Download Week 1 August 6, 2008 - Simpson County Schools

AP Biology Free Response Assignments
Use the tips for answering free response questions found on the FSHS AP Biology website. Each
question should be answered in essay form with complete sentences and labeled clearly. After
completing answer, use a highlighter to emphasize main points and clarifying details of your response.
Your free response questions will comprise a major test grade each nine weeks.
Week 1 (August 4, 2008)
1. The fruits of wild species of tomato are tiny compared to the giant beefsteak tomatoes available today.
This difference in the fruit size is almost entirely due to the larger number of cells in the domesticated
fruits. Plant biologists have recently discovered genes that are responsible for controlling cell division in
tomatoes.
A.
Why would such a discovery be important to producers of other kinds of fruits and
vegetables?
B.
Why would such a discovery be important to the study of human development and
disease?
C.
Why is this an important discovery to our basic understanding of biology?
2. Some scientist hypothesizes that life elsewhere in the universe might be based on the element silicon
rather than on carbon. Think of the electron shell diagrams of both carbon and silicon. What properties
does silicon share with carbon that would make silicon-based life more likely than, for example, neonbased or sulfur-based life?
3. Enzymes usually function best at an optimal pH and temperature. The following graph shows the
effectiveness of two enzymes at various temperatures.
Rate of Reaction
(ppm)
Enzyme Activity
60
40
Enzyme A
20
Enzyme B
0
25
50
75
100
Temperature (C)
A. At which temperature does enzymes A perform best? Enzyme B?
B. One of these enzymes if found in humans and the other in thermophilic (heat-loving) bacteria. Which
enzyme would you predict comes from which organism?
C. From what you know about enzyme structure, explain why the rate of the reaction catalyzed by
enzyme A slows down at temperature 50 degrees Celsius.
4. One solution to the problem of acid precipitation is to use nuclear energy to produce electricity.
Development of nuclear power in the United States virtually stopped after the accident at Three Mile
Island power plant in Pennsylvania in 1979. But proponents of nuclear power contend that accelerated
development of nuclear energy is the answer to U.S. energy needs.
A. Besides reducing acid precipitation, what are other potential benefits of nuclear power?
B. What are nuclear energy’s costs and dangers?
C. Do you think we ought to pursue the development of nuclear power? Why or why not?
D. If a power plant were to be built near your home, would you prefer it to be a nuclear or coal-fired
plant? Why?