored only if humans reforest the area
d. Changed into a permanent grassland
35. Which is a biotic factor that affects the size of a population in a specific ecosystem?
a. The average temperature of the ecosystem
b. The number and kinds to soil minerals in the ecosystem
c. The number and kinds of predators in an ecosystem
d. The concentration of oxygen in an ecosystem
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Base your answers to 36 and 37 on the following diagram of a food web.
36. Which organisms are most likely to be competitors?
a. Mouse and frog
b. Cricket and owl
e.
c. Cricket and frog
d. Owl and hawk
37. Which organism would most likely be adversely effected by a continuous decrease in the
population of mice?
a. Grass
c. Elk
b. Crickets
d. Hawks
38. Gypsy moths were accidentally introduced into North America. The most probable reason these
insects have become serious pests in North America is that they
a. Were bred by research scientists and are resistant to all pesticides
b. Are protected by environmental laws and feed on other insect species
c. Have few natural enemies and reproduce successfully
d. Are affected by natural controls and feed
on plants
39. The graph to the right shows changes in the
sizes of four animal populations over a 16-year
period.
In which population was birthrate most likely greater
than death rate from year 8 to year 12?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Population 1
Population 2
Population 3
Population 4
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40. In the graph, which population seems to have stabilized at carrying capacity?
a. Population 1
c. Population 3
b. Population 2
d. Population 4
41. The diagram below shows the feeding relationship for four coral reef organisms: Humans
sometimes kill giant tritons in order to collect their
attraction spiral shells. If humans kill most of the giant
tritons in a coral reef, the coral population will most
likely
a. Decrease due to a decrease in the parrot fish
population
b. Increase due to an increase in the parrot fish
population
c. Increase due to a decrease in the crown-of –
thorns sea star population
d. Decrease due to an increase in the crown-ofthorns sea star population
42. An isolated population of termites livings in a forest surrounded by mountains. These termites
feed on dead wood, grasses and seeds. This food is broken down by a species of microorganisms
that lives inside the intestines of the termites. Without the microorganisms, these termites cannot
obtain the nutrients they need to survive. One winter, a virus causes most of these
microorganisms to die. As a result of the microorganism’s absence, these termites will most
likely?
a. Eat different food
d. Develop a new species of
b. Decrease to a level near extinction
microorganisms
c. Evolve immediately into a new
species
43. A growth curve for a population of crabs on a coral reef is shown below: which statement best
explains what is happening at Point A?
a. Population growth deceases as individual crabs get
older
b. The population is stabilizing as it approaches carrying
capacity
c. Destruction of habitat is causing a decline in the
population of the crabs
d. The introduction of a new predator is causing a decline
in population growth of the crabs
44. Zebra mussels were first discovered in the Great Lakes 30
years ago and have spread throughout. Zebra mussels
reproduce quickly and have few natural predators. What will
most likely happen to other native mussel species in the Great Lakes region?
a. Native species will begin to interbreed with zebra mussels
b. Native species populations will decrease in area with large zebra mussel populations
c. Individuals of the native species will mutate and become more similar to zebra mussels
d. Individuals of the native species will mutate and become less similar to zebra mussels
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Sample Performance or Constructed Response Questions
Directions: Please complete 2 of the 3 given possibilities on loose-leaf paper or google docs.
1. A certain plant has white flower petals and it usually grows in soil that is slightly basic. Sometimes the plant
produces flowers with red petals. A company that sells the plant wants to know if soil pH affects the color of the
petals in this plant. Design a controlled experiment to determine if soil pH affects petal color. In your experimental
design be sure to:
 state the hypothesis to be tested in the experiment
 state one way the control group will be treated differently from the experimental group
 identify two factors that must be kept the same in both the control group and the experimental group
 identify the dependent variable in the experiment
 state one result of the experiment that would support the hypothesis
2. Use the below paragraph, data table (figure 1) and instructions to construct a response.
CropCorp is a new corporation with the mission of developing new biofuels1. You have been hired as a
consultant to manage its newly acquired farm. You must decide which crop will most efficiently
transform sunlight into a product that can be used to make a biofuel. You want to choose a crop that will
make the most efficient use of space and resources (land, fertilizer, money).
The farm you are planning for
is located in central New
Jersey, where the soil is a mix
of sand, clay, and organic
material with some stone and
gravel. The land is flat with a
2- acre pond and 100 acres of
forest that can be used for
logging. One acre of land is
approximately the size of a
football field.
All alternative fuel decisions
have environmental and
economic costs that must be
considered. CropCorp would
like you to recommend which
crop, corn or switchgrass2,
should be planted on the new
farm.
After reviewing the data about corn and switch grass


Determine which ONE crop you think would be the better crop for the farm considering all factors
provided in Figure 1
Write a persuasive argument to the president of the corporation, detailing your decision and
justifying your ONE crop choice using data from Figure 1. Be sure to include all of the following
elements:
o Which crop you have chosen and why
o Cite evidence and data from Figure 1 to support your recommendation
o Address potential environmental and economic consequences of your recommendation
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3. A partial food web for the organisms in Yellowstone National Park is shown.
Assume the elk population in Yellowstone National Park increases. Discuss how this increase in elk will most likely
affect each of the following populations.
 Idaho Fescue
 Migratory Grasshopper
 Grizzly Bear
Be sure to include specific reasons to support your responses.
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