HESI A2
HESI A2 Biology Practice Test 2024 Questions
Question 1 of 9
What propels the cell forward?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Propulsion, not microfilaments, cilia, or flagella, is what drives the cell forward. Propulsion is the force or process that propels the cell forward and allows it to move within its environment. Microfilaments are involved in cell structure, cilia are small hair-like structures for movement, and flagella are tail-like structures used for cell propulsion in some organisms.
Question 2 of 9
How many pairs of chromosomes do all humans have?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: All humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes, totaling 46 chromosomes. Choice A is incorrect because humans do not have 24 pairs. Choice C is incorrect as humans have 23 pairs, not 22 pairs. Choice D is incorrect as humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes, not 20 pairs.
Question 3 of 9
Where is the site of cellular respiration in eukaryotic cells?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Mitochondria. Mitochondria are often referred to as the powerhouse of the cell because they are responsible for cellular respiration in eukaryotic cells. During cellular respiration, mitochondria generate energy in the form of ATP. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect. The nucleus is the organelle that houses the cell's genetic material, chloroplasts are responsible for photosynthesis in plant cells, and ribosomes are involved in protein synthesis, not cellular respiration.
Question 4 of 9
What organelle do plant cells have that functions as storage, waste disposal, and protection?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct! Plant cells have vacuoles that serve as storage centers, help in waste disposal by containing and isolating harmful materials, and contribute to protection by storing toxic substances. The other choices are incorrect because the nucleus contains genetic material, mitochondria are responsible for energy production, and ribosomes are involved in protein synthesis.
Question 5 of 9
What is the most important component of the cell, contributing to protection, communication, and the passage of substances?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The cell membrane is the correct answer. It is the most important component of the cell as it provides protection, facilitates communication, and regulates the passage of substances in and out of the cell. The cytoplasm (Choice A) is the gel-like substance within the cell that holds organelles, but it is not primarily responsible for the functions mentioned in the question. The cytoskeleton (Choice C) provides structural support to the cell but is not directly involved in protection, communication, or substance passage. Vacuoles (Choice D) are responsible for storage and maintaining turgor pressure but do not play a primary role in the functions specified in the question.
Question 6 of 9
What are plasma membranes mostly made of?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Lipids. Plasma membranes are primarily composed of lipids, specifically phospholipids, which form a lipid bilayer. While proteins are also an essential component of plasma membranes, they are not the primary constituent. Carbohydrates are present on the outer surface of the membrane but are not the main structural component. Nucleotides are the building blocks of nucleic acids like DNA and RNA and are not the main constituents of plasma membranes.
Question 7 of 9
What is the initial step in the metabolism of food to cellular energy?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Glycolysis. Glycolysis is the initial step in the metabolism of food to cellular energy. During glycolysis, glucose is broken down into pyruvate, generating ATP and NADH. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because the Citric Acid Cycle and Electron Transport Chain occur later in cellular respiration, while Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy.
Question 8 of 9
What molecule is primarily responsible for providing energy to the cell?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Correct! ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) is the main molecule that stores and provides energy for cellular activities. ATP is known as the energy currency of the cell, where energy released from the breakdown of nutrients is stored in the high-energy phosphate bonds of ATP. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because DNA carries genetic information, ADP is the precursor of ATP, and glycogen is a polysaccharide used for energy storage, not direct energy provision.
Question 9 of 9
What type of transport moves substances across the cell membrane using energy?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Active Transport. Active transport moves substances across the cell membrane by utilizing energy from the cell, typically in the form of ATP. This process allows the cell to move molecules against their concentration gradient, requiring energy expenditure. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because passive transport does not require energy input, facilitated diffusion involves the assistance of proteins but does not directly use energy, and osmosis is the diffusion of water molecules specifically, not substances, across a selectively permeable membrane.