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Quizzes > Science

Living Environment Regents Practice Test

Quick, scored quiz to check your biology regents practice. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Michelle SanchezUpdated Aug 27, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration of cells and organisms representing cellular transport homeostasis decomposers on a teal background

This quiz helps you review key Living Environment Regents topics and see what to study next. Answer questions on cells, homeostasis, and ecology, then get an instant score with brief explanations. For more review, try our earth science practice test, challenge yourself with a biology clep practice test, or build basics with a grade 8 science practice test.

Which organelle is responsible for protein synthesis?
Chloroplast
Golgi apparatus
Ribosome
Mitochondrion
Ribosomes are the primary sites where mRNA is translated into proteins by tRNA delivering amino acids. They can be found free in the cytosol or bound to the rough endoplasmic reticulum. Without ribosomes, cells cannot synthesize the proteins needed for structure and function.
What is the basic unit of life?
Tissue
Atom
Organism
Cell
Cells are the smallest units that exhibit all characteristics of life, including metabolism, growth, and reproduction. They form the basis of structure and function in all living organisms. Everything from bacteria to humans is composed of one or more cells.
Which process do plants use to convert light energy into chemical energy?
Respiration
Transpiration
Photosynthesis
Fermentation
Photosynthesis captures light energy to produce glucose and oxygen from carbon dioxide and water. This process occurs in chloroplasts, specifically within the thylakoid membranes. It is the foundation of most food chains on Earth.
Which molecule carries genetic information in living organisms?
ATP
Carbohydrates
DNA
Lipids
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) stores hereditary information in sequences of nucleotides. It directs the synthesis of RNA and proteins, determining an organism's traits. DNA's double-helix structure enables accurate replication.
Which structure regulates the movement of materials into and out of a cell?
Nucleus
Cell wall
Cell membrane
Cytoplasm
The cell membrane is a selectively permeable phospholipid bilayer that controls substance exchange. It uses protein channels and carriers to facilitate active and passive transport. This regulation is critical for maintaining internal balance.
What role do decomposers play in ecosystems?
Produce glucose
Fix carbon dioxide
Break down dead organic matter
Convert ammonia to nitrates
Decomposers like fungi and bacteria break down dead plants and animals into simpler compounds. They recycle nutrients back into the soil, making them available for producers. This decomposition is essential for ecosystem nutrient cycling.
Which gas is released during photosynthesis?
Nitrogen
Carbon dioxide
Methane
Oxygen
During the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis, water is split, releasing oxygen as a byproduct. Oxygen diffuses out of the chloroplasts into the atmosphere. This gas is vital for aerobic respiration in most organisms.
What is often called the 'powerhouse' of the cell?
Lysosome
Ribosome
Golgi apparatus
Mitochondrion
Mitochondria generate ATP through oxidative phosphorylation. They have a double membrane and their own DNA. Their primary function is to supply cellular energy.
Which process in the cytoplasm produces a net of 2 ATP molecules?
Calvin cycle
Glycolysis
Krebs cycle
Electron transport chain
Glycolysis breaks down one glucose into two pyruvate molecules in the cytosol, producing a net gain of 2 ATP. It also yields NADH for later steps in respiration. This is the first stage of cellular respiration.
What term describes the maintenance of stable internal conditions?
Homeostasis
Osmosis
Entropy
Equilibrium
Homeostasis is the process by which organisms regulate internal conditions such as temperature, pH, and ion concentrations. Feedback mechanisms adjust physiological processes to maintain balance. It is critical for proper cell function.
Which organism is typically classified as a decomposer?
Herbivore
Fungi
Algae
Carnivore
Fungi secrete enzymes that break down complex organic materials into simpler compounds they can absorb. This decomposition recycles nutrients in ecosystems. Without decomposers, dead matter would accumulate and nutrient cycles would halt.
Which organ system is primarily responsible for regulating water balance and excreting waste?
Circulatory system
Respiratory system
Digestive system
Urinary system
The urinary system filters blood through the kidneys, removing excess water, salts, and waste products to form urine. It maintains electrolyte balance and blood pressure. Proper function is vital for homeostasis.
What is the whip-like structure that enables some bacteria to move?
Cilium
Pseudopod
Pilus
Flagellum
Flagella are long, tail-like appendages that rotate or whip back and forth to propel bacterial cells. They are composed of the protein flagellin. Flagellar movement enables bacteria to seek favorable environments.
Which type of transport requires cellular energy to move molecules against their concentration gradient?
Diffusion
Active transport
Osmosis
Passive transport
Active transport uses ATP or another energy source to pump molecules from low to high concentration. Protein pumps in membranes facilitate this process. Examples include the sodium-potassium pump.
Which process involves the movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from high to low concentration?
Osmosis
Facilitated diffusion
Endocytosis
Active transport
Osmosis is the passive diffusion of water through a semipermeable membrane toward a higher solute concentration. It does not require energy. This process is crucial for maintaining cell turgor in plants.
Which type of cell signaling involves hormones traveling through the bloodstream?
Juxtacrine signaling
Paracrine signaling
Autocrine signaling
Endocrine signaling
Endocrine signaling uses hormones secreted into the bloodstream to reach distant target cells. It regulates processes like growth, metabolism, and reproduction. Other signaling types act locally or directly between adjoining cells.
The sodium-potassium pump moving Na+ out and K+ into the cell is an example of what?
Facilitated diffusion
Active transport
Osmosis
Passive diffusion
The sodium-potassium pump uses ATP to transport three sodium ions out and two potassium ions into the cell against their gradients. This maintains resting membrane potential in neurons and muscle cells. It is a classic example of active transport.
Which membrane proteins assist large or polar molecules to cross without using cellular energy?
Receptor proteins
Glycoproteins
Cholesterol molecules
Carrier proteins
Carrier proteins facilitate facilitated diffusion by binding specific molecules and undergoing conformational changes. This process moves molecules down their concentration gradient without ATP. It differs from channel proteins that form pores.
In negative feedback, an increase in a product leads to what effect on its own production?
Has no effect
Inhibits further production
Stimulates more production
Degrades the product
Negative feedback mechanisms reduce deviations from a set point by inhibiting further output. This stabilizes physiological parameters like temperature and hormone levels. It is essential for maintaining homeostasis.
Which organ releases insulin to help regulate blood glucose levels?
Kidney
Liver
Pancreas
Adrenal gland
Beta cells in the pancreatic islets secrete insulin in response to high blood glucose. Insulin promotes glucose uptake by cells and storage as glycogen in the liver. This lowers blood sugar to normal levels.
Lactic acid fermentation typically occurs in which type of cells?
Red blood cells
Muscle cells
Mitochondria
Chloroplasts
When oxygen is limited, muscle cells convert pyruvate into lactic acid to regenerate NAD+. This process allows glycolysis to continue producing ATP anaerobically. Accumulation of lactic acid can cause muscle fatigue.
What pH value is considered neutral on the pH scale?
7
1
14
0
A pH of 7 indicates equal hydrogen and hydroxide ion concentrations, making the solution neutral. Pure water at 25°C is a common example. Values below 7 are acidic and above 7 are basic.
Which of the following is not classified as a decomposer?
Bacteria
Detritivores
Fungi
Grass
Grass is a producer that uses photosynthesis to make its own food. Decomposers like bacteria and fungi break down dead organic matter. Detritivores physically consume decomposing material.
In aquatic ecosystems, the primary producers are usually:
Phytoplankton
Zooplankton
Bacteria
Fish
Phytoplankton are microscopic photosynthetic organisms that form the base of aquatic food webs. They produce organic matter and oxygen for higher trophic levels. Their abundance influences ecosystem productivity.
Which structure is found in plant cells but not animal cells?
Cell wall
Endoplasmic reticulum
Mitochondrion
Nucleus
Plant cells have a rigid cell wall composed of cellulose that provides support. Animal cells only have a flexible cell membrane. This wall helps plants maintain turgor pressure.
Which of these processes is endergonic, requiring an input of energy?
Osmosis
Photosynthesis
Cellular respiration
Diffusion
Photosynthesis consumes light energy to convert CO? and H?O into glucose and O?. It is an endergonic reaction because it stores energy in chemical bonds. In contrast, cellular respiration releases energy.
In which organelle does the Krebs cycle occur?
Nucleus
Cytoplasm
Mitochondrion
Chloroplast
The Krebs cycle, or citric acid cycle, takes place in the mitochondrial matrix. It oxidizes acetyl-CoA to CO?, producing NADH and FADH?. These carriers donate electrons to the ETC for ATP production.
Which factor does not typically affect enzyme activity?
pH
Temperature
Enzyme concentration
Lipid composition
Enzyme activity is influenced by pH, temperature, and enzyme concentration. Lipid composition of membranes does not directly change enzyme kinetics. Membrane lipids may affect embedded enzymes but are not a general factor.
Freshwater fish are in a hypotonic environment and must constantly excrete:
Excess salts only
Concentrated urine
Excess water only through gills
Dilute urine
Freshwater fish gain water osmotically from their environment and lose salts. To maintain osmotic balance, they excrete large volumes of dilute urine. Specialized ion-transport cells in gills reclaim salts.
Which structure within the nucleus is responsible for rRNA synthesis?
Nucleoplasm
Nucleolus
Nuclear envelope
Chromatin
The nucleolus is a dense region where ribosomal RNA genes are transcribed and ribosome subunits are assembled. It appears darker under a microscope due to high transcriptional activity. This structure is essential for protein synthesis machinery.
The electron transport chain of cellular respiration is located in the:
Thylakoid membrane
Cytoplasmic membrane
Inner mitochondrial membrane
Outer mitochondrial membrane
Electron carriers I - IV are embedded in the inner mitochondrial membrane. As electrons pass down the chain, protons are pumped into the intermembrane space. This gradient drives ATP synthase to produce ATP.
Which feedback mechanism amplifies changes such as in blood clotting?
Neutral feedback
Positive feedback
Feedforward regulation
Negative feedback
Positive feedback increases the original stimulus, as seen in platelet aggregation during clot formation. Each step accelerates the next, rapidly sealing wounds. It is less common than negative feedback but useful in irreversible processes.
An animal cell placed in a hypotonic solution will:
Remain unchanged
Swell and possibly lyse
Become crenated
Shrink
In a hypotonic solution, water enters the cell by osmosis, causing it to swell. Without a rigid cell wall, animal cells may burst (lyse). Plant cells resist lysis due to their cell walls.
The Calvin cycle of photosynthesis occurs in the:
Mitochondrial matrix
Stroma of the chloroplast
Cytoplasm
Thylakoid membrane
The light-independent reactions, or Calvin cycle, use CO? and ATP/NADPH in the chloroplast stroma to produce glucose. Enzymes like RuBisCO catalyze carbon fixation. The stroma surrounds the thylakoid membranes.
Which molecule acts as the primary buffer in human blood?
Albumin
Bicarbonate ion
Hemoglobin
Phosphate ion
The bicarbonate buffering system maintains blood pH by reversible reactions between CO?, H?O, H?CO?, and HCO??. Lungs and kidneys regulate CO? and bicarbonate levels. This system is the body's primary short-term buffer.
Which pattern of inheritance shows both alleles expressed equally in a heterozygote?
Polygenic inheritance
Incomplete dominance
Pleiotropy
Co-dominance
Co-dominance occurs when both alleles in a heterozygote are fully expressed, such as AB blood type. Neither allele is recessive, and phenotypes of both appear. This differs from incomplete dominance, which produces an intermediate phenotype.
Energy stored in concentration gradients is classified as:
Potential energy
Chemical energy
Kinetic energy
Thermal energy
A concentration gradient represents stored potential energy due to uneven distribution of ions or molecules. When molecules move down the gradient, that potential energy can perform work, such as driving ATP synthesis. It is a key concept in bioenergetics.
A community in ecology is defined as:
All interacting populations in an area
A group of the same species
Global ecosystems
All living and nonliving factors
A community comprises multiple populations of different species that interact in a given place. It excludes abiotic factors, which with the community form an ecosystem. Community interactions include predation, competition, and symbiosis.
Which vitamin is produced by bacteria in the human gut?
Vitamin K
Vitamin D
Vitamin C
Vitamin A
Gut microbiota synthesize vitamin K, which is essential for blood clotting and bone health. Humans absorb this vitamin in the large intestine. Dietary vitamin K and microbial synthesis both contribute to requirements.
What is the net yield of ATP molecules from one glucose during glycolysis?
2
1
6
4
Glycolysis uses 2 ATP in initial steps and generates 4 ATP later, for a net gain of 2 ATP per glucose. It also produces 2 NADH and 2 pyruvate molecules. This occurs in the cytosol.
Which mitochondrial structure increases surface area for ATP production?
Intermembrane space
Cristae
Outer membrane
Matrix
Cristae are the infoldings of the inner mitochondrial membrane that increase surface area. This allows for more electron transport chains and ATP synthase complexes. Enhanced surface area boosts ATP generation.
The Bohr effect describes how low pH affects hemoglobin by:
Unfolding the protein
Promoting carbon dioxide release only
Reducing its affinity for oxygen
Increasing its affinity for oxygen
The Bohr effect shows that lower pH (higher CO?) decreases hemoglobin's O? affinity, facilitating oxygen release in tissues. This shift helps deliver more oxygen where metabolism is high. It is crucial for efficient gas exchange.
Which process involves bacterial uptake of free DNA from the environment?
Conjugation
Transduction
Binary fission
Transformation
Transformation is the genetic alteration of a bacterial cell by uptake of extracellular DNA. This process can confer new traits like antibiotic resistance. Other processes like transduction and conjugation involve viruses or cell-to-cell contact.
What is the primary nitrogenous waste in mammals?
Creatinine
Urea
Ammonia
Uric acid
Mammals convert ammonia to urea in the liver via the urea cycle because urea is less toxic and requires less water for excretion. Urea is then transported to the kidneys and excreted in urine. This conserves water compared to ammonia excretion.
Which enzyme synthesizes RNA primers during DNA replication?
Helicase
Primase
DNA ligase
DNA polymerase I
Primase is a type of RNA polymerase that creates short RNA primers to provide a 3'-OH group for DNA polymerases to extend. Without primers, DNA polymerase cannot initiate synthesis. Primase functions on both leading and lagging strands.
During photophosphorylation in chloroplasts, the proton gradient is generated across the:
Chloroplast outer membrane
Mitochondrial inner membrane
Cell membrane
Thylakoid membrane
Protons accumulate in the thylakoid lumen as electrons move through photosystems II and I. This gradient across the thylakoid membrane drives ATP synthase to produce ATP in the stroma. It is analogous to oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand the Role of Decomposers -

    Explain how decomposers break down organic matter and recycle nutrients, reinforcing key concepts for living environment regents questions by topic with answers.

  2. Analyze Cellular Transport Processes -

    Distinguish between diffusion, osmosis, and active transport, and predict their effects on cells in living environment practice regents exams.

  3. Apply Homeostasis Principles -

    Use real-world examples to describe feedback mechanisms that maintain internal balance, preparing you for regents practice living environment scenarios.

  4. Identify Regents Question Types -

    Recognize common formats and topics in living environment practice regents exams to focus your study on high-yield areas.

  5. Evaluate Quiz Performance -

    Interpret free scored quiz results to pinpoint strengths and weaknesses across cellular transport, homeostasis, decomposers, and more.

  6. Implement Effective Exam Strategies -

    Adopt proven study techniques and test-taking tips to boost confidence and how to pass the Regents Living Environment exam.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Cellular Transport Mechanisms -

    Review the distinctions between passive transport (diffusion and osmosis) and ATP-driven active transport. For example, the sodium-potassium pump exchanges 3 Na+ out for 2 K+ in per ATP, maintaining nerve impulse potential (source: UC Berkeley Biology). Practicing living environment regents questions by topic with answers on membrane models can solidify these concepts.

  2. Homeostatic Feedback Loops -

    Focus on negative feedback systems that keep internal conditions stable, such as insulin lowering blood glucose and glucagon raising it. Use the "SHIP" mnemonic (Sensor - Integrating center - Effector - Physiological response) to recall each step (source: NYSED Living Environment Curriculum). This foundation is key to how to pass the Regents Living Environment exam.

  3. Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration Equations -

    Memorize the balanced photosynthesis equation: 6CO₂ + 6H₂O → C₆H₝₂O₆ + 6O₂ and its reverse for respiration. Remember "Light Dependent = Daytime, Calvin Cycle = Glucose" for photosynthesis stages (source: Khan Academy Biology). Regularly quiz yourself with living environment practice regents exams to reinforce these formulas.

  4. Role of Decomposers in Nutrient Cycling -

    Understand how fungi and bacteria decompose organic matter into inorganic minerals, driving the carbon and nitrogen cycles. The "FBN" rule (Fungi, Bacteria, Nutrients) helps you recall decomposer roles (source: EPA Microorganisms Factsheet). Applying these ideas on regents practice Living Environment quizzes with answers will deepen your grasp.

  5. Experimental Design and Data Interpretation -

    Master identifying independent versus dependent variables in enzyme activity graphs and ensure axes are labeled correctly. According to NY Regents guidelines, include a best-fit line and analyze trends for full credit (source: NYSED Exam Resources). Use living environment regents exams with answers to practice experimental questions and boost your confidence.

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