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Biology for AP® Courses

Critical Thinking Questions

Biology for AP® CoursesCritical Thinking Questions

25 .
You discover an unusual new organism in the deep sea and are studying its skeletal system in a laboratory aquarium. The organism appears to have a radial body plan with a center fluid-filled cavity. If you remove fluid from its interior using a syringe, it seems to collapse somewhat. What kind of skeletal system does this organism likely have?
  1. exoskeleton
  2. hydrostatic skeleton or exoskeleton
  3. hydrostatic skeleton
  4. endoskeleton
26 .
While on vacation, you discover the carcass of an unusual new organism on the beach. As a scientist, you decide to chemically analyze the carcass in order to characterize it. The chemical analysis reveals significant amounts of chitin. Determine from this result what other molecule might you also find associated with the skeletal system of this organism.
  1. calcium carbonate
  2. calcium phosphate
  3. hydroxyapatite
  4. magnesium carbonate
27 .
What types of issues related to bone function would you predict for an individual suffering from a genetic lysosomal storage disease?
  1. Individuals may have deformities in the appendicular skeleton and possible phosphate homeostasis issues.
  2. Individual may have skeletal deformities and possible calcium homeostasis issues.
  3. Individuals may have axial skeleton deformities and possible calcium homeostasis issues.
  4. Individual’s brain would be more prone to injury and a possible calcium homeostasis issues.
28 .
A world-class pianist gets into a serious car accident. Injuries to which types of bones will most directly interfere with her career as a pianist?
  1. Injuries to carpals, humerus, radius, ulna, clavicle, metacarpals, metatarsals, tarsals and various flat bones like scapulae would cause issues.
  2. Injuries to carpals, humerus, radius, ulna, clavicle, metacarpals, phalanges and various flat bones like scapulae would cause issues.
  3. Injuries to carpals, humerus, radius, ulna, clavicle, metacarpals, femur, tibia and various flat bones like scapulae would cause issues.
  4. Injuries to carpals, humerus, femur, tibia, metatarsals, tarsals, phalanges and various flat bones like scapulae would cause issues.
29 .
An individual suffers from osteogenesis imperfecta, a genetic disorder most commonly resulting from defects in collagen production and processing. Determine from the options below which types of issues related to bone development and repair you would expect to be associated with such a disorder.
  1. Bones are abnormally weak, brittle, and highly flexible. In severe cases, individuals may have abnormal bone formation as manifested by thicker and longer bones, resulting in a taller stature.
  2. Bones are abnormally weak and prone to breakage and fracturing upon mild trauma. In severe cases, individuals may have abnormal bone formation as manifested by thicker and longer bones, resulting in a taller stature.
  3. Bones are abnormally weak and highly flexible. In severe cases, individuals may have abnormal bone formation as manifested by thinner and/or shorter bones, perhaps resulting in a shorter stature.
  4. Bones are abnormally weak and prone to breakage and fracturing upon mild trauma. In severe cases, individuals may have abnormal bone formation as manifested by thinner and/or shorter bones, perhaps resulting in a shorter stature.
30 .
Osteoporosis is a clinical manifestation of an imbalance between bone resorption and bone formation, resulting in weakened bones that easily fracture. Determine from the choices below the best goals for designing a therapeutic drug targeting specific bone cell types for the treatment of osteoporosis.
  1. A therapeutic drug that inhibits osteoblast activity would be useful. Designing a drug that enhances the bone formation activity of osteoclasts may also be a good strategy.
  2. A therapeutic drug that inhibits osteoclast activity would be useful. Designing a drug that reduces the activity of osteoblasts may also be a good strategy.
  3. A therapeutic drug that inhibits osteoclast activity would be useful. Designing a drug that enhances the bone formation activity of osteoblasts may also be a good strategy.
  4. A therapeutic drug that inhibits osteoblast activity would be useful. Designing a drug that enhances the bone formation activity of osteoblasts may also be a good strategy.
31 .
(credit: modification of work by Dwane Ross Stewart/ResearchGate)

The graph shows the frequency of joint injury per 1000 exposure hours among malerugby players sustained during a season against the site of injury. Shoulder and hip joints are ball and socket. Elbow and knee joints are hinge. Wrist joint is condyloid.

Make a claim based on this graph.

  1. Hinge joints are stronger than ball and socket joints.
  2. Among ball and socket joints, the one with less movement is stronger.
  3. Among hinge joints, the one with more movement is stronger.
  4. Condyloid joints are stronger than hinge joints.
32 .
What angular movements occur at the hip joint and knees as you bend down to touch your toes?
  1. Both the hip joint and knees are flexed.
  2. Both the hip joint and knees are extended.
  3. The hip joint is extended and the knees are flexed.
  4. The hip joint is flexed and the knees are extended.
33 .
Refer to Figure 29.25
.
(credit: modification of work by Laura A B Wilson and Marcelo R Sánchez-Villagra/National Center for Biotechnology Information)

The image shows the skull of a large aquatic rodent called coypu.

Make a claim about suture joints based on this image.

  1. Suture joints are seen only in mammal species.
  2. Suture joints are seen only in humans.
  3. Early mammals had suture joints.
  4. Suture joints are only seen in warm blooded animals.
34 .
Analyze the descriptions below to identify the one that correctly differentiates between the types of muscle tissue.
  1. Voluntary muscles cannot be consciously controlled, as is the case with cardiac muscles. Involuntary muscles can be controlled by an individual’s will, as is the case with skeletal muscles.
  2. Voluntary muscles can be controlled by an individual’s will, as is the case with skeletal muscles. Involuntary muscles cannot be consciously controlled, as is the case with cardiac muscles.
  3. Voluntary muscles cannot be consciously controlled, as is the case with the movement of legs while walking. Involuntary muscles can be controlled by an individual’s will, as is the case with muscles in the digestive system.
  4. Voluntary muscles can be controlled by an individual’s will, as is the case with cardiac muscles. Involuntary muscles cannot be consciously controlled, as is the case with skeletal muscles.
35 .
Make a claim explaining the mechanism by which muscle contractions would be affected if ATP was completely depleted in a muscle fiber.
  1. Myosin heads would detach rapidly from the actin-binding sites, resulting in muscle relaxation. In a live person this causes rigor mortis, while in a recently dead person it results in “writer’s cramp.”
  2. Myosin heads would not detach from the actin-binding sites, resulting in muscle stiffness. In a live person this causes rigor mortis, while in a recently dead person it results in “writer’s cramp.”
  3. Myosin heads would not detach from the actin-binding sites, resulting in muscle stiffness. In a live person this causes “writer’s cramp,” while in a recently dead person it results in rigor mortis.
  4. Myosin heads would detach rapidly from the actin-binding sites, resulting in muscle relaxation. In a live person this causes “writer’s cramp,” while in a recently dead person it results in rigor mortis.
36 .
What is the difference between voluntary and involuntary muscles? Give an example of each.
  1. Voluntary muscles cannot be consciously controlled, such as cardiac muscles. Involuntary muscles can be controlled by an individual’s will, such as skeletal muscles.
  2. Voluntary muscles can be controlled by an individual’s will, such as cardiac muscles. Involuntary muscles cannot be consciously controlled, such as skeletal muscles.
  3. Voluntary muscles cannot be consciously controlled, such as the movement of legs while walking. Involuntary muscles can be controlled by an individual’s will, such as muscles in the digestive system.
  4. Voluntary muscles can be controlled by an individual’s will, such as skeletal muscles. Involuntary muscles cannot be consciously controlled, such as cardiac muscles.
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