HESI A2
HESI A2 Biology Practice Test
1. The sum of all chemical reactions that occur in an organism is:
- A. product
- B. respiration
- C. metabolism
- D. synthesis
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Metabolism is the sum of all chemical reactions that occur within an organism to maintain life. It involves all the processes that break down molecules to release energy (catabolism) and build new molecules to support growth and maintenance (anabolism). Respiration refers specifically to the process of generating energy from the breakdown of glucose molecules. Synthesis is the creation of complex molecules from simpler ones. Therefore, metabolism is the most comprehensive term that encompasses all these processes within an organism.
2. Which part of cellular respiration produces the greatest amount of ATP?
- A. electron transport chain
- B. glycolysis
- C. citric acid cycle
- D. fermentation
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The electron transport chain (ETC) produces the greatest amount of ATP during cellular respiration. This process occurs in the inner mitochondrial membrane and involves the transfer of electrons through a series of protein complexes, creating a proton gradient that drives the synthesis of ATP. By utilizing the energy from the electron carriers NADH and FADH2 produced in earlier stages of cellular respiration, the ETC can generate a large amount of ATP efficiently through oxidative phosphorylation. Glycolysis only produces a small amount of ATP in comparison to the ETC. The citric acid cycle generates some ATP but not as much as the ETC. Fermentation does not produce ATP through oxidative phosphorylation and yields a much smaller amount of ATP compared to the ETC.
3. Select the option that best shows complementary base pairing in DNA:
- A. A and G
- B. A and C
- C. A and A
- D. A and T
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D. A purine (A) must pair with a pyrimidine (T) in DNA. This eliminates options A and C as they do not follow the rule of complementary base pairing. Adenine (A) always pairs with thymine (T) due to their specific shape and bonding properties in DNA structure. Choice B is incorrect because adenine does not pair with cytosine in DNA.
4. How are lipids different from other organic molecules?
- A. They are indivisible.
- B. They are not water soluble.
- C. They contain zinc.
- D. They form long proteins.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: 'They are not water soluble.' Lipids are not water-soluble, which distinguishes them from other organic molecules. Choice A is incorrect because lipids are not indivisible; they can be broken down into fatty acids and glycerol. Choice C is incorrect as lipids do not necessarily contain zinc; they are a diverse group of molecules. Choice D is incorrect because lipids do not form long proteins; proteins are made up of amino acids, not lipids.
5. What are saturated fats saturated with?
- A. Hydrogen atoms
- B. Carbon atoms
- C. Oxygen atoms
- D. Nitrogen atoms
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Saturated fats are saturated with hydrogen atoms. This means that each carbon atom in the fatty acid chains forming saturated fats is bonded to as many hydrogen atoms as possible. This saturation results in the fatty acid chains being straight and closely packed together, making saturated fats solid at room temperature. Choice B (Carbon atoms), C (Oxygen atoms), and D (Nitrogen atoms) are incorrect because saturated fats are specifically saturated with hydrogen atoms, not carbon, oxygen, or nitrogen atoms.
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