which organ is responsible for filtering waste from the blood

ATI TEAS 7

Practice Science TEAS Test

1. Which organ is responsible for filtering waste from the blood?

A. Kidneys
B. Pancreas
C. Liver
D. Heart

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Kidneys. The kidneys are responsible for filtering waste products from the blood, maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance. The pancreas aids in digestion and regulates blood sugar levels. The liver processes nutrients, detoxifies chemicals, and produces bile. The heart is responsible for pumping blood throughout the body. Choice B, Pancreas, is incorrect because the pancreas plays a role in digestion and blood sugar regulation, not in filtering waste from the blood. Choice C, Liver, is incorrect as the liver processes nutrients, detoxifies chemicals, and produces bile, but it is not primarily responsible for filtering waste from the blood. Choice D, Heart, is incorrect as the heart's main function is pumping blood throughout the body, not filtering waste from the blood.

2. Photons, the basic unit of light, are:

A. Charged particles
B. Packets of energy with wave-particle duality
C. Electromagnetic waves only
D. Always absorbed by matter

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Photons are not charged particles; they are packets of energy that exhibit wave-particle duality, meaning they can behave as both particles and waves. While photons are part of the electromagnetic spectrum, they are not electromagnetic waves themselves but rather discrete energy packets. They are not always absorbed by matter; they can be reflected, transmitted, or scattered.

3. Decomposers in an ecosystem play a vital role by:

A. Photosynthesizing and producing organic matter
B. Breaking down dead organisms and returning nutrients to the environment
C. Preying on herbivores and controlling their populations
D. Fixing nitrogen from the atmosphere and making it available to plants

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Decomposers are organisms that break down dead organic matter, such as dead plants and animals, into simpler substances. By doing so, they help to recycle nutrients back into the environment, making them available for other organisms to use. This process is essential for the functioning of ecosystems, as it ensures that nutrients are not lost but instead are continuously cycled through the ecosystem. Photosynthesis (option A) is the process by which plants and some other organisms convert light energy into chemical energy in the form of glucose, and it is not a role of decomposers. Preying on herbivores (option C) is a role typically carried out by predators, not decomposers. Fixing nitrogen from the atmosphere (option D) is a process carried out by nitrogen-fixing bacteria, not decomposers.

4. What is the difference between a prokaryotic cell and a eukaryotic cell?

A. Prokaryotic cells have a nucleus, while eukaryotic cells do not
B. Eukaryotic cells have a nucleus, while prokaryotic cells do not.
C. Prokaryotic cells have membrane-bound organelles, while eukaryotic cells do not.
D. Eukaryotic cells have membrane-bound organelles, while prokaryotic cells do not.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: - Prokaryotic cells are simpler and do not have a true nucleus. Their genetic material is located in the nucleoid region, which is not enclosed by a membrane. - Eukaryotic cells are more complex and have a true nucleus that houses the genetic material, enclosed within a nuclear membrane. - Both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells have organelles, but eukaryotic cells have membrane-bound organelles such as mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and Golgi apparatus, while prokaryotic cells lack these membrane-bound organelles.

5. What enzyme plays a key role in breaking down carbohydrates in the small intestine?

A. Pepsin
B. Lipase
C. Amylase
D. Trypsin

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Amylase is the enzyme responsible for breaking down carbohydrates in the small intestine. It specifically targets starches and sugars, breaking them down into smaller molecules like maltose and glucose that can be absorbed by the body. Pepsin is an enzyme that breaks down proteins in the stomach, not the small intestine. Lipase is responsible for breaking down fats, not carbohydrates. Trypsin is an enzyme that breaks down proteins in the small intestine, not carbohydrates.