MCAS Guide Page 2

1. MCAS Guide Page 2 Review the first page of your guide BioChemistry

2. Elements • There are 6 you must know: • Carbon (C) • Hydrogen (H) • Oxygen (O) • Nitrogen (N) • Phosphorus (P) • Sulfur (S) • Remember CHONPS • Or “Cars Hide Out Near Parking Spaces”

3. MACROMOLECULES • There are 4 types of macromolecules : Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins and Nucleic Acids • For each of the four you should know • Their monomer (pieces they are made of) • Examples of them • Their job or function (most important)

4. ENZYMES • Enzymes are a special type of protein • The job of an enzyme is to break things down, or make reactions happen faster by lowering the activation energy • The names of enzymes end in “-ase”

5. PRACTICE • After reading over page 1 of your study guide, try these real MCAS questions. • After each question you will be shown the correct answer with hints to see how to know. • Take your time and read each carefully • The point is to practice and eventually find all of them easy!!!

6. Resistance to antibiotics results from variations in the genetic code of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Which type of molecule encodes genetic information in Streptococcus pneumoniae? A. carbohydrate B. fatty acid C. nucleic acid D. protein

7. Resistance to antibiotics results from variations in the genetic code of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Which type of molecule encodes genetic information in Streptococcus pneumoniae? C. nucleic acid See this is a very hard question to read, but by knowing to look for key phrases, it can be easy. The job of Nucleic Acids is to encode genetic information!!!

8. A student is preparing to run in a school track competition. For the quickest source of energy, the student should eat a food that contains a high percentage of A. carbohydrates. B. fat. C. proteins. D. sodium.

9. A student is preparing to run in a school track competition. For the quickest source of energy, the student should eat a food that contains a high percentage of A. carbohydrates. Carbohydrates (including sugar) are the quickest source of energy for your body, that’s their job!!

10. An amoeba in a pond engulfs and consumes a paramecium. The amoeba uses which of the following to quickly break down the organic molecules in the paramecium? A. enzymes B. glucose C. polysaccharides D. water

11. An amoeba in a pond engulfs and consumes a paramecium. The amoeba uses which of the following to quickly break down the organic molecules in the paramecium? A. enzymes The job of an enzyme is to break things down, or make reactions happen faster by lowering the activation energy

12. Students digging near their school unearthed four objects. One of the objects was part of the exoskeleton of an insect. The table below shows the results of a chemical analysis of the objects. Object Chemical Composition W chlorine, sodium X oxygen, silicon Y carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen Z aluminum, silicon, oxygen, hydrogen Based on the chemical analysis, which object is most likely from the exoskeleton? A. object W B. object X C. object Y D. object Z

13. Object Chemical Composition W chlorine, sodium X oxygen, silicon Y --------carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen Z aluminum, silicon, oxygen, hydrogen Based on the chemical analysis, which object is most likely from the exoskeleton? C. object Y Again, there is a lot to read, but by looking for shortcuts you recognize the 4 of the 6 elements you must know !!! (and none that are not on the list)

14. Vitamin D is an organic molecule that regulates the absorption of calcium by the body. Which of the following elements is most common in a molecule of vitamin D? A. aluminum B. carbon C. magnesium D. sodium

15. Vitamin D is an organic molecule that regulates the absorption of calcium by the body. Which of the following elements is most common in a molecule of vitamin D? B. carbon Only one of the answers is from the list of 6 elements you must know!!!

16. Which of the following roles does an enzyme play when the body processes sucrose (table sugar) into glucose and fructose? A. An enzyme decreases the body’s need for sucrose. B. An enzyme increases the amount of sucrose available. C. An enzyme increases the rate at which the sucrose breaks down. D. An enzyme decreases the amount of fructose and glucose product available.

17. Which of the following roles does an enzyme play when the body processes sucrose (table sugar) into glucose and fructose? C. An enzyme increases the rate at which the sucrose breaks down. The job of an enzyme is to break things down, or make reactions happen faster by lowering the activation energy

18. What do disaccharides, such as sucrose, and polysaccharides, such as starch, have in common? A. They are lipids made of fatty acids. B. They are proteins made of amino acids. C. They are nucleic acids made of nucleotides. D. They are carbohydrates made of simple sugars.

19. What do disaccharides, such as sucrose, and polysaccharides, such as starch, have in common? D. They are carbohydrates made of simple sugars. Monomers of carbohydrates are monosaccharides, also look for words that end in “-ose” (sucrose). They are names for sugars.

20. The role of an enzyme in a chemical reaction is to change which of the following? A. the type of reaction B. the activation energy of the reaction C. the pH at which the reaction occurs D. the temperature at which the reaction occurs

21. The role of an enzyme in a chemical reaction is to change which of the following? B. the activation energy of the reaction The job of an enzyme is to break things down, or make reactions happen faster by lowering the activation energy (the energy to start a reaction)

22. Which type of molecule in the yolk of a chicken egg provides the most energy for a developing chick? A. lipid B. nucleic acid C. salt D. water

23. Which type of molecule in the yolk of a chicken egg provides the most energy for a developing chick? A. lipid Lipids job is to store energy (in fats)

24. Fatty acids are one of the products that result from the action of lipase in the digestive system. What is one way that fatty acids are used in the body? A. for storing energy B. for encoding genetic information C. as the building blocks of antibodies D. as the building blocks of hemoglobin

25. Fatty acids are one of the products that result from the action of lipase in the digestive system. What is one way that fatty acids are used in the body? A. for storing energy Fatty acids (fats) are the monomer for lipids. The job of lipids is to store energy!!

26. Scientists have found geysers on one of Saturn’s moons. The geysers release water vapor containing complex organic compounds, which may indicate the presence of life. Which of the following elements is most likely abundant in the organic compounds in the water vapor? A. carbon B. chlorine C. iron D. zinc

27. Scientists have found geysers on one of Saturn’s moons. The geysers release water vapor containing complex organic compounds, which may indicate the presence of life. Which of the following elements is most likely abundant in the organic compounds in the water vapor? A. carbon A long question to read, but only one answer that is from the 6 elements you must know!!

28. Which of the following is the main reason that humans need to include carbohydrates in their diet? A. Carbohydrates are broken down in cells for energy. B. Carbohydrates combine to form many different proteins. C. Carbohydrates act as catalysts to speed up chemical reactions. D. Carbohydrates are the building blocks for cell growth and repair.

29. Which of the following is the main reason that humans need to include carbohydrates in their diet? A. Carbohydrates are broken down in cells for energy. The job of carbohydrates (sugars) is to give quick energy

30. Acetylcholine is an important chemical signal in the nervous system. Once acetylcholine is released, it is quickly broken down into other chemicals because of the activity of cholinesterase. Cholinesterase is which of the following? A. a hormone B. a lipid C. an enzyme D. an organelle

31. Acetylcholine is an important chemical signal in the nervous system. Once acetylcholine is released, it is quickly broken down into other chemicals because of the activity of cholinesterase. Cholinesterase is which of the following? C. an enzyme Enzyme names usually end in “-ase”. Even though you may not understand what the question says, look for the “-ase” (cholinesterase) as a key. Also job of enzymes is to break things down.

32. Based on the graph, which of the following conclusions can be made about the functioning of catalase? A. Catalase works best at 34 C. B. Catalase is destroyed at 34 C. C. Catalase cannot function at 51 C. D. Catalase functions most efficiently at 51 C.

33. Based on the graph, which of the following conclusions can be made about the functioning of catalase? A. Catalase works best at 34 C. Read the graph, look at its highest point, line up at 34 C

34. Which of the following elements is most common in the tissues of plants? A. hydrogen B. iron C. potassium D. sodium

35. Which of the following elements is most common in the tissues of plants? A. hydrogen Only answer from the 6 elements you must know!!

36. Which element is the main component of all organic molecules? A. carbon B. nitrogen C. potassium D. sodium

37. Which element is the main component of all organic molecules? A. carbon Although Carbon and Nitrogen are both on the list of 6 elements, Carbon is the most important. If there is more than 1 of the 6 listed, Carbon is the best answer.

38. One category of organic compounds contains molecules composed of long hydrocarbon chains. The hydrocarbon chains may be saturated or unsaturated. Which of the following categories of organic compounds contains these molecules? A. carbohydrates B. lipids C. nucleic acids D. proteins

39. One category of organic compounds contains molecules composed of longhydrocarbon chains. The hydrocarbon chains may be saturated or unsaturated. Which of the following categories of organic compounds contains these molecules? B. lipids This is a tough question, but it describes the picture of lipids (like an “E”) and the long chains it has. Also you might recognize saturated and unsaturated as types of fats and fats are lipids

40. Some bacteria contain a substance called nitrogenase. Nitrogenase catalyzes the chemical reaction that converts atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into ammonia (NH3). Nitrogenase is an example of which of the following? A. a sugar B. an enzyme C. a nucleotide D. an amino acid

41. Some bacteria contain a substance called nitrogenase. Nitrogenase catalyzes the chemical reaction that converts atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into ammonia (NH3). Nitrogenase is an example of which of the following? B. an enzyme “Catalyze” means “speeds up” , also name ending in “-ase” is a big clue.

42. Which of the following categories of organic molecules is correctly paired with one of its functions? A. nucleic acids—digest dead cells B. lipids—give quick energy to cells C. carbohydrates—store genetic information D. proteins—provide structure in skin, hair, & nails

43. Which of the following categories of organic molecules is correctly paired with one of its functions? D. proteins—provide structure in skin, hair, & nails Know the job of each of the 4 organic molecules. Proteins job is to build muscle, skin, hair etc.

44. Which of the following best explains why enzymes are necessary for many cellular reactions? A. Enzymes supply the oxygen necessary for the reactions. B. Enzymes change reactants from solid to liquid during the reactions. C. The reactions take up too much space in the cell if enzymes are missing. D. The reactions are too slow to meet the needs of the cell if enzymes are missing.

45. Which of the following best explains why enzymes are necessary for many cellular reactions? D. The reactions are too slow to meet the needs of the cell if enzymes are missing. The job of an enzyme is to break things down, or make reactions happen faster by lowering the activation energy

46. Which of the following types of molecules are primarily used for long-term energy storage in the lemur? A. lipids B. monosaccharides C. nucleic acids D. proteins

47. Which of the following types of molecules are primarily used for long-term energy storage in the lemur? A. lipids This question also has a long paragraph to read about lemurs, but you don’t need to know anything about lemurs to see this.

48. The graph below shows how the activity of an enzyme changes over a range of pH values. Which of the following conclusions is supported by the data? A. The optimum pH of the enzyme is 6.6. B. The optimum pH of the enzyme is 5.8. C. The enzyme’s activity is greater around pH 8.0 than around pH 5.0. D. The enzyme’s activity continually increases as pH increases from 5.0 to 9.0.

49. Which of the following conclusions is supported by the data? A. The optimum pH of the enzyme is 6.6. Read the graph, look for which answer best matches what you see, there is no way to study for this, just don’t be afraid of it

50. A scientist is analyzing a sample of tissue from a plant. Which of the following elements will be most abundant in the sample? A. zinc and copper B. sodium and chlorine C. carbon and hydrogen D. magnesium and calcium