HiSET Science: Life Science Practice Test 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following correctly describes the process of osmosis?
- Movement of solutes from low to high concentration through a membrane
- Movement of water from high to low solute concentration across a semipermeable membrane (Correct answer)
- Active transport of ions requiring ATP
- Diffusion of gases through cell membranes
Correct answer: Movement of water from high to low solute concentration across a semipermeable membrane
Osmosis is the passive movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from areas of lower solute concentration to higher solute concentration.
Question 2: If both parents are heterozygous (Tt) for a trait where T (tall) is dominant, what is the probability their offspring will be tall?
- 25%
- 50%
- 75% (Correct answer)
- 100%
Correct answer: 75%
A Tt × Tt cross produces TT, Tt, Tt, tt in a 1:2:1 ratio; three out of four genotypes express the tall phenotype, giving 75% probability.
Question 3: Which of the following describes a food web rather than a food chain?
- A single linear sequence of who eats whom
- A diagram showing multiple interconnected feeding relationships among species (Correct answer)
- The transfer of energy from sun to plants only
- A ranking of organisms by body size
Correct answer: A diagram showing multiple interconnected feeding relationships among species
A food web shows the complex network of interconnected feeding relationships, while a food chain shows only one linear pathway.
Question 4: What is the function of the nephron in the kidney?
- Produce red blood cells
- Filter blood and form urine (Correct answer)
- Secrete digestive enzymes
- Regulate breathing rate
Correct answer: Filter blood and form urine
Nephrons are the functional units of the kidney that filter blood, reabsorb needed substances, and produce urine from waste products.
Question 5: Which type of RNA reads the mRNA codon and brings the correct amino acid during translation?
- mRNA
- rRNA
- tRNA (Correct answer)
- snRNA
Correct answer: tRNA
Transfer RNA (tRNA) has an anticodon that pairs with mRNA codons and carries the corresponding amino acid to the ribosome.
Question 6: A species of bird with a longer beak is better able to reach insects under tree bark. Over many generations, the average beak length in the population increases. This is an example of:
- Genetic drift
- Founder effect
- Natural selection (Correct answer)
- Mutation only
Correct answer: Natural selection
Natural selection favors the longer-beaked birds because they survive and reproduce more successfully, shifting the population's average beak length.
Question 7: Which cellular process requires oxygen as a reactant?
- Glycolysis
- Fermentation
- Aerobic cellular respiration (Correct answer)
- Photosynthesis
Correct answer: Aerobic cellular respiration
Aerobic cellular respiration uses oxygen in the electron transport chain to produce large amounts of ATP from glucose.
HiSET Science: Life Science Practice Test 4
Which of the following correctly describes the process of osmosis?