Question 1

Cell specialization

Accepted Answer

The process by which generic cells change into specific cells meant to do certain tasks within the body.

Question 2

Mitochondria

Accepted Answer

The organelle that functions as the powerhouse of the cell, providing energy for cell functions.

Question 3

Photosynthesis

Accepted Answer

The process used by plants and other organisms to convert light energy into chemical energy.

Question 4

Cellular respiration

Accepted Answer

The set of metabolic reactions and processes that take place in the cells of organisms to convert biochemical energy from nutrients into adenosine triphosphate (ATP).

Question 5

Nitrogen cycle

Accepted Answer

The series of processes by which nitrogen and its compounds are interconverted in the environment and in living organisms.

Question 6

Plate tectonics

Accepted Answer

The theory explaining the structure of the earth's crust and the associated phenomena resulting from the interaction of rigid lithospheric plates.

Question 7

Carbon cycle

Accepted Answer

The series of processes by which carbon compounds are interconverted in the environment.

Question 8

Covalent bond

Accepted Answer

A chemical bond that involves the sharing of electron pairs between atoms.

Question 9

Ionic bond

Accepted Answer

A type of chemical bond that involves the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions.

Question 10

Isotope

Accepted Answer

Variants of a particular chemical element which differ in neutron number.

Question 11

Quadratic formula

Accepted Answer

The formula that provides the solution(s) to a quadratic equation.

Question 12

Pythagorean Theorem

Accepted Answer

The theorem that states that in a right-angled triangle the square of the length of the hypotenuse equals the sum of the squares of the lengths of the other two sides.

Question 13

Rational number

Accepted Answer

A number that can be expressed as a fraction where both numerator and denominator are integers.

Question 14

Irrational number

Accepted Answer

A number that cannot be expressed as a ratio of two integers.

Question 15

Binomial theorem

Accepted Answer

A theorem providing a formula for the expansion of powers of a binomial.

Question 16

Logarithm

Accepted Answer

The exponent to which the base must be raised to get the number.

Question 17

Trigonometric identities

Accepted Answer

Equations involving trigonometric functions that hold true for all possible values of the involved angles.

Question 18

Integral calculus

Accepted Answer

The branch of mathematics dealing with the determination of a number or function from certain given data.

Question 19

Derivative

Accepted Answer

A measure of how a function changes as its input changes.

Question 20

Transitive Property

Accepted Answer

If a = b and b = c, then a = c.

Question 21

Scientific notation

Accepted Answer

A method of expressing numbers that are too big or too small to be conveniently written in decimal form.

Question 22

Conduction

Accepted Answer

The process by which heat or electricity is directly transmitted through a substance.

Question 23

Convection

Accepted Answer

The movement caused within a fluid by the tendency of hotter and therefore less dense material to rise.

Question 24

Radiation

Accepted Answer

The emission of energy as electromagnetic waves.

Question 25

Doppler effect

Accepted Answer

An increase (or decrease) in the frequency of sound, light, or other waves as the source and observer move toward (or away from) each other.

Question 26

Refraction

Accepted Answer

The change in direction of a wave passing from one medium to another caused by its change in speed.

Question 27

Frequency

Accepted Answer

The rate at which a vibration occurs that constitutes a wave, either in a material (as in sound waves), or in an electromagnetic field (as in radio waves and light).

Question 28

Wavelength

Accepted Answer

The distance between successive crests of a wave, especially points in a sound wave or electromagnetic wave.

Question 29

Amplitude

Accepted Answer

The maximum extent of a vibration or oscillation, measured from the position of equilibrium.

Question 30

The law of conservation of energy

Accepted Answer

Energy can neither be created nor destroyed; rather, it can only be transformed or transferred from one form to another.

Question 31

Potential Energy

Accepted Answer

The energy possessed by a body by virtue of its position relative to others, stresses within itself, electric charge, and other factors.

Question 32

Kinetic Energy

Accepted Answer

The energy that a body possesses by virtue of being in motion.

Question 33

Pascal's Principle

Accepted Answer

The principle that changes in pressure at any point in an enclosed fluid at rest are transmitted undiminished to all points in the fluid.

Question 34

Bernoulli's Principle

Accepted Answer

The principle that an increase in the speed of a fluid occurs simultaneously with a decrease in pressure or a decrease in the fluid's potential energy.

Question 35

The Law of Universal Gravitation

Accepted Answer

Every particle of matter in the universe attracts every other particle with a force that is directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their centers.

Question 36

The law of conservation of momentum

Accepted Answer

The total momentum of a closed system is constant unless acted upon by an external force.

Question 37

The First Law of Thermodynamics

Accepted Answer

The total energy of an isolated system is constant; energy can be transformed from one form to another, but cannot be created or destroyed.

Question 38

Second Law of Thermodynamics

Accepted Answer

In all energy exchanges, if no energy enters or leaves the system, the potential energy of the state will always be less than that of the initial state.

Question 39

Genetic drift

Accepted Answer

Variation in the relative frequency of different genotypes in a small population, owing to the chance disappearance of particular genes as individuals die or do not reproduce.

Question 40

Natural selection

Accepted Answer

The process whereby organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

Question 41

Genetic recombination

Accepted Answer

The production of offspring with combinations of traits that differ from those found in either parent.

Question 42

Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)

Accepted Answer

The molecule carrying the genetic instructions used in the growth, development, functioning, and reproduction of all known living organisms.

Question 43

Ribonucleic Acid (RNA)

Accepted Answer

A polymeric molecule essential in various biological roles in coding, decoding, regulation, and expression of genes.

Question 44

Endoplasmic Reticulum

Accepted Answer

A network of membranous tubules within the cytoplasm of a eukaryotic cell, involved in protein and lipid synthesis.

Question 45

Active transport

Accepted Answer

The movement of ions or molecules across a cell membrane into a region of higher concentration, assisted by enzymes and requiring energy.

Question 46

Passive transport

Accepted Answer

The movement of biochemicals and other atomic or molecular substances across cell membranes without need of energy input.

Question 47

Golgi Apparatus

Accepted Answer

An organelle found in most eukaryotic cells, involved in the processing and packaging of proteins.

Question 48

Exponential growth

Accepted Answer

Growth whose rate becomes ever more rapid in proportion to the growing total number or size.

Question 49

Linear growth

Accepted Answer

Growth that occurs evenly over time.

Question 50

Polynomial

Accepted Answer

An expression consisting of variables and coefficients, that involves only the operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and non-negative integer exponents of variables.

Question 51

Absolute value

Accepted Answer

The magnitude of a real number without regard to its sign.

Question 52

Histogram

Accepted Answer

A diagram consisting of rectangles whose area is proportional to the frequency of a variable and whose width is equal to the class interval.

Question 53

Normal distribution

Accepted Answer

A function that represents the distribution of many random variables as a symmetrical bell-shaped graph.

Question 54

Statistical significance

Accepted Answer

The likelihood that a result or relationship is caused by something other than mere random chance.

Question 55

Hypothesis testing

Accepted Answer

The use of statistics to determine the probability that a given hypothesis is true.

Question 56

Metaphor

Accepted Answer

A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.

Question 57

Simile

Accepted Answer

A figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind, using 'like' or 'as'.

Question 58

Hyperbole

Accepted Answer

Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.

Question 59

Irony

Accepted Answer

The expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect.

Question 60

Symbolism

Accepted Answer

The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities.

Question 61

Imagery

Accepted Answer

Visually descriptive or figurative language, especially in a literary work.

Question 62

Allusion

Accepted Answer

An expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly; an indirect or passing reference.

Question 63

Foreshadowing

Accepted Answer

A literary device in which a writer gives an advance hint of what is to come later in the story.

Question 64

Allegory

Accepted Answer

A story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.

Advanced Concepts for Alaska PEAKS Test - Grades 9-12