Biology (Grades 9–10) Midterm — Full-Course Review

Science Grades 9–10 30 multiple choice + 2 written

Free printable Biology midterm (Grades 9–10): 30 multiple-choice questions plus 2 written responses covering Biochemistry, Cells & Cell Transport, Photosynthesis & Cellular Respiration, Cell Division & DNA, Genetics, Evolution & Ecology. Answer key included — customize it in the Midterm Maker.

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Directions: Read each question carefully and choose the best answer. Answer the written response in complete sentences.

Covers: Biochemistry · Cells & Cell Transport · Photosynthesis & Cellular Respiration · Cell Division & DNA · Genetics · Evolution & Ecology

Part 1: Multiple Choice

Water molecules stick to one another mainly because of which type of attraction?
1. A. Peptide bonds between water molecules
2. B. Ionic bonds between water molecules
3. C. Attraction between nonpolar molecules
4. D. Hydrogen bonds between polar molecules
When two monomers are joined by dehydration synthesis, which molecule is released?
1. A. Oxygen
2. B. Carbon dioxide
3. C. Water
4. D. Glucose
What are the monomers of nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA?
1. A. Monosaccharides
2. B. Glycerol molecules
3. C. Amino acids
4. D. Nucleotides
Glucose belongs to which class of macromolecules?
1. A. Proteins
2. B. Lipids
3. C. Nucleic acids
4. D. Carbohydrates
A solution with pH 3 has how many times more hydrogen ions than a solution with pH 5?
1. A. 1,000
2. B. 2
3. C. 20
4. D. 100
What is osmosis?
1. A. Engulfing of large particles
2. B. Pumping of glucose against its gradient
3. C. Movement of salt using ATP
4. D. Diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane
Glucose moves into a cell through a carrier protein, down its gradient, without using ATP. What is this called?
1. A. Exocytosis
2. B. Active transport
3. C. Facilitated diffusion
4. D. Endocytosis
Which organelle modifies, sorts, and packages proteins for transport?
1. A. Golgi apparatus
2. B. Nucleolus
3. C. Lysosome
4. D. Mitochondrion
A plant cell placed in pure water swells but does not burst. Why?
1. A. Water cannot enter plant cells
2. B. Its cell wall resists the pressure
3. C. It has no cell membrane
4. D. Its chloroplasts absorb the water
Which process uses energy to move substances against their concentration gradient?
1. A. Simple diffusion
2. B. Active transport
3. C. Facilitated diffusion
4. D. Osmosis
Which statement correctly relates photosynthesis and cellular respiration?
1. A. The products of one are the reactants of the other
2. B. Both processes release oxygen
3. C. Plants carry out photosynthesis but not respiration
4. D. Animals carry out both processes
The oxygen gas released during photosynthesis comes from which molecule?
1. A. Water
2. B. Chlorophyll
3. C. Carbon dioxide
4. D. Glucose
Which are the products of aerobic cellular respiration?
1. A. Glucose and carbon dioxide
2. B. Glucose and oxygen
3. C. Oxygen and water
4. D. Carbon dioxide, water, and ATP
Which stage of aerobic cellular respiration produces the most ATP?
1. A. Fermentation
2. B. Glycolysis
3. C. Krebs cycle
4. D. Electron transport chain
What is the final electron acceptor in the electron transport chain?
1. A. Water
2. B. Glucose
3. C. Oxygen
4. D. Carbon dioxide
What is the process of copying a gene's DNA into messenger RNA called?
1. A. Replication
2. B. Translation
3. C. Transcription
4. D. Mutation
Mitosis followed by cytokinesis produces what?
1. A. Two cells with half the chromosomes
2. B. Four identical sex cells
3. C. Two genetically identical cells
4. D. Four genetically different cells
During which phase of mitosis do chromosomes line up along the middle of the cell?
1. A. Prophase
2. B. Anaphase
3. C. Telophase
4. D. Metaphase
Where does translation, the building of a protein from mRNA, take place?
1. A. At a ribosome
2. B. In the Golgi apparatus
3. C. In the nucleolus
4. D. Inside a lysosome
Meiosis produces what?
1. A. Four genetically different haploid cells
2. B. Two identical diploid cells
3. C. Four identical diploid cells
4. D. Two different haploid cells
Two heterozygous plants (Aa × Aa) are crossed. What is the expected phenotypic ratio if A is completely dominant?
1. A. 1:1 dominant to recessive
2. B. 4:0 dominant to recessive
3. C. 3:1 dominant to recessive
4. D. 1:2:1 dominant to recessive
What does Mendel's law of segregation state?
1. A. Genes on the same chromosome always stay together
2. B. Dominant alleles are more common
3. C. Offspring blend their parents' traits
4. D. The two alleles for a gene separate when gametes form
What phenotypic ratio is expected from a dihybrid cross of AaBb × AaBb with independent assortment?
1. A. 3:1
2. B. 1:1:1:1
3. C. 1:2:1
4. D. 9:3:3:1
Crossing an organism that shows the dominant trait with a homozygous recessive organism to learn its genotype is called what?
1. A. A dihybrid cross
2. B. A karyotype
3. C. A pedigree
4. D. A test cross
Human height varies continuously across a wide range. This is largely because height is what?
1. A. A codominant trait
2. B. Influenced by many genes
3. C. A sex-linked trait
4. D. Controlled by one gene with two alleles
Random changes in allele frequencies that have the greatest effect in small populations are called what?
1. A. Natural selection
2. B. Artificial selection
3. C. Genetic drift
4. D. Gene flow
What do homologous structures, such as the forelimbs of humans, cats, and whales, suggest?
1. A. The structures evolved separately
2. B. The species share a common ancestor
3. C. The species can interbreed
4. D. The species live in the same habitat
A river splits a population in two. After many generations, the groups can no longer interbreed. What process occurred?
1. A. Convergent evolution
2. B. Artificial selection
3. C. Coevolution
4. D. Speciation through geographic isolation
Primary succession begins in which type of area?
1. A. An area with no soil, such as new lava rock
2. B. An abandoned farm field
3. C. A mowed lawn
4. D. A forest after a wildfire
Which condition is required for natural selection to occur?
1. A. A population of identical individuals
2. B. Unlimited food and space
3. C. Individuals changing traits on purpose
4. D. Inherited variation among individuals

Part 2: Written Response

Explain how photosynthesis and cellular respiration form a cycle of matter and energy. Include the equation for each process and where each occurs.
Using a specific example, explain how a change in an environment can lead to changes in a population over many generations. Then describe how energy and matter move differently through that ecosystem.

Answer Key — Biology (Grades 9–10) Midterm — Full-Course Review

D — Hydrogen bonds between polar molecules Water's polarity allows hydrogen bonding, causing cohesion.
C — Water Dehydration synthesis removes a water molecule to form a bond.
D — Nucleotides Each nucleotide has a sugar, phosphate, and nitrogen base.
D — Carbohydrates Glucose is a simple sugar, a carbohydrate monomer.
D — 100 Each pH unit is a tenfold change: 10 × 10 = 100.
D — Diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane Osmosis is specifically the passive movement of water.
C — Facilitated diffusion Transport proteins help, but no cellular energy is spent.
A — Golgi apparatus The Golgi processes proteins received from the endoplasmic reticulum.
B — Its cell wall resists the pressure The rigid cell wall creates turgor pressure that prevents bursting.
B — Active transport Active transport requires ATP to move from low to high concentration.
A — The products of one are the reactants of the other Plants and animals respire; plants also photosynthesize.
A — Water Water is split in the light-dependent reactions, releasing O₂.
D — Carbon dioxide, water, and ATP C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + ATP.
D — Electron transport chain The electron transport chain drives ATP synthase to make most ATP.
C — Oxygen Oxygen accepts electrons and hydrogen ions to form water.
C — Transcription Transcription makes mRNA from a DNA template.
C — Two genetically identical cells Mitosis makes identical daughter cells for growth and repair.
D — Metaphase In metaphase, chromosomes align at the cell's equator.
A — At a ribosome Ribosomes read mRNA codons and link amino acids.
A — Four genetically different haploid cells Meiosis has two divisions and creates variation.
C — 3:1 dominant to recessive Three of four offspring have at least one A allele.
D — The two alleles for a gene separate when gametes form Each gamete receives only one allele for each gene.
D — 9:3:3:1 Independent genes each give 3:1, combining to 9:3:3:1.
D — A test cross Any recessive offspring reveal a heterozygous parent.
B — Influenced by many genes Polygenic traits, plus environment, produce a continuous range.
C — Genetic drift Chance events shift allele frequencies most in small populations.
B — The species share a common ancestor Shared bone patterns point to inheritance from a common ancestor.
D — Speciation through geographic isolation Isolation let the groups diverge until they became separate species.
A — An area with no soil, such as new lava rock Primary succession starts where no soil exists; pioneer species begin it.
D — Inherited variation among individuals Selection acts on heritable differences in survival and reproduction.

Written Response — Look-Fors

Correct reactants/products for both; chloroplast vs. mitochondria (and cytoplasm for glycolysis); energy flows from sunlight to glucose to ATP; matter (C, O) cycles; plants do both processes.
Accurate example (antibiotic resistance, finches, moths); variation, heritability, selection, change in allele frequency over generations; energy flows one way and is lost as heat (about 10% passed on); matter cycles (carbon, nitrogen).

Biology (Grades 9–10) Midterm — Full-Course Review

Part 1: Multiple Choice

Part 2: Written Response

Written Response — Look-Fors

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