which is an example of a gymnosperm

HESI A2

HESI A2 Biology 2024

1. Which is an example of a gymnosperm?

A. Red cedar
B. Japanese cherry
C. Flowering dogwood
D. American chestnut

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Red cedar is the correct answer as it is an example of a gymnosperm. Gymnosperms are plants that produce seeds not enclosed within an ovary or fruit. In the case of red cedar, it belongs to the gymnosperm group and has naked seeds that are exposed on the surface of scales or leaves. Choices B, C, and D are angiosperms, not gymnosperms. Japanese cherry, flowering dogwood, and American chestnut are all examples of angiosperms, which are flowering plants with seeds enclosed within an ovary.

2. Which one is not a reactant in photosynthesis?

A. Water
B. Light energy
C. Glucose
D. Carbon dioxide

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Glucose. Glucose is not a reactant in photosynthesis but a product. During photosynthesis, plants use water, carbon dioxide, and light energy as reactants to produce glucose and oxygen. Water is essential for the process of photosynthesis, along with carbon dioxide and light energy. Light energy is necessary for the light-dependent reactions to occur, which eventually leads to the production of glucose. Carbon dioxide is absorbed by plants through tiny pores called stomata and is used in the Calvin cycle to synthesize glucose. Therefore, glucose is the product of photosynthesis, not a reactant.

3. Why do we perceive chlorophyll as green?

A. It absorbs yellow and blue light.
B. It primarily absorbs green light.
C. It fails to absorb green light.
D. It primarily absorbs red light.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Chlorophyll appears green to us because it primarily absorbs yellow and blue light while reflecting green light. The wavelengths of yellow and blue light are absorbed by chlorophyll for photosynthesis, which results in the green color we perceive. Choice B is incorrect because chlorophyll absorbs yellow and blue light, not green light. Choice C is incorrect because chlorophyll does absorb green light, but it also absorbs other wavelengths, primarily yellow and blue. Choice D is incorrect because chlorophyll primarily absorbs yellow and blue light, not red light.

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. What is the correct order of the hierarchy of levels in the biological classification of organisms?

A. Kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species
B. Phylum, kingdom, class, order, family, genus, and species
C. Order, phylum, class, kingdom, family, genus, and species
D. Kingdom, phylum, order, class, family, genus, and species

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct order of the hierarchy of levels in the biological classification of organisms is Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species. This order is based on the Linnaean system of classification, with each level representing a progressively more specific grouping of organisms. Choice B is incorrect because it starts with Phylum instead of Kingdom. Choice C is incorrect as it places Order before Phylum. Choice D is incorrect because it does not follow the correct order of the biological classification hierarchy.