8th Grade

Unit 9 Assessment (Biology)

Comprehensive Science III

1. Which of these shows the correct hierarchical sequence?

A. organs cells tissues organ systems

B. cells tissues organs organ systems _
C. organ systems tissues cells organs
D. tissues cells organs organ systems

2. Based on the diagram of the hierarchical organization of a domestic cat, which level of organization is missing
from the diagram below?
cat

Circulatory

heart

muscle

blood cell
?
ato
m

A. DNA
B. Veins
C. Carbon atom
D. Lungs

3. Which term identifies a group of cells that work together to perform a similar function?

A. molecule
B. organism
C. organ
D. tissue

4. What would a biologist see if she examined a small piece of a leaf from a plant and a small piece of a root from
the same plant through a microscope?

A. Both the leaf and the root would be made up of cells.

B. The leaf would be made up of cells, but the root would not be made up of cells.
C. The root would be made up of cells, but the leaf would not be made up of cells.
D. Neither the root nor the leaf would be made up of cells because plants are not made up of cells.

5. Different types of organisms are made of different numbers of cells. What is the range in the number of cells
that organisms can be made of, from the very smallest organism to the very largest?

A. From 1 cell to about 100 cells

B. From 1 cell to many millions of cells
C. From about 100 cells to about 1,000 cells
D. From about 100 cells to many millions of cells
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6. In developing a theory, scientists must have evidence to support it. An example is the cell theory. Look closely at
the diagram below.

This diagram shows evidence used to support the cell theory. Which statement of the cell theory is supported by this
diagram?

A. The cell is the smallest form of life.

B. Cells contain hereditary information.
C. Cells come only from preexisting cells.
D. The cell is the basic unit of all organisms.

7. What is TRUE about the relationship between cells and the organism they are part of?

A. Cells are organized into body structures, and they perform basic life functions for the organism.
B. Cells are organized into body structures, but they do not perform basic life functions for the organism.
C. Cells perform basic life functions for the organism, but they are not organized into body structures.
D. Cells are not organized into body structures, and they do not perform basic life functions for the organism.

8. In multicellular organisms, what is an important job of all tissues, organs, and organ systems?

A. To make sugars for energy.

B. To maintain homeostasis.
C. To take in nutrients and eliminate waste.
D. To transport nutrients in the body.

9. A diagram of a plant cell is shown below. Which organelle is found in both plant and animal cells?

A. Cell membrane
B. Chloroplast
C. Large Vacuole
D. Cell Wall

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10. The cells of all organisms must produce energy in order for the cell to survive and function. The diagrams below
show different parts of an animal cell and plant cell.

In which organelle is energy produced in both plant and animal cells?

A. Ribosomes
B. Nucleus
C. Chloroplast
D. Mitochondria

11. The fungus Penicillium reproduces asexually and forms genetically identical spores. Which of the following
processes does Penicillium use to form its spores?

A. Fertilization
B. Mitosis
C. Osmosis
D. Meiosis

12. What is the structure identified by the arrow in the diagram below:

A. Chromosome
B. DNA strand
C. Gene
D. Cell

13. The diagram below shows a cellular process that occurs in organisms

This process is known as

A. Meiosis
B. Mitosis
C. Endocytosis
D. Phagocytosis
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14. The pictures below show two dogs of the same breed that have different coat colors

The instructions that determine coat color are stored in the

A. Cytoplasm of skin cells
B. Membrane of every cell
C. Mitochondria of hair cells
D. Chromosomes of every cell

15. A green peapod from a pea plant is heterozygous dominant for the color green. A farmer crosses this plant with a
homozygous recessive yellow pea pod. The dominant allele is represented by an upper case “G” and the recessive
allele is represented by a lower case “g”.

Use the Punnett square below to determine the percentage of peapods that will likely show the dominant trait.

What percentage of the offspring will most likely show the dominant trait?

A. 25%
B. 75%
C. 50%
D. 100%

16. Hereditary information is passed from one generation to the next. Which two processes are responsible for the
passage of hereditary information from generation to generation in mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, and other animals?

A. Meiosis and fertilization

B. Mitosis and fertilization
C. Mitosis and Meiosis
D. Asexual reproduction and sexual reproduction

17. Which of the following is the primary advantage of sexual reproduction when compared to asexual reproduction?

A. There is a greater number of offspring.

B. There is more food available to offspring
C. There is greater genetic variety in offspring
D. There is a longer development time for offspring.

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18. The respiratory system depends on the nervous system for signals to

A. Enhance the amount of available oxygen in the lungs

B. Coordinate muscles controlling breathing.
C. Release hormones to increase the exchange of gases.
D. Exchange gases with the circulatory system.

19. How do nutrients absorb by the small intestine travel to the individual cells of the human body?

A. The nutrients are absorbed from the small intestine into the blood and move through the circulatory system to the
body cells.
B. The nutrients move from the small intestine directly to the liver and then move through the lymphatic system
to the body cells
C. The small intestine forces the nutrients into the kidneys, where the nutrients are then dissolved in fluids used
by the body cells.
D. The body cells send nerve impulses indicating a lack of nutrients to the small intestine, and the small intestine
sends the nutrients back to the cells.

20. Which three human-body systems coordinate to cause an arm to move?

A. nervous, muscular, skeletal
B. respiratory, muscular, digestive
C. skeletal, circulatory, immune
D. digestive, nervous, circulatory

21. Why should antibiotics be given to a person who is ill with a bacterial disease like strep throat, but not to a person
who has a viral disease like flu?

A. Antibiotics kill bacteria but not viruses.

B. Antibiotics make viruses grow faster
C. Antibiotics are made by viruses.
D. Viruses are living things, but bacteria are not.

22. In the mid-nineteenth century, the discoveries of many scientists were combined to develop the modern cell theory.
Which of the following statements is NOT part of the cell theory?
A. Cells are produced from existing cells
B. Cells are the basic units of structure in living things
C. All cells have the same internal structure
D. All organisms are made up of one or more cells

23. Which of the following cell organelles is NOT found in BOTH plant and animal cells?
A. Cell membrane
B. Cell wall
C. Ribosomes
D. Cytoplasm

24. In order to maintain homeostasis, the systems of the body work together to maintain stable internal conditions.
Which human body systems are responsible for ensuring nutrients are properly absorbed and waste is eliminated
from the body?
A. Nervous and Excretory
B. Respiratory and Digestive
C. Circulatory and Respiratory
D. Digestive and Excretory

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