ASVAB Study GuideGeneral Science Practice Test 12
Tap an answer to check it instantly and read the explanation. 10 questions: 3 easy, 4 medium and 3 hard.
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Question 1 easy
Which kingdom includes organisms such as mosses, ferns, and flowering plants?
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Correct answer: B — Plantae
Plantae is the kingdom that comprises all plants, including mosses, ferns, conifers, and flowering plants, which are multicellular and conduct photosynthesis.
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Question 2 easy
Which classification group (class) do dolphins and whales belong to?
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Correct answer: C — Mammalia
Dolphins and whales are warm-blooded, breathe air through lungs, and nurse their young with milk, classifying them under the class Mammalia.
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Question 3 easy
In the scientific name Canis lupus, what taxonomic rank does the word Canis represent?
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Correct answer: A — Genus
In binomial nomenclature, the first word (Canis) denotes the genus, while the second word (lupus) denotes the specific species epithet.
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Question 4 medium
Which of the following is NOT a primary function of the muscular system?
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Correct answer: D — synthesizing vitamin D
Synthesizing vitamin D is a function of the integumentary system (skin) when exposed to sunlight, not the muscular system.
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Question 5 medium
By which process do sex cells (gametes) such as sperm and egg cells reproduce to reduce the chromosome number by half?
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Correct answer: B — meiosis
Meiosis is a special type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, producing four genetically unique haploid gamete cells (sperm and egg).
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Question 6 medium
The nephrons are functional filtering units of which human organ system?
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Correct answer: B — urinary
Nephrons are microscopic structural and functional units located inside the kidneys, which belong to the urinary (excretory) system responsible for filtering blood and producing urine.
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Question 7 medium
Which macro-nutrients serve as the primary sources of energy for the human body?
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Correct answer: B — carbohydrates and fats
Carbohydrates and fats provide calories that the body breaks down to produce ATP for energy. Carbohydrates are the primary source for quick energy, while fats store energy for long-term use.
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Question 8 hard
In the hierarchy of biological classification, which rank immediately follows class when moving down to more specific categories?
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Correct answer: B — order
The taxonomic hierarchy from broad to specific is: Domain > Kingdom > Phylum > Class > Order > Family > Genus > Species. Therefore, 'order' immediately follows 'class'.
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Question 9 hard
Which process marks the literal chemical beginning of digestive breakdown in the human body?
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Correct answer: B — Mechanical and chemical breakdown begins in the mouth when salivary amylase mixes with food.
Digestion begins in the mouth (oral cavity), where mechanical chewing occurs alongside chemical digestion triggered by saliva containing the enzyme amylase, which breaks down starches.
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Question 10 hard
Which specific structural feature uniquely distinguishes plant cell walls from the cell walls of fungi and prokaryotes?
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Correct answer: B — cell wall composition made of cellulose fibers
Plant cell walls are primarily composed of cellulose. Fungal cell walls contain chitin, and bacterial cell walls contain peptidoglycan. (Note: Photosynthesis is also performed by algae and cyanobacteria, so cellulose cell walls are the defining structural marker for plants).