GED Test (Mathematical Reasoning, Science, Social Studies, Reasoning Through Language Arts)
Life science: practice questions
Our GED bank has 44 questions on this topic. Here are 5 of them with answers; the full mock exam draws from every topic, like the real one.
Question 1
When one population is split by a mountain range and the two groups slowly become different species, this is called:
- Carrying capacity
- Pollination
- Homeostasis
- Speciation
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D. Speciation — Geographic isolation stops gene flow; over time, the separated populations may become distinct species.
Question 2
An invasive species often spreads quickly in a new ecosystem because it:
- Needs no food or water
- Is always smaller than native species
- Cannot reproduce in the new area, so it spreads by moving
- Has few natural predators or competitors there
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D. Has few natural predators or competitors there — Without the predators, diseases and competitors of its native range, an invasive species can outcompete native species.
Question 3
Which cell structure controls what enters and leaves the cell?
- Ribosome
- Chloroplast
- Nucleus
- Cell membrane
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D. Cell membrane — The cell membrane is selectively permeable. The nucleus holds DNA; ribosomes make proteins.
Question 4
A tick feeding on a deer's blood is an example of:
- Competition
- Mutualism
- Parasitism
- Commensalism
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C. Parasitism — In parasitism one organism benefits and the host is harmed. In mutualism both benefit; in commensalism one benefits and the other is unaffected.
Question 5
Influenza spreads mainly through:
- Mosquito bites
- Eating undercooked meat
- Contaminated blood transfusions and shared needles only
- Droplets from coughs, sneezes and talking
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D. Droplets from coughs, sneezes and talking — Flu viruses spread mainly by droplets made when infected people cough, sneeze or talk.