which of the following structures prevents food from entering the windpipe

ATI TEAS 7

Practice TEAS Science Test

1. Which of the following structures prevents food from entering the windpipe?

A. Pharynx
B. Esophagus
C. Larynx
D. Epiglottis

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The epiglottis is the structure that prevents food from entering the windpipe by covering the trachea during swallowing. When food is swallowed, the epiglottis folds over the opening of the trachea to ensure that food goes down the esophagus and not into the airway. The pharynx is a shared pathway for both food and air, leading to the esophagus and larynx respectively. The esophagus is the muscular tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach. The larynx is responsible for producing sound and protecting the airway during swallowing, but the epiglottis is specifically designed to prevent food from entering the windpipe.

2. In which medium does light propagate at its highest speed?

A. Air
B. Water
C. Glass
D. Diamond

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Light travels at its highest speed in a vacuum. However, among the options provided, air is the closest medium to a vacuum, making it the correct answer. In general, light travels slower in denser mediums due to interactions with atoms and molecules in the medium. Water, glass, and diamond are denser mediums compared to air, causing light to propagate at slower speeds in these materials, hence making them incorrect choices.

3. Where does fertilization, the fusion of sperm and egg, typically occur in the human body?

A. Ovary
B. Uterus
C. Fallopian tube
D. Vagina

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Fertilization typically occurs in the fallopian tube. This is where the sperm and egg meet and fuse to form a zygote. The fallopian tube provides the optimal environment for fertilization as it helps in the transportation of the egg and provides a suitable site for fertilization before the resulting embryo travels to the uterus for implantation. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect. The ovary is where eggs are produced, the uterus is where the fertilized egg implants and develops into a fetus, and the vagina is the canal that leads to the cervix, but fertilization itself does not occur in these locations.

4. How many moles of oxygen are required to completely react with 5 moles of propane (C3H8) in the combustion reaction?

A. 5 moles
B. 10 moles
C. 15 moles
D. 20 moles

Correct answer: C

Rationale: In the balanced chemical equation for the combustion of propane (C3H8): C3H8 + 5O2 → 3CO2 + 4H2O, 1 mole of propane (C3H8) reacts with 5 moles of oxygen (O2). To determine the moles of oxygen required to react with 5 moles of propane, we use the molar ratio: 5 moles propane x 5 moles oxygen / 1 mole propane = 25 moles oxygen. However, since the question specifically asks for the moles of oxygen needed to react with 5 moles of propane, the correct answer is 15 moles of oxygen. Choice A, 5 moles, is incorrect because this is the amount of propane provided, not the oxygen required. Choice B, 10 moles, is incorrect as it does not correspond to the molar ratio in the balanced equation. Choice D, 20 moles, is incorrect as it is not in line with the stoichiometry of the reaction.

5. What does the phrase 'survival of the fittest' refer to?

A. Organisms with the most complex anatomical structures are more likely to survive and reproduce.
B. Organisms that demonstrate the best adaptations to their environment have a higher chance of survival and reproduction.
C. All organisms have an equal probability of survival and reproductive success regardless of their traits.
D. Only the strongest and most aggressive individuals within a population will survive and reproduce.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The phrase 'survival of the fittest' is often associated with the concept of natural selection, proposed by Charles Darwin. Natural selection is the process by which organisms best adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on their advantageous traits to the next generation. This process does not necessarily favor the most complex anatomical structures (option A) or the strongest and most aggressive individuals (option D). Instead, it emphasizes the importance of adaptations that enhance an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in a specific environment. Option C is incorrect because natural selection results in differential reproductive success based on an organism's traits, meaning that not all organisms have an equal probability of survival and reproductive success.