TEAS 7 Science Practice Test

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: ganglion. Ganglion is a dense, interconnected mass of nerve cells located outside the central nervous system. They are clusters of cell bodies of neurons and are involved in processing sensory information. Explanation: 1. Ganglion is a cluster of nerve cell bodies located outside the central nervous system. 2. Dendrites are extensions of a neuron that receive signals from other neurons. 3. Cranial nerves are nerves that emerge from the brain and brainstem. 4. Pons is a part of the brainstem involved in relaying signals between different areas of the brain. In summary, ganglion is the correct answer because it specifically refers to a mass of nerve cells outside the central nervous system, while the other choices do not fit this description.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Natural selection is the correct answer. It is the mechanism where advantageous traits lead to better survival and reproduction, passing on those traits to offspring. This process drives evolution by selecting for traits beneficial for survival in a given environment. Gene flow involves the transfer of genes between populations, genetic drift is the random change in allele frequencies, and mutation introduces new genetic variations. These mechanisms do not specifically involve the differential survival and reproduction of organisms based on advantageous traits, making them incorrect choices for this question.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A because fascia functions to enclose, protect, support, and separate muscle tissue. Fascia is a connective tissue that surrounds muscles, providing structural integrity, protecting muscles from friction, and allowing for movement while maintaining muscle shape. It also separates muscles into compartments, assisting in the coordination of muscle actions. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because fascia does not primarily connect muscle tissue to bone, serve as the contractile unit of muscle, or directly interact with actin protein cells to create muscle contractions.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: high polarity. Water molecules are polar, with a slightly positive end (hydrogen) and a slightly negative end (oxygen). This polarity allows water to form hydrogen bonds with other polar molecules, like ionic salt compounds, facilitating their dissolution. Adhesion (A) is the ability of water to stick to other substances, cohesion (B) is the ability of water molecules to stick to each other, and high specific heat (C) is the ability of water to resist temperature changes. These properties are not directly related to water's ability to dissolve ionic salt compounds.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C, the law of independent assortment. This law states that alleles for different traits segregate independently of each other during gamete formation. This is due to the random alignment of homologous chromosomes during meiosis. The law of segregation (A) describes how alleles of a gene separate during gamete formation. The law of dominance (B) explains that one allele can mask the expression of another in heterozygous individuals. The law of predictive traits (D) is not a recognized Mendelian law and is therefore incorrect. In summary, the law of independent assortment best describes how alleles from different genes segregate independently during gamete formation.