Study questions
The following
questions are intended as a guide to help you focus your studying. You
must, however, do more than memorize the answers to each of these questions.
You need to understand the material and be able to discuss the concepts
in your own words. Use active study techniques as much as possible (i.e.,
you must do more than just read over your answers many times). I also
recommend that you take advantage of the learning resources at the end
of each chapter in the textbook, including the associated exercises on
the textbook website (www.essentialbiology.com).
back to Study Aids
Chapter
1: Introduction: Biology Today
1. Be able to list, explain, and give examples of the major properties of life.
2. What are the main levels of organization for living things (i.e.,
the hierarchy of life)? Be able to define and give an example of each
one.
4. What is taxonomy? Be able to explain the highest levels of our hierarchical
classification system (e.g., domains and kingdoms).
5. What is evolution? Be able to interpret and draw conclusions from
evolutionary tree diagrams.
6.
What is natural
selection? What are the steps involved in natural selection?
7. List and explain at least five ways in which biology is significant
in your life.
