CSLB General Building (B) — All Questions
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Which organelle is known as the 'powerhouse of the cell'?
- a.Mitochondrion✓
- b.Nucleus
- c.Ribosome
- d.Golgi apparatus
The mitochondrion produces most of the cell's energy in the form of ATP through cellular respiration. This role earns it the nickname powerhouse of the cell.
What is the basic structural and functional unit of all living organisms?
- a.The atom
- b.The cell✓
- c.The tissue
- d.The organ
The cell is the smallest unit that can carry out all life processes. All living organisms are made of one or more cells.
Which blood cells are primarily responsible for carrying oxygen?
- a.White blood cells
- b.Platelets
- c.Red blood cells✓
- d.Plasma cells
Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, a protein that binds oxygen. They transport oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues.
What is the pH of a neutral solution such as pure water?
- a.0
- b.14
- c.1
- d.7✓
On the pH scale, 7 is neutral, values below 7 are acidic, and values above 7 are basic. Pure water has a pH of 7.
Which system is responsible for pumping blood throughout the body?
- a.The circulatory system✓
- b.The digestive system
- c.The respiratory system
- d.The skeletal system
The circulatory system, centered on the heart and blood vessels, moves blood throughout the body. It delivers oxygen and nutrients and removes wastes.
What gas do humans breathe in that is essential for cellular respiration?
- a.Carbon dioxide
- b.Oxygen✓
- c.Nitrogen
- d.Helium
Cells use oxygen to break down glucose and release energy during cellular respiration. Humans inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide as a waste product.
Which part of the cell contains the genetic material (DNA)?
- a.The cell membrane
- b.The cytoplasm
- c.The nucleus✓
- d.The vacuole
The nucleus houses the cell's DNA, which carries genetic instructions. It acts as the control center that directs cell activities.
What is the smallest unit of an element that retains its properties?
- a.A molecule
- b.A cell
- c.A tissue
- d.An atom✓
An atom is the smallest particle of an element that still has the properties of that element. Atoms combine to form molecules.
Which type of blood vessel carries blood away from the heart?
- a.Arteries✓
- b.Veins
- c.Capillaries
- d.Venules
Arteries carry blood away from the heart to the body's tissues. Veins, by contrast, return blood to the heart.
What is the largest organ of the human body?
- a.The liver
- b.The skin✓
- c.The heart
- d.The lungs
The skin is the body's largest organ by surface area and weight. It protects the body, helps regulate temperature, and provides sensation.
Which nutrient is the body's primary source of quick energy?
- a.Proteins
- b.Fats
- c.Carbohydrates✓
- d.Vitamins
Carbohydrates are broken down into glucose, which cells use for quick energy. They are the body's preferred and fastest energy source.
In chemistry, a substance that donates hydrogen ions and has a pH below 7 is called:
- a.A base
- b.A salt
- c.A neutral
- d.An acid✓
An acid releases hydrogen ions in solution and has a pH lower than 7. Bases, in contrast, have a pH above 7.
Which system includes bones, joints, and cartilage that support the body?
- a.The skeletal system✓
- b.The muscular system
- c.The nervous system
- d.The endocrine system
The skeletal system is made up of bones, joints, and cartilage. It provides structure, protects organs, and allows movement together with muscles.
What process do plants use to convert sunlight into chemical energy?
- a.Respiration
- b.Photosynthesis✓
- c.Digestion
- d.Fermentation
Photosynthesis is the process by which plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to make glucose and oxygen. It converts light energy into stored chemical energy.
Which organ filters waste from the blood and produces urine?
- a.The stomach
- b.The lungs
- c.The kidney✓
- d.The pancreas
The kidneys filter waste products and excess water from the blood, forming urine. This helps maintain the body's fluid and chemical balance.
What is the control center of the nervous system?
- a.The heart
- b.The lungs
- c.The liver
- d.The brain✓
The brain, along with the spinal cord, forms the central nervous system. The brain processes information and directs the body's responses.
Which of the following is a chemical change rather than a physical change?
- a.Iron rusting✓
- b.Ice melting
- c.Water boiling
- d.Chopping wood
A chemical change produces a new substance with different properties. Iron rusting forms iron oxide, whereas melting, boiling, and chopping only change form.
Which macromolecule is made of amino acids and builds body tissues?
- a.Carbohydrate
- b.Protein✓
- c.Lipid
- d.Nucleic acid
Proteins are built from chains of amino acids. They form the structural basis of muscles, enzymes, and many other body tissues.
How many chambers does the human heart have?
- a.Two
- b.Three
- c.Four✓
- d.Five
The human heart has four chambers: two upper atria and two lower ventricles. This structure keeps oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor blood separated.
Which particle in an atom carries a negative electric charge?
- a.Proton
- b.Neutron
- c.Nucleus
- d.Electron✓
Electrons carry a negative charge and orbit the nucleus of an atom. Protons are positive and neutrons have no charge.