1. When a muscle shortens and generates force, this is called a:

A. Contraction
B. Relaxation
C. Extension
D. Atrophy

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Contraction. When a muscle shortens and generates force, it is undergoing a contraction. During a contraction, the muscle fibers are actively pulling on the tendons, causing movement at a joint. This process requires energy and coordination between muscle fibers to contract simultaneously. In contrast, relaxation (option B) is when the muscle fibers return to their resting length and stop generating force. Extension (option C) refers to the movement that increases the angle at a joint, typically involving the lengthening of muscles. Atrophy (option D) is the wasting away or decrease in size of muscle tissue due to disuse or disease, not the active shortening and force generation of a muscle during a contraction.

2. What is the meaning of the idiom "to bite off more than one can chew"?

A. To be overly confident
B. To take on more than one can handle
C. To be easily discouraged
D. To be meticulous in planning

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The idiom warns against undertaking a task exceeding one's capabilities.

3. Vaccines work by stimulating the immune system to develop memory without causing full-blown illness. What type of molecule in a vaccine typically triggers the immune response?

A. Toxins produced by the pathogen
B. Live, attenuated (weakened) forms of the pathogen
C. Inactivated (dead) forms of the pathogen
D. Antigens (specific molecules) from the pathogen

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Antigens (specific molecules) from the pathogen. Vaccines contain antigens, which are specific molecules from the pathogen that trigger the immune response without causing the full-blown illness. By presenting these antigens to the immune system, vaccines stimulate the production of memory cells that can recognize and combat the pathogen in the future. Options A, B, and C are incorrect because vaccines typically do not contain toxins, live attenuated forms, or inactivated forms of the pathogen. Instead, they contain specific antigens to induce an immune response without causing the actual disease.

4. What literary device is used in the line "The sea whispered secrets to the shore"?

A. Alliteration
B. Personification
C. Onomatopoeia
D. Hyperbole

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The sentence gives human qualities to the sea, like whispering, creating personification.

5. Which hormone, produced by the adrenal glands, helps regulate the body's response to stress, including increasing blood pressure and suppressing the immune system?

A. Aldosterone
B. Epinephrine
C. Cortisol
D. Insulin

Correct answer: c

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Cortisol. Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands that plays a crucial role in the body's response to stress. It helps regulate blood pressure by increasing it to prepare the body for stressors. Additionally, cortisol suppresses the immune system to prioritize the stress response. Aldosterone, while also produced by the adrenal glands, primarily regulates electrolyte balance and blood pressure. Epinephrine, produced by the adrenal medulla, is involved in the fight-or-flight response but does not suppress the immune system like cortisol. Insulin, produced by the pancreas, regulates blood sugar levels and is not directly involved in the stress response. Therefore, Cortisol is the hormone that specifically helps regulate the body's response to stress by increasing blood pressure and suppressing the immune system.

6. The discovery of nuclear fission is credited to:

A. Marie Curie
B. Albert Einstein
C. Enrico Fermi
D. Ernest Rutherford

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Enrico Fermi. Enrico Fermi is credited with the discovery of nuclear fission. In 1934, Fermi conducted experiments in which he bombarded uranium atoms with neutrons, leading to the splitting of the uranium nucleus and the release of energy. This groundbreaking discovery laid the foundation for the development of nuclear reactors and atomic bombs. Marie Curie made significant contributions to the field of radioactivity, but she did not discover nuclear fission. Albert Einstein is known for his theory of relativity, not for the discovery of nuclear fission. Ernest Rutherford made important contributions to the understanding of atomic structure, but he did not discover nuclear fission. Therefore, Enrico Fermi is the correct answer for the discovery of nuclear fission.