1. Which digestive enzyme is primarily responsible for breaking down proteins?

A. Pepsin
B. Lipase
C. Amylase
D. Maltase

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Pepsin. Pepsin is primarily responsible for breaking down proteins in the stomach. It is an enzyme produced by the gastric chief cells in the stomach lining and works in a highly acidic environment to break down proteins into smaller peptide fragments. Lipase, on the other hand, is responsible for breaking down fats, amylase for breaking down carbohydrates, and maltase for breaking down maltose (a type of sugar). Therefore, pepsin is the correct enzyme involved in the digestion of proteins.

2. What is the basic unit of heredity?

A. Chromosome
B. Cell
C. Gene
D. Organ

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Rationale: A gene is the basic unit of heredity that carries the instructions for making proteins, which determine an organism's traits. Genes are segments of DNA located on chromosomes within the cell. While chromosomes contain many genes, a gene itself is the fundamental unit of heredity responsible for passing on genetic information from one generation to the next. Cells are the basic structural and functional units of living organisms, but genes specifically carry genetic information. Organs are composed of tissues and serve specific functions within an organism, but they are not the basic unit of heredity.

3. Which protein complex in the sarcomere is responsible for the thick filament?

A. Actin
B. Myosin
C. Tropomyosin
D. Troponin

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Myosin. In the sarcomere, the thick filament is composed of myosin protein. Myosin is responsible for the interaction with actin filaments during muscle contraction, forming cross-bridges that generate the force required for muscle movement. Actin (choice A) is a component of the thin filament in the sarcomere, while tropomyosin (choice C) and troponin (choice D) are regulatory proteins associated with muscle contraction but are not part of the thick filament. Understanding the specific components of the sarcomere is crucial for comprehending muscle contraction mechanisms.

4. An object is moving in a circle at constant speed. Is there a net force acting on it?

A. Yes, always
B. No, never
C. Only if its speed is changing
D. Only if its direction is changing

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Even though the speed is constant, the direction is constantly changing, requiring a centripetal force to keep the object moving in a circle.

5. What is the periodic law?

A. The statement that the properties of the elements are a periodic function of their atomic numbers.
B. The statement that the elements can be arranged in a table in which elements with similar properties are grouped together
C. The statement that the elements can be arranged in a table in which the atomic number of an element is equal to the number of protons in its nucleus
D. The statement that the elements can be arranged in a table in which the atomic mass of an element is equal to the number of neutrons in its nucleus.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The periodic law states that the properties of elements are a periodic function of their atomic numbers. This means that when elements are arranged in order of increasing atomic number, there is a periodic repetition of their properties. This forms the basis for the modern periodic table. Option B describes the periodic table itself, while options C and D do not accurately describe the periodic law.

6. Which of the following is an example of a nonpolar solvent?

A. Water
B. Ethanol
C. Acetone
D. Hydrochloric acid

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Rationale: - Water (option A) is a polar solvent due to its uneven distribution of charge, with the oxygen atom being partially negative and the hydrogen atoms being partially positive. - Ethanol (option B) is a nonpolar solvent because it has a symmetrical molecular structure that does not result in significant charge separation. - Acetone (option C) is a polar solvent as it contains a carbonyl group that results in a partial negative charge on the oxygen atom. - Hydrochloric acid (option D) is a polar solvent due to the presence of the highly electronegative chlorine atom, which results in a partial negative charge.