Table Of ContentTick…Tick…
Hear that clock ticking? It’s the countdown to the SAT Biology
Ecology/Molecular Subject Test, which will be here before you know it.
Whether you have a year to go or just one day, this is the time to start
maximizing your score.
The Test Is Just a Few Months Away!
Don’t worry—y ou’re still ahead of the game. However, it is important
that you stop delaying and begin preparing now. Follow The Big Picture:
How to Prepare Year- Round (page 253) to make the most of your time
so you’ll be ready on test day. This section gives you strategies to put into
place up to a year before you actually take the test.
Actually, I Only Have a Few Weeks!
Even if you’re down to the last few weeks before the test, you still have
plenty of time for a full review. To make the best use of your time, turn
to The Main Course: Comprehensive Strategies and Review (page 19),
where you’ll find Strategies for Multiple-C hoice Questions (page 21) to
help you ace the multiple-c hoice questions. This section also includes
The Diagnosis: How Ready Are You? (page 31). This diagnostic test
allows you to identify areas of weakness that you should address. You
should also review all of the in-d epth subject review chapters (beginning
on page 101) for an overview of the big topics usually covered on the
SAT Biology E/M Subject Test. As you work through this information,
keep track of the concepts, facts, and ideas that seem confusing or unfa-
miliar so you can get more information about them. Use the Practice
Tests (beginning on page 263) to increase your comfort with both the
format and content of the test.
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Let’s Be Honest. The Test Is Tomorrow and
I’m Freaking Out!
No problem! Review the Introduction (page ix), with information About
the Test (page x), and The Essentials: A Last-M inute Study Guide (page
1), so you know what to expect when you arrive to take the test and
have some ideas as to how to approach the test questions. Then, take
at least one of the Practice Tests (beginning on page 263). Don’t worry
about your score—j ust focus on getting familiar with the test. Before
you go to bed, review the Quick Test-T aking Tips (page 7) once more.
They’ll walk you through the day ahead.
Relax. Make the most of the tools and resources in this review guide,
and you’ll be ready to earn a top score.
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SAT Biology E/M
SuBjEcT TEST
Maximize Your Score in Less Time
Maria Malzone
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Copyright © 2013 by Sourcebooks, Inc.
Cover and internal design © 2013 by Sourcebooks, Inc.
Series cover design by The Book Designers
Cover illustrations by Nick Burns
Cover images © Eduard Titov/Getty Images, © Hola Images/Getty Images
Sourcebooks and the colophon are registered trademarks of Sourcebooks, Inc.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any elec-
tronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems—e xcept in
the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews—w ithout permission in
writing from its publisher, Sourcebooks, Inc.
This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard
to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not
engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional service. If legal advice or other
expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be
sought.—F rom a Declaration of Principles Jointly Adopted by a Committee of the American
Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations
All brand names and product names used in this book are trademarks, registered trade-
marks, or trade names of their respective holders. Sourcebooks, Inc., is not associated with
any product or vendor in this book.
Published by Sourcebooks, Inc.
P.O. Box 4410, Naperville, Illinois 60567-4 410
(630) 961-3 900
Fax: (630) 961-2 168
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CIP data is on file with the publisher.
Printed and bound in the United States of America.
VP 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
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Also Available in the
My Max Score Series
AP Exam Study Aids
AP Biology
AP Calculus AB/BC
AP English Language and Composition
AP English Literature and Composition
AP European History
AP Statistics
AP U.S. Government and Politics
AP U.S. History
AP World History
SAT Subject Test Study Aids
SAT Literature Subject Test
SAT Math 1 and 2 Subject Test
SAT U.S. History Subject Test
SAT World History Subject Test
ASVAB Study Aids
ASVAB: Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery
MyMaxScoreSATBiology.indd 5 12/28/12 3:03 PM
Contents
Introduction ix
The Essentials: A last- Minute Study guide 1
Quick Test-T aking Tips 7
Big Ideas in Biology 13
The Main course: comprehensive Strategies and Review 19
Strategies for Multiple-C hoice Questions 21
The Diagnosis: How Ready Are You? 31
Diagnostic Test 33
Diagnostic Test Answers and Explanations 84
Using the Diagnostic Test 97
Review Chapter 1: The Cell 101
Review Chapter 2: Water, Cell Membranes, and Transport 111
Review Chapter 3: DNA, RNA, and Proteins 119
Review Chapter 4: Energy, Respiration, and Photosynthesis 129
Review Chapter 5: Enzymes and Reactions 141
Review Chapter 6: Genetic Inheritance 147
Review Chapter 7: Meiosis and Mutations 153
Review Chapter 8: DNA Technology 161
Review Chapter 9: Evolution and Natural Selection 169
Review Chapter 10: The History and Diversity of Life 179
Review Chapter 11: Plants 191
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viii sat biology e/m sUbJeCt test
Review Chapter 12: Animal Organ Systems, Part 1 203
Review Chapter 13: Animal Organ Systems, Part 2 215
Review Chapter 14: Ecology, Part 1 229
Review Chapter 15: Ecology, Part 2 241
The Big Picture: How to Prepare year-R ound 253
SAT Biology E/M Subject Test Practice Test 1 263
Practice Test 1 Answers and Explanations 304
SAT Biology E/M Subject Test Practice Test 2 319
Practice Test 2 Answers and Explanations 364
Glosary 37
About the Author 393
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Introduction
veryone comes to the SAT Biology E/M Subject Test from a
different place. For some, it’s the one SAT subject test of their
Ehigh school career; for others, it’s just one test of many. Some
students have focused on it all year, supplementing their classwork with
extra study and practice at home. Other students haven’t been able to
devote the time they would like— perhaps other classes, extracurricu-
lar activities, after-s chool jobs, or family obligations have gotten in the
way. But wherever you’re coming from, this book can help! It’s been
designed to provide maximum assistance no matter where you are on
your study path.
You’ll find that this book has been divided into three sections: a last-
minute study guide to use in the days before the test, a comprehensive
review for those with more than a week to prepare, and a long- term
study plan for students preparing well in advance.
Think of each section as full of suggestions rather than as being a rigid
prescription. Feel free to pick and choose the most helpful pieces from
each section. Of course, if you have time, we recommend that you review
everything—a nd take as many practice tests as you can, as many times as
you can.
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x sat biology e/m sUbJeCt test
Whether you have a day to cram or a year to study at leisure, here are
some things you should know before diving into the test.
For starters: What is the SAT Biology E/M Subject Test, and what
does it cover?
about the test
The SAT Biology E/M Subject Test is used nationally to assess student
readiness for college- level work in this discipline. Some colleges require
potential students to take particular SAT subject tests in order to qualify
for admission to the school itself or to a particular major or course of
study. Some schools may even award you college credit if you score high
enough—t alk to your school guidance counselor about the requirements
and possibilities for the schools in which you’re interested.
The SAT Biology E/M Subject Test is designed to measure students’
knowledge and skills in the biological sciences; specifically, it
• assesses understanding of core biological principles and
• analyzes the ability to recognize and apply basic concepts of
the discipline.
Additionally, depending upon the emphasis you choose, the examina-
tion also tests either your knowledge of biological communities, popula-
tions, and energy flow (ecology), or your knowledge of biochemistry and
cellular structures and processes (molecular biology).
The hour-l ong tests consist of a total of 80 multiple-c hoice questions.
The first 60 multiple- choice questions cover core principles in biology.
Then, you will choose an additional 20 multiple-c hoice questions on
either ecological (E) or molecular (M) subject matter.
What’s Covered
The concepts covered on the SAT Biology E/M Subject Test break down
as follows:
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