Biology HESI A2 2024

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Nitrification. The water cycle includes evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection. Nitrification is a process in the nitrogen cycle, not the water cycle. Condensation is the conversion of water vapor into liquid water. Transpiration is the release of water vapor from plants. Absorption refers to water being taken up by plants or soil. Nitrification, the process of converting ammonia into nitrates, is unrelated to the movement of water in the water cycle.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A because chlorophyll appears green due to its absorption spectrum. It absorbs light most efficiently in the blue and red regions of the spectrum, while reflecting or transmitting green light. This selective absorption of light wavelengths results in chlorophyll appearing green to our eyes. Choice B is incorrect because chlorophyll does not primarily absorb green light. Choice C is incorrect as chlorophyll actually does absorb green light, just not as efficiently as blue and red light. Choice D is incorrect because chlorophyll primarily absorbs red and blue light, not red light alone.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Producers > secondary consumers. This is true because producers, like plants, have the highest energy content in an ecosystem as they convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis. Secondary consumers, such as carnivores, obtain energy by consuming primary consumers or other secondary consumers, resulting in a lower energy content compared to producers. A: Decomposers < secondary consumers - Incorrect. Decomposers break down organic matter, releasing nutrients, and have a lower energy content compared to secondary consumers. B: Primary consumers < producers - Incorrect. Primary consumers, like herbivores, consume producers directly, so they have a lower energy content than producers. D: Secondary consumers < primary consumers - Incorrect. Secondary consumers typically have a lower energy content than primary consumers as they obtain energy by consuming them.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B because meiosis creates cells with half the chromosomes of the parent cell through two rounds of cell division. This results in gametes with a haploid number of chromosomes. In contrast, mitosis produces identical diploid cells for growth and repair. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because mitosis forms body cells, telophase occurs in both processes, and spermatogenesis and oogenesis specifically involve meiosis, respectively.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: genus; species. "Felis" is the genus and "catus" is the species in the scientific name Felis catus. Genus is a broader classification that includes closely related species, while species is the most specific classification level. Kingdom (choice A) is too broad, family (choice A) is at a higher level than species, order (choice B) is too specific, subspecies (choice B) is not part of the scientific name, phylum (choice C) is too broad, and class (choice C) is a higher classification level than species.