AP BIOLOGY Scoring Guide

Unit 2 Progress Check: MCQ

1. A certain type of specialized cell contains an unusually large amount of rough endoplasmic reticulum .

Which of the following functions is this cell type most likely specialized to perform?
(A) The production and secretion of steroids
(B) The destruction of toxic materials produced in other cells of the organism
(C) The synthesis of polysaccharides for energy storage
(D) The production and secretion of proteins

2. A group of mutations, known as , have been identified in mitochondrial . These mutations are
associated with a number of debilitating diseases stemming from the production of nonfunctional proteins in the
mitochondria.

Which of the following cellular deficiencies would most likely be related to these mutations?
(A) The cell is unable to synthesize most proteins required for normal cell functions.
(B) The cell is unable to break down toxic materials and would accumulate large volumes of these materials.
The cell is able to synthesize proteins, but the proteins would not fold properly and would not contain
(C)
the correct molecular tags for export from the cell.
(D) The cell is unable to complete reactions related to electron transport and production.

3. A scientist is studying the various prokaryotic and eukaryotic species found floating in a sample of water taken from
a marine ecosystem.

Which cellular component will be found in the widest range of organisms in the sample?
(A) The chloroplast, since all organisms need a source of energy.
(B) The ribosome, since all organisms need to synthesize proteins.
(C) The mitochondrion, since all organisms need to break down glucose.
(D) The cell wall, since all marine organisms need them for support.

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Unit 2 Progress Check: MCQ

4. In an experiment, researchers provided a radiolabeled amino acid to living plant cells. After one hour, the
researchers determined the amount of the radiolabeled amino acid that was in each of several subcellular
compartments. The results of the experiment are represented in the table.

RELATIVE AMOUNTS OF RADIOLABELED AMINO ACID

Nucleus Mitochondria Endoplasmic Reticulum Cytosol

2.1 2.7 1.9 1

Which of the following conclusions about the radiolabeled amino acid is best supported by the results of the
experiment?
(A) It was mostly incorporated into nucleic acids that store the biological information.
(B) It was mostly incorporated into proteins that regulate and manage metabolic reactions.
(C) It was mostly incorporated into lipids that help separate cells from their surrounding environment.
(D) It was mostly incorporated into carbohydrates that form protective structures outside the cells.

5. Researchers conducted an experiment to investigate the effects of a valinomycin treatment on skeletal muscle cells.
Valinomycin is a naturally occurring substance that can be used as a drug. The results of the experiment are
presented in the table.

Relative Rates of Production

Time after Treatment Untreated Cells Valinomycin-Treated Cells
5 minutes 1.0 0.3
10 minutes 7.7 2.7

Which of the following claims about the effects of the valinomycin treatment is best supported by the data presented
in the table?
(A) The valinomycin treatment caused an increase in the activity of the rough endoplasmic reticulum.
(B) The valinomycin treatment caused an increase in the activity of the Golgi complex.
(C) The valinomycin treatment caused a decrease in the activity of the lysosome.
(D) The valinomycin treatment caused a decrease in the activity of the mitochondria.

6. In an experiment, researchers compared the growth of two different plants, plant and plant . The researchers
maintained the plants under nearly identical conditions and observed that plant grew faster than plant . The
researchers also observed that the inner mitochondrial membranes of plant had more folds than did those of plant
.

Which of the following conclusions about increasing the number of folds in the inner mitochondrial membrane is
best supported by the results of the experiment?

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 Scoring Guide

Unit 2 Progress Check: MCQ

(A) It increases the efficiency of photosynthesis, which results in faster cell growth.
(B) It increases the surface area available for production, which results in faster cell growth.
(C) It increases the amount of space available for storing cellular wastes, which results in faster cell growth.
(D) It increases the rate of protein transport to the plasma membrane, which results in faster cell growth.

7. Some cells, such as intestinal cells, exchange a lot of material with their surroundings. The surface-to-volume ratio
of these cells affects the efficiency of material exchange.

The table provides measurements of four different eukaryotic cells.

Cell 1 2 3 4
Total surface area 40 60 80 100
Total volume 20 10 30 20

Based on the data, which cell is likely to be most effective in the exchange of materials?
(A) Cell
(B) Cell
(C) Cell
(D) Cell

8. Hereditary spherocytosis is a disorder of red blood cells that causes the cells to be smaller and spherical
instead of having the usual flattened, biconcave shape. The average diameter of normal red blood cells is ,
and the average diameter of red blood cells in a person with was found to be . The normal red blood
cell has an average surface area of and an average volume of .

Which of the following provides an accurate calculation of the surface area to volume ratio of an red blood cell,
as well as a prediction of its effect on the efficient transferring of oxygen compared to a normal red blood cell?
(A) The ratio is , and the cells are more efficient at transferring oxygen.
(B) The ratio is , and the cells are less efficient at transferring oxygen.
(C) The ratio is , and the cells are less efficient at transferring oxygen.
(D) The ratio is , and the cells are more efficient at transferring oxygen.

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 Scoring Guide

Unit 2 Progress Check: MCQ

9. Stomata are pores on the surfaces of the leaves and stems of plants that regulate gas exchange between the plants
and the atmosphere.

Researchers found that the stomata density on the leaves of a species of plant change as the concentration of
in the atmosphere changes. When grown at 350 the plant has an average density of 300 stomata per
, but when grown at 400 the plant has an average density of 250 stomata per .

Which of the following best describes how the ratio of the density of stomata (stomata per ) per
concentration ( ) changes as the concentration increases?
The ratio decreases from to , because fewer stomata are needed at higher
(A)
concentrations.
(B) The ratio decreases from to , because fewer stomata are needed at higher concentrations.
(C) The ratio increases from to , because more stomata are needed at higher concentrations.
(D) The ratio increases from to , because more stomata are needed at higher concentrations.

10. Figure 1. Testosterone movement across the cellular membrane

Testosterone is a small steroid hormone that is important in cell signaling. Which of the following indicates where
testosterone enters a cell and why it is able to cross at that point?
(A) 1, because testosterone is nonpolar and can diffuse through the membrane.
(B) 2, because testosterone covalently binds to a surface protein and transports into the cell.
(C) 3, because testosterone dissolves in water and flows through the channel.
(D) 4, because testosterone is filtered out of the extracellular fluid and taken into the cell by endocytosis.

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Unit 2 Progress Check: MCQ

11. The figure shows a representation of a protein embedded in a cell membrane. The numbers indicate different
structural regions of the protein.

Based on the figure, which of the following statements best describes the relationship between regions 1 and 2 of
the protein?
Region 1 is hydrophilic because it interacts with the interior of the membrane, whereas region 2 is
(A)
hydrophobic because it interacts with an aqueous environment.
Region 1 is hydrophilic because it interacts with an aqueous environment, whereas region 2 is
(B)
hydrophobic because it interacts with the interior of the membrane.
Region 1 is hydrophobic because it interacts with the interior of the membrane, whereas region 2 is
(C)
hydrophilic because it interacts with an aqueous environment.
Region 1 is hydrophobic because it interacts with an aqueous environment, whereas region 2 is
(D)
hydrophilic because it interacts with the interior of the membrane.

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 Scoring Guide

Unit 2 Progress Check: MCQ

12. Cholesterol is a naturally occurring substance that helps regulate the fluidity of a cell’s plasma membrane. A
cholesterol molecule can be represented as having a polar head and a nonpolar region, as shown in the figure.

Which of the following models shows how cholesterol molecules most likely interact with the phospholipid bilayer
of a cell’s plasma membrane?

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Unit 2 Progress Check: MCQ

(A)

(B)

(C)

(D)

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Unit 2 Progress Check: MCQ

13. Intravenous therapy is used for fluid replacement in instances of dehydration in humans and other animals.
One type of fluid is essentially a saltwater solution. To determine the best concentration for therapy in people, a
team of students is researching the effects of solutions of different salt concentrations on red blood cells. The
following observations were made from three different red blood cell samples viewed under a microscope.

Saline (Cells swell) Saline (Cells unchanged) Saline (Cells shrink)

The team wants to extend the research project. What should the team of students do next to obtain data that are
more conclusive?
(A) Repeat the process with other salt concentrations.
(B) Develop a model to explain why the cells react differently to different salt concentrations.
(C) Repeat the process using red blood cells from other animals.
Develop an experimental procedure that uses a stain that makes the organelles of red blood cells more
(D)
visible.

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Unit 2 Progress Check: MCQ

14. Certain bacteria can use both ethyl alcohol and acetate as sources of nutrients. In an experiment where both
nutrients are available to a bacterial population, the following results were obtained and graphed.

What additional procedure would best help determine whether these movements are due to active transport or to
passive transport?
Repeat the original experiment, but at three different temperatures. Compare the transport rates among
(A)
the three temperatures.
Repeat the original experiment, but add a substance known to block movement of molecules across
(B)
aquaporins. Compare the rates on the two graphs.
Use two additional treatments, one containing only ethyl alcohol and one containing only acetate.
(C)
Compare the graphs of these two treatments with the original graph.
Use two additional treatments, one containing only ethyl alcohol and one containing only acetate.
(D) Include a substance known to block use by the plasma membrane. Compare the graphs of these
two treatments to the original graph.

15. Researchers investigate the transport of a certain protein into cells by endocytosis. In an experiment, the researchers
incubate the cells in the presence of the protein and measure the amount of the protein that is absorbed into the cells
over a five-minute period.

Based on their observations, what should the researchers do to further clarify how the availability of the protein
outside the cells affects the rate of endocytosis of the protein?
(A) Incubate the cells in the absence of the protein.
(B) Incubate the cells in the presence of several different proteins.
(C) Incubate the cells in the presence of several different concentrations of the protein.
(D) Incubate the cells in the presence of the protein for several different lengths of time.

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 Scoring Guide

Unit 2 Progress Check: MCQ

16. Lysosomes digest food particles brought into a cell by endocytosis. After a vesicle containing food particles fuses
with a lysosome, ions are transported into the lysosome from the cytosol. This significantly lowers the of
the lysosome relative to the cytosol and activates the enzymes that digest the particles.

Which of the following best predicts what will happen to the lysosomal enzymes if the proteins that transport
ions from the cytosol into the lysosome are damaged?
(A) The lysosomal enzymes will not become active, since there will be no active transport of ions.
(B) The lysosomal enzymes will not become active, since ions will diffuse out of the lysosome.
The lysosomal enzymes will become active, since facilitated diffusion will move ions into the
(C)
lysosome.
The lysosomal enzymes will become active, since passive diffusion will move ions into the
(D)
lysosome.

17. Which of the following transport mechanisms will be affected most directly by a temporary shortage of
molecules inside the cell?
(A) The movement of water molecules through aquaporins
(B) The diffusion of oxygen molecules across the plasma membrane
(C) The transport of glucose molecules against a concentration gradient

(D) The facilitated diffusion of ions into the cell

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 Scoring Guide

Unit 2 Progress Check: MCQ

18. Some membrane proteins help maintain the concentrations of ions inside a cell by transporting the ions across the
cell’s plasma membrane. Other membrane proteins form pores in the plasma membrane through which the ions can
diffuse. A model showing the influence of membrane proteins on the movement of sodium ( ) and potassium (
) ions across a plasma membrane is presented in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Section of a cell’s plasma membrane, showing ion concentrations and membrane proteins

Based on the model presented in Figure 1, which of the following changes will most likely result from a depletion
of available stores inside the cell?
(A) The concentration outside the cell will increase.
(B) The concentration inside the cell will increase.
(C) The concentration inside the cell will increase.
(D) The concentration outside the cell will decrease.

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Unit 2 Progress Check: MCQ

19. A study was conducted to understand the factors controlling the rate at which molecules or ions travel across cell
membranes. An artificial membrane was created that was composed of a phospholipid bilayer only. The speed at
which various substances crossed this membrane was measured.

Some substances can pass through an actual cell membrane much faster than they passed through the artificial
membrane in this study. Which of the following statements best explains this finding?
(A) Actual cell membranes have a much thicker phospholipid bilayer than the artificial membrane does.
Actual cell membranes have a variety of proteins embedded in the membrane that are absent in the
(B)
artificial membrane.
Hydrophobic substances spend more time between the two layers of phospholipid in the artificial
(C)
membrane than they do between the layers in an actual membrane.
Hydrophilic substances spend more time attached to the polar region of the phospholipids in the
(D) artificial membrane than they do attached to the polar region of the phospholipids in an actual
membrane.

20. A magnesium sulfate solution taken orally can cause a net movement of water into the large intestine, which results
from water molecules diffusing through aquaporins embedded in the cells of the intestinal lining.

By which of the following mechanisms do the water molecules most likely move into the large intestine?
(A) By passive transport from an area of low osmolarity to an area of high osmolarity
(B) By passive transport from an area of high osmolarity to an area of low osmolarity
(C) By active transport from an area of low osmolarity to an area of high osmolarity
(D) By active transport from an area of high osmolarity to an area of low osmolarity

21. Aldosterone (a steroid hormone) is a small, nonpolar, hydrophobic molecule that enters a target cell by moving
across the plasma membrane, down a concentration gradient.

Based on the information presented, how does aldosterone most likely enter target cells?
(A) By simple diffusion
(B) By facilitated diffusion
(C) By active transport
(D) By endocytosis

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Unit 2 Progress Check: MCQ

22.

Figure 1

A student is using dialysis bags to model the effects of changing solute concentrations on cells. The student places
one dialysis bag that contains of distilled water into each of two beakers that are filled with of
distilled water. (Figure 1). The membrane of each dialysis bag membrane contains pores that allow small solutes
such as monoatomic ions to pass through but are too small for anything larger to pass. After 30 minutes, of a
concentrated solution of albumin (a medium-sized, water-soluble protein) is added to one of the two beakers.
Nothing is added to the other beaker. After two more hours at room temperature, the mass of each bag is
determined. There is no change in the mass of the dialysis bag in the beaker to which no albumin was added.

Which of the graphs below best represents the predicted change in mass over time of the dialysis bag in the beaker
to which albumin was added?

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Unit 2 Progress Check: MCQ

(A)

(B)

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(C)

(D)

23. Some viral infections can lead to the rupture of the lysosome membrane. Which prediction of the effect of this
disruption of cellular compartmentalization is most likely correct?
(A) Enzymes will be released that will specifically target the virus.
(B) Cellular osmotic concentrations will change, preventing viral entry into the cell.
(C) Hydrolytic enzymes will be released, which will cause cell death.
Intracellular digestion of organic materials will increase, which will increase the energy available to the
(D)
cell for fighting the virus.

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Unit 2 Progress Check: MCQ

24. Gaucher disease is an inherited disorder in which cells of the body are unable to break down a particular type of
lipid, resulting in a buildup of the lipid in some tissues and organs.

Based on the information provided, Gaucher disease results most directly from a defect in the function of which of
the following organelles?
(A) The smooth endoplasmic reticulum
(B) The nucleus
(C) The lysosome
(D) The mitochondrion

25. Researchers have proposed a model of chloroplast evolution. According to the model, chloroplasts evolved from a
small prokaryotic organism that was engulfed by an ancestral eukaryote. The engulfed prokaryote then formed an
endosymbiotic relationship with the eukaryotic host.

Which of the following observations best supports the model?

(A) Chloroplasts are separated from other subcellular compartments by semipermeable membranes.
(B) Prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms both acquire nutrients from the surrounding environment.
(C) Eukaryotes evolved after prokaryotes and have more complex structures.
(D) Chloroplasts and some prokaryotes share similar photosynthetic reactions.

26. Which of the following observations best supports the claim that mitochondria evolved from once-free-living
prokaryotic cells by the process of endocytosis?
(A) Mitochondria produce .
(B) Mitochondria contain proteins.
(C) Mitochondria exchange substances with the cytosol.
(D) Mitochondria are surrounded by a double membrane.

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Unit 2 Progress Check: MCQ

27. Euglenids are single-cell eukaryotes that live in aquatic environments. The chloroplasts found inside euglenids are
enveloped by three membranes, as represented in Figure 1. The inner membrane of euglenid chloroplasts resembles
the thylakoid membrane.

Figure 1. Simplified diagram of a euglenid, showing the structure of the chloroplast envelope

Which of the following claims about the origin of the euglenid chloroplast is best supported by the three-membrane
structure of the envelope?
It originated from the spontaneous assembly of organic molecules into a lipid bilayer inside a free-living
(A)
prokaryote.
It originated from the fusion of the plasma membranes of two different free-living photosynthetic
(B)
prokaryotes.
It originated from the incorporation of a photosynthetic prokaryote into a eukaryotic cell by a single
(C)
endosymbiotic event.
It originated from the incorporation of a photosynthetic prokaryote into a eukaryotic cell by two
(D)
endosymbiotic events.

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28. Beetroot cells contain a family of dark red pigments called betalains. The selectively permeable nature of the
beetroot cells keeps the internal environment of the cell separate from the external environment of the cell.
Researchers are interested in determining whether the selective permeability of beetroot cells is due to the cell
membrane or if it is due to the cell wall.

Exposure to cellulase is known to damage the structure of the cell wall. An experiment is set up in which beetroot
cells are placed in an aqueous solution with cellulase and in one without cellulase.

Which of the following results best refutes the alternative hypothesis that selective permeability is a consequence of
the cell wall?
(A) When beetroot cells are placed in a solution with cellulase, the solution turns dark red.
(B) When beetroot cells are placed in a solution with cellulase, the solution remains clear.
(C) When beetroot cells are placed in a solution, it turns dark red with or without cellulase present.
(D) Since plant cells contain cell membranes, not cell walls, the alternate hypothesis cannot be tested.

29. Two competing hypotheses exist regarding the cell membrane structure. One hypothesis states that membrane
structure is static and membrane components throughout the bilayer are rigidly bound. Alternatively, the other
hypothesis states that cell membranes are a fluid mosaic in which membrane components may drift within the
bilayer around the surface of the cell. An experiment is set up in which membrane proteins of two different cells are
fluorescently labeled with two different colors and then fused as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Model of initiation of cell fusion experiment

Which of the following results, one hour after membrane fusion, best supports the alternative hypothesis that the
cell membrane is a fluid mosaic?

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(A)

(B)

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(C)

(D)

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30. The cell membrane is selectively permeable due to its structure. Thus, the internal environment of the cell is distinct
from the external environment of the cell. One biologist hypothesizes that small nonpolar molecules readily pass
through the membrane. Another biologist alternatively hypothesizes that these types of molecules require channel
and transport proteins that are embedded in the membrane in order to move across the membrane.

Which of the following data would best refute this alternative hypothesis?
(A) Ethanol is found in the cytosol of cells when they are briefly exposed to a ten percent ethanol solution.
(B) Cells become oxygen deficient when membrane protein activity is blocked.
(C) and movement in and out of cells is unaffected when membrane protein activity is blocked.
(D) Sodium ions cannot move across the cell membrane when membrane protein activity is blocked.

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