HESI A2 Biology Section Sample Questions
- What is the primary source of energy for Earth's climate system?
a) Geothermal heat
b) Solar radiation
c) Tidal forces
d) Volcanic activity
Explanation: Solar radiation from the sun drives Earth's climate system by providing the energy that fuels weather patterns, ocean currents, and the water cycle.
- Which organelle is responsible for protein synthesis in a cell?
a) Mitochondrion
b) Ribosome
c) Golgi apparatus
d) Lysosome
Explanation: Ribosomes are the cellular structures where proteins are synthesized by translating mRNA into polypeptide chains.
- What is the primary function of red blood cells?
a) Fight infections
b) Transport oxygen
c) Clot blood
d) Produce antibodies
Explanation: Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, which binds oxygen in the lungs and transports it to tissues throughout the body.
- Which molecule stores genetic information in cells?
a) RNA
b) DNA
c) Protein
d) Lipid
Explanation: DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is the molecule that stores genetic information in the nucleus of cells, encoding instructions for building proteins.
- What is the process by which cells divide to produce two identical daughter cells?
a) Meiosis
b) Mitosis
c) Binary fission
d) Budding
Explanation: Mitosis is the process of cell division in eukaryotic cells that results in two identical daughter cells with the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell.
- Which of the following is a characteristic of prokaryotic cells?
a) Presence of a nucleus
b) Complex organelles
c) Lack of a cell membrane
d) No membrane-bound organelles
Explanation: Prokaryotic cells, such as bacteria, lack membrane-bound organelles like a nucleus or mitochondria, distinguishing them from eukaryotic cells.
- What is the primary source of energy for cellular respiration?
a) Glucose
b) Oxygen
c) Carbon dioxide
d) Water
Explanation: Glucose is broken down during cellular respiration to produce ATP, the primary energy currency of the cell. - Which type of RNA carries amino acids to the ribosome during protein synthesis?
a) mRNA
b) tRNA
c) rRNA
d) snRNA
Explanation: Transfer RNA (tRNA) carries specific amino acids to the ribosome, matching them to codons on mRNA during translation.
- What is the term for the movement of water across a semipermeable membrane?
a) Diffusion
b) Osmosis
c) Active transport
d) Facilitated diffusion
Explanation: Osmosis is the passive movement of water molecules across a semipermeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to higher solute concentration.
- Which organ system is primarily responsible for gas exchange in humans?
a) Circulatory system
b) Respiratory system
c) Digestive system
d) Nervous system
Explanation: The respiratory system, including the lungs, facilitates the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the body and the environment.
- What is the basic unit of heredity?
a) Chromosome
b) Gene
c) Nucleotide
d) Protein
Explanation: A gene is a segment of DNA that codes for a specific trait or protein, serving as the basic unit of heredity.
- Which process converts DNA into mRNA?
a) Translation
b) Transcription
c) Replication
d) Mutation
Explanation: Transcription is the process by which a DNA sequence is copied into a complementary mRNA strand in the nucleus.
- What type of bond holds the two strands of DNA together?
a) Covalent bond
b) Ionic bond
c) Hydrogen bond
d) Peptide bond
Explanation: Hydrogen bonds between complementary base pairs (adenine-thymine, guanine-cytosine) hold the two strands of DNA together in a double helix.
- Which of the following is a product of photosynthesis?
a) Carbon dioxide
b) Water
c) Oxygen
d) Nitrogen
Explanation: Photosynthesis produces oxygen as a byproduct when plants convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose using sunlight.
- What is the role of the mitochondria in a cell?
a) Synthesize proteins
b) Store genetic material
c) Produce ATP
d) Digest waste
Explanation: Mitochondria are the powerhouses of the cell, generating ATP through cellular respiration.
- Which type of cell transport requires energy?
a) Diffusion
b) Osmosis
c) Active transport
d) Facilitated diffusion
Explanation: Active transport moves molecules against their concentration gradient, requiring energy in the form of ATP.
- What is the function of the enzyme amylase?
a) Break down proteins
b) Break down carbohydrates
c) Break down lipids
d) Synthesize DNA
Explanation: Amylase is an enzyme that catalyzes the breakdown of starches and glycogen into simpler sugars.
- Which of the following is a characteristic of natural selection?
a) Random mutations
b) Artificial breeding
c) Differential survival and reproduction
d) Uniform population growth
Explanation: Natural selection involves individuals with favorable traits surviving and reproducing more successfully, passing those traits to offspring.
- What is the primary function of the large intestine?
a) Digest proteins
b) Absorb water
c) Produce bile
d) Store glycogen
Explanation: The large intestine absorbs water from indigestible food matter, forming solid waste.
- Which biomolecule is the primary component of cell membranes?
a) Carbohydrate
b) Protein
c) Lipid
d) Nucleic acid
Explanation: Phospholipids, a type of lipid, form the bilayer structure of cell membranes.
- What is the term for a change in the DNA sequence?
a) Replication
b) Transcription
c) Mutation
d) Translation
Explanation: A mutation is a permanent change in the DNA sequence, which can affect gene function.
- Which structure in a plant cell is responsible for photosynthesis?
a) Chloroplast
b) Mitochondrion
c) Nucleus
d) Vacuole
Explanation: Chloroplasts contain chlorophyll, which captures light energy for photosynthesis.
- What is the role of the pancreas in digestion?
a) Absorb nutrients
b) Produce digestive enzymes
c) Store bile
d) Filter blood
Explanation: The pancreas produces digestive enzymes like amylase and lipase that help break down carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.
- Which of the following is a characteristic of meiosis?
a) Produces two identical cells
b) Occurs in somatic cells
c) Produces four non-identical cells
d) Involves only one cell division
Explanation: Meiosis is a two-step division process in reproductive cells that produces four genetically unique haploid cells.
- What is the primary source of variation in a population?
a) Mitosis
b) Genetic mutation
c) Environmental adaptation
d) Artificial selection
Explanation: Genetic mutations introduce new variations in DNA, which can lead to diversity in traits within a population.
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