THE UNIVERSITY OF ZAMBIA

SCHOOL OF NATURAL SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

2023/2024 ACADEMIC YEAR

MOCK TEST 1

TIME: 30 MINUTES

Instructions

1. Answer all questions

2. All questions carry equal marks
3. Use the answer sheet provided to record the answers
4. A correct answer carries +4 marks
5. A wrong answer carries -1 mark
6. A blank space carries -1 mark
7. The option “I do not know” carries 0 mark
8. Use ink to record your answers on the answer sheet
9. Cross out a wrong entry and write the correct one by the side
10. Handover both the answer sheet and question paper at the end of the test
11. Any communication with another candidate will lead to disqualification
12. Use of cellphones is not allowed
1. Which one of the following statements about ‘p’ orbitals is incorrect?
1. They are found in all principal energy levels (shells).
2. They are not found in the first principal energy level (shell).
3. There are three types of ‘p’ orbitals.
4. They contain a maximum of six electrons.
5. Each ‘p’ orbital holds a maximum of two electrons.
6. I do not know.

2. The electronic configuration of an atom with atomic number 8 is ...

1. 1s²2s⁶
2. 1s²2s²2p⁶
3. 1s²2s⁶2p⁴
4. 1s²2s²2p⁶
5. 1s²2s²2p⁴
6. I do not know.

3. What is the electronic configuration of a sodium ion (Na+), given that the atomic number of sodium is 11?
1. 1s²2s²2p⁶3s²3p⁶4s¹
2. 1s²2s²2p⁷
3. 1s²2s²2p⁶3s¹
4. 1s²2s²2p⁶
5. 1s²2s²
6. I do not know.

4. When biomolecules lose electrons, the reaction is called ...

1. Condensation.
2. Metabolism.
3. Reduction.
4. Oxidation.
5. Hydrolysis.
6. I do not know.

5. Choose the correct statement.

1. Carbon dioxide has two covalent double bonds.
2. In the formation of carbon dioxide, electrons are donated by carbon to oxygen.
3. Water has two non-covalent single bonds.
4. In the formation of water, electrons are donated by hydrogen to oxygen.
5. None of the above statements is correct.
6. I do not know.

6. The reactivity of an atom arises from ...

1. The existence of paired electrons in the valence shell.
2. The existence of unpaired electrons in the valence shell.
3. A lower number of protons compared to neutrons.
4. A lower number of neutrons compared to protons.
5. An even number of electrons in the 1s shell.
6. I do not know.
7. An ionic bond is formed ...
1. Between two anions.
2. Between two cations.
3. Between an anion and a cation.
4. Between two nuclei.
5. When valence electrons are shared equally between two atoms.
6. I do not know.

8. The weakest and most temporal interactions are ...

1. Polar covalent bonds.
2. Non-polar covalent bonds.
3. Hydrogen bonds.
4. Ionic bonds.
5. Hydrophobic forces.
6. I do not know.

9. Which of the following statements is correct?

1. Water is formed by ionic bonds between hydrogen and oxygen atoms.
2. Water as a liquid is held together by hydrogen bonds.
3. Hydrogen is more electronegative than oxygen in a water molecule.
4. Water is an organic molecule.
5. Water is a cation.
6. I do not know.

10. The meniscus of water is curved upwards because ...

1. Water is in its liquid form.
2. Water is polar.
3. Cohesive forces between water molecules are greater than adhesive forces between water molecules
and the container wall.
4. The walls of the container are hydrophilic.
5. All the statements above are correct.
6. I do not know.

11. Which of the following factors is responsible for a water molecule being dipolar?
1. Similarity in electron affinity of hydrogen and oxygen.
2. The linear structure of the water molecule.
3. Difference in electron affinity of hydrogen and oxygen.
4. Ability of water to form hydrogen bonds with other compounds.
5. Difference in strength between hydrogen bonds and covalent bonds.
6. I do not know.

12. Which one of the following statements is not true about properties of water?
1. The pH of pure water is neutral.
2. A lot of energy/heat is required to increase water temperature by 1°C.
3. Water sticks to other substances because of its polarity.
4. Little energy is required to transform water from liquid to gas.
5. Water easily dissolves ionic compounds.
6. I do not know.
13. The general (empirical) formula for carbohydrates is ...
1. (CH2O)n
2. Cn H2nOn
3. (CH4O)n
4. (CH2On)n
5. Both 1 and 2.
6. I do not know.

14. Which of the following carbohydrates do/does not abide by the empirical formula?
1. Glyceraldehyde.
2. Glucose.
3. Lactose.
4. Deoxyribose.
5. Both 3 and 4.
6. I do not know.

15. Which of the following carbohydrates has the furanose ring form?
1. Galactose.
2. Dihydroxyacetone.
3. Glucose.
4. Ribose.
5. Glyceraldehyde.
6. I do not know.

16. Which of the following correctly describes an asymmetric carbon?

1. It does not contribute to stereoisomerism.
2. It has two similar groups attached to it.
3. It has four similar groups attached to it.
4. It has four different groups attached to it.
5. It contributes to optical isomerism.
6. I do not know.

17. Lipids are ...

1. The same as fatty acids.
2. Esters of fatty acids and alcohols.
3. Esters of fats and oils.
4. Polymers of fatty acids and glycerol.
5. Polymers of phospholipids.
6. I do not know.

18. Which of the following fatty acids is monounsaturated?

1. C18H36O2
2. C18H34O2
3. C18H32O2
4. C18H30O2
5. C18H28O2
6. I do not know.
19. Which of the following lipids has a charged component?
1. Phospholipid.
2. Triglyceride.
3. Wax.
4. Cholesterol.
5. None of the above.
6. I do not know.

20. Which of the following statements explain why lipids are partially insoluble in water?
1. They are neutral.
2. They are dipolar.
3. They contain a hydrophilic portion.
4. They contain a hydrocarbon chain.
5. Both 3 and 4.
6. I do not know.

21. Identify the false statement.

1. Triglycerides are less oxidized than carbohydrates.
2. Carbohydrates release less water as a by-product of oxidation than fats.
3. Cholesterol is one of the raw materials for construction of cell membranes.
4. Triglycerides are poor reducing agents.
5. Triglycerides have ester bonds in their molecules.
6. I do not know.

22. Two amino acids of the standard 20 contain sulphur atoms. They are ...
1. Cysteine and serine.
2. Cysteine and glycine.
3. Cysteine and methionine.
4. Methionine and serine.
5. Methionine and glycine.
6. I do not know.

23. In a highly basic solution (pH 13) the dominant form of glycine is …
1. NH2 −CH2−COOH
2. NH2 −CH2−COO-
3. NH2 −CH3+−COO-
4. NH3+−CH2 −COOH
5. NH3+−CH2 −COO-
6. I do not know.

24. Choose the incorrect statement.

1. Only L amino acids are found in biological systems.
2. Glycine is not optically active.
3. Amino acids are soluble in water.
4. All amino acids contain two reactive groups.
5. Acidic amino acids have an R group which is negatively charged.
6. I do not know.
25. The secondary structure of proteins is stabilized by ...
1. Peptide bonds.
2. Van der Waals forces.
3. Hydrogen bonds.
4. Ionic bonds.
5. Disulphide bonds.
6. I do not know.

26. The tertiary structure of proteins is maintained by ... bonds.

1. Peptide
2. Hydrogen
3. Disulphide
4. Ionic
5. All of the above.
6. I do not know.

27. Which statement is true about the following reaction?

𝐸𝑛𝑧𝑦𝑚𝑒 (𝐸)
𝑆𝑢𝑏𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 (𝑆) → 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡 (𝑃)
1. If the concentration of S is high and the concentration of P is low, then enzyme activity is high.
2. When the concentration of P is high and the concentration of S is low, then enzyme activity is high.
3. This reaction is irreversible.
4. When the concentration of E drops, the reaction stops completely.
5. When the concentration of E increases, the concentration of S increases as well.
6. I do not know.

28. Which of the following statements is wrong about enzymes?

1. When an enzyme binds to a substrate, the enzyme-substrate complex briefly changes shape.
2. Chemical bonds in a molecule prevent molecular rapid breakdown in a chemical reaction.
3. End products of enzyme catalysed and non-catalysed reactions have the same energy.
4. If there were no enzymes in cells, chemical reactions would never take place.
5. An enzyme can be used in many chemical reactions before it wears out.
6. I do not know.

29. Which of the following statements is wrong about enzyme activity?

1. Enzyme activity is directly dependent on substrate concentration.
2. Enzyme activity is reduced by lowering temperatures.
3. One enzyme can catalyse more than one type of chemical reaction.
4. Increasing temperature while keeping enzyme concentration constant, increases the rate of chemical
reaction.
5. As substrate concentration increases, enzyme activity also increases to catalyse the chemical
reaction.
6. I do not know.

30. Enzymes …
1. Are altered permanently in the reactions they catalyse
2. Make the equilibrium of the reaction more favourable.
3. Increase the energy of activation.
4. Slow down the rate of reaction.
5. Do not increase the energy of products.
6. I do not know.
 THE UNIVERSITY OF ZAMBIA
SCHOOL OF NATURAL SCIENCES
DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
2023/2034 ACADEMIC YEAR
BIO 1400: MOLECULAR CELL BIOLOGY AND GENETICS – MOCK TEST 1

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30 Item Number Marks
Correct answers
Wrong answers
I do not know
Correct - wrong

(Correct − wrong)
Percentage 1.2