homeostasis is deined as

ATI TEAS 7

ATI TEAS Science Test

1. How is homeostasis defined?

A. The ability of human beings to keep body weight within normal limits.
B. The maintenance of a constant external temperature inside a room.
C. The ingestion of enough food to prevent hunger pains.
D. The tendency of the body to maintain a stable internal environment.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Homeostasis is defined as the tendency of the body to maintain a stable internal environment despite external changes. This process involves regulating various physiological parameters such as body temperature, blood pressure, and glucose levels to ensure optimal functioning and health. Option A is incorrect as it specifically refers to body weight regulation, which is not the sole focus of homeostasis. Option B is incorrect as it describes maintaining a constant temperature in a room, rather than the internal environment of the body. Option C is incorrect as it only addresses the prevention of hunger pains through food ingestion, which is not the overarching concept of homeostasis.

2. An investigator wishes to test the effect of temperature on the durability of a certain material. He places five blocks of this material in a sunny area in a meadow and five more in a cold area high in the mountains. He then monitors them over time. What is the main problem with this experiment?

A. Ten subjects are far too small a number to obtain effective results.
B. It is impossible to control for the fact that the blocks in the mountains were placed later.
C. There are too many variables that are not being controlled for.
D. Nothing is wrong with this experiment; this demonstrates good experimental procedure.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The main problem with this experiment is that there are too many variables that are not being controlled for. The investigator is only changing one variable (temperature) while there are other variables at play such as humidity, exposure to light, and potential differences in the material itself. Without controlling or accounting for these additional variables, it would be difficult to determine if any observed differences in durability are solely due to temperature. Choice A is incorrect because the issue is not solely about the number of subjects but about the lack of control over variables. Choice B is not the main problem as the order of placement may not significantly impact the results. Choice D is incorrect as the experiment lacks proper control over variables, which is a crucial aspect of good experimental procedure.

3. What is the difference between DNA and RNA?

A. Both are double-stranded.
B. DNA contains deoxyribose sugar, while RNA contains ribose sugar.
C. RNA contains the nitrogenous base uracil, while DNA contains thymine.
D. Both are identical molecules.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: A) Incorrect. DNA is double-stranded, but RNA is typically single-stranded. B) Correct. DNA contains deoxyribose sugar, which lacks an oxygen atom on the 2' carbon of the sugar ring, while RNA contains ribose sugar, which has an additional hydroxyl group on the 2' carbon. C) Incorrect. RNA contains the nitrogenous base uracil, while DNA contains thymine. D) Incorrect. DNA and RNA have distinct structures and functions, so they are not identical molecules.

4. Which of the following is a type of white blood cell that plays a key role in adaptive immunity by seeking out, attacking, and destroying targeted pathogens?

A. memory B cells
B. neutrophils
C. antibodies
D. cytotoxic T cells

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is cytotoxic T cells. Cytotoxic T cells are a type of white blood cell that is crucial in adaptive immunity. They are specialized in recognizing and destroying infected or abnormal cells in the body. Neutrophils are primarily involved in innate immunity, providing rapid response to infections. Antibodies are proteins produced by B cells and are essential in specific immune responses, but they do not directly attack pathogens. Memory B cells are part of the adaptive immune response, responsible for mounting a quicker and stronger response upon re-exposure to a pathogen. However, they do not directly seek out and destroy pathogens like cytotoxic T cells do.

5. Which property of matter remains constant regardless of changes in its state?

A. Mass
B. Volume
C. Density
D. Weight

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is 'Mass.' Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object and remains constant regardless of changes in its state. When matter changes its state (solid, liquid, gas), its mass remains the same. On the other hand, volume can change with the shape the matter takes, density changes as the mass is distributed differently, and weight can vary with the gravitational pull. Therefore, mass is the property that remains constant irrespective of the state of matter, making it the correct choice in this scenario.