CLEP® Biology Book + Online
3/5
()
About this ebook
Everything you need to pass the exam and get the college credit you deserve.
REA leads the way in helping students pass their College Board CLEP exams and earn college credit while reducing their tuition costs.
With 25+ years of experience in test prep for the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), REA is your trusted source for the most up-to-date test-aligned content. Whether you’re an adult returning to finish your degree, a traditional-age college student, a military service member, or a high school or home-schooled student looking to get a head start on college and shorten your path to graduation, CLEP is perfect for you.
REA’s expert authors know the CLEP tests inside out. And thanks to our partners at Proctortrack (proctortrack.com/clep), you can now take your exam at your convenience, from the comfort of home.
Prep for success on the CLEP Biology exam with REA’s personalized three-step plan: (1) focus your study, (2) review with the book, and (3) measure your test-readiness.
Our Book + Online prep gives you all the tools you need to make the most of your study time:
- Diagnostic exam: Pinpoint what you already know and what you need to study.
- Targeted subject review: Learn what you’ll be tested on.
- Two full-length practice exams: Zero in on the topics that give you trouble now so you’ll be confident and prepared on test day.
- Glossary of key terms: Round out your prep with must-know vocabulary.
Related to CLEP® Biology Book + Online
Related ebooks
CLEP® Introductory Psychology Book + Online Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5CLEP® Western Civilization I Book + Online Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5AP Chemistry Premium, 2025: Prep Book with 6 Practice Tests + Comprehensive Review + Online Practice Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCLEP Chemistry Practice Questions: High Yield CLEP Chemistry Questions Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAP Environmental Science Premium, 2025: Prep Book with 5 Practice Tests + Comprehensive Review + Online Practice Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCLEP® Humanities Book + Online Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCLEP® Chemistry Book + Online Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMaster the CLEP Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAP Chemistry Practice Questions: High Yield AP Chemistry Questions & Review Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAP Biology Premium, 2025: Prep Book with 6 Practice Tests + Comprehensive Review + Online Practice Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCLEP® Natural Sciences Book + Online Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMaster the PCAT Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCLEP® History of the U.S. I Book + Online Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCLEP® Introductory Sociology Book + Online Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSterling Test Prep AP Biology Practice Questions: High Yield AP Biology Questions Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCLEP® Social Sciences & History Book + Online, 2nd Ed. Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRegents Chemistry Practice Questions: New York Regents Physical Science Chemistry Practice Questions with Detailed Explanations Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAP® Chemistry Crash Course, For the 2020 Exam, Book + Online: Get a Higher Score in Less Time Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5CLEP® Human Growth & Development, 10th Ed., Book + Online Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCLEP® College Composition 2nd Ed., Book + Online Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAP Human Geography Premium, 2025: Prep Book with 6 Practice Tests + Comprehensive Review + Online Practice Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCLEP® Principles of Microeconomics Book + Online Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5CLEP® Analyzing & Interpreting Literature Book + Online Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCLEP® College Algebra Book + Online Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAP® Psychology All Access Book + Online + Mobile Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCLEP® Principles of Marketing Book + Online Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5AP Chemistry Review: Complete Content Review Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsACT Flashcards, Fourth Edition: Up-to-Date Review Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCLEP Chemistry Test Prep Review--Exambusters Flash Cards: CLEP Exam Study Guide Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Biology For You
The Source: The Secrets of the Universe, the Science of the Brain Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Dopamine Detox: Biohacking Your Way To Better Focus, Greater Happiness, and Peak Performance Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Peptide Protocols: Volume One Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Grieving Brain: The Surprising Science of How We Learn from Love and Loss Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Gut: The Inside Story of Our Body's Most Underrated Organ (Revised Edition) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5"Cause Unknown": The Epidemic of Sudden Deaths in 2021 & 2022 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Mothers Who Can't Love: A Healing Guide for Daughters Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Lies My Gov't Told Me: And the Better Future Coming Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Crack In Creation: Gene Editing and the Unthinkable Power to Control Evolution Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Winner Effect: The Neuroscience of Success and Failure Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5All That Remains: A Renowned Forensic Scientist on Death, Mortality, and Solving Crimes Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Woman: An Intimate Geography Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Our Kind of People: Inside America's Black Upper Class Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Mother of God: An Extraordinary Journey into the Uncharted Tributaries of the Western Amazon Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Obesity Code: the bestselling guide to unlocking the secrets of weight loss Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Laws of Connection: The Scientific Secrets of Building a Strong Social Network Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Letter to Liberals: Censorship and COVID: An Attack on Science and American Ideals Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Other Minds: The Octopus, the Sea, and the Deep Origins of Consciousness Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Lifespan: Why We Age—and Why We Don't Have To Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Art of Thinking Clearly Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Emotional Blackmail: When the People in Your Life Use Fear, Obligation, and Guilt to Manipulate You Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Blood of Emmett Till Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for CLEP® Biology Book + Online
1 rating0 reviews
Book preview
CLEP® Biology Book + Online - Laurie Ann Callihan
REA: THE LEADER IN CLEP TEST PREP
Laurie Ann Callihan, Ph.D.
Edited by Stephen Hart, M.A.T.
Research & Education Association
61 Ethel Road West
Piscataway, New Jersey 08854
E-mail: [email protected]
CLEP Biology with Online Practice Exams
Copyright © 2013 by Research & Education Association, Inc.
Prior editions copyright © 2011, 2005 by Research & Education Association, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission of the publisher.
Printed in the United States of America
Library of Congress Control Number 2012951223
eISBN-13: 978-0-7386-8381-2
All trademarks cited in this publication are the property of their respective owners.
LIMIT OF LIABILITY/DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY: Publication of this work is for the purpose of test preparation and related use and subjects as set forth herein. While every effort has been made to achieve a work of high quality, neither Research & Education Association, Inc., nor the authors and other contributors of this work guarantee the accuracy or completeness of or assume any liability in connection with the information and opinions contained herein and in REA’s software and/or online materials. REA and the authors and other contributors shall in no event be liable for any personal injury, property or other damages of any nature whatsoever, whether special, indirect, consequential or compensatory, directly or indirectly resulting from the publication, use or reliance upon this work.
Cover image © istockphoto.com/ElementalImaging
CLEP* BIOLOGY
Access Your Online Exams
by following the instructions
found at the back of this book.
CONTENTS
About Our Author and Editor
About REA
Acknowledgments
CHAPTER 1
Passing the CLEP Biology Exam
Getting Started
The REA Study Center
An Overview of the Exam
All About the CLEP Program
Options for Military Personnel and Veterans
SSD Accommodations for Candidates with Disabilities
6-Week Study Plan
Test-Taking Tips
The Day of the Exam
Online Diagnostic Test www.rea.com/studycenter
CHAPTER 2
The Chemistry of Biology
Chemical Basis of Life
Chemical Structure of Organic Compounds
CHAPTER 3
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Cell Structure and Function
Properties of Cell Membranes
Cell Organelles of Plants and Animals
Animal Cells
Plant Cells
Enzymes
Energy Transformations
Molecular Basis of Heredity
DNA Replication
Structural and Regulatory Genes
Transduction and Transformation
Cell Division
The Cell Cycle
Mitosis
Meiosis
Restriction Enzymes
CHAPTER 4
Plants (Botany)
Plant Anatomy
Angiosperms
Plant Physiology
Water and Mineral Absorption and Transport
Food Translocation and Storage
C3 and C4 Plants
Plant Reproduction and Development
Asexual Plant Reproduction
Plant Growth and Development
CHAPTER 5
Animals (Zoology)
Animal Anatomy
Tissues
Systems
Homeostatic Mechanisms
Animal Reproduction and Development
CHAPTER 6
Principles of Heredity (Genetics)
Modern Genetics
The Law of Segregation
The Law of Dominance
The Law of Independent Assortment
Incomplete Dominance
Multiple Alleles
Linkage
Polygenic Inheritance
CHAPTER 7
Population Biology
Ecology
Ecological Cycles
Population Growth and Regulation
Limiting Factors
Community Structure
Biomes
Island Biogeography
Principles of Behavior
Social Behavior
Social Biology
Human Population Growth
CHAPTER 8
Evolution
History of Evolutionary Concepts
Darwinian Concept of Natural Selection
Modern Concept of Natural Selection
Mechanisms of Evolution
Genetic Drift or Neutral Selection
Hardy-Weinberg and Allele Frequencies
Speciation
Genetic Diversity
Plant and Animal Evolution
Evolution of the First Cells
Plant Evolution
Animal Evolution
Human Evolution
Evolutionary Ecology
Diversity of Life
Classification of Living Organisms
Practice Test 1 (also available online at www.rea.com/studycenter)
Answer Key
Detailed Explanations of Answers
Practice Test 2 (also available online at www.rea.com/studycenter)
Answer Key
Detailed Explanations of Answers
APPENDIX
Laboratory Information
Mathematics, Measurement, and Data Manipulation
Measurements and Accuracy
Interpreting Results
Reporting Results
Laboratory Procedures and Safety
General
Apparel
Substance Control
Fire Control
Accidents
Handling Live Organisms
Glossary
Index
ABOUT OUR AUTHOR
Laurie Ann Callihan, Ph.D., received her graduate degree in Science Education from Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida. She also holds a B.S. in Biology from Christian Heritage College, El Cajon, California. Dr. Callihan is currently a Postdoctoral Associate for the Promoting Science among English Language Learners (P-SELL) Scale-Up project in the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development at New York University. Her research areas include delivery of sound content in the science classroom (natural sciences), diversity, equity, and teacher professional development in science education. She was a 2009 University Fellow of Florida State University for the School of Teacher Education. She has fifteen years of classroom science teaching experience with expertise in content delivery of natural sciences, curriculum development, and teaching in diverse classroom settings. She is the author of a variety of curricula, books, and academic materials in the K-20 science venue. Her experiences also include speaking on issues of education and the family at educational conferences in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
ABOUT OUR EDITOR
Stephen Hart is a writer and editor specializing in science, medicine, and technology. After majoring in zoology, Mr. Hart went on to earn his M.A.T. in Biology at the University of Washington. He has worked as an editorial consultant for Prentice Hall, Saunders, and the American Society of Plant Physiologists. His freelance writing has included assignments for Time-Life Books, ABCNews.com, and the NASA Astrobiology website.
ABOUT RESEARCH & EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
Founded in 1959, Research & Education Association (REA) is dedicated to publishing the finest and most effective educational materials—including study guides and test preps—for students in middle school, high school, college, graduate school, and beyond.
Today, REA’s wide-ranging catalog is a leading resource for teachers, students, and professionals. Visit www.rea.com to see a complete list of all our titles.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We would like to thank Ernestine Struzziero for her technical edit; Pam Weston, Publisher, for setting the quality standards for production integrity and managing the publication to completion; John Paul Cording, Vice President, Technology, for coordinating the design and development of the REA Study Center; Larry B. Kling, Vice President, Editorial, for his supervision of revisions and overall direction; Diane Goldschmidt and Michael Reynolds, Managing Editors, for coordinating development of this edition; Transcend Creative Services for typesetting this edition; and Weymouth Design and Christine Saul, Senior Graphic Designer, for designing our cover.
CHAPTER 1
Passing the CLEP
Biology Exam
Chapter 1
PASSING THE CLEP
BIOLOGY EXAM
Congratulations! You’re joining the millions of people who have discovered the value and educational advantage offered by the College Board’s College-Level Examination Program, or CLEP. This test prep covers everything you need to know about the CLEP Biology exam, and will help you earn the college credit you deserve while reducing your tuition costs.
GETTING STARTED
There are many different ways to prepare for a CLEP exam. What’s best for you depends on how much time you have to study and how comfortable you are with the subject matter. To score your highest, you need a system that can be customized to fit you: your schedule, your learning style, and your current level of knowledge.
This book, and the online tools in the CLEP package, allow you to create a personalized study plan through three simple steps: assessment of your knowledge, targeted review of exam content, and reinforcement in the areas where you need the most help.
Let’s get started and see how this system works.
THE REA STUDY CENTER
The best way to personalize your study plan and focus on your weaknesses is to get feedback on what you know and what you don’t know. At the online REA Study Center, you can access two types of assessment: a diagnostic exam and full-length practice exams. Each of these tools provides true-to-format questions and delivers a detailed score report that follows the topics set by the College Board.
Diagnostic Exam
Before you begin your review with the book, take the online diagnostic exam. Use your score report to help evaluate your overall understanding of the subject, so you can focus your study on the topics where you need the most review.
Full-Length Practice Exams
These practice tests give you the most complete picture of your strengths and weaknesses. After you’ve finished reviewing with the book, test what you’ve learned by taking the first of the two online practice exams. Review your score report, then go back and study any topics you missed. Take the second practice test to ensure you have mastered the material and are ready for test day.
If you’re studying and don’t have Internet access, you can take the printed tests in the book. These are the same practice tests offered at the REA Study Center, but without the added benefits of timed testing conditions and diagnostic score reports. Because the actual exam is computer-based, we recommend you take at least one practice test online to simulate test-day conditions.
AN OVERVIEW OF THE EXAM
The CLEP Biology exam consists of approximately 115 multiple-choice questions, each with five possible answer choices, to be answered in 90 minutes.
The exam covers the material one would find in a college-level general biology course. The exam stresses the broad field of the biological sciences organized into three major areas:
33% Molecular and Cellular Biology
34% Organismal Biology
33% Population Biology
For a list of subtopics covered on the exam, visit the College Board website.
ALL ABOUT THE CLEP PROGRAM
What is the CLEP?
CLEP is the most widely accepted credit-by-examination program in North America. CLEP exams are available in 33 subjects and test the material commonly required in an introductory-level college course. Examinees can earn from three to twelve credits at more than 2,900 colleges and universities in the U.S. and Canada. For a complete list of the CLEP subject examinations offered, visit the College Board website: www.collegeboard.org/clep.
Who takes CLEP exams?
CLEP exams are typically taken by people who have acquired knowledge outside the classroom and who wish to bypass certain college courses and earn college credit. The CLEP program is designed to reward examinees for learning—no matter where or how that knowledge was acquired.
Although most CLEP examinees are adults returning to college, many graduating high school seniors, enrolled college students, military personnel, veterans, and international students take CLEP exams to earn college credit or to demonstrate their ability to perform at the college level. There are no prerequisites, such as age or educational status, for taking CLEP examinations. However, because policies on granting credits vary among colleges, you should contact the particular institution from which you wish to receive CLEP credit.
Who administers the exam?
CLEP exams are developed by the College Board, administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS), and involve the assistance of educators from throughout the United States. The test development process is designed and implemented to ensure that the content and difficulty level of the test are appropriate.
When and where is the exam given?
CLEP exams are administered year-round at more than 1,200 test centers in the United States and can be arranged for candidates abroad on request. To find the test center nearest you and to register for the exam, contact the CLEP Program:
CLEP Services
P.O. Box 6600
Princeton, NJ 08541-6600
Phone: (800) 257–9558 (8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET)
Fax: (609) 771–7088
Website: www.collegeboard.org
OPTIONS FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL AND VETERANS
CLEP exams are available free of charge to eligible military personnel and eligible civilian employees. All the CLEP exams are available at test centers on college campuses and military bases. Contact your Educational Services Officer or Navy College Education Specialist for more information. Visit the DANTES or College Board websites for details about CLEP opportunities for military personnel.
Eligible U.S. veterans can claim reimbursement for CLEP exams and administration fees pursuant to provisions of the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2004. For details on eligibility and submitting a claim for reimbursement, visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website at www.gibill.va.gov.
CLEP can be used in conjunction with the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which applies to veterans returning from the Iraq and Afghanistan theaters of operation. Because the GI Bill provides tuition for up to 36 months, earning college credits with CLEP exams expedites academic progress and degree completion within the funded timeframe.
SSD ACCOMMODATIONS FOR CANDIDATES WITH DISABILITIES
Many test candidates qualify for extra time to take the CLEP exams, but you must make these arrangements in advance. For information, contact:
College Board Services for Students with Disabilities
P.O. Box 6226
Princeton, NJ 08541-6226
Phone: (609) 771–7137 (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET)
TTY: (609) 882–4118
Fax: (609) 771–7944
E-mail: [email protected]
6-WEEK STUDY PLAN
Although our study plan is designed to be used in the six weeks before your exam, it can be condensed to three weeks by combining each two-week period into one.
Be sure to set aside enough time—at least two hours each day—to study. The more time you spend studying, the more prepared and relaxed you will feel on the day of the exam.
TEST-TAKING TIPS
Know the format of the test. CLEP computer-based tests are fixed-length tests. This makes them similar to the paper-and-pencil type of exam because you have the flexibility to go back and review your work in each section.
Learn the test structure, the time allotted for each section of the test, and the directions for each section. By learning this, you will know what is expected of you on test day, and you’ll relieve your test anxiety.
Read all the questions—completely. Make sure you understand each question before looking for the right answer. Reread the question if it doesn’t make sense.
Annotate the questions. Highlighting the key words in the questions will help you find the right answer choice.
Read all of the answers to a question. Just because you think you found the correct response right away, do not assume that it’s the best answer. The last answer choice might be the correct answer.
Work quickly and steadily. You will have 90 minutes to answer 115 questions, so work quickly and steadily. Taking the timed practice tests online will help you learn how to budget your time.
Use the process of elimination. Stumped by a question? Don’t make a random guess. Eliminate as many of the answer choices as possible. By eliminating just two answer choices, you give yourself a better chance of getting the item correct, since there will only be three choices left from which to make your guess. Remember, your score is based only on the number of questions you answer correctly.
Don’t waste time! Don’t spend too much time on any one question. Remember, your time is limited and pacing yourself is very important. Work on the easier questions first. Skip the difficult questions and go back to them if you have the time.
Look for clues to answers in other questions. If you skip a question you don’t know the answer to, you might find a clue to the answer elsewhere on the test.
Acquaint yourself with the computer screen. Familiarize yourself with the CLEP computer screen beforehand by logging on to the College Board website. Waiting until test day to see what it looks like in the pretest tutorial risks injecting needless anxiety into your testing experience. Also, familiarizing yourself with the directions and format of the exam will save you valuable time on the day of the actual test.
Be sure that your answer registers before you go to the next item. Look at the screen to see that your mouse-click causes the pointer to darken the proper oval. If your answer doesn’t register, you won’t get credit for that question.
THE DAY OF THE EXAM
On test day, you should wake up early (after a good night’s rest, of course) and have breakfast. Dress comfortably, so you are not distracted by being too hot or too cold while taking the test. (Note that hoodies
are not allowed.) Arrive at the test center early. This will allow you to collect your thoughts and relax before the test, and it will also spare you the anxiety that comes with being late. As an added incentive, keep in mind that no one will be allowed into the test session after the test has begun.
Before you leave for the test center, make sure you have your admission form and another form of identification, which must contain a recent photograph, your name, and signature (i.e., driver’s license, student identification card, or current alien registration card). You will not be admitted to the test center if you do not have proper identification.
You may wear a watch to the test center. However, you may not wear one that makes noise, because it may disturb the other test-takers. No cell phones, dictionaries, textbooks, notebooks, briefcases, or packages will be permitted, and drinking, smoking, and eating are prohibited.
Good luck on the CLEP Biology exam!
CHAPTER 2
The Chemistry of Biology
Chapter 2
THE CHEMISTRY OF
BIOLOGY
CHEMICAL BASIS OF LIFE
Matter—Atoms, Elements, Molecules
The study of matter is known as chemistry. In order to understand why cells behave the way they do, you must first understand some basic chemistry—the basic components of matter and how they interact. Matter is made up of basic substances called elements, which cannot be broken down into any other substance. The simplest unit of an element that retains the element’s characteristics is known as an atom. All matter is made up of atoms. The properties of matter are a result of the structure of atoms and their interaction with each other.
Each atom of a given element has a nucleus containing a unique number of protons and about the same number of neutrons. The nucleus is surrounded by electrons, which have much less mass than protons and neutrons. Elements