Description

Cliffsnotes AP Biology, 5th Edition by Phillip E Pack

Table of Contents
Chapter 1: An Overview of the AP Biology Exam
How You Should Use This Book
What to Bring to the Exam
Exam Format
Exam Grading
What’s on the Exam
Strategies for Multiple-Choice Questions
Strategies for Grid-In Questions
Strategies for Free-Response Questions
Taking the Practice Exams
PART I: SUBJECT AREA REVIEWS WITH REVIEW
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Chapter 2: Chemistry
Review
Atoms, Molecules, Ions, and Bonds
Properties of Water
Organic Molecules
Carbohydrates
Lipids
Proteins
Nucleic Acids
Chemical Reactions in Metabolic Processes
Review Questions
Multiple-Choice Questions
Free-Response Questions
Short Questions
Long Question
Answers and Explanations
Multiple-Choice Questions
Free-Response Questions
Some Typical Answers to Short Questions
A Typical Answer to Long Question
Chapter 3: Cells
Review
Structure and Function of the Cell
Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes
Movement of Substances
Review Questions
Multiple-Choice Questions
Free-Response Questions
Short Questions
Long Questions
Answers and Explanations
Multiple-Choice Questions
Free-Response Questions
Some Typical Answers to Short Questions
Some Typical Answers to Long Questions
Chapter 4: Cellular Respiration
Review
Energy Basics
Generating ATP
Glycolysis
The Krebs Cycle
Oxidative Phosphorylation
Mitochondria
Chemiosmosis in Mitochondria
How Many ATP?
Anaerobic Respiration
Alcohol Fermentation
Lactic Acid Fermentation
Review Questions
Multiple-Choice Questions
Grid-In Question
Free-Response Questions
Short Questions
Long Questions
Answers and Explanations
Multiple-Choice Questions
Grid-In Question
Free-Response Questions
Some Typical Answers to Short Questions
Some Typical Answers to Long Questions
Chapter 5: Photosynthesis
Review
Noncyclic Photophosphorylation
Cyclic Photophosphorylation
Calvin Cycle
Chloroplasts
Chemiosmosis in Chloroplasts
Photorespiration
Capturing Free Energy Without Light
Review Questions
Multiple-Choice Questions
Free-Response Questions
Short Questions
Long Question
Answers and Explanations
Multiple-Choice Questions
Free-Response Questions
Some Typical Answers to Short Questions
A Typical Answer to Long Question
Chapter 6: Cell Communication
Review
Signal Transduction Pathways
Gated Ion Receptors
G Protein-Coupled Receptors
Protein Kinase Receptors
Intracellular Receptors
Disease and Cancer
Review Questions
Multiple-Choice Questions
Free-Response Questions
Short Questions
Long Question
Answers and Explanations
Multiple-Choice Questions
Free-Response Questions
Some Typical Answers to Short Questions
A Typical Answer to Long Question
Chapter 7: Cell Division
Review
Mitosis and Cytokinesis
Mitosis
Cytokinesis
Meiosis
Mitosis versus Meiosis
Genetic Variation
Regulation of the Cell Cycle
Review Questions
Multiple-Choice Questions
Free-Response Questions
Short Questions
Long Questions
Answers and Explanations
Multiple-Choice Questions
Free-Response Questions
Some Typical Answers to Short Questions
Some Typical Answers to Long Questions
Chapter 8: Heredity
Review
Complete Dominance, Monohybrid Cross
Complete Dominance, Dihybrid Cross
Test Crosses
Incomplete Dominance
Codominance
Multiple Alleles
Polygenic Inheritance
Linked Genes and Crossing Over
Sex Chromosomes and Sex-Linked Inheritance
X-Inactivation
Nondisjunction
Human Genetic Disorders
Environmental Influences on Phenotypic Expression
Non-Nuclear Inheritance
Review Questions
Multiple-Choice Questions
Grid-In Questions
Free-Response Questions
Short Questions
Long Question
Answers and Explanations
Multiple-Choice Questions
Grid-In Questions
Some Typical Answers to Short Questions
A Typical Answer to Long Question
Chapter 9: Molecular Biology
Review
Early Experiments
DNA Replication
Replication of Telomeres
DNA Repair
Protein Synthesis
Transcription
mRNA Processing
Translation
Mutations
Viruses
Prokaryotes
Regulation of Gene Expression
Biotechnology
DNA Cloning
The Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
Gel Electrophoresis and DNA Fingerprinting
Concerns About Biotechnology
Review Questions
Multiple-Choice Questions
Free-Response Questions
Short Questions
Long Questions
Answers and Explanations
Multiple-Choice Questions
Free-Response Questions
Some Typical Answers to Short Questions
Some Typical Answers to Long Questions
Chapter 10: Evolution
Review
Evidence for Evolution
Natural Selection
Sources of Variation
Causes of Changes in Allele Frequencies
Genetic (Hardy-Weinberg) Equilibrium
Speciation
Maintaining Reproductive Isolation
Patterns of Evolution
Microevolution vs. Macroevolution
The Origin of Life
Review Questions
Multiple-Choice Questions
Grid-In Questions
Free-Response Questions
Short Questions
Long Questions
Answers and Explanations
Multiple-Choice Questions
Grid-In Questions
Free-Response Questions
Some Typical Answers to Short Questions
Some Typical Answers to Long Questions
Chapter 11: Biological Diversity
Review
Domain Bacteria
Domain Archaea
Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Protista
Kingdom Fungi
Kingdom Plantae
Kingdom Animalia
Review Questions
Multiple-Choice Questions
Answers and Explanations
Multiple-Choice Questions
Chapter 12: Plants
Review
Gas Exchange in Plants
Control of Stomata
Transport in Plants
Fruit Ripening
Plant Responses to Abiotic Stimuli
Photoperiodism and Flowering
Plant Responses to Biotic Stimuli
Review Questions
Multiple-Choice Questions
Free-Response Questions
Short Questions
Long Questions
Answers and Explanations
Multiple-Choice Questions
Free-Response Questions
Some Typical Answers to Short Questions
Some Typical Answers to Long Questions
Chapter 13: Animal Form and Function
Review
The Nervous System
The Brain
The Immune System
The Endocrine System
Thermoregulation
The Respiratory System
The Circulatory System
The Excretory System
The Digestive System
The Muscular System
Review Questions
Multiple-Choice Questions
Free-Response Questions
Short Questions
Long Questions
Answers and Explanations
Multiple-Choice Questions
Free-Response Questions
Some Typical Answers to Short Questions
Some Typical Answers to Long Questions
Chapter 14: Animal Reproduction and Development
Review
Characteristics That Distinguish the Sexes
Gametogenesis in Humans
Hormonal Control of Human Reproduction
Factors That Influence Embryonic Development
Mechanisms That Control Gene Expression
Review Questions
Multiple-Choice Questions
Free-Response Questions
Short Questions
Long Questions
Answers and Explanations
Multiple-Choice Questions
Free-Response Questions
Some Typical Answers to Short Questions
Some Typical Answers to Long Questions
Chapter 15: Animal Behavior
Review
Kinds of Animal Behavior
General Animal Behaviors
Animal Movement
Animal Rhythms
Communication in Animals
Foraging Behaviors
Social Behavior
Review Questions
Multiple-Choice Questions
Free-Response Questions
Short Question
Long Questions
Answers and Explanations
Multiple-Choice Questions
Free-Response Questions
A Typical Answer to Short Question
Some Typical Answers to Long Questions
Chapter 16: Ecology
Review
Population Ecology
Human Population Growth
Community Ecology
Coevolution
Ecological Succession
The Flow of Energy in Ecosystems
Species Diversity and Trophic Interactions
Biogeochemical Cycles
Human Impact on Ecosystems
Review Questions
Multiple-Choice Questions
Free-Response Questions
Short Questions
Long Questions
Answers and Explanations
Multiple-Choice Questions
Free-Response Questions
Some Typical Answers to Short Questions
Some Typical Answers to Long Questions
PART II: LABORATORY REVIEW
Chapter 17: Review of Laboratory Investigations
Review
Summary of AP Biology Laboratory Investigations
Graphing and Interpreting Data
Designing an Experiment
Statistical Analyses
Investigation 1: Artificial Selection
Part I: Artificial Selection of a Trait
Part II: Further Investigation of a Trait
Investigation 2: Modeling Evolution
Part I: A Mathematical Model for Evolution
Part II: Generate “What If” Scenarios
Investigation 3: Comparing DNA Sequences
Part I: Using BLAST to Find Evolutionary Relationships
Part II: Additional Investigations Using BLAST
Investigation 4: Diffusion and Osmosis
Part I: Cell Surface Area
Part II: Diffusion and Osmosis
Part III: Observing Osmosis in a Living Cell
Investigation 5: Photosynthesis
Part I: Determining the Rate of Photosynthesis
Part II: Investigating Factors That Affect the Rate of Photosynthesis
Investigation 6: Cellular Respiration
Part I: Determining the Rate of Respiration
Part II: Investigating Factors That Affect the Rate of Respiration
Investigation 7: Mitosis and Meiosis
Part I: Modeling Mitosis
Part II: Evaluating an Environmental Effect on Mitosis
Part III: Cancer and the Cell Cycle
Part IV: Modeling Meiosis
Part V: Crossing Over in Meiosis
Investigation 8: Bacterial Transformation
Part I: Transferring a Plasmid into a Bacterium
Part II: Determine Transformation Efficiency
Part III: Design Your Own Investigation
Investigation 9: Restriction Enzyme Analysis of DNA
Part I: Review Restriction Enzymes
Part II: DNA Mapping
Part III: Separating DNA Fragments
Investigation 10: Energy Dynamics
Part I: Estimating Net Primary Productivity
Part II: Estimating Energy Flow Between Producers and Consumers
Part III: Investigating Additional Energy Flow Questions
Investigation 11: Transpiration
Part I: Density of Stomata
Part II: Factors That Influence Transpiration Rate
Investigation 12: Animal Behavior
Part I: Fruit Fly Response to Light and Gravity
Part II: Fruit Fly Response to Chemicals
Part III: Comparing Fruit Fly Preferences
Investigation 13: Enzyme Catalysis
Part I: Determine a Baseline for Peroxidase Activity
Part II: The Effect of pH on Enzyme Activity
Part III: Investigate Other Effects on Enzyme Activity
Review Questions
Multiple-Choice Questions
Free-Response Questions
Short Questions
Long Question
Answers and Explanations
Multiple-Choice Questions
Free-Response Questions
Some Typical Answers to Short Questions
A Typical Answer to Long Question
PART III: AP BIOLOGY PRACTICE EXAMS
Equations and Formulas
Chapter 18: Practice Exam 1
Section I
Part A – Multiple-Choice
Part B – Grid-In
Section II
Answer Key for Practice Exam 1
Section I (Multiple-Choice and Grid-In Questions)
Multiple-Choice Questions
Grid-In Questions
Scoring Your Practice Exam
Section I (Multiple-Choice and Grid-In Questions)
Section II (Free-Response Questions)
Combined Score (Sections I + II)
Answers and Explanations for Practice Exam 1
Section I: Multiple-Choice and Grid-In Questions
Multiple-Choice Questions
Grid-In Questions
Section II: Free-Response Questions
Scoring Standards for the Free-Response Questions
Chapter 19: Practice Exam 2
Section I
Part A – Multiple-Choice
Part B – Grid-In
Section II
Answer Key for Practice Exam 2
Section I (Multiple-Choice and Grid-In Questions)
Multiple-Choice Questions
Grid-In Questions
Scoring Your Practice Exam
Section I (Multiple-Choice and Grid-In Questions)
Section II (Free-Response Questions)
Combined Score (Sections I + II)
Answers and Explanations for Practice Exam 2
Section I: Multiple-Choice and Grid-In Questions
Multiple-Choice Questions
Grid-In Questions
Section II: Free-Response Questions
Scoring Standards for the Free-Response Questions

Chapter 1
An Overview of the AP Biology
Exam
This chapter introduces you to the AP Biology exam. You’ll learn how this
book can aid you in your preparation and what to bring on exam day. It also
details the format of the exam and how it is scored. The “What’s on the
Exam” section outlines the four broad principles, called “Big Ideas,” that are
covered on the exam and offers strategies for answering the three question
types: multiple-choice, grid-in, and free-response. The last section of this
chapter details how to best use the practice exams in this book to enhance
your study.
How You Should Use This Book
The Advanced Placement program is designed to encourage students to take
challenging courses in high school and receive college credit for their efforts.
Many high schools offer classes especially designed for the AP program, but
any course or program of study, whatever it is called, is appropriate as
preparation for taking the AP exam if the content is at the college level. This
book helps you to prepare for the Advanced Placement Examination in
Biology. It does this in three ways:
It reviews the important material that you need to know for the actual
AP exam. These reviews are detailed but written in an organized and
condensed format, making them especially useful for studying.
It provides you with review questions that reinforce the review. Many of
the review questions, like those on the AP exam, require considerable
thought to determine the correct answer. In addition, some of the review
questions ask you to apply the reviewed material to new situations and,
as a result, increase your breadth of understanding. Answers with
complete explanations provide additional opportunities to understand the
material.
It offers two complete practice exams, giving you the opportunity to
evaluate your knowledge and your test-taking skills. Taking these
practice exams helps to improve your AP exam score because they are
similar in content and format to the actual AP exam. Complete
explanations are given for each question, and a scoring worksheet is
provided to help you determine your score.
When preparing for a test, have you ever wished that you had a copy of your
teacher’s lecture notes? The review sections in this book are very much like
lecture notes. Each section contains all of the important terminology with
brief descriptions. All of the important biological processes are outlined with
a key word or phrase, listed in an easy-to-remember sequence. After each key
word or phrase, a short explanation is given. When you study the material the
first time, you can read the key words and the short explanations. When you
review, you can just study the key words, rereading the explanations only as
needed.
You should consider this book, however, as a supplement to your textbook,
your laboratory exercises, and your teacher’s lectures. Much of the
excitement and adventure of biology can be obtained only through hands-on
activities and discussions with teachers. In addition, textbooks provide
background information, extensive examples, and thought-provoking
questions that add depth to your study of biology.
Each time you study a topic in class, after listening to the lectures and reading
the textbook, use this book to review. Underline or highlight material to help
you remember it. Write in the margins, noting any additional material that
you heard in lectures or read in your textbook that you or your teacher thinks
is important. Then answer the review questions and read the answer
explanations at the end of each chapter. This will reinforce your learning.
At the end of your biology course, this book will be a single, condensed
source of material to review before the AP exam. Begin your final
preparation several weeks before the AP exam by reviewing the material in
each chapter. Then take the two practice exams at the end of the book.
What to Bring to the Exam
1. A No. 2 pencil and an eraser are required for the multiple-choice and
grid-in section.
2. A pen with black or dark-blue ink is required for the free-response
section.
3. A calculator with a 4-function (+, –, ×, ÷) and square-root capability is
allowed for the entire exam. Programmable, graphing, and cell-phone
calculators are not permitted. A calculator will be especially useful for
the grid-in and free-response questions, but may be used for multiplechoice
questions as well. Buy this calculator as soon as possible so that
you can begin using it early in your biology course. Practice with the
calculator frequently so that you are as familiar with it as you are with
your cell phone. You don’t want to spend time figuring out how to take
a square root for the first time during the AP exam.
4. You are not allowed to bring your own scratch paper. For the multiplechoice
section, you can use the margins of your exam booklet. For the
free-response section, scratch paper is provided.
5. Obviously, you are not allowed to use any prepared notes. However,
you will be provided with a list of equations and formulas. The
equations and formulas pages are provided in this book at the beginning
of “Part III: AP Biology Practice Exams.”
Exam Format
The AP Biology exam consists of two parts: Section I and Section II. Section
I consists of 63 multiple-choice questions and 6 grid-in questions. Each
multiple-choice question provides four answer choices. Grid-in questions
require that you enter a numeric answer. You have 90 minutes to complete
this section. Section II consists of 8 free-response questions. Two of these
questions are long with multiple parts; the other six are short, usually with
just one part. Before you begin the free-response section of the exam, you are
given a 10-minute reading period to read the 8 questions, organize your
thoughts, underline or circle key words, and record notes or create an outline
on provided paper. Then you have 80 minutes to write your responses to all 8
questions. In some recent administrations of the exam, the reading period has
been optional, and you can begin writing your responses on the lined pages
immediately, using the entire 90 minutes. The multiple-choice and grid-in
section counts for 50% of the exam, and the free-response section counts for
the remaining 50% (25% for the long questions and 25% for the short
questions). The exam is administered in May of each year along with AP
exams in other subjects.
Type of
Question
Number
of
Questions
Question
Weight
Section
Weight
Approximate
Time
Recommended
per Question
Time
Allowed
Section I Multiple-
Choice
63 1 point
each
50%
1¼ minutes
90
Grid-In 6 1 point minutes
each
2 minutes
Section II Reading
Period
10 minutes
(optional)
90
minutes
Long
Free-
Response
2 10 points
each
25% 20 minutes
Short
Free-
Response
6 3 or 4
points
each
25% 6 minutes
Exam Grading
Exams are graded on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the best. Most colleges
accept a score of 3 or better as a passing score. If you receive a passing score,
colleges give you college credit (applied toward your bachelor’s degree),
advanced placement (you can skip the college’s introductory course in
biology and take an advanced course), or both. You should check with the
biology department at the colleges you’re interested in to determine how they
award credit for the exam.
The distribution of student scores for some recent AP Biology exams is
shown here.
Percentage of Students*
Exam Grade 2013 2014 2015
Extremely well qualified 5 5.5 6.6 6.4
Well qualified 4 21.6 22.4 22.1
Qualified 3 36.2 35.2 35.9
Possibly qualified 2 29.3 27.1 27.5
No recommendation 1 7.4 8.7 8.2
Mean Score (1 to 5) 2.88 2.91 2.91
*Percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.
The multiple-choice section is designed with a balance of easy and difficult
questions to produce a mean score of 50%. Scores for free-response questions
vary significantly with individual questions and from year to year. On recent
exams, mean scores ranged from 2.89 to 4.62 for the 10-point free-response
questions, 1.18 to 3.34 for the 4-point free-response questions, and 0.43 to
2.19 for the 3-point free-response questions. Clearly, both sections of the
exam are difficult. They are deliberately written that way so that the full
range of students’ abilities can be measured. In spite of the exam difficulty,
however, more than 63% of the students taking recent exams received a score
of 3 or better. Therefore, the AP exam is difficult, but most (prepared)
students do well.
What’s on the Exam
The College Board has developed a curriculum framework that identifies
major areas of content that must be included in an AP Biology course. The
framework organizes the course around four broad principles, called “Big
Ideas,” each of which encompasses a variety of unifying concepts. Within
these Big Ideas, the framework outlines “enduring understandings,” with
supporting statements of “essential knowledge.”
This book reviews every concept included in the AP Biology curriculum
framework. It carefully excludes those concepts that are omitted from the
framework (but are often included in college biology textbooks). This book is
what you need to know—no more, no less.
The table that follows illustrates how the major topics taught in a college
introductory biology course fall into the four Big Ideas. Note that some of the
major topics fall into more than one Big Idea. If the table were expanded to
include more detail, you would see considerably more overlap of the topics
across the Big Ideas.
Theodosius Dobzhansky, a famous geneticist, once wrote an essay entitled,
“Nothing in Biology Makes Sense Except in the Light of Evolution.”
Similarly, many diverse topics in biology cannot be fully appreciated without
studying them through the multiple lenses of other biology topics. Biology is
not just a set of individual concepts or processes to be studied in isolation.
Biology is a web of interconnecting themes. To fully grasp a theme, you must
understand how it is shaped and influenced by other themes. This is why
many topics appear in more than one Big Idea.
But as you probably have already discovered, biology consists of a lot of
technical words, concepts, and processes. It is often much easier to study a
topic in detail, when the connections among the words, concepts, and
processes are presented together, before going on to the next topic. That is
why this book, and in all likelihood your textbook, present the topics in an
order quite unlike that presented in the four Big Ideas. As you read your
textbook and review with this book, it is important to remember that the AP
exam will test not just your knowledge of individual topics, but how various
topics contribute to overlapping themes. Both multiple-choice and freeresponse
questions will evaluate how well you understand this big picture of
biology.
Keep in mind that the big picture is supported by content. For free-response
questions, the quality of your content is often determined by the detail that
you provide. That detail is in this book. But the AP curriculum also indicates
certain material that you do not need to know for the exam. If that material
appears in this book, it does so to help you understand a concept or to
connect the material with your textbook. That information, however, what
you are not expected to know for the exam, is clearly identified.
The Four Big Ideas
Big Idea 1: Evolution
Big Idea 3: Processes of Living
Systems
Evidence for Evolution Cell Communication
Natural Selection Cell Cycle and Cell Division
Variation Heredity
Mutation Molecular Biology of
Eukaryotes
Gene Flow Replication
Genetic Drift Protein Synthesis
Sexual Selection and
Nonrandom Mating
Mutations
Hardy-Weinberg Modeling Bacteria and Viruses
Speciation Gene Regulation and Expression
Phylogenetic Analysis Biotechnology
Origin of Life Plants
Animal Form and Function
Animal Reproduction and
Development
Animal Behavior
Big Idea 2: Energy and Living
Systems Big Idea 4: Interactions
Cell Structure and Function Chemistry
Cell Membranes Cell Structure and Function
Homeostasis Respiration
Respiration Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis Plants
Biological Diversity Animal Form and Function
Plants Animal Reproduction and
Development
Animal Form and Function Population Ecology
Animal Reproduction and
Development
Community Ecology
Animal Behavior Energy Flow through
Ecosystems
Population Ecology
Community Ecology
Energy Flow through
Ecosystems
Biogeochemical Cycles
Strategies for Multiple-Choice Questions
On the AP exam, questions for the multiple-choice section are provided in a
booklet. While reading the questions in the booklet, feel free to cross out
answer choices you know are wrong or underline important words. After
you’ve selected the answer from the various choices, you carefully fill in
bubbles labeled A, B, C, or D on an answer sheet. Mark only your answers on
the answer sheet. Since unnecessary marks can produce machine-scoring
errors, be sure to fill in the bubbles carefully and erase errors and stray marks
thoroughly.
Some specific strategies for answering the multiple-choice questions follow:
1. Don’t leave any answers blank. There is no penalty for guessing. You
get 1 point for each correct answer. If you leave it blank or if you get it
wrong, you get 0 points. If you’re not sure of the answer to a question,
eliminate any answers you think are wrong and then select one of the
remaining answers. If you can’t eliminate any wrong answers, you still
have a 25% probability (1 chance in 4) of choosing the correct answer
by guessing. If you can eliminate one or more wrong answers, your
probability of getting it right increases.
2. Don’t let easy questions mislead you. The multiple-choice questions
range from easy to difficult. On one exam, 92% of the candidates got
the easiest question right, but only 23% got the hardest question right.
Don’t let the easy questions mislead you. If you come across what you
think is an easy question, it probably is. Don’t suspect that it’s a trick
question.
3. Budget your time. You have 90 minutes to answer 63 multiple-choice
and 6 grid-in questions; that’s about 1¼ minutes per question. Read the
question and consult any diagrams or graphs. Read all the answer
choices, crossing out any you think are wrong. Then choose or, if
necessary, guess the correct answer and mark your answer sheet.
Remember, there’s no penalty for wrong answers! It’s better to move on
to the next question so that you will have the opportunity to try all of the
questions.
4. Skip hard questions. If you come across a hard question that you can’t
answer quickly, skip it, and mark the question to remind you to return to
it if time permits. If you can eliminate some of the answer choices, mark
those also so that you can save time when you return. It’s important to
skip a difficult question, even if you think you can eventually figure it
out, because for each difficult question you spend 3 minutes on, you
could have answered three easy questions. If you have time at the end of
the test, you can always go back. If you don’t have time, at least you
will have had the opportunity to try all of the questions. Also, if you
don’t finish the section, don’t be overly concerned. Since the test is
designed to obtain a mean score of 50%, it is not unusual for a student to
run out of time before reaching the end of the section. But don’t leave
any answers blank (see #8, below).
5. Judge time requirements for questions. Some multiple-choice
questions begin with a long description followed by three or four
associated questions. These questions make good use of your time
because once you’ve read the introduction, you’re ready to answer all of
the associated questions. On the other hand, some multiple-choice
questions with long introductory descriptions are followed by a single
question. These questions require proportionately more time than if
followed by multiple questions. Skip these questions with long
introductions and a single question if you think you’re running low on
time. Return if time is available.
6. Carefully answer reverse multiple-choice questions. In a typical
multiple-choice question, you need to select the choice that is true. On
the AP exam, you may find a reverse multiple-choice question where
you need to select the false choice. These questions usually use the word
“EXCEPT” in sentences such as “All of the following are true EXCEPT
. . .” or “All of the following occur EXCEPT. . . .” A reverse multiplechoice
question is more difficult to answer than regular multiple-choice
questions because it requires you to know three true pieces of
information about a topic before you can eliminate the false choice. It is
equivalent to correctly answering four true-false questions to get 1
point; and if you get one of the four wrong, you get them all wrong.
Reverse multiple-choice questions are also difficult because halfway
through the question you can forget that you’re looking for the false
choice. To avoid confusion, do the following: After reading the opening
part of the question, read each choice and mark a T or an F next to each
one to identify whether it is true or false. If you’re able to mark a T or
an F for each one, then the correct answer is the choice marked with an
F. Sometimes you won’t be sure about one or more choices, or
sometimes you’ll have two choices marked F. In these cases,
concentrate on the uncertain choices until you can make a decision.
7. Return to difficult questions only if you have time. Here’s one thing
to consider when skipping a question: If you return to a question, you
will need to read the question, read the answer choices, and consult the
diagrams. This is a costly strategy because you already spent time doing
that once. Only do this if you’ve already tried to answer all of the other
questions in Section I.
8. Save the last minute to mark all unanswered questions. Because the
test is designed to obtain a mean score of 50%, some students may not
have enough time to read all of the questions. Should this happen to
you, be sure to mark answers for all of your remaining unanswered
questions. Remember, there’s no penalty for wrong answers!