TRUE OR FALSE — INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGY, THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD, ORGANISMS AND MICROSCOPES
Branches of Biology
1. Biology
Statement 1: Biology is the study of the structure and function of living things and their interaction with their environment.
ANSWER: True
Statement 2: Biology has four major branches: botany, zoology, microbiology and ecology.
ANSWER: False — Biology has three major branches: botany, zoology and microbiology. Ecology is a related field of study rather than one of the three major branches.
Statement 3: Career pathways related to biology include pharmacy, medicine, teaching, biomedical science and nursing.
ANSWER: True
2. Zoology
Statement 1: Zoology is the branch of biology that studies animals.
ANSWER: True
Statement 2: Zoology is a sub-branch of biology, not one of its three major branches.
ANSWER: False — Zoology is one of the three major branches, alongside botany and microbiology.
Statement 3: Botany, not zoology, is the branch that studies plants.
ANSWER: True
3. Botany
Statement 1: Botany is the branch of biology that studies plants.
ANSWER: True
Statement 2: Botany is the branch of biology that studies microscopic organisms.
ANSWER: False — That describes microbiology.
Statement 3: Botany is one of the three major branches of biology.
ANSWER: True
4. Microbiology
Statement 1: Microbiology is the branch of biology that studies microscopic organisms.
ANSWER: True
Statement 2: Fermentation processes that produce foods like bread and kenkey rely on knowledge of microbiology.
ANSWER: True — Microbes drive the fermentation reactions behind these foods.
Statement 3: Microbiology has nothing to do with food preservation.
ANSWER: False — Preservation methods such as salting work by creating conditions microorganisms cannot survive in.
5. Ecology
Statement 1: Ecology studies how living things interact with each other and their environment.
ANSWER: True
Statement 2: Ecology is one of the three major branches of biology.
ANSWER: False — Botany, zoology and microbiology are the three major branches.
Statement 3: Conservation biology, related to ecology, improves forestry, fisheries, water and wildlife management.
ANSWER: True
6. Mycology
Statement 1: Mycology is the study of fungi.
ANSWER: True
Statement 2: Mycology is the study of cells.
ANSWER: False — That describes cytology.
Statement 3: Mycology is considered one of the major branches of biology, alongside botany, zoology and microbiology.
ANSWER: False — It's a more specialised field rather than one of the three major branches.
7. Cytology
Statement 1: Cytology is the study of cells.
ANSWER: True
Statement 2: Cytology is the study of tissues.
ANSWER: False — That describes histology.
Statement 3: Cytology is one of the three major branches of biology.
ANSWER: False
8. Histology
Statement 1: Histology is the study of tissues.
ANSWER: True
Statement 2: Histology is the study of heredity and variation.
ANSWER: False — That describes genetics.
Statement 3: Histology and cytology study exactly the same thing.
ANSWER: False — Cytology studies individual cells, while histology studies tissues, which are groups of similar cells.
9. Genetics
Statement 1: Genetics is the study of heredity and variation.
ANSWER: True
Statement 2: Genetic engineering is used to produce high-yielding, disease-resistant crop varieties.
ANSWER: True
Statement 3: Genetics has no connection to the study of evolution.
ANSWER: False — Evolution depends on heritable variation, which genetics studies.
10. Evolution
Statement 1: Evolution is the study of the gradual change in heritable characteristics among species in a population over time.
ANSWER: True
Statement 2: Evolution can be observed in a single individual organism during its own lifetime.
ANSWER: False — Evolution describes change across generations, not within one organism's lifetime.
Statement 3: Evolution and genetics are closely related fields of study.
ANSWER: True
The Scientific Method
11. The scientific method
Statement 1: The scientific method is an empirical method for investigating natural phenomena by formulating hypotheses and testing them through experimentation.
ANSWER: True
Statement 2: Results obtained through the scientific method cannot be replicated by other scientists.
ANSWER: False — Reproducibility is a defining feature of the scientific method.
Statement 3: The scientific method is only useful in laboratory settings and cannot help solve everyday problems.
ANSWER: False — It can be applied to everyday problems, such as controlling disease outbreaks.
12. Inductive reasoning
Statement 1: Inductive reasoning makes generalisations from specific observations.
ANSWER: True
Statement 2: Inductive reasoning is considered more reliable than deductive reasoning.
ANSWER: False — Deductive reasoning is generally considered more reliable.
Statement 3: Inductive reasoning moves from specific observations toward a general conclusion.
ANSWER: True
13. Deductive reasoning
Statement 1: Deductive reasoning draws specific conclusions from general principles.
ANSWER: True
Statement 2: Deductive reasoning moves from specific observations toward a general conclusion.
ANSWER: False — That describes inductive reasoning; deductive reasoning moves from general to specific.
Statement 3: "All mammals give birth to live young; sheep are mammals; therefore sheep give birth to live young" is an example of deductive reasoning.
ANSWER: True
14. A hypothesis
Statement 1: A hypothesis is a proposed explanation for an observed phenomenon, not yet proven.
ANSWER: True
Statement 2: A hypothesis is the final step of the scientific method.
ANSWER: False — Forming a hypothesis happens early in the process.
Statement 3: A hypothesis must already be proven true before an experiment is designed.
ANSWER: False — A hypothesis is untested by definition; the experiment is what tests it.
15. Experimentation
Statement 1: Experimentation is carried out under controlled conditions to test a hypothesis.
ANSWER: True
Statement 2: Experimentation is the first step of the scientific method.
ANSWER: False — Identifying the problem through observation comes first.
Statement 3: Experimentation can be used to illustrate an already-known law, not just to test new hypotheses.
ANSWER: True
16. Communication
Statement 1: Communication is generally regarded as the final step in the scientific method.
ANSWER: True
Statement 2: Publishing findings in a scientific journal is an example of communication.
ANSWER: True
Statement 3: Communication typically happens before a hypothesis is formed.
ANSWER: False — It happens after a hypothesis has been tested and conclusions drawn.
17. Identifying the problem
Statement 1: Identifying the problem is typically the first step of the scientific method.
ANSWER: True
Statement 2: Tools like fishbone diagrams and flowcharts can help identify a problem.
ANSWER: True
Statement 3: Identifying the problem occurs only after a hypothesis has already been tested.
ANSWER: False — It occurs before a hypothesis is even formed.
Symmetry, Orientation & Sectioning
18. Bilateral symmetry
Statement 1: An organism with bilateral symmetry can be divided along only one plane into two mirror-image halves.
ANSWER: True
Statement 2: Starfish and sea urchins are classic examples of bilateral symmetry.
ANSWER: False — They are classic examples of radial symmetry.
Statement 3: Human beings, elephants and fish are all examples of bilaterally symmetrical organisms.
ANSWER: True
19. Radial symmetry
Statement 1: An organism with radial symmetry can be divided along more than one plane to produce mirror-image halves.
ANSWER: True
Statement 2: Oranges and pumpkins show radial symmetry.
ANSWER: True
Statement 3: Millipedes and insects are typically cited as examples of radial symmetry.
ANSWER: False — They are typically cited as examples of bilateral symmetry.
20. Asymmetry
Statement 1: An asymmetric organism has no line of symmetry at all.
ANSWER: True
Statement 2: Sponges and snails are commonly used as examples of asymmetric organisms.
ANSWER: True
Statement 3: An asymmetric organism can still be divided into two identical, mirror-image halves.
ANSWER: False — By definition, no plane through an asymmetric organism produces identical halves.
21. Line (of) symmetry
Statement 1: Symmetry can be described as an imaginary line or plane dividing an organism into two identical halves.
ANSWER: True
Statement 2: A line of symmetry is a physical structure that can be touched or measured directly.
ANSWER: False — It is an imaginary, conceptual line.
Statement 3: Whether an organism is classified as bilateral, radial or asymmetric depends on how many lines of symmetry can be drawn through it.
ANSWER: True
22. Anterior (view)
Statement 1: Anterior refers to the front or head region of a specimen.
ANSWER: True
Statement 2: Anterior and posterior refer to the same viewing direction.
ANSWER: False — They are opposite directions: front versus back.
Statement 3: Anterior is one of five standard directions used to describe how an organism is viewed.
ANSWER: True
23. Posterior (view)
Statement 1: Posterior refers to the back or tail region of a specimen.
ANSWER: True
Statement 2: Posterior and anterior describe the same part of an organism.
ANSWER: False — They describe opposite ends.
Statement 3: Posterior is one of five standard directions used to describe how an organism is viewed.
ANSWER: True
24. Lateral (view)
Statement 1: Lateral refers to the sideways view of a specimen.
ANSWER: True
Statement 2: Lateral means the view of a specimen from directly above.
ANSWER: False — The view from above is called dorsal.
Statement 3: Lateral is one of five standard viewing directions used to describe an organism's orientation.
ANSWER: True
25. Ventral (view)
Statement 1: Ventral refers to the view from beneath, or the underside, of a specimen.
ANSWER: True
Statement 2: Ventral is the opposite of the anterior view.
ANSWER: False — Ventral is the opposite of dorsal, not anterior.
Statement 3: Ventral is one of five standard viewing directions used to describe an organism's orientation.
ANSWER: True
26. Dorsal (view)
Statement 1: Dorsal refers to the view from above, or the upper side, of a specimen.
ANSWER: True
Statement 2: Dorsal is the opposite of the lateral view.
ANSWER: False — Dorsal is the opposite of ventral, not lateral.
Statement 3: Dorsal is one of five standard viewing directions used to describe an organism's orientation.
ANSWER: True
27. A section
Statement 1: A section is a cut made through an organism or object to reveal its internal structures.
ANSWER: True
Statement 2: A razor blade or scalpel is a typical tool used to make a section.
ANSWER: True
Statement 3: A section can only ever be classified as longitudinal.
ANSWER: False — Sections are generally classified as longitudinal, transverse, or vertical.
28. Longitudinal section
Statement 1: A longitudinal section is made along the long axis, or length, of an object.
ANSWER: True
Statement 2: A longitudinal section is commonly abbreviated as T.S.
ANSWER: False — T.S. abbreviates a transverse section; longitudinal is L.S.
Statement 3: A longitudinal section made through a flower would run along its length rather than across its width.
ANSWER: True
29. Transverse section
Statement 1: A transverse section is made across an object, at a right angle to its long axis.
ANSWER: True
Statement 2: A transverse section can also be described as a cross-wise cut along the width of an organism.
ANSWER: True
Statement 3: A transverse section runs along the length of an organism rather than across it.
ANSWER: False — That describes a longitudinal section.
30. Vertical section
Statement 1: A vertical section is made perpendicular to the horizontal plane of an organism or object.
ANSWER: True
Statement 2: A vertical section is commonly abbreviated as V.S.
ANSWER: True
Statement 3: A vertical section is abbreviated as L.S.
ANSWER: False — L.S. abbreviates a longitudinal section.
The Microscope
31. The microscope
Statement 1: A microscope is an instrument used to observe minute specimens such as viruses, bacteria and cells.
ANSWER: True
Statement 2: The unaided human eye can typically distinguish two points that are about 1mm apart.
ANSWER: False — Its resolving power is closer to 0.1mm.
Statement 3: A hand lens magnifies specimens about ten times more than the unaided human eye can see.
ANSWER: True
32. The light microscope
Statement 1: The light microscope is the most widely used type of microscope.
ANSWER: True
Statement 2: A light microscope can theoretically reach a maximum magnification of around 1,500 times.
ANSWER: True
Statement 3: In a typical school setting, a light microscope's magnification is usually around 4,000 times.
ANSWER: False — It's typically closer to 400 times.
33. Eyepiece lens
Statement 1: The eyepiece lens is the lens at the top of a microscope, through which the observer looks.
ANSWER: True
Statement 2: The eyepiece lens usually has a magnification of 10x or 15x.
ANSWER: True
Statement 3: An eyepiece lens can only be monocular, never binocular.
ANSWER: False — It may be either monocular or binocular.
34. The tube
Statement 1: The tube connects the eyepiece lens to the objective lenses.
ANSWER: True
Statement 2: The tube houses the three objective lenses and rotates to select the one needed.
ANSWER: False — That describes the revolving nosepiece.
Statement 3: The tube itself has magnifying power, separate from the eyepiece and objective lenses.
ANSWER: False — The tube has no magnifying power of its own.
35. Objective lenses
Statement 1: A typical light microscope has three objective lenses, with magnifications of 4x, 10x and 40x.
ANSWER: True
Statement 2: Objective lenses are mounted on the revolving nosepiece.
ANSWER: True
Statement 3: Total magnification is calculated by adding the eyepiece lens power to the objective lens power.
ANSWER: False — It's calculated by multiplying the two together.
36. Revolving nosepiece
Statement 1: The revolving nosepiece holds the three objective lenses.
ANSWER: True
Statement 2: When focusing, you should always begin with the highest power objective lens.
ANSWER: False — You should always begin with the lowest power lens.
Statement 3: The revolving nosepiece can be rotated to bring a different objective lens into position.
ANSWER: True
37. The arm
Statement 1: The arm connects the base of the microscope to the eyepiece.
ANSWER: True
Statement 2: The arm is the part of the microscope you hold when carrying or tilting it.
ANSWER: True
Statement 3: The arm is where a specimen or slide is placed for viewing.
ANSWER: False — That describes the stage.
38. The stage
Statement 1: The stage is the flat platform on which a specimen or slide is placed for viewing.
ANSWER: True
Statement 2: Clips on the stage help hold a slide securely in place.
ANSWER: True
Statement 3: The condenser and illuminator sit above the stage rather than beneath it.
ANSWER: False — They are typically positioned beneath the stage.
39. The diaphragm
Statement 1: The diaphragm controls how much light reaches the specimen.
ANSWER: True
Statement 2: The diaphragm is itself the source of light in a microscope.
ANSWER: False — The illuminator is the light source; the diaphragm only regulates it.
Statement 3: The diaphragm works together with the condenser and illuminator to control specimen lighting.
ANSWER: True
40. A wet mount
Statement 1: A wet mount is a temporary slide preparation, while a dry mount is permanent.
ANSWER: True
Statement 2: A pale or translucent specimen used in a wet mount often needs to be stained to be seen clearly.
ANSWER: True
Statement 3: A cover slip should be dropped straight down onto a wet mount rather than lowered at an angle.
ANSWER: False — It should be lowered gently at an angle, to avoid trapping air bubbles.