HESI A2
Biology HESI A2 Practice Test
1. Which, if any, of the following statements about the biosphere is correct?
- A. The biosphere is the part of the Earth that supports life.
- B. The biosphere encompasses the entire surface of the Earth.
- C. A and B are correct.
- D. None of these statements is correct.
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Statement A is correct. The biosphere refers to the part of the Earth where life exists, including the land, water bodies, and atmosphere. It is the zone where living organisms and ecosystems exist. Statement B is incorrect because the biosphere covers various ecosystems on Earth but does not encompass the entire surface of the planet. The biosphere includes regions such as the lithosphere (land), hydrosphere (water bodies), and atmosphere, but not every part of the Earth's surface. Therefore, option C, stating both A and B are correct, is inaccurate. The correct answer is option A, as it accurately defines the biosphere.
2. Which of the following cell types has no nucleus?
- A. platelet
- B. red blood cell
- C. white blood cell
- D. phagocyte
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B, red blood cell. In humans, red blood cells do not have a nucleus. This unique feature allows them to have more space to carry oxygen efficiently. Platelets (choice A), white blood cells (choice C), and phagocytes (choice D) all have nuclei. Platelets are cell fragments, while white blood cells and phagocytes are types of immune cells that contain a nucleus for DNA and cellular functions.
3. Which molecules contain only carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen?
- A. Lipids and proteins
- B. Carbohydrates and lipids
- C. Proteins and carbohydrates
- D. Nucleic acids and proteins
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Carbohydrates and lipids are the molecules that contain only carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Carbohydrates such as sugars and starches are made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a ratio of 1:2:1, while lipids such as fats and oils are composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen as well. Lipids typically contain more carbon and hydrogen atoms compared to oxygen atoms. Proteins contain nitrogen in addition to carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, while nucleic acids contain phosphorus in addition to carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Therefore, choices A, C, and D are incorrect as they include molecules that contain elements other than carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
4. Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a recessive sex-linked trait carried on the X chromosome. In an example of an unaffected father and a female carrier who have two daughters and two sons, which is the predicted outcome?
- A. Both daughters will carry the disease.
- B. Both sons will carry the disease.
- C. One daughter may have the disease.
- D. One son may have the disease.
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a recessive sex-linked trait carried on the X chromosome. Since the father is unaffected and does not carry the disease, he must have a normal X chromosome. The mother is a carrier, which means she has one normal X chromosome and one X chromosome with the disease allele. The daughters will inherit one X chromosome from each parent; one would be normal, and the other has a chance of carrying the disease allele. So, there is a 50% chance that one daughter may have the disease, as she could inherit the X chromosome with the disease allele. The sons will inherit the Y chromosome from the father and the X chromosome from the mother, so they will not be affected by the disease. Therefore, the predicted outcome is that one daughter may have the disease, while the sons will not carry the disease. This rules out choices A, B, and D.
5. If both parents have polydactylism, what percentage of their offspring is predicted to manifest the anomaly?
- A. 25%
- B. 50%
- C. 75%
- D. 100%
Correct answer: B
Rationale: When both parents have polydactylism, they each possess at least one dominant allele for polydactylism. Through a Punnett square analysis, it can be determined that 50% of their offspring will inherit the dominant allele from both parents. This results in a 100% chance of manifesting the anomaly (2 out of 4 possibilities). Therefore, 50% of the offspring are predicted to manifest the anomaly. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect as they do not align with the principles of Mendelian genetics and Punnett square analysis.
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