TEAS Science Practice Test #3 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which type of muscle tissue is found in the walls of the digestive tract and blood vessels?
- Skeletal muscle
- Cardiac muscle
- Smooth muscle (Correct answer)
- Striated muscle
Correct answer: Smooth muscle
Smooth muscle is involuntary and non-striated, found in hollow organs like the intestines, stomach, bladder, and blood vessel walls. Cardiac muscle is found only in the heart, and skeletal muscle is responsible for voluntary movement.
Question 2: What is the purpose of meiosis in human reproduction?
- To produce identical copies of somatic (body) cells
- To repair damaged DNA in body cells
- To produce gametes (sperm and egg cells) with half the normal chromosome number (Correct answer)
- To allow cell growth and replacement throughout life
Correct answer: To produce gametes (sperm and egg cells) with half the normal chromosome number
Meiosis is a type of cell division that produces four genetically unique gametes (sperm or egg cells), each with half the chromosome number (haploid, n=23) of the parent cell. When fertilization occurs, the full number (diploid, 2n=46) is restored.
Question 3: Which of the following best describes the function of the lymphatic system?
- To pump blood throughout the body
- To filter blood and remove waste products
- To return excess interstitial fluid to the bloodstream and support immune defense (Correct answer)
- To regulate hormone production and release
Correct answer: To return excess interstitial fluid to the bloodstream and support immune defense
The lymphatic system collects excess fluid from tissues (lymph), returns it to the bloodstream, and houses lymphocytes and other immune cells. Lymph nodes filter pathogens and debris from lymph fluid.
Question 4: In the scientific method, what is a "hypothesis"?
- A proven fact supported by extensive research
- A conclusion drawn from experimental data
- A testable, falsifiable prediction about the outcome of an experiment (Correct answer)
- A summary of all existing knowledge on a topic
Correct answer: A testable, falsifiable prediction about the outcome of an experiment
A hypothesis is a tentative, testable explanation or prediction for an observed phenomenon. It must be falsifiable — meaning it can be proven wrong through experimentation. It is not a proven fact but a starting point for investigation.
Question 5: Which element has the atomic number 8?
- Carbon
- Nitrogen
- Oxygen (Correct answer)
- Fluorine
Correct answer: Oxygen
Atomic number refers to the number of protons in an atom's nucleus. Oxygen (O) has 8 protons, making it element number 8 on the periodic table. Carbon is 6, Nitrogen is 7, and Fluorine is 9.
Question 6: Which hormone, produced by the adrenal glands, is released in response to acute stress?
- Insulin
- Cortisol
- Epinephrine (adrenaline) (Correct answer)
- Estrogen
Correct answer: Epinephrine (adrenaline)
Epinephrine (adrenaline) is released rapidly by the adrenal medulla in response to acute stress, triggering the "fight or flight" response: increased heart rate, dilation of airways, and redirection of blood to muscles. Cortisol is released in response to more sustained stress.
TEAS Science Practice Test #3 2
Which type of muscle tissue is found in the walls of the digestive tract and blood vessels?