1. The term "goiter" refers to a condition characterized by:

A. Overproduction of cortisol from the adrenal glands
B. Excessive growth of the thyroid gland
C. Underproduction of parathyroid hormone (PTH)
D. Deficiency of growth hormone from the pituitary gland

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The term 'goiter' specifically refers to the abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. This can be due to various reasons such as iodine deficiency, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, or Graves' disease. Options A, C, and D are incorrect as they describe conditions related to other glands and hormones in the endocrine system. It is important to differentiate between different endocrine disorders to accurately diagnose and treat patients. Therefore, the correct answer is B, as a goiter is characterized by the excessive growth of the thyroid gland.

2. What is the process by which the body reabsorbs water from the large intestine?

A. Dehydration
B. Osmosis
C. Filtration
D. Secretion

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Rationale: - Dehydration (Option A) refers to the condition of having insufficient water in the body, not the process of water reabsorption in the large intestine. - Osmosis (Option B) is the movement of water across a semi-permeable membrane from an area of low solute concentration to an area of high solute concentration. In the large intestine, water is reabsorbed through osmosis to maintain the body's fluid balance. - Filtration (Option C) is a process where a liquid or gas passes through a filter to separate the components. It is not the primary mechanism for water reabsorption in the large intestine. - Secretion (Option D) is the release of substances from cells, but it is not the process by which the body reabsorbs water from the large intestine. Therefore, the correct process by which the body reabsorbs water from the large intestine is

3. Which preposition best completes the sentence: "She borrowed money _____ her friend."

A. of
B. from
C. on
D. for

Correct answer: B

Rationale: "From" indicates the source of the borrowed money.

4. A scientific theory is:

A. A personal belief or hunch about how something works.
B. A well-substantiated explanation based on evidence and repeated testing.
C. A single experiment's findings not yet confirmed by others.
D. A fixed and unchanging dogma beyond questioning.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Theories in science are constantly evolving and open to revision as new data emerges, unlike personal beliefs or fixed dogmas.

5. Adaptive radiation refers to the evolutionary process where:

A. A single ancestral species diversifies into multiple descendant species due to ecological pressures in a heterogeneous environment.
B. Two unrelated species evolve similar adaptations in response to similar environments, leading to convergent evolution.
C. A population becomes increasingly well-adapted to its current environment through continued natural selection.
D. The fossil record exhibits gaps or missing links in the evolutionary history of a lineage.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Rationale: - Adaptive radiation is a process where a single ancestral species diversifies into multiple descendant species to exploit different ecological niches within a heterogeneous environment. - This diversification occurs due to the different selective pressures present in various habitats, leading to the evolution of distinct traits and adaptations in different descendant species. - Option A accurately describes the process of adaptive radiation, where the initial species undergoes rapid speciation to occupy different ecological roles and adapt to diverse environmental conditions. - Options B, C, and D do not accurately describe adaptive radiation but refer to other evolutionary processes such as convergent evolution, natural selection, and gaps in the fossil record, respectively.

6. Photons, the basic unit of light, are:

A. Charged particles
B. Packets of energy with wave-particle duality
C. Electromagnetic waves only
D. Always absorbed by matter

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Packets of energy with wave-particle duality. Photons are the smallest discrete amount of electromagnetic radiation and exhibit both wave-like and particle-like properties. While photons do not have a charge, they do carry energy and momentum. This dual nature of photons is a fundamental concept in quantum mechanics. Photons can travel as both waves and particles, and their behavior is described by the wave-particle duality principle. Therefore, option B accurately describes the nature of photons as packets of energy with wave-particle duality.