ASVAB (General Science - Life Science Practice Questions)

(a) iron-deficiency

A pregnant woman feels dizzy and has a headache. Which of the following would be the most likely diagnosis?

(a) iron-deficiency

(b) scurvy

(c) cancer

(d) diabetes

(b) red meat

A person with high cholesterol should limit their intake of saturated fat. The only choice here that is high in saturated fats is (b) red meat. The others are filled with healthier fats (mono- and polyunsaturated fats) that could possibly help lower high cholesterol.

If a person has high cholesterol, which one of the following foods might his doctor suggest that he avoid?

(a) olive oil

(b) red meat

(c) almonds

(d) avocados

(d) ligament

What type of tissue would connect the humerus to the ulna?

(a) bone

(b) muscle

(c) tendon

(d) ligament

(d) right atrium

Which of the following does not contain oxygen-rich blood?

(a) aorta

(b) left ventricle

(c) pulmonary vein

(d) right atrium

(c) small intestine

Where does food go after the step where proteins begin to be digested?

(a) esophagus

(b) stomach

(c) small intestine

(d) large intestine

(c) cerebellum

Which of the following parts of the brain, if damaged would likely cause a person to have poor balance?

(a) medulla

(b) spinal cord

(c) cerebellum

(d) cerebrum

(c) strep throat

Which of the following illnesses could be treated with an antibiotic?

(a) influenza

(b) anemia

(c) strep throat

(d) herpes

(c) arteries

Arteries pump blood away from the heart to the rest of the body, so the blood pressure is highest in those vessels. Some veins (a) have such low blood pressure that they need valves to keep the blood from flowing the wrong way! Capillaries (b) are tiny vessels located far from the heart, so their blood pressure is relatively low as well.

Blood pressure is generally highest in which of the following?

(a) veins

(b) capillaries

(c) arteries

(d) lungs

(d) the bones

Reading the question stem carefully, home in on the key word, "produced." Try to make a prediction before looking at your answer choices, if possible. Although white blood cells are found in the blood, and thus pass through the vena cava and heart, they are produced in the center of bones, the marrow, so look for an answer like "marrow" or "bone."

White blood cells are produced in __.

(a) the heart

(b) the superior vena cava

(c) the lymph nodes

(d) the bones

(b) the medulla, or brain stem

Make a prediction. Regulation of the heart is an autonomic (involuntary) process. It occurs in the brain stem (medulla).

Processing of signals from the heart and regulation of cardiac rhythm occurs in __.

(a) the cerebrum

(b) the medulla, or brain stem

(c) the cerebellum

(d) the spinal cord

(c) The black rabbit has a recessive white-fur allele.

Suppose that black ur in rabbits is a dominant trait and that white fur in rabbits is a recessive trait. A black rabbit and a white rabbit mate and produce a white kit ( that is, baby rabbit).

Which of the following inferences is supported by this information?

(a) The parent's next kit will be black.

(b) The white rabbit has a recessive black-fur allele.

(c) The black rabbit has a recessive white-fur allele.

(d) The kit is an albino.

(a) no oxygen is present during cellular respiration

Cellular fermentation takes place when __.

(a) no oxygen is present during cellular respiration

(b) oxygen is present during cellular respiration

(c) lactic acid is present during cellular respiration

(d) yeast is present during cellular respiration

(c) nucleus

Answer choice (c) is correct. The nucleus contains all genetic material. DNA replication takes place in the nucleus during interphase. Interphase is the longest phase of mitosis.

In which organelle does DNA replication take place?

(a) mitochondria

(b) ribosome

(c) nucleus

(d) endoplasmic reticulum

(b) biosphere

The biosphere begins in the deep crust of the Earth and includes all areas where life can exist - land, water and air. An ecosystem and a biome are smaller areas. The stratosphere is higher than the lower atmosphere.

Which of the following is the term for the zone that extends from the Earth's crust through the lower atmosphere and which encompasses all life on Earth?

(a) biome

(b) biosphere

(c) ecosystem

(d) stratosphere

(d) bacteria

Bacteria are considered a decomposer because they break down dead matter and release it back to the soil as minerals. Flies and vultures would be scavengers, and a tree would be an autotroph.

Which of the following is a decomposer?

(a) vulture

(b) fly

(c) oak tree

(d) bacteria

(a) Animalia

Mammals are part of the kingdom __.

(a) Animalia

(b) Mammalia

(c) Protista

(d) Monera

(a) Species, Genus, Family, Order, Class, Phylum, Kingdom

"Species" is the most specific category in taxonomy and "Kingdom" is the most general (not including domains), so choice (a) is correct. Choice (b) lists the categories from largest to smallest. Choice (c) almost does the same but confuses Order and Class. Choice (d) is incorrect because it switches the places of :"Order" and "Family."

Not including domains, the correct order of the categories of taxonomy, from most specific to most general, is: __.

(a) Species, Genus, Family, Order, Class, Phylum, Kingdom

(b) Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species

(c) Kingdom, Phylum, Order, Class, Family, Genus, Species

(d) Species, Genus, Order, Family, Class, Phylum, Kingdom

(a) vena cava -> right atrium -> right ventricle -> pulmonary artery -> pulmonary vein -> left atrium -> left ventricle -> aorta

To make a prediction on this question, think about what kind of blood flows into and out of the heart.

Which of the following describes the proper pathway of blood through the heart?

(a) vena cava -> right atrium -> right ventricle -> pulmonary artery -> pulmonary vein -> left atrium -> left ventricle -> aorta

(b) vena cava -> right atrium -> right ventricle -> pulmonary vein -> pulmonary artery -> left atrium -> left ventricle -> aorta

(c) vena cava -> right atrium -> left atrium -> pulmonary artery -> pulmonary vein -> left atrium -> left ventricle -> aorta

(d) vena cava -> right atrium -> left atrium -> pulmonary vein -> pulmonary artery -> left atrium -> left ventricle -> aorta

(c) small intestine

The small intestine is the largest digestive organ and does the most work in breaking down food into materials the body can use.

Most human digestion takes place in the __.

(a) esophagus

(b) stomach

(c) small intestine

(d) large intestine

(c) O negative

Type O negative blood, also known as the "universal donor" type, can be donated to anyone.

Which blood type can be donated to anyone?

(a) A positive

(b) B negative

(c) O negative

(d) AB positive

(b) 23 chromosomes

A typical human gamete contains half the number of chromosomes as a normal cell, or 23.

A typical human gamete contains __.

(a) 2 chromosomes

(b) 23 chromosomes

(c) 46 chromosomes

(d) 92 chromosomes

(d) deer

A deer is an example of a primary consumer; that is, an animal that consumes only vegetation.

Which of the following is an example of a primary consumer?

(a) moss

(b) mushroom

(c) jackal

(d) deer

(a) 3

There are three domains in taxonomy: Eukaryota, Bacteria, and Archaea.

How many domains are recognized in taxonomy?

(a) 3

(b) 5

(c) 7

(d) 9

(a) Prokaryotic cells do not have nuclei.

Prokaryotic cells, such as bacteria, do not have nuclei. Their genetic material is contained within main part of the cell body. Eukaryotic cells do contain nuclei where all genetic material is contained. Eukaryotic cells are plant, animal. fungi and protist cells.

Which of the following best describes the difference between eukaryotic cells and prokaryotic cells?

(a) Prokaryotic cells do not have nuclei.

(b) Prokaryotic cells are only found in plants.

(c) Eukaryotic cells are only found in plants

(d) Eukaryotic cells do not have nuclei.

(b) semi-permeable structure

Animal cells have semi-permeable membranes which allow for osmosis. Osmosis is essential for maintaining homeostasis within the cell and preventing it from shrinking or bursting.

The cell membrane that surrounds an animal cell is a __.

(a) non-permeable structure

(b) semi-permeable structure

(c) fully permeable structure

(d) cell wall