Characteristics of Living Things

Summative Assessment

For questions # 1 - 7 choose the best answer from the word bank provided and write on the line at the left:

_____1. Involves two parents and combines their genetic material to produce a new organism that differs from both parents.

_____2. A change in an organism’s surroundings that causes the organism to react.

_____3. The process of change that occurs during an organism’s life, producing a more complex organism.

_____4. Organisms that are composed of many cells.

_____5. A living thing is considered to be a(n)

_____6. The basic unit of structure and function.

_____7. An organisms ability to regulate its life functions.

Word Bank:

Questions # 14 – 27 are multiple choice Write the letter of the correct answer on the line at the left.

8. ______ Is the molecule pictured below an element or a compound?

1. Element
2. Compound                 ^[1]

9.______ Is the molecule pictured below an element or a compound?         ^[2]

1. Element
2. Compound

10.______ Water is made out of 2 hydrogen atoms and 1 oxygen atom. Water is a(n)

1. Element
2. Compound

11.______ A balloon is filled entirely with helium to make it float. Helium is a(n)

1. Element
2. Compound

12._____ Proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, ATP, and nucleic acids are all considered:

1. elements found in living things
2. found only within multicellular animal cells
3. building blocks of life
4. elements found throughout the Earth

13._____ The subunits of proteins are:

1. nucleic acids
2. nucleotides
3.  glucose
4. amino acids

14._____ Which of the following are NOT used by cells for energy storage?

1. carbohydrates
2. oils
3. nucleic acids
4. fats

15._____ What type of molecule is DNA?

1. protein
2. lipid
3. amino acid
4. nucleic acid

16.______ What type of organism is the turtle pictured below?

1. Unicellular
2. Multicellular                        ^[3]

17.______ What type of organism is the flower pictured below?

1. Unicellular
2. Multicellular                                 ^[4]

18.______ What type of organism is the E. coli pictured below?

1. Unicellular
2. Multicellular

^[5]

19.______ What is asexual reproduction?

1. Offspring inherits genes from only one parent.
2. Offspring inherits genes from two separate parents.
3. Offspring can inherit genes from one or two of its parents.
4. Offspring has its own unique set of genes created within the organism.

20.______ What is sexual reproduction?

1. Offspring inherits genes from only one parent.
2. Offspring inherits genes from two separate parents.
3. Offspring can inherit genes from one or two of its parents.
4. Offspring has its own unique set of genes created within the organism.

21.______ If you close your eyes quickly after your little brother turns your light on in the morning, which of the following is the stimulus?

1. eyes shutting
2. pulling the covers over your head 
3. the light
4. going back to sleep 

22.______ Your heart starts beating faster when you begin to run, which of the following is the response?

1. Running
2. Stopping to take a drink
3. slowing down
4. heart beating faster 

23.______ Which of the below examples is an organism?

1. Basic unit of structure and function of all living things
2. Made of cells to perform a specific function
3. Made of tissues to perform a specific function
4. An individual living thing

24.______ What is the difference between growth and development?

1. Growth is when an individual gets taller, and development is when the brain is enlarged
2. Growth is when the individual gets larger, and development is when it becomes more complex
3. Growth is when the individual gets smarter, and development is when the individual becomes larger
4. There is no clear distinction between growth and development.

25.______ Which of the below examples is a cell?

1. Basic unit of structure and function of all living things
2. Made of cells to perform a specific function
3. Made of tissues to perform a specific function
4. An individual living thing

Questions # 26 - 33 are multiple choice. Write the letter of the correct answer on the line at the left.

26. _____ How many domains are recognized today?

1. three
2.  five
3.  six
4. eight

27._____ The scientific name for an organism comes from its

1. kingdom and species
2. kingdom and phylum
3. order and class
4. genus and species

28. _____ What can you find by working through the statements in a dichotomous key?

1. the identity of an organism
2. you can determine what species the animal evolved from
3. approximately how long the animal will live for
4. when a species of an organism appeared on Earth

29._____ Instead of using common names, which often cause confusion, scientists use what instead?

1. Greek names
2. American names
3. scientific names
4. standardized names

30._____ The scientific name for the common house cat is Felis domesticus. What is its species name?

1. House cat
2. Feline
3. Felis
4. domesticus

31.______ Organizing rocks according to their similarities is an example of the process of?

1. Classification
2. Species
3. Scientific Method
4. Binomial Nomenclature

32.______ What is the scientific study of how organisms are classified and named?

1. Taxonomy
2. Species
3. Scientific Method
4. Binomial Nomenclature

33.______ A Swedish botanist Carolus Linnaeus devised a system of naming organisms into a two-part scientific name based on observable features. What is this naming system called?

1. Taxonomy
2. Species
3. Scientific Method
4. Binomial Nomenclature

Questions # 34 - 35 are short answer questions. Please write in complete sentences.

34. Why do biologists classify organisms?

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35. How are taxonomic keys useful?

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Questions # 36 - 37 are Essay questions. Please write in complete sentences.

36. List the five building blocks of life, identify the subunits, and describe at least one function of each.

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37. Using what you know about the characteristics of living things explain whether or not you are alive. All six characteristics of life are required in your response.

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