which if any of the following statements about the biosphere are correct

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 organism reproduces via spore formation?

A. Shelf fungus
B. Lemon tree
C. Smallmouth bass
D. Staphylococcus

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A, Shelf fungus. Shelf fungus reproduces via spore formation. Spores are tiny, reproductive cells that are released into the environment to be carried by air or water, allowing the fungus to spread and reproduce. The other choices are incorrect because Lemon tree reproduces via seeds, Smallmouth bass reproduce sexually through the fertilization of eggs by sperm, and Staphylococcus bacteria reproduce by binary fission, dividing into two identical daughter cells.

3. 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.

4. What is the magnification of an ocular lens on a microscope?

A. 4x
B. 10x
C. 40x
D. 100x

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The magnification of an ocular lens on a microscope is typically 10x, which is considered standard for most microscopes. Ocular lenses are designed to magnify the image produced by the objective lens further. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because they do not represent the standard magnification of an ocular lens. A magnification of 4x, 40x, or 100x would not be typical for an ocular lens in a microscope.

5. Which of the following is not true about antibiotics?

A. They can interfere with the bacteria's ability to survive
B. They can affect how bacteria multiply
C. They can cause more bacteria to grow
D. They only work on bacteria

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C. Antibiotics do not cause more bacteria to grow. They work by interfering with the bacteria's ability to survive, affecting how they multiply, or killing the bacteria cells. Antibiotics specifically target bacteria, so they do not promote the growth of more bacteria. Choices A, B, and D are true statements about antibiotics as they accurately describe how antibiotics work and their specific action on bacteria.