Regents Living Environment 4

Question 1

Which statement correctly describes the relationship between DNA, genes, and chromosomes?

Accepted Answer

Chromosomes contain DNA, which is organized into genes

Answer

Chromosomes are structures made of DNA that is organized into functional units called genes, each coding for a specific protein.

Question 2

A plant grown in a dark room will grow toward a small hole of light. This behavior is caused by the unequal distribution of:

Accepted Answer

Auxin

Answer

Auxin is a plant hormone that accumulates on the shaded side of a stem, causing those cells to elongate more and bend the plant toward light.

Question 3

During which phase of the cell cycle does DNA replication occur?

Accepted Answer

S phase (synthesis)

Answer

DNA replication occurs during the S (synthesis) phase of interphase, before the cell begins mitosis.

Question 4

A student notices that plants near a factory producing nitrogen compounds grow much taller than plants farther away. This best illustrates:

Accepted Answer

The effect of abiotic factors on organisms

Answer

Nitrogen availability is an abiotic (non-living) environmental factor that affects plant growth and development.

Question 5

Which best explains why surface proteins on human cells are important to the immune system?

Accepted Answer

They allow the immune system to distinguish self from non-self cells

Answer

Cell surface proteins act as markers (antigens) that allow immune cells to identify the body's own cells versus foreign pathogens.

Regents Practice Test