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. 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.

3. The hypodermis is primarily composed of which tissue?

A. Adipose
B. Connective
C. Epithelial
D. Muscle

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The hypodermis, also known as the subcutaneous layer, is primarily composed of adipose (fat) tissue. Adipose tissue in the hypodermis serves as an insulator, energy reserve, and cushioning for the body. Choice B, Connective tissue, is a broad category that includes various types of tissue like adipose, but the hypodermis is specifically rich in adipose tissue. Choice C, Epithelial tissue, is not the primary component of the hypodermis; it is mainly found covering body surfaces and lining cavities. Choice D, Muscle tissue, is not a major component of the hypodermis; muscle tissue is mainly located deeper in the body and serves in movement and support functions.

4. Which property of matter remains constant regardless of changes in gravity?

A. Mass
B. Weight
C. Volume
D. Density

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object and remains constant regardless of changes in gravity. Weight, on the other hand, is the force of gravity acting on an object and can vary depending on the strength of gravity. Volume is the amount of space an object occupies, and density is the mass per unit volume of a substance, both of which can change with changes in gravity. Therefore, mass is the property that remains the same regardless of variations in gravitational force. Choice B, Weight, changes with gravity as it is a force dependent on gravity. Choices C and D, Volume and Density, can be affected by changes in gravity as they are related to the space an object occupies and the mass per unit volume, respectively.

5. In a closed system with a gas at constant volume, what will happen to the temperature if the pressure is increased?

A. The temperature will stay the same
B. The temperature will decrease
C. The temperature will increase
D. It cannot be determined with the information given

Correct answer: C

Rationale: In a closed system with a gas at constant volume, according to Gay-Lussac's law, the temperature of a gas is directly proportional to its pressure. When the pressure is increased, the temperature of the gas will also increase. This relationship is a direct consequence of the ideal gas law, where pressure and temperature are directly proportional when volume is held constant. Therefore, as pressure increases in a closed system with constant volume, the temperature of the gas will increase. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect. The temperature will not stay the same (Choice A) or decrease (Choice B) when the pressure is increased in this scenario. The relationship between pressure and temperature in a closed system with constant volume allows for a definitive conclusion about the increase in temperature when pressure is increased, making Choice D, which suggests inability to determine, incorrect.