HESI A2
Biology HESI A2 2024
1. A cell is in a solution in which the concentration of solutes is higher inside the cell than outside the cell. What would you expect to happen to the cell?
- A. It will swell and possibly burst.
- B. It will shrivel and shrink.
- C. It will maintain its current size.
- D. It will grow a supportive cell wall.
Correct answer: A
Rationale: When a cell is in a solution where the concentration of solutes is higher inside the cell than outside, it is in a hypertonic environment. In this situation, water will move into the cell in an attempt to equalize the concentration of solutes on both sides of the cell membrane through the process of osmosis. As a result, the cell will swell as it takes in more water, potentially leading to bursting or cell lysis. Choice B is incorrect because a cell in a hypertonic solution will not shrivel and shrink due to water moving into the cell. Choice C is incorrect because the cell will not maintain its current size; it will swell. Choice D is incorrect because growing a supportive cell wall is not the immediate response to being in a hypertonic environment.
2. Why is yeast used to make bread rise?
- A. It engages in photosynthesis, which produces oxygen gas.
- B. Carbon dioxide forms while yeast carries out photosynthesis.
- C. Yeast carries out fermentation, producing ethanol and carbon dioxide.
- D. Yeast breathes in oxygen and produces carbon dioxide through aerobic respiration.
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Yeast is used to make bread rise because it carries out fermentation, producing carbon dioxide gas. The carbon dioxide gas gets trapped in the dough, causing it to rise and create a fluffy texture in the bread. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because yeast does not engage in photosynthesis, so it does not produce oxygen gas, does not carry out photosynthesis to form carbon dioxide, and does not produce carbon dioxide through aerobic respiration. Yeast's fermentation process is essential for bread rising.
3. Which system maintains the body's balance through the release of hormones directly into the bloodstream?
- A. The gastrointestinal system
- B. The endocrine system
- C. The digestive system
- D. The endocrine system
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: The endocrine system. The endocrine system maintains the body's balance through the release of hormones directly into the bloodstream. Hormones produced by glands in the endocrine system regulate various bodily functions such as metabolism, growth, and reproduction. This system plays a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis by releasing hormones that help control and coordinate different processes in the body. Choices A, C, and B are incorrect. The gastrointestinal system is responsible for digestion, absorption of nutrients, and excretion of waste; the digestive system includes the gastrointestinal system and other accessory organs; and choice B is a duplicate of the correct answer.
4. Where is DNA stored?
- A. The nucleus
- B. Ribosomes
- C. Endoplasmic reticulum
- D. Mitochondria
Correct answer: A
Rationale: DNA is stored in the nucleus of a cell. The nucleus houses the cell's genetic material, including the DNA, which contains the instructions for building and operating the cell. The nucleus controls the activities of the cell and is essential for proper cell function and reproduction. Ribosomes are responsible for protein synthesis, not DNA storage. The endoplasmic reticulum is involved in protein and lipid synthesis, storage, and transport but does not store DNA. Mitochondria are known as the powerhouse of the cell, producing energy in the form of ATP, but they do not store DNA.
5. Which of the following is a tertiary consumer?
- A. Owl
- B. Shrew
- C. Grasshopper
- D. Wheat
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A, Owl. Tertiary consumers are organisms that feed on secondary consumers, which, in turn, feed on primary consumers. Owls are considered tertiary consumers because they primarily feed on animals such as rodents, which are secondary consumers. Shrew (choice B) is a secondary consumer, feeding on insects and worms, placing it at a lower trophic level than the owl. Grasshopper (choice C) is a primary consumer, feeding on plants. Wheat (choice D) is not a consumer in the food chain but a plant.
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