HESI A2
Biology HESI A2 Practice Test
1. Which part of cellular respiration produces the greatest amount of ATP?
- A. electron transport chain
- B. glycolysis
- C. citric acid cycle
- D. fermentation
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The electron transport chain (ETC) produces the greatest amount of ATP during cellular respiration. This process occurs in the inner mitochondrial membrane and involves the transfer of electrons through a series of protein complexes, creating a proton gradient that drives the synthesis of ATP. By utilizing the energy from the electron carriers NADH and FADH2 produced in earlier stages of cellular respiration, the ETC can generate a large amount of ATP efficiently through oxidative phosphorylation. Glycolysis only produces a small amount of ATP in comparison to the ETC. The citric acid cycle generates some ATP but not as much as the ETC. Fermentation does not produce ATP through oxidative phosphorylation and yields a much smaller amount of ATP compared to the ETC.
2. Huntington’s disease is carried on the dominant allele. In a situation where two heterozygous parents have the disease, what percentage of their offspring are predicted to be disease-free?
- A. 0%
- B. 25%
- C. 50%
- D. 100%
Correct answer: B
Rationale: In this scenario, both parents are heterozygous for Huntington's disease, meaning each carries one dominant allele (representing the disease) and one recessive allele (representing no disease). When they have offspring, there is a 25% chance that each child will inherit two recessive alleles, making them disease-free. The Punnett square for two heterozygous parents (Hh x Hh) yields a 25% probability of offspring being homozygous recessive (hh) and therefore disease-free. Choice A (0%) is incorrect because there is a possibility of disease-free offspring. Choice C (50%) is incorrect as it represents the likelihood of being a carrier. Choice D (100%) is incorrect as all offspring will not be disease-free in this scenario.
3. Which of the following is true of heterozygous traits?
- A. They are haploid
- B. They are denoted AA
- C. They are denoted aa
- D. They are denoted Aa
Correct answer: D
Rationale: Heterozygous traits are denoted by having two different alleles for a particular gene, represented as Aa. This means that they are not haploid (A), not denoted AA (B), and not denoted aa (C). Therefore, the correct answer is D, as heterozygous traits are represented as Aa.
4. Which organelle organizes protein synthesis?
- A. mitochondrion
- B. nucleus
- C. ribosome
- D. vacuole
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Ribosomes are the organelles responsible for organizing protein synthesis. They are the protein factories of the cell, where amino acids are linked together to form proteins. Mitochondria are known as the powerhouse of the cell, responsible for energy production. The nucleus contains the cell's genetic material but does not directly organize protein synthesis. Vacuoles are responsible for storage and maintaining the cell's turgidity.
5. Why can animal cells use a contractile ring but plant cells cannot?
- A. Plant cells can use both methods to divide
- B. Animal cells divide faster, requiring them to pinch apart
- C. Plant cells are too rigid to use a contractile ring
- D. N/A
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Plant cells have a rigid cell wall surrounding them, which prevents them from using a contractile ring for cell division. The rigid cell wall requires plant cells to form a cell plate during cell division instead of pinching apart like animal cells with a contractile ring. Choice A is incorrect because plant cells cannot use a contractile ring due to their rigid cell wall. Choice B is incorrect as the speed of cell division is not the primary reason for the difference in cell division mechanisms between plant and animal cells. Choice D is not applicable as plant cells indeed have a specific limitation in using a contractile ring for cell division.
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