which part of the brain controls breathing and heart rate

ATI TEAS 7

Practice TEAS Science Test

1. Which part of the brain controls breathing and heart rate?

A. Cerebrum
B. Medulla oblongata
C. Thalamus
D. Cerebellum

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The medulla oblongata is the correct answer because it is responsible for controlling involuntary functions such as breathing and heart rate. The cerebrum (Choice A) is primarily associated with higher brain functions like thinking and voluntary movements, not with regulating basic bodily functions like breathing and heart rate. The thalamus (Choice C) serves as a relay station for sensory information but is not directly involved in controlling breathing and heart rate. The cerebellum (Choice D) plays a role in coordination and balance, not in regulating respiratory and cardiac functions.

2. What is the name of the structure that packages DNA in eukaryotic cells?

A. Nucleosome
B. Chromatin
C. Histone
D. Centromere

Correct answer: A

Rationale: - A nucleosome is the basic structural unit of DNA packaging in eukaryotic cells. It consists of DNA wrapped around a core of histone proteins. - Chromatin refers to the complex of DNA and proteins found in the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell, including nucleosomes. - Histones are the proteins around which DNA is wrapped to form nucleosomes. - Centromere is a region of a chromosome where the two sister chromatids are joined and to which spindle fibers attach during cell division.

3. Anya was paid by Company X to analyze dwindling honeybee populations in the Southwest. After measuring hive populations over several months, she noticed no patterns in the geographic distributions of the deaths after comparisons with local maps of interest. This supported her hypothesis, so she took samples of the honey and the bees from the hives and performed dozens of dissections to confirm her suspicions. Which of the following is the most likely hypothesis upon which this research was performed?

A. Honeybees are being killed off, and their hives are destroyed by other extremely aggressive species of bees from the South.
B. Honeybees are contracting parasites in large droves.
C. Honeybees are so sensitive to certain pesticides that they die on contact.
D. Honeybees die in larger numbers around cell phone towers.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The most likely hypothesis based on the information provided is that honeybees are contracting parasites in large droves. Anya observed no geographic patterns in hive deaths and proceeded to analyze honey and bees for further investigation. This suggests that she suspected a widespread issue affecting multiple hives simultaneously, consistent with a scenario where honeybees are being infected by parasites in high numbers, leading to dwindling populations across different locations. The other choices can be eliminated because there is no mention of aggressive species of bees from the South, no evidence pointing to pesticide sensitivity as the cause, and no indication of a correlation with cell phone towers in the information provided.

4. Which type of wave does not require a medium for propagation?

A. Transverse wave
B. Longitudinal wave
C. Mechanical wave
D. Electromagnetic wave

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D, Electromagnetic wave. Electromagnetic waves do not require a medium for propagation because they consist of oscillating electric and magnetic fields that can travel through a vacuum. In contrast, transverse and longitudinal waves are mechanical waves that require a medium (solid, liquid, or gas) for propagation. Therefore, options A, B, and C are incorrect as they are all types of mechanical waves that necessitate a medium for transmission.

5. What is the name of the muscle responsible for pumping blood throughout the body?

A. Bicep
B. Tricep
C. Deltoid
D. Cardiac muscle

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D, Cardiac muscle. The cardiac muscle is specifically designed to pump blood throughout the body and is found in the heart. In contrast, the bicep, tricep, and deltoid are skeletal muscles responsible for joint movement, not for pumping blood. The bicep is responsible for elbow flexion, the tricep for elbow extension, and the deltoid for shoulder abduction.