Living Environment Regents Answers

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“Which human activity most directly causes a signifi cant increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere? (1) growing corn for food (2) not using products containing plastics (3) driving cars long distances (4) planting large numbers of trees”

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“An immune response is primarily due to the body’s white blood cells recognizing (1) a hormone imbalance (2) abiotic organisms (3) foreign antigens (4) known antibiotics”

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“In an effort to reduce the number of deaths due to malaria, scientists have successfully introduced a gene into mosquitoes. The gene makes the mosquitoes unable to support the development of the parasite that causes malaria. The technique used to produce this new variety of mosquito is most likely (1) chromatography (2) genetic engineering (3) electrophoresis of genes (4) selective breeding”

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“The organic compounds that scientists use to cut, copy, and move segments of DNA are (1) carbohydrates (3) hormones (2) enzymes (4) starches”

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“Genetic researchers have discovered a number of different gene mutations that have led to the development of cancer. These mutations affect how frequently a cell reproduces. Which process would be directly infl uenced by these mutations? (1) differentiation of cells in an embryo (2) meiotic cell division (3) division of sperm and egg cells (4) mitotic cell division”

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“Lobsters are crustaceans related to crayfi sh, crabs, and shrimp. Most lobsters are a reddish- brown color, but on rare occasions, they can be orange, blue, or even multicolored. These color differences can be caused by (1) genetic variations (2) different numbers of offspring (3) overpopulation and excessive resources (4) the instability of the ecosystem”

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“Which two factors could lead to the evolution of a species over time? (1) overproduction of offspring and no variation (2) changes in the genes of body cells and extinction (3) struggle for survival and fossilization (4) changes in the genes of sex cells and survival of the fi ttest”

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“As human red blood cells mature, they lose their nuclei. As a result of this loss, which process would be impossible for mature red blood cells to carry out? (1) excretion (3) reproduction (2) respiration (4) transport”

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“To clone a mammal, a cloned embryo is often put into an adult female of the same species to continue internal development. The structure in which the embryo will develop is the (1) ovary (3) uterus (2) placenta (4) egg”

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“Nuclear power plants, which produce electrical energy, use large quantities of water for cooling. Often, small fi sh, larvae, and fi sh eggs are sucked in along with the cooling water and destroyed. This example illustrates how (1) industrialization can have positive and negative effects (2) removal of these organisms has no effect on an ecosystem (3) direct harvesting increases the natural fi sh population (4) energy is generated without producing wastes”

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“Acid rain is a major problem in the Adirondack Mountains. Evidence that acid rain negatively affected the Adirondack ecosystem is that (1) this rain has increased the amount of water in Adirondack lakes (2) there has been a decrease in the variety of fi sh found in Adirondack lakes (3) the amount of carbon dioxide in the air over the Adirondack Mountains has drastically decreased in recent years (4) the number of heterotrophic organisms in Adirondack lakes has increased”

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“Which system in a multicellular organism functions most like the cytoplasm in a single- celled organism? (1) immune (3) nervous (2) reproductive (4) circulatory”

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“Fat molecules typically contain long chains of carbon atoms. Animals tend to store fats for use when food resources are scarce. This is an advantage to the animal because (1) much energy can be gained by breaking the bonds between atoms in the fats (2) fats give off carbon dioxide that can be used by the muscles (3) amino acids from fat synthesis are more easily digested than carbohydrates (4) energy can only be created by digesting fats”

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“While looking at the bottom surface of a leaf with a compound light microscope, a student notices pairs of cells with openings between them on the surface of the leaf. The main purpose of these openings and the cells that surround them is (1) removing excess sugars (2) synthesis of carbon dioxide (3) regulating gas exchange (4) purifi cation of water”

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“An immune response to a usually harmless environmental substance is known as (1) an antigen (3) an allergy (2) a vaccination (4) a mutation”

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“Scientists at Penn State have sequenced the DNA of the extinct woolly mammoth. The data suggested that the woolly mammoth was more closely related to present-day elephants than previously believed. Elephant Woolly mammoth Which statement could account for the similarities between the woolly mammoth and present-day elephants? (1) Common gene mutations were caused by agents such as industrial chemicals and radiation. (2) Present-day species developed from earlier, different species. (3) Selective breeding results in offspring better able to survive. (4) Both animals have identical genetic information.”

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“Single-celled organisms are able to maintain homeostasis, even though they lack higher levels of organization such as organs and organ systems, because (1) single-celled organisms do not carry out the same life processes as multicellular organisms (2) multicellular organisms do not rely on tissues or organs to carry out life processes (3) cell structures work together to maintain homeostasis in single-celled organisms (4) single-celled organisms are able to coordinate organ functions to maintain homeostasis”

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“Sharks are often followed by smaller fi sh that eat some of the scraps from the organisms eaten by the shark. These smaller fi sh are acting as (1) decomposers (3) producers (2) scavengers (4) herbivores”

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“Under the supervision of experts, certain areas in a nature preserve are regularly exposed to frequent, low-intensity fi res. These controlled fi res maintain specifi c populations of plants by directly (1) increasing the consumption of fi nite resources (2) decreasing the carbon dioxide level in the atmosphere (3) stopping the process of evolution (4) interfering with the process of ecological succession”

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“An invasive species, the spiny water fl ea, was recently found in a New York lake. These water fl eas eat zooplankton, a food also consumed by native fi shes. The fl eas spread from lake to lake by attaching to fi shing lines, anchor ropes, and boats. Which statement best describes the effect of the water fl ea on the lake? (1) It will not compete with animals in the local food chain. (2) It will feed on organisms that are important to other species. (3) The number of water fl eas will decrease due to a lack of food. (4) There will be no effect on native species in the lake.”

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“A stable ecosystem can have high biodiversity because each species in that ecosystem (1) occupies a different niche (2) inhabits a different environment (3) is part of a different community (4) lives in a different biosphere”

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“Stability within an ecosystem is achieved partially by the presence of organisms that break down important molecules and make them available for other organisms to use. These organisms are (1) plants (3) scavengers (2) herbivores (4) decomposers”

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“To prepare for an experiment, ten different sources of food were sterilized and kept in a sterile container. Bacteria of the same species were placed on each of the ten different food sources and kept at 26°C for two days. During this time, bacteria grew in nine of the containers. Based on this observation, the scientist could conclude that (1) all ten food sources used in the experiment are capable of supporting this species of bacteria (2) the temperature varied greatly in nine of the containers during this experiment (3) only the container that failed to grow any bacteria was prepared correctly (4) this species of bacteria synthesizes enzymes needed to digest the food in nine of the ten containers”

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“Producers are generally found at the beginning of a food chain. Which statement best explains why this is true? (1) Producers are usually smaller in size than consumers. (2) Producers do not rely on other organisms for food. (3) There are always more consumers than producers in food chains. (4) Consumers are always more complex organisms than producers.”

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“A lion cub resembles its parents because it inherits genes that produce (1) DNA identical to all of the DNA found in both parents (2) proteins identical to all of the proteins found in both parents (3) ATP identical to some of the ATP found in each parent (4) enzymes identical to some of the enzymes found in each parent”

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“If body temperature is too high, some blood vessels increase in size and sweat glands will excrete sweat, resulting in a lower body temperature. These changes are an example of (1) a learned behavior (2) feedback mechanisms (3) an inherited disorder (4) genetic mutations”

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“A farmer grows beans that he sells to local markets. Over a period of 40 years, the farmer has identifi ed the plants that produced the most beans and only used those beans to produce new plants. This procedure is part of the process of (1) selective breeding (3) replication (2) genetic engineering (4) cloning”

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“Although we rely on coal, oil, and natural gas to produce energy, some environmental scientists have proposed that we use less fossil fuel. One reason to support this proposal is to (1) enable us to preserve rain forests in tropical areas (2) help us to reduce the production of carbon dioxide gas (3) allow us to decrease the use of fertilizers on crops (4) encourage us to end research on wind and water power sources”

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“Research has shown that treadmill training increases the number of certain energy-releasing structures in the brain cells of rats. The cellular structures referred to in this study are most likely (1) mitochondria (3) vacuoles (2) nuclei (4) ribosomes”

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“Which process must first take place in order for the proteins in foods to be used by body cells? (1) digestion (3) synthesis (2) storage (4) excretion”

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“Which statement is characteristic of reproduction in humans? (1) The reproductive cells of males and females differ in chromosome number. (2) Males and females produce gametes in the ovaries. (3) Males and females produce the same num­ ber of gametes. (4) The reproductive cycles of males and females are regulated by hormones.”

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“An example of competition between members of two different species is (1) mold growing on a dead tree that has fallen in the forest (2) purple loosestrife plants growing in the same wet areas as cattail plants (3) a coyote feeding on the remains of a deer that died of starvation (4) two male turkeys displaying mating behaviors to attract a female turkey”

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“Which statement best explains why different body cells of the same individual look and function differently? (1) Each cell contains different genes. (2) Different genes are activated in different kinds of cells. (3) Cells are able to change to adapt to their surroundings. (4) Half of the genes in the cells came from the mother and half from the father.”

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“The ameba, a single-celled organism, reproduces asexually. Variations in an ameba would most commonly occur through (1) differentiation during development (2) the fusion of gametes (3) random mutations (4) recombination during fertilization”

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“The development of organs and tissues from a zygote includes (1) mitosis and differentiation (2) mitosis and gamete production (3) meiosis and gamete production (4) meiosis and fertilization”

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“In the 1920s, over 25 million acres of the American southern plains were stripped of prairie grasses to provide more land for farmers to grow wheat. The prairie grasses had served to hold the soil in place and prevent erosion. In the early 1930s, a series of severe dust storms eroded topsoil from more than 13 million acres of the southern plains and dumped it as tons of dust particles over many cities in the Northeast. Farmland was destroyed and people were sickened from “dust pneumonia.” This occurrence illustrates that (1) farmers should never clear land to grow crops as it always creates problems (2) once an ecosystem has been altered, it can not be restored to normal (3) the farmers deliberately altered the equilibrium of the cities in the Northeast (4) when humans alter ecosystems, serious consequences may result”

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“The Cornell University News Service reported, “The sugar maple is the most economically valuable tree in the eastern United States because of its high-priced lumber, syrup and tourist-attracting fall colors.” The effects of acid rain now threaten the survival of these trees. This threat is the result of a human activity that has (1) introduced a foreign species by accident (2) stabilized a forest ecosystem through technology (3) weakened an ecosystem through pollution (4) weakened a species by direct harvesting”

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“The human male reproductive system is adapted for the production of (1) sperm and the delivery of these cells for internal fertilization (2) gametes that transport food to the egg (3) zygotes and the development of these cells into a fetus (4) hormones that stimulate placenta formation in the male”

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“Five different living organisms are represented below. Flowering plant Mosquito larva Frog Green heron Aquatic plant (Not drawn to scale) Which statement about the organisms represented above is correct? (1) All of the organisms are autotrophs. (2) Only the flowering plant, green heron, and aquatic plant carry out photosynthesis. (3) Only the frog and green heron can maintain homeostasis. (4) All of the organisms pass on traits through reproduction.”

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“Rabbits are not native to Australia. They were imported by European settlers. In 1936, the myxoma virus was introduced into Australia as a means of biological control to infect and reduce the rabbit population. This method of controlling the rabbit population was an attempt to (1) stop the overpopulation of a native species (2) stop the overproduction of an introduced species (3) limit the food sources of the rabbit (4) limit the number of rabbits brought into the country”

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“The major role of carbohydrates in the human diet is to (1) form the membranes that surround mitochondria (2) act as a catalyst for cellular reactions (3) supply energy for the body (4) provide building blocks for amino acids”

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“Throughout New York State, some farmers have switched from growing a variety of vegetable crops to growing a single crop, such as corn. Other farmers are concerned that such a practice will make it more likely that an entire crop could be lost to disease or infestation by an insect pest. This is a valid concern because this practice (1) reduces the biodiversity of their fi elds (2) increases the number of decomposers in their fi elds (3) decreases the need to import food (4) increases the number of invasive species”

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“The breathing rate, heart rate, and blood hormone levels of an individual would directly provide information about that individual’s (1) cellular organization (3) inheritance (2) nutrition (4) metabolic activity”

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“In the 1920s, two conflicting newspaper headlines called attention to a mysterious new illness. 1921–“Don’t breathe the air! Mysterious disease affecting thousands is caused by breathing the air in swamps.” 1922–“Don’t drink the water! Mysterious disease affecting thousands is caused by drinking the water in swamps.” Another series of headlines appeared in the 1940s and 50s. 1945–“New technology finds tiny worms on swamp vegetation.” 1950–“Tiny worms found in lungs of patients suffering from mysterious swamp disease.” 1952–“Mysterious disease known to be caused by worms given name Swamp Lung Disease.” Headlines such as these best illustrate the concept that (1) scientific explanations are tentative and subject to change (2) some newspapers are not honest and report incorrect information on purpose (3) worms can enter the body many different ways (4) worms found in swamps should not be used for fi shing Base your answer to question 32 on the information and diagram below and on your knowledge of biology. In the early 1600s, a scientist planted a willow tree that weighed 5 pounds in 200 pounds of dry soil. He placed it outside and watered it for 5 years. At the end of that time, he observed that the tree had gained 164 pounds 3 ounces, while the soil had lost just 2 ounces. Willow Willow Dry soil Dry soil 5 years Water only 200 lbs 199 lbs 14 oz 5 lbs 169 lbs 3 oz”

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“Ecologists are concerned that the golden-winged warbler population is at a dangerously low level. One reason this could lead to extinction of this warbler is that (1) after a species becomes extinct, it won’t be able to carry out its role in the ecosystem (2) there may not be enough diversity among the birds for the species to be able to survive an environmental change (3) extinction always occurs when populations begin to decrease in number (4) an increase in biodiversity within a population often causes the population to be classifi ed as threatened or endangered”

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“For several years now, there has been discussion of constructing a large oil pipeline across the United States. Which statement expresses a major concern many people are likely to have about the proposed pipeline? (1) The pipeline will bring a large number of jobs to the area where it is being constructed. (2) The oil pipeline will increase the amount of fi nite resources. (3) If this pipeline were to leak, the oil could contaminate soil, water, and wildlife. (4) The pipeline is a technological fix for ozone depletion.”

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“Which organisms and set of characteristics are correctly paired? (1) fungi—carry out photosynthesis and heterotrophic nutrition (2) plants—carry out respiration and autotrophic nutrition (3) decomposers—carry out photosynthesis and autotrophic nutrition (4) animals—carry out autotrophic nutrition and heterotrophic nutrition”

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“Humans have an effect on ecosystems when they use native grasslands or forested areas for farming or urban use. One negative effect of these changes on the ecosystem is that there will be (1) less biodiversity (2) more homes (3) successful economic growth (4) increased food production”

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“Scientists have studied oceanic plastic garbage “patches” around the world. These are areas that accumulate plastic garbage from coastal regions. Their environmental effect ranges from killing sea life to blocking sunlight from reaching photosynthetic organisms. Without a change in human plastic usage, new garbage patches will continue to form. Which human activity would most directly reduce the amount of plastic garbage that enters the ocean? (1) Ban the production and usage of all bags made from recycled plastic. (2) Clean up plastic trash from shorelines, rivers, and other waterways that fl ow into the oceans. (3) Manufacture fewer reusable water bottles, so that people will be more likely to use disposable ones. (4) Implement a glass bottle deposit system to discourage people from recycling plastic bottles.”

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“Monarch butterfl ies migrate from the U.S. and Canada to Mexico every winter. Over the past 10 years, there has been a drastic decrease in the number of monarch butterfl ies. Scientists have estimated that the population may have decreased from about 1 billion to 35 million. Which action would not be considered a reason for the decline in monarch butterfl y populations? (1) illegal deforestation (2) extreme temperature changes (3) decreasing food supplies (4) habitat preservation”

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“Finches on the Galapagos Islands express a variety of traits. Variability in the offspring of these fi nches is a result of (1) mutation and cloning (2) meiosis and mutation (3) mitosis and asexual reproduction (4) mitosis and genetic recombination Part A Answer all questions in this part. [30]”

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“Exposure to certain environmental toxins, such as pesticides, may reduce fertility in males by interfering with their ability to produce gametes. These toxins are most likely having an effect on the (1) testes and progesterone (2) ovaries and testosterone (3) ovaries and estrogen (4) testes and testosterone”

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“Traditional lightbulbs are only 10% effi cient. Ninety percent of the energy they use is converted to heat. Modern lightbulbs are much more effi cient, but may cost three times as much as traditional lightbulbs. Consumers who switch to modern lightbulbs are most likely (1) spending more money for no good reason (2) trying to stop pollution of the oceans (3) trading a short-term cost for long-term savings (4) helping traditional lightbulb factories employ people”

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“Many oak trees are cut down and removed from an oak-hickory forest. A likely result of the direct harvesting of the oak species would be the (1) disruption of natural cycles (2) conservation of these natural forest resources (3) recycling of all the nutrients in the forest (4) prevention of the extinction of animals native to the area”