LIVING ENVIRONMENT Mid-term Review Part 1
Name: ______________________________________________ Period: _______
Part One: Diagrams
1. What concept is represented in the diagram below?
ecological succession
2. A) Identify 2 producers from the diagram: Eucalyptus trees, Kangaroo grasses and sedges,
gum trees
B) Define producer: an organism that stores energy from the sun in chemical bonds in the
nutrients.
C) Identify 2 herbivores from the diagram: Koalas, Kangaroos and wallabies, silky mice,
wombats
D) Define herbivore: get nutrition (consume) from producers
3. What activity that occurs in the human body is represented in the diagram below?
maintenance of homeostasis
4. Why would a ski resort install a wind turbine similar to those represented below to supply
some of its energy needs?
This turbine was most
likely installed because
wind power is
renewable and does
minimal damage to the
atmosphere
5. The diagram below represents a cycling of materials.
A) What is the substance represented by X? carbon dioxide
B) What is the substance represented by Y? oxygen
6. A student used the low-power objective of a compound light microscope and observed a
single-celled organism as shown in the diagram below. When he switched to high power, the
organism was no longer visible. Why did this happen?
Switching to high power made the area of the slide being viewed smaller and the organism
was not in the center of the field of view.
7. What is the volume of
water represented in the
graduated cylinder shown
to the left?
13 mL
8. What is the approximate length of the earthworm shown in the diagram below?
 in cm? 9 cm  in mm? 90 mm because 1 cm = 10 mm
9. Information about which two lettered
parts is needed in order to determine the
total magnification of an object viewed
with the microscope in the position shown?
A and C
10. Which lettered part should be
used to focus the image while
using high power? E
11. What is the most common reason for staining a specimen being observed when using a
compound light microscope? To reveal details that otherwise are not easily seen.
12. The diagram below represents interactions between organisms in a stable ecosystem.
A) In which level do organisms obtain their
energy directly from the Sun? A
B) Organisms in level A are producers
C) Organisms in level B are herbivores
D) Organisms in level C obtain their nutrients
directly from organisms in level
B
E) Organisms in level B, C and D are
heterotrophs (consumers)
13. An enzyme and four different molecules are shown in the diagram below
The enzyme would most likely affect reactions involving molecule C
Because: The shape of the molecule matches the shape of the enzyme
14. The diagram below represents a portion of a DNA molecule. Label each structure
indicated by an arrow.
phosphate
Molecular base
Sugar molecule
15. The green aquatic plant represented in the diagram below was exposed to light for
several hours.
Which gas would most likely be found in the greatest amount in the bubbles? Oxygen
What process is releasing this gas? Photosynthesis
Base your answers to questions 16 through 19 on the diagrams below of two cells, X and Y,
and on your knowledge of biology.
16. Identify organelle A: cell membrane
State one function of this organelle: regulates what enters and leave the cell
17. Identify organelle B: nucleus
State one function of this organelle: controls all cell activities
18. Identify organelle C: mitochondria
State one function of this organelle: site of cellular respiration
19. Identify one process that is carried out in cell Y that is not carried out in cell X.
photosynthesis
20. Currently, Americans rely heavily on the burning of fossil fuels as sources of energy.
As a result of increased demand for energy sources, there is a continuing effort to find
alternatives to burning fossil fuels.
A) State one disadvantage of burning fossil fuels for energy
— They pollute the atmosphere.
— They lead to acid rain.
— They lead to global warming.
— Fossil fuels are a limited resource.
B) Identify one energy source that is an alternative to using fossil fuels.
— solar energy — windmills — water power — nuclear fuels
C) State one advantage of using this alternative energy source.
— does not pollute the environment (solar energy)
— is renewable (windmills)
— is renewable (water power)
— Fossil fuels are not burned. (nuclear)
D) State one disadvantage of using this alternative energy source.
— Windmills are very noisy.
— Dams built for water power destroy habitats.
— Nuclear fuels produce dangerous wastes.
— Sufficient solar, wind, or water is not available worldwide
LIVING ENVIRONMENT Mid-term Review Part 2
Name: ______________________________________________ Period: _______
Part Two:
21. A company that manufactures a popular multivitamin wanted to determine whether their
multivitamin had any side effects. For its initial study, the company chose 2000 individuals to
take one of their multivitamin tablets per day for one year. Scientists from the company
surveyed the participants to determine whether they had experienced any side effects. What
was the greatest problem with this procedure? No control group was used
22. A biologist formulates a hypothesis, performs experiments to test his hypothesis, makes
careful observations, and keeps accurate records of his findings.
Should the scientist ever adjust the data to support the hypothesis? No. That would be
falsifying data.
Should the scientist ever eliminate data that do not support the hypothesis? No. That would be
falsifying data.
Should the scientist ever evaluate the findings and, if necessary, alter the hypothesis based
on his findings, and test the new hypothesis? Yes. If the scientist evaluates the data and finds
the data does not support the hypothesis he should come up with a new hypothesis and then
test the new hypothesis.
23. A student conducted an experiment to determine if listening to different types of music
would affect pulse rate. She thought that pulse rate would change with different types
of music. Each person participating in her experiment listened to seven different selections
of music for 30 seconds each. The pulse rates were taken after each 30-second interval
of music. Based on her experiment, the student concluded that a person’s pulse rate
changed when listening to different types of music.
What was the independent variable in this experiment? Listening to different types of music
What was the component missing from this experiment? A control group
24. Due to overfishing, the number of fish in the ocean could drastically decrease. This will
cause: a decrease in the stability of the oceans
25. Global warming has been linked to a decrease in the: size of the polar ice caps
26. On hot, dry days, guard cells often close microscopic openings in plant leaves,
conserving water. This is an example of: a feedback mechanism for maintaining homeostasis
27. Many scientists suggest that billions of years ago, life on Earth began with
simple, single-celled organisms
28. The temporary storage of energy in ATP molecules is part of which process? cellular
respiration
29. Define niche: an organism’s role in a habitat
What would happen if two different bird species temporarily occupied the same niche?
they would most likely compete with one another
30. Which of the following substances can enter a cell by diffusion without having to be
digested? fat, water, protein, starch
31. Name a term that refers to the ecological niche of many bacteria and fungi in an
ecosystem. decomposer
32. During the process of photosynthesis, energy from the Sun is converted into
chemical energy in the bonds of organic molecules
33. What organelle is the site of protein synthesis? ribosomes
34. Name an activity that would reduce biodiversity in a forest ecosystem.
Clearing a large area and planting one species of hardwood tree that can be used for lumber
35. A pesticide that kills an insect by interfering with the production of proteins in the insect
would most directly affect the activity of: ribosomes
36. Name the primary function of the cell structures listed below.
A) Ribosome: site of protein synthesis
B) Vacuole: storage of materials
C) Nucleus: controls all cell activites
D) Mitochondria: site of cellular respiration
37. In the human body, oxygen is absorbed by the lungs and nutrients are absorbed by the
small intestine. In a single-celled organism, this absorption directly involves the cell
membrane
38. Why is a mushroom considered a heterotroph? It obtains nutrients from its environment.
39. An increase in the amount of ultraviolet light entering the atmosphere through holes in
the ozone layer will most likely cause an increase in the rate of certain mutations
40. Which process initially provides the link between an abiotic factor and the energy needs
of an entire ecosystem? photosynthesis
41. Depletion of nonrenewable resources is often a result of human population growth
42. Place the following levels of biological organization in sequence from smallest to largest:
organ system,organ, organism,cell , tissue,organelle
organelle cell tissue organ organ system organism
Part 3
Definitions
1. ecological succession-- gradual change in living communities following a disturbance
2. concept—an idea of what something is or how it works
3. represented --to serve as a specimen, example, or instance of
4. identify--indicate who or what someone or something is
5. maintain-- to exist or continue without changing
6. homeostasis--process by which organisms maintain a stable internal environment
7. cellular respiration--process that releases chemical energy (ATP) by breaking apart the
chemical bonds of glucose, occurs in mitochondria
8. photosynthesis--process that converts sunlight into chemical bond energy of glucose
9. specimen--a small amount or piece of something that can be tested or examined
10. obtain--to gain or attain usually by planned action or effort
11. heterotroph (consumer)-- organism that obtains energy from the foods it consumes;
consumer
12. aquatic--growing or living in water
13. Write the formula for photosynthesis----
LIGHT ENERGY
CO2 + H2O---------->C6H12O6 + O2
14. Write the formula for cellular respiration
C6H12O6 + O2----------> H2O+ CO2 + ATP
15. organelle--specialized structure that performs important cellular functions within a
eukaryotic cell
16. alternative--different from the usual
17. manufacture--something made from raw materials
18. To formulate a hypothesis is to--make a possible explanation or prediction for a set of
observations or possible answer to a scientific question
19. eliminate--remove
20. participants--to take part in
21. An initial study is the--first study done
22. To alter is to--change
23. overfishing--taking out too many species from the environment, depletion of a species
24. feedback mechanism--the action or means used to bring the organism back to
equilibrium
25. homeostasis—maintaining a stable internal environment
26. ATP--energy molecule released during cellular respiration
27. diffusion-- process by which molecules move from a high to low concentration
without the use of energy
27. decomposer--organism that obtains energy from dead organic matter or waste
Give 2 examples of decomposers--bacteria and fungi
28. temporarily occupy-- remain in an area for a short time
29. ecological niche--role of an organism
30. decomposer-- repeat
Give 2 examples
31. convert--change in form or function
32. most directly--most immediate
35. primary function-- first or intended purpose
36. initially--at first
37. biotic factor--living influences on organisms within an ecosystem
38. abiotic factor--nonliving influence on organisms in an ecosystem (light, water, oxygen,
carbon dioxide, pH, etc.)
39. deplete--diminish in number or quantity
40. organ system--group of organ that work together to perform a specific function
organ--group of tissues that work together to perform a specific function
42. tissue--group of cells that work together to perform a specific function
43. predation--interaction where a predator (an organism that is hunting) feeds on its prey
(the organism that is attacked)
44. carnivore--organism that consumes other animals
45. autotrophic-- organisms that perform photosynthesis (convert sunlight into organic
compounds—glucose)
46. autotrophic nutrition--type of nutrition that involves photosynthesis
Give an example: green plants
47. Food chain--single pathway of energy flow that shows the transfer of energy from one
organism to another organism
48. finite resource--limited number of resources
49. organic compound--compound containing both carbon and hydrogen (ex. glucose)
Inorganic compound-- compound that does not contain both carbon and hydrogen
(ex. Water)
50. biodiversity--variety of life in an ecosystem
51. Deforestation--destruction of forests
52. Industrialization--the large-scale introduction of manufacturing
53. Overharvesting--overuse or depletion of a resource
54. most toxic--poisonous
55. role --function
56. host--organism harmed by a parasite
57. parasite-- organism that lives in or on another organism and harms it, but rarely kills it
58. direct harvesting --the destruction of an organism, or the removal of an organism from its
habitat
60. habitat--the place where an animal or plant lives