HESI A2
Biology HESI A2 Practice Test
1. Why does cellular respiration happen?
- A. Cells can copy DNA
- B. Cells can breathe
- C. Cells can convert nutrients to energy
- D. Cells can divide
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Cellular respiration is the process through which cells break down nutrients such as glucose to produce ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the energy currency of the cell. This process allows cells to extract energy from food molecules and use it for various cellular activities and functions. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because cellular respiration is specifically about converting nutrients to energy, not about DNA copying, breathing, or cell division.
2. 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.
3. Which of the following is true of heterozygous traits?
- A. They are haploid
- B. They are denoted AA
- C. They are denoted aa
- D. They are denoted Aa
Correct answer: D
Rationale: Heterozygous traits are denoted by having two different alleles for a particular gene, represented as Aa. This means that they are not haploid (A), not denoted AA (B), and not denoted aa (C). Therefore, the correct answer is D, as heterozygous traits are represented as Aa.
4. Which organelle is found in protists but not in monerans?
- A. Golgi apparatus
- B. Chromosome
- C. Cytoplasm
- D. Cell membrane
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The Golgi apparatus is the correct answer. The Golgi apparatus is a cellular organelle responsible for processing and packaging proteins before they are transported to their final destination. Protists, being eukaryotic organisms, have membrane-bound organelles including the Golgi apparatus, which are absent in monerans. Monerans are prokaryotic organisms that lack membrane-bound structures such as the Golgi apparatus. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect as chromosomes, cytoplasm, and cell membranes are present in both protists and monerans.
5. A cell from heart muscle would more than likely contain an unusually high proportion of which of the following?
- A. lysosomes
- B. mitochondria
- C. mRNA
- D. ribosomes
Correct answer: B
Rationale: A cell from heart muscle would more than likely contain an unusually high proportion of mitochondria because the heart muscle requires a significant amount of energy to function properly. Mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell and are responsible for producing energy in the form of ATP through cellular respiration. Therefore, to meet the high energy demands of the heart muscle, it would need a higher concentration of mitochondria compared to other cell types. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because while lysosomes, mRNA, and ribosomes are essential components of a cell, they do not play as direct a role in meeting the high energy demands of heart muscle as mitochondria do.
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