Cells and Heredity: Interactive Learning Quizzes for Middle School Science

Question 1

Which characteristic is shared by all living organisms?

Accepted Answer

Ability to reproduce

Answer

Ability to move independently

Answer

Being made up only of cells

Answer

Ability to perform photosynthesis

Question 2

What is photosynthesis, the process plants use to create their own food?

Accepted Answer

Plants use sunlight to make glucose, a type of sugar, from carbon dioxide and water.

Answer

Plants use oxygen to break down glucose, a type of sugar, into carbon dioxide and water.

Answer

Plants use sunlight to make oxygen from carbon dioxide and water.

Answer

Plants use water to make glucose, a type of sugar, from carbon dioxide and sunlight.

Question 3

How do plants make their own food?

Accepted Answer

Photosynthesis

Answer

Respiration

Answer

Digestion

Answer

Excretion

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of living organisms?

Accepted Answer

Non-responsiveness

Answer

Organization

Answer

Reproduction

Answer

Growth and change

Question 5

What is a defining characteristic of eukaryotic cells that distinguishes them from prokaryotic cells?

Accepted Answer

Membrane-bound nucleus

Answer

Ribosomes

Answer

Cytoplasm

Answer

Cell membrane

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT a function of the cell membrane?

Accepted Answer

Generating energy for cellular activities

Answer

Transporting materials into and out of the cell

Answer

Protecting the cell from its surroundings

Answer

Assisting in cell-to-cell recognition and communication

Question 7

Within a eukaryotic cell, what is the main function of the nucleus?

Accepted Answer

Controlling cell activities and protecting genetic information

Answer

Generating energy

Answer

Producing proteins

Answer

Moving materials

Question 8

In a eukaryotic cell, what is the primary function of the Golgi apparatus?

Accepted Answer

Modifying and packaging proteins and lipids

Answer

Storing DNA

Answer

Creating proteins

Answer

Generating energy

Question 9

What is a defining characteristic of eukaryotic cells?

Accepted Answer

Presence of a nucleus

Answer

Cell membrane

Answer

Ribosomes

Answer

Mitochondria

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic shared by all living organisms?

Accepted Answer

Inorganic matter

Answer

Organization

Answer

Metabolism

Answer

Reproduction

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of prokaryotic cells, unlike eukaryotic cells?

Accepted Answer

Nucleus

Answer

Ribosomes

Answer

Cell membrane

Answer

Smaller size

Question 12

What characteristic distinguishes prokaryotic cells from eukaryotic cells?

Accepted Answer

Absence of a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles

Answer

Presence of a cytoskeleton

Answer

Presence of mitochondria

Answer

Cell wall made of cellulose

Question 13

What is the main job of the cell membrane?

Accepted Answer

To control what enters and leaves the cell

Answer

To give the cell its shape

Answer

To store the cell's DNA

Answer

To produce energy for the cell

Question 14

What feature differentiates eukaryotic cells from prokaryotic cells?

Accepted Answer

Nucleus

Accepted Answer

Membrane-bound organelles

Answer

Lack of a cell wall

Question 15

In mitosis, a cell divides into two identical daughter cells. What is the correct order of the stages in mitosis?

Accepted Answer

Interphase, prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase

Answer

Metaphase, prophase, interphase, anaphase, telophase

Answer

Prophase, metaphase, anaphase, interphase, telophase

Question 16

Which of the following is the smallest living entity capable of existing on its own?

Accepted Answer

Cell

Answer

Organism

Answer

Tissue

Answer

Molecule

Question 17

In plant cells, where does photosynthesis primarily occur?

Accepted Answer

Chloroplasts

Answer

Ribosomes

Answer

Mitochondria

Answer

Nucleus

Question 18

Which feature primarily distinguishes prokaryotic cells from eukaryotic cells?

Accepted Answer

Eukaryotic cells have membrane-bound organelles, while prokaryotic cells do not.

Answer

Prokaryotic cells have a nucleus, while eukaryotic cells do not.

Answer

Prokaryotic cells have a cell wall, while eukaryotic cells do not.

Answer

Prokaryotic cells are generally larger than eukaryotic cells.

Question 19

Which of these is NOT a function of the cell membrane?

Accepted Answer

Holds the cell's DNA

Answer

Controls what enters and leaves the cell

Answer

Protects the cell

Answer

Talks to other cells

Question 20

In cellular respiration, which stage produces the majority of ATP?

Accepted Answer

Oxidative phosphorylation

Answer

Glycolysis

Answer

Krebs cycle

Question 21

How does the cell membrane regulate the movement of molecules into and out of the cell?

Accepted Answer

By allowing only certain substances to pass through

Answer

By allowing all substances to pass through

Answer

By blocking all substances from passing through

Answer

By having a thick layer of lipids

Question 22

Living organisms use specific processes to obtain energy. Which of the following is NOT one of these processes?

Accepted Answer

Evaporation

Answer

Photosynthesis

Answer

Respiration

Question 23

Which characteristic is unique to the plasma membrane of a cell?

Accepted Answer

Embedded proteins

Answer

Double-layered structure

Answer

Impermeable to all substances

Answer

Encloses only the nucleus

Question 24

Which plant cell organelle is responsible for photosynthesis, the process that uses sunlight to create food?

Accepted Answer

Chloroplasts

Answer

Ribosomes

Answer

Mitochondria

Question 25

Which nucleotide is NOT found in DNA?

Accepted Answer

Uracil

Answer

Adenine

Answer

Cytosine

Answer

Guanine

Question 26

During protein synthesis, which organelle decodes the genetic information on messenger RNA (mRNA) and assembles amino acids into a polypeptide chain?

Accepted Answer

Ribosomes

Answer

Endoplasmic reticulum

Answer

Mitochondria

Question 27

In photosynthesis, plants use sunlight to create energy stored in which molecules?

Accepted Answer

Glucose

Answer

Water

Answer

Oxygen

Question 28

In the theory of evolution by natural selection, what factor leads to the development of beneficial traits in a population?

Accepted Answer

Differential survival and reproduction of individuals with advantageous traits

Answer

Spontaneous emergence of new traits due to environmental changes

Answer

Random mating among individuals within a population

Question 29

Which of the following is a unique characteristic of prokaryotic cells?

Accepted Answer

Cell wall made of peptidoglycan

Answer

Membrane-bound nucleus

Answer

Ribosomes

Answer

Cytoplasm

Question 30

In cellular respiration, which molecule is the primary electron acceptor in the final stage of the electron transport chain?

Accepted Answer

Oxygen

Answer

Hydrogen

Answer

Carbon dioxide

Answer

NADH

Question 31

Which of the following is NOT a defining characteristic of living organisms?

Accepted Answer

Made of inorganic material

Answer

Ability to reproduce

Answer

Composed of cells

Answer

Ability to sense and respond to their environment

Question 32

In a eukaryotic cell, what is the primary function of the nucleus?

Accepted Answer

Storing genetic material

Answer

Synthesizing proteins

Answer

Modifying and transporting materials

Answer

Producing energy for the cell

Question 33

In cellular respiration, which stage occurs outside the mitochondria, in the cytoplasm?

Accepted Answer

Glycolysis

Answer

Pyruvate oxidation

Answer

Citric acid cycle

Answer

Oxidative phosphorylation

Question 34

What is the main advantage of cellular respiration for living organisms?

Accepted Answer

It provides energy for cells to function.

Answer

It aids in cell growth and division.

Answer

It eliminates waste from cells.

Answer

It creates new proteins.

Question 35

Which of the following is known as the basic unit of life?

Accepted Answer

Cell

Answer

Atom

Answer

Organ

Question 36

What is the fundamental unit of life, known as the building block of all living things?

Accepted Answer

Cell

Answer

Tissue

Answer

Organ

Question 37

What is the primary reason why mitosis produces two identical daughter cells while meiosis produces four genetically diverse daughter cells?

Accepted Answer

The number of chromosomes in the daughter cells

Answer

The type of genetic material in the daughter cells

Answer

The timing of cell division

Answer

The purpose of cell division

Question 38

In a science experiment, which variable is changed or controlled by the scientist?

Accepted Answer

Independent variable

Answer

Dependent variable

Answer

Controlled variable

Answer

Constants

Question 39

How did endosymbiosis contribute to the evolution of eukaryotic cells and life's diversity?

Accepted Answer

It led to specialized organelles, increasing cellular complexity and efficiency.

Answer

It facilitated the emergence of multicellular organisms.

Answer

It reduced genetic diversity by merging genomes.

Answer

It played no significant role in evolution.

Question 40

How do adaptations contribute to the survival and diversity of species in different environments, such as deserts, rainforests, and polar regions?

Accepted Answer

Adaptations allow organisms to access specific resources and occupy unique niches, reducing competition and enabling species coexistence.

Answer

Adaptations ensure that all organisms in a biome have equal fitness and reproductive success.

Answer

Adaptations only benefit individual organisms and do not contribute to species diversity.

Question 41

Genetic engineering is a technology that allows scientists to modify an organism's DNA. What are some possible advantages and disadvantages of using this technology?

Accepted Answer

Advantages:
* Treating diseases by replacing faulty genes.
* Enhancing physical and mental abilities.
* Increasing crop yields and resistance to pests and diseases.

Disadvantages:
* Unforeseen effects on human health and the environment.
* Ethical concerns about genetic modifications and human identity.

Answer

Genetic engineering has only advantages and no disadvantages.

Answer

Genetic engineering is a dangerous technology that should be prohibited.

Answer

I am not familiar with genetic engineering.

Question 42

Ecosystems are communities of living organisms and their interactions with the environment. Which statement best describes this concept?

Accepted Answer

Ecosystems consist of interdependent organisms that rely on each other for survival.

Answer

Ecosystems are isolated systems where organisms are independent of each other.

Answer

Energy and nutrients flow through ecosystems in a linear path, from producers to consumers to decomposers.

Answer

Ecosystems are unchanging and do not evolve over time.

Question 43

What molecule provides energy for cellular activities?

Accepted Answer

ATP

Answer

Glucose

Answer

Water

Answer

Oxygen

Question 44

Where does photosynthesis occur in plant cells?

Accepted Answer

Chloroplasts

Answer

Mitochondria

Answer

Ribosomes

Answer

Vacuoles

Question 45

Which term describes the passing down of traits from parents to offspring?

Accepted Answer

Heredity

Answer

Mutation

Answer

Selection

Answer

Variation

Question 46

What is a genotype?

Accepted Answer

The genetic makeup of an individual

Answer

The physical appearance of an individual

Answer

The environment in which an individual lives

Answer

The behavior of an individual

Question 47

What is the probability of getting a dominant trait from a heterozygous parent?

Accepted Answer

50%

Answer

0%

Answer

25%

Answer

100%

Question 48

Which characteristic is unique to eukaryotic cells?

Accepted Answer

Presence of a nucleus

Answer

Absence of membrane-bound organelles

Answer

Small size

Answer

Prokaryotic ribosomes

Question 49

What is the main function of ribosomes?

Accepted Answer

Protein synthesis

Answer

Cellular respiration

Answer

DNA replication

Answer

Waste removal

Question 50

Which process does NOT involve the movement of substances across a cell membrane without using energy?

Accepted Answer

Active transport

Answer

Diffusion

Answer

Osmosis

Answer

Facilitated diffusion

Question 51

Which of the following is NOT a valid line of evidence that supports the theory of evolution?

Accepted Answer

The study of astrology

Answer

Comparative anatomy

Answer

Fossil records

Answer

Molecular biology

Question 52

Photosynthesis is the process by which plants use sunlight to produce:

Accepted Answer

Glucose and oxygen

Answer

Oxygen and water

Answer

Carbon dioxide and water

Answer

Carbon dioxide and sunlight

Question 53

A recessive allele is expressed in the phenotype when:

Accepted Answer

It is paired with another recessive allele

Answer

It is paired with a dominant allele

Answer

It is present in multiple copies

Answer

It is mutated

Question 54

Which of the following is NOT a greenhouse gas?

Accepted Answer

Oxygen

Answer

Carbon dioxide

Answer

Methane

Answer

Water vapor

Question 55

Which of the following is evidence that supports the theory of evolution by natural selection?

Accepted Answer

Fossil records

Accepted Answer

Similar structures in different species

Accepted Answer

DNA and genetic similarities

Answer

Weather patterns

Question 56

Cellular respiration occurs in three major stages. List the stages of cellular respiration in the correct sequence, starting with the first stage.

Accepted Answer

Glycolysis, Krebs cycle, electron transport chain

Answer

Krebs cycle, glycolysis, electron transport chain

Answer

Electron transport chain, glycolysis, Krebs cycle

Answer

Krebs cycle, electron transport chain, glycolysis

Question 57

What cell part is the protein-making factory?

Accepted Answer

Ribosomes

Answer

Nucleus

Answer

Mitochondria

Answer

Chloroplasts

Question 58

In photosynthesis, what is the main job of chlorophyll?

Accepted Answer

Taking in light energy and turning it into chemical energy

Answer

Reflecting light away from the plant

Answer

Holding up the plant

Answer

Moving food and water around the plant

Question 59

How are traits passed down from parents to offspring?

Accepted Answer

Through genes

Answer

Through DNA changes

Answer

Through cell division

Question 60

Which of the following is NOT a primary function of the cell membrane?

Accepted Answer

Synthesizing proteins

Answer

Regulating the movement of materials into and out of the cell

Answer

Protecting the cell from its surroundings

Answer

Communicating with other cells

Question 61

What is the primary molecule used by cells to store and release energy?

Accepted Answer

ATP

Answer

Glucose

Answer

ADP

Answer

NADH

Question 62

Which of the following is a characteristic of dominant traits?

Accepted Answer

They are always expressed in individuals who carry them

Answer

They are only expressed in individuals who are homozygous for the trait

Answer

They are never expressed in individuals who carry them

Answer

They are only expressed in individuals who are heterozygous for the trait

Question 63

Which process allows plants to convert light energy into usable chemical energy?

Accepted Answer

Photosynthesis

Answer

Respiration

Answer

Cellular respiration

Answer

Glycolysis

Question 64

What is the name of the molecule that carries genetic information in cells?

Accepted Answer

DNA

Answer

RNA

Answer

Protein

Answer

Lipids